With so many established and reputable players currently operating in the space, it can be extraordinarily difficult to break into the modern backpack and bag market, though this is nonetheless exactly what San Francisco-based brand Black Ember has managed to do over the last eight years with an impressive range of well-built utilitarian storage solutions designed to meet the needs of modern urban life. And with travel now opening back up for the first time in several years, Black Ember has just debuted an all-new range of flight-ready duffel packs with its DEX collection.
Produced in 30-liter and 45-liter sizes, the DEX Packs were engineered to offer the best attributes of both duffel bags and travel backpacks. The bags’ EVA foam-equipped shoulder straps and duffel straps are completely stowable, allowing it to be carried on one’s back over the shoulder, or by its grab handles. The bags feature a FIDLOCK V-buckle-secured top pocket that opens to reveal a “Boarding-Kit” — a small, packing cube-style vessel made to accommodate everything needed for a flight. Both the 30 and 45 models also feature a dedicated shoe compartment and a dopp kitt compartment.
To bring the DEX Collection to life, Black Ember partnered with CORDURA, leading to an ultra-rugged shell crafted from eco-friendly CORDURA re/cor RN66 — the first 100% recycled nylon made from CORDURA. This hardwearing construction has been supplemented via strategically placed, laser-cut and bonded Hypalon panels and weatherproof YKK Aquaguard zippers. Both bags are also constructed around a high-density frame sheet that flexes to fit the wearer’s shape while still providing some structure and rigidity (allowing the bag to stand up on its own even when empty).
The Black Ember Dex Modular Duffel Packs are available for preorder on Kickstarter, with early-bird pricing for the DEX 30 and DEX 45 set at $239 and $259, respectively (a discount of $90 and $110 over the regular, future MSRPs). Shipping for both bags is scheduled to begin in December of 2022.
