Best Specialist Carry Finalists:
Fourth Annual Carry Awards

While some bags favor versatility, Specialist Carry takes a different approach. Embodying “fit for purpose”, our Specialist Carry finalists nail a particular carry requirement through focused and thoughtful design. They may vary greatly in the needs they fulfil, but they all share a skilful approach to satisfying their intended purpose.

Log your vote at the bottom of the page!

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The Forge Co. Frontline Pack

Done right, Specialist Carry should take a very specific need, and push the frontiers of carry in that very narrow niche. The Forge Frontline does this, but with a modular system that adds surprising flexibility. A collaborative effort between Michael McClean and BO Gear, the Forge supports rural firefighters and emergency service workers as they help save lives. A huge amount of thought and work has gone into this very impressive pack and system.

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Ergobaby Four Position 360 Cool Air Carrier

For years, parents around the world loved the Ergobaby product for carrying bubs close to their body, with proper front and back carry options. But it was always a touch ‘basic’, missing some of the features that fancier brands gave. Their 360 fixed this, pimping features and speeding access, and now their Cool Air brings better ventilation to this four-position formula.

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SDR Traveller 1M Hauly Heist

You can imagine the dilemma… You have $1M in cash, and you need to get it somewhere without being mugged/shot/kidnapped. If you go with an aluminum Rimowa, you’ll look the business, but also mark yourself as a target. If you instead choose to handcuff a secure case to your wrist, you and that wrist might be separated. SDR encourage you to go discreet, while minimizing the risk of radio frequency tracking. Yep, this is ‘specialist carry’ in every sense of the term.

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Arc’teryx Voltair Avalanche Airbag

As the category of avalanche airbags matures, more resolved solutions are finding traction. The Black Diamond JetForce was the first to do away with compressed gas cylinders, and it’s now joined by the Arc’teryx Voltair. So what’s the difference? The Voltair has managed to simplify some of the mechanism and attachment systems, which in theory means there should be less to go wrong. Both are huge achievements, which should hopefully save lives.

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Incase Kelly Slater Action Pack

By far the most resolved GoPro pack solution we’ve seen. The pack offers versatile configurations. The inserts are molded, formed and/or welded according to use. And the whole bundle gets endorsed by one of the greatest athletes to ever dance across our oceans.

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EVOC Bike Travel Bag Pro

As cycling replaces golf for the world’s well off, better bike bags are finally replacing taped boxes and bubble wrap. With this Pro model, EVOC take their successful Bike Travel Bag, and pimp it. Lighter weight, new handles, better structure, better resolution, and even a detachable third wheel all help you fly your bike further and with more confidence.

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Lexdray x TRJR Drum Pack

Some designs just make sense. When you see the TRJR Drum Pack, you know what it is, you can imagine it sitting beside your kit, and you know it will work for what it’s intended for. Lexdray teamed up with Tony Royster, Jr. to design the pack, which can also double as a daypack for your work or downtime essentials.

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Osprey Poco AG Premium

There are two huge challenges with outdoor kid carriers – how to keep them comfortable, and where to put your stuff when a kid is on your back. Osprey got a helping hand on the first, with their awesome AG suspension system. And with the second, they’ve shaped and squeezed clever zones and removable capacity to cater for different volume requirements. This is a seriously fancy way to hit the trail with kids in tow.

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BAM La Defense

There are stringed instruments worth more than most folk will make in their lifetime, each with names, stories and bloodlines passed down for centuries. When instruments can mean this much, you tend to want more than an IKEA bag to carry them. BAM exist to nurture your most loved instruments, and the La Defense uses a suite of modern materials to do this without the penalty of weight.

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Finisterre Duffel

While most of the world thinks of surfing with blue skies and tropical beaches, there exists a hardier breed of surfer braving cold weather and rugged terrain. Finisterre exist for these adventurers, and their collaborative effort with Ortlieb is about giving these folk a way to transport their basics. A durable duffel with burly construction and just the minimum of features, this is about getting out there and back again.

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Vote now!

(Voting closes April 6th)