THE JOURNAL
Whether it’s a seriously tough weekend bag to take with you on a cross-country hiking expedition, or a shiny new hold all to encourage you to make the bi-weekly trip to your local gym, decent travel gear is worth investing in. But finding something that will age well, look good, and be reliable when it comes to getting your stuff from A to B? You need a brand with experience.
Enter Eastpak. The company, which has built a business on making bags that last a lifetime, is itself about to turn 70 years old. Founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1952, Eastpak focused its early business on creating backpacks and equipment for the US Army, and has come a long way. In that time, it has learnt more than a few things about making useful accessories. Indeed, it’s this expertise that is proof of its continued existence.
“The innovative approach in its latest offering is worth getting excited about”
The backpack maker has been trustily stocked on MR PORTER’s virtual shelves for years now, and so we’re more than au fait with Eastpak’s unparalleled prowess in travel gear design. Nevertheless, it’s always a pleasant surprise when the label comes out with something shiny and new, and the innovative approach in its latest offering is worth getting excited about.
The brand’s collection for SS22 (and the one to ring in its 70th year) is aptly named Tarp, in reference to the tarpaulin-like top-coated fabric that the bags are crafted from. Super durable, tough against the elements, it comes in three different colours: the bright yellow is great for visibility, khaki channels a more outdoorsy military vibe, while black is more sophisticated and suited to, say, commuting around the city.
The SS22 collection also marks a sustainable move for Eastpak: all black components in its bags will now be made from recycled materials. That’s everything from the black webbing, binding, lining, the iconic logo and even printed materials – all will be made from 100 per cent recycled polyester.
We had a rummage through three styles from the collection to find out what makes the brand’s next generation of baggage worth raving about, so from touchscreen pockets to a transforming backpack, here’s what you need to know.
01.
The innovative bike bag
Ideal for commuting around the city on two wheels, first up is the brand’s Aman Bike bag. Stylish and practical, it has hardwearing webbing straps that attach to the handlebars, an adjustable and detachable shoulder strap, and a key clip inside the main zippered compartment, so you’re never rifling around in the bottom of your bag when you get home to open the door. So far, so good, but it only gets better: the standout feature has to be the transparent water-resistant touchscreen panel at the top of the bag. Slide your phone, tablet or GPS inside to plan a new scenic route to the office or manage that motivational cycling playlist.
02.
The superior holdall
When travelling, be it for a weekend away in the country or a last-minute business trip, a trusty holdall is nonnegotiable. You need something that you can pull out of your wardrobe the evening before a flight and chuck in the back of the car on your way to the airport. If there’s a code for what makes an ideal weekend bag, then, Eastpak has cracked it. The brand’s Perce More holdall is suitable as carry-on baggage for most airlines, but this is Eastpak we’re talking about here, so there’s much more to it than that. With a separate side compartment for shoes and wet items, it’ll work great as a sports bag, too. It helps if it’s also comfortable, of course, and so this one comes with a padded strap for carrying it, as well as a detachable shoulder strap and ergonomic handles.
03.
The hybrid backpack
What do you get when you cross a top-loading backpack and a bike bag? The Eastpak Maclo, that’s what. A hybrid rucksack that’s designed to be used whether you’re walking or cycling, the distinctive style comes with built-in hooks that will fit to a bike’s luggage rack, but then also has tuckable straps that can be taken out to transform it into a standard (and if we say so, rather stylish) backpack. It’s no surprise at this point that the brand has thought of absolutely everything. With silver reflective strips to keep you visible at night, it also has a pocket for a water bottle, a padded laptop sleeve built into the back and is completely water-resistant. A triumph of product design, it brings a fresh new meaning to the phrase “bag for life”.