The Airstream Sailcloth Bag from Ragged Edge is one of the most unique bags I’ve had the chance to take a look at. The look of the bag actually comes as a property of the incredibly tough sailcloth laminate that Ragged Edge uses to construct the entire bag (and the rest of their bag line as well). The sailcloth laminate is similar to a tent tarp in feel and thickness and is completely waterproof. And because the sailcloth laminate is so thin, the bag actually stows away very nicely into a compact space when you aren’t using it. But don’t think that just because it’s thin that it is weak too. No, absolutely not. The material is able to withstand a lot of abuse and has so far stood up to the streets of New York City very well.
The bag comes with a long shoulder strap as well as a velcro handle strap and the level of comfort for the user depends on how you’re carrying the bag plus how much crap you have inside. Obviously, for a bag like this, the more you carry, the more uncomfortable it’s going to get. The good thing however, is that the Airstream does allow you to carry the weight using the shoulder strap, the shorter velcro handles, or the convenient single side handle (for when you don’t even want to lift the bag and would rather just drag it across the floor).
As for storage, the main compartment should hold several days of clothes and accessories with two additional side pockets and a front pocket for smaller valuables and miscellaneous items.
The visual appeal of the bag stems from the shiny sailcloth laminate of course which I have yet to see used so extensively on any other bag on the market. If black on black isn’t your color of choice, the Airstream does come in a variety of colors which I personally prefer over the black.
So who’s this bag for? Well, anybody who needs a no frills, light-weight, and fully functional bag that’s going to last you a very long time (trust me, this sailcloth laminate isn’t going to tear, rip, or even wear down easily). And for just $200-$235 (depending on your color choice), this bag is certainly going turn some heads and make you feel pretty darn awesome. Pick one up at their online store or just check out the rest of the Ragged Edge line of sailcloth bags and accessories. If the Airstream isn’t for you, maybe something else is. No matter what you end up choosing, you’ll be happy that you purchased a true quality-driven product unlike any other.
