Best New Gear | October 2021

An adaptable extension of your pocket carry, lightweight bags for a multitude of daily carry needs, and a personalized take on a carry icon are just some of October’s best new gear. Discover more below…

EDC

Code of Bell Annex 360 Wallet Sling

Minimalist wallets are great for minimizing carry bulk. But sometimes they simply don’t carry everything you need. Sling bags are solid options for smaller loads but can still be a little large when you’re carrying essentials only. But Code of Bell have found a thoughtful middle ground with the Annex 360 Wallet Sling. Designed as an extension of your pockets, it keeps your items accessible and organized in a choice of pockets, while still remaining compact for convenient portability. Add in the durable, weatherproof construction and multiple carry options including belt loop carry, a shoulder strap and the ability to secure it to webbing on larger bags and you get a highly adaptable EDC piece for daily, travel, and even outdoor carry too.

Prometheus Design Werx R.A.P.

Need to organize a random assortment of EDC items? The Prometheus Design Werx R.A.P. (R.andom A.ccessory P.od) is a compact and flexible storage solution that can house everything from charging cables to earphones and more. The silicone pod comes in a pack of three, with each pack featuring Universal Field Gray, Glow-in-the-Dark, and Flame Orange. To open the pod requires a simple squeezing action, while the MOLLE-compatible back allows you to secure the pods on pack webbing too.

Tactile Turn Stealth

Will Hodges and his growing team of machinists are back with their latest creation. Based on their classic bolt action design, the new pen stands proudly in the footsteps of past limited editions like the Nautilus and Overlander. For the Fall 2021 Seasonal Release, this black beauty, rightfully dubbed Stealth, is based on their tried and true Bolt Action Pen design. It feels like the Tactile Turn team turned up the dial to 11 on every aspect of the pen. Black DLC coating on body and clip? Check. Red Cerakote accent on the bolt? Check. The list goes on: custom digital camo multi-depth clip engraving, radar icon deep engraved on the clip – all built on top of a titanium base. Available in three sizes: standard (5.6″), short (5.1″) and mini (4.4″) allows for a perfect fit for any hand size or writing scenario. If all this wasn’t enough, there’s one more thing: they teamed up with Glow Rhino to offer (optional, +$50) tritium backs on the pens. These gas tubes glow green without the need to charge with a light source. Talk about rad! Like all seasonal releases, the Stealth is limited by time and not by quantity. Get yours before December 31, 2021.

Urban

Filson Waxed Rugged Twill Tote Bag and Duffle – Limited Edition

Filson is renowned for rugged gear that will handle whatever you throw at it, whether that’s the grind of daily commutes or travel buddies that are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Add some stealthy limited-edition style to the mix and you’ve got carry pieces you’ll want to hold on to for years to come. Pieces like Filson’s special-edition Waxed Rugged Twill Medium Duffle Bag and Waxed Rugged Twill Tote Bag. These limited-edition pieces are heavily-waxed variants of Filson classics and feature an understated Dark Wax Shrub Camo colorway. Complementing the Rugged Twill is durable bridle leather from Wickett & Craig and trusty YKK zippers. So whether you’re after a versatile bag for daily carry or a suave option for travels near and far, these bags will keep you carrying in confidence year in and year out.

QWSTION + Kunsthaus Zürich Bananatex Limited Edition Collaboration

Carry meets architecture with the QWSTION + Kunsthaus Zürich Bananatex collaboration. Taking inspiration from David Chipperfield Architects’ Kunsthaus Extension, this limited-edition collaboration brings architectural textures to Bananatex material through digital printing. The collection features two pieces, the versatile Etui Pouch and Shopper bag. Each piece comes in two colorways, Jurassic Limestone and Brass Tubes, and is limited to 250 units for each edition. Crafted in Zürich with water-resistant and biodegradable Bananatex® material, these eye-catching and adaptable pieces bring sustainable art to your daily carry.

Bellroy Lite Collection

Lighter bags give us the freedom to travel further, explore more and embrace time outdoors. But light weight shouldn’t come at the sacrifice of everyday practicality. Enter Bellroy’s lightest collection yet, the fittingly named Lite Collection. The series features four pieces each made from diamond ripstop fabric that’s three times lighter than Bellroy’s other fabric. Bonus? It’s sustainably made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. With options including the Lite Daypack, Lite Duffel, Lite Sling, and Lite Tote, you’ve got flexible carry to handle a variety of needs, from daily commutes to overnight trips and day trips with just the essentials in tow.

Fjällräven Kånken Me

The Fjällräven Kånken is an icon in its own right, carried across the world by people of all ages for school, work, travel, and play. And just like the variety of users, now Fjällräven is offering endless variety in the Kånken Me, a customizable take on this beloved pack that is set to make it even more popular. The Kånken Me enables the user to choose the colors for each part, so you can go as wild and bold as you like or keep things subtle and stylish to suit your personal carry tastes.

master-piece x KINOSAKI ONSEN

This year Kinosaki Onsen, known for its hot springs, is celebrating its 1300th anniversary. And in honor of this master-piece have created a commemorative collaboration based on the theme of a hot spring tour. The collaboration features a hot spring tour bag that holds a robe, a change of clothes, and towels. No hot springs nearby? Well, this also adapts to use as a gym bag or pool bag. The water-resistant bag comes in two sizes and includes an exterior quick-access pocket. The bag also comes with a 1-day free pass exchange ticket (valid until 2026) to visit Kinosaki Onsen’s seven public baths.

Work

MOFT Smart Desk Mat 

A tidy workspace is key for productivity. And the MOFT Smart Desk Mat offers a stylish and adaptable solution to keep your work items organized and accessible. The adjustable desk mat uses modular accessories to organize a variety of items, from tablets and phones to cables, memos and more. It’s easy to adjust the angle to your ideal position, allowing you to alternate between desk, stand and display board setups depending on your needs. So however you want to set up your workspace, you’ve got the flexibility to keep your gear visible, tidy and usable to make the most of your working day.

Travel

On Cloudaway

Shoes take up a lot of space in your travel bag. But the On Cloudaway is designed to be a versatile all-rounder, so you can keep your packing bulk down but still have the ability to explore a variety of travel environments. Adaptable for day-to-day and travel environments, the Cloudaway integrates 90% recycled material in the upper and 10% recycled rubber in the outsole. Comfortable enough for all-day wear and lightweight for packing convenience, these shoes are well worth considering for your next travel packing list.

Outdoors

Finn Optics HighTail

Fresh off his stint as the brand director for Olivers, Dylan Nord is putting his unique spin on the eyewear market. Focused on athletes and sports enthusiasts, Finn Optics aims to bring comfort, style, and performance at a very attractive price point. Its initial offering, the HighTail, weighs just 32 grams which means it’ll disappear on your face. The livewire temples are fully adjustable for the perfect fit and each frame comes with an extra clear lens for free. Available in black and lightning (white) colorways, for under $100, the HighTail checks all the boxes for a great pair of sports spectacles.

Season Three Midtown Vacation Collection

This is the first we’ve heard of this Brooklyn-based brand but they just dropped a new collection aptly titled “Midtown Vacation”. The star is a re-engineered version of its flagship genderless hiking boot in four new colorways as well as a merino hiking sock. The boot is one of the lightest and most comfortable waterproof hiking boots on the market, but the team at Season Three added a sneaker insole, tougher paracord laces and hardware, and an enhanced waterproof membrane. We’re really digging the suede-like finish of the green contrasted with the yellow laces. 

Ibex Mammoth Full Zip Hoodie

Though cooler temperatures are setting in, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the outdoors. Ibex’s Mammoth Full Zip Hoodie provides welcome warmth for outdoor adventures, with understated style that looks right at home in urban settings too. Made from 100% merino wool, it offers a relaxed fit with a two-way front zipper and rib knit cuffs and hem to keep the chill at bay. Available as a limited, single-batch production, it’s a versatile wardrobe staple you’ll happily reach for whatever the day has in store.

Solo Stove Elemental Color Series

There’s something undeniably enticing about kicking back and relaxing with a fire pit in the great outdoors. And Solo Stove are saluting both with their Elemental Color Series. Available across the Ranger, Bonfire, and Yukon, the series features ceramic coatings in colors inspired by Ash, Water, Sand, Soil, and Clay. The semi-gloss ceramic coating not only brings a splash of color to your outdoor entertainment but handles intense heat without any problems, so you can sit back and relax in cozy comfort.

Trakke Óg

Trakke’s original Óg garnered many fans thanks to its blend of simple, tough design and heritage aesthetics. And due to popular request, it’s finally back and even better than before. Now constructed with Trakke’s durable dry-finish waxed canvas and new G-hook hardware, this versatile roll-top backpack is designed to protect your gear against the elements wherever your adventures take you. Its minimalist, near-seamless design provides dependable carry whatever the weather has in store, knowing all your gear is safe and sound so you can worry less and explore more.

Prometheus Design Werx Stratus Down Hoodie

Down jackets offer the ultimate warmth-to-weight ratio and with Prometheus Design Werx are elevating this cold-weather staple to new heights with the Stratus Down Hoodie. The mid-layer hoodie features a unique stretch nylon shell with stitch-less baffles, created by weaving two layers of fabric together just at the contact lines. The hoodie uses premium 800 fill hydrophobic goose down and includes a DWR finish. It comes in Mission Gray and Outpost Blue colorways and pack down into own inbuilt stuff-sack pocket to create a camp pillow. Additionally, it also comes with a detachable stuff-sack to create a travel neck pillow.