Hasta La Ideas

A new limited edition of rare recycled tarps by the Swiss bag maker

Favored by element-exposed bike messengers, Freitag’s sustainable products stand up to the rigors of rugged travel and look sleek in the process. The Swiss brand recently caught our eye when they turned their standard recycled-tarpaulin wares into fake snakeskin handbags, and they continue to reinvent themselves with the release of the Freitag Reference Limited Edition, a vibrant range of just 150 bags.

The new line features tarp colors hardly ever found on the Swiss transport trucks from which Freitag sources its materials, but after 18 years in operation, the company has managed to collect enough off-color tarps to make a small run of two classic styles—R103 Green and the R504 Clemens—in the rare shades, giving them appropriately quirky alliterative names like panic pink, blunt black, striking silver, brute brown and absolute anthracite. The collection will comprise just 15 pieces for each of the two styles, so fans of the brand should plan ahead for their launch on 22 November 2011.

Five items designed to power any cyclist through inclement weather

The weather may be turning, but you don’t need to hang up your bicycle for the season—most riders in the northern hemisphere have got a month or more left on two wheels. So, for the intrepid souls out there we’ve pulled together the best weatherproof gear to keep both the urban city commuter and the technically driven performance cyclist warm and dry in the cold to come.

Rapha

Modeled after Rapha’s previous collaboration with Paul Smith, the full-zip, completely waterproof City Rain Jacket is designed for extremely wet riding conditions. The jacket’s clean aesthetic, accented by Rapha’s signature pink, brings an extra element of urban style. For a technical touch, a hidden rear zipper holds a hi-vis reflective tail flap that hangs down to protect from rain spray and make riders clearly visible to drivers on the road. The City Rain Jacket is sold directly through Rapha for $320.

Castelli

A simple idea done well, the new Aero Rain Lite LS Jersey blends the performance capability of a Lycra cycling jersey with the waterproof finish of a Gore-Tex coat. This zip-up jersey fits snugly with remarkable stretch and breathability for proper aerodynamics and comfort and side-zips for ventilation. Plus, it’s cut long in the back to defend against tire spray in wet conditions. The Aero Rain Lite, also available in black, sells for $170 from Amazon.

Icebreaker

Regardless of what the name may suggest, the Commuter Zip is fit for sport cycling, but sleek enough to wear anytime as a light jacket or an extra layer for warmth—and it won’t clash with your Lycra shorts. This versatile top layer is made of 98% New Zealand Merino wool with 2% Lycra for that extra stretch necessary for cycling. Since wool is mildly water repellant by nature, the breathable blend should be enough to brave fall’s sudden showers. Other subtle styling perks include added length in the back for saddle coverage, inseam silicone piping to prevent anything from riding up and reflective piping along the back to increase visibility. Available from Icebreaker for $175.

Mission Workshop

As a slightly smaller messenger bag alternative, the Sanction Rucksack is completely waterproof and made in the U.S. with a lifetime warranty. Metal latches secure loads in an unconventional style, making for a welcome move away from plastic buckles. Inside the weatherproof bag you’ll find a padded laptop compartment and on the outside—under urethane-coated zippers—are three pockets for quick storage and easy access. Definitely a more sensible option than most enormous messenger bags, it sells for $180 directly from Mission Workshop.

Ortlieb

This small, waterproof saddle bag tucks away under the seat adding only 7.4oz of weight. The unobtrusive little storage unit is constructed of PU-coated Cordura and fits 49 cubic inches, plenty of room for a spare tube, tire or a compressible wind breaker. The roll top helps secure a water-tight closure and two D-rings lock easily. For added protection, the 3M Scotchlite reflectors help improve visibility in low light. Available from Bike Bag Shop for $30.

Stay organized on-the-go and switch bags easily with a handy purse interior

Purse organizers might seem like fodder for a late night infomercial, but as our handbags grow and necessities change the desire to add some order to the chaos increases. Solving this problem in style is Inouïs, a luxe insert to organize the contents of your bag that also makes it easy to switch purses quickly. What sets Inouïs apart is that it actually looks good, bringing a heightened level of aesthetic to a historically bland and boring solution.

Inouïs provides a jet-setting woman access to her boarding pass, flight atomizer, mints and mobile phone with equal ease, at the same time neatly stashing the daily essentials of any urbanite who carries her life around in her handbag.

Each set includes three pieces: a core insert with more than twenty
pockets, a detachable wristlet for grab-and-go basics and a small business card holder.
Available in soft leather or silky fabric, Inouïs organizers sell online at
Inouïs, with prices ranging from $200-$350.

The Antlers’ guitarist shows us what’s in his touring bag

Flying frequently is never easy, and for Tim Mislock, touring guitarist for Brooklyn-based indie rock band The Antlers, packing can be even more difficult when you have to decide between the band’s essentials and personal extras.

“With flying and all that stuff, obviously we try to check as little as possible because we have so much gear to bring. So I need a small bag that can hold a lot of things. Being a guitar player I have to have extra strings, tuners, and string cutters. But I also need the fun stuff like my laptop, Kindle, and earbuds.”

Mislock uses his Bleecker bag to keep it all together. “Thankfully it’s wide enough that it fits my 13-inch laptop,” he says—adding that not only is his laptop a crucial Skype connection to his family while on the road, but serves as a mobile recording studio on the go. Plus, “the pockets in the front and back can fit my iPod, Kindle, all my headphones, chargers, European adapters—kind of all the things that I need to bring.”

While on the road, Mislock values the time he gets alone, however few moments they may be, and often spends them doing something productive. Whether it’s working on other projects or reviving the art of old-fashioned letter writing. “I bring envelopes and stamps and try to write my friends letters as much as I can. It’s kind of a weird, romantic thing to do. On tour, if you’ve got 45 minutes to yourself, writing a letter is probably a more productive way to pass the time than seeing what’s on YouTube… or drinking more,” he said.

Touring can definitely take its toll on the body, though, and that’s precisely why Mislock makes sure to take precautionary measures against getting sick and packs supplements in his bag. “There’s two pockets on either side of the back where I store Airborne, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and all the things you need on tour to stave off illness. We don’t really get a whole lot of sleep. We’ve only been home for three days and all of us have a cold.”

A great bag made of premium materials also makes him look more professional and adds the right amount of polish without ruining his casual style. “I used to work at a magazine in Times Square and I always felt like a recent college grad because I was always going in with my nylon messenger bag or a backpack, and it always felt kind of youthful,” Mislock remembers. “Walking around with a suede and leather messenger bag, you feel a little more adult.”

Now, even though he’s usually on the road, at a show, or in a plane, he’s able to take everything he needs with him, as well as a little extra luxury.

The Carry On series is brought to you by Coach.

Triple Aught Design’s messenger bag for the office mercenary

Blending modern technology with functional design, Triple Aught Design makes high-performance gear durable enough for the mountains and sophisticated enough for the city. Their latest addition, the Multicam Dispatch Bag is suited for everyday carry in either environment. Built with 1000 Denier Invista Cordura nylon—which is nearly impossible to rip or tear—and Military-Spec ITW Nexus fasteners and YKK nylon coil zippers, you can guarantee the dispatch can make it through hell and back.

Whether you’re heading to the office or traveling farther from home, it’s essential to have your valuables close at hand. With the Dispatches’ thirteen pockets and plentiful accessory slots your phone, keys, pen/pad or passport are all kept just under the main closer flap and just a few clasps away. Inside the 800 cubic inches of storage you’ll find also find a separate, detachable laptop compartment that’ll fit most 15″ laptops. The flap is tailored to cover the corners of the bag keeping dirt, rain and sticky fingers out. There are also a couple hidden pockets for super safekeeping.

At 17″ wide x 12″ high x 4″ deep, the bag is slightly on the larger size, definitely hefty enough to lug some extra gear, but small enough to not feel empty with just a computer and spare jacket. I’ve been testing the bag for the last week and have been really impressed with its versatility. Available in a limited run dropping today, look to Triple Aught Design online where the Multicam Dispatch sells for $250.