With our Hall of Fame Finalists we salute the supporting cast. The materials, hardware, components and construction techniques that facilitated new possibilities in the carry world. Each of our finalists displays innovation in their respective fields, with designs and developments that have significantly increased carry functionality and versatility.

Log your vote at the bottom of the page!

_________________________________________________________

Arc’teryx WaterTight™ Zipper

Arc’teryx reinvented what a weatherproof zipper could be, taking a bulky and weak aspect of early hardshell designs and eventually developing a technical yet sleek and clean design. Mike Blenkarn, a member of the Arc’teryx R&D team, initially started working on the idea of a watertight zipper in 1988. Several years later, tests were carried out with urethane-coated zippers, with design and development advancing to the eventual launch of the WaterTight™ zipper in 1999.

_________________________________________________________

Mystery Ranch 3-Zip 

Mystery Ranch revolutionized bag access with their innovative 3-Zip closure system and blazed a trail for other access-focused solutions to follow. The Y-shaped zip design enables easy and quick access to gear located throughout the main compartment of the bag, removing the need to unpack to reach awkwardly located items.

_________________________________________________________

AustriAlpin Cobra Buckle 

The most coveted carry buckle in the world. Developed and manufactured by AustriAlpin in Tyrol, Austria, Cobra buckles are designed to be the strongest and safest load-bearing buckles in the world. Quick-release mechanisms make them easy to use, while a variety of finishes, sizes and colors are available to suit different needs.

_________________________________________________________

Fidlock Fasteners

Fidlock fasteners effectively merge magnetic fasteners and mechanical locks. Fidlock produces a variety of fasteners, from easy one-handed sliders to snap buckles. Secure and robust, the fasteners feature slidable neodymium magnets that enable simple and quick opening and closing when on the move.

_________________________________________________________

CORDURA Fabrics

Utilized across a range of areas, from military use to bags, CORDURA fabrics are constructed using high tenacity fiber technologies, weight for weight, making CORDURA fabrics one of the industry’s most durable and versatile. One reason why early greats such as Kelty, Kletterwerks and JanSport employed CORDURA as their fabric of choice – and built carry empires from it.

 

_________________________________________________________

Dyneema

Dyneema’s great strength to weight ratio has made it popular amongst carry brands who want to shed the load without sacrificing durability. Made from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), Dyneema is up to 15 times stronger than steel on a weight for weight basis. Dyneema comes in a variety of forms including fiber, fabrics and hybrid composites.

_________________________________________________________

RF Welding

If you need to keep water in or water out, Radio frequency welding (RF welding) is key. A process of fusing materials through the use of high frequency electromagnetic energy, RF changed the game of waterproofing bags, and continues to only be practiced by a handful of experts.

 

_________________________________________________________

Halley Stevensons Ltd Waxed Cotton

Halley Stevensons are specialists and pioneers in the creation of premium waxed cottons. Established in 1864 and based in Scotland, you’ll find their waxed canvas used on bags from Tanner Goods to Trakke. It’s worth noting that they’re not the inventors (that was a bunch of 15th century sailors), but they’ve sure taken waxed canvas to the next level (and to the carry world).

_________________________________________________________

Peak Design MagLatch™ 

First introduced on the Peak Design Everyday Messenger, the MagLatch™ is a quiet, easily operated and secure bag closure mechanism designed for photographers in need of quick, one-hand access. The system includes a magnetic clasp and four ladder lock points which are riveted to an interior stainless steel plate. The one-handed system uses the magnet to connect with the plate and close the bag. By pulling the latch up it simply and securely locks onto the nearest ladder, while pulling up the latch handle releases it. Simple and intuitive.

_________________________________________________________

Vote now!