Remote Equipment Launch their Prototype Program with the Bravo 18

Last year, Remote Equipment lit up the carry scene with the Alpha 31, a truly epic all-rounder launched to the masses on Kickstarter. But there’s an exciting shift in focus coming – a pivot back towards the experimental.

You see, while the brand will continue to make proven, mass-produced gear like the Alpha 31, they haven’t forgotten their roots. Namely, a passion for designing, making and testing. Playing with new materials. And bringing their ideas and experimentation to life in small batches or one-offs. A process that allows them to find new ways of improving their gear before committing to large-scale production.

And to really give their love of experimentation the space and attention it deserves, they’ve created the Prototype Program.

Faster, more agile development

As far as Remote Equipment are concerned, you can’t have innovation without a little trial and error along the way. But a willingness to take risks and learn from them will ultimately lead to better design. The Prototype Program provides an open space for agile development. New ideas can be explored now. Experimental materials and construction techniques can be put into practice. And samples can be created quickly in order to ruthlessly test them. All in the pursuit of continuous improvement, better functionality, and lean simplicity.

Greater design transparency

Designs can often get tangled up in long development cycles. But instead of keeping their ideas and experiments under wraps, the Prototype Program allows Remote Equipment to share them as they develop. A front row seat, if you will, into the design and development process that brings an idea to life. 

Remote Equipment will offer select pieces from the program as they are created. Sometimes the gear may be a one-off, or offered in small batches. It may one day become a regularly stocked item, but some will remain as unique experiments. And the Prototype Program is now ready to launch its first offering. The highly functional and adaptable Bravo 18.  

A workhorse with carry smarts

For the Bravo 18 project, Remote Equipment examined the fundamentals of how we grab and haul gear and then created a utility bag that offers diverse carry formats. A piece that defies single categorization. What they instead like to call a multi-hauler with multiple access and carry options.

Getting on top of access

Ready access to gear is an important element in a bag’s overall functionality. And Remote Equipment deliver through a dual-access design. The Bravo 18 has a water-resistant cinch top made from 400D coated nylon and TX07 X-PAC™ fabric. The top can either be secured shut or tucked inwards and out of the way for working out of the bag or easy on-the-go access to gear.

Additionally, you’ll find two water-resistant YKK AquaGuard zippers on the front of the bag for easy access to items situated lower in the main compartment, as well as a front quick-access pocket. A further pocket is located inside the bag for storing items such as your keys, phone or wallet within easy reach.

Carrying multifunctionality forward

A bag that adapts to changing needs is a bag you’ll reach for more often. And the Bravo 18 offers five carry modes to suit changing loads, environments and access needs. The rear of the bag has four anchor points that are used to tether the two carry straps in three different formats. The main grab handles are box stitched for strength and can be adjusted to serve as short carry handles or extended for over-the-shoulder use.

To carry the bag as a tote simply shorten the grab handles. This is a handy setup for transporting gear easily by hand over shorter distances.

If you want to work out of the bag while carrying it, you can tuck the cinch top inwards and lengthen the grab handles in order to carry the bag over your shoulder.

For messenger-style carry, cinch the top closed and attach one carry strap to one side to use over the shoulder. In this setup you can get fast front zip access to the main compartment.

Attaching a strap across the bag converts it into sling mode for cross-body carry while keeping the bag vertical.

And when you need to carry heavier loads over an extended period of time, you can attach both carry straps to create a backpack. The front zippers will allow easy on-body access to the main compartment by swinging the bag around.

Built for the long haul

Haul bags fulfil the need to lift or drag gear without worrying that they’ll tear or fail in some way. So Remote Equipment looked to composite X51 (black colorway) and X50 (Alpine and Dark Multicam™ options) X-PAC™ fabric for long-lasting durability. These fabrics have a DWR coated Cordura® nylon face that provides abrasion resistance. For weather resistance it’s laminated to an X-PLY™ reinforcement and polyester film backing. And while it’s built tough, this 18L bag is also lightweight at just 1.2 lbs (0.55 kg). All Prototype Program gear is made in Berkeley, California, and the Bravo 18 will be created in a small batch limited to 30 pieces.

Win #1/30, the very first edition of the Bravo!

To celebrate the launch of Remote Equipment’s new Prototype Program they’re offering up the very first bag made (numbered #1) to one of our lucky readers!

Simply subscribe to our newsletters and follow us on Instagram to enter.

Remote Equipment Bravo