Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag Review: Well-Made Bag That Blocks Odors of Anything Contained

The Lowdown

The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag is honestly a very well-built piece of kit, even if you don’t need to utilize the odor-blocking feature regularly. The bag would even be handy to use as a toiletry kit when packing, say if you have a particularly odiferous cologne and don’t want your running socks to smell like Brut.

Overall
4.5

Pros

  • Extremely well-built
  • Odor-blocking worked on multiple strong scents
  • Can be locked for more security
  • Inexpensive, given the size and features
  • Stealthy looking
  • Leather accents

Cons

  • Interior is black, which makes it harder to spot small, loose items

There are very few times in life where things aren’t improved with a solid bag. Admittedly, “I need a really solid, smell-proof bag” isn’t necessarily the first thing on everyone’s shopping list, but you never know when you might need to transport some onions. Or, more realistically, when you realize you want to travel with the kind of plant matter that’s legal in more and more states. You need a bag that doesn’t make people look up and say, “weird, why does it smell like college in here all of the sudden?” That’s where the Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag comes in.

Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag

The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag is incredibly well-made; that was my first impression. Everything about it is well constructed; the black metal waterproof zippers move smoothly and have leather zipper pulls, the stitching is impeccable, the internal dividers are r00my, and there are extra organization options. The solid black, rubber-backed exterior sides and bottom are lightly padded, and while it’s not clear if that’s where the carbon filters are, it does make the bag feel slightly more protective.

Revelry’s signature Carbon Filter System is made up of three layers to trap unwanted odors. The middle layer contains activated charcoal that absorbs and traps odors; two additional layers act as synthetic filters to help protect the unwoven charcoal.

There’s a black canvas-backed leather handle loop on one side and a small black canvas loop on the opposite side in case you felt the need to throw a strap on this, but you can also carry it by the large loop or toss it into another bag easily. The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag measures 11″ long by 6″ tall by 5″ wide, so it should be easily stashable in a backpack. There’s also a metal loop on one side, so if you want or need to lock the contents of the bag, you can easily loop a lock between the zipper and the loop to secure it against any curious snoopers.

One final touch: there are Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway logos, each stitched in triangles on one side, but unless someone knew what the HS meant, no one would know from glancing at it what Higher Standards is or what it means. It gives the bag an extra bit of stealth to really ensure no one gives it a second glance.

Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag

The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag is remarkably roomy inside; there are a few small pockets inside on one side and a bigger pocket on the other side. There’s also a large slash pocket along the outside. For reference, the Stowaway Bag easily holds a Kindle Paperwhite, a MacBook charger, and a phone with room to spare, so whatever paraphernalia items you might need to carry, you’ll be all set.

The only complaint I have is how dark the interior is. The interior lining is solid black with white decorative piping, and it would feel more functional if it were a lighter material inside, so you could easily spot small, loose items.

Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag

Kindle Paperwhite on top of the Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag for scale.

It’s hard to convey in text how good the odor protection of the Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag is, but it works quite well. There are the obvious items one could test it with. But for science, we tested a few other random items instead, namely, a towel soaked in isopropyl alcohol, a recently lit candle, and coffee beans.

Each was placed separately inside the bag, and not only did the bag seal those scents in, but we also found that none of them left lingering scents after the items were removed. This was especially impressive when we tested the Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag with the isopropyl alcohol-soaked towel, as that stuff tends to leave a lingering scent for a while.

Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag

Overall, the Higher Standards x Revelry partnership has proven to be an impressive one! The Stowaway’s build quality is impeccable, it fits many items, and the scent-blocking works wonders; at $50, it’s also not insanely expensive. The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag is honestly a very well-built piece of kit, even if you don’t need to utilize the odor-blocking feature regularly. The bag would even be handy to use as a toiletry kit when packing, say if you have a particularly odiferous cologne and don’t want your running socks to smell like Brut.

Even the best charcoal filters do have an eventual shelf life, but a little bit of snooping on the Revelry FAQ turned up this gem on how to refresh your bag’s filters when needed:

Refreshing the filters releases absorbed odor molecules from the filters, renewing them to near their original absorbing ability. To refresh your bag: Turn the bag inside-out. Place the bag in the dryer on low for a few minutes or until warm. OR place it outside in the sun for a few hours or until warm.

Higher Standards x Revelry has a whole line of products they’ve partnered on, so if the Stowaway intrigues you but you’re not sure if it’s what you’re looking for, be sure to check out their other designs as well!

The Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag sells for $50; it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer provided review sample

What I Like: Extremely well-built; Odor-blocking worked on multiple strong scents; Can be locked for more security; Inexpensive, given the size and features; Stealthy looking; Leather accents

What Needs Improvement: Interior is black, which makes it harder to spot small, loose items

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1 Comment on "Higher Standards x Revelry Stowaway Bag Review: Well-Made Bag That Blocks Odors of Anything Contained"

  1. Pretty cool concept. I especially like its stealthiness. Pithy review ….nice!

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