But what if you could have carry that lets you roam with minimalist loads when you just need the essentials, or works in tandem with your backpack so frequently used items always remain within quick, easy reach without needing to remove your pack? Well, Hanchor have just such a solution on hand with their nifty Surface series of hybrid chest and shoulder bags.

Putting access front and center

Whether you’re hiking outdoors, traveling, or about town in urban environments, there are certain smaller items you want within easy reach. Perhaps a phone, keys and wallet in town. A passport and tickets during your trips. Snacks, maps, tools and other trail essentials in the wilderness. Hanchor’s Surface series of bags can be worn either as shoulder bags or attached to backpacks to create a chest pack. Slim and exceptionally lightweight, the bags are great options when you want to keep frequently used essentials or valuables secure yet accessible on the move. And since they’re so light and compact, it’s easy to store them in a larger bag (such as a travel pack or hiking pack) or a jacket pocket until you need them. Plus with their pleated bases, you can enjoy added storage space while still retaining a flat, lightweight form for easy packing.

So how do they work?

The Surface shoulder bags come with accessory buckles which can be used to attach the bag to the shoulder straps of most backpacks, creating a handy chest bag. And if you need more stability you can also use an optional stabilizer mechanism, an adjustable loop at the back of the bag that connects to a backpack hipbelt. The stabilizer mechanism is a standard configuration on the Surface Mesh, and can be custom made for other Surface bags. Below you can see the Surface Mesh and stabilizer mechanism in action, converting from a shoulder bag to chest bag with a simple, quick process.

Options, options, options

The bags come in two sizes, Surface and Surface Mini, to suit different loads. While the Surface includes accessory buckles to convert it to a chest bag, the Surface Mini does not come with these buckles but can still be used as a chest bag by purchasing optional accessory buckles.

You can also opt for the Surface or Surface Mesh, with the Surface Mesh version offering two exterior mesh pockets for items you want to see and access easily on the move. And as mentioned above, the Surface Mesh comes standard with the stabilizer mechanism.

X-Pac VX21 fabric is the main player here, offering excellent weather resistance and a great strength-to-weight ratio for long-term durability. The bags come in a choice of colorway options, with some limited edition versions too. Plus there’s even custom Surface options, either with or without multicam options. With a host of combinations available, you can tailor your picks in a way that nails your perfect carry companion.

Additional benefits

Score free international shipping!

The post This X-Pac Shoulder Bag Adds Access to Your Backpack Game appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Our Sixth Annual Carry Awards winners are chosen through a carefully balanced combination of our specialist panel, our knowledgeable readers and a handy algorithm that ensures fairness across the board. However, the Reader’s Choice Awards are based entirely on readers’ votes. Take a bow, worthy winners; you’ve won the hearts and minds of savvy fans with high standards…

Best Work Backpack: Aer Day Pack

From day one Aer have made it their mission to create minimalist yet functional carry with understated urban styling. Their Day Pack is a culmination of years spent honing and refining along these principles…and it’s just so good. Everything comes together right, with clean aesthetics complementing the great organization that’s perfect for a day in the office, digital nomads on the go, and more. All the elements you need for casual and formal settings alike, without feeling cluttered. Factor in the quality on offer and the price tag, and you’ve got great value too. Added bonus? It’s a category winner across the board, scooping our Best Work Backpack award too.

Best Work Shoulder Bag: Aer Tech Sling

Aer’s Tech Sling keeps you agile on the go, combining a sleek and compact design with convenient organization for your work and EDC essentials. Like the pack above, the quality build and functional design comes in at a price point that’s great value for money. A dedicated compartment fits up to 13″ tech, while the sling strap and top handle allow for flexible portability during the commute and more professional environments. Another excellent offering from Aer that demonstrates their prowess in practical minimalism.

Best Active Backpack: EVERGOODS MPL30

The MPL30 brings together design expertise from the likes of Patagonia and GORUCK. And it shows. This ruggedly sleek pack offers an ergonomic fit that will keep you roaming in comfort all day long. Add to this its awesome access with a wide-opening main compartment and a choice of handy pockets, and you’re definitely onto a winner. What really helps it stand out is its versatility. Tough enough for the outdoors, yet understated enough for urban environments, this is a pack that embraces day hikes, trips to the gym and weekend getaways equally well.

Best Active Messenger: Arc’teryx LEAF Courier Bag 15

When you’re after low-key aesthetics, adaptability, and excellent technical construction, the Arc’teryx LEAF Courier Bag 15 is a sure bet. This messenger fuses all these elements flawlessly to create a bag that’s equally at home in the office, about town or keeping essentials close during your travels. Multiple entry points and customizable organization let you easily access gear and get creative with pouches. And with its flexible carry options you can keep the bag secure on the go or within easy reach depending on your needs. A superb example of refined active design, this stealthy piece was also crowned our Best Active Messenger.

Best Carry-On: Quiksilver x Pacsafe 40L Anti-Theft Carry-On Pack

Clean aesthetics, great access and understated security features all in one bag? No problem for this considered collaboration between Quiksilver and Pacsafe. All the aspects of a great carry-on are here, from the clamshell opening for easy packing and gear retrieval, to stowable straps and top and side grab handles. There’s even a removable dry bag that’s useful for separating wet or dirty items from the rest of your gear. The pared-back exterior easily blends into a variety of settings, while discreet anti-theft features such as slashguard protection, a PopNLock security clip, Roobar locking system and more offer peace of mind without drawing unwanted attention.

Best Travel Luggage: HANCHOR Breccia Travel Backpack

The Breccia combines the comfort of a hiking pack with travel-friendly features to help you easily navigate a variety of urban and outdoor travel environments. A range of pockets and top and front access ensures gear is within easy reach when you need it. If you need more organization, the bag can also be paired with a range of optional modular accessories. And if you need to stow the bag in a tight space, the stowable hip belt and shoulder straps enable a clean silhouette to avoid snagging. The bag can be carried as a backpack or a duffel, and features a tough, weatherproof build that will withstand years of demanding use. And for even more functionality, the removable frame pad doubles as a half-size sleeping pad or picnic mat.

Best EDC: The James Brand Elko

The Elko nails all the elements of a top-notch EDC piece. Compact and lightweight enough to easily carry in a pocket or bag? Check. Durable enough to withstand regular use for years to come? You bet. Multifunctional while still maintaining a clean, minimalist form? Definitely. The Elko combines a pocket knife, pry bar, bottle opener, screwdriver, and keyring in one. Ideal if you want to keep carry bulk to a minimum but still be able to take care of diverse EDC and DIY needs. And double celebrations, as this pint-sized performer also scored our Best EDC award.

Best Camera Bag: WOTANCRAFT Commander

There’s been no shortage of heritage-inspired carry in recent years. But appealing aesthetics alone don’t make for great gear. The WOTANCRAFT Commander succeeds where many have failed before, successfully bringing together handsome heritage styling with considered functionality for photography use. Features such as left and right side access and a host of pockets keep camera gear within easy reach so you’re ready when great shots present themselves. The detachable shoulder pads and removable chest strap boost carry comfort on the go. And it’s rugged Cordura and vegetable-tanned leather construction will take a beating and keep on going in demanding environments. It’s a great option for photographers who want to side-step the swathes of functional but boring camera bags out there and embrace carry with character, and it gets our solid nod of approval with a High Commendation too.

Best Everyday Bag: ARKTYPE Dashpack

The ARKTYPE Dashpack embraces its name with a slim and versatile design that keeps you agile on the go as you move swiftly from the commute to the office to relaxing in your local cafe. Handmade in the USA, the weatherproof pack leans towards a tactical style that’s still low-key enough to suit more informal work environments. Inside you’ll find a suspended and padded 15″ laptop sleeve, while the rear compartment stores a 13″ laptop and a 10″ tablet if required. And with quick-access front and side pockets and exterior webbing on hand, you can keep those day-to-day essentials within easy reach. The Dashpack nails that tricky balance of rugged yet understated style in a compact, practical pack that easily navigates changing EDC needs and environments.

Best Travel Clothing: Outlier Slim Dungarees

Adaptable clothing staples are key for travel packing, and Outlier have really excelled in this niche with their Slim Dungarees. The slim, stylish aesthetics suit formal and informal environments alike, while the stain-resistant, water-resistant and fast-drying construction is ideal for travel use. The Workcloth Doubleweave Canvas also features a slight two-way stretch to keep you comfortable on the go. And for added functionality, they include a choice of five pockets for storing smaller travel and EDC essentials. They’re also category kings, having received our Best Travel Clothing award.

Best Accessory: Gravel Explorer Toiletry Bag

Many toiletry bags are single, pouch-like compartments with no or minimal organization. Not so great when you’re trying to access specific items in a crowded space. But Gravel’s Explorer Toiletry Bag takes a different approach. Mutiple pockets and a handy clamshell opening do away with frustrating rummaging. There’s even waterproof storage for liquids to protect the rest of the contents in case accidental leaks occur. The case itself also features a burly, water-resistant build that will embrace mile after mile of travel use for years to come. Plus with its useful strap you can easily hang the bag wherever travel leads, from tree branches to towel rails and door hooks.

Best Specialist: Etchr Art Satchel

Creating art can sometimes get a little messy. But at least your supplies will stay neat and accessible with the Etchr Art Satchel. The sleek, weatherproof design lets you tailor organization to your specific needs through a range of modular components. And this bag doesn’t just take care of physical media. Digital artists can also secure their tech at the ready for whenever inspiration strikes. In addition to storing your art supplies, this nifty satchel takes things a step further by serving as a mobile workstation too. It can be used sitting down or standing up, or alternatively connected to a tripod for stable, extended use.

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Our Best Travel Luggage Finalists all do a great job of tackling various travel needs. But which one goes above and beyond to make trips as smooth as possible?

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Weatherproof protection that won’t weigh you down

Created by the innovative Taiwanese brand HANCHOR, the GARNET is a rolltop backpack with an adjustable 19L to 27L volume to suit changing loads.

The bag comes in two lightweight yet durable fabric options, the GARNET VX21 and GARNET LS42. Both weigh in at around 800g including the removable sternum strap, hipbelt and back frame pad.

And when unexpected showers strike? No problem. Complementing the weatherproof fabrics are water-resistant YKK zippers and a unique stitching and construction technique to keep the elements at bay and your gear protected.

Outdoor functionality with city smarts

The GARNET deftly blends Taiwanese outdoor style and urban practicality. A side zipper enables quick and easy access to the main compartment, while the front pocket is handy for stashing frequently used items.

To avoid frustrating tipping, the bag includes a thick seam binding on the base to help it stay upright when placed on the ground. The pack can be used with a hydration bladder but also offers a convenient exterior water bottle pocket. Need to carry bulky items too? External bungee and string loops have you covered, allowing you to securely attach items such as a tripod or trekking poles.

If you’re keen on additional organization for work tools or EDC items, the GARNET can also be paired with optional attachments such as a laptop case and mulitfunctional organizer.

Killer value for everyday use

With the GARNET you get a lot of flexibility and carry freedom in one bag. There’s no need to swap out your pack to accommodate different needs and environments. Haul it up hills, around town, to the gym or on your travels. Even better, you get great value for money at $US180 for the GARNET VX21 and $US210 for the GARNET LS42 if you pre-order before the 8th of August. With its versatile design, tough and weatherproof build, and adjustable capacity this is definitely worth taking note of if you want a multifunctional bag for the city and beyond.

Note: this is a sponsored series, but only topnotch new releases are given this feature placement.

Intrigued by this post? You may enjoy these too:

Drive By :: Hanchor Chalk Bags

Hanchor Breccia Travel Backpack :: Video Review

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The post Hanchor Breccia Travel Backpack :: Video Review appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Google the definition for ‘accessory’ and you get this: “a thing which can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive.” There’s no denying all our finalists for the Best Accessory award nail usefulness, versatility and attractiveness in their own ways. From dopp kits to gadget sleeves, it’s an eclectic mix – but each one is here thanks to a thoughtful and functional approach to serving a specific carry need.

Now it’s time to apply that same thoughtful approach to deciding who gets the gold.

You have two votes to use as you will…

Allocate your 1st choice with 2 points

And your 2nd choice just with the 1 point. 

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Côte&Ciel Lagoon Spa Pouch

Comes with a transparent pop-out pouch to easily display liquids at airport security checkpoints, while incorporating a waterproof zip and removable strap that enables the wash bag to be hung up. Considering most toiletry bags spend their time in wet environments, it’s remarkable how few look the part.

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Sea To Summit Jet Stream pump pack

This is a great dry sack that lets you expel air easily for a better vacuum seal. But that’s not even the biggest benefit. It also lets you inflate sleep mats and pillows in seconds. Clever.

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Bellroy Elements Phone Pocket

Cyclists the world over use snap-lock bags. They suck. Bellroy are keen to fix this, and have already won their way into the jersey pockets of Tour de France winners and local sloggers alike. Protecting phones, cards, cash and a key from whatever mother nature can throw at them.

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Grovemade Walnut Sleeves

There are not many brands that manage to combine beauty and geekery the way Grovemade do. Taking the playfulness of Maker culture, and adding in a refined design eye, they repeatedly stoke us with their carry and work accessories. Their Walnut Sleeves take a rigid bamboo, and through faceted laser-cut patterning add just enough flex to help it bend around the curves of your device. Fun yet functional.

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JBird Collective Divide Wallet

The second iteration of JBird’s Kickstarted Comrade wallet and newish offering for ’15. The Divide’s simple pattern creates an inside/outside wallet that gives good access, deals with your pen, and doesn’t look crap in the process. Dang, well done, JBird.

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The Transience Meridian Dopp Kit

Anybody thinking Anchorman?? Transience Meridian: Unique New York. Unique New York. Sorry, we had to get that off our chest, ha!

Most toiletry bags take a very simple box form, put some nice fabrics into it, and hope you won’t notice its lack of flexibility. The good ones think harder about the problem, and then deliver a kit that can flex its capacity with your needs. The great ones do this, and then add an emotional hook that helps you smile each time you reach for your toothbrush. Just like an awesome weekender, the Meridian Dopp Kit feels effortless and formal all at once.

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ro Lee Reverse Portfolio

Sometimes the whole is more than the sum of its parts. The ro Lee Reverse Portfolio works in portrait or landscape (suiting backpacks and messengers), has an interesting but not crazy fabric, and has a handle that is just perfect for excursions sans bag. It ain’t revolutionary, but it is neat.

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Hanchor Hula Chalk Bag

Features a 360-degree chalk sock for easy access to chalk, along with solid build quality that can withstand rugged use in rugged terrain.

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Incase Tensaerlite

Your options in laptop sleeves have traditionally been bulky and safe, or slim but exposed. With the Tensaerlite, Incase try to find a middle ground, only putting the serious impact protection around the edges, where you’re most likely to need it. It keeps the sleeves slim, but saves you from disaster if you drop that flimsy hipster satchel you so want to use.

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Cargo Works MacBook EDC Kit

The tough tactical vibe doesn’t suit all environs, but when toned down a smidge it can go nearly anywhere, and this Cargo Works, all-in-one EDCer solution, nails it: a subtle military-inspired framework buffed up with great tech protection, organization, and bomber hardware. Nice work, CW!

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Peak Design Slide Camera Strap

There are no shortage of options in the world of camera straps, and so it takes a pretty special level of innovation and refinement to make a mention in our Carry Awards.

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VOTE NOW!

*Voting closes 22nd Feb.

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Hanchor decided to draw from conventional wisdom, keeping a pretty standard chalk bag look, but innovated upon the internal workings. They wanted to solve two problems: how do you keep your chalk ball from falling out while dangling on a heart-thumping roof section, and how could one bag be used in a chalk sock mode and a loose chalk mode.

For those who are uninitiated, chalk bags can generally be used in one of two ways. They can either have a chalk sock in them (a porous sock you can squeeze to get chalk out of) or they can hold loose chalk. The chalk sock type generally make less of a mess while the loose chalk ones give you access to a lot of chalk fast.

Hanchor decided to make iterative improvements on existing bag designs instead of going for a radical redesign. By making these small but significant improvements, they’ve been able to create something special. The two chalk bags they currently have on offer are called the Hula and the Kangaroo (see them in action here).  

A few members of the RMIT Outdoors Club were happy to test them out as well. The feedback was almost all positive with the exception of some annoyance over the Kangaroo’s inbuilt chalk sock only being on one side.

Hula

Hanchor’s flagship bag has been constructed with a built-in chalk sock that surrounds the interior of the bag. Imagine a chalk sock that will be grabbable no matter how you reach your hand in…brilliant. This design cleverly solved the problem of having a loose chalk sock in your bag that could potentially fall out while on a climb. The material and build quality are top-notch and rugged. The fabric showed no signs of wear even after dragging it along the rock while wedging myself through a small chimney.

The pros column was long with this bag. It felt like the right size, not too big and not too small. The style was clean and humble. The draw-cord closure seals the bag well and appears to be built to last. Since we always look for ways products can be improved, I’d like to see a better system for refilling the chalk sock with chalk. The zippers to the chalk sock are on the outside of the bag, making it easy to create a mess when refilling it with chalk.

Kangaroo

With the Kangaroo Hanchor’s goal was to make a bag that could be used as both a loose chalk bag and a bag with a chalk sock. They’ve cleverly designed the built-in chalk sock to have the zipper access on the interior. They then put two fabric hoops just below the zipper of the chalk sock, and on the opposite side of the chalk bag they placed two hooks for the hoops to attach to. This construction allows you to unzip the built-in chalk sock and essentially pin it open, creating a loose chalk bag.

The hook and hoop design made it quick and easy to switch between the two modes. Not something you’d want to do mid-climb, but when you’re looking at a tough pitch where some loose chalk would be nice to have you’ll be able to switch modes and continue climbing in under a minute.

The Kangaroo has the same solid construction of the Hula. It sports the same quality draw-cord closure and has a similarly classic style to it. The nice feature you lose when compared to the Hula is the 360-degree chalk sock. The chalk sock is built into one of the interior sides of the bag, which means your hand sometimes has to search around for it. That’s the last thing you want to think about before making that super pumpy move to get you out and over the roof; however, after some use you will get used to where it sits.

Conclusion

Hanchor’s mission is to “design innovative, simple, and high-quality bags to hold your stuff for all your adventures”. They’re certainly off to a good start and have us intrigued with that last part “bags to hold your stuff for all your adventures”. What will they focus on once they’ve perfected the chalk bag?

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