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Silca Seat Roll Grande Americano review

REVIEW – If you’re a cyclist, chances are you’ve heard of Silca. They’re known around the world for their bicycle pumps which they’ve been making for over 100 years. They also make amazing tools and accessories that all have an attention to detail that would be hard to call anything other than obsessive. My first job was building BMX bikes at my local bike shop. I picked up the wrenches again in college before my first real career in snowboarding. What’s the point of memory lane here? Silca recently launched an under-seat pack that uses a Boa reel for cinching it to the bike. I use a Boa system on my snowboard boots today and remember their launch almost 20 year ago. My two favorite sports coming together – Sign me up. Detail time.

What is it?

Silca’s Seat Roll Grande Americano is a fold-and-roll pouch that stores under the seat on your bicycle. Under seat bags are great for holding the necessities (like tools) that you don’t want in your jersey pockets or in a backpack.

What’s in the box?

  • Seat Roll Grande Americano
  • Hanging Card Packaging

Hardware specs

  • Ballistic nylon with a DWR coating (Durable Water Repellent finish)
  • Uni-body, one piece construction
  • Boa® closure system
  • Rail guard – Protects and grips seat rails
  • 3 internal pockets
  • Heavy duty elastic for adjustable volume closure
  • Sewn in the USA

Design and features

Deceptively simple, the Seat Roll Grande Americano is essentially a tool roll. It’s made out of a single pattern that’s folded and securely stitched to create it’s three pockets and flap and then a strong elastic strap to help hold the thing together.

The other major design feature is a Boa closure system that uses a very thin cable that retracts and releases with a very intuitive reel. I’ll explain how to use one in just a minute, but what you should know is that it’s crazy durable, super light weight and leaves nothing dangling behind. Velcro can be a mess, pick up mud and the hook side can wreck clothing. Yay Boa!

Setup

Removing the pack from the card can be a bit confusing if you haven’t used a Boa reel before. Grab the Boa reel with your thumb and forefinger and pull straight up until you hear a click.

Then grab the pull tab and pull sideways to free the tab and “unspool” the reel.

Now you’re free of the hang card.

From there go ahead and undo the velcro and unfold your pouch.

Performance

As I mentioned up above I’ve been using a Boa system on snowboard boots for a while. I trust them to keep my feet safely in my boots, so lashing a pouch under a bike seat seems like a pretty easy task for this ingenious little reel.

The three pockets are evenly divided with the center pocket being the largest.

I carry a rather large multi-tool with a CO2 regulator that only fit in the center pocket, so that decision’s made. The 700c x30 tube is in the right pocket and a CO2 cartridge and maybe some tire levers over in the left pocket.

Here’s all those tucked firmly down in.

When folding down the top, you’ll want to fold as close to or actually on the pocket top if you can to reduce the risk of any gaps for stuff to get out or muck to get in. Fold each of the sides in and secure with the big, sturdy elastic band.

Putting it on your bike is a simple process of feeding the flat rail guard section shown above over your seat rails, hooking the pull tab on the receiver and then ratcheting it down. You may need to hold the guard in place, but it’s an easy process and you literally just turn until it gets hard to turn. Make sure you push the Boa reel down for the click to ratchet mode.

Here’s how it snugs up under a seat.

You may want to play with the organization of your stuff in the pockets to get them as flat as possible and pushed to the outer edges of the outside pockets as this will give you the smallest pack when folded.

One thing to know is that as a tool roll, it gets completely removed from the bike when you need access to your stuff. This is a good thing as all your tools can be visible at once on a flat surface, rather than digging in a tiny bag still on your bike.

The Boa system is ideal for this scenario as the volume completely adjusts depending on what you have in the roll, and then how tight you ratchet it down onto your seat. As a result, there’s no rattle or noise or swinging weight from under your seat. In a word… perfect. Great addition to my gravel bike.

What I like

  • Boa closure system
  • Materials and construction
  • Security to bike when riding
  • Jangle free

What needs to be improved

  • None that I could find

Final thoughts

I usually run a lightweight waterbag for rides, but the Silca Seat Roll Grande Americano holds my tools and some of the bulkier items so securely and silently that I’ll be throwing a cage and bottle on my bike now for shorter rides. Silca’s pack doesn’t move once it’s ratcheted down and there’s something immensely satisfying about the click and unspool of the Boa to get to your gear. It almost creates a desire for a flat tire to occur… Almost.

Price: $58
Where to buy: Silca.cc
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Silca.

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Silca Seat Roll Grande Americano review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 29, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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ROV 2-in-1 Wallet/Bag review

REVIEW – You didn’t misread the headline. This is not a review of Bob’s grocery order (don’t judge me, people). This is a review of the ROV Wallet. It transforms into a reusable tote bag that will fit everything you see in this picture and more! To the review!

What is it?

It’s a wallet that converts into a tote bag.

Hardware specs

  • Lightweight coated Ripstop Nylon construction.
  • Triple-reinforced shoulder strap for durability.
  • High-strength poly thread used throughout construction.

Design and features

We should all be ditching the plastic bags, right? But let’s be honest: sometimes we just don’t have that reusable tote handy. The folks at ROV are on a mission to get us right with this, and they have designed a simple, eco-friendly (and wallet-friendly!) solution for the problem.

Let’s start with the wallet itself. It’s mildly chunky (4″ by 3″ by 1″) due to it’s transforming ability, but the ripstop nylon construction makes it super lightweight. A simple velcro clasp keeps it sealed in route:

You’ve got 4 card slots that have plenty of give in them, so I think you could easily stash 2-3 cards in each slot. There’s a billfold pocket behind the card slots which is also pretty expandable. You pretty much get all the features you want in a basic wallet.

Now here’s where things get interesting. A bit of velcro and some origami-like folding tricks hide the tote bag in the wallet configuration. Pull down those velcro tabs on the inside face of the wallet to start opening everything up.

Now you start unfolding to reveal the tote bag.

When you’re done, the wallet flap now flips to the inside of the bag. The velcro secures the wallet pockets it so that your stuff doesn’t fall out. You’ll also find a thin but tough strap in there for hand- or over-the-shoulder carry.

And here we are, ready to pack your treasures! It’s a generous size at 16″ wide by 14″ deep, so you can get quite a bit of stuff in it.

The base has an extra layer of material for durability. The whole build is water- and tear-resistant so that you can carry all kinds of stuff without fear of busting out the bag.

I packed a six-pack of local libations and some assorted grocery goodies for my first test to see how it handles volume and weight. It performs like a champ.

I’ve also been carrying it for several weeks as my regular wallet. It’s perfect for someone like me who is a combination of eco-conscious and absent-minded. I’m always stopping at the store for a couple of things on the way home from work, and I regularly forget to stash a tote bag in the car. No excuses now! It is a little chunky if you prefer a slim wallet, but that’s offset by the lightweight construction.

I see a whole bunch of use cases for this besides the absent-minded grocery shopper. It’s a great accessory for traveling or sightseeing, where you may find yourself needing a tote for that treasure (or treasures) you didn’t expect to find on your day trip. And if you are camping or hitting the beach, it’s got even more ways to prove useful due to the durable & water-resistant build. Maybe you found some neat shells, or need to grab some kindling. Or you found a doughnut shop. Whatever the case may be, your hands stay free!

What I like

  • No more excuses for not having a reusable tote bag handy.
  • Solid usability in both wallet and tote bag form.
  • Lots of room for extra cards and cash in wallet mode.
  • Lightweight and durable construction.

What needs to be improved

  • Can be a little chunky in wallet mode (if you prefer slim wallets).

Final thoughts

I’m digging what the folks at ROV have cooked up with this one. We really need to stop making excuses for using plastic bags. The ROV Wallet solves that problem in a really usable way by turning your wallet into a functional multitasker. And it’s also available at a wallet-friendly price of $19.99. I’m looking forward to seeing what ROV comes up with next!

Price: $19.99
Where to buy: Go to the ROV Wallet product page.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by ROV.

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ROV 2-in-1 Wallet/Bag review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 22, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review

REVIEW — Everyone’s seen those nylon drawstring bags that look like a modern replacement for a hobo’s bindlestiff. Usually they’re just cheap, single-compartment sacks used to tote a change of clothes, but Rever Brand offers an evolution on that design with their SERK Drawstring Backpack. Read on to see how it stacks up.

What is it?

The SERK is an upgrade to the iconic drawstring backpack design, utilizing durable materials, waterproof insulation and a unique duo-entry design that isolates wet and dry items.

What’s in the box?

  • just the backpack itself

Hardware specs

  • Duo-entry design to separate dry and wet or dirty items
  • Waterproof oxford canvas exterior construction
  • Tear-resistant ripstop nylon
  • 1/4″ diamond braided nylon ropes
  • Weather-sealed coated zippers
  • RFID protective storage compartments
  • Leather accents
  • 14 liters capacity

Design and features

The SERK drawstring backpack looks a lot like a premium drawstring gym bag, but hides a pleasant surprise. While other bags offer one single large chamber for toting around clothes and shoes, the SERK proves a separate, waterproof compartment accessed from the bottom of the bag. This allows an isolated area for storing wet or dirty items or shoes while keeping the rest of your stuff clean.

The rear view side that lies against your back.

Additionally, the SERK has several internal pockets and two small RFID protected external pockets that can be accessed by weather-sealed zippers, perfect for storing your phone, wallet and other items that need to be quickly accessed.

The side pockets, while easily accessed wearing the pack, are indeed fairly small. I had a hard time fitting my entire hand inside to fish smaller items out. Phones and wallets should be a snap to get out, but anything that may find its way into the very back of the pocket like a pen or pack of gum may be hard to nab quickly.

Smallish side RFID protected pockets for your phone, wallet, earbuds or whatever will fit.

This bottom entry compartment is separated from the main compartment with a zipper in the bottom of the bag, allowing it to be rolled up and stored until needed. That was a clever touch to keep that part out of the way when using the bag in the conventional way.

There’s the hidden bottom compartment on the underside of the bag.

I would say this bottom compartment works well in keeping wet stuff from spreading to other clothes/material in the main chamber. It’s a great place to store damp towels, dirty shoes, even food or cold bottles that would collect condensation. This compartment, when expanded into the main chamber, will place the items within it alongside your belongings in the main space, so some adjusting and moving things around is necessary to keep the bag from feeling too “thick.”

And here’s the zipper that allows the bottom compartment to expand into the main chamber.

The SERK’s outer material is a thick, slightly stiff, waterproof canvas. It’s much more durable than a typical gym bag, though I found it does take some adjusting to conform to the curve of your back and shoulders. It’s not uncomfortable, but I never got to the point where I didn’t feel like I had something on my back, if that makes sense… I was aware of that material, stretching and moving around with it on my back, and it made me wonder if I’d get annoyed with it after wearing the bag all day, or if I’d eventually get used to it.

The top opening, when fully expanded, is very large.

It’s worth noting that the bag itself isn’t totally waterproof, as in you couldn’t drop it into a lake and have everything be all right, seeing as there is obviously a big hole at the top of the pack where the drawstrings pull it closed. I couldn’t get it to close any tighter than the circumference of a small egg. I think that’s good enough for most, just don’t get caught in a downpour.

For something that is made to be slung quickly on one’s back, I managed to accidentally pull the knotted nylon ropes through the d-rings a couple of times. That could easily be remedied with another (or thicker) knot at the end of the ropes, but the default size of that double-knot can be pulled through without much strength.

Speaking of those straps, they’re definitely not as comfortable as most typical backpacks I’ve used. It is recommended that the content weight not exceed 4kg (about 9lbs). That doesn’t seem like a lot of weight for such a heavy-duty pack. While the diamond-braided ropes can withstand 700lbs, I think the weight limit recommendation is there for comfort’s sake. It takes some fine-tuning to get the dual straps to rest on your shoulder with equal distribution.

You probably won’t want to overstuff this bag.

Funny thing about those ropes, I remember reading on the original Kickstarter page for this product that they could be removed from the bag and unraveled like paracord in an emergency situation, because of their high tensile strength. I suppose this is true, provided you were later able to feed a new cord back into the bag! That’s just a fun extra feature worth noting.

Here is the expanded bottom compartment inside the main chamber.

If you wanted to use the SERK as your daily commuter bag, as I did, once you get a laptop and a few other items in there, you might not have room for too much more before going beyond that weight limit and causing some discomfort on your shoulders. It definitely can be used as a work bag, the design even encourages it with pockets for a laptop, notebook and tablet, and padding on the bottom of the bag itself. I’d just caution against too much weight so that the straps don’t dig in to your shoulders.

Best for light loads, I would say. And tough, to boot.

What I like

  • Isolated compartment keeps dirty, wet items separated
  • Much more durable than typical nylon gym bags
  • Can be used as a commuter bag as well

What needs to be improved

  • Rope knots can come loose
  • Bag material can be a bit stiff
  • Side pockets are quite narrow, hard to fit hands inside

Final thoughts

The SERK backpack stacks up to be a great replacement for that nylon gym bag, and could be an excellent day bag for hitting the beach or park. But you might find it a little lacking for the serious work commuter.

Price: $40.95 in gray or $44.95 in black
Where to buy: The SERK drawstring bag can be purchased directly from Rever Brand’s website.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Rever Brand.

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SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 18, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Mobile Edge Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack and Neoprene Sleeve review

REVIEW – Buying a new laptop is a big deal for me, as it is for most people. I spend months doing research, reading reviews, and trying out laptops in stores. Once I finally settle on my choice, it’s a good bet that I’ve spent a lot of time AND money on that pick, so my next purchases usually consist of various items designed to protect and preserve my expensive new investment. I recently bought a Razer Blade 15″ laptop so, despite the brand discrepancy, I jumped at the chance to review the Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack 15″ and Neoprene Sleeve 15″. The $74.99 Vindicator 2.0 is a cavernous, well-designed backpack great for carting my laptop and its various accessories around. Coupled with the $28.71 Alienware Neoprene Sleeve, I feel confident that no harm will come to my beloved new tech. I reviewed the 15″ laptop versions of these two products, Alienware makes 13″ and 17″ versions as well.

What is it?

The Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack (15) is a very durable three-sectioned backpack specifically designed to hold and protect 15″ laptops and other electronic accessories like tablets and power supplies.

The Alienware Neoprene Sleeve (15) is a small case/sleeve that will hold and protect your 15″ laptop. It has an integrated handle and zippered pouch and can be used alone, or dropped into the Vindicator 2.0 for added protection.

Design and features

The first thing I did when I received my Vindicator 2.0 and Neoprene Sleeve was to make sure that they play nice together.

Turns out they work perfectly as a team to protect my laptop in transit. A laptop secured in the Sleeve fits fine in the laptop section of the Vindicator 2.0.

The Vindicator 2.0, like most Alienware products, has a nice high-tech futuristic look to it.

The lines are sleek and the outer shell is made of a textured high-density nylon. The Vindicator 2.0 is all black with bright teal highlights and a teal and grey interior.

Embossed in the high center of the pack is a glossy metallic version of that very recognizable Alienware head logo.

There’s a bit more branding on the back panel, rubberized letters spelling out Alienware. I like that the branding isn’t overpowering on the Vindicator 2.0.

The shoulder straps on the Vindicator 2.0 are padded and comfortable and include a chest strap.

The Vindicator 2.0 has adjustable upper shoulder straps as well, which isn’t common on all backpacks and they’re great for adjusting to a comfortable fit.

Some of the extra design features I love about the Vindicator 2.0 include the small zippered pockets integrated into the sides of the straps on the backpack.

I also love this ingeniously hidden water bottle pouch.

The mesh pouch is there when you need it and tucks up into its own zippered pocket when you don’t.

The Vindicator 2.0 has three main sections, the back-most section is for storing your 15″ laptop. This laptop section has a nice textured fabric to protect your laptop from scratches as well as a separate pouch for holding a tablet or phone.

The tablet pouch has a faux fur-lined interior to protect vulnerable screens and glossy plastic or metal exteriors.

The middle section of the Vindicator 2.0 has an open folder pocket section as well as a huge zippered mesh pocket.

The zippered mesh pockets, which are also found in the front section of the backpack, stretch to accommodate all kinds of random gear you may need to stow.

The folder pockets are great for magazines or school binders and expand for extra storage.

Additionally, a great added feature is found at the bottom of the middle section.

The entire folder and mesh partition can be unzipped and removed from the Vindicator 2.0 entirely.

The zipper surrounds the section and once undone, the whole section panel can be removed.

Once removed, the interior of the Vindicator 2.0 becomes absolutely massive. If you frequently carry lots of bigger items, this a great option to have.

To reinsert the panel, simply locate the zipper at the bottom of the section and zip the panel back into place.

The front-most section of the Vindicator 2.0 has a bunch of smaller mesh pockets, a section for credit or business cards, pen holders, and two great little slots for holding USB sticks.

Another great feature of this section is an elastic loop and tie, useful for securing keys or headphones or any other oddly shaped items.

Of all the features of the Vindicator 2.0 though, my favorite is the included power supply bag.

The bag is included with every size Vindicator 2.0 and is made for storing all those unwieldy power cables and bricks that come with every laptop.

The bag has a stylish little Alienware logo and boasts a rubberized breathable mesh interior.

This great little bag is spacious enough to hold even the biggest power brick and has an attached carrying strap attached as well. I love that this bonus bag is included with the backpack.

The Alienware Neoprene Sleeve is just as sturdy and useful as the Vindicator 2.0 Backpack.

The Sleeve is adorned with the same glossy metallic Alienware logo.

And the backside of the Sleeve has rubberized type spelling out Alienware.

The zippers are sturdy and have bright teal highlights matching the Vindicator 2.0. I would’ve preferred if the zipper pulls on the Sleeve and Vindicator 2.0 were a bit larger, but it’s not a deal breaker.

The handle attached to the Sleeve seems very well stitched and increases the functionality of the Sleeve from just a sleeve to a mini carrying case as well.

The interior of the Sleeve can fit any 15″ laptop with plenty of room to spare and the fabric is thick enough to assuage any fears of an expensive laptop getting damaged while inside.

A great feature of this Sleeve is the exterior zippered pouch. It’s big enough to hold a mouse or a smaller power supply if needed.

What I like

  • Sturdy construction on both the Vindicator 2.0 and Neoprene Sleeve
  • Included Vindicator 2.0 power supply bag is a great addition
  • Massive storage in both the Vindicator 2.0 and Sleeve
  • Love the zippered pouch and handle on the Neoprene Sleeve

What needs to be improved

  • Would’ve been nice to have bigger zipper pulls on both
  • A few long time users reported stitching failure, but only time will tell

Final thoughts

I really like both the Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack (15) and the Neoprene Sleeve (15). The Vindicator 2.0 has a lot of great design features, like its included power supply bag, and this backpack is absolutely massive on the inside. For the price of $74.99, the Vindicator 2.0 stands out compared to other similarly featured computer backpacks. I also totally dig the features of the Alienware Neoprene Sleeve. I like that the Sleeve is of sturdy construction, will protect my laptop, and can work with the Vindicator 2.0 or on its own. The integrated handle and zippered pouch make the affordable price of $28.71 even more attractive.

Price: $74.99 / $28.71
Where to buy: Mobile Edge and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Mobile Edge.

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Mobile Edge Alienware Vindicator 2.0 Backpack and Neoprene Sleeve review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Minaal Day Bag and Carry-on 2.0 Bag are ideal for EDC or one-bag travel

NEWS – I’m a big fan of bags designed for one-bag travel, and also of bags designed for EDC.  However, while a single bag designed for both purposes may sound good in theory, most often it does not work well in practice.  Minaal understands that, so they offer both their very functional Day Bag for daily school or office commute and their Carry-on 2.0 Bag several days of travel without having to check it on.

Both bags are made from Minaal’s custom 600D nylon fabric with 1000D nylon in high-abrasion areas (plus and Woojin & Duraflex buckles), and both feature Minaal’s DeviceNest shockproof laptop compartment, tuck-away shoulder straps + side handles for transforming to briefcase mode, lockable Daily YKK zippers for security, a seam-sealed rain cover, and both are available in low-key but sharp-looking Aoraki Black or Vancouver Grey colors.

The Day Bag’s capacity is a very capable 21L, while the Carry-on 2.0 Bag’s capacity is a generous 35L.  Additionally, both bags include plenty of pockets, slots, pouches and other organizational features in various sizes and shapes, all cleverly placed throughout.  The Daily Bag retails for $249, while its larger sibling the Carry-on 2.0 Bag retails for $299.  Trek over to Minaal.com for additional info or to order.

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Minaal Day Bag and Carry-on 2.0 Bag are ideal for EDC or one-bag travel originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 17, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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