I used to spend my summers as a youth in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My aunt and uncle would fly me out to Minneapolis, then we’d take a little plane to Green Bay, then take a two-hour drive across the Michigan border. My uncle’s family would take me out fishing and on boat rides on the Great Lakes. When I wasn’t out doing fun things like that, I was taking advantage of their cable TV in the basement, watching MacGyver and wishing I was part of the Phoenix Foundation. One summer, I asked my uncle to buy me a Swiss Army knife from the small town’s outdoors store. He bought me a Wenger Backpacker II and I cherished that thing so much I kept the original box and instruction sheet for the next 15 years.

I recently was organizing my EDC and found the Wenger again. It’s still in perfect condition with not a hint of rust or wear. Truth be told, I only used it around my uncle’s basement to cut sheets of paper and saw through empty soda cans and chopsticks. I have a number of multi-tools now including many Leathermans, a Victorinox SwissTool, a Gerber, and a SOG PowerLock model, but the long tradition and classiness of a Swiss Army knife has always appealed to me. I started looking into what the world of SAKs was like and I had the same question that almost all fans have – how come there isn’t a perfect SAK. Or, how come I can’t have a Swiss Army knife exactly the way I want?

Can you make a custom Swiss Army Knife?

Yes, there are companies that will make custom Swiss Army Knives. Oftentimes, users aren’t asking for much. Usually, they’ve found a SAK that is most of the way there but they’d just like one tool swapped out. For example a person might find the Victorinox Compact perfect, but since they don’t drink wine, they’d like the corkscrew replaced with a Philips screwdriver. Well, too bad! Victorinox does not make a model exactly like that. Luckily, there is a small group of craftspeople out there that are serving this niche community of Swiss Army knife enthusiasts. These mostly self-taught engineers have figured out how to leverage everything from handfiles and homemade forges to even CNC machines to produce custom scales on up to completely custom SAKs.

How much is a custom Swiss Army Knife?

A custom Swiss Army Knife will cost between $200-$400, possibly more or less, compared with $20-$40 for a non-custom one. The reasons are simple – it’s a combination of time, material, talent, and a dedicated audience that is able and willing to pay these prices. There’s also very little competition, or at least a much larger market demand than modders can supply.

Features you can customize on a Swiss Army Knife

So, what can be replaced or modified on a standard Swiss Army Knife? Practically anything, really. The history of modding SAKs doesn’t go that far back and if you were keen, you could probably still find the genesis on places like the Multitool.org forums. Early Swiss Army Knife mods were really simple and consisted of drilling out the rivets, swapping out tools for a configuration that was more appealing, then peening the ends of the brass pins to secure it. A lot has changed since those early days and now nearly every part can be swapped or modified.

Scales

The simplest way of adding some flair or customization to your SAK is by swapping out the scales. All stock SAKs come with cellidor (plastic) scales. They attach by snapping onto three washers on each side and are friction fit. They can be loosened but each time they are removed, it becomes harder to reinstall them. The simplest scale upgrade would be to simply buy a new set of scales from the manufacturer, perhaps in a different color, and snap them on.

The next level would be to buy aftermarket scales. These come in brass, copper, G10, carbon fiber and wood. Usually they have three slots on each side to accommodate the washers. Most of them are not friction fit because makers don’t seem to want to dedicate the time needed for precision milling. Instead, they oversize the holes so you’ll have to use some two-part epoxy to secure them. One thing to keep in mind is almost any change in Swiss Army Knife scales you make will result in greater weight, especially if you are replacing them with brass or copper; they are significantly heavier than plastic or titanium.

Finally, the ulimate scale upgrade would be replacing not just the scales but also the external structure of the SAK itself. This can be seen in the Victorinox Alox series where the scales make out the outside frame of the multitool while the regular versions have the plastic scales sitting on aluminum frames.

Most fully custom makers will replace the brass pins with screws that are countersunk into titanium scales. This makes the tool serviceable and often results in a less thick tool.

Liners

Liners are the plates that go between each layer of the tool. These are often replaced with brass equivalents, but sometimes customers go for a titanium option. Lately, I’ve been seeing colored G10 liners which look great when the tools are deployed and you look into the side of the SAK.

Tools

Of all the modders I profile below, I only know of two that are making their own tools. There are some hybrid situations, for example, where a modder will take a tool from another Swiss Army knife, or other knife altogether, and integrate it into a SAK mod. However, for masters like Robert and Zhang, you start to see true craftsmanship with fabricating a hidden drawer for scale tools, to hand-shaping a custom large blade.

Brands who make SAK replacement scales

A quick and easy way to freshen up your SAK is to replace the scales. The stock Victorinox scales or Wenger scales are made of a really cheap resin plastic called cellidor. Even brand new SAKs, out of the package, can have fine scratches all over them. They look great when they are new and polished but they pick up scratches even without any pocket carry. There are many modders who create replacement scales that you can install in under ten minutes. The actual hardware of a SAK is made of pretty wear-resistant and weather-resistant metal so the scales are where they look the dingiest and where a new set will be like a new coat of paint on your car. Scales range from 3D printed versions up to custom milled, engraved, and anodized from titanium.

Remade Knives

Brandon Bankston started out three years ago making his own scales by creating a mold of the stock ones, and filling it with resin epoxy. This created a mess but it showed him that using the OEM scales as a model, it was possible to create your own custom versions. About 18 months ago, he created a 3D model of the scales and made modifications to make them easier to print. He now produces them using high-end SLS nylon printers and finishes them using his secret recipe. At the moment, this is just a hobby but luckily for us, it’s self-sustaining, so that gives Brandon the flexibility to offer new patterns and sizes. Remade Knives currently offers 84mm and 91mm scales on Etsy. I really dig the colors offered and the finish looks top-notch. I am curious to see what designs Remade Knives comes up with next.

If you want to get a sense of what 3D printed scales would look like on your SAK, Brandon has generously provided the STL file for download, but note that this is an early revision only similar to the current offerings in appearance.

Swiss Bianco

Roger “Swiss” Bianco was born in Switzerland and served as an MP in the Swiss military for six years in the early nineties. He started Swiss Bianco to produce his vision of a new type of knife, that he formed while learning metalworking. Since then, he has formed a unique relationship with Victorinox, which has granted him unprecedented special editions and even runs of retired models, for the Swiss Bianco brand. In addition to the aforementioned versions, Swiss Bianco offers a full range of replacement scales. You can buy OEM Victorinox standard and plus scales from Roger, but the real magic is in the custom Victorinox scales he designed and had produced. Currently, these include G10 scales, G10 with glow dots, carbon fiber, and finally titanium scales sitting at the deluxe end of the spectrum.

I have a pair of his titanium scales in a matte finish and they are amazing. They are a perfect fit and finish and they were about $35, which is quite a bit cheaper than some other scale manufacturers. The best part, to me, is they are actually “plus” scales which means they support the ballpoint pen and a safety needle. Many scale designers completely leave out all the scale tools which might make for a cleaner look, but also eliminates two to four potentially useful tools. Roger moved to Georgia in 2007 so items ship quickly, arriving in most parts of the US in two days. I also have the G10 scales with the glow dot and while I think they are pretty nice, the titanium ones are where the true talent is.

Daily Customs

Daily Customs hails from Hamburg, Germany and is apparently a self-contained design and manufacturing team, under one roof. I say apparently because they are sort of an enigma and it’s really difficult to get a sense of the person or persons behind the brand. Their social media presence consists of roughly the same products and shots (mostly reposts), posted over and over again, in various dark moody scenes. There’s someone who is closely aligned with Daily Customs but he, too, uses a pseudonym and online persona, so it’s difficult to figure out the connection. They make some amazing scales and I suppose this secrecy makes them even more desirable!

Daily Customs offers scales in aluminum, brass, and titanium ranging from $76 to $115, before shipping. The prices are actually lower than what’s listed on the website because non-EU residents don’t need to pay the 19% VAT. What sets Daily Customs apart is their scales have a cut-out cross plus an inlay that lies behind it. This allows for cool customization options. For example, I have an aluminum filler tab behind my brass scales. Daily Customs also offers some unique patterns in addition to their standard scales. I am really fond of the 45-degree version; pair that with a contrasting insert and you have a head-turner. Another cool thing about DC is they have pocket clips. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, and it’s not if you are talking about flashlights and pocket knives, but SAKs are almost always carried on keychains or lanyards attached to keychain loops. The only way to get a working pocket clip is to have a custom SAK made, where the clip is mounted to the custom scales.

Daily Customs allows for an optional clip and their implementation is super clean and clever. They have an indentation in the back scale that accepts a titanium clip, secured with a single screw. If you decide you want a clean look and want to go clipless, you can fill in that notch with a little slab cover. Genius! The only niggle I have about this setup is the clip is mounted about 12mm from the edge so it leaves a third of the SAK peeking out of your pocket. I much prefer a deep carry clip, like what SAKModder has on his customs.

A few things to note about Daily Customs. First, their scales forgo scale tools so you get very clean lines but get used to not having those tweezers and toothpick. Next, I found shipping tests your patience. It took 22 days for them to reach me in California. Once you get the scales, installation is a breeze. Every producer of metal scales always instructs you to press fit them but this is never possible, the way it is with plastic scales. I’ve always had to sand down rivet lips to get metal scales to fit. Daily Customs does not bother with this. They over-size their holes slightly so they fit over the rivets, then they instruct you to use two-part epoxy.

Andrzej Woronowski

Better known as woro_knives, Andrzej is a full-time engineer and knife-making hobbyist out of Poland. I listed him last because his custom scale work is out of this world. As a child, Andrzej was fascinated with Ray Mears’ book The Survival Handbook and was obsessed with making his own survival knife. Soon after, he gave up on the survival aspect of things and just focused on blades. He made his first set of scales ten years ago out of G10, wood, and micarta. Since then, he has teamed up with his brother, Kamil, and they have been working out of the basement of an old industrial building in the old part of Gdansk, the city where Andrzej resides. I was surprised to learn that Kamil, a very talented engineer, designs and builds custom the CNC machines which do the work for cutting out blanks and engraving duties. In describing Kamil, Andrzej says, “My brother is an essential part of this story. I am a hobbyist knifemaker for more than a dozen years already, but it is thanks to my brother and his CNC machines that I am able to make enough work so the knife and EDC community can notice me. My brother was also a knifemaker many times ago but decided that he prefers building machines.” Everything is still hand-finished by Andrzej using files and grinding tools.

What’s interesting about Andrzej and his brother is they don’t take any orders. They make whatever they feel like and put it up for sale. The last time I saw a custom piece was a topography design Andrzej did for avid outdoorsman Piotr Ma. This freedom allows Andrzej to concentrate on bringing some amazing designs to life. I am fond of his video game series where he pays tribute to Fallout, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. Stormtroopers also make an appearance, as well as various textures and patterns. He confirmed he likes to incorporate pop-culture into his work. I cannot name another modder that keeps things as relevant. Andrzej called himself a “simple engineer” when asked about his design background. I guess some people really are just naturally talented.

A set of woro_knives scales run about 60 Euros but good luck getting your hands on a pair! Andrzej is so busy he only devotes a fraction of his time reading and responding to emails. But luckily a solution is around the corner. Beginning August 2018, he’s partnering with Polish Custom Knives who’ll handle the shopping cart and order fulfillment side of things, leaving Andrzej to focus on what he loves most – producing scales. In the meantime, make sure to check out his Instagram and website where he occasionally posts new projects.

Brands who make fully custom Swiss Army Knives

SAK Custom 58mm

Sean Dooley has been customizing Swiss Army knives, particularly the 58mm MiniChamp, for four years now. He’s an Electrician Technician by trade, working on nuclear subs for the U.S. Navy, so it’s not a stretch to imagine he’s really handy with hands-on projects. It all started when he was browsing online forums and came across a tutorial by Robert Lessard, where he laid out all the steps to customize a SAK. Sean gave it a try and soon had his first custom SAK. He showed the guys at work and soon orders started trickling in.

Sean works out of his garage and mostly uses his Mini-Mill which allows him to shape his scales and liners, engrave the cross, and drill holes for the screws. He also uses a simple bench grinder and a Ken Onion Workshop to get a nice bevel and edge on his knives. Unlike most makers who focus on the 91mm size (which is the most popular), Sean likes the 58mm SAK because he wants to push the limits and see how perfect a SAK this size can get, plus he loves the patience and detail required to work on such small tools. What I like about the 58mm size is because everything is so small about it, even the largest model, the MiniChamp, can still fit comfortably on a keychain. As a comparison, the 5-layer MiniChamp is a little over 14mm thick while a 3-layer Super Tinker (91mm length) is 17mm thick.

The thing I like about Sean’s creations is he goes a step further to customize the actual tools that go into his SAKs. Spydernoxes (what he lovingly calls them) take a MiniChamp and add a small Spyderco Honeybee blade. This is such an original idea and sits squarely between modders like Lessard who make small tweaks to existing Victorinox tools and rain_z who fabricates full blades from scratch. It’s the first instance I’ve seen of a maker taking tools from a different company and putting them in a Swiss Army knife. He also heat treats his blades and puts custom finishes on the tools, such as stonewashing, which makes for a very cool Mad Max vibe. He recently picked up a Mini-Lathe which will finally allow him to make threaded standoffs, setting him apart from other makers. He has a lot in store for the future as well, including Damascus work, applying his Spydernox Midas touch to the 74mm Executive, and a few others he still has under wraps.

Sean’s creations run around $180US and take anywhere from two days to two weeks to complete. If you are keen on grabbing one of these gems, you can check out his Facebook page. Right now, his books are closed for the summer so most work posted is SAKs that have previously been commissioned. Hopefully once the weather cools down, we’ll be able to place our orders. In the meantime, enjoy his Instagram gallery to tide you over.

Chris Custom Works

I was surprised to learn about Christoph’s work at the 11th hour of this article’s publication. He is a modder out of Germany and you’d be best served to actually navigate his site in ascending chronological order because I truly believe some of his most amazing pieces were made prior to the legal complications with Victorinox. Currently, he specializes in mods of all sizes and models of SAKs (except Alox) and always finishes them off with a pair of beautiful wooden scales.

Growing up, Chris was a fan of folding knives but only when he got older did he think about customizing his SAKs by embellishing the scales. After some trial and error, he received positive feedback from family and friends, and thus Chris Custom Works was born!

Like other modders, Christoph is a one-man show, with a small workshop in his German home. All his mods are handmade, without employing advanced tools like CNC and waterjets. Currently, the books are open and a 91mm mod starts at 50 Euros plus the cost of the wood and the SAK tool itself. The sky’s the limit, so it’s best to contact him directly to get a quote on your dream SAK. Just use the contact form on his website and be sure to check out Facebook for additional information. Expect 4-6 weeks for a custom order to be completed.

875fps

Okay listen up because things might get confusing. John Smith’s Instagram personal is 875fps while his website and business operations is Brasswerx. Whatever you call him, John is making some of the cleanest customs I’ve come across. He has a signature style that is immediately recognizable and is great at exercising restraint. We are mostly looking at titanium and brass here, brass liners, and a signature Swiss cross cut-out. If you flip the SAK around, you’ll also see a hex cut-out to support 1/4″ bits and it perfectly lines up with the cross in front, which allows you to take awesome “see-thru” shots.

Unlike others, John is relatively new to modding, having sold his first mod just May 2017. The origin story is not unlike we’ve heard before: he started out making knife thumb-studs and lockbar stabilizers out of old shell casings. Later he made his own bottle openers when those became popular. Eventually, he got his hands on a custom SAK by ALM out of Poland and in his quest to buy one, saw how much demand there was for titanium SAKs. The rest is history and he’s sold over 100 tools to date.

John focuses on the larger 93mm model, which I think is an underserved category, so I am glad he’s giving it some attention. As you know, the 93mm is the larger SAK size and includes popular models like the Pioneer, Electrician, and Harvester. He has his pieces cut and tumbled by Spectrum Energetics. I thought it was refreshing that he not only named one of his suppliers, but went out of his way to give a shout-out to the company. This made me view him in a different light.

Currently, all of his prices are custom. Unlike many modders for whom pricing can be so subjective or secretive, all the prices are clearly stated on the Brasswerx website. Things start at $150 for titanium scales and factory polished tools. This is as simple as you can get! Stonewashed tools add $30 to the price and throw in another $10 for a pocket clip. Let me step back for a bit – even at the simplest level of replacing the scale, there’s a lot of work involved! The knife needs to be broken down and reassembled with custom stainless pivots and screws. Right now, the lead time is 8 weeks and the best way to get on the list is to email him using the Contact Form on the site.

Once in a while John will offer up a set of tools that he’s whipped up. These are usually announced on his Instagram so it’s best to follow it for the latest news.

DECUSTOMFORGE

Denis hails from Moscow, Russia and is one of the more professional and perhaps experienced modders of multitools I’ve come across. He has a very specific aesthetic and is multifaceted, choosing to present a complete solution (just take a look at his packaging). Like many other craftsmen, he started out making wooden scales for his personal multitool. Once he perfected this freshman effort, he moved on to other material handles – micarta, G10, kirinite, mammoth ivory. Ever since he saw scales made in titanium, he got hooked and has focused on that recently, while perfecting his skills. He works in two workshops – one in his house for “clean” operations and then the garage for work that might kick up some debris.

Unlike other modders, Denis is happy to work with all sizes (58, 91, 93, 111mm)! Surprisingly, he does all this work by hand so no CNC’s, though he does cut the initial blanks out with a waterjet. Currently, his books are closed and turnaround times for custom multitools are impossible to state due to the personal nature of each piece. Luckily for us, he has been turning out other awesome EDC tools such as titanium prybars, which you can find on his Etsy shop. While you’re at it, you can keep up with Denis and his amazing work on Instagram and Facebook.

rain.z_knives

As far as I know, Zhang is the only custom modder from China. This is not surprising considering the cumbersome laws and regulations that quite simply make modding blades a real headache; not to mention, the restrictions on communication that makes regularly keeping up with customers a real hurdle. Despite all this, Zhang is producing some of the most advanced SAK mods in the world. I have handled the work of a few makers and there are noticeable skill gaps between them. I would not hesitate to say that rain.z_knives is among the top two custom SAK modders. Let’s learn more about him.

In contrast to some other makers, Zhang owns a few successful manufacturing companies in China and they are pretty self-sufficient so he is able to devote more time to his new hobby. I say new because he’s only been modding SAKs for two years, while starting to take orders just a year ago. He doesn’t discriminate on size so 58, 85, 91, 93, 108, 111mm have all passed through his shop. I think most of his fans admire him for his SAK work but lately it’s his slipjoint work that has been more popular, at least in terms of sales. Luckily, he still works on a good number of custom SAKs.

Like any good brand, rain.z has some unique and consistent “trademarks”. First, he is the only modder I have seen that offers certain types of textured scales. He also often annodizes the scales in multiple tones (perhaps blue for the scales and bronze or copper for the cross). He also offers a RWL34 (or Swedish damasteel) knife blade for all models besides 58mm. This mod immediately jumps out at you because of the unique blade shape. And while the blades are all hand-shaped and finished, you would swear they came from a factory.

Everything is 100% custom designed and fabricated in-house. He has a shop that any maker would be jealous of, including a CNC! His books are currently open but because of the aforementioned communication issues, don’t expect a quick order process. Most of his mods are in titanium but he supports copper, brass, carbon fiber, and even G10 if customers demand it. Liners are done in either titanium or brass and are up to the customer. For simple mods (i.e. swapping scales), the turnaround time can be just 3-5 days but more complicated mods, like replacing the blade, can take 3 weeks. Prices range from $150 to over $400. Starting in early August, rain.z started getting some distribution with Urban EDC Supply. So far, we’ve seen his titanium hex tool plus a completely custom 85mm SAK with cigar cutter. Here’s hoping for more drops in the future!

SAKModder

I’ve saved the best for last. The undisputed king of Swiss Army knife modifications, Robert Lessard hails from Canada and may be the only person working full-time on this craft. A few of the modders above have credited him for (indirectly) teaching them the craft and it’s probably safe to say that without his willingness to share early how-to’s on the Internet, many modders wouldn’t be in the business today. From what I can tell, Robert works out of a small shop in his laundry room, where you’ll find a Tormach CNC, the crown jewel of his modding tools. The CNC has really set Robert’s work above and beyond the competition, since it has unlocked so many possibilities and solutions that would otherwise be impossible.

For example, Robert makes all his scales himself and he is able to produce complex designs such as skeletonized scales and even an Alox-inspired diamond cut pattern. Creating his own scales and not relying on Alox scales may have avoided Robert scrutiny by Victorinox, since they seem very protective of their name and logo. He is also able to create full back scales, so you can skip the notch reserved for corkscrews or the screwdriver that is so iconic in Swiss Army knives. Robert is able to precisely engrave text or logos into his creations. He is also know for creating custom tools such as the titanium hidden drawer with built-in spring latch, brass magnifying glass, Marlin spike, and even custom tweezers complete with a brass nub.

Robert’s books are currently open and the best way to reach him is via a direct message on Instagram. He is swamped with work but if you are polite and persistent, he will get back to you. I’ve found he is incredibly patient and is willing to answer as many questions as you’d like. Once he starts the job, it could be a matter of days before completion, depending on parts and tools on hand. Prices range from $275 to $450 and beyond, depending on the level of customization.

Robert’s work is top-notch and it’s impossible to find any indication that things are handmade rather than factory produced. There is a level of fit and finish that is beyond what you’d find from other, even skilled modders. In my opinion, his pieces are worthy of grail status.

This article was originally published on 17 August 2018 and recently updated.

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Earlier this year, the brand launched its Samlaren initiative. This aims to bring new life to surplus materials by repurposing them into practical products. The name, Samlaren, is Swedish for “the Gatherer”. By taking scraps and leftover materials off the cutting room floor, Fjällräven is bringing them together to form unique collectible products that will be released in recurring and limited capsule collections.

When the company realized they had shelves full of excess material, they set out to find a way to give them purpose. This is the reverse design process that companies take. Usually, a product is created to meet a consumer’s need or demand. In the case of Fjällräven Samlaren, the company wanted to create products to use the materials. With that starting point, they set out to create products that still met the same quality and usefulness customers expect.

One of the most resource-intensive parts of clothing and bag creation is the actual production of fabric. It uses a large amount of water, chemicals, and power and produces emissions and by-products. By using materials that are already in their mills and factories, new products can be produced without having the cost of production go to waste.

The first collection is made out of surplus G-1000 fabric. It includes the classic Greenland jacket, Kånken backpack and updated versions of the tote bag and even a cap. The designers cleverly employ color blocking to add a touch of playfulness but also subtly signal the items are upcycled.

The Fjällräven Samlaren Jackets come in three colorways for men and three in the women’s cut. The Kånken backpack is slightly larger than the original model. It features padded shoulder straps and several pockets – open, zippered, and with button closures. There are four colors to choose from. Similarly, the Totepack is also available in four colorways and has a simple design with an open main compartment. A small buttoned inside pocket provides quick access to small items. Lastly, two caps round out the collection and feature contrasting shades in the bottomside.

Many companies are taking sustainability and conscientious production more seriously recently. But this has been top of mind for Fjällräven throughout the company’s history. With advances in material production and recycling processes, consumers no longer have to make a decision between buying green versus a quality product. Companies have proven that products using recycled or upcycled components perform just as well as those using virgin materials.

However, Fjällräven’s ultimate goal, naturally, is to become so efficient in their design, patterning, and material production that they no longer have excess or leftover materials that need a home. Ironically, if the brand reaches this goal, the Fjällräven Samlaren project will become obsolete. But they’ll be an even better brand for it. Respect.

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As an autistic adult, I’ve spent a decent portion of my life dealing with isolation, uncertainty, stress, and anxiety, even in entirely normal situations. Over the years I’ve put together a few tools to help me deal with the tough times. Before anything else: mental health is a complex issue and, if things are getting to be too much too often, you need to see a professional. For the rest of us though, here are some carry tips that may work:

Turn it down

The world has a lot going on. Sometimes when your head won’t stop buzzing, you need to control how much information is coming in. Many readers will already have something that I consider ‘sensory aids’ in their carry, but perhaps overlook their benefit for this kind of use.

Sunglasses are an essential for me; I find bright environments stressful, so turning the sun down a few notches really helps me stay calm. Whether I’m driving to work, sitting outside with a coffee, or scrambling up a mountain ridge, my Julbo Shield glasses fit my needs really well. 

Sometimes shades won’t cut it – I want real darkness. I’ve used a lot of sleep masks and the Manta Sleep is by far my favorite. The eyecups adjust to fit the wearer’s face, and the band is broad and soft around the head. That means it applies gentle, even pressure to the cheeks and brows, off the eyes themselves, unlike most flat masks. The mask itself is so effective, I’ve fallen soundly asleep wearing this in airport terminals, those hotel rooms where the curtain doesn’t close fully, and even with the lights still on in my own bedroom.

Earplugs are another great way to soften the world when I’m overloaded. The squishy foam earplugs you’ve seen will help. But I’ve carried Alpine WorkSafe earplugs for years, ever since I worked in a heavy metal venue. They have a passive filter, meaning they cut down the volume and the harsher aspects of ambient sound, but I can still have a conversation with them in. They’re discreet enough to wear anywhere and so easy to carry around since they come with a handy pocket case.

When it’s appropriate, however, I find Active Noise Cancelling to be a gamechanger. I wear Bose QC25 headphones whenever I’m working at a desk, and find them incredibly beneficial to my mood. If you’re someone who gets irritated by small sounds or background noise, ANC headphones are the solution you’re looking for. 

Shake it out

Sometimes settling your thoughts isn’t about blocking the world out, but rather grounding yourself in your senses. Remember fidget spinners? They were a cool fad but for many folks (especially us neurodivergent types), self-stimulation like that serves a real purpose when settling their nerves. When my thoughts begin to carry me away, I focus on what I can feel or touch as a way of staying present and balanced.

Having a ritual or distraction based on the feeling of something whirring or clicking in your hand is nothing new. Clicking prayer beads or squeezing a stress ball are classics. Modern ‘executive toys’ like The Thinket, or a high-quality spinning top (check out Prometheus Lights’ Lambda) serve the same function. 

There are other options for grounding tools that may already be part of your carry: tying knots is a tactile activity that invokes a firm presence of mind. If you’re more of an idle ‘stimmer,’ a good clicky pen (I like the Fisher M4B) can be satisfying enough to hit the spot. 

Write it down

Of course, the other reason to carry a pen is to write stuff down. Dark thoughts can bubble up and it’s good to talk them out, but if you’re quarantining alone that can be hard. However, there’s pretty decent evidence that keeping a journal can have the same effect. Making time for yourself is valuable alone, but taking that time to vocalize and express your emotional state for the day will make everything feel clearer, and easier to bear. 

I carry three notebooks, most days. I use a small Moleskine Cahier (same size as the classic Field Notes) for quick notes and a larger A5 journal (I like Rhodia) for my daily writing. The last one is a pocket diary for dates, plans, and appointments. This is arguably the most important since it also helps keep things organized, keeping me on plan and in control.

Have a system

Being naturally rather disorganized is both a cause and a result of my anxious tendencies. Finding order out of chaos is incredibly calming, and allows me to stay functional. Having a set routine frees up an awful lot of energy that I need for the day, since humans run very well on habit. If you’re someone who struggles to sleep, try instituting a firm routine at a regular bedtime, with several steps that prepare you for shutting down at the end of the day.

Carry is a big part of this: having a system that ensures all my daily essentials are packed and ready to go is a huge weight off my mind (and based on this recent thread in the Carryology Classified group, I’m not the only one). Having a killer pouch setup for switching between packs helps too. Loading in a few just-in-case items like a charge-bank for my phone, a spare pen, a multi-tool, or a pack of tissues means I know I’ll be covered if my worries become realities. 

Care for yourself

It’s impossible (or imprudent) to carry a tool for every eventuality, but there are some inevitabilities you can take care of with your carry and make a huge difference to your wellbeing. You will get hungry, you will get thirsty; these will make a difference to your mood. Carrying a snack will get you through the worst of that. Make it something you enjoy – even a tiny boost can shift the whole day onto a better track. Carrying water (whether that’s a tiny A6 Memobottle or hefty 1L Nalgene) comes with a whole host of benefits to your health, mental or otherwise.

Food and drink are essential to life, but some of us need a little more. Self-care means doing what you need to get through the day and, well, sometimes that’s hard. If your doctor has prescribed you something to help keep your thoughts steady, follow their advice and take them. 

Sadly, the hard times aren’t going anywhere soon. Things will likely get darker before the dawn comes, and we might be best forgetting what ‘back to normal’ looks like. If you’re close to your loved ones, then get each other through this. If you’re able to join the community, then do so; we’re doing better together. 

Many thanks to Jed Edwards for the post above.

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This is a true story of how Chrome and Mission Workshop founder Mark Falvai teamed up Lyle Barton and Cesar Villalba to start one of the freshest lifestyle brands in recent memory. Afterschool Projects (ASP) is based in Los Angeles. It’s influenced by the diversity of Southern California’s cities, beaches, and mountains. Their name is a nod to the notion that all the fun happens after school. One look at their website and their product line and there’s no confusing it for any of the previous brands the trio worked on.

The trio chose to start the brand in Los Angeles not only because it allowed them to find inspiration in their backyard, but also it gave them access to a variety of dye houses and manufacturing partners. LA’s Garment District spans 100 blocks wide and includes more than 4,000 independently owned and operated retail and wholesale businesses.

The design philosophy of the brand is refreshingly simple. They build clothing and packs they want to use, and with the best materials and manufacturing partners they can find. With such a small team, all hands are on deck in running the brand. Lyle and Cesar are neighbors and often have design jam sessions in their front yard. Mark sews the samples in his barn in Malibu. Can you imagine a more hands-on founder, still sewing 30 years later?

Their first collection includes three bag designs that show both experimentation and restraint. The common thread between the bags is the whole collection is made in the USA, comes in three colorways (white, black, and camo), and is made from VX. In general, this advanced fabric often features in technical or niche bag companies. Or only as part of a capsule collection or limited release. Given the laid-back vibes of ASP, you would not expect to see this used. But let’s not forget the pedigree of the founders – coming from Chrome and Mission Workshop and with a background in competitive sports.

The largest pack is the ASP Rucksack. It holds 18L which feels like the sweet spot for an EDC bookbag. It has an internal padded laptop sleeve (up to 16″), two external mesh water bottle pockets, a front cargo pocket, and external compression straps. Due to the material choice, the whole thing is very lightweight and highly water-resistant.

Some say 2020 was the year of the sling and you’d be hard-pressed to find a brand launching without one. The ASP Simple Hip Pack is a simple affair. It’s a Made in the USA VX bag that’s as comfortable around your waist as it is worn cross-body. A mesh pocket subdivides the single main compartment. Wings on both ends provide a little more stability and comfort.

Lastly, the Sacoche is Afterschool Projects’ take on the ever-popular Japanese silhouette that is as practical as it is simple. It comes in two sizes – Grande measuring 10″ x 6.5″ and standard coming in at 7″ x 6″. Think of it as the “extra pocket you always wish you had.”

One thing that stands out immediately is the juxtaposition of the component choices on the bags. For example, beefy waterproof zippers, Dimension Polyant fabrics, and thick paracord zipper pulls, but plastic hardware in some places. However, ASP explains that their philosophy is to always design things they want to use and wear and to solve issues that they perceive to be problems. In other words, ASP will focus on areas they think are most important – in this case, waterproofness and weight.

Their practical approach extends to their clothing line as well. For example, the ASP team found an American mill producing some impeccable cotton. So they used it to make their hoodies and crews. Similarly, they found a great partner in Los Angeles making 4-ply swim trunks so now ASP has them on offer. Afterschool Projects has introduced a nice wardrobe collection including: t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, utility pants and shorts, and the aforementioned swim trunks.

The initial clothing collection might seem a little casual (pastels, color blocking, tie-dye). But it’s actually a reflection of the work-from-home vibes that many have experienced this past year. However, never one to be pigeon-holed, the team from ASP is teasing some really exciting upcoming developments. These include more technical fabrics for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter in their clothing. Plus experiments with Dyneema and a collaboration featuring an interesting “twist” on a fabric not seen before in their carry line.

Afterschool Projects have demonstrated extreme flexibility in their designs and material choices and a willingness to produce the best quality goods, unfettered by material, manufacturing, or image perceptions. With a strong launch collection and the promise of interesting designs and partnerships to come, they’re a brand to watch.

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Cell phone signals have ceased hours ago. Heading west, the city vanished in our rear-view mirrors. The view out the bug-smattered windshield aims towards the open desert. Desperate to keep their speed at 75mph, the hum of treaded tires on the four brightly colored Jeep Wranglers is lulling us all into a warm sleepy bliss. The droning is broken by some static over the radios, “Black knight checking in” … “Bumblebee, bzzz bzzz” … “Turquoise dream, ahh yeah”… “Golden eagle, cawww cawww”. Todd and Meredith, from the overlanding outfit Four Points Adventures, are leading the pack of rainbow-colored Wrangler misfits to an unknown mysterious destination. Somewhere in Death Valley. I lucked out and was placed in the bright yellow Bumblebee, with Amy May from JAM Collective (the wonderful team who organized this thing) and Rain Noe from Core77. The voice of our fearless leader, Todd, comes through our radio, “We’re approaching Area 51 here shortly. We’re going to see some aliens. Follow me and pull in up ahead”. My right eyebrow in the shape of a curious question mark, Rain slowly pulls off the deserted highway into a dusty lot.

Surrounded by nothing but open sky and a vast arid landscape, there’s an alien-themed gas station… with an alien-themed restaurant attached… with a (legal) alien-themed brothel attached to that. We’re casually told that we won’t see another gas station or paved road again. Now, listen. I like food. Hell, I enjoy it. And I was promised great food. Having been on a JAM trip before, I trust them. But my growling stomach is suspiciously doubtful of these promises from the friendly sirens of JAM. This whole trip was created for Snow Peak, to highlight their brand new Takibi Fire & Grill, which we would gather around and eat from. So… by my calculations… we had roughly 5.7 lifetimes before we’d finalize our day’s adventures, get off the road, set up camp, get the fire hot enough to grill on, prepare the food, cook the food, and then finally officially be eating dinner. I remained optimistic. But I grabbed some peanuts to quiet my pessimistic stomach.

One hand on the wheel, one hand on my camera, 55mph looking through my viewfinder at the off-road sandy track that responds like driving on icy snow, my unnamed rear passenger is sweating and writhing with nerves, but forcing a smile through her gritted teeth. Worth it. Continuing down the road, aiming towards the lead Land Cruiser which is only visible every few seconds through the sand cloud pushing up. I try to make the desert shrubbery fly past Bumblebee at a speed of which my passengers just barely approve of. Todd’s vehicle ahead abruptly makes a sharp right turn, kicking up a massive sand tail to the left and as we enter the sharp corner, and through the dust, they reveal themselves. The towering sand dunes. The sand dunes in Death Valley that have been silently laughing at me and haunting me for years. But that’s a story for another day (or you can read it here: Part 1 and Part 2).

First one out of the neon yellow Jeep, the driver’s side door made a thud behind me as Rain and Amy gathered their things. A magnetic force was pulling me to the peak of the dune. Or maybe it was a UFO tractor beam? Maybe. Let’s go with probably. Trudging up the dune, the grainy wind gnashed at me, discovering any square inch of skin left uncovered. Momentarily breaking free from my trance, I turn back to look at my fellow adventurers. I take a breath, gain some clarity, pause and wait for my friends to join. We quietly take in the views while the wind soars by our group up in the sky. A small but notable personal achievement for me. I reach into my Arc’teryx jacket for my peanuts, but they were gone. Is it Takibi Time yet? No. Not yet.

“Let’s air these tires down, this next leg will be technical,” Todd says through his confident devilish grin. We’re starting off in Death Valley, crawling over a mountain range and through deep slot canyons to eventually end at our base camp, in the heart of the Panamint Valley. Through the Jeep’s tinted glass, golden sunbeams warm our chilled veins we’re experiencing thanks to the ‘drop-offs’ and the claustrophobia-inducing rocky walls.

I look up into the rear-view to ensure Amy is wearing her nervous smile. Check. Finally, the walls open up into a wide yellow basin bathed in the setting sun’s brutality. A bit farther down the path and we land upon our home for the next two days, a remote campsite operated by a wildly interesting gentleman who runs Eastern Sierra Observatory. Guiding our rigs into the primitive grounds, which have beautifully been set up already, it’s a dramatic contrast from our day’s surroundings and previous night in the city of sin.

Folks, I’m a titanium addict. I’m also a massive fan of the Japanese brand Snow Peak and their elegantly simple, functional products. So walking into this campsite was quite possibly my ultimate gear fantasy. Snow Peak had outfitted the entire experience; tents, cots, sleeping bags, camp chairs, knives, cutting boards, drinking vessels, pots, pans, utensils… and of course, the star of the show… the Takibi Fire & Grill.

In fact, there were several of these, all set up. We had previously been briefed on the product and the concept behind it… but witnessing our natural instinctual response to these fire pits really solidified its truth. Humans naturally gather to these places, even when they’re not lit. As the last light of the day hovered, the fires were still yet to be started, and here we were, drinking and reveling in the day’s highlights, around an empty steel pit. Why is this? Snow Peak refers to this as “Takibi Time” and I was ready for it.

But there was another delay, quietly ensuring my growling stomach that we would be fed soon. The JAM folks broke us up into teams and prepared a little contest for us. Who could get their fire started with the materials provided, who could make the best kebabs with the ingredients available, and who could make the best cocktail with the selection of liquor at hand.

Using a bit of cunning… and maybe even a little cheating (debatable), my team member Matt Bean (Editor in chief at Sunset Magazine) and I won the contest. Many more cocktails were enjoyed and laughs were had as the fires burned away into the night, providing us with warm, visual entertainment, and a natural place for us to gather until countless tiny stars filled the sky and expansive dreams filled our little minds in our little tents.

Khrrrshhtt “We’re rollin rollin,” Todd’s digitized voice comes over the radios. We’re up early and heading to another slot canyon, about an hour’s drive from base camp. Fighter jets rip by our convoy of Jeeps, so close that you can see the helmets of the pilots. Todd somehow has every crevice of this martian landscape memorized and leads us there without a map or GPS. Later, I would talk with him about what the landscape inside his mind must look like. We laughed about this abstract concept.

Slow on our approach over some rocky trails, we’ve parked at the “trailhead”, unmarked due to some recent flash flooding. I grab my Osprey Manta backpack (in black) loaded with a full hydration bladder and another bottle of water, as we’re planning for a few hours in direct sun. My hiking boots leaving imprints in the soft silty run-off of the trail, each step comes with a little voice in the back of my head, slowly getting louder, “Is it Takibi Time yet?” I’m not even hungry, but I’m already longing for the crackling fire.

The day is done and we watch our last Panamint Valley sunset over the mountains out in the distance, casting an orange pink gloss over our base camp home. Boots popped off, bourbon whiskey in my mug, steaks are hitting the grill. This is precisely what it’s all about. Since the dawn of time, this dance of magic fire is what built and created safety, community, culture, and civilization as we know it. And while it’s “just” a fire pit, it creates the natural pull for us to be out in the majesty of nature, leave our lives behind, escape reality for just a little while, and tap into our own humanity. With old friends and new friends that feel like old ones.

It’s Takibi Time.

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If you were hiking in remote Victorian high country in post WWII Australia, you risked crossing paths with an eccentric youth in top-hat and lederhosen, gone bush for weeks at a time, living on little but scroggin and his wits. That was my dad, and his wanderlust and adventurous spirit meant I had no hope of living a boring life.

When that eccentric youth became a wheelmaker and father of four, his desire for discovery would manifest itself every four years in a multi-month trip to different regions of the world. We’d pack our lives into bags and go nomadic, typically traveling by campervan so we could push beyond the typical tourist routes.

When I reached my teens I began heading away solo, chasing winters around the globe as a ski-racer and backcountry junkie. Self-funding these pursuits meant I had to get creative with airline baggage allowances, negotiating four sets of skis, race gear and touring equipment. During that time, it was obvious that my travel gear was insufficient, so I taught myself to sew and modify gear, beefing up shoulder straps, overhauling compression systems, and adding modular pouches.

Little did I know, I was working towards something…

At the same time, on the other side of the globe, Hadrien Monloup was shaping his own nomadic spirit. Born into the artistic household of a renowned set designer, Hadrien moved between the beaches of south-west France and cities that would shape his own design ideologies.

Australian connections

In 2004, just outside of a small Victorian surf town called Torquay, a shaggy-haired Frenchman emerged from a surf, introduced himself, and offered his tips on the best sandbank to paddle out at. I was just starting work as a designer for Rip Curl, and within six months, Hadrien and I would team up together to rethink their travel gear.

The range we inherited consisted of cheap school bags and price-pointed luggage. Their most expensive backpack was just over US$50. And it felt at odds with Rip Curl’s vision of becoming the ultimate surf company, guided by ‘the search’ for waves and adventure.

So we got busy reimagining a range that could let surfers travel further, whether through the remote jungles of the Mentawais, or the snow-covered points of Norway. From backpacks and boardbags, to luggage and wetsuit buckets, we changed the entire quiver of bags needed for genuine surf adventure.

This was a hugely rewarding time for us.  We travelled between the world’s best wave regions ‘for work,’ grew the division rapidly, and explored product opportunities that others had missed.

So why would we leave a dream job like that…?

Well, great brands tend to serve very distinct audiences, and for Rip Curl, the primary audience was the 17 to 19 year-old surfer. This certainly made our design briefs crystal clear, but it also felt limiting for us, as designers. Our own goals and desires were changing, and we had curiosity for new areas that would never be the right fit for a surf brand.

Hadrien and I knew we wanted to work together. And while we didn’t have a name for the space back then, we wanted to build something focused around our passion for bags, accessories, travel and the equipment used to help us move through the world. So we quit our insanely fun jobs, and began brainstorming how to do just that.

Seeding a community

In 2002, a Melbourne based sneaker-head called Woody started a publication called Sneaker Freaker. He wanted to celebrate sneaker culture, bringing together fans who shared his passion. We wondered if we might be able to do something akin to Sneaker Freaker, but around our own passion for bags, luggage and gear.

Only we didn’t even have a name for it…

Through countless brainstorms, the term ‘carry’ slowly emerged. While it seems obvious in hindsight, it took us some time to realize that we were simply talking about the gear and knowledge we need to ‘carry’ our things. And knowing we wanted to study everything about the space, ‘ology’ being the ‘study of’ made sense. So Carry-ology as a concept was born.

After we had the concept, we started scratching out articles, drawing in some assistance from talented friends (Jimmy Gleeson for design and Lincoln Eather for ‘the Internet’). With their help we gave birth to Carryology in Nov 2009.

Looking back, it was that quintessential passion project. We were writing in our days off, after hours, gathering around my kitchen table and brainstorming into the night. We were also trying to keep income coming in – Hadrien took a masseuse course so he could earn extra money on the side (the man has the hands of angel, by the way!) – because we didn’t have any form of monetizing Carryology or managing its sustainability. It was just a project that we felt should exist in the world. It started to get shared around, people noticed it, people started to talk about it. Soon we had people from all over the world saying, “I care about that stuff too. It’s cool there’s a name for it. Awesome. Can we be involved?”

Incredible folks like David Vo and Taylor Welden reached out. Not long after Brian Park, John P,James Jeffrey, and Douglas Davidson were also connecting. And we saw the start of a global audience who were amped about finding a blog dedicated to their under-appreciated passion.

The carry world was a little different in 2009

In 2009, bike messengers still sweated around every urban road, hauling Timbuk2, Chrome, Crumpler or bespoke single strap sacks that could swallow any shaped package. Backpacks were mostly either outdoor/tactical focused with straps aplenty, or stripped-back panel loaders in primary colors that screamed ‘school’ in every way. Burton and Dakine were bringing lifestyle features to surf and snow sports, but their youthful colorways made them challenging to bring into an office. Luggage was generally constrained by small wheels or burdensome weight. And wallets came with their own postcode, bulging beyond what most pockets could hold.

But there were also glimmers of hope. A little brand called GORUCK had kicked off in 2008, with a goal to make military-level durability accessible to civilian audiences. The founders of Chrome were just getting started for a second time, launching Mission Workshop to evolve backpack ideas they’d only started to explore with Chrome. A brand called Herschel was kicking off, bringing more urban colors to classic JanSport forms while helping rebirth the Pig Snout as a symbol of a heritage aesthetic renaissance. KILLSPENCER was launching with a new take on utilitarian luxury. In Japan, Yoshida & Co. were giving professionals hope that two straps could look as good as one under their Porter brand. Within a year other Japanese were discovering a specialist American maker called Mystery Ranch, and started introducing their life-critical packs to an urban audience. $300 was an extreme price-point for anything outside of the luxury space.

Positive vibes

While there were seeds of awesomeness, there was also plenty of ‘under-developed’ carry goods. We made a call early that we didn’t want to diss brands. We were designers ourselves and we knew how hard it was to make really great gear. We didn’t want to be the trashy film critic. We wanted to focus on the things people were doing well and to be able to champion, with our hand-on-hearts, the gear that was truly awesome, while giving positive feedback when something didn’t hit the mark, so folks could get better. 

This supportive focus was important for another reason. While Carryology was taking shape, a few of us were also trying to create our own brand called Bellroy, which launched with a range of five slim wallets in August 2010. 

In other industries that could have been a recipe for disaster, as some of our core team members were contributing to both Carryology and Bellroy. So we knew we had to maintain objectivity, and demonstrate our good intentions in everything we did. Luckily we had a leg up thanks to being friends with many of the brands we were writing about, so they knew that we were values-driven people. In the early days, those friendships got us enough access to samples to write about, and gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our desire to be objective and to really celebrate the good stuff, no matter what.

Some early milestones

In 2012 our desire to celebrate the best of the carry world led to us establishing our annual Carry Awards. Lincoln spearheaded these first awards to recognize the efforts that we felt were being missed in the mainstream. We wanted to shine a light on the best innovations in the industry in the hope of pushing the needle, just a little bit, every year.

Around this annual drumbeat, we were interviewing heroes, attending our first OR, sharing Japanese carry culture, making friends, and praising Big Blues. We were exploring the fringes of carry, the cutting-edge ingredients of carry, whilst also telling stories about the foundation pieces that helped shape our passion. Heck, we were even working out how to carry babies as we faced those challenges ourselves.

By the end of 2013, we could see that our hobby blog needed a full time pilot, which is when our search brought us Mike as a Managing Editor. Mike came from the worlds of streetwear, music, urban subcultures and writing. His carry apprenticeship began immediately.

Let’s hand over to Mike…

When I first rolled into Carryology HQ, it was a bit of a shock, to be honest. There, in a small shopping square, a short walk from Bells Beach, I stepped into an office front no bigger than your local takeaway shop, with twelve of the biggest and warmest personalities you’ll ever cross paths with inside – some with hair that was sandy from the surf, and everyone smiling and laughing and working their butts off.

There were hugs and high-fives and more utterances of the word ‘rad’ than a city boy like me was accustomed to. By the window, whiteboards were scribbled with new plans and designs. There was a small kitchen at the rear where making coffee was a ritual. And a mountain of bags stacked in the back corridor, one on top of the other, as high as the ceiling. So big, in fact, that there’d be the occasional bag-o-lanche if the wrong piece was removed without enough care. 

On that first day, I was given an Arc’teryx Khard 30. “Here, take this for a week or two. Make notes. Tell me what ya think,” Andy said. The next week, it was replaced with a CamelBak Tri-Zip. The next, a Mission Workshop Arkiv Modular Pack. And on it went, week after week. I spent those early days consuming all of the past articles, immersing myself in the community the guys had built. Learning about the brands they gushed over, and finding out why they were so special, so cutting-edge.

I digitally met our team across the Pacific: Catherine, John Canfield, Mike Weiss, Brian Park, David Vo, Mr Zing and a character called Taylor (who at the time had a finger-twisted moustache and was yet to grow his infamous red beard). The months and years that followed were a ride. I’d scored the gig just as Carryology was blowing up and things moved quickly. 

Our Carry Awards grew and grew, with brands reaching out months in advance for selection, and what seemed like the whole industry converging upon the blog for that month of every year. We pushed our photography and content to higher levels, connecting with the world’s best designers, collectors, brand HQs, and talking to specialists in their fields about what they carried (including war reporters, firefighters and storm chasers). All the while, ticking things off our dream list, like gaining access to the hallowed grounds of Yoshida & Co. or visiting the famed Böle tannery. 

New and legendary contributors joined along the way. Frank Sedlar took us to the flood-riddled streets of Jakarta, Ace brought his stamp of outdoor nous, Piotr Ma led us along on his amazing field tests, and we pushed the first big wave of video with Bo Ismono, Zeke Kamm, 1iOPen Productions, Excessorize Me, and Chase Reeves and Pack Hacker in their early days. 

We changed the way we scored, giving more detailed breakdowns of the criteria that we felt gave the whole picture of great carry. Then worked hard to build the world’s first interactive buying guide and product finder, grouping the world’s best carry in one spot, ranked.

Soon, we’d dive into our most ambitious project and tick another box on our dream list. We’d build a concept store. But not just any concept store. In our eyes, it’d be the greatest carry store in the world. Every brand we loved, from every corner of the globe, all in one clean gallery-inspired space, designed to celebrate gear, with no distractions. 

A few years later, and one of my favorite moments, on day three of Outdoor Retailer, over a plate of some of the worst Italian food on the planet and some crisp beers, we were offered our first collab with Topo Designs. The type of ‘imagine if’ moment that Andy, Taylor and I had only dreamed of years before. It would be the opportunity to pump all of our learning and passion into a pack that we could give back to the community, with the hope of sparking imaginations.

Now, having released five collaborations in total, they’re something that has meshed into our DNA. And so too building community via Carry Classified and our new Carry Collective meet-ups, popping up all over the globe. Finding ways to bring folks together, online and IRL.

It’s an exciting time for Carryology. Looking back, we’ve achieved so much, but what’s more exciting is what lies ahead. Watch this space. We’ve been working behind the scenes for a while now on a new vision, and plan to build our team for 2020 and beyond, diving more into video and improving our tools to help you find the right gear.

Also look for more boundary-pushing collabs with brands we’ve raved about for years (I have a prototype on my desk right now that we’re calling ‘The Unicorn’ that you’re gonna LOVE!) and more experiments in the event space. There’s lots of things we’d like to try. And we’d be totally stoked if you came along for the ride. Carry on!

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With imbalance comes inspiration

In the carry world, performance and office-appropriateness are almost always mutually exclusive. If an office pack is blessed with a lovely silhouette, all that magic can end at a flat back panel and pair of thin, straight shoulder straps. On the flip side, if a pack has the harness to ride well on a bike, it walks into the office with dangly compression straps and hydration tubes that suggest you prioritize hiking and cycling over work. It’s a hard balance to find.

So it was this ‘balance’ that inspired us to create the Shift. And with it, we think we’ve achieved the best of both worlds – office and performance combined.

Discovering G-Hooks are broken

With our flap closure, we knew we wanted to develop something from scratch. Something that did more than the other options on the market. Something that would close effortlessly from different heights, without any noise, with one hand, only using friction and tension to do it.

So we started researching and ordering boxes of off-the-shelf options to tinker with – especially G-Hooks. And in doing so, we discovered G-Hooks were kinda broken.

The key insight was that existing G-Hooks are essentially two-dimensional and flat. If they’re not in constant tension, they can slip out. And when trying to close a bag one-handed, it takes a lot of twisting and angling of your wrist. So we started exploring what the hook would look like if it was more of a 3D barb, or something that slid straight across.

The first barb trials involved simple coat hangers. The big insight from this was that if you fixed the barb to the wider bridge of the flap, you can manipulate not the hook, but the whole flap. Closing it became more of an arm-based gesture rather than your fingers and wrist trying to maneuver it in – it made it easier, faster.

Then we designed the barb in 3D to lock in the tension on the X-axis. If you look closely you’ll notice the Slide-Hook has real contour to it – and all those contours are there for a reason. Its thin nose allows you to scoop it through the webbing loop easily. Its rising ridge creates tension. And then it slopes down into a squarish channel to create a locking mechanism.  

Tradesmen have it right, in reverse

Our guiding approach to pocketing at Bellroy is to use external pockets for things we need on the go (keys, wallet, metro card), and our internal pockets for things we need at our destination (work tools, toiletries, etc.). This keeps our transit smooth and our minds free to focus on things that matter (like our latest true crime podcast or page-turner).

In the case of the Shift, we really stepped up the internal pocketing…

We’ve developed what we call the ‘reverse tool-belt’. When you see an excellent tradesperson, their tool-belt becomes an extension of themselves. They seamlessly dive their hands down and retrieve whatever tool they need at any time. They have a direct line of sight, always. But for us, whacking half a dozen pockets on the outside of the bag would destroy the clean silhouette that lets the bag move through different environments. So we flipped the tool-belt and created a ring of organization on the inside. It sits high, in hand’s reach from the opening, and makes our daily tools visible and easily accessible.

Having the belt up high – off the lower section of the main volume – helps when packing big, awkward and heavy shapes into the bottom without feeling like you’re squishing or damaging anything else.

Venture-weave: a wonder fabric few know

When considering our outer fabric we knew we needed weather resistance, durability, and office-appropriateness. Venture-weave was the obvious choice, with the subtle crimping of the yarn creating interest and surface appeal.

As far as durability, Venture-weave is a really interesting fabric, the stuff is just rock solid. The underlying principle is that the filaments themselves are kind of put through a 1980s-style hair crimper so that they end up a zigzag shape – just like crimped hair. After this crimping is done, it’s woven together.  

In a standard weave, both the fibers are flat so you get a really even and consistent crossing over of the threads. The high points (the top/surface layer) are the spots that take the abrasion and stress of use. So consistently across the whole thread, these high points keep getting exposed again and again.

But with Venture-weave, the pre-wrinkled woven fabric resists that repetition. The dispersion of ‘high points’ is irregular, which puts the wear across a greater number of threads in a lower number of spots. You end up with a much stronger and much more abrasion-resistant fabric.

In addition to that, the slight color variation is one of the biggest things to help it keep looking clean. The more even a color is, the easier it is to spot any flaws. The natural tone variation of the Venture-weave means it disguises that a bit more. You’ll still need to wipe it down, but it’s not going to be like a really tight ballistic black that will show any flaw or fleck of dirt. And when it comes to lint etc., it doesn’t attract that much either, so yeah, there’s a lot to love.

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“The dispersion of ‘high points’ is irregular, which puts the wear across a greater number of threads in a lower number of spots. You end up with a much stronger and much more abrasion-resistant fabric.”

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Sealing off the weather with less work

We needed the Shift to be able to spend some time in heavy rain. Not a heap, but enough to get you and your gear through a wet commute home, safe and sound. We did a few things to help this. The center flap panel is laminated to add stiffness for better closing and to add heavy water resistance through the center.

Moreover, we wanted to construct a flap that could close at various heights and continue to have a self-sealing side edge that gives you water protection. But we didn’t want to have the penalty of a roll-top bag where you’ve got to fold it, pull it back over itself and close it with clips. We wanted it to be much easier than that. We needed the ability to fold the flap down and have the two side wings tuck in. The big insight here was to stiffen the front lower opening, and to make a pivot point for the flap and side wings to close over and ‘seal’ the opening.

We also considered the position of each and every seam. For example, the main construction seams on the back are positioned away from the laptop compartment. So, even in worst case scenarios your laptop will not be in a part of the bag that has water wicking to it. By considering the positioning of everything, we managed to give this bag a heavy shower-proof rating while still maintaining its ultra-clean look.

Blasé back panels: death to the tombstone

We joke internally about ‘death to the tombstone’. The ‘tombstone’ we refer to is the very common flat tombstone-shaped back panels that brands use as a default. It’s like, you have all these great lines that end at this plain tombstone panel and that’s where all the magic dies.

We avoid that at all costs. With the Shift, everything is interconnected – there’s a 3D interplay between all of the panels. Which is why, down through the back of the bag, you’ll see that the lumbar support grows out. We actually have that lower panel swoop around and actually become the front and sides of the bag.

When cutting corners is a good thing

Given the opportunity, we try to avoid rectangular or boxy shapes. The main reason for that is that when you just take the edges off, you start to reduce the wear areas. So if you do end up brushing against the wall, you’re not always going to be clipping the same pointy spot. You’re going to be sharing that burden across more of the pack.

Straps that perform, but don’t show it

The challenge with the straps was that we needed performance – straps that would perform when you’re hunched over and pedaling hard on a bike – but also look the part in the office. Something clean and streamlined, not bulky. In the end, I think we found a way to make a complex strap look simple.  

We designed them with the shaping and curvature you’d expect. But made them very thin and understated so they won’t stand out when slung over work attire.

For comfort, we applied dual-density foam. The top layer of foam we’ve kept as a really firm PVA. That foam gives it the stability and structure so that when you’re just draping it over your shoulder, it doesn’t look like a soft, puffy, comfort-focused strap. Then, on the underside, we’ve got a really thick open-cell foam that is puffy and has a lot of cushion to it, and that’s the stuff that is going to be sitting snugly on your shoulders. So you get the best of both worlds, where the top looks very controlled and the underside feels really soft and comfortable.  

In addition, we kept the padding away from the joining seams at the top, so that the strap moves around and fits to different-sized frames.

Laptops aren’t meant to bend, right?

We found that a common issue with packs, especially packs that are marketed as ‘bike packs’, is they position the laptop compartment flush with the back panel. So when you hunch forward to ride, it’s not only uncomfortable but it puts stress on the laptop.

We mounted the shoulder straps and webbing anchors to the main construction seams, away from the laptop sleeve construction. So when your back curves, the laptop has some independence and freedom of movement. Small amounts of flexibility like this will help prolong the life of your device.

Lumbar support that adjusts as you do

We wanted lumbar support. Instead of adding a standard, static pad we patterned it into the back shaping of the bag. The result is a more natural and dynamic lumbar support. It moves and adjusts as you do – it’s soft enough that it pushes out of the way when it needs to, but will always return to the small of your back. It really serves an unexpected level of comfort when carrying the bag.

More importantly, it compresses and moves out of the way when you have a full load. So if you cram your bag to absolute capacity you are not forced to try and be comfortable with a hard pad of foam jamming into your back.

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“Instead of adding a standard, static pad we patterned it into the back shaping of the bag. The result is a more natural and dynamic lumbar support.”

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Wrapping up

All in all, the team and I are really proud of the Shift. It’s a pack that we’ve personally been searching for for years, but never found it done right. In daily use, it rides well. Walks into the office with elegance. Gives you access to the right essentials and tools at the right time. And expands when you need it to, i.e.: like when your brother drops by for a surprise visit and you need to swing past the store for a case of beers (this actually happened last week!).

For us, it’s a blend of elegance and functionality that’s hard to find. And we hope in making the Shift, we’ve made a work pack that some of you have been searching for, too.

The post Designing the Bellroy Shift Backpack appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

We are super chuffed and honored to see how our Carryology community has grown over the years. More and more are geeking out over all things carry, and we wanted to find a way for us like-minded Carryologists to come together and jam on our passions. So we’ve launched Carryology Classified, a digital hub where our community can unite and get geeky over everything from technical fabrics to carry hacks and personal carry loadouts, and score exclusive discounts, sneak peeks on upcoming projects, and so much more.

So just what exactly can you do in this group?

Answers and advice

If you have a carry-related question or need advice, this is the place to find answers and helpful guidance. Our savvy carry community features a broad range of enthusiasts, from collectors to designers and people just getting into the carry world. There’s always a chance to learn something new, share expertise, and benefit from others’ tried-and-tested carry experiences.

Exclusive first dibs, discounts and behind-the-scenes access

As mentioned above, Carryology Classified is also the place to enjoy sneak peeks of upcoming products and projects, including Carryology collabs. Additionally you’ll have the chance to scoop up limited edition patches, products and more, as well as enjoy exclusive carry discounts and giveaways from a variety of brands.

Share your passion

Want to share your carry collection? Spread the buzz with an unboxing? Showcase your honed tweaks and hacks? You’ll find plenty of people that understand your love of waxed canvas, your obsession with AustriAlpin Cobra buckles, or the true mastery of your personalized EDC setup. A community that will be just as excited as you are when a carry package arrives in the mail. A community that appreciates that new carry smell, and agrees that no, it’s not excessive to have ten packs in black multi-cam. Okay, maybe just a little excessive, but we won’t judge if you don’t…

Jamming with brands

Ever wanted to ask a brand why they designed something in a particular way or chose a certain fabric? What inspires them or any insights they might have for getting into the carry industry yourself? Carryology Classified will be hosting a variety of Live Q&As with brand heads, makers, designers, adventurers and more, where you’ll have the opportunity to ask those carry questions you’ve always wanted to know the answers to.

Swap, sell and buy

This is a big one, folks! It’s long been requested that a space could be set up for our community to buy, sell or trade carry. We’ve heard you, and have set up Carryology Classified as a digital hub for enthusiasts to buy, sell and swap carry pieces. From work-friendly messengers to outdoor backpacks, you never know what might come up or where. So keep your eyes peeled for awesome pieces popping up and the chance to score a bargain or two (especially for those who may be able to avoid pricey customs charges by finding a piece locally).

What’s on?

So those Q&As we mentioned? We’re kicking things off with a bang and true carry royalty.

Live Q&A with Mystery Ranch’s Dana Gleason: Tuesday, August 14th at 2 PM – 2:45 PM MDT. 

Dana Gleason is the man behind some of the most influential brands and innovations in the industry, from Kletterwerks and Dana Design (founded in 1975 and 1985 respectively), to Mystery Ranch (going strong since 2000). One of the most respected designers in the business, he revolutionized pack access with the 3-ZIP and has extensive experience creating bags for diverse spheres, from military and mountaineering use to everyday carry. We are beyond buzzing for this! Get the event details here and make sure you don’t miss out!

Live Q&A with GORUCK’S Jason McCarthy: Wednesday, August 29th at 2 PM – 2:45 PM MDT

GORUCK is known for its military-tough gear. Which makes complete sense when you learn founder Jason McCarthy is a former Green Beret who wanted to create carry that would take a beating and refuse to quit, no matter what you threw at it. Today the brand is synonymous with gruelling GORUCK Challenges, ridiculously rugged USA-made construction, and fostering a sense of community with a commitment to teamwork and service first.

Come join in the fun!

Carryology Classified is a place to make new connections, gain and provide advice and insights, possibly pick up that ideal piece you’ve had your eye on, or find a good home for a piece you’re no longer using. A place where experienced carry enthusiasts and those just starting out can come together and benefit from a shared passion. Come join us and get in on the action!

The post Join our Exclusive Community and Marketplace Today! appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Author’s note: excuse the narrow format. Click the images for larger versions.

The Outpost, founded by Eric Bach, Evan Dudley, Jeff Wolfe and Caleb Morairty, describes itself as an experiential event. The team held a trial run on the Central Coast of California last year, and this year are doing a full schedule, with the season opener in Yucca Valley, overlooking Joshua Tree. I was among a diverse freshman group, who came from all walks of life and all facets of industry. We all arrived Friday afternoon where we settled into our four-person tents complete with bunk beds; a large solar panel was perched on the roof and a cable snaked its way into the tent, feeding juice to the Goal Zero power station.

Outside, the Trading Post was in full swing with brands displaying their wares in tiny booths. Anyone who has been to a traditional trade show would have seen the immediate contrast here. The “booths” were often nothing more than a few stacks of hay bales or perhaps a folding table for the more ambitious of the bunch. The entire area was tiny but the vibe was much better than anything I had seen at Outdoor Retailer, where a single brand often has a booth that exceeded the space I was in.

“Anyone who has been to a traditional trade show would have seen the immediate contrast here. The “booths” were often nothing more than a few stacks of hay bales or perhaps a folding table for the more ambitious of the bunch.”

I immediately struck up conversations with representatives of brands I was familiar with and a few that were new to me. The casual nature of the event, paired with being outside during a beautiful day, made the conversations seem a lot more genuine and the words seemed to flow with greater ease, compared to a stuffy convention center. Before dinner, I made sure I grabbed a rental Rumpl throw blanket to test out. It would prove to be a good choice, when I later learned the winds don’t quiet for anyone in the high desert.

“The casual nature of the event, paired with being outside during a beautiful day, made the conversations seem a lot more genuine and the words seemed to flow with greater ease, compared to a stuffy convention center.”

The real fun was on Saturday when most of the events took place. Brands sponsored each event and really tailored it to their strengths. We signed up the night before and early that morning. I went on a hike hosted by Teva. They handed out boots the day before.

Halfway up the trail, we found two refrigerators – one filled with Revive Kombucha and the other with Perfect Bars from a new company out of San Diego, using recipes honed over decades by a father who wanted to leave a legacy for his children. The hike was led by two volunteers and I struck up a conversation with one of them, learning that she had recently moved to run the nursery and seed bank for the Mojave Desert Land Trust. Needless to say, she was an expert on local plants and even the history of the area.

“The real fun was on Saturday when most of the events took place. Brands sponsored each event and really tailored it to their strengths.”

The trail ended with Rachel Furman serving up some inventive Bloody Mary’s. She featured infused vodka, gin, and tequila variations and this was all staged outside of her new white camper. She runs a business in Ojai called Smoke & Honey, with a focus on mixology and events. I met graphic designers, a rep from a large photography retailer, and a few former TOMS employees who left to start their own non-profit benefiting the national parks.

Later, I did some intense scrambling over large rocks, fallen trees, and through thick brush, scratching both arms up in the process. We were being led by the founder of Juniper Ridge, Hall Newbegin who insisted that our sense of smell was the most important and encouraged us to stick our noses to the top soil and take it all in. Throughout the weekend he foraged for local plants and with their mobile distilling rig, they bottled up some spray bottles. Talk about terroir.

The rest of the day was spent barreling down the highway and desolate roads in a Ural sidecar, chatting it up with guys from Bulleit about their upcoming Barrel Strength release, live music, and a night photography class by Chris Burkard. NBD.

The next morning we packed up, said our goodbyes and made our way to our respective homes. I had a long drive back and much time to reflect on the weekend. I realized that I got a chance to demo all the goods without even realizing I was evaluating them. I just used the products because they made sense at that time. And I used them in the way they were meant to be used (i.e. a blanket covering me while I was sleeping, as opposed to touching it in a convention center).

“The rest of the day was spent barreling down the highway and desolate roads in a Ural sidecar, chatting it up with guys from Bulleit about their upcoming Barrel Strength release, live music, and a night photography class by Chris Burkard.”

So was it fun? Definitely. Was it effective? Good question. That topic came up a few times over meals and the immediate answer isn’t clear. My dining companions and I agreed that the face of marketing has changed. What was once simply measured in ROI (money spent on marketing, dollars in sales acquired) has become a more complicated equation. It’s almost impossible to place a dollar value on loyalty, a person’s sphere of influence, word of mouth, and business ideas that spawn by a campfire, rather than in a board room. I’ve been hearing that large shows like OR are not actually getting much business done nowadays with order deadlines coming in well before the event. If that’s true, it seems like a smaller getaway like The Outpost might be more effective.

“I realized that I got a chance to demo all the goods without even realizing I was evaluating them. I just used the products because they made sense at that time. And I used them in the way they were meant to be used.”

Last year, at Outdoor Retailer, my fondest memories were chatting with companies after the cameras and notepads were put away. One example is the Carryology crew went to dinner at this terrible Italian restaurant in Salt Lake, with the two reps from Topo Designs. We talked about the coolest bars and tastiest places to eat in Denver and sure, there was business and talk about new products coming out but it was really about friendship that evening. I followed up in the coming months whenever a memory of that conversation sparked a question or reminded me to inquire about the new pack they mentioned.

The Outpost’s stated goal is to “create memorable experiences with products and services in their natural environment, while fostering real relationships with the people behind the brands.” In that regard, I think they succeeded. It’s been a few days since I returned and I am still telling coworkers and friends about my weekend and the amazing people I met and rad experiences I shared with them. Similar stories can occur in more traditional trade shows (see above), but in my experience they are usually reserved for private parties thrown by brands, outside of the main convention hall. And that’s the beauty of The Outpost. It eliminates the booths and crowds and fear of competitors catching a glimpse of your new season offerings, and extracts out and distills a trade show into the human aspect. That’s the part of a show I like the most anyway – the people; and I think the relationships I built at this event will be stronger than those on a crowded convention center floor.

The post The Outpost :: a New Kind of Trade Show appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.