With the new year right around the corner, there’s plenty of new gear in store for us to look forward to. But until then, now’s a great time to look back on the gear that served us best through 2018. We polled our community in our exclusive Facebook group and asked what their favorite EDC gear was in the past year. In this quick round-up, we’re highlighting your favorite backpacks! We’ve narrowed it down to the top three answers among the community — read on to see what your favorites were, and stay tuned for more gear to come in our Readers’ Choice series.
3. Peak Design Travel Backpack
With a fully expandable 45 liters of space, the Peak Design Travel Backpack is suited for an extended excursion. Unlike other bags with that kind of carrying capacity, Peak Design has made their Travel Backpack with speed and discretion in mind. It features a clamshell design for easy loading, and quick stash pockets at the top and sides of the bag. And while the bag slims down via compression straps to keep things small and carry-on compatible, the expansion zippers let you take full advantage of the available space once you’re on the ground. This makes the Travel Backpack ideal for a one-backpack travel set up. And with its 400D weather proof material construction and DWR coatings, the bag has the chops to stand up to the elements no matter where you find yourself.
2. Aer Tech Pack
Premium technical materials and rock-solid durability define Aer’s minimalist Tech Pack. It features a tough 1680D Cordura ballistic exterior paired with a water-resistant coated front. Its dual compartment construction gives you lots of space for your gear with smart organizational features as well to keep everything on hand with easy accessibility. And unlike a lot of other bags, its structured design allows it to hold its shape, even when it’s not fully packed, making loading and unloading the bag on a regular basis a breeze.
1. Black Ember Citadel Modular
The Black Ember Citadel modular backpack system represents a versatile option for everyday carry as we enter the new year. As its name implies, you’re able to configure the bag for both light and heavy-duty storage options, depending on your needs. The basic pack is made out of 800D performance textile, laser cut, and with YKK Aquaguard zippers to keep your gear dry in inclement weather. There’s a comfortable 25 liters of space available to store the essentials, and the modularity of the pack lets you snap dedicated expansions onto the bag using magnetic Fidlock hardware. Once available only through crowdfunding, Black Ember is now making this stellar pack available for preorder to a wider retail audience at the link below.
What was your favorite bag in 2018? Leave a comment and let your fellow EDCers know about bags you think should be on their radar! Stay tuned for more Readers’ Choice picks as we wrap up this year.
