With more bag options than ever before changing the way we carry our gear, the question of what’s in your bag is becoming just as important as what’s in your pockets. Wearing a backpack these days doesn’t have to mean choosing between looking like you’re going to school or on a 3 day camping trip, either. Smaller, sleeker urban bags like the new ARKTYPE Dashpack work more as an extension of your pockets, giving you that extra storage and organization you need to take your EDC further. Blending military equipment design cues and materials with rugged minimalism, the Dashpack is a made-in-the-USA bag for a more covert, commute-ready carry.
At 15L, the Dashpack isn’t designed for heavy loads. But as its name implies, it’s slim and compact enough to dash through busy city streets and beyond. The smaller size sits higher and more balanced on your back with a narrow profile even when packed full.
The Dashpack also features more quick access pockets than its minimalist design leads you to believe. A water-resistant YKK Aquaguard zipper hidden under a storm flap runs vertically down the front of the pack for concealed access to a spacious pocket. Inside the pocket, you can secure pens, tools, cables, and more in a row of elastic webbing, while a D-ring at the top of the pocket is handy for clipping a keychain, like one of ARKTYPE’s excellent magnetic paracord options in the PMK and RMK.
A 3/4 double zipper (also water resistant) accesses the main compartment. It’s mostly empty with just a horizontal zip mesh pocket at the top and a half-height laptop sleeve towards the back of the bag. The lack of internal organization makes the main compartment better suited for bulky or awkward cargo.
You can safely stash your tech and valuables in a zippered security pocket hidden in the back panel of the bag. The main back pocket is padded to protect a large tablet or smaller laptop a second zippered mesh pocket sorts out smaller loose valuables. The vertical orientation of the front and back pockets make it easy to swing the bag under your arm and access your gear from the top down without ever having to take off the bag.
If you do end up needing more storage, the Dashpack features a row of low-profile webbing for added modularity. It also has water bottle pockets on both sides, just under the compression straps that keep the bag slim and tidy when less packed. Both the compression straps and shoulder straps are designed with built in strap management, leaving no dangling excess webbing for a cleaner look.
Last but not least, the pack features 1680D ballistic nylon on the exterior for abrasion resistance and durability yet only weighs 2 pounds. ARKTYPE’s first foray into the EDC bag space is available now in black or grey at the link below.
