WaterField Mason EDC Pouch Review

If you’re looking for carry that has a heritage shell but modern guts, look no further than WaterField Designs. The San Francisco company continue to meld modern needs with timeless materials with each new product they release. We’ve seen their Cargo Camera Bag, and their Tech Folio. Today, we look at the new bag on the block, the Mason EDC Pouch.

Who it’s for?

If you want to add some heritage style to your carry, this neat pouch is perfect for just about every occasion. Streamlined, elegant, and subtle, it’ll blend into the background until you need it most. 

Who it’s not?

If you need extra volume from your pouch, this may be too small for you. If you’re looking for innovation, there’s nothing really cutting-edge here, just simple quality.

The Mason EDC pouch intrigued me when I first saw it. In many ways, it’s unlike anything else on the market. This isn’t a shapeshifter that can merge to multiple different loadouts and flex its volume by a few litres, on the contrary it is designed to be a helpful and reliable caddy for your daily needs. As much as I usually wax lyrical about versatility from a bag, I’ve become rather fond of the idea that this bag is used just for my EDC. It makes it an easy choice to use on any given day.

Handsome Build

This is a handsome bag, and while it is a little angular compared to some other offerings, its edges are softened by the premium natural materials chosen by WaterField. It comes in a few different variations, but I’ve been testing the gorgeous waxed canvas with chocolate leather version. Aesthetically, the partnership of the waxed canvas and full grain leather is a tried and true style that not only looks great, but can handle some abuse too.

The 15oz waxed canvas is robust and can comfortably tackle your daily adventures. It’ll wear in over time, providing a rich patina the more you use it. Thanks to the waxed finish, it is also very weather resistant and this can be further enhanced with re-waxing.

The full grain leather on the front of the Mason has a fantastic handfeel, and provides a beautiful facade to the bag. This too will wear the stories of your adventures and get better with use. There is a small laser etched logo which is very subtle, and maintains the clean silhouette that Waterfield are known for.

It’s not just the leather and waxed canvas that are impressive on the Mason. Aquaguard zippers further enhance the weather protection, protecting all of your EDC essentials from any surprise deluges.

The custom hardware is a joy to use, I think Waterfield’s metal zipper pulls might be some of my favourite in the game! A simple webbing strap is adjustable by a slide buckle, or it can be removed if you plan to use as a pouch in a larger bag.

Streamlined Simplicity

I’m happy to say that it’s not only the materials that make this a standout pouch for me. In daily use, it has become a favoured part of my carry for a few reasons. 

As I alluded to earlier, I love the fact that this is for my EDC only. This lives at the bottom of my stairs, hung over the bannister, ready to go at a moment’s notice. When I’m running to the store, or popping out to do errands, rarely do I need more than my EDC.

Thanks to the diminutive size of the Mason, it sits at my side with barely any intrusion. I drive with this regularly, as I can jump from task to task without a larger bag inhibiting me. It can slide under a jacket easily, and is certainly elegant enough to use in more formal settings, while being tough enough to explore the world with you too!

That’s not to say it’s not voluminous either though. With thoughtful packing, the Mason can hold a surprising amount of gear. You can see below what I manage to fit into this svelte bag. Wallet, keys, knife, torch, pen, AirPods, kindle, phone, sunglasses, and compact camera. That’s not bad for a sling that only protrudes 2” from my side!

Internally, it’s a simple yet thoughtful layout. On the rear wall you’ll find a micro fleece lined and padded sleeve, this is meant for any electronic goodies you carry with you. It’s actually designed to fit an iPad Mini, but I find it the perfect home for my Kindle or my iPhone 14 Pro Max. On the front interior wall, you’ll find two slip pockets, one with a key loop.

This is usually where I place my smaller EDC items such as my knife, torch, AirPods, keys etc. It keeps them from rattling around, and leaves the middle of the pouch (between the two pockets) clear for my compact camera and sunglasses.

On the front of the bag, there is the leather pocket which has two corner pleats, giving you some nice volume. My notebook, wallet, and pen live here, ready to access quickly. Obviously, you can finagle any manner of ways to store things in a pouch like the Mason, but I have found this routine to maximise the space best.

Verdict

It’s hard not to be impressed by the Mason EDC Pouch. You’re getting premium materials, functional design, gorgeous aesthetics, Made in the USA for under $130. I think that’s exceptional value for money, particularly when compared to the market at large. The Mason has become an item that bounces around with me 24/7, either on its own, or as an admin pouch in another bag. Sometimes simplicity is best, and the Mason EDC Pouch is a perfect example of refined design and meticulous construction. The Mason EDC does one thing really, really well rather than ten things poorly. If you’re looking to upgrade your daily carry, look no further.