Apparently, I’m on a tear, reviewing bags like a man possessed. A few weeks ago, I put out the call, and now UPS is practically a fixture at the studio, delivering a steady stream of contenders. In the past few weeks, I’ve taken in shipments from GORUCK, Evergoods, Peak Design, and a few other usual suspects. And I’ve been testing them, putting them through the wringer—and I’ve been genuinely, shockingly surprised.

Let’s rewind for a second. Here’s how my typical setup looked:

Camera Bag: GORUCK Kaidan Bullet. Perfect in every way for what I do, and you couldn’t pay me to switch it up.

Sub-25L Travel Bag: GORUCK Dual Compartment 18L Bullet. Just the right size for a weekend jaunt—enough room to carry the essentials without bogging me down.

Over-25L Travel Pack: GORUCK Kaidan GR2. My go-to for one-bag travel. Beautiful, rugged, and tough as nails.

The logic behind sticking with GORUCK was simple: their bags share a cohesive design language. Whether I’m lugging the compact 18L Bullet or the behemoth 34L GR2, I know exactly where to find my gear in each one. Predictability and reliability—two things you can’t put a price on.

But then, a few months back, during some hellish trip with my Kaidan GR2, things went south. I overpacked the damned thing—rookie mistake—and the experience was a slog. It got me thinking: maybe it was time to downsize. I started shopping for a smaller GR1 to cut down on my tendency to overpack. But when I waded into the market, I found myself in a labyrinth of limited editions, hype, and enough chaos to drive a man to madness. I wasn’t about to chase some unicorn of a bag, so I did the unthinkable—I jumped ship.

I took delivery of an Alpha 31 and decided to give it a real shot. I’ve always been drawn to the look of these things, but they were as elusive as Bigfoot the last time I checked. This time, I got lucky, and it arrived a couple of weeks ago.

One trip was all it took to hit me like a sledgehammer—I’d been missing the point of a good backpack all these years. I was so fixated on having a bombproof bag that I never stopped to consider one that actually fit what I was carrying and stayed comfortable, no matter the load. I didn’t need two “rucking” packs—I needed one versatile bag that could flex with my needs. And that’s exactly what the Alpha 31 is. It handles both heavy and light loads with grace, staying comfortable no matter what I throw at it.

So now, my entire packing philosophy is turned on its head. I sold off my GR2 and my 18L Bullet because the Alpha covers both bases. But I’m hanging on to the Bullet as a camera bag—that’s irreplaceable. I’ve still got some pouch configurations to work out, but otherwise, I’m off to the races.

And here I am, eating my own words just weeks after swearing that my GORUCK setup was the only way to go… Figures.

Anyway, more details here.

If you know anything about Dan Matsuda, you know the man doesn’t just make products; he conjures them—raw, unfiltered art disguised as everyday objects. Every piece he births into this world is a testament to craftsmanship, forged from materials so unique and resilient they might as well be relics from another dimension.

Naturally, this means getting your hands on one of his creations is like hunting the mythical white whale. Matsuda drops his goods on a Friday, and by the time you blink, they’re gone—swallowed up by the ravenous masses within minutes.

But behold, a miracle—a Matsuda duffle bag in the wild, actually in stock and ready to ship. I’ve never witnessed such a thing in all my years.

And let me tell you, I own one of these duffles in black. It’s everything you’d dream of and more—a masterpiece that laughs in the face of mediocrity.

Details here.

After last week’s exposé on sub-25L backpacks, a few brave souls dared to inquire about the pack I strap to my own spine. And while the AER packs (and their ilk) might dance seductively in the dreams of urban nomads, they’re not my muse.

Years ago, in a feverish moment of clarity, I embraced the GORUCK GR3, a travel pack so rugged and capacious it could double as a lifeboat. It turned me into a zealot. But the time came to part with that behemoth, and now, I’ve found solace in a symphony of packs that cater to my every whim. My camera bag? A GORUCK Bullet. My travel companion? The GORUCK GR2. And my sub-25L paramour? The dual-chambered GORUCK Bullet.

So why, you ask, didn’t I champion the Bullet in my 25L feature last week? Simple. It’s not for the faint of heart or the uninitiated. If you aren’t committing to the full GORUCK gospel, there are far shinier baubles to catch your eye.

The logic behind this system is twofold:

Firstly, I eschew bags bloated with organization. Instead, I wield modular pouches to corral my essentials. This way, I can effortlessly transfer these pouches from one bag to another, adapting to the mission du jour. GORUCK bags, blessedly spartan in their internal configuration, suit my packing ethos to a tee.

Secondly, I crave familiarity like a junkie craves his next fix. Every GORUCK bag exudes a sense of deja vu. Master one, and you’ve got the rest licked. Take my double-compartment Bullet: it’s essentially a pint-sized doppelgänger of the GORUCK GR2. Thus, I navigate these bags with the ease of a seasoned grifter working a familiar con. The layout remains a constant; the capacities, a mere variable.

This system works for me, a deranged connoisseur of chaos and order. But I harbor no delusions that the masses would flock to this creed with the same fervor.

Still curious? Unravel the mysteries of the 18L Double Compartment Bullet here.

A user came to me with a question—what’s the best EDC pack with around 25 liters of capacity? While he’s got no beef with GoRuck, he craves something with a bit more organization.

This one’s a no-brainer. The consensus in the wild world of everyday carry is that the AER City Pack Pro reigns supreme in this niche… and I can’t help but agree. It’s AER, after all, so it’s built like a brick shithouse, and everything they churn out is damned well designed. This pack hits all the marks:

• The quick access pocket is a dream to get to and has plenty of room and the Pro version takes it up a notch with a second quick access pocket on the side for keys and whatnot.

• Luggage pass-through… It’s astounding how many sub-25L packs overlook this crucial feature.

• The laptop compartment is a fortress of its own, accessible without diving into the main compartment.

• Straps? Fantastic. You could carry the weight of the world on these bad boys.

To me, it’s the only 25L pack worth considering in this segment, even with the $240 price tag.

But hold on, there is another contender—The Black Ember Citadel 25. This one will set you back $300, but it shares many of the same stellar features and has a sleek, killer look. Plus, Black Ember has earned a solid reputation as a place of solid fabrication. I don’t have any experience with this one, but I’ll try to get one in for review.

Anyway, you can dive into the details about the Black Ember here, and the AER here.

I don’t know what the hell this thing is… Is it a tote? A bin? A backpack? A box? I guess it’s whatever the hell you want it to be depending on how you use it.

Essentially, the RUX 70L is a box made of TPU-coated nylon. This modern, slick material gives the box no structure at all, but it comes with spring steel snap bracelets that you place in each corner- allowing you to decide how much rigidity the box actually has. You can make it stiff enough to stack, or snap the bracelets and compress it like a soft box.

But that’s just the beginning. The top edges of the box are lined with a rail system inside and out. This rail system lets you customize the outside of the box with different carrying and compression strap configurations. Want a backpack? No sweat. Throw on the long straps horizontally and adjust them. Want a tote? Easy, just place the carrying straps on each end. Want to make it smaller? Just throw on the compression straps and synch em down.

This rail system also lets you securely add a top on the outside or fashion pouches and dividers on the inside. The possibilities and configurations are literally endless. It’s actually quite brilliant.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the price… This bin, backpack, box, tote thing will run you $300!

I’d scream foul, but the thing is… I think it’s absolutely worth it to the right person. It’s one of those products that reflects the passion of its designer. You can tell that whoever designed and made the thing gives a damn. The craftsmanship is wild, and as a result, using the RUX is a joy.

The RUX 70L is the most interesting mobile storage device I’ve ever tested. Sincerely.

Details here.