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Top 5: Best Work Shoulder Bag 2020
…Work carry trends seem to go full circle from briefcases, to backpacks and now something that is more casual yet still refined – the shoulder bag. Classic carry styles never go out of style but these five brands have brought their own touch to the work bag game. With features like luggage pass-throughs, magnetic closures, and materials ranging from high-tech sailcloth to Italian leather, there’s something for everyone in this year’s Top 5….
Top 5: Best EDC 2020
Writing about Everyday Carry (EDC) is pretty foreign to me as you’ll typically find me on camera playing with the pocket-friendly gear instead – fiddling with switches, clicking all the buttons, and pushing tools to their limit to test their durability claims. However, when offered the chance to talk about the top 5 finalists in the EDC category for Carryology, I knew it was my time to debut my writing career. Given this is a list of some of the…
Top 5: Best Work Backpack 2020
To reach the pinnacle of Best Work Backpack, there’s always the key elements to hit: the right level of refined style and formality for the office. The right organization and protection for your daily tools. Fast and easy access to those tools. And the all-important comfort level, when you’ve crushed a long day and you need that transit home to be as effortless as possible. The above is the baseline. But to truly excel and become champion, a pack…
Top 5: Best Active Backpacks 2020
What could be cooler for an outdoorsman than reviewing the top 5 Active Backpacks of the year? Sounds fun, right? But before we start let’s define what an active backpack actually is. Well, to me it’s the one I grab when going outdoors hiking, climbing, skiing, canoeing, mountaineering, camping and more – an extremely diverse category. Some packs are more versatile, some designed for a specific activity, which is not always possible to test easil…
Top 5: Best Carry-On Bag 2020
Our Top 5 finalists for Best Carry-On are as varied as travel can be, and rightly so. No two trips are exactly the same, with different bags suiting different loads and environments. Each of our finalists has earned their spot for doing a stellar job in their respective niches. However, which piece soars high and delivers the kind of thoughtful, functional and refined experience that elevates the category as a whole? Get into the details and vote…
Top 5: Best Accessory 2020
…Accessories really are the finishing touch on any sort of carry. They allow you to organize, sort, supplement and enhance your traveling or EDC experience. This year we have everything from a tech pouch to a tripod that packs down to a size smaller than previously thought possible. Read on to see what makes each item special….
Top 5: Best Specialist 2020
…Our Best Specialist category celebrates the pieces that hone in on expertly fulfilling a particular carry need. So it’s no surprise that our top 5 finalists are highly diverse in their designs and intended use cases. Each finalist has earned their spot by delivering a dialed-in performance that’s fit for purpose. Let’s take a closer look at each one……
Deal Radar: Western Rise, Peak Design, Lexdray and More
…020. Peak Design Peak Design are running a sale from now through to 6 April 2020 (11:59pm PT), with 20% off all products except the Travel Tripod and tripod accessories. Additionally, they’re offering 40% off all V1 Everyday Bags. Lexdray Lexdray are offering an awesome 40% off from now until the end of April 2020. Use the code Socialdistancing at checkout. Alchemy Equipment New Zealand-based Alchemy Equipment aren’t able to send out orders curre…
The Eighth Annual Carry Awards: 1st Round Voting
…t here, focusing on nominating pieces that emerged from May 2019 onwards to 2020. But we know that great pieces have cropped up over the years that deserve praise and haven’t gotten it. So if you’re considering such a piece, give it a nomination. But as we said, keep it 2019/2020 if possible. Please note, previous winners are not eligible. If a piece has scored one of our previous carry awards then it’s not eligible for this year’s awards. Simply…
The Ninth Annual Carry Awards | 1st Round Voting
…y nominating it below in the relevant category. Try to focus on pieces from 2020/2021. We like fresh. You like fresh. So we want to embrace that here, focusing on nominating pieces that emerged from May 2020 to 2021. But we know that great pieces have cropped up over the years that deserve praise and haven’t gotten it. So if you’re considering such a piece, give it a nomination. But as we said, keep it 2020/2021 if possible. Please note, previous…
Showstoppers: The Best Gear from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2019
…zing set of camping utilities in the Devour and ComplEAT but new for Spring 2020 is their Lockdown Drive which combines a 2.5″ blade with frame lock, a driver with replaceable 2-sided 1/4″ bits, an awl, a replaceable #11 utility hobby blade, file and chisel edge. What stands out here is it’s the first time I’ve seen a company bring a replaceable X-Acto style blade to a multitool. Mystery Ranch The crew from Montana came with luggage in tow and man…
A Decade of Trakke: Alec Farmer Interview
…and we still make small repairs for them. 2020 And we’re here. August 10th, 2020… 10 years later. So far this year we’ve just recently started pushing our comfort levels and playing a bit more with Dyneema. Our Dyneema Banana sling was released about a week ago and sold out in just around a minute or two! We’re liking this experimental approach and you should expect some more experiments going forward. Our face masks were really a big challenge fo…
What to Pack for Winter in Tokyo
…pped for the coldest and windiest days that winter in Tokyo had during this 2020-21 season. The pockets are also very well thought through. They easily hold my gloved hands, plus a smartphone and several other things as you’d expect from a parka. I particularly appreciate the fact that when I put stuff in the outer pockets, the coat doesn’t seem to lose its original pocket shape. Something that happens a lot with other jackets I’ve tried, which re…
Eco-carry…
…ations policy with goals like: “Become climate-neutral in our operations by 2020” and “Become a zero waste-to-landfill organization by 2020”. After sales service Is there any eco-friendliness after a carry item has been sold? Yes there is. Some companies spend part of the profits made on eco-projects. Some have a recycling programme, even so far as paying money for returned used bags. Klattermüsen Klättermusen are launching a unique recycling prog…
Best New Gear: September 2019
…mposite Fabric so you can discern contents at a glance. ORBITGear CIGSeries 2020 Collection ORBITGear takes inspiration from highly mobile lifestyles for their CIGSeries 2020 Collection. Designed to carry daily essentials while protecting them from the elements, the collection features four pieces made with weatherproof polyester and quality hardware. A daypack, messenger, hip bag and sacoche provide a range of options to accommodate diverse loads…
Best New Gear: November 2019
…20 December 2019 during the Side Pack pre-sale, with shipping on 6 January 2020. Cargo Works Croxx Daybreaker Backpack Work to play, week to weekend, the Cargo Works Croxx Daybreaker Backpack takes it all in stride. Built with understated style and practicality in mind, it’s made with durable 400D Cordura Nylon for a lightweight but tough bag that stands up to regular use. The wide-opening main compartment, separate 15″ laptop compartment, and qu…
Harvest Label Japan’s 25th Anniversary Giveaway
…rafted in the brand’s own factory in Osaka, with delivery to begin in April 2020. Note: If you don’t win (or want to guarantee getting hold of one of the bags), you can still pre-order these bags. Pre-ordering will run until 29 February 2020, and the brand is not planning to reproduce these styles again. Online orders are made through Harvest Corp’s website (primarily in Japanese). However, our readers can contact the team via email direct (store@…
What to Carry on Expedition in Afghanistan’s Pamir Mountains
…morning regardless. Snowy peaks above Shaur Pass. Photo: Alex Lee. Planning 2020 The new challenge this year is that we’re working at a greater scale—running up to five expeditions back to back, and have more remote and diverse routes, including one for bikepacking, necessitating a different mix of redundancy and diversity in the kit. Having one cycle route also presents challenging re-supply issues in the remotest corners of the mountain range, a…
Design Talk: 2021 Trend Forecast
…model. Instead of buying a bag, customers buy a subscription to use a bag. 2020 will see the release of the first-ever pair of circular jeans, thanks to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Jeans Redesign project. The project worked with thirty major brands, manufacturers and fabric mills to develop a set of guidelines tackling issues such as waste, pollution, and the use of harmful practices. In 2019 both adidas UK and John Lewis partnered with the…
First Look: Snow Peak Portland HQ
“There is nothing grand about openings in 2020” – Matt Liddle, Snow Peak’s USA Chief Operating Officer Let’s face it, opening up a multi-functioning US headquarters and retail space is an undertaking for any brand during “normal times.” For Snow Peak, they faced the challenge of accomplishing this feat not just during a global pandemic and recession, but having to do so in a city under the spotlight for 100+ days of protests around the Black Live…
Instinct Pro Camera Sling Bag Review
…shortlisted for Carryology Carry Awards as finalist in best camera bags of 2020. So what’s the story of this dark horse? As with most Kickstarter campaigns, the Instinct Pro Camera Sling came out of nowhere. Launched on September 3rd, 2019 the campaign from a relatively unknown brand gathered the support of more than 700 backers and funding over 900% of the initial goal. So not bad at all. As a content creator with a decent full-frame camera (Can…
Looking for the Best Backpacks in Paris?
…any of their customers too. And that dream was finally realized in December 2020 with the Keus Paris pop-up store. “After 3 years online and many requests from our clients, we were ready to open our 1st pop-up store. We are so excited to meet our community, people come with their customized gear or their precious unicorns, it’s awesome to feel that we aren’t alone with this particular disease.” The Keus Paris pop-up opened its doors on 2 December…
Trakke Whisky Collection is One Tasteful Release
…ach the hidden backpack straps and off you go. Fingal Backpack Updated for 2020, the Fingal is a slim and trim daypack that’s great for daily essentials. Bear in mind, however, this is a small pack. If you’re tall like me, it likely will feel pretty dainty on you. Despite the small size it is of course superbly made to Trakke’s high standards with their sumptuous materials. On top of that, it looks great in Whisky. A 13L daypack is something that…
Arc’teryx Alpha FL 40 Backpack Review
…stration when I received the Alpha right before COVID-19 hit Japan early in 2020. I literally had to wait almost one year before traveling in the Japanese Alps to test the “climbing specialist” Alpha FL in the environment it deserves. Before putting my hands on this pack for the first time, I was tormented by a conflicting mix of skepticism and an inexplicable desire to own one. I didn’t need this pack. Yet I wanted to be convinced that owning one…
Best New Gear: March 2021
…urn of their Pencil which we originally saw in 2018 but was discontinued in 2020 for a needed update. Now it’s back and better than ever with a slimmer body, bolt on the side for lead advance, replaceable friction erasers on the rear, and a straight clip. It uses a Schmidt DSM2006 mechanism and has the classic grooved patterning found on all Tactile Turn pens. It’s available in both 0.5mm and 0.7mm lead widths. Speaking of narrow, Will and crew ha…
9 Awesome Damascus Steel EDC Knives and Essentials
…to a range of EDC setups. Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Damast Limited Edition 2020 (US$400) The Victorinox Hunter Pro Alox Damast Limited Edition 2020 features a specialist-crafted Damast steel blade incorporating 125 layers in a unique pyramidal pattern. Complementing the blade are high-grade Alox scales in an attractive copper colorway. Handcrafted in Switzerland, the knife is limited to 6,000 units and is an eye-catching and multifunctional colle…
Top 5 | Best Everyday Accessory
…otect the contents and maintain structure Dan Matsuda SAMPLE Pouch Prior to 2020, much of the world had not heard of Dan Matsuda but everyone knows his work. As a softgoods designer for Triple Aught Design (TAD), he was responsible for some of the most iconic bags and accessories in the EDC world. If you’ve ever lusted after the FAST Pack EDC, Litespeed, OP1, or Control Panel, then you’ve admired his work. After working for TAD for 12 years, Dan d…
Matsuda x Carryology | UNICORN HUNTER (CAS03)
…ticle. And of course, an interview we did with the man himself from back in 2020. There’s no hiding why we chose to work together again, we’re huge fans and are always in awe of his skill. < ORDER MATSUDA X CARRYOLOGY CAS03 HERE > Introducing… Matsuda x Carryology Carryology Artist Series: CAS03: UNICORN HUNTER For the second run of our Carryology Artist Series, we weren’t quite sure where to go right away. Dan’s “FALL” (CAS01) and “RISE” (CAS02)…
Brand of the Year – The Sixth Annual Carry Awards
…(with a goal of 100% electricity from renewable sources for their plants by 2020), as well as responsible business practices, sourcing and logistics, all openly published and transparent for all to see. _________________________________________________________ Cotopaxi A relatively young brand, Cotopaxi has made great steps since its inception, leading with responsible business and charitable endeavours from day dot. Their tag line is ‘Gear For…
A Conversation with Mystery Ranch Founder Dana Gleason
…for the everyday carry market. We have to, basically. And we’re working on 2020 right now. We’re just about finished and then we’ll be going right on to 2021. Basically, it takes the amount of time it takes for us to design it, which is a minimum of 30 to 60 days on something that would be a no-brainer. And the people on my design staff all look at me and laugh. But the reality is, if you were focusing on one pack and just working it through, you…
WAYS TO CARRY