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Well, Chadwick and his team were paying attention to the review, and they decided to launch the XTS in raw Ti finish!  Not only did they bring my dream to reality, but they offered up one of these handsome pens for one lucky Carryology reader to win (as you’ll note, they’re completely sold out at the moment too!).

How do you win?

Easy.

1. “Like” both the Big Idea Design (BIGiDESIGN) Facebook page AND our Carryology Facebook page.

2.  Then, go and Share our giveaway post on our wall.

We’ll select a winner who has shared our FB post and who has liked both pages! Simple as that.

We’ll let this giveaway run for 7 days (finishing on the 9th)

Multiple shares = multiple entries.

Good luck! And thank you again Chadwick!

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And I can dig it and can remember being plonked behind the chosen peddle-pushing adult on some rickety, plastic seat at the rear of the bike, while taking in the amazing view of an adult back, yes that’s right, a sweaty adult back. How amazing! pffft. Not!

This is so much cooler and it’s called Mac Ride. Admittedly, there have already been vast numbers of commuter seats for children pushed onto the market but Glen’s goal was to create a seat that was also suitable for the trails.

His solution: “to build a saddle that enables a child to benefit from the suspension already built into modern mountain bikes.”  He threw away the notion of the clunky moulded seat with shoulder straps and allowed “the child to sit as the rider sits, upright and independent, sharing the handlebars, so the rider and child can truly adventure as a team”.

Not surprisingly, Glen went to Kickstarter to source funds and spread the love to all the Ps keen to tack their little tackers into the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, his project didn’t hit the hefty mark of 52K, but it seems he’s hit a nerve with the community and this innovation looks like it’s going to be launched anyway. You can check it out here and get involved.

Here’s a little bit of what Glen had to say:

“As a mountain biker, I wanted to share my love of off-road adventure with my kids. But kids’ bike seats are usually mounted on the rear of the adult bike and meant only for street use. So I developed Mac Ride.”

“Mac Ride is a bike seat that is mounted between the rider and handlebar.  It’s suitable for riding on trails and is fully adjustable for any size bike and child. Mac Ride is incredibly strong, lightweight and easy to install.  Best of all it’s super fun and it encourages the child to develop their own biking strength.”

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Let’s look at one of these truly important historic carry products, the Jerrycan. Originally called “Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister” (German for “armed forces unit canister”) it was developed in Germany in the 1930’s for military use. Wars are won and lost with resources. One of the most important resources being fuel. That fuel must be efficiently stored and transported to aide the soldiers and war machines on the front lines. No fuel and the tanks don’t roll. No tanks and the war is lost.

In order to truly appreciate the Jerrycan (a nickname coined by US forces, as “Jerry” was a slang term for Germans), we need to first look at the Allied Forces 4-gallon fuel canisters. To put it simply, they were failures. They were made of several panels of thin (easily-punctured) flat mild-steel plates, which were welded together part by part (costly and time-consuming). They would often leak around these long welded lines, and these fuel leaks would often cause vehicle fires…clearly not ideal. To access the liquid contents, you needed a wrench to remove the cap, which was a separate piece.

Plus you’d need a funnel to fill it and a spout to pour it. That’s four required parts, not including the can itself. Not very efficient. Among all these issues, the handle was a single strip of bent steel, which wasn’t comfortable for a soldier to carry over distances (while dodging bullets and land mines). So poorly designed and manufactured, most  were only able to be used once; they were then being modified for stoves or filled with soil and used as makeshift sandbags.

They were aptly nicknamed “flimsies” (a single can would be called a “flimsy”).

The Germans on the other hand created a carry masterpiece. The 20-liter/5.3-gallon (that’s 24.5% more volume than the Allied version) was radically different and superior in many ways.

First, it had three comfortable rounded stamped handles.  This allowed the cans to be passed down the line from one soldier to the next to the next in bucket-brigade fashion, as one soldier would use the far-sided handle to hand over the exposed free handle on the other far side, rapidly and easily exchanging hands down the line.

One soldier could use the single center handle to comfortably carry a single can with each hand, while maintaining their balance walking over the battlefield’s rough terrain.

If the soldier was strong, they could grab the two edge handles of two cans that were next to each other with one hand. Thus, allowing them to carry four filled Jerrycans at once. If they weren’t so buff, they could still carry four empty cans without any problem. Full or empty, it would have been impossible for one soldier to carry four flimsies – the Jerrycan allowed for both.

Additionally, the way the Jerrycans were constructed was from two pieces of stamped steel which interlocked together, requiring only one weld around the “equator”. There was even a plastic liner sandwiched in between these two parts for added security. Thus, preventing leaks and making the overall manufacturing process cheaper, easier and faster.

As part of the stamping process, they added in ridges or indentations, which increased the structural rigidity of the cans and allowed for expansion and contraction of the liquids during fluctuations in temperature. Genius.

Where the Allied version was 5 parts total, the Jerrycan was one complete unit, requiring no tools to access the contents. The cam-lever lid mechanism was integrated, so it couldn’t be misplaced. Even the aluminium ring pin (used to keep the lid mechanism locked with an airtight seal) was integrated with a welded detent, so it couldn’t be fully removed (or lost), as finding this tiny part out in the field would be quite difficult.

As an added bonus, differently coloured cans made it easy for soldiers to rapidly identify the contents (fuel vs oil vs water, etc). Lastly, aesthetically speaking, the Jerrycan looks incredible – especially when sitting next to one of the poorly-built flimsies. Maybe that counts for some kind of morale boost? Probably not.

The Jerrycan was such a superior product that Allied Forces eventually recognised the incredible design and then reverse engineered the canister for their own use, successfully producing countless units to aid in their wartime efforts. Though WWII has long since passed, the Jerrycan is still used (and even produced by the tens of thousands) today by organisations like the United Nations and NATO.

With advancements in manufacturing since WWII, some cans are plastic (often referred to as “Jerryjugs”, shown above). If you’re as big of a carry nut as we are (and we suspect you might be) and want to own a piece of this carry history, you can find new and original Jerrycans and Jerryjugs for purchase relatively cheap, between $20-$60 USD, at eBay or army surplus stores around the globe.

Sources:
Prepandmore
El Solitariomc
Overland Expo
Core77

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High quality Japanese selvedge and vintage new-old-stock heavyweight US fabrics?
Expert stitching on nearly-100-year-old industrial sewing machines?
Custom pockets based on the user’s specified EDC setup?

Alright, we’re all ears. It sure sounds a lot like a highlighted list of features of a brand that makes some awesome carry products, doesn’t it?

Well, this isn’t what you would traditionally think of when you think “carry products”. These products are in the form factor of some of the nicest handmade denim jeans that exist anywhere. Meet Traveller Denim Co., “provisions for the wayward soul”.

There are so many correlations between a great pair of denim and great carry products (whether it be a bag, pack, wallet, etc). Both rely heavily on fabrics, craftsmanship, sewing machines, thread, pattern making, tight tolerances, functionality, execution, artisan craftsman or high volume factory production, along with dozens more shared correlations.

Aside from their obvious similarities, we were fascinated in exploring the concept of jeans themselves as a carry device. Let’s face it…99.9% of the time we strictly use our jeans pockets to store our primary EDC items (our phones, our wallets, our keys, all the most important stuff that makes us fully functioning humans).

In the eyes of Carryology, jeans are essentially EDC pockets with fabric legs attached to them. They hold your necessities, while also keeping you protected from the elements and preventing you from getting an embarrassing ticket for public nudity.

In a sense, jeans may just be the most commonly used and most under-recognized carry product of all time.

A bit dramatic, but hard to deny…

If you’ve been alive for the past decade or two, you’ve witnessed the rush of selvedge handmade denim brands popping up around the globe, maybe even in your backyard. There are plenty of killer brands out there; Tellason, 3sixteen, Jack/Knife, Kapital, just to name a few of my personal favorites. All these makers have their own spin on denim, which is what makes them unique from one another; Japanese denim, US denim, handmade in Japan, handmade in USA, custom rivets, back pocket stitching pattern…the list is endless. Pricing is across the board, from selvedge jeans made in a Chinese factory for $29.99 to $2,000 Momotaro jeans handmade with hand-woven Zimbabwe cotton denim in Japan.

It is dizzying to get lost in all of these minor differences and details between them all, everything gets blurry pretty quick. There are endless options and subtle nuances…kind of like the carry product market! I won’t claim that I know all of the differences, but I am enough of a denim junkie that I’ve seen the large spectrum of what’s out there and can speak with some education on the topic. More or less, they’re all relatively similar, save for a few bold pioneers out there. (Editor’s note: If you’d like to learn more about denim, here are two great intro reference guides; one giving a rundown on “selvedge“, the other focused on “raw denim“.)

In fact, I’ve just learned about 2 more new handmade selvedge denim brands this week alone. And although they appear to put out some nice work, it is just more of the same. Which is why I kept my composure when Traveller Denim Co. appeared on my radar. At first, the primary reason my interest was piqued was because their newly-opened workshop was located a mere 1.5 miles from my front door, here in Austin, TX. I was interested, but a little cautious.

“Bespoke denim… simple, beautiful and handcrafted in the greatest fucking state of the union”.

Before this article was published, there was very little available information on Traveller Denim. My research came up more or less fruitless. Not too surprising, as they only officially opened their doors on June 1st of 2013. I decided to take a chance and reach out and see if they were interested in a shop visit for the launch of our Outside Influences category. Though geographically convenient for a shop visit and chat, I’ll admit I was skeptical. The denim industry is just like any other super competitive industry, there are uncountable amounts of “me too” brands that surface and crank out boring stuff. In this case, absolute worst case scenario; I’d do a shop visit and discover that Traveller made “OK” jeans. We could chat construction, I could snap some photos and I could squeeze some content out of it. Man…was I way off.

Traveller Denim is in their own world, their own league of denim product and production. If the large majority of the other brands are dancing the Waltz, Traveller is doing the Tango on a tightrope with a rabid tiger balanced on their shoulders. Or something like that. Founded and operated by Selenia Rios and Erik Untersee (and their silent partner Tony Drummer from Texas Film and Light), with backgrounds in film, these two approach things a bit differently. And this attitude is prominently reflected in their goods.

“Everything we do features handmade quality…from floor to ceiling and head to toe.”

Walking through a quiet little residential neighborhood in Austin’s East Side, I arrive at Traveller Denim’s HQ, sandwiched between two shops. Selenia and Erik were sitting out front in the unrelenting Texas summer sun, casually chatting. From the first handshake and hug, they were extremely welcoming and easy to talk to. Though it was a Tuesday at 2pm, they offer me up a drink (this is Austin after all), so we each sip on a Lonestar beer to get the conversation lubricated for some quality content.

The shop’s interior is small, every square foot is perfectly put to use in a clever way that makes it feel more open, acting as both the production shop and retail space. They quit their day jobs, went all in to this venture, and then completely renovated the space over several weeks.

It’s tastefully finished with reclaimed wood, copper, iron and of course, denim. Industrial sewing machines sit silently on their “off” position, but their presence is heavy (shout out to Singer and Union Special).

Minimal, rustic, eccentric.  It feels good in here.  Lots of tricks and details throughout the room, all created by hand. A twist of an unsuspecting decorative cast iron horse head decoration (they call it their “Traveller”) on the wall and the changing room mirror suddenly…

*pops* open, unveiling a hidden doorway leading to the other half of their workspace, which is currently being renovated. Don’t worry, it isn’t a two-way mirror, just a secret door to more material storage and cutting tables.

Jeans as carry

After exchanging jokes and pleasantries, I got right to the good stuff…connecting the dots between jeans and carry. Traveller Denim is all about carry. They’re not kidding around either, they’re crazy about it. I had opened the proverbial floodgates.

One endeavor they’re endlessly revising and improving upon is the pocket bag design…striving to make the shape better, smarter, more comfortable, easier to access, and more. Erik pulled out an old prototype, pointing out how they’ve since altered the pocket construction by a mere 1 cm, ultimately making a massive difference when reaching into the pocket. My tests confirmed, with this tweak of this non-glamorous and generally overlooked detail, the user can easily access the full depth of the pocket, making grabbing your cellphone a breeze rather than a wrestling-match of a chore.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of their work is that their pocket bags are made with fabric that is thicker and more durable than most denim brands use for their actual jeans themselves. Impressive, right? Depending on the user’s preference, they’ll either use a US-made 10-ounce bull denim or a vintage (1970’s era) Carhartt duck canvas. And these highly desirable materials are simply used for the pocket bags (both front pockets as well as lining both rear pockets and the front 5th pocket). They also reinforce the backside of the belt loops with these fabrics too, making them twice as sturdy as the competition. Sharing the reason that they opt for this overkill of fabric, which is more or less invisible to the naked eye when the jeans are being worn, “it’s so that the pockets are extremely tough and last nearly forever”.

“Specializing in men’s bespoke denim, Traveller Denim Co. handcrafts and tailors each garment to the individual.”

Speaking of user preference, these jeans are completely bespoke (though they do offer some ready-made options available to purchase), tailor-made to each person’s own body measurements taken in-house. This made-to-order approach allows them to have a lot of fun with custom pockets based on the desires of the individual, their lifestyle, and the specific items in their everyday carry quiver. In fact, this is a standard part of their tailored process when they’re making a pair of custom jeans…discussing pockets, carry and the specific EDC items in detail with each and every customer. Not only what kind of cell phone, but which precise model…that level. Yet, still leaving wiggle room in case they swap phones in the future, so you won’t be locked to that Motorola Razr forever. This was nearly too much for me to handle.

One customer requested they toss on a 6th pocket above the left pocket to mirror the classic 5th pocket and provide some extra storage. Done. Another client has been carrying their beloved pocketknife for years now and wanted a nice home for it in his new Traveller Denim jeans. They took detailed measurements of the knife, and made a perfectly fitting pocket sleeve for it.

Secret pockets undetectable to the untrained eye? Easy, they do that without a bead of sweat. They’re even working on a pocket design for a client who wants to carry a concealed pistol in their front pocket…but also prefers slim fit jeans. Child’s play. As a joke (and upon request), they’ve even done a “banana pocket” inside the crotch of a recent pair. I’ll let you figure the rest out. So no matter what type of extreme carry needs you have, they’ve got you and your items covered. More on this later, in two upcoming posts.

Styling is certainly subjective. But Traveller doesn’t focus much on cut or embellishments that add flair just for fashion’s sake. Erik and I talked about his aesthetic appreciation of an old pair of worn in Red Wing work boots. They look amazing because they’re built well, every detail incorporated into them is strictly with function as the primary inspiration. Not a single extra stitch or leather panel that doesn’t need to be there. That’s exactly how these two approach their jeans.

They look amazing because they’re built for utilitarian function. “We want people to identify with quality, not fashion. Our brand is about the quality construction and fit. While we appreciate stitch details in other brands, our branding is limited to a veg tan leather belt loop with a serial number… Simple, utilitarian products are beautiful, since there is nothing there to hide behind”, says Selenia. (Editor’s note: the “stitch details” are referring to brand-identifying stitching on the rear pockets, which ranges from simple and traditional to utterly flamboyant.) Their jeans look like engineered workwear on steroids, but with a healthy constraint. In fact, Erik used to be a tradesman, in the role as a full-time carpenter. He uses this previous experience in two ways; to know what works and doesn’t work in a pair of trousers on the jobsite where you put them through Hell on a daily basis and using a geometric mathematical approach of construction for building something the right way, so that it should last a long, long time. “Each pair is like putting together a unique and complex geometric puzzle.” He also borrows from his role as an on-set camera grip, building various sets around the country, “If you’re hanging 30,000 lbs worth of shit about someone’s head, it better be right”. Selenia on the other hand, she cut her teeth behind the sewing machine at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, creating complex costumes for the 2009 film Where The Wild Things Are. Impressive.

Fitting, as denim truly became popular back in the late 1800’s as tough and dependable work trousers for the blue-collar working man. Blue jeans have embedded themselves in garment history ever since. Traveller Denim honors that history and those hard-working laborers with their processes and product.

“The devil is in the details and that’s where we live.”

The materials and processes incorporated here at Traveller are worthy of anthropological and historical study. Their selvedge isn’t just any selvedge. They’re offering up varying weights, weaves, origins and interesting stories with their denim. 14.5 oz Japanese Kuroki in black, Cone Denim Mills selvedge from North Carolina in several weights and styles, Japanese 13.5 oz “pink line” indigo selvedge, 16 oz Japanese Nihon Menpu dark indigo raw unsanforized selvedge, and plenty more. Client’s choice.

But the real star of the show is the mighty roll of NOS (new old stock) U.S. Cone Mills 13.5 oz indigo selvedge produced in the year 1968. This roll must have been uncovered in a forgotten airtight time capsule, as it is in immaculate pristine condition…and they’re making jeans from the thick museum-worthy stuff.

Thread choice is a commonly overlooked yet critically important element in the manufacturing process. Sometimes brands will skimp here to save a few extra bucks. Traveller opts for a more expensive and more durable quality product.

The American & Efird thread is a cotton/nylon made in the USA, just like the rivets and buttons, both YKK (Kentucky), available in copper, brass, and aluminum. Just like everything else, the customer can choose thread color and rivet/button finish depending on their visual preference.

In fact, one creative customer asked them to make the buttons on his jeans out of five £1 UK coins from a recent trip he went on (seen on far left, above).  Of course they’ll oblige him.

“All of our garments are produced on vintage industrial machines. They are our employees, paying homage to a better time, when quality mattered.”

Selenia and Erik of Traveller Denim Co. sit at the helm of their 100-year-old industrial sewing machines, marrying all these materials together into a final product that they’re proud to put their heavy leather belt loop onto, branded and serial-numbered with a metal stamp and crash of a hammer. Every pair that literally walks out the door showcases the history of jeans, attention to detail and craft, the story of the fabric and hardware, and their own unique interpretation of over-built handmade quality goods.

Traveller Denim Co. (Austin, TX)
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Stand by for more on our coverage of denim as we go deeper down the rabbit hole.

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AustriAlpin is one of our favorite hardware makers, they’re responsible for bringing us the amazing Cobra quick release buckles, often seen on Bedouin, Defy Bags, etc. These chunky bits are considered to be the strongest buckles in the world, supporting up to 2,000 lbs per unit. They’re all rigorously tested so they can be used in life or death situations where performance is critical, such as climbing, paragliding, military special forces gear, etc. It just so happens that the industrial aesthetic look they run with, is just as great as they perform.  Simply put, they’re the best in the world, proven time and time again.

However, being the best generally means it won’t come cheap. Each buckle is made in the Stubia region of Austria, a place not known for its cheap labor. Labor here is expensive, especially when well-trained professionals with fancy degrees are working the production floor. A combination of aluminium, brass and steel go into each buckle, which continues to drive costs up. Throw in development time, load testing machines, quality control and additional costs – you’re looking at about $19-$25 per buckle. Yes, per buckle. Though they’re worth it, sometimes their use is a bit of overkill. A messenger flap will no doubt self-destruct long before the buckle reaches its breaking point.

ITW Nexus North America saw an opportunity. As makers of some of the highest quality military-spec plastic hardware on the market (you’ll see their stuff on Triple Aught Design, Mystery Ranch, etc), they kept hearing requests from their customers for a cheaper Cobra buckle. Among other desired improvements on this nearly flawless hardware bit, ITW has some of the most cutting edge manufacturing, polymer product design and development expertise in the world. They just needed to lean a bit on AustriAlphin’s existing load bearing hardware technologies to find the right balance.

A little over a year ago we heard rumours of these two giants linking up and as of this month, the wait is finally over.

Announcing the ITW Nexus / AustriAlpin GhilleTex Cobra Buckle. It’s been nicknamed “GT Cobra” and is constructed from 100% polymer, this unit still can handle 500 lb, 40% stronger on average than the standard side release buckle. They’re also easier (and more fun) to operate than the side release design. The all-plastic construction allows the unit to be lighter, quieter, pass through a metal detector, and the GhillieTex technology in the Acetyl material produces a very low infra-red signature (meaning they don’t stand out when viewed through IR vision).

Since they’re produced on US soil, they’re completely Berry amendment compliant for government/military use. A non-obvious benefit of these Cobra GT’s, just like their all-metal cousin, any size female half can fit any size male half (shown a few images up in the original AustriAlpin Cobra buckle, as I only received one complete GT Cobra buckle – size 1.75″). For example, you could use a 1.5″ male half, clipped into a 2.0″ female. Lots of potential for customizing, upgrading or field repair. Wins all around.

Most importantly, these GT Cobra buckles are considerably cheaper to produce and more affordable to purchase, coming in between $15.40 and $19.40 per unit (40% off for wholesale). As of early August (2013), these just started hitting distributor shelves, which is strangely exciting for us. Available in 1.5″, 1.75″, 2.0″ (38mm, 44mm, 50mm), you’re certain to see these popping up on all sorts of carry products this year and for the next few to come, we can guarantee that.

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Keeping your kids safe from your pharmaceuticals

I can’t find a proper kid-proof drug bag, so I’ve hacked one.

Why would I care about a kid-proof drug bag? It turns out that kids get smashed by accidental poisoning from household medicines pretty regularly (yeah, nice and light reading eh…)

While we’ve installed all sorts of child-proof locks on our cupboards, both my wife and I leave pharma within much easier reach in our bags. Mostly just pain-killers (which can be lethal in large doses), but also some anti-inflammatories, anti-this’s and anti-that’s.

So I guess this is a post to warn other parents they may have an issue, and then to encourage sharing of any good solutions you guys may already have worked out. If any brands want to jam with us on a better solution, please reach out.

–

The requirements

Any bag I run with as my daily carry gets a pocket assigned to toiletries (including pharmaceuticals). I figured if I could find a small child-proof pouch to tuck inside these pockets, I should have a pretty easy solution. I can imagine a smaller pouch again for my wife’s handbag.

–

The hack

I’ve started with a really light Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Quick Trip, which has a good strong piping running past the side pockets. I’ve then just pricked a small hole beside it, and now I have an anchor for the lock.

While I started with locks on 2 pockets, I’ve since moved to only one pocket being locked. I don’t need to lock the whole thing up, as toothbrushes and anti-perspirant are relatively harmless. So it’s now one side pocket which gets anything slightly dangerous (or candy-looking).

I’m on the scope for a small combo-lock, as I don’t want to stress about keys with this. I’ll swap the lock over as soon as I find a good one. And for sure it would be nice to have a sweet integrated travel lock system, but this is totally sufficient for now.

And as mentioned, I’ll also develop a smaller pouch for my wife’s handbag needs. It won’t need all the toiletry action, so it will only be large enough for some painkillers.

And that’s about it. If you have the right kit, it should only take 60 seconds to set up, but it might just save your kid. I figure that’s probably worth the time spent.

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A side note of additional methods and tools that I uncovered during my long hunt for the perfect system.  There are quite a few here, I liked and disliked them for multiple reasons.  Some of, or a combination of these, might be perfect for you.  Send us a message if you’re going to give any of these a try, or what your experience is/was with these, or your experience with any other types of key carry.  Now you will know all of my key secrets… except for a few which I’m reserving for later.

The Kaijin fishhook.  Ended up losing it during SXSW 2011.  A killer product with its own unique look, available in multiple finishes, made in Japan.  People would compliment this product a lot, which was nice.  But I wanted function, not compliments on my key hook.  I preferred the P-7, but some may really dig the look and larger size of the Kaijin.  Also available from their eBay store.

MAKR Bottle Key.  Clever.  A key blank with a bottle opener built in.  $11.

A&P stainless steel cable key rings.  These just looked awesome.  For me it still had the drawbacks of a carabiner, stored externally and keys clinking around.  But for those who are into external key carry, this looks like a cool, organized techy/tactical solution.

S-Biner gear clips.  Seems like a great idea.  A carabiner with two access points.  I’ve heard dozens and dozens of stories of people losing their keys with this bit of hardware.  It opens the other side as you unclip/clip the side to your belt loop or whatever else you’re clipping to.  It happens because you’re pushing against the opposite side of the clip, opening it, at the same time you’re trying to clip the other side (the intended side).  Not ideal.

Key Wallets.  This is a unique system.  Myself, I’m not into it.  But it’s a way to combine your wallet and keyring into one, theoretically reducing bulk.  I’m not entirely sold though.  I’d rather not reach for my wallet when I want to quickly use a key though.  Anyone run this setup?

The awesome Keybrid.  I’ve been waiting for the black version for months now.  I’ll absolutely get this item, as it combines two existing elements into one, cleverly reducing bulk and weight (even though its minimal, I’ll admit).  Cannot wait to have this.

Free Key split ring.  This is an interesting nail-saving creation.  However, I don’t find the need to swap keys on and off daily, weekly, or monthly.  My keys have been on my nail-hurting split ring for over a year.  They probably won’t need removing or adding anytime soon either.  With this product, I’d think that there would be a possibility of keys accidentally coming off, but I could be wrong.  Anyone tried one?  We’ve talked about them before here.

“Best Wishes” middle finger key blank.  Nuff said.  (Note from the Author: I just purchased two of these guys for my current EDC keys setup)

Neck Chain Key Hanger.  This system is hardcore.  Recommended if you only have 2 keys, max.  One single key would be even more ideal.  And even more rad if you simply used one “Best Wishes” key (previous entry above).  If anyone does this, please send in a photo, because you are awesome.  Pretty simple.  Buy a length of chain.  Attach key.  Wear.  Hidden, out of sight, out of mind, pockets free, jingle free.  Plus, if anyone sees it, you can tell them its for your “safe house”, in case of emergency.

The Keyport.  Techy and innovative.  Not my style, but some might find this worth taking a close look at.  Works with chipped auto keys, with inserts for tools, USBs, and a flashlight.  Nicely done.

Tritium Cubes.  These things are awesome for those klutzy ones of us out there.  If you frequently (or may possibly) lose your keys in places that could dark, this magic little cube will help you find it.  Best part, they don’t require hours of a bright light shining  on it to make the tritium bar glow inside.  Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen… naturally occurring, it is extremely rare on Earth, where trace amounts are formed by the interaction of the atmosphere with cosmic rays.  It glows without batteries, without electricity, without charging, its not glow-in-the-dark, it relies completely on radioluminescence.  Science aside, the point is, this bar inside the protective resin block glows day and night without losing its luminescence for many years (about 12 years until it gets half as dim).  Small and trick, eh?

Hone.  A system that helps you find your keys via a smartphone app and a bit of Bluetooth hardware.  Battery life could be better.  Because we know we’d forget to change the battery, then lose the keys the day after the original one dies.

Keylet.  A key + wallet organization system, created by two young Industrial Designers.  Currently still on Kickstarter.  I had bad experience carrying cards in metal money clips like this one, as the magnetic strips on my credit card and drivers license wore off within a couple months of use.  I literally ended up having to replace my cards when they stopped working, a minimum of 2 or 3 times per card, so I quit that method.  The idea is sound, definitely says “Industrial Design”.

Huckberry’s EDC Kit.  We love Huckberry.  You should too.  These guys release curated collections of various products you will want to own and have in your life.  Oh, and you’ll get big discounts on the products too, which is the best part.  Sometimes the brands themselves never even have sales, so the only time you’ll get a discount is via Huckberry.  To name just a few examples of stuff they’ve recently offered; Mission Workshop packs, Defy Bags messengers, Benchmade knives, rare single origin coffee beans from exotic locations around the world, high-tech and low-tech camping equipment, US-made Tellason denim jeans, functional gadgets, and all sorts more.  I know several Carryology contributors and readers alike have signed up (its free, really easy and really fast to sign up) and purchased many sweet items.  Huckberry’s EDC Kit, located in the “General Store” section of their site, is a great way to jump in to a nice kit for functional key carry.  It includes; Freekey Split Ring (mentioned above), Survival Pod (contains two 2’ of 550 paracord strands, concealed mini blade with sheath, fire starter flint, 6″ fire starter jute/tinder, 3″ Duct tape, key ring), Screw Key set (Phillips and flathead), and Stainless Steel Mini Lighter… all for $39.  By the way, Carryology readers get a $5 credit towards your first purchase at Huckberry, but you’ll need to sign up at this link here to get that $5 credit.  So this handy kit actually will only cost you $34, shipped (free shipping within the USA).  We really dig this site, check out everything they’ve got over there… chances are whatever you find will be incredible.

PicoPen.  Under 3.00″ in length, 3/16″ in diameter and less than 1/4 of an ounce.  A perfect lightweight slim pen for when you really need one, but don’t have room to spare a full-sized Pilot Hi-Tec C.  Less than $20 from TEC Accessories direct.

Swiss+Tech Utili-Key.  Pretty trick little gadget.  6 tools in 1, the size of a key.  I opted out as I didn’t want to get my keys confiscated by TSA or any type of building with strict security (the knife blade may just be a touch long for).  Still, a very nice option, especially for 8-10 bucks.

True Utility KeyTool.  Pretty much the same as above, except this unit is lighter, has 8 tools, and actually wraps over a key.  I’ve seen a photo or two of this product broken/bent up, but those could have been caused from operator failure or misuse.  People seem to like it overall.  About $10, maybe cheaper if you look around.

LaCie PetiteKey.  A key-shaped USB thumb drive at a fair price with a surprising amount of storage (8GB = $15 / 16GB = $23 / 32GB = $40 / probably cheaper if you search around).  Great for those who may need to keep digital work files handy (resumes, presentations, etc).  Also great for spies.

Corter Leather Bottle Hook.  Last but not least, a handsome key hanger that doubles as a bottle opener.  The leather detail makes it really nice too.  I was highly tempted by this for a while, but then I would’ve been going back to external key carry method.  Nothing is wrong with external key carry, it just wasn’t for me.  This is a great product, handmade, one by one.  Still tempted.

And finally, here is another great blog 100% dedicated to Keychain Gadgets and Pocket Tools… so many damn cool items reviewed on there to feast your eyes on.  Definitely worth taking a close look at.

All this being said, we’re not suggesting that you carry 50 new gadgets to your existing keyring, but rather to find your own combination or system that works best for you.  “Less but better” (D.Rams) and “Travel More, Carry Less” (Carryology)!  Carry on.

Yeah, alright, so I’m obsessed.  We all are over here.  Hope you enjoyed.  Send us a message if you change up your key carry method, or if you’ve got a unique one you’d like to share with us.

Check back for our third installment of EDC Keys (3 of 3), with a key tool/gadget package giveaway containing several products from EDC Keys 1 of 2 and 2 of 2.  We’ll update you very soon on this.

The post EDC Keys: Additional Key Carry/Gadgets (2 of 3) appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

DSPTCH get a little EDC on the camera strap

I have to admit that for the last two years I’ve had a butchered lanyard as my SLR wrist strap. It was ugly, but it mostly worked, so it hung in there.

Thankfully DSPTCH have recently started up in San Fran, a base from where they want to contribute a little Tactical joy to the carry habits of people like me. Richard was good enough to send us one of their paracord wrist straps (as well as a key chain), which I’ve been running with for a couple of months now…

Highlights

The cord: 550 paracord is a sweet rope; soft yet durable, stealth yet attractive. When you braid it like this, you get enough grip, enough slip, and just a nice feeling wrist retainer.

The metal hardware: The clip and ring are both top knotch, with good spring and a great finish.

Adjustability: So long as you spec the right size when ordering (there’s petite, standard and large), then the clip slides open for quick entry, and pulls tight when weight goes onto it, giving a reassuring little tug around your wrist.

MacGyverable: It’s great knowing that if you ever REALLY need to shoulder sling your camera, you can unravel the cord and rig something up. But yeah, that would require a whole series of YouTube tutorials to re-braid it afterwards, so I haven’t gone there yet.

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Lowlights

The plastic: After such nice metal hardware, the plastic clip feels a little flimsy and cheap, with the clip missing that reassuring ‘snap’ of high grade plastics.

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It’s just a knot: Which means it can unravel a little. No biggie, but you need to keep an eye on it.

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DSPTCH straps do come with two camera attachment options. I went the wrong side of lady luck for my SLR, but the plastic clip looks essentially the same on the webbing version…

The other DSPTCH stuff

For the moment, there’s just the Sling, the Wrist, and the Key. They are all great looking products, with similar traits to the wrist strap I’ve been playing with.

The summary

I like it. I’ve liked wrist straps for some years, as they cut down on bulk, integrate well if you carry a camera shoulder bag, and get rid of flappy straps that get tangled around things. With this DSPTCH, I’ve finally rid the scrappy lanyard hacks that have tied me over so far, and pimped my rig a little more in the right direction.

Once they upgrade the plastic bits, DSPTCH should have a rad little offer for not much coin (US$32).

The post Drive By :: DSPTCH camera strap appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

Calm down, take a moment, and lets talk.

Maybe only this one time, but yes, we Road Tested pants.  Every Day Carry (EDC).  That is why I reached out to Clothing Arts.  The owner, Adam, responded to my first email within 20 minutes, immediately agreeing to the Road Test idea, and they were in the mail about 5 hours later.  Whoa.  This guy is on point, sending me emails from New York then Amsterdam a few days later, a mover and a shaker.

Back to Every Day Carry.  I’ve mentioned several times on here that I nerd out on my keys, from the type and finish of split ring, to custom ordering black anodized key blanks, to minimizing the amount of keys (exactly 3, all black), etc.  The same idea goes with what I carry with me in my jeans pockets.  The rest of my life is pretty chaotic, but at least I’ve got this one little thing figured out.  Handmade slim leather wallet (with exactly 4 cards), iPhone 4, keys.  Fin.  With EDC blowing up, it would be a crime to you readers if I didn’t explore the topic more.  And believe me, I have been.  I know more about EDC gadgets than I care to admit.  Miniature pocket-sized stainless steel grappling hooks (used for finding trip wires), in multiple sizes.  That is just one example out of hundreds.  Some wild stuff.

I’ve been acquiring more gear, and made it a personal goal of mine to try and carry some of it.  But let me be the first to say, I’m not carrying a Surefire tactical torch in my pocket 24/7, I’m not carrying a $600+ Damascus-steel switchblade 24/7, etc.  Those might make sense for someone else, but not me.  I am carrying stuff that makes sense to me in my daily life; a small Moleskine, some pens, moustache wax, maybe a lighter, some other stuff.  This may seem trivial to most people, but I’m a carry geek who writes for Carryology and my full-time job is focused on various forms of carry, so yeah…I’m a nerd.  I’ve gone so far as to take every pair of jeans I own to the local alterations shop, and have them add a 6th pocket on the left side.  Maybe I’m less of a nerd and more of an insane person.  Anyway, you get to read about it.  So… to carry more stuff, I need more pockets, as I refuse the jeans pocket bulge.  Tsk tsk.

(Above:  Some of the features, taken from the Clothing Arts website.)

After searching around through Google and forums for “tactical pants”, “EDC pants”, “adventure pants”, and more, I discovered Clothing Arts and their seemingly growing cult following.  Its always exciting for me to discover these brands I didn’t know about, and find they have a large dedicated fan base, that usually is a good sign.  I found the P^cubed Adventure Traveler Pants ($109) on their site.  P^cubed = Pick-Pocket Proof Pants.  They appeared to have some really well thought out pocketry, and even though they have the exterior pockets just above the knee (known to you and I as “cargo pockets”), the pockets looked slim enough to not be too dorky.  So, as mentioned, I emailed Adam, and the rest is history.

A little about Clothing Arts…

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