The Best-Looking Backpack of 2018 Was (Obviously) Built in SF

A better way to commute, guaranteed

November 8, 2018 9:00 am

The eternal dilemma: how to carry your stuff without looking like a dweeb.

Never before has function been so challenged by form.

Ninety-nine percent of backpacks work great but look juvenile. Ninety-nine percent of designer totes look swish but won’t meet your needs. But thanks to a limited-edition capsule collection from one of our favorite S.F. brands, we have the holy grail.

The product is a collaboration between local heroes DSPTCH and their cross-country rival partner, New York City’s 3sixteen. Their seven-piece collection includes two tees and a jacket, but the object of our affection is without doubt the daypack: the 2018 Special Edition daypack in waxed canvas (we like the field tan; your mileage may vary).

At a little over three pounds, it won’t add much weight to your daily carry, giving you license to stuff the 22-liter interior with as much gear as you like. There’s a dedicated, protected space for your laptop, naturally: up to 15 inches. And the waxed fabric, as well as a DWR-treated interior lining, should keep everything dry — unless you’re caught in a monsoon, in which case … go inside.

Water bottle pockets? They’re inside. (“The water bottle pockets are located inside the bag to keep the exterior free of items that can be lost during travel or crowded situations.”)

Here’s to a calmer, cooler, better-looking commute in 2019.

Image via 3sixteen.

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.