I’ve used and reviewed many products from Aer. They tend to make thoughtful, really well made gear for modern travel. My favorite product of theirs is probably their Dopp kit (on sale right now btw), but their most popular pouch is undoubtedly their tech pouch – every gearhead on YouTube flexes it.

Recently, however, they’ve released a new tech pouch aimed at streamlining your carry. It’s smaller, lighter, and holds less… but just enough to get you and your tech through the day.

And because it’s made by Aer, I’m sure it’s made like a brick shithouse.

Details here.

Slim wallets are everywhere these days… But one of the things I’ve never understood is why we don’t see more staggered layouts. This allows you to carry more cards with a slimmer profile… only sacrificing length in the process. To me, this Holden card wallet is far better designed than the typical stacked card setup.

Details here.

I love Magpul DAKA pouches. They are built like a brick shithouse, work well, and look great. However, they are expensive and because they are zipped, they are not 100% waterproof.

If you need something to stay absolutely dry when submerged, similar functionality otherwise, and a lower cost solution… well, check out these resealable Stasher silicone bags. While they might not look the business, there is no arguing their functionality.

Details here.

And if money is burning a hole in your pocket, but you still need something absolutely submergible, Nite Ize recently introduced their new RunOff Waterproof Pockets in a number of different sizes and colors. These things are priced similar to the DAKAs, but use a different kind of zip system that allows them to be completely waterproof.

I haven’t used or seen these, but initial reviews are really good.

Details here.

So I get asked this all the time – What’s the best “one bag” travel backpack on the market?

I think the answer is probably different for everyone and unfortunately, you can’t really know the answer for your own use case without trying out a bunch of different options. Myself? I’ve tried more than I care to admit… In fact, I used to have a bag problem. I still do… But I used to too…

Anyway, the best “one bag” backpack I have ever used is the 40L GoRuck Gr2. First and foremost and as far as materials and craftsmanship go, there isn’t a bag of any kind made any better. The 1000D CORDURA, the YKK zippers, the perfect stitching done in the USA, the… It’s just made as well as it possibly could be.

And then, there’s form. There is very little organization in a GR2… Essentially, it features two main compartments and a few a cubbies. You won’t find a spot for your pencils or an easy access pocket or… any of that stuff.

Instead, you are left with a blank canvas that allows you to outfit the bag for your own use case using supplemental pouches, organizers, and the like. The end result is a really flexible platform that can be configured for many, many uses. And because it’s made so damned well, it will last FOREVER.

Anyway, I should make a video on the subject…

Until then, details on the GR2 here.

I mentioned earlier that I have been working on a side project – essentially, a piece of software that searches out reviews from objective sources like Reddit, forums, etc… and then returns and ranks overall reviews. At this point, there is too much manual work involved for this to become publicly useable, but its still fun to plug things in and see what is returned.

This time, I did packing cubes. I’ve never used packing cubes (who has in the past year?), but a friend swears by them and I’ve wanted to give them a shot. Thing is, everyone makes the damn things and prices are all over the place.

So, what does my little software say about the matter? If you want the best packing cubes on the market, you want Peak Design. And if you want the best value, you want Eagle Creek Spectre.

I chose Eagle Creek and will report back.

In the market for a laptop bag? Topo makes damn nice stuff and currently, they are offering 40% off a lot of their laptop bags.

Check it out.