Carryology » Work

Road Test | Slicks Suit 25 Backpack

ando — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:31:19 +0000

A purpose built backpack for the cycling commuter

For as much as we may try to restrain ourselves, a ride to work usually results in a at least a few traffic light drag races (and the inevitable sweats that follow). If you don’t much enjoy smelling like a rotting durian for the rest of the work day, you need to pack a change of clothes. Enter the Suit 25 from Slicks…

Cycling commuters have it hard. From rain and road scum, to sweat and strain; pushing those pedals is no easy task. This first backpack from Slicks aims to hide your morning toils and let you look dapper and composed when you step out of your cubicle and infront of your boss.

The backpack was co-developed with Swiss design house Flink, who you might know from the pivoting Ergon packs or our earlier Specialist Carry Novaris Vet pack. It’s not a cheap backpack, but it does come loaded with features. Slicks kindly provided us with this production pack for testing.

The key feature is an integrated but removable suit carrier, designed to keep that shirt or pin-stripe crease-free during your pedal bashing.

But the Suit 25 also adds a high spec rain cover, laptop section, and multi compartment layout for getting those work duds to and from the office in tidy order.

So how did we find it? Let’s begin with the good…

Highlights

Suit Carrier: The suit bag works pretty well, even with my ‘tailor’ made $45 Bali party suit. It fills the space against the stiff laptop section, clips in place, and offers good amounts of protection. If they really wanted to up-spec it, they could add foam tubing in the folds the way some travel brands do, but it works well so long as you don’t overly cram the pack.

Discretion: There’s almost nothing worse than seeing a suited worker carrying a pop-color strap-city outdoor pack (perhaps power-walking suits in white runners just pip it). Thankfully the Slicks pack lets you tuck straps away and present a clean silhouette if you do need to carry the bag into a meeting. We’d prefer a dark back panel to finish this statement, but it still presents blacker and better than most.

Horizontal and Vertical access: When a bag is at work, you want to reach into it from above. But when you’re packing clothes, you want to lay it out on a bed and access it horizontally. The Slicks works well at allowing both types of access.

Level of finish: On the whole, customers are not good at paying for expensive features. This means that most bag brands design their concept, then start stripping back the level of finish on features until the bag comes in at a ‘good’ price. The Slicks has resisted this, consistently finishing their features off to a high level.

That front pocket: Bulky and irregular shaped items are the bane of most bags. The front pocket on the Slicks was surprisingly capable at swallowing a helmet or big DSLR, shoes, food, or those unexpected hitch-hiking objects you pick up when commuting.

General Pocketing: There’s an art to bag pocketing, and most brands fall down with it. You need a variety of pockets that act at different heights and depths. Delicate things need to be high up and padded, flat things against hard things, blah, blah, blah. The Slicks has a nice spread of pockets to carry most things well. They could do with a little more thought for sunglasses and delicates, but on the whole, it has a good spread.

Laptop section: Compared to other bags that run a laptop against your back, this one does it well.

There’s quick and easy access…

…the laptop section finishes well above the floor of the pack (an inch lower and it would fit my 17″ MacBook with less of a stretch)…

…and it even has a floating wall, which means you can collapse the laptop section to get more room in the main area if you’re not hauling a computer.

Commuter friendly: You’d hope so, but the pack really does do a good job here with lots of reflective bits, and proper seam sealing for the rain cover.

Lowlights

This bit has to come with any pack that tries to do more than just carry a school book or two. The Slicks is an admirable first pack, but there’s a few niggles we think could be improved…

If backs bend, then why are packs flat? This is a pet peeve for us that the vast majority of the industry is guilty of (for a more in-depth discussion, check an earlier post of ours). If you want to carry a laptop, the Slicks is very guilty of this, with its structured form really see-sawing against your spine. Without a laptop, it bends well enough.

Weight: This is a heavy pack. All those features add up to 2.4 kilograms, which is noticeable on a long commute. There’s clothes hangers and covers and PE Board structure that all serve a purpose, but also adds to your sore shoulders. Having said that, you can just leave some of those features at home and the underlying pack is not too bad weight wise.

Straps: OK, there’s a bit to cover with this, so we’ll start with the obvious one…

Airmesh sucks. It scratches on bare skin and doesn’t really do the job it’s meant to. Most backpacks are guilty of using it, so we can’t single out the Slicks too much, and it only uses it on the straps (with a great jersey on the back panel).

The straps are also spaced quite wide apart, and so even though I’m above average shoulder width, I needed to use the chest strap to stop them slipping off my shoulders. Again, this was accentuated any time the laptop was inside.

That chest strap also has a pretty short range for travel, so you might find it riding quite high and close to your neck if you have a bit of bulk to your upper body.

Waist strap: With a laptop in there, you can’t use the waist strap, as it would lock your spine into an impossibly upright position. But waist straps are over-rated in cycling and active packs anyways, better suiting upright walking packs.

Best suited to

Cycling commuters who like to smell nice: It works better than most bags at carrying a suit or shirt and shoes to the office.

Overnight business: If you ditch the rain cover, you actually have a great carry-on bag for that overnight business trip. It is discreet enough, and fits well with a work/hotel routine.

Not suited to

Anyone not fitting the above: This is a purpose built bag to serve a distinct purpose (or two). It would certainly work well enough at uni or for a general bag, but you’ll be paying a premium for features that you don’t really use.

Any niggles?

I’m going to be a little contentious here, just because it kept going through my head as I used this bag…

By Hadrien’s and my reckoning, fashion designers work well designing bags with folds and soft fabrics. Industrial designers like things to be more rigid. The Slicks has definitely been designed by industrial designers, as it works great so long as you don’t expect to bend and move too much with it. I think the best bag designers learn to mix both disciplines (fashion and industrial), but there’s very few of those…

Any envy for a similar bag?

The main competition for the Suit 25 comes from people patching together multiple products. There are lots of neat suit carriers that can be coupled with a cycling bag for a similar outcome, but the Slicks is one of the few that puts it all together for you.

Conclusion

This is an admirable backpack that brings together a number of previously distinct features. It allows vertical or horizontal access, which is a must for a bag that does both clothing and work stuff. It spends the money on features that most don’t. And it shows a strong purpose in what it wants to be.

If I didn’t carry a laptop, I think I would like the Slicks even more. With a laptop, it’s just not comfortable for a long or rigorous ride. However knowing that big laptops like mine are a dying breed, I think there will be plenty of executives and semi-formal workers that find a great friend in the Slicks Suit 25.

Hard Graft 2Unfold | Carry Candy

ando — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:14:57 +0000

We’re starting a new type of post, and calling it Carry Candy (imaginative, we know).

These are the bags, wallets, and assorted carry items that we would LOVE to own (but usually can’t afford or justify). And to kick it off, we have a big love nest of Italian vegetable tanned leather called the 2Unfold.

If you’re not familiar with Hard Graft, go and have a play on their site. Like NOW. The English/Austrian duo behind this brand have an amazing aesthetic, paired with old world craft sensibilities. But the thing that really rocks our boat is how innovative they are with classic wool felt and leathers.

So the 2Unfold is basically a satchel/tote, but with a number of really impressive tricks:

It extends to be a full length folio bag, allowing you to carry large or long items
It then folds in half for a more manageable daily work bag
The shoulder strap can be threaded to make it a backpack
And a trademark lower hand loop lets you palm it with confidence

One downside with the Hard Graft pouches we currently own is that those delightful felts and leathers are pretty thick & luxurious, not leaving all that much room for your contents. But if you’re in to Hard Graft, you’re hopefully also in to minimalism and removing clutter from your life. So it shouldn’t be a biggie.

Oh, and if anyone has treated themselves to a 2Unfold, we would love to hear your thoughts on it. In the meantime, we’ll go back to drooling…

Take a peek at the bag below and head over to Hard Graft for more detailed images..

Our favourite versatile messenger bags

ando — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:46:58 +0000

For a full size version of the poster click [HERE]

A good messenger bag will let you live at the intersection of worlds

A good messenger bag lets you hop between places, accessing on the go. While not great for extended periods of carrying, they make up for that in convenience. While the original messengers were not much more than simple sacks, the recent trend of adding a few more pockets helps you deal with your abundance of modern gadgets.

“People who live in the intersection of social worlds are at higher risk of having good ideas.”– Ronald S. Burt

We’ve pulled together a number of messengers that we think offer good performance in a variety of environments. These messenger bags should all:

Work well both in the office (or university), as well as getting to and from it. If you work amongst pin-stripe suits, you may want to check some other more formal bags (Jack Spade & Mandarina Duck have nice options).
Carry all your indispensable bits of technology, including a laptop (some of these need a sleeve, but we’ll let you know which ones).
Let you jump on a plane, train or big boat, and explore the world. This requires an ability to expand for clothing, food, and really big headphones.

More discussion on the bags after the jump…

We’ve arranged the bags according to where you are most demanding; work/study or activities. We’ll start with the more work oriented bags:

Hard Graft 2 Unfold

Positives: A huge number of configurations, beautiful leather and details with old world craft, still pretty rare and unique.

Negatives: That deluxe Nappa leather doesn’t leave all that much space for your actual contents (better suits minimal packers), and they’re not great straps if you want to raise a sweat.

http://shop.hardgraft.com/bags/2unfold-laptop-bag-brown

Incase Nylon messenger

Positives: Covers all the basics at an affordable price (in most countries), various size options (we like the mid), a great silhouette, and minimal dangly bits.

Negatives: Having pockets only on the front of a satchel is inefficient (a power-pack can ‘fill’ the satchel), no compression options, and the componentry is only ‘good enough’. If you up-spec to their more premium bags, they start to get pretty fussy and lose the essence of a messenger.

Crumpler Cashmere Blazer

Positives: Really dialed and refined construction, durable, looks after all the basics, good padding.

Negatives: There’s no great innovations, the Crumpler brand is a little NQR these days (especially European Crumpler which is managed by different crew), and you might end up feeling like a cliche uni student.

Nike ACG messenger

Positives: There’s some really clever (yet subtle) innovations – the bag can extend to fit oversize items, there’s good yet discreet compression, there’s big pockets with internal splits, and there’s loads of versions available (including an XL).

Negatives: You need a laptop sleeve, the rubbery PU fabric used under the flap does not age well, and the hooks can be a little fiddly.

Chrome Citizen

Positives: A super comfy soft form, a cavernous main section, multiple size options, and some tasty shape details.

Negatives: It’s pretty basic on the pocket front, it needs a laptop sleeve (their Buran Messenger has a laptop pocket, but it’s not as sexy), and the seatbelt buckle used on their straps is love or hate.

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Any feedback? We’d love to hear if you’ve used better, if you’ve found the same, or if you think we’re tripping. Just fire us a comment and join the conversation.

PS: Crew in England, Australia, and many of the colonies might call these satchels. But that sounds a bit naff, so we reckon we should join the rest of the world in calling them messengers.

Our favourite versatile backpacks

ando — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:35:53 +0000

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.

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