Related posts:

1. Drive By | KILLSPENCER Weekender 2.0
2. Drive By | Timbuk2 Copilot Roller
3. Mattt iPad Cover – Drive By

Road Test | Cote et Ciel Rucksack | Part 1

Heading to the Big Apple next week for a United Nations event and being the consummate planner, my mind was filled with worry. How should I pack? What should I bring? And, of course, how would I carry it all?

I turned to my brethren at Carryology and Ando came back with a quick suggestion for a day/travel pack that would meet my needs. Enter the Côte et Ciel Rucksack from the Parisian fashion group, Paper Rain…

The bag has an organic, almost alien-like appearance with naturally flowing contours. It comes in two sizes (fitting 15″ and 17″ Macbooks or equivalent) and 4 colors. I was sent the 15″ model in Grey Melange (thanks guys for providing this pack to us for review).

Upon receiving the backpack, I knew I was in for a treat. The bag is made of CetCcycle which is from recycled PET bottles. I was surprised to read this in the literature because the bag is rugged yet soft at the same time. There is a heft to the bag thanks to the thickness of the fabric, but it manages to remain comfortably light.

The compartment design is where this bag really sets itself a part. It sports a dual design with a rear area which places your laptop against your back, with a bevy of slots of pouches for magazines, MP3 player, headphones, and small accessories. The rear compartment is well designed, even sporting a storage flap to hold magazines snug and two elastic pieces on the side to make sure the back doesn’t open too wide.

There’s already one detail that worries me. Having the laptop against your back is great for security (harder to have it stolen in crowds), however in my initial use, it has proven to be quite cumbersome to unzip the rear compartment because the shoulder straps get in the way. In an airport security line, one would likely have to place the bag on the ground and use two hands to open it up to withdraw the laptop. In fact, if you are looking for a bag for repeated retrieval and storage of items (metro pass, water bottle, camera), this design might pose a problem.

On the front of the rucksack, after you unbuckle two latches and undo a single zipper that runs the length of the bag, you’re presented with a view not unlike one you’d be looking at when packing your weekender bag. The design geniuses figured out a way to combine a small duffel bag with a backpack. The inside is lined with a luxuriously soft material and even has two tie down quick-release straps to get those bulky sweaters under control. There’s an additional pouch perfect for toiletries or keeping underwear and socks separate from the main compartment.

I have mentioned the clips a few times but haven’t given them the attention they deserve. I am sure you are all familiar with the standard clip mechanisms where you squeeze the sides and it comes out. They are found on nearly every pack these days. The clips on the Côte et Ciel rucksack are different. You squeeze the center and it releases. The cool part, however, is that they swivel. This means the bag has some freedom to stretch and lean to accommodate your goods.

This post is meant to serve as an introduction to the bag. Watch this space for my full review after I return from my trip where I will have put the rucksack through it’s paces. I’ll go more in depth about how well it performed carrying various loads, how the hardware (zippers, clips) held up, and if any of my initial concerns were warranted.

Related posts:

1. Road Test | Cote et Ciel Rucksack | Part 2
2. Road Test | Osprey Kode 22 | Part 1
3. Road Test | Osprey Kode 22 | Part 2

“Dear Carryology / wondrous source of zen luggage solutions

I have simple needs (or so I thought). All I want is to carry a 17″ MBP and a SLR in the same messenger, without resorting to a bag so gigantic that my grandmother could fit inside. I’m sure I’m not alone, there must be others out there who thought that adding that extra 2″ to their mac wouldn’t hamper things. Oh how wrong we were.

Help us carryology!

Will

(and the silent masses)”

The above was an email that came into our inboxes last week. Something we’re really enjoying here at Carryology is the amount of feedback and contributions that you, the readers, keep putting forward. Whether it’s via the comments or actual emails, it’s been great getting an actual conversation going with fellow carry nuts! As Will was looking for a bag that could cater to his 17inch laptop and a DSLR, some of our contributors got involved and threw round some ideas. So if you’re in the market for a new bag that has to cater to those devices read on…

One solution Johnson had was to “disregard a messenger and instead aim for a backpack, as your options will be broader and you will feel more comfortable with the weight” Some of the backpacks that would work well in a situation are the Quiksilver Grenade (a well priced and feature loaded pack), the Timbuk2 Maverick or if coin is not as constrained, the radical Kata Source-261 PL.

That said, if you are a sold on the idea of a messenger bag for a 17″ laptop and SLR, you could look at the North Face Backpedal (first image below) or Basecamp (second image below). Another option, as pointed out by David, is The Crumpler Brazillion Dollar Home (third photo below). One point Johnson brought up was “if you are not to concerned about the SLR being visible, look for a bag that has daisy chains on the exterior and use a small SLR pouch attached to the bag.”

This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have a bag that works well with a large laptop and SLR please share it with us in the comments below or email us…

PS Top image from Flickr member Manganite

Related posts:

1. Carryology & Huckberry
2. Welcome to Carryology
3. Carryology says hi to Bellroy

If backs bend, then why are packs flat?

Note: For a higher resolution image of the above, click [HERE].

Computers used to fill buildings. Then just rooms. Then just desks. Now most computers are laptop or pocket sized.
So how does this change things in the world of carry? Well, you can now carry your computer, and many people do…

But there’s a catch…

If you’re still carrying one of those terrible ‘Microsoft Developers Conference 1998′ computer bags a short hop to and from a car, there’s no problems. But if you want to ride, run or even skip or hop your way to work, then you’ll want that computer in a bag that is braced against your body.

Most backpacks and messengers place the laptop section against their back panel. It makes sense doesn’t it…? Flat against flat. Any good hiking geek would approve, as this is where heavier loads should be placed in heavy packs.

Hiking packs are optimised to carry things for long period of time in an upright position. Which means the back panel, waist and shoulder straps are designed for it. However, this principle is flawed as soon as you bend forwards (for instance on your ride to work). In this forward bent position, your spine resembles a VW beetle more than a Lamborghini Diablo, and the flat of the laptop starts to resemble a see saw, only making one small point of contact with your back.

Some brands like STM, Nike, and Incase have played with a couple of bags that move the laptop forward in the sections so it is not in direct contact with the back. The downside has been that this usually divides your large section in half. With messengers, it’s even more tricky, as traditionally the whole bag would wrap around your curves, so having a rigid laptop anywhere in the bag stopped this happening.

Hopefully some of the many bag designers reading this (which if you are , we would love to hear from you!) take it as a great opportunity to investigate and design new ways to carry our favourite devices around. Like internet users, we go from one thing to the other very quickly. I dream of a solution for ‘on the go’ users that keeps my technology both safe, and in a more than comfortable carry good.

What about you guys? Have you found any packs that do bend, even a little, to your back to allow for a more comfortable experience when carrying?

Related posts:

1. Incognito laptop cases
2. Dear Carryology
3. 5 Neat Things Happening in Carry Today

The last ten days has seen the Flap Jack on my back at least twelve hours a day, sometimes more. We were inseparable through airport security, on the flight to Montreal, through heavy downpours, crowded trains, and countless miles of the subway and walking the city streets.

Through it all, I have been very impressed with the bag, but as with most things in life, there were also a few small shortcomings…

-

Highlights:

Water resistance: The moment I got into town, it started pouring heavily. I quickly put on a jacket but the bag was exposed on my back. Thirty minutes later at the hotel, it was completely dry. This scene was repeated numerous times during the trip and the contents on the inside of the bag always remained perfectly dry as expected. What surprised me was how quick drying the outside was. Between the rain and the warmth, I was concerned how the bag would smell after a full day out on my back in 85 F degree weather. I am happy to report that there was nary a smell.

Durability: I must have opened the buckles and adjusted the straps two dozen times a day. I have not experienced any sort of breakage nor can I detect and stress marks in the plastic or canvas.

Comfort: What drew me to the Flap Jack was the hope that it would be more comfortable than the messenger bags I am used to. It is. Having two straps distributes the load much more evenly, saving your neck and back. The size was large enough to accommodate anything I wanted to carry without being so big that I felt overwhelmed by it. I carried a 13.3″ notebook in a sleeve in the laptop compartment, two digital cameras, video camera, books, magazines, fleece jacket, rain shell, and more! The Flap Jack never felt overloaded or top heavy.

The back part of the pack has ribbing under a mesh which allows ventilation as it sits on your back. This gets rid of “back bath” syndrome which is never a sexy look.

Useful Details: What sets Osprey apart from many other pack-makers is their attention to detail (trekking brands are great for this). The Flap Jack is a great example of this. For instance, it comes with three pairs of straps (of varying colors) that you can use to customize your pack. It has a pretty neat system that allows for quick changes. You simply insert the adjustment ring through a slit in the rubber section, then you twist it so it lays flat and perpendicular. The ring never comes out. They use the same system for the chest strap which makes it easy to adjust it to three different heights, depending on the torso length of the user.

The flap of the bag as well as the end of the front straps have small reflective squares which are highly reflective when a (head)light shines on them but looks matte otherwise. There’s also an attachment point for a blinking bike light. These two things show that Osprey is catering towards the bicycle commuter.

The inside front compartment has a few webbed pouches, one labeled with a set of headphones. There are cord guides that lead out of the pack over the top of one of the shoulder straps. This places your earbuds right at ear level. I did not try this out since I prefer to hold my MP3 player or leave it accessible but I liked the thought put into it.

The laptop compartment is secured with a simple Velcro strap, it’s padded, and sits elevated off the floor of the bag so when you put down the pack, you don’t slam your laptop into the ground.

Cavernous interior: The Flap Jack is has a really generous main section, big enough to swallow helmets, jackets, or even that pumpkin come Halloween time. Lots of other packs miss this in the quest for more sections.

-

Lowlights:

Cavernous interior: Well, more specifically its depth. This is perhaps a bit nitpicky and might be due to the way the bag was designed and shaped, but I felt it was too deep at times. It’s about 18 usable inches from top to bottom. I carried documents and when I went to retrieve them, it was like reaching into a pit. Of course, there’s an upside to the size – you could really stuff it full. Which brings me to my next point…

Drawcord Weather Protector: This one is a bit difficult to explain so I’ll try my best. On the top of the bag there is a half circle piece of material (connects to the back panel) with a drawcord through it. The idea is that you could pull it tight and it’d offer an additional level of protection. Remember, the bag’s contents are already covered with a large front flap. The only time the drawcord protector was even relevant was when the bag was fully loaded. That means carrying multiple jackets or large volume items. Other times, drawing the cord tight did absolutely nothing. Even at the tightest, you could fit a fist through the opening. Unlike some camping packs where the drawcord goes in a complete 360 above the bag, this design does not make much sense to me. The upside is it really doesn’t hurt anything.

Front Pouch: If you load up the main compartment, it pushes tightly against the front compartment and crushes anything there. This is not a question of damage, but of accessibility. My pens, Moleskine, mp3 player were basically held hostage in the front pack. I could fit a hand in if I tried, but good luck trying to identify or retrieve anything.

Accessibility: The Flap Jack looks more like a messenger than most packs, so I was hoping that it would be great for access on the go (as messengers are). Disappointingly, this didn’t really turn out. When I was in the city, it was pretty annoying to have to un-shoulder, swing the pack around, unbuckle two straps, then flip over a large flap before I could grab a camera, pen, or map. It got so bad that I started leaving the pack unbuckled, which, in turn, always left me uncomfortable on the subway or crowded city streets.

The only externally accessible pocket is a large deep side pocket which works great for water bottles, but due to how deep it was, anything shorter (like a camera) is hard to reach. I’d love to see some discreet external pocketing worked out for access on the go.

Strap Retention: I have a small to medium sized torso according to Osprey yet most packs I wear have a large amount of excess shoulder strap. The Flap Jack is no different. Two fourteen inch straps flapping around and getting caught in seats and doorways was definitely a nuisance. A simple Velcro loop would help to keep things tidy.

Poor Velcro Positioning: I did not even notice this until I was flying back to California but there’s a piece of Velcro that helps keep the front pouch open loosely closed and secure. The problem is it is positioned in the top center of the compartment, right over the two pen sleeves. I don’t carry giant pens, just regular sized everyday ones and they both fully block the Velcro, rendering it completely ineffective. My front compartment stayed open the whole trip.

-

Best suited to:

Folks who work in casual offices: I work in a dot com and this is my daily work bag. I carry it from the apartment to the office. I don’t need to grab anything on the way and when I am at work, it sits on a chair by me. I reach in a few times a day to grab something but I don’t need constant access.

Commuters: Perhaps an offshoot of the previous category, the mesh back panel, padded laptop compartment, and great weight distribution makes this a perfect pack for commuting. The flapping straps can get a little daunting (be careful when you are cycling), but overall it’s a great pack for walking, cycling, or riding the metro to work.

-

Not suited to:

Accessibility fiends: If you always need to grab something from your bag, this is not for you. The large front flap covers everything and is great for security and to keep things nice and dry but it also blocks off all your gear. The one accessible pouch is too deep to hold anything besides a water bottle in an easily reachable way.

Suits: I personally really enjoy the looks of the Flap Jack. It’s subdued and looks urban yet sophisticated. However, compared to a leather attache or bag, it really looks too young to follow you into a high-rise office building.

-

Conclusion

I am a huge Osprey Packs fan and am glad they have finally started to tap this market of casual daypacks. Their expertise in technical packs has clearly shown it’s influence in the Flap Jack line.  The packs tout features inherited from its older brothers while demonstrating some new features and details of their own, which make them more approachable to the city dweller.

The pack is fun, comfortable, and looks great. It has been a joy to carry and while it does have some minor annoyances, they are just that – things that, if designed differently, would be better for me. At Carryology, we try to give you all the details so you can reach your own conclusions. Tell us if this pack appeals to you in the comments!

Osprey Website
Purchase a Flapjack

Related posts:

1. Road Tested | Osprey Flap Jack | Part 1
2. Road Tested | Mission Workshop Vandal | Part 1
3. Road Tested | Mission Workshop Vandal | Part 2

Osprey 24/7 Pack Series

Undoubtedly riding off the success of their Flap series of casual daypacks (which we are in the process of road testing), Osprey is introducing the 24/7 Series for the FW 2010 season. The Colorado based manufacturer is most well known for their epic technical packs, but have found a niche in travel bags, and now, the urban-inspired day pack market.

All 24/7 packs get the usual urban features like laptop and tunes pockets, removable waist belts, and more grab handles. But what you also get is Osprey’s attention to detail, giving much better than average straps and back systems.

There are six bags in the Series that range in size from 12L (Orb) to Quantum (34L). In addition, Osprey will debut two new women’s-specific bags in the Flap series – the Flap Jill Pack Large and Flap Jill Mini. MSRP: $59 to $99.

Related posts:

1. Road Tested | Osprey Flap Jack | Part 1
2. Road Tested | Osprey Flap Jack | Part 2
3. Road Test | Osprey Kode 22 | Part 1

5 Reasons I can’t find a great messenger bag

If you want to view the full sized poster, click [HERE]

I really want a great messenger bag. I love how fast they are to access stuff, and I think they suit a workplace way better than backpacks (which in my opinion often look too ‘young’ and geeky).

But while I have fallen in love with concept of a messenger, the reality generally bites. There’s a few key things that frustrate me about them. Not least the fact that my hairless mexican cat cannot get comfortable in one while we are traveling, and so I am yet to find any messengers that have really solved all these issues.

Here’s my list of things I want fixed. And to all those bag designers that read Carryology, we’d love you to agree, disagree, or just design a messenger that solves these issues!

Reason 1: Most brands are too similar

Remove the logos, and it’s pretty hard to tell which messengers are from which brands. A big flap, a couple of buckles, some velcro, a shoulder pad, and either black or some pop brights.

Compare this to the world of backpacks, where you have every configuration, size, look and shape. Messengers still have a long way to go in creating some unique looks that leave me feeling special.

Reason 2: Shoulder pain

We humans are symmetrical creatures, but unfortunately messengers are not. The single strap carrying doesn’t affect you too badly if you’re carrying light loads, but once you start to fill the bag, your body gets tweaked with all sorts of badness.

I’d love a way to balance the load when I’m carrying lots. Pull out, fold out; whatever will work without getting clumsy.

Reason 3: Shoulder straps are getting smaller

The early Crumpler bags padded the entire strap. It was deluxe. Grab it any which way, any way up, and it worked.

Now messenger brands give you either a tiny little sliding pad, or they make you commit to being a lefty or a righty, and never allow you to swap.

Reason 4: They are not so laptop friendly

Look at the curves on your hips and back. Now look at a laptop. Why would you try and put those 2 things next to each other? Almost all laptop messengers stick it against the back wall, which happens to also be against your body. Crap.

Reason 5: Internal pocketing generally sucks

This one is harder to explain, but really important. You know when your Tetris L block gets dropped the wrong way, and no other blocks can get down beside or under it?

That’s what happens with messenger front pockets if you have books or laptops in the bag. Any old camera or power-pack in the front pocket can ‘lock-out’ the rest of the space beside it. It sucks.

Did I miss something?

Can anyone explain that number 5 reason better?

Do you have a new messenger that will ease my frustration and help my cat?

Related posts:

1. Make Your Own Messenger
2. Thinking of buying a messenger/backpack/wallet?
3. Backpack or Messenger?

If you want large version of the image above click [HERE]

There’s some great backpacks around, but there’s also a lot that suck really badly. We thought we’d pull together a spread of packs that we rate – they work well, they look appropriate for their intended use, and they should help you get out and enjoy new experiences.

We wanted to narrow this list down a little, so we’ve chosen our favourite versatile packs. A great all-rounder is not easy to do, so there will still be some compromises. We’ve arranged them from more of a work focus, to more of an activity focus. Just pick where you best fit.

Quality = Fitness for purpose

These backpacks should all:

• Work well enough from the office to the outdoors: They’ll carry a mix of items, and look appropriate across a variety of environments (unless you are in full suit city).
• Carry your tech: They have pockets for all those modern devices, generally including a laptop (we let you know if they need an additional sleeve).
• Deal well with travel: Travel requires a pack that can expand for a jacket or contract for an overhead bin. You need to stash food without squashing it and digital toys without scratching them. The best travel packs can open wide on their backs for packing on a hotel bed.

More discussion on the backpacks after the jump…

So, starting from the most work suitable, and building towards the most active suitable:

Incase Nylon backpack

Positives: Loads of great tech pockets, a geometric silhouette that looks great in urban environments (and yet still OK in the outdoors), efficient spaces for square work items, and a nice compromise on price vs quality.
Negatives: The harness and straight body shape are only OK for more rigorous activities, there’s not much expansion ability, and there’s better packs if you want to free your spirit (take it climbing, surfing, boarding, etc).

Gravis Metro

Positives: A really affordable pack that sits quite flat, yet seems to keep growing while you need it to. There’s convenient pockets, sensible sections, and loads of colourway options from crazy all-over prints to stealth black.

Negatives: The laptop pocket is a side opening, which means if you ever forget to do the section zip up, your laptop might meet the floor in a hurry. There’s not much structure or padding, so fragile items (like sunglasses) can feel a little exposed – but that’s not too big an issue for most.

Chrome Ivan Roll-top

Positives: A really different looking pack that gets loads of curious looks. Weather protection is great, with a relatively water-tight hanging pocket that we use for our 17″ MacBooks. While the Ivan is our favourite size roll-top (mid), there’s also the Pawn (small) or the Sultan (large).

Negatives: This is classic courier style, with big pockets and sections that take everything. You need to be creative to find good nests for all your tech, otherwise it just swirls around with everything else. The velcro can be loud when opening the main section, and it’s a pretty wide pack (not great for power walkers).

Rip Curl Escape

Positives: This pack was built for travel, and it shows. A huge main compartment can take a weekend’s clothes, there’s a wide waste harness, and we love all the features like wet sack, insulated pocket (that fits big Bose), and more.

Negatives: It could do with a couple more internal pockets, and it doesn’t compress well, meaning you need to keep it on the full side or your stuff can get jiggy in it.

Da Kine Heli Pro

Positives: A snow industry foundation piece, it looks epic, works for skis or snowboards, has a load of colourway options, and fits the body well for freedom of movement. Various sizes available, with our preference for the 20L.
Negatives: This is the least well suited to a workplace, needing a laptop sleeve and some creativity to make it work well. We also wish it was more water-tight.

—-

So that’s our take. We’d love to hear if there’s some amazing bags we’ve missed (just ping us a comment).

Related posts:

1. Our favourite versatile messenger bags
2. Incognito laptop cases
3. The Department of Goods

Ideas to keep your laptop hidden from dodgy scoundrels

Camera bags used to be very obviously camera bags. That was fine for shooting weddings, but it was a pretty loud request to be mugged anywhere else. The best selling bags now look like pretty normal bags. That’s a good thing.

The same philosophy of hiding your valuables has hit laptop cases and bags in a big way, with some pretty creative expressions. We thought we’d find a few of the more fun ways to keep your laptop your laptop, rather than funding for someone elses drug habit.

Recycled Coffee Sack in Burlap from Etsy

Rainer Spehl wooden laptop case with leather lining & magnetic closure

Gas Case from Ivorilla

More incognito cases after the jump…

If you have a 17", perhaps look at the Atlas section

Laptop case for Macbook Pro against crime

OK, we’re kind of getting bored with these by now. We’ll leave you with an idea for what we’d really like to see…

Does anyone want to convert one of these classics to carry our 17″ MBP’s?

The Olivetti classic by Ettore Sottsass

Related posts:

1. Furoshiki – The simple wrapping square
2. Our favourite versatile backpacks
3. The Department of Goods