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The Best Winter Hardshell Jackets, Tested 2021
I can’t imagine a more exciting idea for an article than spending a couple of days in the snow-covered mountains and testing the best winter hardshell jackets available today. Sounds like an adventure to me! And it was a good one. My main goal was to test four of the finest options available, evaluating overall performance, breathability, and protection from cold, wind, and snow. All to find out which hardshell could be good for YOUR next adventu…
The Ninth Annual Carry Awards | 1st Round Voting
…shine a spotlight on the best and most innovative new releases from 2020 / 2021. We’re trying some things, to keep it fresh One less round Last year’s Carry Awards were epic, but they also went on for too long, in our opinion. So we’re removing the second ‘finalists’ round and jumping straight to our ‘Top 5’ to decide our final winners. Two new categories Our Best Specialist and Best Accessory categories were feeling too broad, so we asked our FB…
The Tenth Annual Carry Awards | 1st Round Voting
…nd, nominate it below in the relevant category. Try to focus on pieces from 2021/2022. Our awards are annual and we like to keep the focus fresh each year. So please try to nominate pieces that emerged from May 2021 to 2022. However, we appreciate that some excellent pieces have flown under the radar over the years and not received the recognition they deserve. So if you have such a piece in mind, feel free to nominate it. But as mentioned, please…
master-piece (MSPC) Japan Exhibit
…. master-piece Autumn/Winter 2021 Collection The master-piece Autumn/Winter 2021 collection is full of gems that elevate functionality and fashion. The materials I have the chance to touch are premium and the technological improvement behind certain details makes me realize how much these people live by their mission of extreme portability without compromises. The “Mpac” collection looks like a fusion between classic and innovation. The classical…
Apple iPad Pro | Is This the Perfect Mobile Studio for Travel and Adventure?
…acBook with an iPad Pro?”) and had never been convinced. This version, this 2021 update, sparked my attention. Could this be the year I change to an iPad Pro instead of my MacBook? I went all in, I sold my MacBook Pro and committed to using the iPad Pro as my main computer, with only an older Mac Mini as my storage management. My day-to-day and content production was going to come from this 12.9” tablet. Would it pass the test as a professional to…
Top 5 | Best Active Backpacks
…sic, with a reputation as an excellent lightweight multipurpose daypack. In 2021 Osprey upgraded the Talon series with some notable changes. Now it’s an even better pack with even more features. The biggest change is in the suspension – the current version uses an injection-molded back panel with die-cut foam and mesh overlay, which makes it ultra-breathable and comfortable. It’s also fully adjustable for torso size. The hip belt is fully integrat…
Exclusive Release | Trakke X Carryology, The Muir Project
…one. Mulling over small ideas in the meantime. It wasn’t until sometime in 2021, Alec said, “Okay, we’re ready to focus the attention that this thing deserves. Let’s do this thing.” And like that, serious, focused discussions began. Finding Inspiration in an Icon Now for many of these projects, inspiration comes from a variety of different places. Oftentimes, we’ll design a project and assign it a codename or character name somewhere throughout t…
Trakke X Carryology | The Muir Project
…one. Mulling over small ideas in the meantime. It wasn’t until sometime in 2021, Alec said, “Okay, we’re ready to focus the attention that this thing deserves. Let’s do this thing.” And like that, serious, focused discussions began. Finding Inspiration in an Icon Now for many of these projects, inspiration comes from a variety of different places. Oftentimes, we’ll design a project and assign it a codename or character name somewhere throughout t…
First Look: Snow Peak Portland HQ
…out the space.” Snow Peak decided to push Tabiki’s opening to the Spring of 2021 (due to Covid-19) so the restaurant can truly be experienced as intended. As you can gather from this write-up, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this amazing new space. Wanting to leave the readers pining for more, I asked the team to share anything else we can look forward to from Snow Peak after this launch: “There’s much for readers to look forward to as we settle i…
An Interview With H&K Leather Workshop
…Photos of H&K brand shops in Beijing. Taking our latest shop that opened in 2021 for instance, Aluminum was employed as the key material and applied massively in the space. Aluminum has many interesting qualities: light weight, unique texture, and a touch of futuristic mood. It was frequently used on vintage bags during the ’70s. When its futuristic touch mixes with H&K retro-look bags, it creates an amazing retro-futurism. I like it very much. Ph…
Tom Bihn Le Grand Derriere Review
…Cordura / Halcyon / Recycled Nylon Price: US$130 Design As I write this in 2021, it should be abundantly clear that the ’90s is currently the “in” retro decade. From web design to fashion and everything in between, you’ll see that nostalgic sheen that may or may not evoke strong memories for you. As someone who was born in the ’80s but grew up in the ’90s, I find myself enjoying this resurgence of my youth. Tom Bihn set out to capture a piece of…
Best New Gear: November 2020
…nd enough time around Osprey you’ll recognize their Talon/Tempest line. For 2021, Osprey is continuing the tradition of making great multi-sport packs but completely reinventing the bags. These new packs utilize Osprey’s new and most advanced back panel and are the first use of Bluesign approved fabric made from Robic recycled nylon. The back panel is the result of a long-term innovation project coming out of the brand’s innovation lab, led by non…
Prometheus Design Werx Stratus Down Hoodie Review
…the backcountry and mountains, when I was testing packs for the Carryology 2021 Awards… and not one or two but all ten of them to be exact (yes, ten!). Consider these ten packs – all sizes and weights between 18L and 55L, so I can tell a thing or two about the Stratus’s durability too now. So far it’s held up great, without any issue regarding fabric or stitching. Not a single hole or tear, except for some dirt here and there and some light marks…
Maker Spotlight | An Interview With CIMORO
…e designer behind the CIMORO brand. His brand first caught our attention in 2021, making the cut as one of ‘8 Experimental Makers That Should Be on Your Radar‘. After the article, Alasdair reached out with intel on his plans to develop his own UL running vest, designed to compete with the best running vests around. Now, his creative group has several product offerings, including a crazy-awesome running vest (CIMORO UL Running Vest V1) that will be…
Best New Gear | February 2022
…both our snowboarding and beach buying guides after an excellent update in 2021. They’re back, only now there are three sizes to choose from, a 20L, the original 35L, and a mega 50L beast. The Camino Carryall is the benchmark for tough totes, thanks to classic YETI over-engineering and construction. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tote that can handle abuse in the same way that this does. Not only is it tough, but it is also full of thoughtful a…
Best Active Backpack Champion | Carry Awards IX
…in the Osprey Talon 22. This classic pack welcomed a variety of updates in 2021, making it even more functional and ready for active use. The primary update is the suspension, which now features an injection-molded back panel with die-cut foam and a mesh overlay. Super comfy and breathable? You bet. The harness and integrated hip belt are designed to move with you, keeping the load comfortable and stable while moving quickly over rough terrain. T…
Best Travel Luggage Champion | Carry Awards IX
Our Best Travel Luggage 2021 brings cutting-edge innovation to your travels, combining clever access and packing with peace of mind… 1st Place Samsonite Ibon Samsonite are true icons in the luggage industry. The brand has been around for 111 years (yes, you read that right) and over their extensive history they’ve pushed the boundaries of luggage; setting benchmarks for durability and creating innovative pieces that changed the nature of what lug…
Best EDC Champion | Carry Awards IX
Our Best EDC 2021 will handle your daily cutting needs in style. Combining everyday elegance with lightweight durability and hassle-free carry… 1st Place Tactile Knife Co. Rockwall Thumbstud An EDC knife is one of the most useful tools you can carry daily. And the Tactile Knife Co. Rockwall Thumbstud offers an excellent balance of practical design, compact portability, and elegant, non-aggressive styling that suits a range of day-to-day environme…
Best Work Shoulder Bag Champion | Carry Awards IX
One bag for work, travel, and play? Our Best Work Shoulder Bag 2021 boldly steps up to meet the challenge… 1st Place Mission Workshop Drift Tote Mission Workshop have a reputation for bomber builds and slick urban styling. Bring these together in a highly versatile tote design and you’ve got one heck of a workhorse. The Drift Tote’s magic is its ability to be many different things to many different people. Work bag for the daily commute? Sure thi…
Best Work Backpack Champion | Carry Awards IX
…ess and organization, and comfy commute-ready carry? Our Best Work Backpack 2021 puts in the hard graft to make it happen… 1st Place Bellroy Transit Workpack Creating a great work backpack requires careful consideration. It needs to look clean and formal enough for work environments, while carrying everything you need for day-to-day work tasks and keeping those items accessible throughout the day. Enter the Transit Workpack. A welcome addition to…
Best Everyday Bag Champion | Carry Awards IX
…or all your day-to-day needs? Challenge accepted with our Best Everyday Bag 2021, which offers a refined, multifunctional design for work, play, and beyond… 1st Place EVERGOODS CPL24 V2 & CPL28 V2 Our Best Everyday Bag award is our most competitive category. It’s a bag that needs to perform across multiple uses and environments, keeping up with changing day-to-day needs. It just so happens that the folks at EVERGOODS are crossover carry experts an…
Best Sling Champion | Carry Awards IX
Our Best Sling 2021 fuses heritage charm with modern-day functionality. Elevating your carry experience with its class and comfort… 1st Place Trakke Largo Sling bags have grown in popularity over recent years, finding that sweet spot between pocket carry and pack carry. But creating a truly great sling is no easy feat. There are lots of elements to consider, and they need to work seamlessly together. How easy is it to access gear? What about carr…
Carryology Morale Patch Program | P11, P12, P13 Signal Collection
…ale Patches. And a whole lot has happened since then, including; the end of 2021, the Carry Awards, an epic adventure over to Iceland. Our last release included 2 different patches, rounding out the Firefly Collection with P09 and P10, respectively. And now… we’ve got 3 new patches to kick off a brand new family of Carryology Morale Patches. We’re calling this new collection; the Signal Collection. While we do have plenty of mockups created and a…
Route Werks Handlebar Bag Review
Route Werks is a fresh face to the cycling carry scene. In 2021 the Handlebar Bag and related accessories were pushed to market by way of a highly successful mid-pandemic crowdfunding campaign. Founder Justin Sirotin writes, “Our intent was to build something we’d use every day and love. We wanted the product to be durable, practical, stylish, and outperform the category.” Route Werks were kind enough to send one along, and we have stress-teste…
Best Mountain Bike Accessories 2022, Tested
…Telos TR2 by Sea to Summit. When we first saw this tent at Outdoor Retailer 2021 we were incredibly impressed. Super lightweight, roomy, and easy to put up and take down. This is what we were looking for in an everyday tent, for backpacking, or otherwise. Now, you may ask why you need a lightweight tent for camping out at the trailhead. For me, I almost always prefer a tent I can backpack with, as the trailhead very often requires some travel to g…
Exclusive Release | EVERGOODS x Carryology Phoenix Chapter 2
Rewind back to 2021, July. The EVERGOODS x Carryology CPL24 and CAP2 Phoenix had just sold out in minutes. Again. After an unprecedented second batch was greenlighted by Jack and Kevin. I sit in silence, eyes wide open, speechless, adrenaline pumping. My phone rings immediately, cutting through the silence, with Jack Barley on the other line. “Dude! That was insane.” We’d both just witnessed something special. The Phoenix collection had captivate…
EVERGOODS x Carryology Phoenix Collection | Chapter 2
Rewind back to 2021, July. The EVERGOODS x Carryology CPL24 and CAP2 Phoenix had just sold out in minutes. Again. After an unprecedented second batch was greenlighted by Jack and Kevin. I sit in silence, eyes wide open, speechless, adrenaline pumping. My phone rings immediately, cutting through the silence, with Jack Barley on the other line. “Dude! That was insane.” We’d both just witnessed something special. The Phoenix collection had captivate…
Best New Gear | October 2022
…d Camera Pouch Long Weekend is a relatively young brand, having launched in 2021, but that hasn’t stopped them from delivering a strong offering. Created by photographer Willem Verbeeck and Allison Simon, their gear offers both a fun and functional feel, with pops of color and convenient access. Their latest releases straddle the divide between daily carry and smaller photography setups, with options including the Monterey Sling, Camera Pouch, and…
Bedouin x Carryology | Triptych Collection
…mused in his Bedouin Barbarossa review (also, my personal most used bag of 2021 and 2022), some of my favorite lines of text in Carryology history: “This handmade masterpiece is charming and endearing to use. It truly feels like it has been loved into existence.” This pretty much encapsulates how I feel about all the Bedouin pieces that I own and use: the Barbarossa, Genghis, KHAN, Sharky, Balain, Barbary, Delireis, and Mamluke. It truly is a bra…
How to Pack Sunglasses for Travel
…ggage? In a 2022 report, global airline lost luggage rates spiked by 24% in 2021 alone. If you’re the unlucky type, yours could well-be part of the 4.35 bags per thousand passengers that go missing. Whether you’re heading abroad or just making a domestic flight, it’s imperative that you keep your most crucial possessions to-hand. Amongst your phone, wallet, passport (and perhaps some spare underwear), your eyewear should be packed in your hand lug…
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