And so we thought how could we not only reward this positive culture but nurture it too? Helping more folks share and connect and do good in the community.

And what do we all have in common? Well, hunting unicorns, of course… So today we’re starting: The Unicorn Hunters Club. A community initiative to help reward sharing, personal improvement and positive vibes. 

And since morale patches are such a big part of our community, it was the obvious choice as the foundation for this program. And where else do we see patches corresponding to achievements? Personal improvement? Where else are patches correlated with aspirational endeavors? Merit badges, of course! 

Given the concept, a few things needed to be done. First, we needed an artist. Someone talented and respected with serious morale patch credentials. So we hit up all around bad-ass, Patrick Ma, founder of Prometheus Design Werx, to pen the design for us. His designs are iconic in the patch and carry world, so it was a perfect fit. He went to work, riffing on the name of the program, with four different color variations for each merit award, inspired by valuable gemstones.

The concept of the unicorn in our community is a cultural one. In practice it means items which are sought after, potentially being very difficult to obtain. So, as a matter of fact, we’ve got ourselves a community and club of unicorn hunters. 

The end result of all this work was a set of patches, and more importantly, a set of achievements.

Second, we needed to hammer down the size and shape details. Being able to display multiple badges on a standard 2×3” patch panel was important. We found the sweet spot at 2×1.5”. Two patches could sit side by side and still hold an amount of detail we were happy with.

We hit up Greg Li at Suburban who was more than happy to sponsor this program for the community.

Big shoutout to Greg for his support!

Four Custom Patches to Complete the Set

Over the next few months, we’ll be rolling out four patches and achievements. Each will be different, with varying levels of difficulty, all aimed at improving the Carryology community. Stay tuned for information on how to earn each Unicorn Hunters Club patch as they launch.

Amber – Awarded for photos of the highest caliber, of the highest quality gear.

Jade – Awarded to the best of our community; the shepherds and guides.

Sapphire – Awarded to the knowledge sharers, contributing reviews and editorials.

Amethyst – Awarded to the charitable amongst us, helping those in need.

Earn Your Amber Unicorn Hunters Club Patch Now!

Hop on your social media platform of choice, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or submit via our special form.

Post an awesome flatlay photo of your carry gear.

Tag @carryology, #carryology, and #unicornhuntersclub.

It can be your collection, a bag dump, a pocket dump, packing list, or even a niche loadout unique to you or your line of work.

We’ll choose winners on a quarterly cadence based on quality of the photo, quality of the gear, overall theme, and uniqueness.

Need help or inspiration? Check out some great flatlay tutorials by contributor Bo Ismono and another by one of our favorite edc blogs, everydaycarry.com.

A Few Rules

If you choose to participate, and join the Unicorn Hunters Club, there’s just a few rules we ask you to follow.

1) Individuals can only earn each patch once, unless otherwise noted.

2) Individuals should not sell or trade these patches. If an individual is found selling these patches then that individual may be banned from any further involvement with the Unicorn Hunters Club.

3) We ask that individuals not give these away – they are only earned.

4) All submissions must be authentic. If it is found that an individual has somehow faked their entry, then they’ll be permanently banned from involvement with the Unicorn Hunters Club as well as any and all Carryology related communities and events.

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Introducing the Carryology Global Expedition Project.

Essentially, it’s the same exact concept as our Carryology Iceland R&D Expedition… except this one is worldwide. All seven continents are possible. Maybe even outer space… we’re still working on that one. Along their adventures, members from our Carryology team will place patches around the Earth, record the GPS coordinates, mark the date, provide notes, and upload that to the form you see below. Each patch is numbered: 001-300. Each number will be tied to the exact information from that adventure. Ultimately, the project’s aim is to get folks out into the world, to use their gear, to exploring new places, to make new relationships with strangers who might just become lifelong friends, maybe even finding some calculated danger, and of course… to have some fun.

How do you CLAIM one of these patches?

CLICK THIS “CLAIMED” LINK HERE

Click the “CLAIMED” link here.

Enter your info (name and date claimed).
Upload your photo of you claiming the patch at the location.
Simple as that!
From there, your photo and name will forever be logged into the Carryology Global Expedition Project halls of legends.

How do you help PLACE one of these patches?

CLICK THIS “VANGUARD” LINK HERE

Our team is small and we can’t cover every inch of the planet on our own… but our Carryology community (that’s you!) spans all 7 continents. Looking at your down in Antartica, Ethan! We’re searching for folks to join our VANGUARD team and help place these along their epic adventures. The more epic the adventure and location, the more likely you are to be selected.

Submit the details of your adventure and tell us why it’s awesome.
Please give us 30-60 days in advance before you depart on your adventure.
If selected, we will contact you via email.
We will then send you TWO patches.
One patch will be labeled “VANGUARD”, which is for you to keep.
One patch will be numbered “XXX”, which is for you to place.
Record the date placed, GPS coordinates, location details, and additional information.
Send us the information and photo promptly so we can get the patch added to the database.

NOTE: We will not be sending out all these patches at once. Wait to be contacted to determine if you have been selected, please do not contact us about the status of your adventure. We are a very small team and we will not be able to reply to all submissions, even though we would love to.

CARRYOLOGY CLASSIFIED OFFICIAL CGEP THREAD HERE

Click here to apply to be a “VANGUARD” via email.

1. Click here to apply to be a “VANGUARD” via email.

Click here to apply to be a “VANGUARD” via email.

shared the intel with our Carryology Classified Facebook group

CGEP Google World Map

And one huge THANK YOU to our friend Greg Li and his team at Suburban for sponsoring this project! Check out the Suburban website, our favorite bag shop on the planet, carrying all of our favorite brands under one roof.

The post Carryology Global Expedition Project appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Unsurprisingly, according to Dima, most makers aren’t putting their efforts into making products at this time. There’s also currently no shipping from within Ukraine. So, while you might be able to order products from these makers, keep in mind that while you will be supporting those individuals, you won’t necessarily be seeing a product in the mail tomorrow. And, you know, that’s okay. These makers are doing their best, as individuals and brands, to help their local communities in any way they can. Brands like Blackpack are even sewing medical kits and protective equipment. They’ve even volunteered fabric, patterns, and assistance for others looking to do the same.

And so we asked Dima, a man on the ground, to provide us with resources for those members of our community who wish to help. His recommendation is to visit Support Ukraine Now, created by Global Shapers and supported by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. SUK has curated a list of nonprofits, charities, and other foundations with a history of success and transparency. Dima has also pointed us at this specific post from @ukrainiansinsolidarity with further ways of donating and helping. For a more direct recommendation, his charity of choice is Come Back Alive, which supports defensive initiatives with training and supplies.

We leave you with this information, without further comment, other than that we hope all of our friends in Ukraine are safe and staying safe. We hope this helps, even if just a little bit.

Photos provided by D4 Bags, Blackpack, and Help Save Ukraine.

The post How To Help Ukraine, According to a Local Bag Maker appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

You see, there has been an increase in violence against the Asian American community. Stop AAPI Hate has received more than 2,800 first hand reports of anti-Asian hate crimes across 47 states in the USA since March 19th, and this disturbing rise has gone widely uncovered by mainstream media.

Fashion designer Philip Lim said, ““These hate crimes are up by 1,900 [percent, in New York City, according to 2020 NYPD data] and are a symptom of a larger issue rooted in systemic racism.”

The attacks have come as the Asian community has been wrongfully scapegoated or blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak.

Members of the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community are behind many of the brands and products covered here at Carryology. They also make up a sizable piece of our readership and Facebook community and staff. So this is something close to our hearts, too. And an awareness initiative we’re totally behind.

Please support the AAPI community by bringing awareness to incidents, speaking out against hate, and donating or purchasing products which fund anti-hate groups.

To this end, Haerfest have produced a capsule collection with the message “Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes”. You can choose from t-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies and a hat. 100% of proceeds go to Stop AAPI Hate.

And Philip Lim and Ruba Abu-Nimah have teamed up and founded #NYTougherThanEver where you can purchase a keytag, again with proceeds going towards a GoFundMe supporting grassroots AAPI organizations.

Hate and racism are lame.

Carry on,

Team Carryology

The post Haerfest Spread Awareness with New Apparel Capsule appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Taylor Welden (Senior Editor): “So, what was your plan 10 years ago?”

Alec Farmer (Founder of Trakke): “Hahaha, I didn’t have a plan!”

The following is written in Alec’s voice…

2010

Fixed gear bikes were cool. Bicycle messengers were cool, everyone wanted to pretend to be a bicycle messenger, even I probably did too. I was studying Graphic Design at art school and I was sick of being stuck behind a computer for hours. I wanted to make stuff with my hands. But of course, I was a broke art student. So my friends and I would ride our bicycles around Glasgow and go dumpster diving. We would find materials and then liberate them; couches, ad banners, zippers, buckles, anything we could find.

With these materials, we’d make bags from them. They were horrible as this was my first time really using a sewing machine at length, but they were a proof of concept. And it was fun. After a while, James (my flatmate and friend) and I realized we had way too many bags laying around our flat. We had the brilliant idea to try to sell some of these and found a small stall in a famous market in East Glasgow. On August 10th, 2010, we came up with the name and got the keys to the stall. It was official.

2011

We had developed a very small and local following in Glasgow. It was definitely shoestring. We’d make deals with people, where if they brought us some interesting cool fabrics to our stall, we’d make them a bag for free, leaving us enough material to make more bags later. One guy even brought us a roll of some really impressive high-end sail racing cloth, which may have led us down a new direction. First, I quickly began to realize the quality and execution of our bags was nowhere near where I felt comfortable. And we needed to scale up if we’d actually be able to do this properly. So I began looking for help. Initially, I went looking at overseas factories but then quickly realized we would never be able to hit the minimums required. And at 20 years old, I found a 50-year-old sailmaker just about 1 mile down the road from me. He started helping make some of our bags for us, mostly using brightly-colored Cordura fabrics, probably in our attempt to want to stand out among the competition. Weird loud colorways… what was I thinking?

These bags definitely did stand out. Back then, this was before Topo Designs, bright colorways weren’t a thing. All bags were basically black, so that did help. There wasn’t really a super active bag community around yet. It was a different time, for sure. Despite standing out and our quality improving, I decided that I really hated nylon fabric. With my new sailmaker friend’s work drying up, I offered to rent a small workshop for he and I to share. He could work on his projects and on our projects in this space. This all led to a refocus on what we were doing… and I decided to look around at fabric options and what it really meant to be “made in UK”. I discovered Halley Stevensons, the best waxed cotton mill in the world, located just 50 miles away. I found a shop in Wales to make us stainless steel hardware. Even webbing, made in Derbyshire near where I was born and raised. We began taking these fabrics and applying them to classic designs and silhouettes. This was the first real step of Trakke becoming what it is today.

2012

The first 5 years of Trakke were slow, very slow. But we did have some major achievements. We started to make some great product this year, but I was pretty bad at selling the product, since I really didn’t have any experience in marketing or sales. But we did have one massive win. Further exploring materials from the UK, we started some talks with Harris Tweed. They made really cool fabric and we worked out a collaboration with them to make some nice bags. Well, we didn’t realize how big Harris Tweed was in Japan. And overnight, we went from being this brand that only a few locals in Glasgow knew about, to getting all kinds of international traffic. We were shocked.

(Editor’s note: This is when I, Taylor, first probably discovered Trakke… or at least how I remember it anyway.)

2013

This was another changing point in our brand’s history. A weird year. And as usual, filled with happy accidents. For example, there was this awesome design museum here in Glasgow and for some reason the exhibition they had planned to show in a few weeks had fallen through, so they came to us and asked if we would be keen to fill this open spot.

Of course we were stoked. So we framed our Trakke exhibition around the idea of UK materials, where they come from, how we source them, how we transform them into products, and the people who use them. Without really realizing it, it made us look even deeper into our process and continue to evaluate it and improve upon it. It also gave us some insight on how to better share our message through photos, words, and video. You could call it the beginning of our understanding of marketing.

We also made the Krukke, our very first waxed cotton backpack in 2013. This year also marked the birth of our original Banana bum bag and one of my personal favorite designs we’ve ever done – the Óg backpack.

2014

Another weird year. Totally unplanned. I mentioned that I’m always interested in making things with my hands. Always curious. This made us totally blow up and had the international and digital spotlights put firmly on us. How did we do it? Well… we built a Mongolian yurt.

Yes, you read that correctly. We had a friend with a really nice shop with access to all kinds of high-end machinery. We just did this little side weekend project where we planned to make something, strictly for fun. It was definitely not intended to be a marketing project. If you’re familiar with yurts, even when they’re broken down, they weigh a whole lot and they take up the space of a large living room. Well, we designed this one to fit inside a car boot (“trunk” in the US) and it weighed only 130 kilos (286 lbs). It was roughly one fifth the size and weight of a standard yurt when disassembled. It was a lot of fun. But it attracted a ton of people. We were on the cover of Wired, in Vogue Living, and a bunch of websites. This was right around the time that glamping really started to become popular, so it was just this accidental timing. People still message us today and ask if they can purchase one.

We also teamed up with Timorous Beasties for a collaboration project, which was a lot of fun. We wanted to do something different, as usual. And to pull off our idea, we had to work closely with Halley Stevensons to execute it properly. Our idea… the world’s first digitally printed waxed cotton fabric. It turned out beautifully.

2015

This year was epic. The year we moved into our current workshop. We had space. We had passionate employees who we consider our Trakke family. And it also marks the year of my favorite collaboration project of all time, the Karrimor K100 Backpack. This was a dream of mine come tre. An honor. Karrimor was celebrating its 100th anniversary and they wanted us to make a pack that was directly based off of the Whillans Alpiniste pack, the pack you would see adventurers hiking to the top of Everest with back in the ’60s and ’70s. You’ve got to understand, Karrimor used to be THE British adventure brand. I got to work directly with Mike Parsons, the original owner/founder of Karrimor. He told me step by step how he would make these packs in the past. We even found the original buckle manufacturer of the original buckles they used… it looked like their catalog hadn’t been updated since like 1910!

2016

This is the year we really started shifting our collection in classic yet urban bags. We launched the range of products you’ll see in existence today. Of course, it’s been updated over time, but 2016 really was big for our direction.

We also worked on a collaboration that was really special to us, partnering with Jura Whisky. It was called the Trakke x Jura Whisky Backpack. What made this one really interesting is that we were almost obsessively inspired by the Isle of Jura, where the whisky is made. For example, the dye for the waxed cotton comes from lichens that grow on the ocean rocks, native to the island. The zipper pullers were made of deerskin leather, from local deer. We did 130 pieces in total and are very proud of that one.

2017

The year that the Wee Lug won 1st place in the Carry Awards for “Best Work Messenger”. That was a big win for us.

We also did another fun project. Originally just made for a friend of ours, the drummer of a local band called Frightened Rabbit. He came to us with a problem; he used drumstick cases that would have his sticks getting broken or damaged while he was touring. So we whipped this little drumstick bag up for him. Since then, we’ve made bags for some other bands such as Death Cab for Cutie, The National, and an obscure artist named Phil Collins.

2018

We released our best-selling backpack we’ve ever launched to date, the Bannoch backpack. I feel like in 2018 we really start to get up to date with where we’re at now, while we were still looking into things that played an homage to the past. Like the salt and pepper fabric we used on the Bannoch… we loved the look of those old Swiss military WWII backpacks.

Our friends Halley Stevensons figured out a way to replicate this fabric, using stinging nettles from England as the additional fiber to be mixed with the cotton. It’s durable, we love the way it looks and the nod to the past.

(Editor’s note: I brought up a story about a stinging nettle eating competition that I saw on a UK show called “River Cottage” and Alec tells me that the star of the show, one of my favorite humans, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his family, all own Trakke bags – awesome!)

And of course 2018 led to the greatest collaboration of all time; the Trakke x Carryology Storr SP collab. Of course, we had fun working with Carryology on this. But the big takeaway from this wasn’t something we expected. We didn’t know that there was this thriving carry community out there. Most times, when a brand reaches out to work on a collab, they just want to slap their name on it, and pull in some profits. We were surprised when Carryology sent Taylor over to Scotland for a full week to actually hang out with us at our workshop, design and prototype the bag together, and share a huge insight into this world we weren’t quite aware of. We realized, this is real and these folks in this community are serious about carry. It was exciting.

2019

We really started crossing over into both urban and travel in 2019. This is because we learned that our customers spend the majority of their time in the city, but they still want products that can go with them anywhere and everywhere. A bag they can wear five days of the week in an urban environment and then take to a fun weekend in the hills with friends.

This is where we have arrived. We don’t make bags for Everest, we’re not trying to be that. But we’re inspired by the legendary packs that went to Everest in the past. Ultimately, we believe in our products because we believe in and care about our customers. We still have customers coming to us who purchased bags from us 10 years ago and we still make small repairs for them.

2020

And we’re here. August 10th, 2020… 10 years later. So far this year we’ve just recently started pushing our comfort levels and playing a bit more with Dyneema. Our Dyneema Banana sling was released about a week ago and sold out in just around a minute or two! We’re liking this experimental approach and you should expect some more experiments going forward.

Our face masks were really a big challenge for us, which we didn’t expect coming from such a seemingly simple product. You see, normally we can test out products with lots and lots of people, to get their feedback and take notes on fit, function, etc. But in a global pandemic, we really only had ourselves to prototype and test with. But they turned out really nice and people around the world are reporting that they love them.

2020… 2030? 2100?

So, what’s next for Trakke?

Well… in 2019, we posted a photo about another fun weekend side project we had been working on. Just like the Mongolian yurt, this wasn’t some big marketing plan. We make things because that’s what we love to do. To say we were shocked by the response is an understatement.

And while the details for this jacket are mysterious at the moment, you heard it here first… it will be available later this year, as a limited edition product. We’re not going to release an apparel collection next year or anything. But this jacket acts as a statement of intent. It represents who we are and our path going forward. That we’re going to keep experimenting, to keep having fun, and to keep making.

Note from Carryology: We’re looking forward to seeing what else this humble brand creates into the coming decades ahead. We’ll certainly be following them along every step of their journey.

The post A Decade of Trakke: Alec Farmer Interview appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

And this week, in solidarity with the protests against institutional racism and police conduct, after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Carry Community took to their platforms with a unified voice: Black Lives Matter.

There were many layers of support given: staff joining protests, shared resources, pledged donations, pausing and taking time to listen, and plans to change content, policies and hiring practices.

It was a moving moment, with plenty more work to do. And although this is just a fragment of what was an overwhelming show of support globally, we thought we’d take the time to commend the brands, publishers and retailers bravely making a stand.

Brands

Outlier

“Match us if you can, any $# you can afford. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate“

GORUCK

“To be straightforward — we support non-violent protestors, and we support our Law Enforcement Officers. Both, and politics be damned. We believe in equality, and the rule of law. We abhor racism and believe that diversity is strength. We believe in the America of Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King and W.E.B Du Bois — and in the idea that it is never wrong to do the right thing.

Non-violent protests are a cornerstone of our democracy and our way of life, and we support them. We take great pride as Americans in seeing NYPD, Michigan, and North Carolina Officers kneel in solidarity with protesters. It’s not weakness to cross lines, it’s strength. We all have a choice to make, not only in what we do but in what we allow to happen. Now is the time to stand up for what is right. We hope you hear that call, and that you answer it.”

Western Rise

“As a business with a mission to elevate lives, we are sickened. Every person should be able to pursue life without fear and without limits, regardless of the color of their skin. We must do better.

At the end of the day, we know actions speak louder than words. In that spirit, we are stepping up and making a donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. We are committed to continuing to strive toward a better future together. Black lives matter. Full stop.”

bagjack

“To be perfectly honest, I’m not a huge fan of brands getting political – it rarely feels honest. However, despite certain groups trying to turn it into a “Who’s camp are you supporting?” question, this issue isn’t even a political one. ANYONE with common sense MUST stand against police brutality and racism. Posting a black picture to show solidarity is a no-brainer, and hopefully the global wave of protests can finally lead to some long overdue change. BLM & Stay strong”

Black Ember

“Our family extends across the globe to the many people who have supported us over the years. If you are looking for ideas on how to contribute today on #blackouttuesday two that we contribute to are: @southernpovertylawcenter and @aclu_nationwide
Today we add & financially support @bgcsf doing good work for kids in our city #SanFrancisco.”

Black Diamond

#blackouttuesday

DEFY Bags

“DEFY RACISM.”

Osprey

“At our core, we are steadfast in our resolve to leave our world better than we found it. Because of that, we’re choosing not to stay silent on the events of this past week and our nation’s long history of systemic racism. We believe there is simply no place for hatred in our communities, in our outdoor spaces—anywhere in the world, period. We stand with the black community to condemn senseless deaths and injustices that permeate all facets of our society.

We realize sharing our beliefs is a small step, and we’re pushing ourselves to do better. Better starts with listening more and developing an evolving action plan. Starting today, we plan to use our platform for good and to ensure BIPOC voices are heard—that means giving them a platform to speak about experiences, better representing people of color through all of our stories and diversifying the non-profits we partner with to better support our core values.”

Topo Designs

“Many of you have asked how we’re showing our support, because solidarity means more than speaking out on social media. The first thing we’re doing is listening and learning. We have a long ways to go, but we are committed to this road that leads to being a more informed and responsive ally. That’s why we’ve partnered with @camberoutdoors so we can grow into the best company we can be. We’re also supporting with donations to @naacp_ldf on a national level, Colorado Black Health Collaborative on a local level, as well as matching employee contributions up to $1000 per employee. We will keep looking for ways to do our part in making the outdoors and elsewhere safe for everyone, starting with looking at ourselves.”

3sixteen

“As a company that has placed a priority on speaking our minds and taking a stance on issues of injustice since our inception, we knew that it was important to say something, but we just didn’t know what. We also recognize this to be a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve been researching organizations that we want to support and that we want to point you towards, but that takes time. We didn’t want to be hasty, and we also didn’t want to simply post something for the sake of posting. Our aim is to work towards sustainable and lasting change. We want to be in this fight for the long haul.”

Tortuga

“BLACK LIVES MATTER. Tortuga stands in solidarity with our Black customers and the Black community.”

Bellroy

“From our base in Australia, we feel far from our American friends – Black Americans, particularly – right now. But we stand with you as closely as we possibly can. Our country is not without its own racial scars, and plenty of fresh wounds. But right now, this is about you.⁠
⁠
We’ve been trying to figure out what to say, while feeling that nothing we say will ever be enough. So, we just have to start talking. We have to force ourselves to say hard things and have uncomfortable conversations. About race. About injustice. About why or how it could ever be a question that Black. Lives. Matter.⁠
⁠
While we’re a diverse global business, we are predominantly white. And privileged. That feels uncomfortable to say, but discomfort is where we have to sit. To figure out what we can do to help. Properly. ⁠Words, without purpose, are cheap. ⁠And intentions, without actions, are useless.⁠
⁠
So, the first action we’re taking, is educating ourselves. Reading, listening. Then asking questions and having conversations. Holding ourselves accountable to the idea that this current state of reckoning is horrifyingly overdue. Because in this time when everything is so uncertain, there is one thing certain: Black lives matter. ⁠Listen with intention. Act with conviction. And, together, make it right.⁠”

You could start (but not stop) reading, here:⁠
The Fire Next Time – James Baldwin⁠
Race – Toni Morrison⁠
Between the world and me – Ta-Nehisi Coates⁠
⁠
With more time, move on to these:⁠
Why I no longer talk to white people about race – Reni Eddo-Lodge ⁠
White Fragility – Robin DiAngelo⁠
Women, Race, Class – Angela Y. Davis⁠
Me and White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad⁠
⁠
When you are ready to dive deep, try this:⁠
Racecraft – Karen E. Fields and Barbara J. Fields ⁠
⁠
If you’re better with podcasts, digest these:⁠
Code Switch ⁠
Serial, Season 3⁠
This American Life, episodes 487,488⁠
In The Dark, Season 2⁠
⁠
Or documentaries, these:⁠
13TH ⁠
The Central Park Five⁠

Burton

“We stand in solidarity with the Black community. We are listening. We will commit to making an impact on dismantling systemic racism. We are ready and willing to admit where we’ve come up short and commit to what we can do better.

We know that change doesn’t happen through words alone. Right now, we’re donating $100,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (@naacp_ldf) with more long-term action to come. Take a stand by demanding accountability and/or donating now. #BlackLivesMatter“

Faherty

“Hi friends… if you don’t know what to do right now, here are ways to help: (1) GIVE money: link to black lives matter in bio. Also support bail project funds in cities where there are protest, (2) SPEAK: speak and decry against racism where you see it, (3) LEARN: if you’re having a hard time understanding the anger or feeling defensive, it’s important to read more on the systemic issues that caused this. Follow @thegreatunlearn or @privtoprog as a start. (4) SUPPORT: send money to your black friends who are hurting or buy from black business owners. We need a radical mixed racial revolution.

To our white community, let’s show up and be instruments for positive change. Team Faherty is coordinating our financial donations this week, so know we’ll be putting money where our mouth is. We love you. Slide by @rachel.cargle @thegreatunlearn #blacklivesmatter“

Filson

“Silence. It’s something we actively seek out. On river beds at dawn. In deer stands in the cold woods. But sometimes, silence speaks volumes. In light of this weekend’s events and the injustices committed against black, brown, and indigenous communities carried out by institutions of power for generations, it’s time to speak up. We stand in solidarity against racism. We don’t claim to have all the answers. We know there’s plenty of work to be done, and that’s something we’ve never shied away from. Silence is no longer an option. Standing together and lifting our voices against hate is just the first step of a long road to bring about change.

Words ring hollow without action. Filson has made donations to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (@naacp_ldf) and the Washington chapter of the ACLU (@acluwa). We encourage everyone to look into local organizations, engage with their own communities and stick together. #BlackLivesMatter“

Hill City

“Instead of spending your money with us, we ask that you join us and spend it contributing to change. Spend it speaking up for the voices that aren’t heard and help to amplify the message. And most importantly, spend it standing in solidarity with our Black brothers and sisters. We can only be better, together.”

JOSHUVELA

“For change. We believe we need to start at the very beginning with the first step. Be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that racism is a cruel system in America, a nation built on a foundation of exploitation and slavery. And that culture has not changed very much. But we DO NOT need to stay this way. After acknowledgment and true honesty, the next steps any of us can take are within our abilities that can make change. We can do anti-racist work daily.

For example,
— Take personal responsibility for our daily eduction. Get out of your comfort zone by reading a book or watching films about Black histories and other cultures you may not know about.
— Speak up at your workplace to help enact diversity hiring quotas that are ongoing and for positions of power.
— We grew up with high school text books that had false histories within them. Help your (or your kids) high school to buy history books that tell the full truths of Black people in American history.

These may sound like simple or small things to do however it can dangerous to skip the beginning steps and focus solely on the big ideas. There are many other steps we can take as well. Understanding leads to empathy and action. Small steps add up to bigger strides. Black Lives Matter. We are fully in support of everyone doing the work, protesting, speaking out, for change.”

lululemon

“Thank you for all of your thoughts as we continue this important conversation about the systemic inequity, racism and oppression faced by the Black community. Black lives matter.

Our words have power. And we know they are not enough. We need to take action. You’ll find our first three commitments above. And you’ll see more from us over the coming weeks and months.

We also know that our community cares about justice, equity, safety, and holds each other to the highest standards. We’re asking you to join us on this journey. We’ve included some actions you can take. Please add to these lists. This is just the start of what we need to do. #blacklivesmatter“

Merrell

“We believe the outdoors is for everyone. No matter who you are, where you came from, who you love or how you move, we should all be able to safely enjoy the power of being outside, or wherever life takes us. We recognize that not everyone has the privilege to get outside safely and without fear. There is a problem and we will not stay silent. We stand with everyone advocating for justice today and every day. There are simple ways to take action such as furthering your knowledge around systemic issues, taking less than one minute to text “FLOYD” to 55156, or signing this petition to bring #justiceforgeorge: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd”

Arc’teryx

“We have stayed silent for too long.⁣ There is systemic racism haunting the communities we love. We felt as though an Instagram post without action couldn’t meaningfully address this systemic problem – but we realize that an issue this entrenched must be named, and we must speak up.⁣
⁣
This has been a humbling process for us. As a business and as an industry we haven’t always gotten it right, and have a long way to go. We are committed to taking action to change, no matter how long it takes. ⁣
⁣
Racism, injustice and violence need to stop. We stand in solidarity with black lives in communities around the world.⁣
⁣
We marvel at the strength of joining together to confront injustice, and will use our voice to seek justice where we live, work, and play. We promote the positive power of humans to be problems solvers. We will educate whenever and wherever we can. We commit to ensuring that every single human feels at home in everything we do. ⁣
⁣
The outdoors is for everyone. This world is for everyone. We cannot stop until every person is welcomed equally.⁣ #BlackLivesMatter“

Outerknown

“As a brand, we do everything we can for People and Planet, and we can’t stay silent on this issue. So many people have poured their hearts into the streets, into protests and petitions, into calling for change — for justice and equality — NOW. We hear you loud and clear. It’s up to all of us — individuals, brands, and communities — to take responsibility, acknowledge racism, learn, ask, speak up, get involved, and protect one another.
⠀
As one surfer said yesterday, as we got out of the water in Santa Monica after a paddle out for George Floyd, “We’re in it together. ALL of us.” We will continue to use our platform to amplify messages of unity and be a force for good. If you are protesting, please do so safely and peacefully.
⠀
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela #ForPeopleAndPlanet“

Patagonia

“We join with those who call out the name of George Floyd in sorrow and anger against the systemic racism that pervades our land. We stand in solidarity with African Americans and people of color, including those among our colleagues and their families. And we call on business to work with government and civil society to address racism. We know that we have work to do. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Environmental and social justice are inextricably linked and we all must address the intersection of people and planet and the core inequalities in our society. Patagonia remains deeply committed to saving our planet and a world where everyone has access to clean air, water, land, and a healthy community. Since 2016, we have dedicated over $4M to increasing support and attention to grassroots groups in frontline communities who are often hardest hit not only by racial injustice, but also the climate crisis, environmental pollution, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we are making a $100,000 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Tomorrow, and in the weeks to follow, we will intensify our efforts to ensure that voting, the most basic civil right we have, is safe for everyone. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Through our Action Works platform, we also encourage our community to learn more about the environmental justice and voter-turnout groups Patagonia supports. And we will continue engaging with our partners and grantees in communities of color to learn how we can best support them. We are committing to not only being more aware of racism and social injustice all around us but actively doing something about it. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Nonviolent activism pushes progress. We have work to do.⁠ #BlackLivesMatter“

Peak Design

“Businesses need to speak up. They cannot be silent while another black person is killed in America.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
We just made a donation to @aclu_nationwide, @naacp, and @splcenter. Those donations are not some sort of magic fix for deeply ingrained and systematic racism, but they do help put resources into the hands of those who fight day in and day out for racial and social justice. It is a start.”⁠⠀

Aer

“Black lives matter. We stand with black America and against the systemic racism in our country. We encourage everyone to listen, learn, and love.” 

DSPTCH

“It’s not business as usual. The injustices endured by the Black community are real and unequivocally wrong. For our next release of face coverings, we will be donating all proceeds to @naacp_ldf.”

The North Face

“We know and acknowledge that for too long, racism has made the world unequal and unsafe. We recognize the pain and suffering racism has caused and are making a commitment to be part of the solution. We are standing up, because we owe it to everyone affected, ourselves and you.”

KEEN

“We’ve taken the last couple of days to listen to Black voices and collect our thoughts. We’ve been educating ourselves. In times like this, we prefer to do that.⁣
⁣
17 years ago we created KEEN to inspire people to live with no ceiling. All people.⁣ ⁣The treatment of the Black Community in America over the past 400 years and the most recent murder of George Floyd is evidence of how far we have to go.⁣
⁣
Racism is systemic and starts with us. We will continue to work with existing and new partners to make it possible for everyone to live with no ceiling. First, diversity in our workforce. Second, diversity in our communication materials. Third, continued support to organizations working to fix systemic racism. ⁣
⁣
We will use our platform to continue to speak out and share others’ voices. Black Lives Matter”

Danner

“Over the past several days we’ve been listening, and we’ve been learning. We are filled with sorrow by the killing of George Floyd and join in solidarity with his family, friends and the Black community. We realize we haven’t done enough, and we want to help in the fight against racism and social injustice toward people of color. Change starts from within, and we will focus on education and action in our company and community. Starting today, we are matching employee donations to Urban League of Portland @ulpdx and Self Enhancement, Inc @official_sei. We invite you to join us. Direct message us with a receipt, and we will match your donations up to $25,000 for a total of $50,000. We know there is a long road ahead.”

The James Brand

“Black lives matter.⁠ #blackouttuesday“

Mission Workshop

“We’ll be donating 100% of our profits today to the Equal Justice Initiative. #blackouttuesday @eji_org“

Outer Shell

“Hey friends and followers, we spent some time defining our commitments as a company recently. We are at a critical crossroads for human rights and perhaps closer than we’ll ever be to making systemic change in this country. This moment demands every effort to create the paradigm shift we need. Our goal is to leverage our assets to effectively serve this moment. The method is to be transparent about our thought process and provide tools for critical thinking. Many people are asking ‘What should I do?’ or ‘Where should I donate?’ We don’t know all the answers but still want to help you answer those questions for yourself. Fundamental change can only occur when you think for yourself. We also have a lot of learning to do, so let’s do it together.

We want to make this formal commitment so it is a pillar of our company, not just a fleeting effort while we’re under the spotlight. We’re striving for ongoing dedication to anti-racism and we ask that you hold us accountable. One of our biggest assets is you: our audience and community. So we asked ourselves, ‘What privileges does our audience hold that can serve marginalized communities?’ One is purchasing power. The other is dissent.

There’s several financial initiatives we’re planning, including 100% profit donations for the rest of this week. We also call for divestment from athletes, organizations, and companies who continue to be racist. These campaigns will be ongoing so we can make long term contributions and evolve with a movement that requires solidarity, not just charity.

Indeed, it takes more than donations to create fundamental change, so we’d like to educate at the same time. This space will amplify underrepresented BIPOC voices so tell us if you would like to use our platform.

We don’t want to get completely off topic though! Engagement is critical to success, so we’ll try and make it relatable. Some accounts that already do so are @cyclista_zine @pedal2thepeople and @wtfbikexplorers follow them! We are allies in the fight to end systemic racism in this country. There is power in solidarity. There is hope. This is the tipping point.”

BioLite

“Black Lives Matter. We stand with our black friends, colleagues, and partners in condemning the violence and systemic racism against black communities across our country. ⁠⠀

Hate, inequality, and injustice have no place at BioLite, an organization that was founded on the core belief that everyone deserves a bright and safe future.⁠⠀

We also know for these words to have any meaning, they must be backed with action. This has started with work on the inside, listening to our teammates and examining where and how we can make clear commitments to long term anti-racism work at our organization and inside our local community.⁠⠀
⠀
We want these commitments to be real AND specific, so we will be back here with updates to match our words today with action.⁠⠀
⠀
While we do this work, we want to lift up those who have been sharing words and clear calls to action for a long time in the outdoor community:⁠⠀
@teresabaker11 ⁠⠀
@melaninbasecamp⁠⠀
@irietoaurora ⁠⠀
@diversify.vanlife ⁠⠀
@rongriswell ⁠⠀
@switchbackshawty ⁠⠀
@brownfolksfishing⁠⠀
#amplifymelanatedvoices⁠”

Snow Peak USA

“At Snow Peak, our mission statement encourages us to have a positive impact in all that we do. We’ve been taking time to find the right way for us to address the death of George Floyd and so many others, and the ongoing injustices facing the Black community. As we work to create a global community, we’re learning that in order to have a positive impact we need to take a stand. ⠀
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We know that Snow Peak and the outdoor industry have work to do to further inclusivity and equality. We believe that Black Lives Matter. We believe in creating restorative experiences in nature, and to truly uphold this mission, we must work to actively create safe, inclusive outdoor spaces. And even before one can feel safe in nature, one must feel safe in society. That’s not the case for all people, and that is where we must examine how we at Snow Peak can have a greater positive impact. ⠀
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We’re committing ourselves to greater education, an unlearning of biases, prioritizing diverse perspectives, and creating sustainable change. We’re adding more accountability within our company by forming a team focused on these issues, and encouraging our employees to spend paid time to educate themselves and help us discover ways Snow Peak can have a greater impact, both within the company and within the communities we call home. We’ve included an initial list of resources in our bio. ⠀
⠀
This is only the start. We aren’t perfect, we may make mistakes, but we are committed to being stronger listeners, learners, and agents of change.”

Tom Bihn

“We’ll be closed on Friday, June 12th in support of silent marches in Washington State organized by Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County. The TOM BIHN crew will receive 06/12 as an additional paid day off.”

Publishers

Design Milk

“At @DesignMilk, we post pretty pictures + products but behind all those pictures, there are human beings. People are always, always more important than stuff. We use our platform to inspire and challenge people to look at things in a new way. It’s time to turn that lens on ourselves. We need to be the change. We have a lot of work to do as a company, and in our community. We stand in solidarity against racism, oppression, violence and injustice. We encourage you to do what you can to help, whether it’s donating (there are tons of options posted all over Insta), protesting, joining organizations, reading books, listening to podcasts on race and diversity, or having difficult conversations. Now is the time to take action. Black Lives Matter”

Grailed

As we have conversations within our company—just like the ones you’re having in your homes and with your friends and families—we want to explicitly say:

Grailed stands with the black community.

We’ve made contributions to the following five organizations that stand up and fight racial injustice. We hope you’ll consider learning more and donating to these organizations:

1. Black Lives Matter – A global network with the goal of bringing justice, healing, and freedom to Black people around the world.
2. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – A non-profit created to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
3. NAACP Legal Defense Fund – Legal firm fighting for racial justice.
4. Reclaim the Block – A Minneapolis-based organization that works with community and city council members to direct money towards initiatives that promote community health and safety.
5. Committee to Protect Journalists – A non-profit that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.

The Perfect Pack

Pack Hacker

“Following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, we’re at a loss for words. We’re not experts when it comes to social justice, however, as a team, we’re against racism, violence, and hate. We’ve donated to @aclu_nationwide, @naacp, and @splcenter. We know this cannot magically fix the issues we’re facing. It’s one way we’re standing up for justice and equality.”

Gear Patrol

Every month, Gear Patrol reaches millions of readers seeking insights and knowledge to make the right purchasing decisions. Driving our content — and our mission — is the belief that information and insights about products can positively impact lives.

While the challenges we face from the Covid-19 pandemic and its fallout catalyzed a renewed purpose and focus for our work, it is clear that beyond our product journalism, our company’s actions must also contribute toward a society that rejects social injustice and racial discrimination. We stand in solidarity with the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement.

As a 13-year-old company, Gear Patrol is not without its mistakes. Our company’s focus is squarely on how to impact people’s lives through products and our approach has been to question the need for our contributions to social questions. But the problems we face affect the world our team and its 44 employees live in. So we must take action, and to start, our team will work on identifying and addressing gaps in our coverage of products and culture. While we look forward to sharing those ideas with you soon, Gear Patrol is also taking immediate action. Here is an overview of that plan.

Gentleman’s Journal

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela

Everyday Carry

“Black Lives Matter. Listen to their voices, educate yourself and others, and reflect on how you can do your part to effect social change.”

HiConsumption

“In light of recent events, we at HiConsumption have come to the conclusion that it is our moral and social responsibility to ourselves and our audience to speak up. We stand with the Black community (and all marginalized peoples) against systemic racism. Nobody should fear for their own safety or the safety of their friends and family in their home, community, city, country, or anywhere else — regardless of the color of their skin. As a global community, we must do better; we must be better than those who came before us. And we are of the mind that, along with recognizing these deeply ingrained issues, we must take steps to educate ourselves and those who surround us so as to set our hearts and minds down the right path. We encourage anyone and everyone reading this to utilize the following resources for the betterment of themselves as individuals and humanity as a whole.

We understand that words have power, but we also believe actions speak louder than words. We will be donating to several organizations working to dismantle social injustice, including the NAACP and ACLU.”

Ape To Gentleman

Highsnobiety

“Within brands and companies, unconscious bias and prejudice are some of the most dangerous forms of racism. ⁠It’s the old world policies on hiring, agency procurement, and campaign production. ⁠
⁠
These things may seem small, but they accumulate and add to race-based trauma. It’s deep and complex, and part of the process in becoming a true ally is asking yourself the hard questions, and facing and addressing the uncomfortable truths about yourself and your business. And while there isn’t a set checklist for brands to be checked off when it comes to being an inclusive organization, the following points and questions need to be considered.⁠
⁠
We’re not exempt. We’re questioning our own stance on these matters, and working towards change internally.” 

Hypebeast

Below are accounts that provide valuable information on where to donate, how to educate ourselves, and keeping up to date with new information.⁠
@naacp⁠
@blackvisionscollective⁠⁠
@committeetoprotectjournalists

Acquire

Sign the petitions. Donate. Educate. Black Lives Matter. Organizations you can help support: @splcenter @endlifeimprisonment @naacp_ldf @innocenceproject @eji_org @ccrjustice @aclu_nationwide @100blackmen @ncrmuseum

Retailers

Backcountry

Huckberry

“It’s time for us to show up for all members of our community, and to do our part in inspiring a better tomorrow.”

Mr Porter

“BLACK LIVES MATTER: As we bear witness to all the injustice in the world, MR PORTER stands against racism.”

REI

“As a cooperative, REI is built on a set of ideals that we hold dear—we are stronger when we come together.

However, the heartbreaking racial violence and injustices that the Black community continues to experience across this country provide a stark reminder that for many, those ideals are not a reality.

It’s just as stark a reminder for us at REI—that for all our ideals, we are still a long way from achieving them for all in our own community.

We must do better. We must continue to challenge ourselves, and our community, to be better listeners, better partners, better advocates for one another. For us to see the change we want in the world outside, we must start inside.

We will continue to work with our partners, across the country, who have worked for years in service of greater equity and inclusion in the outdoors. And we call on our entire community to come together with collective resolve and a commitment to respect, understanding and support.”

MEC

“Our purpose is to inspire and enable everyone to lead active outdoor lives. MEC stands in solidarity with our black communities in Canada. Anti-Black racism is an injustice that must be named specifically and resisted actively. We encourage allies to learn more about anti-Black racism in Canada through the link in our bio.

MEC calls on its member and staff allies to amplify the voices of black leaders and communities, and to actively oppose all racism everywhere.
MEC signed the Outdoor Industry CEO Diversity Pledge in 2018. It specifies the work we need to undertake – and continue – and it holds us accountable.

We are aligned with the guiding principles of the pledge, which include:
1.Hiring and supporting a diverse workforce and executive leadership 
2.Presenting representative marketing and advertising in the media 
3.Engaging and supporting broadly representative ambassador athletes 
4.Sharing our experiences with other leading brands”

Update: if you’d like to talk about brands and social activism, there’s an interesting conversation happening over at Carryology Classified.

The post These are the Brands, Retailers and Publishers Standing Against Racism appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

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When Kevin isn’t at his day job as an IT Consultant he can often be found participating in discussions at that secondhand marketplace, snatching up a deal on a soft goods product that someone offered up for sale, or tagging another member he knows has been looking for the same item.

Over a very short time, he’s built a reputation as a knowledgeable carryologist and (all around) great person to deal with, so we wanted to glean some of his insights on buying and trading in a space that can be pretty fickle and hot one minute, dead the next.

Kevin, thank you again for taking the time to talk about pack game. With luck, folks new to the experience of the secondhand market can learn some valuable lessons, without the costly mistakes that might sour their experience.

What is your count on the total number of pieces you have purchased in the past five years?

I was able to count to 80, but I know I’m forgetting some. Some bags I’ve bought more than once after selling previously. Others came through trades and those aren’t included in my 80 count.

And what drives you to flip so much gear?

I’m really just looking to try new stuff. However, I tend to find fault in all bags and then I can’t stop thinking about it so I need to let it go. But it’s mostly the former. There are so many different materials out there being made into bags; waxed canvas, all the various facets of Nylon and Polyester, as well as X-pac and Dyneema. Some materials work for me in some applications, and others don’t. It has taken a lot of “flipping” as you say to get me to know that. You can also say it’s about finding the perfect pack, which I won’t, but it’s fun to try.

How many of those were catch-and-release items which you sold off shortly thereafter?

Quite a few. A lot actually. I envision how I’m going to use it and if it doesn’t live up to that, then it’s out the door. I also measure it against what I’m currently using bags for today, and if my current carry doesn’t fit with the bag, then I sell it. My carry has changed a lot over time, so there’s a good chance some of those would work today that didn’t work yesterday.

And are there any common reasons why something you just bought for a song might be a quick sell?

There are some bags out there referred to as unicorns. These are bags that are no longer in production but have built up a cult following where people will not hesitate to buy if it comes up for sale. You can find some of them for sale now, but the seller usually knows what they have and is selling for more than what the market is willing to pay, hoping for that one buyer. So, snagging one of them, even if the bag is not to your liking, is worth the purchase because if priced right, it won’t take long to flip. Even if the bag isn’t a unicorn, but the bag is rarely seen for sale at the price you got it for, most people will flip it to help fund either that unicorn they are after (their grail bag) or the new bag that has hit the market.

Have you noticed a significant change in your tastes?

Absolutely. One of my absolute favorite bags at the moment is a GORUCK GR0, a precursor to the GR1 sold today. I never would have bought it when I first started out and have been happy ever since. I once bought a new GR1 but returned it due to how stiff the bag is brand new. It’s one of the negatives you hear so much about. Since I have a habit of selling bags quickly after getting them, I knew I’d never break it in to the point where it becomes “perfect” for you. But the GR0 came that way and it’s been a dream to carry. I like to think that if I only had this early on, I might not have bought and sold as many as I have. It’s really close to perfect for me.

If I were new to the Classified group and wanted to put a GORUCK GR1 up for sale, what sort of advice could you offer to improve my chances of selling it at my desired price?

You couldn’t have picked a more polarizing bag to bring up. Within the carry community you hear a lot of negative feedback about them, but just as many positive ones, if not more, though. When it comes to selling one, it’s usually a good bet it’s going to sell. What makes it kind of difficult to sell though is the price you set. A lot of people get a discount at GORUCK. It’s a 25% discount offered to public servants; military, law enforcement, government employees, first responders, as well as students. A lot of your bag enthusiasts come from those groups. So, selling a used GR1 close to MSRP won’t typically work. The number 1 piece of advice I would give to any new member of the group is to do a search for GR1’s. Get a feel for what’s been sold in the past and measure that up to what you are trying to sell, especially on what’s been sold most recently. The second piece of advice would be to pick a price that includes shipping and any fees that come with the payment method, and mention they are included in the price. It makes the transaction smoother and effortless on the buyer, which is what the buyer wants. Don’t you want that as a seller, too? Do 1 and 2 and you should see a quick(ish) sale. The last piece of advice would be to take good photos and call out any issues from minor blemishes to major ones. No one wants to be surprised when they get the GR1 in the mail and find something wrong with it that could or would have swayed their decision to purchase it in the first place.

In matters of etiquette what is important to consider when putting something up for sale?

First and foremost, read and abide by the group rules. After that, be truthful in your sale. The people that frequent these groups the most like to consider themselves a community. We are like-minded individuals, which is why we joined in the first place. We have built solid friendships out of it. If you want to last in the community, tell the truth. There are other avenues for you to go if that’s not what you are about. In my previous answer I mentioned calling out minor and major blemishes. Everyone likes to use trigger words that try to boost their chances at a sale. Such as, like new, or excellent condition. If it’s not truly those things, don’t say it. Think about how it would be if the tables were turned. Would you be okay with getting a bag that had an issue with it at the price you bought it at if the condition was overly exaggerated? Even if you would, mention it anyways. These aren’t sales with return policies.  

What is the one item you let get away that you most regret?

I’ve been lucky to get my hands on most of what I’ve wanted. Patience and building good relationships has allowed for that. Although if you know me, I have zero patience, so it has mostly come down to whether or not I have the cash. That’s where I say no most often. I rarely, if ever, will buy an item for more than MSRP. So I don’t really regret not buying something. I have though had regret buying something and it being a total flop. That comes from making snap decisions. However, if the bag is “hot” at the moment, and you take time to think about it, it’s sold to someone else. Those regretful purchases have been few and far between, so for that I’m thankful. But if there is a VX Litespeed in black out there, PM me. That’s one bag I’d like to own, but the going price for it keeps me from buying it. A lot of people would probably think I would have said the Remote Equipment Alpha 31. I didn’t know much about that bag until it became as sought after as it is today, so I can’t really regret not buying it while it was for sale. I guess I only regret not knowing about it earlier. I’ve only seen it for sale once, and it went for more than MSRP, a lot more, so of course, I passed. There’s going to be another production run in 2020, so that’s a plus.

Are you using any particular platforms for your buying and selling, like reddit or eBay?  Where have you had the most success with minimal fuss?  

Most of my sales occur via Facebook on The Perfect Pack group and the Carryology Classified group. I use eBay on occasion when something is either not selling on either one of those groups or it’s an item that won’t get the attention of group members. I like to keep sales within those two Facebook groups because it’s nice to move a bag along to another member rather than some random on eBay. Folks in the group tend to show their appreciation for the bag they bought, will write up some reviews of their own, or “catch and release” to another member. Those Facebook groups tend to be the best format over eBay for me. eBay will take percentages of your sales and I personally like to avoid that.

Which bags and brands move the fastest? Have you singled out a particular best seller?

The bag or brand that moves the fastest is basically anything in demand, either it just hit the market or it’s a unicorn/grail bag that doesn’t come up for sale often. Just recently the Alpha One Niner Evade 1.5 (full and light versions) are hot. The pre-order sales prices have ended so when those bags come up they are typically in great shape, like new condition and cost less than the current price. If you price it right it will sell within a couple hours or less. Some materials and colors are out of stock so that helps make a quick sale. For me personally, the EVERGOODS CPL24 in red was my quickest sale. With only 100 of those bags made that bag is on a lot of people’s wish lists and will not last long when it goes up for sale. But again, price will dictate that as well.

This article was written by Jon Custis. Jon is a retired infantryman, currently serving diplomat, and professional nomad. His thoughts on carry are influenced by years of suffering under packs stitched up by the lowest bidder; he joined Carryology to shed those scars.

The post Backpack Resales: the Art of Catch and Release appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Discreet looks

Aesthetics are one of the most important considerations for a work bag. It needs to look the part and fit suitably into your work environment. Perhaps that’s a formal office where pared-back, professional style is required. Maybe it’s venturing into a constantly changing range of environments, from rural outdoor terrain one day to bustling cities the next. But wherever work takes you, understated aesthetics are always a good bet.

“Professional aesthetic, hard to define but easy to identify. All the business features combined won’t make a Maxpedition Falcon-II office appropriate.”
David M. Bush 

“I’ve found the key to a great work backpack is its ability to blend in and adapt. If it doesn’t stand out, if it’s easy to configure for each job, and if I can carry it on a plane and throw it around nature while not screaming ‘There’s lots of valuables in here’ or ‘I’m armed’ then it’s in the running.” Nick Pickles

Comfortable straps and a ventilated but gentle back panel

While you might not have an active commute, you still want your work bag to provide ventilation when you’re on the move (it all helps to avoid the dreaded back sweats). But suitable ventilation also needs to be balanced with non-abrasive materials that will be kind to your cotton, silk and wool clothing.

And of course carry comfort is important too. The heavier your load, the more important comfort becomes (lugging heavy laptops and books or folders isn’t going to go well without suitably supportive suspension such as ergonomic and premium foam-filled straps).

“Must have materials and design that do not damage clothing.” Victoria Pollard

“Ventilation on the back to prevent excessive sweating…but that also doesn’t tear up suits/sweaters.” Jonathan Fung

“Shoulder straps that provide ample distribution based on bag size (i.e. bigger bag –> bigger strap with more padding).” Spencer Todd Adams Jr.

Water bottle pocket

Staying hydrated throughout the day is important, whether you’re grabbing a quick sip during the commute or between meetings, or have more time on your hands at lunch. And an easily accessible water bottle pocket makes it much easier to grab liquids when you need them (whether that’s water and/or a flask with a hot beverage for cooler months). And you’re going to want something decent here, large enough to hold a bottle while the bag is full of other items, yet secure enough to keep the bottle in place if you need to move quickly (such as legging it for public transport).

“Most bags I’ve tried barely have a usable one, let alone one big enough to hold a 1L bottle.” Jess Anastasia

“An external water bottle pocket rather than an internal one or none at all literally saved my laptop the other day when I didn’t close my water bottle all the way and it leaked. Bonus points for the water-resistant material that kept the water on the outside of my bag. I think external water bottle pockets are really underrated for EDC lately, but I love them.” Linc Silva 

Thoughtful compartments and organization

Sack-like designs with minimal organization may work for some (particularly those who provide their own pouches or organizers). But for many people who need to carry a variety of items in their work bag, thoughtful compartments and organization is key. This prevents a jumbled mess and keeps more fragile items out of crush zones. Plus it allows you to quickly and easily reach and store items throughout the day, while also allowing you to keep items separate if desired (for instance storing gym gear or lunch away from a laptop or papers).

Protective, suspended, quick-access laptop storage is understandably popular here too. After all, as one of if not the most used items you’ll be reaching for throughout the day, it makes sense to keep your laptop easily accessible and protected against bumps and shocks when setting the bag down (or accidentally dropping it).

“Compartmentalization that is tailored to items typically carried for work (i.e. Laptop, Charger, Mouse, Business Papers, Quick Access Items, Always Need ‘Ems, Never Wanna See ‘Ems) and about 10L of “Flex Space” for random items.” David M. Bush

“A separate laptop compartment with suspended bottom and a place for keyboard, mouse, foldable laptop stand, power cable and lock cable so all those items aren’t at the bottom of the pack.” Laurence Fortier

“Thoughtful compartments not just for electronics but also chargers, notebooks, pens, misc small stuff, key strap, water bottle, etc.” Seymour Blue

Quick-access and/or security pockets

Some items you simply need to be able to access or store quickly. Think your wallet, phone, earphones, work ID, pens, a small notebook, etc. Having a quick-access pocket to store such items makes it fast and easy to reach them when you need them, while storing them quickly and securely when you don’t. And a discreet security pocket can provide welcome peace of mind for storing valuables like a wallet, phone or even a passport if you’re traveling for work.

“A quick-access pocket, because going through multiple zippers and digging through crap to get to your keys or put away your earphones just before you arrive to work is stupid.” Lawrence Chan 

“A quick-access pocket. You’ll need somewhere convenient to store your work badge so that once you get to the building you don’t need to open up the whole bag to get in.” Geoffrey Chu

“It has to have pen slots. I don’t want to have to dig around for my pens. A zipped pocket in the back of the pack for my wallet is also great. Then I don’t have to take off my pack to access my wallet or phone. It also keeps it safe and secure against my back.” Carolann Kemp

Smooth and/or silent zippers and openings

Noisy bag openings draw unwanted attention. And they can require extra effort to open (think ripping off Velcro mid-meeting – yikes!). Zippers that open and close easily, hooks that are simple to detach and reattach, or buckles that open and close quietly will let you quickly and easily get to gear without causing distractions.

“Silent operation for discreet access during meetings.” Jens Weber.

“Eliminate all Velcro. Great for my toddler’s shoes, but nails on a chalkboard in any professional meeting.” David M. Bush

A simple key fob

You might be able to avoid stepping out with a lot of items. But it’s almost guaranteed that keys will always make it into your daily setup, whether it’s keys to your home, car or workplace. Having a way to store them securely in place means you can easily reach them when you need to, while also keeping them in check and away from more fragile items that might get damaged from key teeth.

“Key fobs. A simple add-on which lots of bag makes miss out on. Not everyone uses covered key pouches like the Bellroy Key Pouch or Orbitkey and keys are the EDC item which can cause the most damage. A simple fob will ensure I keep my keys and I will know what radius it will be swinging around in my bag. This will mean I’ll avoid putting sensitive items around it!” Wei Kiat

Self-standing design

Bags that fall over as soon as you put them down are a visual distraction that reduces your air of professionalism. Not to mention making it harder to access your gear and covering your bag in sidewalk dirt. Rather than needing to lean your bag against objects, picking a piece that can stand up straight by itself takes care of these problems.

“The ability to stand on its own so it stays sharp-looking in a boardroom beside you.” Laurence Fortier

Quality weatherproofing

Work bags often carry fragile gear such as papers or electronics. The kind of items you don’t want to get wet. And since you can’t always avoid the weather, it’s good to know your bag will protect your gear sufficiently from inclement weather. Yes, you can carry an umbrella. But sometimes unexpected showers strike when you haven’t packed one. Or you get splashed by passing cars. Or exterior liquids accidentally spill on your bag during lunch. Shit happens. And a little weatherproofing can go a long way to keeping your belongings safe.

“The most important feature for me is the weatherproof ability. Being able to survive in a sudden downpour is the main reason why I will go for high-quality fabric and am willing to pay extra money for a backpack. Otherwise, a regular $50 Walmart backpack can do the same thing as the premium $500 backpack, i.e. holding stuff on your shoulder. It feels like you’re a warrior when you carry a backpack through rain while other people are either forgetting umbrellas or staying beneath the roof to wait until the rain stops.” Yu-Chen Lin 

Protection and durability

While work bags might not suffer the same wear and tear as outdoor bags getting scraped against rocks and rough surfaces, that doesn’t mean they don’t go through their fair share of scrapes and knocks. Getting jostled in crowds, bumped against walls, set down on the ground and more all play their part in putting your work bag through its paces. Not to mention the general wear and tear from simply using it day in and day out, potentially for years on end and sometimes with heavy loads. So work bags should be built accordingly, with quality construction and materials that will stand up to regular use and help protect your gear in the process.

“I need to know that I can set the bag on the bus floor if I need to, walk and stand at the bus stop without ruining my laptop, and generally trust the bag. If a bag has all the organization but can’t handle the impact of living in the city without a car it won’t do much for improving my life. Shout out to the Trakke Bannoch for hitting this right on the head – durable, water resistant, pockets are secure from pickpockets, professional-looking, and just big enough.” Linc Silva

“Durable fabrics and excellent craftsmanship. Work scenarios are very different but no matter how good the features fit your journey, if things fall apart too quick that’s not worth much – especially for an EDC pack! They often get far more hours of use per year than the average trekking pack.” Moritz Grebe

Luggage pass-through

If you have a go-to work bag, the chances are pretty high that you’ll want to bring it with on any work-related trips you have. Being able to secure the bag to wheeled luggage via a luggage pass-through makes transporting all your carry gear much easier. Not to mention making it harder to accidentally leave the work bag behind when you’re on the move or have it stolen when your attention may be distracted.

“Luggage hook or sleeve is a must too as normal EDC packs will be inevitably used for interstate plane travels on top of my small suitcase.” Dul Stephen Kim

“Luggage pass through – It’s fine to go without it, but life would be much easier at the airport if the backpack sat neatly on top of the rollaboard without having to use a workaround like a Heroclip.” Jonathan Fung

Reflectivity

If you commute by bike, run to work, or generally venture out in low-light conditions, reflective detailing is a valuable work bag feature to help keep you visible while out and about.

“Reflectivity. As someone who bike commutes, and I need enough space for my scrubs.” Lindsay Sense

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The post 12 ‘Must-Have’ Features for Work Bags, According to our Community appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

And this secondhand market is growing quickly and fast, with individuals, small indie companies and large industry players alike all getting in on the resale and secondhand action.

More and more people are looking for the best used gear as an alternative to new. And there are plenty of reasons why it makes sense to make the switch…

Why buy, swap and sell secondhand gear?

Money savings

There are a variety of benefits to buying, swapping and selling secondhand gear. But probably the most prominent one is cost. Simply put, unless items are particularly rare or popular, they tend to be cheaper to buy secondhand; oftentimes significantly cheaper than buying them new. And buying secondhand doesn’t mean you have to put up with drastically inferior goods. You can obtain secondhand gear in like-new condition and still score a sweet deal on it. And the more worn it is, the more savings you’re likely to make.

Embracing new activities with less financial risk

Related to the point above, since secondhand gear is generally significantly cheaper than new gear, it opens up a world of activities and experiences that may have previously been cost-prohibitive if you had to purchase necessary gear new. For example, you might be new to camping or keen to try long hikes. Instead of shelling out on new, pricey gear, you can buy secondhand gear to try out the activity. If you enjoy it, you can continue using the gear you have or purchase new items if you wish. And if you didn’t like it, you haven’t committed to buying expensive new gear that’s rarely or never going to get used again.

Alternatively you might find that you like a certain activity but particular gear setups didn’t quite work for you. Buying gear secondhand is a more budget-friendly approach that allows you to tweak setups and swap out items while keeping your spending down.

It can be just as easy as buying new gear

With many marketplaces available online you have access to a global marketplace of quality secondhand gear, easily purchasable from the comfort of your own home. And if you’re buying, selling or swapping in person you can meet up for a gear viewing before any money exchanges hands. Just like you would visiting a bricks-and-mortar store.

Variety and rare gems

There is a large variety of secondhand gear available through online and offline marketplaces. So if you take the time to peruse or you’re hunting for something specific, you might just find something special. On top of that, online marketplaces provide the opportunity to get gear from across the globe, potentially gear that’s hard to get new where you live. And you never know when you might stumble upon discontinued or rare pieces you can’t get new anymore.

Supporting more sustainable gear consumption

Creating new gear requires the use of resources including water, energy, raw materials and more, in the process creating an unavoidable carbon footprint. And even reducing waste, using recycled materials and reducing resource consumption in the manufacturing process still results in a negative environmental impact. But buying secondhand reduces the carbon footprint of the items you are purchasing across their product lifetime. The more an item is used, the less impact it has, keeping waste out of landfills and increasing its value for money. Cutting down on creating new gear and getting more out of the gear that already exists makes for a more sustainable, ethical approach to gear consumption. Supporting sustainably made gear often used to involve spending more on those items. But opting for secondhand over new, however that new gear is made, is even more sustainable – with a nice saving for your wallet too.

Less, but better

Selling gear is a great opportunity to declutter your living space and personal collection while also earning some cash along the way. So you get to free up space while being able to use that cash to fund your travels, embrace more experiences or activities, or save for a particular item you really want, honing your personal collection to pieces you’ll use and hold onto for years to come. Ultimately resulting in a pared-back collection that meets your practical needs and personal tastes, rather than an assortment of items that don’t really do either. And remember, just because you aren’t digging a particular item, doesn’t mean someone else won’t love the opportunity to own it.

More style and gear experiments

It’s natural to want to switch up your personal style or try different gear every now and then. But spending a lot of money doing so, or buying cheap poor-quality new items, can make you feel a little…well, guilty. Buying quality secondhand gear is a cost-effective, sustainable way to embrace new styles and different setups.

And there’s another benefit too. You can experiment with gear hacks, making customizations without worrying that you might be irreversibly damaging a new product. This can help you create a piece that’s ideal for your needs, without spending a lot of money to obtain it. And it also offers the chance to develop new skills, such as patching or stitching gear or replacing hardware.

Where to buy, swap and sell used gear

Just as there are many great reasons to choose secondhand gear over new, there’s also a range of ways to buy, swap and sell used gear, both online and in person.

Via brands online and in-store

Patagonia Worn Wear

Worn Wear is Patagonia’s initiative to encourages customers to repair, share and recycle used Patagonia clothing and gear. The program accepts functioning used Patagonia gear in good condition. The gear can either be dropped off in person at a Patagonia retail location or mailed to Patagonia. Either option will get you credit in return, which can be used to buy more Patagonia gear (either new or used, in-store and online at WornWear.com and Patagonia.com). Patagonia takes your used gear, cleans it and resells it for others to use.

Arc’teryx Rock Solid

It’s no secret that Arc’teryx gear is pretty pricey. But they build it to last, and their Rock Solid Used Gear Program helps Arc’teryx used gear find new homes for continued use. Customers can trade in used Arc’teryx gear in good condition. In exchange, you receive 20% of the item’s original retail value in an Arc’teryx gift card. Used gear can be brought to Arc’teryx retail stores or mailed in. Arc’teryx will clean and repair the gear and then resell it online through Rock Solid.

The North Face Renewed

Hunting for tempting deals on used gear from The North Face? Well, checking out The North Face Renewed program is a good place to start. Used gear comes from returned, damaged, or defective clothing stemming from The North Face’s distribution center. The gear is cleaned and inspected, then undergoes any repairs required to get it functioning well for reuse. After a final quality check it’s offered for resale. For the program’s online pilot The North Face is selling used items in like-new condition. Items in great condition may be sold in stores and at events.

FREITAG S.W.A.P.

A Tinder-inspired bag exchange? Yep, that’s exactly what FREITAG S.W.A.P. is. The initiative (which stands for Shopping Without Any Payment) encourages people to swap FREITAG bags, allowing FREITAG customers to give their unwanted bag a new home in exchange for a different bag. To use the service, you need to register your bag and activate it for swapping. You’ll be able to see other bags in the service, and you simply swipe right if you’re keen to swap for a particular piece or swipe left if you’re not interested and want to see the next one. Once you get a match with another user, you then decide if and how you are going to exchange bags. Note that organizing the swap is up to you and the other interested party, not FREITAG’s responsibility.

REI Used Gear

REI Used Gear is an online-only initiative that resells gently used gear for up to 70% off the original retail price. The gear comes from in-store and online returns and is selected and inspected before being resold online. Gear ranges from clothing and footwear, to tents, sleeping bags and more. And you’ll find plenty of quality brands in their used offerings too, from Patagonia and Black Diamond to The North Face, Arc’teryx and more. Prices vary depending on the gear’s condition and items are available to co-op members and non-members alike.

REI Garage Sales

REI Garage Sales are in-store events that are only open to co-op members. They take place throughout most REI stores at different times throughout the year. Occurring over one day, the events offer a limited quantity of used and returned goods for sale. Items are sold as is, and it’s best to get there early to bag top deals.

MEC Gear Swap

MEC Gear Swap is an online hub where individuals can buy, swap and trade used outdoor gear. Essentially an online meeting place for buyers and sellers to connect, MEC approves and posts listings but is not responsible for the transactions carried out between buyers and sellers. As with any such online hub, there is the potential for fraud and scams so it’s definitely worth reading MEC’s FAQ section for tips and advice for safe buying and selling.

Online used gear marketplaces

GearTrade

Initially founded in 1999, GearTrade was taken over by the founders of Backcountry.com in 2005 to further the site as an excellent resource for outdoor enthusiasts to buy and sell gear. And the variety of used gear on offer is extensive, ranging from clothing and footwear to sporting equipment and more. It’s easy to search by budget, brand and category and there’s the potential to score epic deals off original retail prices.

Grailed

If you’re looking for secondhand streetwear and men’s fashion, Grailed is the spot, offering both new and used clothing, footwear and accessories. Their Bags & Luggage, Wallets and selection of Goretex raincoats are worth scoping out if you’re looking for higher-end or hard-to-get items.

eBay

eBay is one of the most popular online marketplaces in the world, available in many countries and with some sellers willing to post internationally too. The variety of new and used gear on offer is vast, but fees are building up, so be wary you’ll need to take a hit and give a small slice of your earnings to eBay for every transaction.

Amazon

Amazon is a retail industry behemoth with countless offerings of new gear available at the click of a mouse. But you can also find used versions of some gear items. Not the most efficient way to source used gear, but you might get lucky if you have a specific item in mind.

Reddit

r/onebag

As the name suggests, the r/onebag subreddit focuses on all things related to one-bag carry. A useful source of inspiration, tips and advice for anyone interested in one-bag travel, the Buy/Sell/Trade Thread is also a welcome resource for people looking to purchase, sell or trade items related to one-bag travel including bags and travel clothing.

r/ManyBaggers/

Bag enthusiasts will also find r/ManyBaggers a solid subreddit for carry-related discussions and advice. And for those seeking a place to buy, trade or sell carry gear, the Buy/Sell/Trade 2019 Q4 thread is the place to go.

Facebook

Carryology Classified

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our very own Carryology Classified. A Facebook group that not only allows enthusiasts to buy, swap and sell a variety of carry gear from around the world, but also serves as a community hub to discuss all things carry. A place to share and find advice, embrace your particular carry passions, get sneak peeks at upcoming releases, and even score exclusive discounts from top-notch brands.

The Perfect Pack

Our friends over at The Perfect Pack have built up a solid pack-loving community over the past few years. A great place to share the stoke on packs (especially the more tactical vibes), contribute to meaningful bag-related pow wows, and of course buy, sell and trade packs between members. If you’re driven by the hunt for that elusive perfect pack, this community is well worth checking out.

TADjunkies

If you’re a Triple Aught Design fan, this one’s for you. TADjunkies is a group where fans can discuss TAD gear, as well as buy, swap and sell TAD items amongst members.

In addition to the groups above, you can search for outdoor gear exchange groups on Facebook that are in your area or within a particular region. Such groups may offer online and/or in-person buying and selling options.

Try before you buy

While buying secondhand gear might be a good option in some circumstances, you might not be sure if a particular piece is really for you. However, an appealing alternative may be to try the gear out before you commit to buying it. A number of gear rental services are available that allow you to book gear for use on excursions such as camping trips or outdoor activities. REI offers a range of outdoor-related gear for rental purposes, as does Outdoors Geek (who also sell gently used gear). Switchback Gear Exchange is also a solid option for renting gear, while selling new and used gear too.

And remember, you can also reach out to brands and enquire whether they offer the chance to buy secondhand gear. Some may sell used gear in their retail stores, some may have dedicated online sites for secondhand gear, and some may offer a combination of both. And if the brands themselves don’t offer those services, the resources mentioned above are a worthy starting point for purchasing, selling and swapping secondhand gear.

Got any great suggestions of where to buy, swap and sell used gear? Share them below…

The post Our Beginners Guide to the Best Used Gear on the Planet appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.