Hasta La Ideas

An all purpose utility bag for the city dwelling outdoor enthusiast

Making expertly crafted products for city dwelling outdoor enthusiasts, NYC’s own Best Made Co. stands at the forefront of the return to our roots movement. “We operate in NYC,” says lead designer Hunter Craighill, “but we focus on the outdoors and the products that get people outside.” To further encourage this call to nature, Best Made is launching a new product each week for the forseable future. First up is the all purpose Gear Bag, made entirely in NYC of mostly American-made materials. Like all Best Made products, the sturdy carry all is attractive enough for the city but built for the great outdoors.

“[The bag] represents a direction we’re moving in, towards being a more full outfitter with apparel, gear and bags. It’s our first bag which we’ve made from scratch, which is exciting for us,” said Craighill. The stiff, three layer construction—heavy waxed cotton canvas outer, impermeable waterproof center and canvas lined interior—gives the bag its rigid form, while a ballistic nylon bottom, brass feet and kevlar handles work together to further its indestructible nature. With one full length exterior pocket and two interior pouch pockets, the all purpose bag features little more than one would need for a weekend away or day on the jobsite.

By using domestically made materials and constructing each piece by hand, Best Made appeals to the conscience consumer looking for something more than just another tote bag. “Part of what we’re doing is trying to produce products that are not disposable, not only because they work well but because you care about them,” said Craighill.

The Gear Bag is available directly from Best Made online for $240. For more information check their site or if you’re in NYC swing by the Best Made workshop friday afternoon’s from noon to six for open house.

Cycling specific backpacks and messenger bags custom made in Portland, Oregon

by Hunter Hess

Based in Oregon’s cycling epicenter, Portland’s Black Star Bags has been producing bike-specific backpacks and bags for five years, gaining a strong following throughout the Northwest. Starting with a belt-driven sewing machine his friends found in an alley, owner Dave Stoops has built his company from the ground up by providing high quality, functional bags for everyone from working messengers to weekend commuters.

“I requested a two-week vacation to ride my bike down to San Francisco for the North American Cycle Courier Championships (NACCC) and got denied,” remembers Stoops. “Three weeks later I had left that job and found myself in my sewing studio full time—I think that is officially when Back Star Bags was launched.”

With such humble beginnings as a one-man operation, Stoops has a strong appreciation for his business and considers his employees family. “Not only was I starting to be able to pay my bills, I was helping others out too,” he says. “I’m not exactly sure when it happened but eventually I realized that this was just as important as making a wage for myself.”

Years of touring and messenger experience show in the simple aesthetic and functionality of every piece. Each bag is made from Cordura with ballistic nylon reinforcement and sealed with a heavy-duty vinyl liner to keep water out, creating a completely waterproof storage area. Stoops points out that hours of work and testing went into creating the back supports and shoulder straps, and the extra attention shows in the final product.

The straps and padding are meticulously designed and positioned to allow for the most comfortable fit even while carrying heavy loads or riding for long periods of time. Each bag also features standard safety accessories like reflective bottom strips and loops for attaching lights, but what really sets Black Star apart is their design flexibility. “We will always make and continue to improve our standard bags but we do a lot of one-off projects too,” says Stoops. “Customers often request special features, special pockets, individualized graphics, we’ve even re-created new spec bags from the ground up.”

By working closely with customers and keeping the production process small, open and personal, Black Star is able to create a bag that reflects the wearer—not just the manufacturer. To order a custom bag check Black Star online and for a closer look at the Black Star studio see the slideshow below.

Photography by Hunter Hess

The Korean bag-makers’ latest collection of carryalls designed for high-visibility city cycling

South Korean label VAGX, maker of highly functional bags for the urban cyclist, introduces the Lumisac series with more understated branding and a fresh new design concept from its previous lines. Named for illuminating strips affixed across the bag exterior, the hi-vis collection may propel VAGX’s status as a solid, design-focused commuter style.

Besides the sleek look of the backpack, messenger bag and waist bag models, the Lumisac line packs technical function akin to brands like Mission Workshop. The fabric and color combinations are consistent throughout, with the black styles comprising 1000D Cordura nylon upper and waterproof truck tarp on the base, and the beige made almost entirely from truck tarp.

The battery-powered light strip can be turned on or set to blink, making the wearer significantly more visible while riding in low-light conditions. Inside, the line is Apple-focused—the backpack stows a pocket specifically designed for a 17″ Macbook while the messenger bag features a special slot for an iPad or Macbook Air.

The waist bag merges a traditional fanny pack with a tool belt, with ample compartments to keep essentials secure. The adjustable design can be worn around the waist, or as a sling style Bandolier bag.

Although VAGX is currently primarily sold overseas, the brand’s presence at New York’s Capsule trade show last week indicates potential for an increased presence in the U.S. The Lumisac backpack, messenger bag and waist bag are available online for roughly $225, $160 and $135 (based on current exchange).

Topo Designs’ clean one-strap backpack for comfier commuting

Topo Designs‘ newest addition to their line of heritage-inspired bags, the sling bag, has a slim profile designed for ease of use during daily commutes. The single shoulder strap handily slips on and off when you need it, while a small stabilizer strap keeps the bag stable while wearing it messenger-style.

Functionally speaking, leather lash tabs and seatbelt webbing pull tabs on the back are ideal for clipping on a bike light or securing excess gear—and we dig the traditional look of them. Three small interior compartments and a larger padded sleeve for iPads or slim laptops have the same minimalist feel that defines the bag’s outer shell.

To encourage ecologically-sound production techniques and promote local the economy, Topo Design handmakes all their bags in a LEED certified building in Colorado. The sling bag comes in six rad colors, selling online through Topo Designs’ webshop for a manageable $98.

Also on Cool Hunting: Nine Falf Packs

New add-on compartments from the makers of military-grade gear

The expectations for any great backpack are simple—strength, functionality and dependability. Goruck was born from a career Special Forces member’s experiences in the field. Based on the necessity for high performance gear in extreme situations, Goruck has brought that military toughness to a consumer level. Today, going a step beyond their more traditional rucksacks, Goruck debuts the latest edition in their line, a modular add-on for organizing stowage.

The Brick Bag is a result of the Goruck Challenges, up to 10-hour-long team endurance events where participants carry Goruck bags filled with bricks as they engage in physically rigorous activity. During events they needed a way to separate the bricks they were carrying from the other contents of the bag. The solution was the creation of a new bag-within-a-bag thats lets the user customize their gear, creating additional compartments on the fly.

In addition to acting as a stuff-sack, the bag can also be used as a compression bag—allowing for squishing down of clothes or other soft materials to a more manageable size. The Brick Bag reflects the strength, simplicity and military-styling of the entire Goruck line while maintaining their modern design.

The bag is available from Goruck’s online store for $95.