The digital report for our 2023 trend forecast is officially out today and you can download it free right here.

For anyone who missed the last two reports, the Forecast is our annual deep dive into the topics that will be shaping the carry world in the year to come. From the big ideas down to the littlest details, we map out what’s on our radar and plot where it’s all heading. For us, it’s not about predicting the future or prescribing anything. It’s more a chance to take the temperature of carry culture around the globe to make sure that design reflects life. We also take a look at who’s making waves, from the big brands down to the neighborhood makers, plus new developments in materials and manufacturing.

Before we take a look at what’s on the cards for 2023, it’s worth warning readers that the c-word does come up more than we’d have liked. After two long years with Covid-19 at the center of every conversation, we too were ready to put it in the past. Unfortunately, the long shadow of the pandemic still touches everything in one way or another. While life today has mostly moved on from the immediate threat and there are freedoms to celebrate, there are also new risks to navigate. It’s a quasi-post pandemic phase that’s maybe more ambiguous and uncertain than at any time in the past three years.

In response to these strange times, design in 2023 is heading in all sorts of directions, all at the same time. For some it’s lit a fire to make up for the lost time, driving trends like GOAT travel. For others, the response has been to focus on the simple things in life. Humble ideas like the backyard office and the Tom Sachs General Purpose Shoe are striking a chord with an audience that’s looking to get back to basics. Then there are the others who are mixing all these ideas together and more, like in the case of the crazy colorful Kidcore movement.

On top of all of that, there is of course the backdrop of the climate and the ongoing quest for sustainability. Not to mention a war, and some rough economic waters. Too much to mention in one post. To get all the details, download the free 42-page report here. In it you’ll find the full rundown of all the above as well as a detailed look at the styles, fabrics, details, and colors influencing the coming year’s releases. Plus we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at contact@softservestudio.com to give us your two cents on what’ll be big in 2023.

IMAGES

1. Humble design (Tom Sachs General Purpose Shoe) Vs Kidcore (IWEARUP – Clear Skies Backpack)
2. Flat-packed backyard office ‘A Room In The Garden’ by Studio Ben Allen

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For years, there wasn’t much movement in the fidget community but sometime in 2017, fidget spinners hit the scene. The early iterations were created on a 3D printer and consisted of a skateboard ball-bearing friction fitted into the center of a 3-lobe spinner. Circles cut out in each of the three arms allow for additional bearings to be installed, adding weight. The user would simply pinch the center with his or her index finger and thumb and spin the stress-relieving toy.

Soon, savvy entrepreneurs found ways to turn a simple and inexpensive DIY project into something more professional and serious. The first of these inventors was Scott McCoskery who invented the two-lobed Torqbar, the first high-end fidget spinner, and the rest, they say, is history…

Types of Fidget Toys

Despite their popularity, fidget spinners are not the only type of fidget toy. In fact, any sort of device that helps with stress or anxiety, or just boredom, could be considered a fidget toy. Usually, these devices are small, and pocketable, and promote some sort of movement; whether the toy itself or the user handling the device.

Spinners

Previously discussed fidget spinners are still among the most popular fidget toys today. They are typically simple affairs consisting of a capped sealed bearing in the center and weighted arms or wings that allow them to achieve long spin times. Like tops (arguably a fidget toy in its own right), makers have worked on improving spinners by using high-quality bearings and experimenting with different (exotic) materials and weights. For example, Torqbar offers everything from stainless steel to titanium spinners, and even some with Mokuti buttons for that extra show.

Sliders

Enjoying their time in the spotlight right now are Sliders. They typically consist of two plates with flat surfaces that are joined using magnets. Occasionally, sliders like the Lautie Shuffle have small slits where metal nubbins slot in and keep the sliding on track but most rely on the unique and seemingly-magical way magnets work to get things homed to the right position. With different arrangements and numbers of magnets, slider designs can allow for multiple stages or clicks, and some even allow the user to spin the plates before bringing them to a reset position.

Some sliders are downright artistic like the Camera-M, meant to invoke memories of a Leica M-series film camera. Produced by WANWU Studio, the Camera-M has separate clickers for both the lens and shutter.

Finally, makers like Magnus Macdonald of New Zealand have experimented with different textures and grooves on sliders, which add a different dimension and feeling to the sliders.

Haptic

This could be a whole category itself but it simply refers to any fidget toys that provide a tactile and sensory experience. One of my personal favorites in this category is the Chill Pill, which like the name implies, consists of two halves of a (medicine) pill, connected with a pair of strong magnets that you can roll around your palm, clicking the pill apart and then together again. Made from both metal and plastic, and coming in a variety of colors and alloys, the Chill Pill functions as a flipper and slider. A combination that’s super addictive!

Buttons

Button fidget toys are exactly like the name implies – one or more buttons mounted on a device that is often spring-loaded and allows you to click. Lautie, a popular fidget toy maker, recently released the Puffercrash, which is meant to mimic popping bubble wrap, something we’re all familiar with! A variation to a button fidget toy, but a lot less portable, are mechanical key testers. These are small devices that allow the user to install different types of keys to test for actuation, noise, and pressure before committing to an expensive build. However, some users keep them around to fidget with.

Rockers

Rockers are fidget toys that work by snapping a plate back and forth over a fulcrum, much like a see-saw on a playground. Again, utilizing strong magnets, the rocker allows for satisfying repeatable motion back and forth with distinct homing in with each pass. Like Sliders, different grooves and designs can be incorporated to add different tactile experiences. The choice of plate material also has a large impact on performance as well, with Teflon, brass, titanium, and zirconium being popular choices.

Cubes and Combo Devices

The Fidget Spinner’s creator gives credit to the Fidget Cube as a source of inspiration. It still remains the third most backed product in Kickstarter history and was unique in that it brought six different functions (one for each side of the cube) into one vinyl desktop toy. The brothers Matthew and Mark McLachlan went on to raise nearly 6.5M from backers. There are plenty of variations now and some makers even allow you to customize the function on each side.

At the end of the day, a fidget cube is just a specialized multi-function fidget toy. The Camera-M device mentioned above is both a slider and clicker/button. These types of fidget toys are not unusual and offer multiple experiences in one package, which is ideal if you’re the type of user who likes to mix things up.

Rings

Last but certainly not least are fidget rings which look like traditional jewelry you wear, except they are able to freely spin with the use of ball bearings. Like all rings, they come in a variety of materials and sizes and have the added benefit of always being there all the time. Tangentially, a company from Ukraine called Fingears has introduced a unique product with the same name. It’s a set of three rings that attach to each other, magnetically, through the outside surface. With enough practice, there are at least ten tricks you can master, rotating and spinning the rings around each other.

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Featured Gear:

Backpacks:

Mission Workshop R6
Tom Bihn Synik 30
Black Ember Forge Max
GORUCK GR1 26L Shooter 500D Slick
The Brown Buffalo ConcealPack 21L

Pouches and modular accessories:

HoldFastGear Quiver
Filip Raboch Custom Pouch
Filip Raboch Custom Packing Cube
Mission Workshop Axis VX
Mission Workshop Arkiv Side Pockets
Tom Bihn 3D Organizer Pouch (clear) ; (all-fabric)
Tom Bihn Ghost Whale Pouch
The Brown Buffalo Porterpen Case
The Brown Buffalo MOD 001/002
GORUCK Shooter Velcro Kit GR1
Black Ember Water Bottle Attachment
CDH-TAC X Alpha One Niner Collaboration Wallet
Camera Shown: Leica Sofort
Camera used in filming: Sony RX100 VII

A massive thanks to JT White for the above guide. Our newest team member, JT is a Canadian-born, professional photographer living in Seoul, South Korea. Get to know him below!

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Before we dive into the Rucksack #1, it’s important to understand what makes this mountain workshop different. First and foremost, Racing Atelier is a design house, not a bag manufacturer. That might seem like a small difference on paper, but in reality it is the fuel that makes these wonderful packs special. Leander has serious design pedigree, which we discovered when we spoke to him back in 2018, and it is clear that this varied experience brings unique energy to his brand.

After years of admiration, we were ecstatic to get the chance to play with their flagship piece the Rucksack #1. Let’s dive into this unicorn-of-a-pack from Racing Atelier.

Breathtaking Beauty

It’s hard not to be immediately drawn in by the look of the Rucksack #1, after using it for the last six months, I have been stopped by people from every walk of life either exclaiming how they “love your bag” or asking “what is it!?” That type of reaction must be common for every Rucksack #1 owner, because it is a beautiful bag, more like a work of art. We had it hung on the wall at our recent Trakke meet up in Glasgow, and carryologists were ogling it and whispering to each other about “the yellow bag!”.

It’s clear to see why, aside from the striking yellow colour, the silhouette is so subtle that it fits any person who’d slide it on. My wife is a lot more slender than I, but it was perfect for her as we hiked around Oregon. For my shorter friends, they’ve carried it for a day or afternoon and had no issues with either look or comfort. It reminds you of an old school, heritage hiking pack, but step closer and you’ll realise that this is a bag that is a coalescence of the past and future. There are no sharp lines on the Rucksack #1, undulating curves make this a joy to look at, and to carry. Konbu® and leather work in tandem to give you the benefit of modern fabric advances, but with a taste of yesteryear, it’s a potent combination. With a 27 litre capacity, it hits the sweet spot of “not too big” and “not too small”, meaning it’ll cater to a lot of people.

Old world style meets new age materials

You simply can’t write about RA and their products without discussing materials, hardware, and all that comes with it. The level of detail in this Rucksack is quite astounding when you sit with it for twenty minutes and pore over every detail. Konbu®, leather, custom aluminium hardware, Edelrid wax dipped zipper pulls, Edelrid b-ware repurposed cinch closure, RiRi AquaZip, the list goes on and on. Each of these materials are leaders of the pack in their own fields, and when unified, it is something to behold.

You don’t need to do much research to realise how exceptional these materials are. Edelrid is commonly used in parachute lines, the custom aluminium hardware is aircraft grade (designed by RA and made in Germany) while the Konbu® and Leather are favourites at opposite ends of the same scale. 

Konbu® is pure witchcraft. Made by Cordura®, it is 500D nylon fibre that is 30-60% lighter than its traditional counterpart, it is of course durable like most Cordura fabrics, and it is incredibly weather resistant thanks to its DWR coating. Visually it is reminiscent of waxed cotton, but without the weight and the maintenance. Each bag made from Konbu® looks different, just like each waxed cotton bag takes on its own character. The organic aesthetic of Konbu® is reminiscent of Japanese Kelp, where it takes inspiration from.

Not only does it look good, it performs. I’ve carried the Rucksack #1, in all of its bright yellow glory, up and down mountains, across fields and beaches, not once have I been concerned with its weather resistance, while hiking in Oregon, it even took a pasting in a waterfall crossing and all my goodies were dry inside. It is almost impossible to stain, with a quick wipe down after each adventure, it sits pristine and eagerly waiting to get outside again!

I also found that Konbu® pairs beautifully with the custom made leather harness. It may seem romantic, but the marriage of old and new is truly exquisite on the Rucksack #1. This leather harness has to be seen in person to be believed, it is impeccable craftsmanship, and is arguably the most unique part of this bag. Vegetable tanned, this cowhide is painstakingly pieced together, hand rolled, and contorted into the beautiful silhouette that you see. It starts as a pale natural shade, but after just a few short wears it’ll begin to tell its own story, wear its own battle scars, and become uniquely yours.

This isn’t just happenstance either, Leander intentionally made this choice from a performance standpoint first, not an aesthetic one.

He describes how: “I use raw, untreated, vegetable tanned cow leather for the back panel and shoulder straps of the pack because of its functional characteristics: same as our skin the leather used to be skin as well, therefore can adopt better to the climate of our body – this becomes most obvious when we sweat > then it is a lot cooler to the body than a mesh or other material. Then the leather adapts to the shape of our body – the more we wear it, the more we sweat in it, the more often it gets wet the better it will fit our body. And leather is one of the few materials that can be ‘folded’ around the shoulder straps in inside and outside radius without having to fold it, wrinkle…. which I consider a valuable fact to the comfort of the shoulder straps”.

Not only that, since the spring of 2022, all of the leather is sourced from local towns, giving it an even more unique story than any other pack you’ve owned. It’s a circular process that can be admired, culminating in Bavarian leather coming from a known cow, farmer, slaughterhouse, and tannery. Every detail on the leather work is sublime, from the aforementioned stitching, to the hand stamped logo and product number. While I understand leather isn’t for everyone, if you are going to own it, there aren’t many better ways than this.

How does it perform?

Unique materials and innovative manufacture aside, a bag of this cost must do the job, and do it very, very well. The good news is that it does.

Within a few wears, you can already begin to feel the leather harness molding to your body, that is a real pleasure. While all bags break in with use, there is a connection with this leather harness that feels different, and it only gets better. I’ve had no problems with carrying heavy loads in the Rucksack #1, I’ve managed thirty to forty pounds easily. Either hiking gear including layers, food, and water. Or more tech focused carry including cameras, tripods, and the like. There was no notable discomfort and I was astonished at how breathable the back panel proved to be. Although I do think the optional waist strap would have come in useful on longer trips at those higher weights. The adjustable chest strap is a pleasure to use thanks to the simple hook engagement, and is easily used with one hand on the move.

Functionality wise, this version of Rucksack #1 is a simple bag. With one main cavity, a lid pocket, and a side compression strap. The main cavity is probably around 24-25L, while the lid pocket is 2-3L. This lid pocket is protected by the RiRI AquaZip and I found it to be a natural home for wallet, phone, and snacks or accessories. There is also a key loop in there to keep the essentials close by.  The main cavity is whatever you want it to be, and I found myself pairing it with slings and pouches pretty regularly. There is no lining in the Rucksack #1, and I don’t think it’s needed. You can see everything, from the fiber of the leather, to every stitch and join.

This isn’t what you would call quick access by the current standard – there isn’t a secondary access from the side or magnetic closures, but when you look past that, you’ll find my favorite part of the bag. The cinch system.

The delightfulness of this closure system is hard to describe. It’s slow, it takes some getting used to, but once you have it down, it is an absolute joy to use. The custom made hardware shines here from both the rope tension closure, through to the seemingly sailing inspired aluminium and pension tension adjusters. The rope cinch is intertwined with the repurposed Elderid b-ware cord that we mentioned earlier, and the blue adds a wonderful flash of colour as you activate the cinch system. These too take on their own patina and scuffs throughout use, and this bag becomes more and more unique each time you use it. While it is slower to access than I’m accustomed to, it feels very intentional when you do interact, there’s something charming about that.

Orders and Customisation

There is no hiding that this bag isn’t cheap. At 2300 euros, it’s a barrier to most. However, I would say that the Rucksack #1 isn’t just carry, it’s art. It isn’t just any art either, it is personalised, specialised, individual masterpieces. Made to your taste. When you begin your process of ordering with Leander, there are multiple options. While originally designed as a hiking pack, it is not limited to that, and Leander will work with you to create what you desire. Some of the options include: compression straps, axe or pole attachments, laptop sleeve inside, side pockets, waist straps, and different colour webbings. He also offers different materials including Konbu®, Dyneema® and there’s even some special fabrics coming later this year.

Quite the range of choice, however, this isn’t a pick and choose make your own Frankenstein backpack deal, this is a collaborative design process where Leander will take your desires on board and discuss how they can be integrated into the delightful form factor of the Rucksack #1. I love that about Racing Atelier, they create and we’re just along for the ride, riding the coattails.

“Even though not every pack is used heavily outdoor or the like, I want it to be as functional and comfortable as it should be. At first I never say no, because I like to accommodate customers’ wishes. It is my main interest to create a product that is meaningful to the customer – the more it suits his/her needs the more meaningful it becomes”.

Note, it takes approximately four weeks for Leander to create your bag from the beginning of the process.

Why you might like it

I’m going to hedge my bets and say that if you buy a Racing Atelier bag, you’ll never own anything better. It is a work of art, created for you, and no-one will ever have the same bag as you. It is the definition of bespoke, and one that will stay with you and your family for decades. It is pure craftsmanship of the highest level. Recently I watched two owners of other very well respected brands drool over the quality of construction and design of the Rucksack #1. I had to keep my eyes on it at all times!

It’s hard to sum up how I feel about the Rucksack #1. I see its obvious strengths, and some of its less obvious flaws. However, I keep coming back to two things. Firstly, I have never been as excited to wear a bag as I am every time I put this on, I get giddy because I know how unique it is, how comfortable it is, and how different it is. I find great joy in knowing that my “040” Rucksack #1 isn’t anywhere else in the world, just on my back.

Secondly, I have never seen others fawn over a bag the way they do with the Rucksack #1. When I think of our community, and what we aspire to, that is quite something. A celebration of all that people can do, and sharing it with the world. Sometimes, when I wear the Rucksack #1 around town, I feel like I’m wearing a masterpiece on my back, and rather than it being locked away in a private gallery–it’s out there for all to see. I think as Carryologists it can be easy to fall into the trap of criticising bag X for what it doesn’t do compared to bag Y, and we can overlook the intention of the designer. Here, Leander wants to make a bag for you to use, love, and trust. He isn’t trying to make bags that compete with the mass market. That is a wholesome intention that is manifested in his products. 

If you’re a purist, and want a very special experience from conception through to delivery – and to wear a backpack that is truly at the pinnacle of backpack design and product art – the Racing Atelier Rucksack #1 is something well worth investing in.

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Those afflicted become seized by a sort of irrational hysteria. Caused, we think, by the overwhelming romance and nostalgia surrounding travel trunks. In its grip, the imagination runs amok. Wildly optimistic ideas for contents and features spin out of control, and that most basic of carry equations is forgotten: the bigger the contents, the bigger the luggage. (During one particularly extreme case we received two full pallets of proposed contents from a client, destined for a ‘portable’ trunk, required to be no larger than a good-sized camping pack.) There is, I should say, no known cure. Luckily, it can be treated with design.

Fortunately, no one involved in this commission – developed in collaboration with Glasgow’s Pod Creative for Elgin’s legendary malt whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail – suffered from the condition. Nevertheless, the sheer range of whiskies that G&M deals in is itself so imagination-defying, that the scope of required contents was still highly challenging. With glass and liquid in the mix too, and mindful of airline hold-baggage maximum weights, we had to watch our weight even more carefully than usual.

The trunk was envisaged as an evolution of Prestige Director Stephen Rankin’s interactive whisky tasting sessions. Built to house and transport the tools and liquids he needs to theatrically communicate the many subtle aromas and flavor profiles to audiences around the world. It needed to be large and sturdy enough to transport all of his apparatus securely; dramatic, detailed, and playful enough to captivate participants. Stephen is a man who spends a lot of his time on the road though – often solo – spreading the gospel of single malt, so genuine portability was rarely far from our minds. It’s a gospel he knows better than most. His grandfather (George Urquhart) was a pioneer, a spirited innovator. Laying down casks, bottling, and championing single malt (that is to say, unblended whisky from a single distillery) when most others were promoting cheaper, younger blends. Indeed, few have done more to foster the vibrant whisky industry we enjoy in Scotland today than his family. Which brings us to perhaps the most precious item the trunk was designed to carry: the brand’s values. A task calling for a little, shall we say, Highland flair.

As we always try to do, we worked with Stephen from an early pre-concept stage, even sitting in on a tasting session to better understand his character and process: when and how he uses each piece of kit. Here we quickly discovered that the digital, visual, and sensory are all key components of the experience. And that like any great showman, the reveal is a crucial part of the performance. Noted.

Where we finally landed on contents, when the range of items had been distilled to the essentials, was still a pretty extravagant list: Six glass bottles of spirit, one decanting funnel, six Glencairn nosing glasses, one crystal water jug, three glass water pipettes, 40 vials of aromatic oils, four hermetically sealed glass sample jars, 100 aroma testing cards, one journal, one iPad, four interchangeable A4 presentation cards and, perhaps most difficult of all, six samples of charred and unsealed barrel stave (showcasing the differing levels of smoky aroma with a light, medium and heavy burn, in both American oak/bourbon, and European oak/sherry casks.) A challenging ask, certainly for a handcrafted portable encasement.

A word here on process. Ours is predominantly a woodworking workshop, where we design and make one-off and small-batch sculptural case goods, objets, and furniture, in solid hardwoods and leathers. As such we generally do not – as Vuitton, Goyard, and Globe-Trotter often do with their suitcases and larger trunks – construct our pieces from vulcanized fibreboard or resin-impregnated canvas. Instead, we choose to use poplar: a light, rigid timber. Because of this, we do sacrifice a little in weight and wall thickness. But we believe it’s worth it in the name of precision, build quality, feel, and functionality.

For this trunk we used a combination of 4, 6, and 9mm poplar for the construction of the drawers and the main carcass. Grafting in strips of solid oak – which is much harder – along all exposed edges, and at fixing points, for durability. Where we could, we stripped weight from this rigid carcass by cutting away extraneous material. Such as in the shelving layers between each drawer housing, and in its hidden outside faces.

The leather we used to wrap the carcass exterior and interior, and the drawers – each of which is lined with our own design of friction-fit HD foam fitment, to both protect and present the contents – was Scottish: split down from a standard 1.5 to nearer 0.7mm to shave precious grams. Even at this thickness, it’s durable, luxurious, fire-resistant, and easy to maintain. It’s local too, which is always a bonus. For touchpoints, like the protective edging, D-handles, and logo patches, we instead chose a veg-tan bridle, laminated for thickness and saddle stitched by hand. Because of its tactility, thickness, and the clean way it takes a de-boss. (To save a few more precious millimeters, the inner-lid logo patch was actually flush-fitted into the panel work.)

Hardware and fittings are, like the bridle, Italian. Solid brass, gold plated to prevent tarnish (and for some of that aforementioned flair). Here again, our methods differ from traditional malletier (trunkmakers) in that we’ve actually re-bored and screwed or bolted on the handles, catches, and hinges – rather than nailing – as we believe this creates a much more reliable fixing. Though we do tack on the edge protection in the traditional hand-hammered style. (Because, frankly, the chance to use a detail this beautiful is just too good to miss.)

Of all the contents, housing the charred-oak barrel stave samples presented a particular challenge. Burned timber like this is essentially charcoal: filthy, and nearly impossible to handle without marking. The surfaces couldn’t be sealed though, as this would eliminate the aroma profiles. What we needed was to be able to repeatedly remove and interact closely with the samples, without actually touching them. The solution we developed was a set of three superlight individual poplar boxes, each containing a pair of stave samples cut thinly, and fitted very close to the lid of the box. This allowed participants to lift the charred oak close to their noses and open the boxes without physically handling the black stuff, adding to the interactive theater (and in fact even helping to retain the aromas).

The great irony in all this, of course, is that like the little sample boxes, the travel trunk itself had to be housed inside its own rugged encasement in transit. It is, after all, designed to be transported through airports the world over – doubtless to be roughly treated by baggage handlers, ferrymen, porters, and taxi drivers from Tiree to Tokyo – without being damaged in the process. And herein lies another significant design consideration. Protection.

For something as precious and heavy as this (where hold baggage maximum weight constraints, waterproofing, and good maneuverability are paramount) a standard Penn Elcom style flight case – even in the lighter-weight polypropylene FLight Panel version – was out of the question. They’re just too cumbersome, and the wheels are of frustratingly poor quality. (And the last thing we want is a Master of the Quaich arriving in a bad mood!) A customized hard-shell suitcase, like a Rimowa for instance, could potentially have been used. But the proportions of suitcases have not been designed with bulky, angular contents in mind. They don’t offer quite enough crush or impact protection either. Instead, we chose here to outfit a waterproof wheeled case from Peli (the European trading name for California’s legendary Pelican cases), opting for the brand’s super lightweight Air range.

Like all of their protective cases, the Air range was handsome and well-engineered, with two-stage throwover catches, an extendable handle, and smooth running in-line wheels. Even boasting an automatic purge valve, to keep water and dust out while balancing the air pressure inside. But it was made from their patented HPX material: a honeycomb polymer that Peli claim is still ‘crushproof’ and ‘rebounds without breaking’ but offers a 40% weight reduction from their core range. (The specific 1637 Air model we used weighed in at around 7.5kg including foam.)

Unlike flight cases, however – which can be made to order in any dimensions – the sizes are standard and fixed. And whilst the range is fairly broad, towards the bigger end we found the depths to be a bit of a stumbling block. (With even the largest struggling to meet our 350mm needs.) Tracking down and taking note of this crucial dimension, then, was something we were careful to do before even beginning to sketch out concepts. A factor nearly as critical in the design of this travel trunk, in fact…as checking for symptoms of trunk blindness.

Written by Callum G Robinson, Creative Director, Method Studio & Method Trunk Works, Scotland. Check out Method and their Trunk Works on Instagram for more great designs.  

The post Specialist Carry | Creating the Gordon & MacPhail Whisky Trunk appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Now for the survivalists, the bug-out-bag pros, the grunt bros, and naysayers, this review is an option for people. People often say that they will build out an emergency kit or a bug-out bag, but they never take the time to do this. It takes research, then sitting down to order each item, and also thinking of a bag or how to pack it. So is building your kit better and possibly cheaper? Yes. But for those who are not going to take the time to build their emergency kit, is a pre-fabbed kit better than nothing? Absolutely yes.

Uncharted Supply Co. has been around for several years and has gotten recognition for launching its Seventy2 Survival System. Over their time in the market, they have partnered with Yeti to create their Basecamp Collection. Taking the Yeti GoBox and packing it with items you would need and protecting your survival essentials from bears and other wildlife. Recently, Uncharted Supply Co. partnered with DECKED to create a go-bag utilizing DECKED’s D-Bag to build a survival system for your house or vehicle. 

Do you need to have a DECKED Drawer system to utilize this bag? Not at all, but the D-Bag is designed to fit inside the DECKED drawers, so you have a nice protected place to store the bag. 

But the bag also comes with removable straps, so you can carry this bag as a backpack if needed. 

So What Is the D-Bag?

The D-Bag is a weather-resistant, military-grade, hybrid hard/soft bag. This means that the top and bottom of the bag are thermoformed EVA foam. The foam is heated and shaped to create the sturdy shape needed to protect your gear. The foam is coated in ballistic nylon so it can take a beating and survive.

The soft sides of the D-Bag are TPU-coated nylon, which was designed to give the bag a slight bit of compression/expansion. The standard D-Bag comes with a removable tool roll and mini duffel bag to sort and organize your gear.

What Is Inside the Emergency System?

The kit is designed to keep two people alive for the first 72 hours of an emergency. Many naysayers will complain about specific items in the kit, but these items and quantities are recommended from many reliable sources. Yes, 2400 calories is not that much, but this is an amount to keep you alive, not give you a full meal. If you want a full meal, hunt a deer, forage for vegetables and cook them up after a hurricane, tsunami, tornado, or while stuck in a blizzard. All of these items are about survival, not about comfort. 

For someone like myself who lives in Colorado and now has a fire season, having the air and vision items is a good feature if we have a local fire and need to get to safety while the air is thick. If you travel in an area that receives snow, having a cold-weather emergency kit in your car is a must-have. The DECKED x Uncharted Supply Co. kit supplies all these items.

One of the items that this kit contains that other prefabbed emergency kits do not is a portable power station that you can use to jump-start your vehicle or charge devices. The Zeus Portable Jump Starter can jump-start your car, charge your phone, or even be used as a flashlight. Not many people would think to have this in their car emergency kit, but it could keep you alive when the time comes.

A few other items that are included that are nice to have in this kit are the items in the Warmth pouch. The rule of 3’s for survival states that a person can survive 3 hours without shelter. This rule can be thought of more as maintaining your core body temperature. This also depends on the environment, but keeping items in your kit to keep your body warm is key to survival. If you are stuck in your car in a blizzard, you can use the gloves, hats, hand warmers, and even the emergency shelter to maintain your core body temperature to survive until help arrives. 

The Good

As far as a prefabbed emergency kit goes, this one has it all plus more. The D-Bag is very well constructed and will take a beating. The quality of the items is standard for the kitted emergency industry. Keep in mind that these items keep you alive when a disaster strikes. If you want a top-of-the-line knife or different food, then take the time to build your own kit or supplement this one.

I love the Zeus portable jump starter and the multiple options for starting a fire. The pack also contains a good-sized water bottle that you can use to store the water that you filtered with the Sawyer filter or boiled over a fire. 

The Not So Good

This kit is heavy. So taking it as a bug-out bag would be a bit much. But, leaving it in your DECKED Drawer system or the trunk of your car will provide you with the security you need when on the road. The kit is expensive. The main added cost for the kit includes the Zeus, which alone runs you about $159. While the bag and the zippers are strong, the zipper pulls, which are custom, are lacking. One came off the first time I opened the bag. While this is not something that would bother me personally, I know many would be frustrated with this happening. 

Who It Suits

As a blanket statement, it could suit anyone in need of a vehicle emergency kit. But you would benefit by having a DECKED System in your truck as a secure way to store your D-Bag. Uncharted Supply Co. carries plenty of other options for those who need an at-home kit.

Who It Doesn’t 

If you are looking for a simple kit for hikes or home use, this might be a little overkill. While you could take items out of this vehicle kit and move them around, that is not recommended as you might forget to put them back and miss them when the time arises. Also, if you are a DIY-minded person or a survivalist, this kit is probably not for you. 

Verdict 

Overall, the DECKED x Uncharted Supply Co. D-Bag Emergency Kit is a great vehicle emergency kit if you are someone who wants to have that peace of mind or knows that they won’t take the time to build out their emergency kit. It’s everything you need, all wrapped in an easy-to-use and good-looking carry solution.

It is always good to do your research and know what emergencies you might face in your region when it comes to preparedness and survival. Know what is in your kit and how to use it. Practice where it is in the bag, where the items are, and how to use them, so if you are in an emergency and shit has hit the fan, you can operate without hesitation and save your life and those around you. 

Stay safe, and adventure far.

The post DECKED x Uncharted Supply Co. D-Bag Emergency Kit Review appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

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.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Custom Made Swiss Army Knives (SAKs) appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

So when we embarked on our Iceland adventure at the end of last year, we decided to test this lightest of options in the cold, wet and windy landscapes of the Land of Fire and Ice. This trip that was months in planning. We spent days laboriously altering packing lists deciding what to bring and what not to bring. Being the gear addicts that we are, there were countless hours of deciding what would be making the cut for our trip to the small Atlantic island which is the third windiest place in the world.

However, while we deliberated over much of our gear, we very quickly settled on what photography and film making equipment we would be bringing. In the same breath, we also knew that portable coverage would be key for us, there would be moments where whipping out a full rig would be impractical, dangerous, or just not timely. Enter iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.

The #shotoniphone craze has taken off in the last few years, so we documented our trip on our iPhone’s alongside our film-making equipment. Could the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro handle the brutally cold, wet, and windy elements? Could it help us create professional content? Could it compete with our camera equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars? We would find out.

Did Apple’s iPhones help us nail professional content? Well, you be the judge. What you see below is a collection form our twelve day trip around the Icelandic Ring Road in a 1993 Land Rover Defender 110, camping at night. Everything that you see here was shot on a iPhone 13 Pro Max or iPhone 13.

You’ll find a small taste here, along with a link to the full gallery. At the bottom of the article, we’ve included our top 5 iPhone Photography tips!

Awesome iPhone Photography Accessories for Adventures

While the iPhones themselves are no doubt impressive tools, there are always a couple of add-ons that can elevate your experience. We picked out a few accessories for iPhone that we found particularly useful and awesome during our trip to Iceland.

Peak Design Mobile

There’s a reason that the new Peak Design Mobile line is in our Carry Awards Top 5 Accessory, and a big factor in its nomination was our trip to Iceland with the prototype. The moment we saw the tripod at Outdoor Retailer in the summer of 21, Brandon, Taylor and I all lit up with excitement. This precision engineered tripod has to be seen to be believed. With a fully articulating ball head, multiple viewing options, adjustable tension, and magnetic connection, this mobile tripod is as good as it gets for a mobile accessory in my eyes. We took multiple long exposures on this, from varying angles, all with the simple adjustment taking mere seconds. Many of our single shot images came from this tripod too, which corrected for the traditional hand shake of phone photos, least of all when it’s 10ºF! Not only is this tripod clearly a static tool, it works well for selfies or unique angles where the tripod essentially becomes a handle and gives you the ability to either get closer/further away from a subject, or presents unique perspectives with the ability to put the phone in places that might be a little cumbersome to reach usually.

While the tripod works with most MagSafe accessories, it works flawlessly with the Peak Design Everyday Case. Adding protection, great materials, and a clean understated look that matches the iPhone aesthetic, this case is a great hybrid. It has the style, it has the robustness, and it has the functionality. The nylon canvas shell is weatherproof and a 100% recycled from Bluesign materials. It’s slim enough that it doesn’t add a huge amount of heft to the phone (the iPhone 13 Pro Max is already a larger piece of equipment) but tough enough to take a few tumbles–mine certainly has! I like this case so much, it has lived on my phone 90% of the time over the past six months. The other 10% is when I’m using the case below for drone work, or when I’m running case free carelessly like a rebel.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Silicon Case

While the Peak Design case became a go to favourite, I mentioned that for another 5% of the time, I was flying with my drone. When that’s the case, I want to use something smaller and slip resistant. This is where the silicone case really came into its own for me. It has an excellent texture that is both comfortable in hand and works very well with gimbals or controllers providing great grip. I chose Carryology orange for both safety (easy to spot!) and style , but there is a whole array of colours to suit your needs. I love their leather cases too, but the silicone proved more useful for me in the field.

Otterbox Screen Protector, Power Bank, and Charging Cable

It’s important to keep your electronics safe and well charged! Otterbox are masters of protection, and they were crucial for us on this expedition. Firstly, I always have a screen protector on my phones, you never know when a rogue stone is going to ping up, or when you’re going to clumsily let your phone slip out of a pocket/hand! My iPhone actually ended up in a hot spring for a quick dip! This tempered glass screen protector saves your beautiful display from unnecessary dings and scratches, and is super easy to install thanks to the included tool!

Out in the wild, shooting on a phone, you need power! The Otterbox is everything that I want in a power bank! 20,000 Mah (3.5/4 charges of my iPhone 13 Pro Max), rugged construction and fast charging that gets my phone going again quickly, even in the cold. USB-A and USB-C charging options mean you can support the whole team. A must have in any travellers kit! A good battery pack is only as good as the cable you charge with! The Premium Lightning to USB-C cable from OtterBox is an excellent 2m cable that can be relied on whatever the weather. The 2m length is perfect for car use, while the braided nylon provides great bend resistance (rated to over 10’000 bends!) that will stop the cable fraying or tearing. It is also a fast charge cable which means it will charge four times faster than the average cable provided with your phone. These two are a great duo for travelling photographers!

Carryology iPhone Photography Top Tips

Shoot RAW

I know this is a contentious one for many photographers out there, but simply put RAW gives you more options. Particularly on a smaller sensor like the ones that you’ll find in an iPhone camera. A RAW file (sometimes called a digital negative) is lossless and captures all of the data available on your camera sensor, whereas a JPG is a compressed, digitally altered version of that. With the excellent dynamic range on iPhones, shooting RAW will allow you to capture some magnificent colours, shadows, highlights etc. It also allows you to rescue photos that might have been over or under exposed at the time of shooting. To turn on RAW shooting in your iPhone settings follow this process. Settings > Camera > Formats. Once here, toggle Apple ProRAW to on. You’ll also want to make sure ‘High Efficiency’ is toggled on the same screen to save your memory! Apple RAW photos can come out large (25MB+) so be sure you have the storage or a good cloud service.

Use the Grid

Similarly to above, be sure to have your grid setting turned on. This helps with composition, in particular your image balance or focal point. The grid helps you follow the rule of thirds which is always a good starting point for interesting photos. Not only that, it helps you keep your horizon straight which is important for landscape photography, as you don’t want to lose too much of your frame when cropping or straightening in post. In the photo below, I chose to focus on the light coming from the surface of the glacier, so that became my focal point, and the grid allowed me to be sure I had roughly equal amounts of darker ice on either side while maintaining focus on the halo.

Clean your lens!

If you’re anything like me, your iPhone bounces between pockets, bags, car consoles, sofas and many other dirt filled places. Heck, even your finger might spend time on that lens when holding your phone! To really maximise the impressive lenses, be sure to keep your lens clean when you’re about to shoot your next masterpiece. Out of habit, I always have a microfibre cloth with me, it takes two seconds to clean off any smudges or dirt, and once every couple of weeks I’ll give it a little spray of lens cleaner to keep it spotless. Look after your lenses, and they’ll look after you!

Use your feet!

Sure, the iPhone has great digital zoom, portrait mode is powerful, yadayadayada. However, nothing can replace actual physical separation when it comes to zooming or creating better depth of field. By using physical distance, you’ll get better natural lighting and more authentic images. Digital zoom and digital computation (portrait mode) are great in a pinch but you’ll lose image quality or in the case of portrait mode, the ability to edit a RAW photo (portrait images are .jpgs). I understand the irony of this next sentence in an iPhone article, but try to rely on manual rather than digital when it comes to zoom! Besides, you can create much more engaging compositions by physical movement, both distance and height wise.

Process your photos

Now I’m not saying you need to spend hours at a computer like I do, but we live in a world littered with apps for our phones, and a lot of them are really excellent. Lightroom is free, easy to use, and it even has a library of tutorials and editing suggestions to help you get the most from your photos, even if you’re a complete novice. The best thing about learning to use an app like Lightroom is that you can either just use it to tweak your exposure, or you can get deep into it and use geometry, lens corrections, presets, masking and the like. Because you’re now all shooting RAW, using a good post production app will help all your photos reach the next level. It can also help you “rescue” photos that you previously thought lost. I edited our #shotoniphone photos in Lightroom, on my iPhone. You have a mobile studio ready at your fingertips!

The iPhones proved to be an impressive creative tool, and when paired with the right accessories, they’re elevated even further. Carrying and creating but want to stay light and agile? Look no further than your trusty phone.

The post Can iPhone Photography Look Professional? | Iceland Field Test appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

As Carryology readers, most of you have likely been bitten by the G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) bug. It’s a slippery slope at times, as we hunt for our “grails” or “perfect” systems. 

As a photographer, writer, and designer, and Carry obsessive – I too am afflicted. It feels like I’m always on the hunt for the next bit of tech to make my travel simpler and my work easier. 

When I began working in the movie industry 10 years ago, I’d been using a PC for most of my tasks. However, my technology allegiances quickly changed. In a short few years, I found myself the proud owner of multiple iMacs, MacBooks and – the real game changer for me – iPads. 

I remember when the iPad first came out. I was excited by the possibilities. However (as with all fledgling technology) it’s never perfect to begin with. While I loved using my iPad for media consumption, it never really fulfilled a purpose for me in a professional sense. I always found myself back at my iMac or MacBook to finish up projects. I’d resigned the iPad to being a useful part of my quiver, but not a machine that could become an extension of my creative ideas – all input but no output.

A few years later, with the advent of the iPad Pro, my hopes reignited. Some of the iPad’s potential was being fulfilled! While teaching, it proved to be a great tool for live editing with students in my journalism class and working with creative suites on the fly. However, as great as these advances were, I still found myself finishing off work for both my students and private clients on my computer.

In April 2021, Taylor, Brian and I began to plan our Iceland adventure in earnest. Over the next few months, we went back and forth in great detail about what gear to use, what to bring and most importantly, what to leave behind. 

Very quickly, it became clear that a laptop wouldn’t be the best idea. Laptops are cumbersome, easy to damage, and extra weight we didn’t want on the road – particularly while camping. In this three month planning period, what caught me off guard most was the big leap forward that Apple had announced with their most up-to-date iPad Pro – with an extensive list of impressive upgrades.

I’d read all the comparison articles in previous years (“Can you replace your MacBook with an iPad Pro?”) and had never been convinced. This version, this 2021 update, sparked my attention. Could this be the year I change to an iPad Pro instead of my MacBook? I went all in, I sold my MacBook Pro and committed to using the iPad Pro as my main computer, with only an older Mac Mini as my storage management. My day-to-day and content production was going to come from this 12.9” tablet. Would it pass the test as a professional tool for travelling to the ends of the earth and creating high quality content in both the field and the proverbial office?

Under the hood

It doesn’t take much to look at the iPad Pro product page and be impressed. The specs speak for themselves on paper – Thunderbolt port capable of 40gb/s transfer speeds, incredible 1,000,0000:1 contrast ratio from the XDR liquid retina display (which also has a peak HDR brightness of 1600nits!), an Apple made M1 silicon processor, speedy 5G cellular connectivity – the list goes on. However, I’m not going to get into the weeds about these features in technical terms. You won’t hear me talking about how it performs on GeekBench – there are hundreds of YouTube videos and articles on Tech Blogs that will compare those metrics and go into more detail than I. What I will talk about is how those technical advancements make a difference to this as a professional tool and importantly, if they elevate the iPad Pro to a computer killer for travel, adventures, and everyday use.

Daily Use

These days, most use technology for a large proportion of the work day, and then again at home. There is no doubt that portable technology has become ubiquitous the world over. In the age of tablets, that now means you can theoretically work on the go easier than before too. There is no doubt that laptops started that trend, and continue to be used as mobile workstations, but a tablet is often cited as a more intuitive and interactive experience. For media consumption, emailing, and web browsing – tablets lead the way. I personally find it hard to go back to a laptop for those tasks once you’ve become accustomed to the ergonomics of a 1.5lb, ¼ inch thick tablet – certainly far preferable to a 5lb laptop. The iPad Pro slips into backpacks, slings, and totes with ease, and doesn’t weigh you down throughout the day. It’s easy to pull out on a train, in the back of a car, or at a coffee shop with a moment’s notice! I find for my job, where I’m on the go to different places all the time, that my iPad Pro is the perfect tool for the job – it doesn’t take up as much space both in my bag, and on any surface that becomes my desk for an afternoon. Video conferencing is a joy on the iPad Pro, especially when using their centre stage feature – which keeps the iPad camera focused on you – no need to worry about a messy office anymore.

The standard Apple apps that come preinstalled on the iPad Pro such as Mail, Safari, and FaceTime are continuing to evolve and they make your daily tasks a breeze and dare I say an enjoyable experience. Apple continues to make the touchscreen interactions significantly more intuitive than a mouse click, and I often find myself feeling more efficient in tasks such as email responses than I do on a desktop or laptop. The ability to drag and drop with the touch of a finger is a great example of this.

Is it truly Pro, though?

Physical attributes aside – the biggest debate for tablets has been if they can truly replicate the suite of programs that desktop computers and laptops have thrived on for the last twenty years. That answer was a resounding no for many years, and while they showed promise – they never matched the output one could achieve with a laptop or desktop. I’m happy to say that the tide is turning, and quickly. 

Every article of mine that you’ve seen since June 2021 has been written on this iPad. Every photo that I have edited and posted in either an article, on our social media, or in our group, has been refined on this iPad. Even some of our patch designs have been drawn and vectorised on this iPad.

When I look at the above paragraph, that blows my mind. Even a couple of years ago – to make a statement like that would have been incomprehensible to me. Sure, the iPad Pro range has shown promise, but I honestly feel this is the first iteration that has given me the freedom to create on the road, and not worry about what I have to do when I get home. Many of those edits and creations that I speak of have happened in places that I would have traditionally considered inconvenient. I’ve edited on trains, planes, and automobiles. I’ve knocked out photo edits on the side of a hiking trail while having a sandwich stop or popped through a quick drone edit while sitting on the beach. Taylor and I have drummed up many edits and ideas quickly in the moment, rather than waiting until we get home when we’ve forgotten half of the details that were so exciting just hours before.

All of our content from Iceland was edited through this iPad Pro. Every photo we shared, and each update we posted was from this machine, in the middle of winter, on a remote island in the Atlantic ocean. This is what matters to me as a creator. Sure, the specs and stats sound good on paper, but do they deliver when the time calls? As I’m sure you can imagine there were parts of our Icelandic adventure that were incredibly remote – our LTE service from the iPad Pro saved our bacon on more than one occasion, directing us to the nearest campground, updating us on weather conditions, helping us fuel up and, of course, allowing us to share it with you. Thanks to the iPad Pro – all from the back of a 1993 Land Rover.

There were many moments in Iceland where the hardware proved itself exceptionally useful. We visited Dettifoss – often known as Europe’s Niagara Falls. This place has to be seen to be believed. Deafeningly loud, and gargantuan in every sense of the word – including how much water it sprays everywhere. Combine this with a snowstorm – it’s safe to say that my cameras took a beating. These are high end, weather sealed professional cameras, and the iPhone 13 Pro’s that we were using are also water resistant, but you never know what can happen under that volume of water and pressure. We scrambled back to our Land Rover and whipped out the iPad – I was able to transfer 20GB of footage and photos in about 90 seconds. The peace of mind that gave me was astonishing, I could transfer the footage, and quickly focus on maintaining my gear to make sure it was ready for the next task. Not only that, thanks to the iPad’s large storage capacity, I could edit on the road to the next stop, while also backing up quickly to an external SSD. This speed of transfer (40GB/S) was a revelation. On previous iPad’s, and even computers there is often the moment of leaving said machine to one side and allowing it to “do it’s thing”. Not with this iPad – lightning fast and reliable. It’s worth mentioning that the same Thunderbolt port allows you to use the iPad Pro in conjunction with a compatible monitor. I hope that this is something Apple leans into further from a software perspective – it would be great to be able to use a monitor as a secondary display as opposed to the current mirroring situation.

Maximise Potential

As with all high end technology – you can always eek out a little more performance by choosing the right accessories. These are the main tools that I’ve been using in my eight months with the iPad Pro.

Apple Magic Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard is, in my opinion, an absolute must for the iPad Pro. The adjustable cantilever design allows for a multitude of viewing angles depending on your workflow. It is a fully functional backlit keyboard, touchpad, and protective case – all-in-one. I was worried at first that I wouldn’t enjoy the typing experience, but hundreds of thousands of words later, I’m still pleasantly surprised at how usable it is. The touchpad turns the iPad Pro into a genuine tool and makes most tasks easier on the iPad Pro, but I noticed it made the biggest difference in File Management – organisation is critical for me as a photographer. This keyboard elevates the iPad Pro experience. It also has USB-C pass through charging which is great for when you may be utilising the Thunderbolt Port.

Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

If you intend to use the iPad Pro for any level of graphic design or photo editing, the Apple Pencil is for you. This is a stylus that gives you incredible control and minimal latency while in use. As the applications from third parties catch up, this is going to continue to open up the creative possibilities on an iPad Pro. I now exclusively use Lightroom Mobile, Photoshop, ProCreate, and Illustrator on my iPad to create and edit – this adoption is down the Apple Pencil. Plus the magnetic charging feels like something that Iron Man would love.

Matador Laptop Baselayer

As with all tech products, there are a million case options for each and every model. I always like to try and keep my product as true to the original design as possible. I.E. Not bulky. The Matador Laptop Baselayer is all that I want from a tablet sleeve and more. Lightweight, protective, waterproof, with simple organisation. While I never intend to submerge my electronics, this can handle some serious weather/situations. IPX6 rated, this’ll keep your goods dry, and the mesh pocket on front is the perfect size for a charger, a couple of cables, and a backup SSD. I love that this allows me to keep all my iPad Pro accoutrements together. As with all of Matador’s products – this is exceptional value for money too.

Laptop or iPad Pro?

It has been a unique experience using my iPad Pro as a primary computer for the last eight months, and one that I have enjoyed more than I anticipated. While there are certainly areas that I hope see continued growth (namely software adoption and improvement from both Apple and third parties) – I have been astonished at the iPad’s ability to stomach my highly varied workload. The hardware is magnificently powerful, I haven’t found myself wanting in any of my high output situations yet. There have been countless occasions where I’m relieved at its size and weight, and it’s ability to slip into almost any bag. I have found renewed enjoyment when editing my photographs with a touch of my finger or the end of a stylus that works so smoothly. I can connect almost anywhere in the world and work freely from spaces that were off limits to me before. In short – I can create in a way that feels authentic and in the moment rather than trying to recreate or remember the intention when plonked at a desk a few hours or days later. Personally, that is invaluable to me. 

Of course, your mileage may vary. This is an expensive investment for anyone, and there are times where I long for a larger screen or a perfectly seamless OS. However, I’ve honestly found those concerns to dissipate the moment I’m on the move, with a pro studio slipped into my bag, ready to create. 

Can the iPad Pro replace a laptop for professional creative work? Absolutely. The real question is will it replace yours?

The post Apple iPad Pro | Is This the Perfect Mobile Studio for Travel and Adventure? appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

You can download it here now.

If you missed last year’s edition you might be wondering what it’s all about? The Soft Serve Studio Forecast is an annual publication where we share what we’re seeing on the carry horizon for the coming year. From the broad forces that are shaping our everyday lives, down to the small design details that are emerging, we plot what’s changing and how it’s all connected. For us, the report is a practice in taking time to look beyond the day-to-day. It’s an opportunity to take stock of all of the little trends that might otherwise be disregarded. As well as to deep dive into the latest releases, new fabrics, and recent hardware developments. 

So what are the big topics influencing 2022? It goes without saying that Covid is a major theme. But it’s not so much the direct result of the pandemic as the knock-on effects. Richard Kestenbaum from Forbes put it best when he said, “The idea that the pandemic has accelerated pre-existing trends is talked about so much that it’s become a cliché. But it’s become a cliché because it’s true”.

From work to working out, many of our old routines have been flipped on their head in the space of a year with no going back. And for each of these new routines, the design of our everyday gear is racing to keep up. It’s given rise to a new wave of portable work and digital home fitness solutions. As well as trends like Biz-Leisure. “What’s Biz-Leisure?” you may be asking yourself – you’ll have to check out the full 2022 trend forecast.

But the Covid effect hasn’t only brought about a shift in new designs. It’s also highlighted the intrinsic value of the objects around us. For many, it’s spurred on a demand for shopping locally and added more luster to buying locally-made products. And for a small but growing number of people, it’s prompted them to go one step further to start making their own gear. While still niche, designers such as Reese Cooper are now starting to tap into these emerging sewing skills. In 2020 Reese launched a DIY version of his Chore Coat. His pattern and a sewing kit gave homemakers all the tools to make a custom coat for a fraction of the price of the original. This willingness to get hands-on with gear is a promising trend given the growing environmental need to mend and reuse the things we buy.

To get the full, free 48-page report follow this link to download. You’ll find the full rundown of all the above as well as a detailed look at the styles, fabrics, details, and colors influencing the coming year’s releases.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the 2022 trend forecast. Get in touch at contact@softservestudio.com to let us know what you think.

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