We’re here at CES 2020 doing everything we can to bring Gear Diary readers updates on all the exciting new and improved products we’re seeing. But it takes more than just being armed with a phone and a computer to survive the week. Here’s how we’re staying awake, staying healthy, and staying connected!
WaterField does a fantastic job with their products and I am always amazed at the number of new offerings they release each year. As if on cue, they started the year with a brand new product — the Mezzo Laptop Backpack — and a great deal for those who jump in early. It looks great, and I’m seriously tempted!
Where do you stow all of your electronic accessories when you travel? If you’ve been guilty of tossing your charging cables, USB dongles, USB hubs, and other “stuff” into the bottom of your backpack or a pocket in your suitcase (as I have), then you’ll appreciate the organization and protection the Oneadaptr Evri Accessories Pouch will give your gear.
I’ve reviewed numerous offerings from Waterfield. Their bags are always well-made, always look great, and are a pleasure to carry. The new Waterfield Travel Folio is one of the simpler Waterfield products I have used, but that’s not to say it isn’t impressive. Its clean design makes it look professional when you walk into a meeting. You’re going to love it.
Being someone who’s never truly found the perfect bag, I always find myself looking for a bag that doesn’t think too much of itself, one that will fit into every situation. I’ve had people throw out various names of overpriced backpacks that either have little to no storage, very little organization or put so much of an emphasis on being stylish that they end up being ugly.
It seems like my search for the perfect everyday bag is never-ending. I’m pretty particular on what I want from a bag, and over the past month I’ve been using Black Ember’s Citadel Minimal Backpack, and it’s checked quite a few boxes of things that I desire from my bag with a few extras that I was not expecting.
If your Instagram algorithm has been telling you about a cool backpack company by the name of Black Ember, or you’ve ever checked out backpack reviews, you know that Black Ember’s Citadel bag is one of Chase Reeves favorite bags. I’m currently reviewing that bag now, but Black Ember has an even newer backpack that’s 3-in-1 functionality sets a new bar for what to expect in your everyday carry.
I love Waterfield products and, as I have noted in previously, I use them daily. Waterfield offers several great ways to organize and carry your gear. Their latest is the Waterfield Developer’s Gear Case. If like so many of us at Gear Diary you carry too much, this may be the case for you!
Full Transparency: I carry WAY too much tech with me virtually everywhere, to the point my backpack is like sandbag weight training. What’s a guy to do when carrying tones of tech with him everywhere he goes? Find a suitable organizer.
I’ve long been a fan of Incase’s bags. As someone who carries a bit too much tech daily, they are one brand I know will give me enough pockets and storage space for all of my things. After reviewing the small, more compact version back in 2016, I wanted to see how the full-sized Incase City bag would measure up.
Prior to using the Solo Elite Backpack, I was lugging around AER’s Gym Duffle 2 Bag. And while it is a pretty nice bag aesthetically, the majority of the time I don’t need that much bag. If you’re looking for a more manageable bag that will suit all of your needs, here’s why you should consider Solo’s Elite Backpack.
Chances are if you’ve been looking for a suitable gym bag, you’ve scoured Amazon, reading multiple reviews attempting to decide what’s the best gym bag on the market today. And the answer is simple: AER’s Gym Duffle 2.
A few weeks ago, Tejas wrote about the Stealth Labs Speaker Backpack that’s currently on Indiegogo. At the time, I thought a backpack with a built-in speaker could be an interesting idea, but only if it were executed properly. After being sent a pre-release model to try out, I’ve decided that this backpack, for what it is, is nearly perfect.
Consolidation has always been all the rage in the tech industry. Why carry many things when you carry one that does it all? In this vein, Stealth Labs is launching a speaker backpack that they claim doesn’t compromise on either the backpack or the speaker part of the equation.
A few weeks before we headed to CES, Solo NY reached out and asked if we were interested in reviewing their Unbound backpack. Since there’s no better torture test than a week lugging gear around Las Vegas, it came with me every step of my trip, and impressed me deeply with the amount of gear it held without being bulky.
When I was a kid father had a large utilitarian leather briefcase that opened like a clamshell. It wasn’t much to look at but it certainly got the job done. The Wellington & Cromwell Hatch Briefcase takes that classic design to new heights. Made from beautiful leather, it has an elegant look that’s certain to add to your professional appearance.
As a huge fan of Incase’s ICON backpacks, I’ve always wanted them to release a messenger bag. It looks like my request has been answered as the company has released their ICON Sling Pack. We were sent a unit to review; let’s dive in.
I split my time between writing freelance, playing music, and helping my entrepreneur wife run her makerspace. So as you can imagine, I’m on the go a lot. I visit a steady rotation of local cafes, bookstores, and libraries — laptop and smartphone in hand so I can do my work, stay in contact with clients, and work on music.
I love when Waterfield SF Bags brings a new product to market. They are always well made, beautifully designed and get the job they are intended to do done. When I saw the announcement of the new Waterfield Tech Folio, I knew I wanted to check it out. We have one on the way, but let’s take an early look!
Mission Workshop is known for all of their great ages, from messengers to traditional backpacks, but if you’re into carrying a lot of things, or if you are heavy into photography but looking for a great bag, you should check out the Rhake Waterproof bag. Upon first look, you can tell it’s not your traditional camera bag. For one, it’s not super bulky like the competition which is something I truly enjoy the most about the bag. Instead of opting for an inch of zippers and hidden compartments, the Rhake bag looks more like a bike messenger bag than anything…
When you hear the phrase “douche bag”, your mind might automatically conjure up the slang definition of “an obnoxious, offensive, or disgusting person.” Set that aside for now, okay? For this review, Douchebags is a Norwegian brand of smarter travel gear, and the Douchebags Base 15L Daypack is one of the nicest and most stylish backpacks I’ve yet tried.