Silca continues to celebrate their 100 year anniversary with more limited edition bags for getting around by bike. Their two new made-in-the-US bags build on their black & red quilted aesthetic, this time using recycled inner tubes. Rapha on the other hand is again expanding their Essentials luggage lineup, with two sizes of travel backpacks, a couple of wash bags to organize your packing, and a pair of larger duffel-style weekend bags.
Silca limited edition Brooklyn Backpack
Both of the new limited edition bags from Silca are actually made in partnership with EcoLogic Designs of Colorado. They are unabashedly cyclists’ bags, made almost entirely from repurposed butyl inner tubes.
The $160 16l backpack itself started off as a standard item out of EcoLogic’s catalog, before it gets the Silca treatment with red contrast stitching and a Silca Centennial logo. The bag features a series of external & internal organizer pockets, plus a padded laptop sleeve.
Silca limited edition Borsa Americano essentials bag
The $45 Borsa Americano essentials bag is a more simple pouch designed to keep tools & wallet essentials tidy in a jersey pocket. The small bag is also made of old tubes, then is lined with also recycled wetsuit neoprene to offer more protection of what’s inside.
It starts out at just 17.5 x 9 x 2cm, specifically the size to fit an iPhone 7+/8+ in a regular case. But since it is stretchy, it will grow when you pack its 4 internal pouches full of more stuff.
Rapha Travel Backpacks
Available in two sizes – the $210/160€ 25l Travel Backpack & $140/115€ 15l Small Travel Backpack – the new luggage from Rapha is meant to smooth your escape from the city, whether by bike or to get to somewhere to ride. The large bag has an open-flat clamshell design to make it easier to pack, while the smaller bag is top-loading.
Both bags get waterproofed nylon construction with a leather contrast stripe, and a newly updated single piece molded back panel designed to better move air away from your back. The bags feature an external valuables pocket, internal mesh organization pockets, rear light loops, and a rain cover that stows away in a hidden pocket. The bags are available both in standard black or a fully reflective gray.
Rapha Wash Bags
Again in two variants, this time as either the standard $65/50€ nylon Wash Bag or the luxury $220/190€ Leather Wash Bag. Both offer essentially the same features like a removable transparent pouch to help speed you through the airport security line, plus internal mesh pockets to separate and organize toiletries on the go.
Rapha Weekend Bags
Just like the wash bags, you’ll be able to get the ‘more affordable’ $260/210€ nylon Weekend bag or the ‘holy crap, it better be luxury’ $800/790€ Leather Weekend Bag. Packing a lot more room, the two 45l bags again share the same basic designs and features, with space & pockets to haul everything you could need for a weekend of travel.
Inside there are several compartments to sort your stuff, including a separate external pocket each to stash you shoes and one for a helmet. You also get a padded laptop pouch, all in the bag designed to fit within airline carry-on sizing. All you have to do is decide whether your budget will allow waterproof coated nylon of luxurious leather for your next journey…
