The Carry Awards :: Best Specialist Results

1st Place

Revelate Designs :: Pika Seat Bag

‘They are applying all the best learning in other areas of carry to their very specialist niche. Expandable, dirt and weatherproof, and rugged yet with refined access, these things have more TLC than most other product categories will ever see.’

From a small shed in Alaska, Revelate Designs has been building an incredibly loyal following with cyclists around the world. Loads of mountain bikers, tourers and long-distance commuters love this brand, recognizing important innovation in on-bike carry for all sorts of impossible frame configurations.

The ‘Pika’ lets you carry significant loads out behind your seat, compressing or extending as you need. It’s crafted with top-shelf fabrics like Dimension Polyant, has awesome weather resistance, and very clever patterning that allows for flexible volumes without interfering in cycling motion. The thing we love most about Revelate is that we can see a really great ‘carry mind’ tinkering with all sorts of niche frame carry challenges. This is proper specialist carry that feels more resolved than their small runs would suggest.

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Highly Commended 

These are the pieces that just missed out, and in most cases, by the smallest of margins. To them, we award a High Commendation. The below were of outstanding quality, displaying fine craftsmanship and design flair. With honour, we bow our heads in the upmost respect and kudos. If this were a dias, they’d be biting their teeth into silver medals, while their flags were hoisted into the horizon – a feat not to be overlooked. And I’m sure they’ll be back, to take it one notch higher, next year.

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MindShift Gear Rotation 180° Backpack

The votes were incredibly close between this and the ‘Pika’, which is remarkable considering how different they are. The innovation of the 180 is obvious, right down to the discreet use of Fidlocks and the refined finish of the product. We’re really excited about the platform that this design has given MindShift, and expect lots more awesome to come.

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Salomon ADV Skin S-Lab Hydro Running Pack

Running over mountain goat tracks must be one of the most challenging carry briefs. These packs must stabilize a load through twists and turns, and ups and downs, without interfering in perspiration, lung expansion, or rubs that quickly create red raw blisters. Salomon’s S-Lab programme shows the genuine collaboration of a brand with ultra-athletes, not just the marketing bit of it. The different zones on the packs allow for specific carry elements, yet still grow and shrink as needed. The active harness is one of the best out there, and continuing refinement is bringing the weight down and improving flexibility.