The Radavist

There’s nothing worse than having to dig through a bag loaded with a weekend’s supply of clothing, camera equipment, electronics and supplies. ILE’s new Load Cells provide an ultra lightweight solution to that problem and with the new Cyan collection, are sure to provide a bit of color into your portage needs. Check out the full Cyan line at Inside Line Equipment and I can’t wait to see the Load Cells in person!

Mission Workshop‘s highly modular R2 Arkiv Field Pack can fit just about anything you’d need to carry. The MOLLE-inspired rails accept pouches, sleeves and with more attachments in development, you can have a number of bags in one.

All-City’s got some new bags hitting the shelves of your LBS, one of which is the Low Profile, a 1100cu backpack. Check out more at All-City.

When you want to carry just a little more than your jersey pockets will allow and the idea of having a backpack on just isn’t cutting it, pack bags are great alternatives. With more and more companies breaking into the market, Blue Lug Japan is supporting their local manufacturers, Fairweather.

I have to admit, these are the nicest looking pack saddle bags I’ve seen so far. I really like the easy-to-access top velcro pocket. I know Marty at Geekhouse has been loving his for weekend trips. See more photos at the Blue Lug Flickr and pick one up at Blue Lug.

THIS is pretty metal and that’s one sick bag. Always good things coming from the REload camp in Philly! Who’s gonna win it at Monster Track this year?

This year, Cadence took their popular Trekker sling bag and made it even better. Now this all-around shoulder bag has a chest stabilizer. It’s still made in the USA, still all black and still solid as ever. Tote your camera, your jacket or whatever with you on your ride.

Pick one up here at Cadence.

I was just thinking the other day about how much I missed my Brooks Team Pro saddle. If you can’t tell, I really miss my touring bike. Or maybe I just miss touring and camping. This new video from Brooks just hit my email, featuring their new Land’s End & John O’Groats Travel Panniers and if panniers aren’t on your foreseeable agenda, check out the new saddle, bar tape and grips offerings below.

Depending on how light you travel by bike, these two bags could very well hold everything you need for a week-long bicycle tour or camping trip and the best thing is, you don’t need rack mounts or any additional provisions. Just a seat post, saddle rails and handlebars. The frame, bar and saddle bags that are coming out of Porcelain Rocket’s shop in Calgary are strikingly beautiful.

This isn’t your traditional waxed canvas and leather saddle bags used by randonneurs. These bags are made from Dimension Polyant VX21, HDPE and clasp together with Rock Lockster buckles. They can be customized to any number of color combinations and patterns (see above). Used primarily by MTBrs, these packs will fit on just about any bicycle frame.

I’ve never used a Porcelain Rocket bag, but I had great luck with my  Viscacha saddle bag by Revelate Designs, which looks similar. I’m heading out to Asia in a few weeks and then to Australia, where I’ll be using my Viscacha yet again. I would be picking up a set from Scott if he didn’t have such a long lead-time.

You’ll have to wait about 10-12 weeks for your Porcelain Rocket bag but they look like they’re worth the wait. Check out the full line at Porcelain Rocket and see more of Scott’s creations on his Flickr.

The years I spent in New York make me appreciate two concepts: mobility and real estate. Observing both, in the literal and figurative sense, can teach you everything you need to know about anything, even products. They are key deciding factors in determining something’s usefulness. Quite simply put: how you use the product while moving through space and how the product uses its own space.

When I heard that Chrome had picked up a designer from Lowepro to design their new Niko Camera Pack, I had high hopes that it would be an improvement over last year’s Niko Messenger Sling bag. The design seemed to be simple enough and the product shots made it look like the Niko Pack was just an enlarged by 200% Niko Messenger.  I shoot multiple formats and travel a lot with my camera equipment, so I’m always looking for a new bag that meets my needs.

Surely with all this space, it had to be the bag I was looking for?

Mission Workshop continues their Advanced Projects line with a Rummy Messenger Bag:

“This edition of the Rummy messenger bag is constructed from American-made 10 oz. waxed canvas and incorporates features reserved for our Advanced Projects series bags; the Arkiv closure system and the light-weight and super tough VX liner. The weatherproof canvas will show wear patterns that reflect daily use.

Messenger bag features include: quick-access outboard pockets, internal zippered pockets, custom aluminum strap hardware, and detachable cross-chest stabilizer. Large exterior facing zippered pocket fits up to 15” laptop computers. The weatherproof roll top main compartment can be used in either the “roll top” mode, or in the traditional “flap down” configuration.

Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty.”

Mission Workshop

I’m one of those guys that loves a good collaboration, especially between two exceptional, made in the USA brands like Cielo and Tanner Goods. We saw some early bicycle portage work from Tanner at NAHBS last year and this year, Cielo will be presenting two special bicycles, both complete with handmade Tanner products. Choose either the Tanner Goods Edition Cross Classic or Sportif Classic and they will come loaded with a handlebar bag, saddle bag, frame bag, painted matching fenders and Tanner mud flaps.

Check out more photos here!

Stay tuned for more information, including pricing and availability, during NAHBS.

Yorkshire’s own portage company, Restrap, has a few new models available for 2013 and the one that caught my eye was the Highrise backpack. Check out more at Restrap!

This is the first point and shoot camera bag that I would actually use. It’s black, Made in the USA and fits on your backpack, messenger bag or belt loop with ease. It even has a cell phone pouch. Cadence thought of all the details with the Place Camera Bag. Scoop one up today.

One of my favorite shops is carrying one of my favorite bag makers. Blue Lug in Japan now has Swift Industries’ full line in stock at their shop. The Polaris Porteur is such a rad bag. Check out more great photos at the Blue Lug Flickr.

Dry sacks are the best. The best for a day of drinking in the park, keeping cameras dry, touring, camping, rafting, “fadventuring”, or whatever you can think up. Check out YNOT’s new Six Pack sack the next time you need to keep the wet from the dry and vice versa.