www.looptworks.com,
12.8 ounces
The unavoidable consequence of the gear and apparel industry is the mountains of fabric that‘s left over after the product patterns have been cut.  Until recently, that material was trashed. But Portland-based Looptworks has found tremendous value in the trash of those manufacturing warehouses by producing “upcycle” products for the last few years, utilizing everything from remainders from a Malaysian T-shirt factory to transforming left-over fabric from wetsuit makers into laptop sleeves.  Their product runs are limited—not to imbue them with a sense of exclusivity, but because limited fabric is the very nature of the company’s business model. Take the Noll Messenger bag, which is crafted from a cache of left-over waterproof fabrics–when the fabric is gone, so is your ability to buy ‘em.  The hand-numbered packs boast a plethora of pockets—five interior and two exterior, along with a padded laptop sleeve.  The 15-by-14-by-6-inch pack gives you enough space for your commuting kit or in-flight entertainment, along with a small clip on the shoulder strap.  The Velcro closures seemed a bit too thin—until we realized we’d been inordinately programmed by other packs on the market to expect an acre of secure/noisy closer; we haven’t had an issue with losing anything from the Noll. The pack sits comfortably when walking or riding, the pockets on the flap are perfect for easily accessing travel documents, and the profile and appearance strike a refreshing pose beyond the typical messenger bags on the market. And the upcycle thing? It wouldn’t work if the bag didn’t. Happily, they both do.