Source: http://www.mrporter.com/product/371551

Welcome to the Week In Review, where travel luggage for the distinguished gentleman or lady bumps up alongside flexible suitcase/backpack hybrids, Brooklyn vintage style tangoes with Latin American/Parisian chic and we show you how to keep your kids’ fingers out the carry cookie jar…

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Carry fit for a queen

Source: http://www.mrporter.com/product/371548

Iconic luggage makers Globe-Trotter know more than a thing or two about how to make quality carry. Established in 1897, the brand is over a century old and still going strong. The brand even has the royal seal of approval, as Queen Elizabeth II opted for Globe-Trotter honeymoon luggage. If this sounds like your type of carry then you’ll probably be keen to check out the special edition collaboration with online retailer MR PORTER. These pieces cost a lot but the question you should ask is are they value for money? Check out this video and decide for yourself.

Timbuk2 travel carry takes flight

Source: http://www.timbuk2.com/static/images/email/2013-05-15/2013-05-15.html

Staying with the travel theme but a much more wallet-friendly option, Timbuk2′s Aviator series features a Travel Backpack and Wheeled Backpack. Both options can be carried as suitcases or backpacks and offer flexibility through a removable hip belt and straps that can be stowed out of sight. The Wheeled Backpack serves as the check-in option with a volume of 66 liters, while the Travel Backpack is suitable for carry-on luggage with a volume of 28.5 liters.

Vintage inspiration for the modern world

Source: http://www.gilt.com/brand/bed-stu/product/1005968987-bed-stu-sedona-tote

Bed|Stü is a Brooklyn-based brand that creates vintage-style footwear and accessories. The Sedona Tote is one of their carry creations and offers some laid-back style well suited to taking things easy on lazy weekend afternoons. Constructed out of canvas with leather handles, the tote also has a removable shoulder strap if you prefer the hands-free carry approach. Organization is in the form of interior pockets as well as an exterior front and back zip pocket and the main section has a zip closure as well.

Parisian design meets Brazilian flair

Source: http://www.oki-ni.com/accessories/veja-acacia-toile-bag-veja1604nvy.html

Offering an interesting alternative to the traditional messenger style, the Veja Acacia Toile Bag provides casual-chic looks in combination with multiple pocket options including a padded section that can hold up to a 15-inch laptop. Though the brand is French, the bag is made in Brazil utilizing ethically sourced Acacia-tanned leather and organic cotton. If the colorway above has a bit too much pop for your liking, you can find other colorways (along with leather versions) here.

Kid-proofing your medicine carry

Source: http://www.carryology.com/2013/05/14/hacks-kid-proof-drug-bags/

Kids tend to be naturally curious. Generally curiosity is a good thing – unless it leads to investigating whether those brightly colored pills taste as good as they look. If you’re going to be traveling with your kids and are taking medicines in your carry, you want to make sure that inquisitive minds and prying fingers don’t get ahold of those substances. We’ve put together a post that demonstrates how you can hack your own child-proof drug bag. It’s super-simple and super-quick to do and the small amount of effort is well worth it for avoiding any potential mishaps.

For the latest addition to our Five Minutes With series we caught up with Elizabeth Jeffer, founder of the carry retailer roztayger. Before establishing roztayger, Jeffer worked in the fashion accessories industry and has utilized this experience to curate a collection that caters to the work, travel and life carry needs of men and women…

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1 – What key insights drive your stuff?

In a nutshell of sorts the “roztayger mission” is to provide a shopping destination with versatile, timeless investment bags/accessories for the design and quality minded customer. Historically I have a knack for picking out the best sellers in a collection (as a rep I often wrote orders for stores I sold to). The best sellers are those pieces people will gravitate to irregardless of price because they know they will get use out of them. The product functions in a number of settings and won’t look tired or out of date years from now. Quality, clean lines, lack of hardware or heavy-handed logos. I gravitate to simplicity and understated details. My customers are of the same mindset. Less is more in terms of design but don’t skimp on quality and functionality.

2 – Who else is doing rad things in the world of carry? And why do you think they’re important…

I do love what Travelteq does as far as telling their story online and creating really specific product around this quality, timeless travel theme. I love how it looks visually and how it draws you in. It’s a pleasure to browse here, there are so many great products. I wish they did a few more femme/unisex colors in their Trash briefcases…I am inching closer to buying them for roztayger. I would just like a few more color choices that will work for either gender. Right now it seems more weighted to men but I like to buy in a gender neutral way. I would love to see a charcoal or a chocolate brown woven in.

3 – Are there any things other brands do that you think are great or could be improved?

So many brands do great things…no doubt. The issue is always editing and making a mix that is both cohesive and distinctive, yet all the while understated. This is tough sometimes to execute through an online setting. One of my favorite brands, Bonastre, is outstanding in terms of materials, concept and execution. It’s beautiful on so many levels. From where I sit his line is unisex although Fernando calls it a men’s line. I’d love to see him tweak his designs to accommodate working/traveling women with an eye on design and style. I think the need for stylish women’s work bags is great and a niche not filled well by anyone right now. A nice leather tote bag that is not corporate-looking and is of excellent quality – a clean shape with a modern flair and retailing for under 1K. If I design a bag line this is where I will start. I see a lot of shapes that work in the market but the colors are rarely interesting and there is not enough unique detailing which women want, such as unexpected color linings or  contrast stitching.

4 – What’s next for you?

For Fall I am starting a “luxury travel essentials” area for men and women. I am adding cashmere scarves for men and women, Japanese cotton t-shirt basics, wraps and simple yet elegant jewelry…a pair of handmade women’s brogues and a hat for travel. It will be dipping my toe in the pool of other categories. I think when you travel you are always looking to pare down and bring things that work in a myriad of ways so you don’t have to overthink and over-pack. The over-packing part is so easy to do and makes traveling much more stressful! For example when you have the opportunity to wear the same jewelry the whole trip and not think about it or to wear a great scarf to dinner as well as on the plane then you are packing with intelligence. I like to facilitate “packing ease” for the design and quality conscious traveler.

5 – What do you carry daily and how?

I switch around constantly because I want to speak from authority and know my brands well (that’s my excuse for having too many bags!). When I travel I love to carry my J. Panther Ruc Tote because it holds everything in one place and when my shoulders are tired I can throw it on my back. It’s elegant enough for a woman even though it’s meant to be more of a menswear line…it saved my back on my last buying trip to Paris.

I also lately carry my Frrry Rivet Me bag in purple. It’s a good mid-sized bag for daily use. People are always intrigued and ask me about it. For one it’s not a line you see many places in the U.S. and it’s also very unique – very sculptural – often Frrry’s designs involve folds and multiple ways to carry. The colors are pigment-rich shades you don’t see everywhere but somehow they work with almost all clothing options.

Lastly the Unlined Samuji Tote in navy is a new favorite because it goes well with black and gray and is very clean and vertical. It’s also lightweight and when I have to carry a fair amount of stuff it can accommodate nicely without looking overstuffed and inelegant. Samuji is an excellent choice for travel – super clean, minimalistic and beautiful quality. It’s an easy collection to invest in.

Keeping your kids safe from your pharmaceuticals

I can’t find a proper kid-proof drug bag, so I’ve hacked one.

Why would I care about a kid-proof drug bag? It turns out that kids get smashed by accidental poisoning from household medicines pretty regularly (yeah, nice and light reading eh…)

While we’ve installed all sorts of child-proof locks on our cupboards, both my wife and I leave pharma within much easier reach in our bags. Mostly just pain-killers (which can be lethal in large doses), but also some anti-inflammatories, anti-this’s and anti-that’s.

So I guess this is a post to warn other parents they may have an issue, and then to encourage sharing of any good solutions you guys may already have worked out. If any brands want to jam with us on a better solution, please reach out.

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The requirements

Any bag I run with as my daily carry gets a pocket assigned to toiletries (including pharmaceuticals). I figured if I could find a small child-proof pouch to tuck inside these pockets, I should have a pretty easy solution. I can imagine a smaller pouch again for my wife’s handbag.

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The hack

I’ve started with a really light Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Quick Trip, which has a good strong piping running past the side pockets. I’ve then just pricked a small hole beside it, and now I have an anchor for the lock.

While I started with locks on 2 pockets, I’ve since moved to only one pocket being locked. I don’t need to lock the whole thing up, as toothbrushes and anti-perspirant are relatively harmless. So it’s now one side pocket which gets anything slightly dangerous (or candy-looking).

I’m on the scope for a small combo-lock, as I don’t want to stress about keys with this. I’ll swap the lock over as soon as I find a good one. And for sure it would be nice to have a sweet integrated travel lock system, but this is totally sufficient for now.

And as mentioned, I’ll also develop a smaller pouch for my wife’s handbag needs. It won’t need all the toiletry action, so it will only be large enough for some painkillers.

And that’s about it. If you have the right kit, it should only take 60 seconds to set up, but it might just save your kid. I figure that’s probably worth the time spent.

Source: http://www.kikany.com/leather-backpacks/leather-backpack-01.html

This week we’ve got a mix of style, durability and functionality as we check out a hardwearing tote, an eye-catching backpack suitable for work or play, cyclist carry focusing on easy access and some sleek mountain packs. Welcome to the Week In Review, hope you enjoy the read…

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Tough tote

Source: http://www.hickorees.com/brand/stanley–sons/product/black-selvedge-denim-market-bag-with-indigo-selvedge-denim-details

This Stanley & Sons Denim Market Bag offers up a nice combination of stylish looks and hardwearing construction for your daily, weekly or occasional carrying needs. Made out of black and indigo selvedge denim, the bag has leather handles and reinforced stress points thanks to copper rivets that have been hammered by hand and backed with leather washers. A small degree of organization is offered via an inner slip pocket.

Minimalist chic

Source: http://roztayger.com/product/dark_tan_postal_backpack_by_kika_ny

The Postal Backpack from Kika NY is pretty sleek and stylish with sophisticated looks that could work for the office or leisure time. The pack has an interior pocket and a back exterior zip pocket and can hold a 15-inch laptop. This pack is handmade out of a Brooklyn-based studio that utilises high-end leather sourced from Portugal, Italy, and Belgium, along with hand-tooled brass hardware. There’s no denying it’s pricey, but you can take comfort in the thought that it’ll last long enough to pass on to the grandkids.

Quick-access carry

Source: http://shop.narifuri.com/?pid=34285208

narifuri is a Japanese fashion brand that targets cyclists and they have a nice selection of carry, including their Hatena pack. Keeping things creative in the opening department, the pack offers easy access to the contents via the curved main zipper, with external storage options courtesy of three pockets. There’s an interior pocket as well as a separate designated laptop section for additional storage options.

Streamlined snow style

Source: http://en.arva-equipment.com/fiche/rescuer-22-7.html

If you’re going to be hitting the snow at some point you may be keen to check out Arva Equipment, a brand based in the French Alps that creates snow safety products, from avalanche beacons and shovels to gloves and probes. Of course, since we’re into carry we’re interested in their line of packs. Their range of mountain backpacks offer compact and streamlined design that aims to keep weight minimal while offering easy acces to gear. You can view the pack collection here.

The North Face versus Patagonia

Source: http://www.carryology.com/2013/05/08/head-to-head-adventure-duffels/

In the market for something to chuck your stuff in that offers grab-and-go portability for your next great adventure? We put two tough duffels to the test as the Patagonia Black Hole and The North Face Base Camp duffel go head to head in a super-tight comparison. Discover which one comes out on top and whether it could be just the thing you’re after for your travel gear needs.

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Last week was pretty rad here at Carryology. In between chasing rainbows and talking general Carry awesomeness, we got the chance to interview Dan Green – the design manager for Arc’teryx and Arc’teryx LEAF. Anyone in carry knows who Arc’teryx are and what they’ve achieved not only in carry but in other categories such as gloves and outerwear, even their research into color. So we were pretty excited to get some time with their lead design manager.

We spoke to Dan about a number of various topics and got some really insightful answers back. It’s a great read and something we encourage you all to take five on to read. Anyway, enough gushing, enjoy the interview below…

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The Arc’teryx Brand

How much does the Arc’teryx ‘brand’ enter your design decisions? How different would your designs be if you were designing for yourself rather than for Arc’teryx?

The brand’s high performance and high quality expectations drive design decisions here. Our purest design motivations and inspiration come from personal mandate but those must be filtered so we end up with commercially viable, mass producible gear with wide appeal. Designing for myself is different without commercial constraints because I’m making something for a very specific purpose and I’m not paying retail for it. The genesis of Arc’teryx design philosophy is a full freestyle approach to make the ideal thing, but structure and discipline are the only ways to finish something that thousands of people will buy, otherwise you are just making art for yourself.

Company culture

How do Arc’teryx continue to resist the pull towards almost every other generic outdoor brand?

I think we hunt for creative people who will grow when they are pushed to work towards high ideals. Our new GM described this very well as a persistent-growth mindset and I see it manifested in nearly all aspects of our company. It’s just ultimately about doing the right thing at every level. And the right way is always the hardest way. In Design we have to struggle with this daily and try to find a balance so we can actually finish things and get them out there.

I guess on the same theme, Jeff Bezos (Amazon) writes about how most public companies are incapable of “sacrificing this year’s profits to invest in long-term customer loyalty and product opportunities that will create bigger profits next year and for years thereafter.” It feels like you guys manage to do it, focusing on rad product year in, year out. Can you talk a little about the company culture that allows for that? How do you champion R&D projects with unclear deadlines or returns?

We’ve traditionally been a design driven company, but we don’t approach all our design as a seasonal reinvention. While it would be great to revolutionize categories year after year (we’ve done this only a handful of times), we instead just recognize known product parking spots and work to incrementally improve them when we can and sometimes that can take years. The rest of the company is sort of along for the ride, putting a lot of trust in the direction coming from product. Companies that drive from near-term marketing needs for short-term commercial gains will just get half-assed products that they can’t stand on a decade later. Our products need to be worthy of that Bird logo instead of leaning on it. That’s a fine line to maintain as we grow but from historical examples in our space it’s obvious that textbook brand building is the fastest path to mediocrity. We have to do the right thing so we can get asked this same question 20 years from now.

Is there any collaboration with other brands in the Amer stable?

Not too much in product design but that could change where it makes sense to tap into a broader or complementary skill set or technology. There’s more back-end collaboration with Operations and shared systems.

How similar are the designers in your team? Do you guys shoot for consistency or diversity?

There is no prototypical designer at Arc’teryx. If there’s a common thread it’s probably having a hands-on approach but even that is a broad stroke. We’ve got huge diversity in our design and development skill sets that we can cut and paste together to get stuff done. Or we all disagree entirely, start fighting and get nothing done. Captive biodiversity like this is not always a good idea. It’s weird, like a zoo. Or more like Noah’s ark. Quarantine would be useful.

Is anyone in Arc’teryx able to say the full reptile name?

I doubt it! Only a handful of employees can even pronounce the abbreviated company name correctly and I think the majority of people who recognize the brand can’t say the full reptile name. We like it that way. The last thing we want is for anyone to think they understand us.

Innovation

It feels like Arc’teryx softgoods are natively 3D, rather than 2D just translated to 3D. Can you talk a bit about your creative process that lets you think and make such 3D designs?

We work with the understanding of realizing a 3D end result. 2D creative steps for visualizing, patterning and shaping are important parts of the process to get us there. Nothing functions two-dimensionally on paper anyway so it’s always speculation. Good ideas are only good ideas when they get built up and work in the field.

Arc’teryx seem to work pretty closely with some top suppliers and makers. Can you talk a bit about those relationships in the creative process?

We often work closely with suppliers to build us the right materials for our needs. Tight brand/vendor relationships are common in the industry. It’s not uncommon to have a dozen rolls of experimental yardage under our tables.

We can imagine lots of benefits to controlling so much of the manufacture yourselves. What are some of the negatives?

We don’t control the manufacturing as much as what we ask the factories to produce. The best we can do in Design and Development is make perfect samples and then push and support factories very hard to build these properly in bulk. Our Quality Control standards are extremely high and we reject everything (raw goods to finished goods) that don’t meet criteria. The downsides are the risks of losing entire production runs to quality. There is lots of trust with our numerous partner factories around the world, no different than all industries with a global supply chain.

Who sets the design briefs? And which customers guide your efforts?

We have a good partnership between product line managers and design managers to drill down into briefs. In LEAF we work closely with handpicked tier 1 users to steer and evaluate our gear, validating everything in the field before we launch it.

What was your journey to where you are now?

I started sewing and building personal gear for caving, climbing and paddling in 1991 when I was seventeen. While hunting down a sewing machine mechanic in Calgary, Alberta in 1998 I crossed paths with Integral Designs and joined them a few months later where I cut my teeth in production until I started as a junior pack designer with Arc’teryx in 2000. I had a few side projects between then and now, but I’m currently managing the design for LEAF, Gloves and Accessories.

Talking carry

Arc’teryx has a fair heritage with carry, including one of the first roll-top backpacks. How does that play into what you do in a general outdoor and winter goods brand?

Packs played a huge roll in defining how Arc’teryx approached design and production. Lots of innovation and tool building with our own factory. Over the years the bulk of the outdoor pack market has shifted from 80-liter backpacking to 45-liter sports, but we’ve maintained our load carriage thinking and applied it to lighter and smaller packages. Packs are a part of each category.

Which other crew do you rate? Others in the carry area?

Osprey is doing very well in the outdoor space and Mystery Ranch owns the Special Operations military space. It’s been impressive to watch these brands focus on their areas and establish themselves.

What carry products are you most proud of? What’s your daily carry?

A few years ago I was part of the Advanced Composite Construction (AC2) pack project to take packs and make them simpler. Though the products weren’t dialed the technology was good and we are still plugging away there and some developments had good spinoffs. One tweak was the laminated suspension in our outdoor Nozone packs and the LEAF Khard and Khyber packs. I’ve done long trips with these packs and they are solid and shockingly light. The simple combination of laminated materials is like plywood construction (several lesser layers combine into a single exceptional layer). I’m still carrying an early version of our new LEAF Khard 30 pack that launched in the Spring of 2013.

The North Face Base Camp battles the Patagonia Black Hole

Sometimes you just gotta haul gear. It might be into a camp spot, up a sheer granite wall, or just in your car for a fun week away. While the classic duffel was little more than a strap and a cavity, modern gear duffels have pimped things a fair way.

With the support of Patagonia and Rushfaster, we’ve hauled two of the big names in adventure duffels into some remote spots, and found a narrow favorite. Read on…

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The Basics

We’ve chosen the largest size in this format for both brands.

That raised a few issues, as these duffels probably perform slightly better in medium sizes (straps are more in proportion and their lack of structure is not as noticeable). But heck, we wanted gear haulers so we went with scale.

The North Face Base Camp Duffel XL

Vitals: 155L, 2.2kg, TPE laminate over 840D ballistic Nylon

Available: Australia, US, and globally

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The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 120L

Vitals: 120L, 1.36kg, TPU laminate on 1200D Polyester

Available: Australia, US, and globally

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The Look – The North Face 1, Patagonia 0

Ummm, who cares, right? These are workhorses, so look doesn’t matter too much. But in the name of thoroughness, we need a winner.

While the Patagonia looks more refined, these are adventure duffels, so we’re awarding this one to the Base Camp. It just looks like it means business.

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Versatility – The North Face 0, Patagonia 1

The Patagonia is better with organizing and general usability, giving you slightly better pocketing (there’s a split internal lid pocket and an external zip pocket) and softer materials.

The North Face gets some compression straps (which only sort of help) and more useful daisy chains (which help with lashing down or piggy-backing multiple bags).

With pluses to both sides, we decided by recording which duffel we grabbed more often, and it was the Patagonia that narrowly won.

A small extra comment here is that the Base Camp gives you a handy storage bag for it.

Unfortunately, the feel good aspect of this was undermined by an excess of packaging when unboxing, which just made the experience feel not as nice.

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Space and Access – The North Face 0, Patagonia 1

This is the main goal of a big gear sack, so it’s a pretty important one to get right. Both have large D openings, size 10 main zippers, and fairly easy entry and egress of gear.

It’s funny though because this was also where we got a little frustrated with both. Call us crazy, but we don’t see the need to put all the straps directly over the main opening. Can’t they go on a different face to the opening? It’s not a big deal, it just feels like something that could be better.

The Patagonia has easily removable shoulder straps (they can be unclipped and tucked under the flap if they get in the way too much for you). Combine that with the slightly softer materials which move out of the way more easily, and it’s a slight win for the Patagonia.

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Burliness (Durability) – The North Face 1, Patagonia 0

This is where the softer materials of the Patagonia lose out. The Base Camp just has that next level of durability, with thicker coatings and fewer seams. Both bags will outlast 98% of users, but the Base Camp will then last just that tiny bit longer again.

Both have excellent stitching, are well reinforced, and use quality hardware.

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Hauling comfort – The North Face 0, Patagonia 1

The Patagonia is a fair bit lighter at 1.36kg, versus 2.2kg for the Base Camp. That probably makes more difference to airline allowance than comfort, but every bit helps.

The reality with both these duffels is that they ride too low to be comfortable for any sustained walking. They bang into your butt and restrict natural motion. Duffels like the Boreas Erawan are starting to solve this by setting the bag higher (straps lower), but if you want real carrying comfort, you might need to look at a structured pack.

The Black Hole uses wider webbing for anchoring the straps, as well as a buckle that sits on top of the webbing rather than around it. Both these things help improve the carry comfort over the Base Camp.

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Weatherproofness – The North Face 1, Patagonia 1

We couldn’t really split them. They both run with a similar approach, and will both resist lots of weather, but not submersion or torrential rain. This one is a draw.

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Overall victory – Patagonia Black Hole Duffel (just)

This was close, as the two duffels really are very similar. If you need a big burly duffel, you’ll be well served by either.

There needs to be a winner though, and for us the Patagonia Black Hole ended up just a touch more useable, with compliant materials and more useful pocketing.

If you are actually hauling these up big granite walls, we think the slightly thicker laminate of The North Face will sway you to that. But if you’re a mere mortal adventuring around the world, we rate the Patagonia just slightly ahead.

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An end note

We’d finish there, but we are Carryology, and we obsess on how to carry better. We couldn’t help but think that this format is not yet as resolved as it could be, especially in the larger size duffels.

Loads of brands run with duffels like this, and we’ve chosen two of the best to review. They are great bags. But they both suffer a bit of spaghetti strap-ville. It really does feel like the entry and the straps need to be on different faces, and the backpack straps need to be positioned better for load carrying (raising the duffel higher on your back). Neither of these changes would compromise the duffels, but both changes would extend the versatility of this format.

Sometimes it’s not really about functionality…

It’s the usual story… a mechanic drives a Corolla, a builder lives in a shed. For someone that spends my life thinking about better carry, it’s funny that one of my favorite packs is a Kletter Day.

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We bought it in Tokyo some years ago. It was pre-kids, when my better-half wanted a simple pack for uni. It worked OK for that, without really shining.

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But then we had some kids, started hauling random bits of everything in support of them, and it quickly became a part of our best experiences.

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This is a really simple pack. The buckles are a bit sharp, there’s not really any pocketing to speak of, and it won’t help you hunt deer or fly off cliffs, but man has it woven itself into the fabric of our family.

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The shape is perfect; tear-dropped for odd loads, sized for a full day out, and clean so it won’t snag when being shoved under a seat.

The fabric is nailed; it’s soft, drapes without drooping, and is almost cotton-like in appearance.

The color is interesting without screaming, and the main zip is big, so it just works.

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The build quality is perfect, so it is ageing beautifully (unlike many modern heritage bags). It can have attachments added, but that would kinda wreck the idea of it. And it continues to appear in almost all our family photos, so the emotional connection is only getting stronger.

And that’s about all there is to say about it.

Source: http://willleathergoods.com/shop/bags/la-manta/#prettyPhoto

Though there’s more than a few cycle brands in this Week In Review, the bags work just as well if you’re traveling via two feet rather than two wheels. We’re checking out a smart safety addition to cycling messengers, a backpack offering from a runner up in one of our Carry Awards and packs that are suitable for hauling down the highway on your Hog. Plus we have an eye-catching messenger and a smart-looking camera bag thrown in for good measure…

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Bright idea

Source: http://www.blaqdesign.com/Pages/Content/Post.aspx?postId=204

You get lights for your bike but how about a light for your bag? A few brands have cottoned on to the fact that this is a pretty nifty idea, one such brand being Portland-based Blaq which offers messengers that feature a built-in flashing Electroluminescent strip. Utilizing two AA batteries, the strips flash for up to 60 hours and are available in a choice of colors. At the moment Blaq is offering the lighting on their messenger bags but EL panniers and backpacks are on the cards.

Making tracks into the wider world of carry

Source: http://www.trakke.co.uk/product/krukke-harris-tweed

Trakke came second in our Carry Awards Active Messenger category but we’re not checking out a messenger this time. Instead it’s their Krukke backpack, which features a Harris Tweed and Waxed Cotton outer with a 1000 denier Cordura lining. The pack has a volume of 27 liters, with a front pocket that’s large enough for A4 documents, a zip pocket for smaller items, as well as side pockets. If you like the style but want a cheaper option, you can opt for the 14 oz Waxed Cotton version.

Packs that rev it up a gear

Source: http://www.bikeexif.com/motorcycle-backpacks

If your version of ‘bike’ involves less leg power and more engine power, this list of motorcycle backpacks might be just the thing to inspire you to add to your carry collection and hit the highway for your very own road test.  You can also check out a bit more about the first brand in the list here (it’s a different model but both packs are by Kriega).

Spreading the upcycling message

Source: http://willleathergoods.com/shop/bags/la-manta/#prettyPhoto

If you like your carry with a splash of color and a good dose of uniqueness to it, the La Manta messenger from Will Leather Goods may be the sort of thing you’re looking for. The messengers are constructed out of surplus military canvas, found vintage Mexican blankets and found vintage belt straps. If you like a certain degree of organization in your messengers then this may not be for you but if having something far removed from mass-produced bags is appealing, the La Manta may win you over.

Image isn’t everything – but compromise isn’t bad

Source: http://www.couvertureandthegarbstore.com/Product/?p=6165&i=6994

So you’ve got your camera equipment all ready to go but your boring camera bag isn’t leaving you feeling particularly inspired in the creative department. The Outdoor Code camera bags might change your perspective on camera carry, adding a touch of style to a category where functionality often overrides aesthetic appeal (which is understandable but not a necessity). The different sizes accommodate various cameras and accessories (find out more here) and each bag comes with a removable padded liner to help protect your equipment.

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Hmmm, this is a little out of our general scope of what we’d post about. But it’s pretty interesting and might get you thinking about what setup best represents your current living location. UNDSCVRD are a rad little online store that loves carry, bags and sharing the best brands with anyone who stops in for a look.

The idea behind the look book is pretty simple. UNDSCVRD receive a lot of questions from men around the world on which bag they should choose. So, to help, the lookbook has been created to show them how they can style their looks/bag. The idea is to inspire them and take away the stigma of the ‘man bag’  ever since that episode of Friends. Thanks, Joey…  ;)

The one thing we really love is how they’ve paired up looks with locations – Hong Kong, New York, etc – and what they think would be a great setup if you were living around those parts. Not something that you need to take literally, but it’s a good bit of fun. And fun is good.

You can view more over at UNDSCVRD.

Source: http://www.coteetciel.com/store/bags/bowler-bag-black.html

Welcome to the weekend and the Week In Review. We’re checking out some chic carry for the office, a solution to avoiding flat batteries in your tech gadgets while on the go and some waterproof cyclist carry in the form of a duffle and a rather large messenger…

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A ray of sunshine for tech-dependent travelers

Source: http://www.o-range.com/en/products/

It’s bad enough when your gadget batteries go flat with no immediately accessible power source to recharge them in an urban setting – now consider them going flat in the outdoors where you’re potentially several days from civilization. Whether scaling mountains or a day out and about in the city is on the cards, o-range is an Italian brand that seeks to overcome the problem of flat batteries via their range of solar carry products that incorporate photovoltaic panels in order to trap solar energy to recharge your tech gadgets. Options include a solar iPad case, solar messengers and solar backpacks.

Duffle for the downpour

Source: http://www.chromeindustries.com/bags/sotnik

Chrome’s Sotnik duffle offers waterproof carry for your everyday needs, with a roll-top opening and dual portability options (by hand or as a pack). The duffle has a volume of 45-65 liters, with an interior lining that protects your gear from the rain (or alternatively prevents wet contents from leaking) and a zipped compartment for separate wet and dry storage. The exterior straps offer additional portability for bulky items.

Carrying your EDC and then some

Source: http://www.manhattanportage.com/catalog/product_info.php/bike-messenger-bag-xlg-p-422?osCsid=d1c16973fd4139aa2c139752a32a313a#!tab2

Sometimes you just need to be able to haul a lot of stuff – on a bike. The New York carry brand Manhattan Portage decided to take on the task of catering to this need via their 1620 bike messenger that offers 63.5 liters of space for hauling ’til your heart’s content. If you’re after waterproofness, you’re sorted with the vinyl lining and there’s some organization options through the interior and exterior zipped pockets (though what you get in these pockets will depend on how full your bag is).

Classy carry for work or play

Source: http://www.coteetciel.com/store/bags/bowler-bag-black.html

Finding carry that’s suitable for the office can be quite tricky but Côte&Ciel have come up with an interesting option in their Seine Bowler Bag. The bag can hold a 13-inch MacBook Air in the center, with zipped compartments on either side. Côte&Ciel have a knack for pulling off eye-catching, casual-chic designs and their Seine Bowler Bag could work well in a variety of work and leisure environments.

Backpacking in style

Source:http://www.opumo.com/bags/backpacks/checker-kastrup-backpack-with-cognac-leather-trim.html

If the Seine Bowler Bag isn’t your style, or alternatively you don’t want to give up the carry flexibility of a backpack but still want something that will look good in the office, WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie may have the bag for you with their Checker Kastrup Backpack. The pack has a cognac leather trim and handles, with a padded laptop compartment and interior pockets for smaller items. It’s got smart looks but it’s worth pointing out that this bag is not cheap, so the price might make this an infeasible option unless you have the money to spare.