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Exclusive Release | GORUCK x Carryology Kaidan 3.0 ULTRA Black Collection
We've evolved and expanded the Kaidan Collection.
Carefully documenting your feedback and weaving it into a travel system that continues to get better.
Made with the world’s strongest fabric, developed by a new player disrupting the industry, Challenge Sailcloth and their Ultra 400X.
We’re proud to release the GORUCK x Carryology Kaidan 3.0 ULTRA Black Collection.
KAIDAN
What makes it a “Kaidan”? Well, simply put, the Kaidan collection was specifically designed and engineered for adventure and travel. Yes, some users love utilizing Kaidan 1.0 and 2.0 products for everyday carry, as the Kaidan features lend themselves exceptionally for the use and abuse of daily life. But the focus and inspiration was always about travel, which is arguably much more aggressive on gear. The end goal was always to have the Kaidan be lightweight, strong, stealthy (to blend in to new environments), functional, comfortable, and have an element of refinement which borders luxury (like a vintage sports car).
ORIGIN STORY
For the origin and “Kaidan” naming explanations, which have connections to the late great Anthony Bourdain, as well as ghost stories told by ancient samurai, please visit the original article to have a read here.
Kaidan 1.0 and 2.0 were and are still amazing collections. For 3.0 ULTRA, our aim was to improve upon both collections. “Ultra” comes from the Latin word “beyond”, and essentially translates to “greater than”. Executing this concept would be the goal.
GR1 21L & 26L
While the GR1 is a fantastic everyday carry pack, it also makes for a fantastic minimal travel pack. Carryologists have been using the GR1 to travel the world for over a decade now, so this was an easy addition to the Kaidan family. Bonus, you can use it for EDC too.
GR2 26L
The 34L version of the GR2 is a favorite for globetrotters, but we switched it up this time. Offering the 26L version of the GR2, a reader favorite with a cult-like following and rarely ever available. We’ve been wanting to offer one of these for ages and it’s finally here… the very first GR2 26L Carryology collab ever released.
ULTRA, NOT JUST A NAME
The strongest material on earth. One hell of a statement. Backed by science and proven out in the field. Used by some of the most bad ass humans in some of the most demanding environments on the planet. Cutting edge industries such as military, astronomies, motorsports, aeronautics, sail racing, and more. You love the stuff. We love the stuff.
But what Challenge Sailcloth has done with the UHMWPE fiber is next level revolutionary. They call their incredible innovation by the name ULTRA. Yes, we’ve used UHMWPE (Dyneema) on previous collaborations, like the GRXC1. But that stuff is quite different and made by an entirely different brand via different processes. Dyneema uses loose UHMWPE fibers laminated to a backing. Great for ultra light applications, but many complain that this style fabric is “crinkly” and has a unique wear pattern. Not here.
The experts over at Challenge Sailcloth’s R&D department took the UHMWPE fibers, bundled them up into strands, then actually wove them together. Weaving the UHMWPE allows it to look and feel and perform similar to your common nylon fabrics we’re all used to... but outperforms nylon in almost every possible technical measure.
We opted for the ULTRA 400X variant, an upgrade over the 200, but not as rigid/heavy as the 800 version. “At just 5.25oz/yd2, it far exceeds the technical properties of any similar weight fabric available on Planet Earth”. After they’ve woven the fibers together into a space-age fabric, Challenge adds a square grid of CrossPly reinforcement fibers and laminated it to the backside. This is a winning double combo as it adds even more strength and structure to the fabric, with the lamination making it 100% waterproof.
ULTRA high strength.
ULTRA waterproof.
ULTRA lightweight.
ULTRA awesome.
(For even more information, you can check out our previous article “The Dawn Of Ultra Fabrics”)
UNDER THE RADAR
Now, just like we did with the GRXC1 Guerrilla X, we opted to strip down the exterior of both the GR1s, GR2 and the Bullet. GORUCK calls this styling “Slick” and we’re cool with that. While it does eliminate the functional rows of MOLLE/PALS webbing to attach stuff, the clean aesthetic makes it easy to fly stealth under the radar in familiar domestic locations and unknown international territories. We dig minimal, but functional. Slick, stealth, clean.
STERNUM PALS
But, we also heard you… we added the PALS webbing on the shoulder straps. So now you can attach a sternum strap or additional accessories to your desire.
WATERTIGHT
Arguably the second most important part of a pack is the zippers/hardware. Since we’re using waterproof ULTRA fabric, we’re using YKK’s AquaGuard water-resistant zippers, in #10 and #8 sizes. While standard YKK coil zippers handle moisture just fine, this AquaGuard zipper upgrade allowed us to remove the fabric zipper rain flaps, giving you even easier access to your contents while keeping out the wet.
Additionally, we removed the drainage ports at the bottom of the Bullet 18L. In a rucking scenario, crawling through mud and dragging your pack through streams, you want water to drain out. But here, in a travel scenario, you want water to never get inside in the first place. A complete system sealed away from nature’s elements.
DEATH OF THE RAINFLAP
One of the number one asks from the folks out there using the Kaidan 1.0 was to remove the rain flap from the front slash pocket. So we wouldn’t go backwards. Just like the Kaidan 2.0, we removed the zipper flaps on the GR1 21L, GR1 26L, GR2 26L, and Bullet 18L. We were already using the mighty YKK AquaGuard zipper underneath the flap, which is plenty water-resistant against nature’s wrath, so why complicate things? Just like with the Slick modification above, we’re big fans of removing anything unnecessary… so we pulled it. Now it’s clean and easy to access. Plus, it looks even better, in our humble opinion.
LEATHER HANDFEEL
Now, we clearly love technical fabrics. But they can easily take on a “tech” aesthetic if not balanced out with some other elements. And at the time of Kaidan 3.0, I’d been watching an episode of Bourdain’s where he travels to Rome and he’s “driving” a 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider in front of a green screen. In 1966, this vehicle was the pinnacle of performance and tech, yet it was balanced with luxury and class, and timelessness via the beautiful leather interior. So to luxe it up, we borrowed elements from the Alfa Romeo as well as the GR1 Heritage, adding full-grain leather to the GR1’s handle and GR2's grab handle.
Oh, by the way, did I say “handle” as in singular? We meant “handles”, plural. This is a travel capsule, after all. When you’re traveling in trains, planes, boats, and automobiles, your bag gets shoved in all kinds of weird tight spaces. And pulling your bag out of these areas isn’t always the easiest. The obvious example is an overhead bin on a passenger jet. Once it’s up there, you need a handle on the bottom to pull it out of there. So we added one. And we made it leather like on the top grab handle. Because every time you grab this pack, it should be an enjoyable experience. We reserved the leather handles for the “big boys” (GR1 21L, GR1 26L, and GR2 26L) and used traditional heavy duty nylon grab handles on the remaining products to keep them lightweight and packable
QUICK-ACCESS STORAGE X4
One small but absolutely awesome upgrade we included on the 2.0 Kaidan collection was the trick quick-access pocket up near the grab handle. When you’re traveling, having an easy and fast pocket for “the thing in your hand” is critical. For the 3.0 ULTRA collection, we know you all love this feature, so we added this to ALL FOUR of the backpacks (GR1 21L, GR1 26L, GR2 26L, and Bullet 18L). Quick access pockets across the board.
HIGH-VIS INTERIOR
High-vis interior. This is something we always do, as it’s a functional feature used to make your life easier. Bright-colored interiors make it easier to spot bag contents in low-light conditions, such as the backseat of a sketchy taxi somewhere in the outskirts of Moscow. Now, you can quickly identify what you’re looking for. Since we were already using Challenge Sailcloth’s ULTRA fabric, we opted to select the liner from their catalog. We chose Challenge’s ECOPAK EPX200 in (Bright Orange), a waterproof laminate sailcloth with great durability, while maintaining lightweight properties, and made from 100% recycled polyester.
MORALE
It wouldn't be a GORUCK collab without patches.
We'd find the illustrator of Anthony Bourdain's 'Hungry Ghosts' and commission special artwork. Artwork that spoke to the story. Artwork expertly done by an artist with a clear line to our travel hero.
Celia Calle. Based in New York City, Artist/Illustrator Celia Calle (Instagram: @CeliaCalle) created the patch artwork for the Kit Bag, Bullet 18L, and Shadow Pocket. This artwork depicts a menacing Hannya face (Japanese demon mask) in the center. There is a lit candle on the top of the mask, with two extinguished candles on the left and right, these representing the “Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai” game.
Sebastián Cabrol. Based in Paraná, Argentina. Illustrator and Comic Book Artist (Instagram: @Sebastián Cabrol) created the GR1 and GR2 patch. The inspiration for Sebastián’s patch comes directly from a famous Edo-period woodblock print, “Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Specter” circa 1843 to 1847. Sebastian recreated this image via ink and paintbrush on paper in simple bold lines for our patch design.
LEATHER PATCHES
To keep things subdued and aesthetically luxe, we went with black leather patches. The same thick full-grain leather as the two GR2 grab handles. The designs were converted from 2D into 3D milled metal stamps, which then are used to deboss the 2D images into the surface of the leather via pressure and time.
Each tells a different story, a different “kaidan”.
BUT, THERE’S MORE… METAL
As a special surprise and to commemorate the 3.0 ULTRA collection, we created some brand new patches for this release. A slab of 1/16” solid metal with the same incredible artwork from illustrators Celia Calle and Sebastián Cabrol, debased deep into the surface of the bar. Note, these will be available for the lucky first 250 customers for the Ultra Black release (on the 18th) and then the lucky first 250 customers for the Ultra Blaze release (on the 19th).
Taylor Welden
Creative Director | Industrial Designer
Taylor designs for countless carry brands, across every carry category. He’s contributed to the lost art of manly moustaches, and earned a reputation for reviews that keep our core carry nuts learning.
WAYS TO CARRY