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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Luggage Bags and Packs

    Accessories
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    • ChrisC
      Chris
      Raw and Unwashed
      Joined:

      Exactly. He's been asking for one for years.

      (I picked up a couple of books for him at Powell's, so mission accomplished on that front. 🙂 )

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GilesG
        Giles
        IHUK Crew
        Joined:

        Damn, they must be down to just 3,999,998 or so…..

        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • tmgT
          tmg
          Joined:

          I may be in the market for a new pack soon, and both the Defy VerBockel and MW Rambler would work really well, both have well thought out features,  and don't look like the techie outdoor rucksacks that I've been using for the last 15 years.

          Hard to choose between them, and I like to see bags in the flesh before I buy - I've seen MW in Condor Cycles, so hopefully they still stock them, but will need to see if the Defy bags are available anywhere in London

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            Snowy
            Joined:

            @tmg please let me know your thoughts on rambler in person please. That Damn Laptop sleeve and the bottom protecting are blocking me. @Graeme yes, I could do things like sleeves etc, but I know I would be annoyed having to use a sleeve to work around what I see as a flaw in the bag.

            So @tmg is she flawed, or just right????? (PS Try ask if you can test how waterproof it really is…Is it cordura 1000D? Is it lined plastic etc....)

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • veloaudioV
              veloaudio
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined:

              Bagjack is badass.

              ^This is officially an understatement. My NXL came in today…

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GraemeG
                Graeme
                啓蒙家
                Joined:

                @tmg I think that it comes down to whether you want a simple, single compartment bag, or a more complicated, technical design. The Defy is the former, the Mission Workshop is the latter.

                Kinoko in London carry the Bedouin Foundry range. The Delireis is similar to the Defy VerBockel, albeit a bit smaller. They've also got Mission Workshop and Chrome. Ah, just seen that they're now just web only.

                Another option would be the Modern Industry Drive. Carryology really liked it. They're out of stock at present, but will no doubt be available in a couple of weeks. Only downside is that they're shallower than the VerBockel.

                @Snowy I'd prefer to go with a simpler bag, and not have padding in it. That way I can adapt if my laptop gets bigger or smaller in future without having to replace the whole thing.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • veloaudioV
                  veloaudio
                  Raw and Unwashed
                  Joined:

                  @veloaudio:

                  Check out the Bagjack backpacks as well. They look pretty good, are waterproof and expandable. I'll be able to speak to the quality in a few days when my NXL messenger arrives.

                  @Snowy Definitely take a look at the Bagjack Backpacks. The messenger I just received is impressive. I will put together a first impression on the bag with pictures, etc. in the next few days.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    Snowy
                    Joined:

                    Bagjack, I'm only seeing 2 different backpacks?? 1's Cordura 500D, aka not very good. The other (NXL Skidcat) seems to have PU on the underside. The shoulder straps and the back padding look.

                    @Graeme ideally I want a bag that holds a 13" laptop off the ground, or has padding on the bottom.  I don't want to have to add anything myself if possible. My current timbuk2 has a pocket that goes about 1/2 way down which is why it got the ticket. The last model of theirs I had was padded down the bottom. timbuk2's newer models are less cross cycle/tech, I still keep looking back there too….. Mission workshop is still closest IMO...

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GraemeG
                      Graeme
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      @Snowy, I'm just as picky when it comes to bags. Which is why I haven't bought one yet. 🙂

                      The Defy VerBockel has a padded laptop sleeve, and is about the right size for you. I don't know how waterproof it is, but they've got an M35 tarp version coming.

                      I don't think that the Mission Workshop one is padded. You could always drop them an email and ask.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        Snowy
                        Joined:

                        @Graeme:

                        @Snowy, I'm just as picky when it comes to bags. Which is why I haven't bought one yet. 🙂

                        Here here 🙂

                        @Graeme:

                        I don't think that the Mission Workshop one is padded. You could always drop them an email and ask.

                        @tmg's going to check it out over all this week I hope. I know it's not padded which is my biggest annoyance about the bag and why I've not already purchased it ::)

                        (The defy looks hideous to me so non-starter)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • GraemeG
                          Graeme
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          We're all a bit OCD around here! 😛

                          There's always the Modern Industry Drive, which has a floating laptop pocket. But it's a bit smaller than the VerBockel or Rambler, as it's a skinnier pack.

                          I'm not super keen on the Defy myself. It just seemed to fit your specs.

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                          • 4c4
                            4c
                            Banned
                            Joined:

                            40's US military backpack:

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • tmgT
                              tmg
                              Joined:

                              @Snowy:

                              @tmg please let me know your thoughts on rambler in person please. That Damn Laptop sleeve and the bottom protecting are blocking me. @Graeme yes, I could do things like sleeves etc, but I know I would be annoyed having to use a sleeve to work around what I see as a flaw in the bag.

                              So @tmg is she flawed, or just right????? (PS Try ask if you can test how waterproof it really is…Is it cordura 1000D? Is it lined plastic etc....)

                              @Snowy, sorry for the late reply, didn't get a chance to check the bags out until today, so here's my thoughts,

                              • Very solid and well made
                              • Profile is very squared off, which is very distinctive, and in line with the design ethos of carrying 'stuff'
                              • There is no dedicated laptop compartment, and whilst you could put your laptop in a case and then put it in the bag, it would still be resting on the ground, and since the rear pocket is reasonably large, the laptop could still move around
                              • Interior is black, and with the huge pocket depth you'd be reliant on feel to locate anything in the lower part of the bag
                              • Outer pockets are pretty small, and wouldn't be big enough for my regular journey quick access stuff, i.e. kindle, headphones, phone

                              So, on the whole I was impressed by the build quality, but for me the bag doesn't fit my needs - if I was living in the city and bike commuting, then some of the above comments wouldn't be an issue, the laptop storage and quick access pockets mainly, and I could see that it would be a very useful piece of kit, particularly if I was regularly grocery shopping on my way home from work.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • tmgT
                                tmg
                                Joined:

                                @Graeme:

                                @tmg I think that it comes down to whether you want a simple, single compartment bag, or a more complicated, technical design. The Defy is the former, the Mission Workshop is the latter.

                                Kinoko in London carry the Bedouin Foundry range. The Delireis is similar to the Defy VerBockel, albeit a bit smaller. They've also got Mission Workshop and Chrome. Ah, just seen that they're now just web only.

                                Another option would be the Modern Industry Drive. Carryology really liked it. They're out of stock at present, but will no doubt be available in a couple of weeks. Only downside is that they're shallower than the VerBockel.

                                @Snowy I'd prefer to go with a simpler bag, and not have padding in it. That way I can adapt if my laptop gets bigger or smaller in future without having to replace the whole thing.

                                @Graeme thanks for all the useful suggestions, and I quite like the look of the Modern Industry Drive, but having now had the opportunity to see the MW bags up close, I'm not sure that the courier/roll-top style of bag is going to meet my needs. Oddly enough, after a lot of reading (Carryology is a great site), I'm back to considering a Goruck GR1 since it pretty much ticks all the boxes for me, and barring a small quality hiccup last year (or year before?) , they seem to get great reviews. The downside is ordering from the US and paying through the nose for import duty, but that's unfortunately unavoidable, and if the bag is as good as they say then it's a cost I won't have to repeat for quite a while.

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                                • GraemeG
                                  Graeme
                                  啓蒙家
                                  Joined:

                                  Thanks for your thoughts on the Mission Workshop bag @tmg. It's on my shopping list too.

                                  Carryology seem to be big fans of the Triple Aught Design FAST Pack EDC and FAST Pack Litespeed. Just throwing them in as another alternative to the GoRuck.

                                  The trouble that I have with these packs is that they're all so heavy. Plus I could quite happily live without all the internal organisation.

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                                  • veloaudioV
                                    veloaudio
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    The Action Pack by Mosher on KS looks interesting:

                                    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1121692509/the-action-pack-by-mosher-originals

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • CutlasshoundC
                                      Cutlasshound
                                      見習いボス
                                      Joined:

                                      The TAd packs are excellent but the EDC version (the bigger one) is very heavy.

                                      The trizip assault packs by mystery ranch are also excellent and afe fat lighter than the TADs.

                                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                      I ain't got time to bleed.

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                                      • S
                                        Snowy
                                        Joined:

                                        @tmg:

                                        regularly grocery shopping on my way home from work. taking packages home that were delivered to work.

                                        Thank you very much @tmg, the hunt goes on I think :/. A dedicated laptop area, waterproof (or close to it) in a backpack is what I'm after. Shouldn't be too hard I'd of thought, but man, oh man 1st world it is!

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                                        • GraemeG
                                          Graeme
                                          啓蒙家
                                          Joined:

                                          I think that there's been a move to unpadded laptop pockets in rucksacks, and then using a protective sleeve. So you might struggle to find what you're looking for @Snowy.

                                          I'm having the same problem. My basic requirements are:

                                          • Approximate size: 48 x 34 x 20 cm, or 19" x 13" x 8". This fits into the smaller carry-on box on the Australian airlines.

                                          • Lighter is better. Some airlines limit carry-ons to 7 kg, and if you're burning through 2 kg with a bag…

                                          • Motorcycle friendly, so straps that join at the top of the bag, so it's kept at shoulder level, otherwise it'll bump on your lid. And a sternum strap.

                                          • Simple layout. I don't want hundreds of pockets and compartments.

                                          • An attractive design.

                                          • Not made in a sweatshop.

                                          I think that the closest thing is the Tom Bihn Smart Alec, but Snowy's experience with the Brain Bag has put me off. The Defy Verbockel, Mission Workshop Rambler, and a few of the Topo Designs bags get close.

                                          Perhaps the trick is going to be to get a couple of bags. Say something smaller like a Modern Industry Drive or Bedouin Delireis for day-to-day, and a larger travel pack for when I head off somewhere. Given my OCD nature it's easy for me to over-optimise, and a compromise might be in order.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • S
                                            Snowy
                                            Joined:

                                            I was inches, inches away I tell you from pulling the trigger on the Vandal. Then I realized I'd be cycling 2x a week like this, likely in the rain, exposing the main section to the rain, which isn't really up for it without it's protective sheath :|.

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