Well here’s something new under the sun. It’s the Vandal cargo pack for cyclists from the Mission Workshop.
See? It expands, thusly:
So you can carry a pony keg of delicious, if warm, Sierra Nevada on your back, or, indeed, an entire bike:
Their video shows you how it works. (Try not to yell out “co-option, co-option” as you see two tandem riders participating in Halloween Critical Mass 2009.)
Mission Workshop is just getting started, so they don’t yet have a retail store. But they do have a full-on corporate-style media campaign. Here it is, enjoy:
“Introducing Mission Workshop and Their First Expandable Cargo Backpack ‘The Vandal’
Mission Workshop is a San Francisco based company located in the heart of the Mission District. The company was born from over 15 years experience designing and manufacturing messenger bags and clothing. The founders of the bag company Chrome opened Mission Workshop in October of 2009 and just released their first backpack called “the Vandal.”
The Vandal is a weatherproof backpack designed for cyclists and anyone else that relies on their bag to get them through the day. It’s big enough to handle your daily gear and expands for additional cargo when needed. The Vandal’s expansion system gets bigger without using extra fabric and seals flat to disappear when not needed.
According to co-founder Bart Kyzar, “Most people prefer as small of a pack as possible but regularly need extra carrying capacity. Even with a full load, the Vandal can expand to accommodate an additional bag of groceries or a case of your favorite brew. It easily turns from 1200 cubic inches into 2200 cubic inches on the fly.”
The pack incorporates three built in compartments. The main roll top compartment is large and has RF welded seams making it completely waterproof. The middle compartment is perfect for a laptop and the smaller compartment is designed for personal organization. In addition to these, the expandable area is always ready for use when needed.
The Vandal has also stepped up the design on the backpack harness by integrating a frame sheet and fiberglass rods for support and comfort. This makes the Vandal much more comfortable than other cycling packs and has given it enhanced stability under heavy loads. The Vandal is PVC free and only uses fabrics coated with urethane. In addition to the environmental benefits, urethane coatings are much tougher than PVC and better retain their waterproof capabilities.
Specs:
– Weatherproof Capacity: 1200 cubic inches
– External Cargo Expander 1000 cubic inches
– Materials: Urethane Coated Nylon (PVC free)
– Load Suspension: LDPE Frame Sheet with Fiberglass Stays
– Removable waist strap with optional load bearing waist belt
Retail Price: $225 Made in the USA with a Life Time Warranty
Mission Workshop Products are sold online at http://www.missionworkshop.com/ and through select retailers nationwide.
