Aer x 9H Capsule Collection

As any traveler knows, space is a valuable commodity. You deal with space when packing your bag for a trip, space on the plane for your luggage, and space at your destination when checking into your accommodations. So when Aer set out to develop their next bag, they sought to answer the former while taking inspiration from the latter. They partnered with 9 Hours, a capsule hotel group in Japan, to design the Capsule Collection, their next generation of travel bag designed as an all-in-one, versatile solution. With a sleek, minimalist style inspired by 9 Hours’ sleeping pods and the fit, finish, and features you’ve come to expect from an Aer bag, it’s a solid option for your travel—and EDC—needs.

The Capsule Collection comes in two sizes: 40L for the Capsule Max, and 35L for the regular Capsule Pack. Other than the dimensions and capacity, there are no differences between the two bags, so you can pick the one that suits your needs best. If you’ve used a flagship Aer bag before, you’ll recognize all the same hallmarks of their construction, from the 1680D nylon exterior, to the use of YKK water-resistant zippers and Duraflex hardware, to the heavily-padded straps and back panel designed for comfort. They’re all here on the Capsule Collection, along with a few new features that give it a unique spin when compared to Aer’s other travel bags like the Travel Pack 2.

The big difference for the Capsule is that its main compartment—accessed via the pod-shaped round zipper compartment—is essentially a large “bucket” for your main load, which means making use of pouches and packing cubes to maximize the space. Since the Capsule dedicates that space for your clothing and larger gear, it then makes the most out of its exterior compartments to make it easy to grab your smaller essentials.

Rather than a front admin panel/dump pocket, the Capsule moves its smaller compartments to the top of the bag, which makes it a handy spot to keep quick-access essentials like a power bank or a boarding pass. On top of this top-loading section is a smaller, felt-lined pocket ideal for a phone or wallet. On the left side is a zip-up water bottle compartment, and on the top and sides are grab handles for ease of carry. Last but not least is the laptop compartment on the rear, with a dual-pocket, felt-lined laptop sleeve with a false bottom. This compartment is also reinforced by a stiff frame sheet, ensuring both structure for the bag and protection for your laptop.

The straps are the other feature where the Capsule sets itself apart. Unlike their other backpacks these now can detach and stow in a compartment for a neater profile while on the move, or when using the bag in its other modes (as a messenger bag with the included strap or as a briefcase via the side handle).  Besides the sternum strap and length adjusters, load lifters on the top of the straps also help to dial in an exact fit when the bag is on full load, adding even more to its comfort. And speaking of load, a detachable hip belt on the Capsule Max ensures that you aren’t bearing the brunt of a full one on your back.

With a sleek new design inspired by one of the most innovative ways to spend a night in Japan and features that set it apart from its other travel bag brethren, the Aer Capsule Collection is worth the space it takes up in your EDC. Both the Capsule Pack and Capsule Max are available starting today on Aer’s website at the link below.

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Trending: Spyderco SpydieChef

As its name suggests, the Spyderco SpydieChef takes its inspiration from the kitchen, where a good, balanced chef's knife makes all the difference when preparing your next meal. Today's Titanium Tuesday feature is based on a Marcin Slysz design, who applied the unique, sweeping ergonomics and geometry of a chef's knife to the SpydieChef's 3.32" LC200N blade. If you haven't heard of this steel before, the NASA-developed, nitrogen-based steel steel offers exceptional corrosion resistance, and in the case of the SpydieChef, allows it to take an easy edge. Disengaging the Reeves Integral Lock folds the blade into its slender titanium handles, where a reversible wire clip allows for an ergonomic EDC. With a unique design, an exceptional steel, and the fit and finish to match, the SpydieChef is a serious contender for your next everyday knife.

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Mission Workshop Khyte Laptop Bag

"Mission Workshop’s large messenger bag is made from two-layer VX fabric, which resists tears and abrasions, and beads water. Its interior offers a 15″ laptop pocket, a 24-liter main compartment with enough room for a change of clothes, and multiple pockets for organizing smaller items. Comes in..." (via The Awesomer)

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Deal Alert: 10 President’s Day EDC Deals

It’s the third Friday in February, which means our American readers are taking the long weekend off in honor of George Washington’s birthday. But even as we celebrate President’s Day in the States, we’re still always on the lookout for great deals on great gear. We’ve rounded up some of the promotions happening today from some of our favorite brands, so treat yourself to some new gear at a discount and read on to see all the best deals happening right now.

D01 Dapper Leather Pen Wallets

Organizing pen and paper in your EDC can often be a challenge: small items tend to get lost or damaged in the shuffle, especially when carried loose in your pockets. Plus, with limited space in your pockets anyways, consolidation is always a good thing. For instance, you already carry a wallet, but what if it could also hold a custom notebook and pen as well? That’s where something like the Dango D01 Dapper Leather Pen Wallet comes in handy. And with the new releases in fine whiskey brown, jet black and rawhide leathers, the D01 Dapper Leather Pen Wallet has never been easier to carry--and protect--these everyday essentials.

The D01 Dapper Leather Pen Wallet is a compact bifold front pocket that's been engineered for efficiency. For its compact size, there’s plenty of space, as each of the four pockets in the wallet accommodate up to four payment and identification cards (16 cards total). A grippy silicone band also offers a way to stow folded cash. While we've featured the wallet before in water-resistant DTEX material, there's something about classic leather that never goes out of style. From its unique handfeel to a patina personalized to its owner that develops over time, a leather wallet offers a timeless quality and durability. That durability extends to the CNC'd and anodized 6061 aerospace grade aluminum chassis of the wallet itself, setting it apart from the standard bifold and giving the D01 structure. And against digital threats, built-in RFID protection also helps keep your card information safe from fraudsters skimming for data in public spaces. Last but not least, you can pick up Dango’s separate MT02 multi-tool to further expand this wallet’s capabilities.

The other half of the bifold is dedicated to organizing your stationery. And while it’s compatible with many popular EDC pens and compact notebooks, Dango goes the extra mile by providing a custom pen and notebook with every purchase. The machined aluminum pen accommodates the ever-popular Fisher Space Pen refill as well as Schmidt 4889M ink refills, and slots perfectly into the spine of D01 to both reduce bulk and allow you to retrieve the pen without having to open up the wallet. And in case you’re the kind of person who constantly loses their pen, an integrated lanyard hole helps with retention for both the pen and the wallet itself. The included notebook is no slouch either, with 48 dot-grid pages bound together with red stitching by hand and placed within a thick quality cover, itself protected by the rest of the leather and aluminum.

If jotting down notes and ideas is an essential part of your day, the D01 Dapper Leather Pen Wallet is a complete starter kit that lets easily consolidate and carry. And even if you already have a notebook and pen as a part of your EDC, the smart design of this package lets you consolidate them into an all-in-one solution that saves space in your pockets while being immensely useful and functional at the same time. Check out the link below to learn more about the D01 in both its new leather iteration as well as other material options.

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This is a sponsored post presented by Dango.

Trending: Leatherman Style PS

Another week, another Multi-tool Monday, and for this week we're highlighting one of Leatherman's often-overlooked compact series of tools. They have a huge catalog of tools to choose from, but the Style PS is the way to go if you’re going through airport security. Unfold it to reveal a Phillips screwdriver, scissors, and a pair of spring-action needle nose pliers that are surprisingly useful for their size. The stainless steel build can handle being tossed around, and it has a built-in carabiner so you can attach it to your bag if your pockets are full. At 0.3 ounces, you won’t even notice it’s there. Travel with peace of mind and pick it up at the link below.

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