Week In Review ~ 17 January

Making your water bottle work harder, putting an end to struggling with awkward loads, plus a duffel that’s inspired by bridge design. Discover more in our Week In Review…

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More than just a bottle lid

Staying hydrated when you’re on the move is important, but it’s likely you’ll have to carry more than just a water bottle. Keys, some cash, a card or two, a small first aid kit, trail snacks…all the little things that tag along for the journey can be frustrating to carry. This is where the PACE Lid comes in. The lid is designed to work with wide mouth Nalgene, MSR, and Klean Canteen bottles, providing straightforward storage capacity for a variety of small EDC items. Check out the PACE Lid Kickstarter campaign here.

Urban style for work and play

Whether you’re getting your work tools to the office during the daily commute or hauling your holiday essentials on a fun weekend getaway, the Brooks Metropolitan range caters to a host of carry needs. The collection features a choice of bags including weekenders, a tote, a briefcase, a messenger and a backpack, with sleek urban aesthetics front and center, making these pieces smart companions for both travel and everyday use. Each bag is crafted in Italy, with a yellow quilted lining that makes it easier to see the contents, so less rummaging and quicker access to the items you need in a jiffy.

Set to conquer the city streets and beyond

Maxing out the stealth streetwear vibe to their gear, DSPTCH have given their bags a military-inspired makeover with the Black Camo Collection. The collection includes the DSPTCH Daypack, Ruckpack and Slingpack, each constructed with 500D Black Multicam® Cordura, tough Duraflex hardware and Mil-Spec webbing. The bags all accommodate a 15-inch laptop (measuring less than 1 inch thick in the case of the Slingpack and Ruckpack), and are ready to conquer day-to-day carry challenges as well as the adventurous unknown in your travel explorations.

Preventing awkward loads putting you over a barrel

Backpacks are often the carry of choice for exploring the outdoors, but barrels definitely have their benefits as wilderness storage, especially when water-based travel or activities are involved. They protect your gear from the elements and unfortunate dunkings, they seal food smells inside to discourage unwanted visits from wildlife, plus they can accommodate a large range of contents. The problem? Barrels are a pain to carry. Granite Gear however has a solution – the Vapor Flatbed. This barrel harness provides the comfort of backpack carry thanks to a padded hipbelt with stabilizer straps, wide shoulder straps with load lifters, plus a sternum strap. The harness has a padded base that provides some impact absorption, helps prevent scratches in boats and even serves as seating when you’ve set up camp. In addition to barrels, the Vapor Flatbed can be used with other awkwardly-shaped items too such as chain saws or jerry cans.

Bridging everyday functionality and travel-ready design

From heading to the gym, to setting off on a trip, duffels are some of the most versatile carry out there. The Postalco Duffel Bag lends itself to both these uses and more, while adding thoughtful construction that enhances its functionality even more. Crafted by hand in Japan, the duffel is constructed from lightweight and water-resistant Hammer Nylon, with support provided by internal webbing straps that take inspiration from the structure of suspension bridges. The duffel’s leather-wrapped handles can be carried by hand or over a shoulder, and an interior zipped pocket provides a handy place to stash small items for easy access.