Carry Awards IX | Finalists Recap

The Carry Awards IX are here! Our annual celebration of the very best carry, from travel to EDC and much more. But this year the Carry Awards look a little different, we’ve taken the finalists voting in-house and given each piece of gear real world testing, with judging now in the hands of our contributors.

Over the last few months, they’ve been testing the highest-voted products and taking score, whittling each category down to a Top 5.

And now that they’ve tested the best products in each Carry Awards IX category, the Top 5 will be subject to a public vote starting next week to crown our new champions.

You can find all of the products that have been nominated below, and all of the in-depth highlights on our Instagram page.

Best Active Backpack

Instagram Images

• Arc’teryx Aerois 30 Backpack
• USWE Hajker Pro
• Evergoods MPL V2
• Mission Workshop Speedwell VX
• Mountain Hardwear PCT 55L Backpack
• Matador Beast Ultralight
• Osprey Talon 22
• Hill People Gear Umlindi v2
• Mountain Hardwear Snowskiowski
• Arch Industries Grisetti 30

Best Active Messenger

Instagram Images

• Greenroom136 Metrorunner PRIME Tactical
• Chrome Buran III
• Ally Cappelino Kenny
• Orbitgear r200
• Apidura City Messenger

Best Waterproof Bag

Instagram Images

• Subtech Pro Bag 45L
• Yeti Panga Duffel
• Chrome Urban Ex 2.0
• Patagonia Guidewater
• Sea to Summit Flow 35L
• Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Backpack
• Ortlieb Atrack 25
• Ortovox Traverse 30 Dry
• Big Creek Watershed

Best Travel Luggage

Instagram Images

• Bedouin Mamluke
• Bellroy Weekender Plus
• Zero Haliburton Edge Lightweight Continental Carry-On
• Osprey Transporter Wheeled Duffel 90
• July Carry On Light
• Samsonite Ibon
• YETI Crossroads 29”
• Db Hytta
• Roam Jaunt
• Norrona 120L Trolley Bag

Best EDC

Instagram Images

• Benchmade 535BK-4 M390 Bugout
• Leatherman Curl
• Tactile Knife Co Rockwall Thumb Stud
• Gerber Terracraft 
• GiantMouse Titanium ACE Riv
• Modern Fuel Adjustable Bolt Action Pen
• Bellroy Apex Slim Sleeve
• Terrain 365 Invictus ATC
• Anso Minibar

Best Camera Backpack

Instagram Images

• Atlas Athlete Backpack
• F-stop Dyota 20L
• Nomatic X Peter McKinnon Everyday 25L
• Moment Strohl Mountain Light 45L
• Wandrd PRVKE Lite
• Wotancraft Pilot Backpack
• BEVISGEAR The Top Shelf
• Shimoda Explore V2
• Compagnon Element
• EVOC Photop

Best Everyday Accessory

Instagram Images

• EVERGOODS CAP2
• Snow Peak Aurora Titanium Bottle
• Thyrm CellVault
• Nitecore NB10000
• Dan Matsuda ‘SAMPLE’ Pouch
• WANDRD Tech Bag
• Fellow Carter Move Mug
• Mobile by Peak Design

Best Sling

Instagram Images – Part One – Part Two

• Klattermusen Eldner 2.0
• EVERGOODS MHP 3.5L
• Bellroy Venture Sling 9L
• High Above Venture
• Trakke Largo
• Tom Bihn LGD
• Chrome Industries Tensile Hip Pack
• Aer City Sling 2
• Code of Bell Annex Case
• Topologie Brick Pouch
• Matador Freerain
• Heimplanet Transit Sling XL

Best Work Backpack

Instagram Images – Part One – Part Two

• Bellroy Transit Workpack
• Aer City Pack X-Pac
• Cote&Ciel Sorbonne Accent EcoYarn
• Apidura City Backpack
• Tanner Goods Holton Leather Pack
• Incase A.R.C Commuter
• Troubadour Explorer Pioneer
• Troubadour Aero
• Osprey Transporter Panel Loader
• Masterpiece Wall 2Way Backpack

Best Work Shoulder Bag

Instagram Images

• Code of Bell X-Tote
• Mission Workshop Drift Tote
• Aer Gym Tote
• Cote et Ciel Orga Sleek Black
• QWSTION Bananatex Tote
• MSPC Kept
• Porter Road Shoulder Bag
• Troubadour Carrier Tote
• Incase A.R.C Tech Tote
• Masterpiece Wall 2-Way Briefcase
• Masterpiece Kept

Best Carry On Bag

Instagram Images – Part One – Part Two

• Tom Bihn Techonaut
• Able Carry Max
• Osprey Transporter Carry-On 44
• YETI Crossroads 35L
• Osprey Daylite 44L
• Aer x Ministry of Style Lunar
• Minaal Carry On 3.0
• Heimplanet Transit Line Travel Pack
• Nomatic Navigator
• Gregory Detour

Best Travel Clothing

• Western Rise AirLoft Hooded Jacket
• Danner Overlook Sneaker
• Alchemy Equipment Tech Stretch Jean
• Outlier Dreamweight Tee
• Patagonia Nano Air Hoody
• Alchemy Equipment Laminated Stretch Rainshell
• Woolly NatureDry Loft Puffy

Best Everyday Bag

Instagram Images – Part One – Part Two

• Remote Equipment Charlie 25
• EVERGOODS CPL28 v2
• DSPTCH Ridgepack
• The Brown Buffalo Conceal V3
• Black Ember SHADOW
• Boundary Supply Rennen
• SOG Surrept
• Mystery Ranch Rip Ruck
• Tom Bihn Shadow Guide 23
• The North Face Kaban V2
• Alpha One Niner Pathfinder
• Mammut Seon Transporter 26

A heads up: Bellroy and Carryology share the same founders. You can read about our origin story here.

And hey, we’re reader-supported too, so if you find something that sparks your interest and click through and purchase via our affiliate links, sometimes we’ll get a little kickback from the brands or retailers. It helps us to make more content and build this channel. Although, we’ll just point out, some brands don’t have affiliate options, and that’s cool with us too. If the carry is awesome, we recommend it!