Interview: Black Rock Gear – The BlackRock Day Pack

We wanted to build an all around great day pack that allowed you to really make use of all the space top to bottom.

A bag small enough you always want it with you yet big enough to take all your needed gear.

Our fully hinged front panel loader gives you access to every inch of space inside the bag.

Our big mouth zipper gives you the quick on the go top entry access.

So in one bag we’ve given you two styles to make use of as it fits for your application.

We wanted a light rugged bag that does It is job well. With the BlackRock Sport pack I think we’ve created a streamlined pack that speaks to our core group.

It is lightweight at 500 grams but is strong and durable using 420d ripstop material throughout.

The bag incorporates three strips of what we call non-conventional molly strapping.

They add very little weight to the bag, but give you some really great options for storing gear throughout the vertical relief of the pack. With each pack you also get two yards of cut to fit double sided velcro and ten zip ties.

That connection pack gives everyone the ability to start organizing the inside of their pack as they see fit. Whether you are strapping in that zoom lens or fitting an oversized fishing pole, the velcro “Rip-Tie” allows you to semi-permanently adhere odd shaped gear to the exact spot where you want it to ride. Zip Ties give you a more permanent solution to strapping in cases that may hold first aid kits or fixing a sheath for that knife or flashlight where It is easy to access through the top zipper.

If you look at our shoulder strap design, you will also see that we’ve extended the volume of the pack above the shoulder straps. This added volume is made useable because of the internal molly straps. You can literally “float” items anywhere within the back panel of the pack and place your most important items so that they ride up high in the pack.

The pack was originally designed to safely organize and carry high end equipment into the backcountry or just around town.

The back panel is the only padded portion within the pack and is the only area needed to safely hold your gear.

While hiking you need two things to safely pack your gear. You need protection from the elements and a place for the gear to essentially live or pack without being crushed by other items in the pack.

Using our internal molly strap you can float those critical pieces safely in place allowing you to tote around your electronics without damaging them while hiking on the trail.

Combined with water repellent shell material and water resistant zippers the pack keeps things dry, dust free and firmly in place while on the go.

The fabric for this pack needed to look great and hold up to a lot of abuse. We initially prototyped a couple of bags from much lighter 70 denier material but quickly decided we needed something two or three times as thick and durable. In the end we went with a 420 denier ripstop that had a solid PU coating and a beautiful diamond ripstop weave. What we really liked was the deep sheen and beautiful black color the fabric came in. This heavy material also provides just that much more protection and should really hold up for years.

We really wanted a pack that everyone would add to their collection and have 20 years down the road. I have still got a couple very old packs that I still use for a number of things. The value of a pack that gets used for years and years is just priceless when compared to the overall value of the bag and I think this pack and the materials used hit the mark.

We wanted to design that perfect day pack as our first backpack on the market.

The super ultra-light crowd could definitely make use of our pack, but I don’t think It is the direction we pushed with this initial design. I feel that until we make that great all around pack we won’t know what to design for those really niche markets and right now the 5lb backcountry ultralight multi-day hikers will most likely stick with their single wall cuben fiber top entry packs, or go with something like your multi-day front loader pack.

The pack has been on my list for years. I think it really puts the “Gear” into Black Rock Gear and is definitely a direction I’d like to push.

We’ve been making hats and mitts for years now and we are always working to come up with new pieces of gear with a design and functionality that is unique to us. I feel that our BlackRock Sport Pack is just that, It is your everyday pack with a unique and functional design.

I would love to expand off our day pack and head a number of directions with it. I could see doing everything from something ultralight to something in the multi-day range. No matter what direction we go it will always start with building a quality piece of kit that lasts for years.

Our pack is meant to be that rugged outer layer, that shell that sheds most everything it can from what you store inside. From dirt and dust to rain and snow. Waterproof zippers were a logical choice when combining it with such a heavy duty coated fabric and trying to make it great for any condition. We stayed away from taped seams for long term durability but stuck to traditional build techniques that seal out all but numerous days worth of constant rain.

We also had to weigh the durability of the zipper and the overall amount of zipper on the pack with what style we chose. A top entry bag has the advantage of a very minimal amount of access to the inside of the pack. With a fully hinged front flap and a huge wide mouth top zipper we needed as durable and water resistant zippers as we could get. The bag allows you to get into it from either side or the top but doesn’t sacrifice the weather resistance you need keep what’s inside dry.

I would like to think of Black Rock Gear as that craft manufacturer. Locally made gear designed by outdoor enthusiasts for outdoor enthusiasts.

We not only design and use our own gear, but we listen to our customers and build items that people want. From our single layer super ultralight shell mitts to our hammock pillow, we’ve played around with numerous pieces that sometimes stay in our line up and sometimes work their way out. Some pieces will come back while others were a one time deal.

With the Black Rock Gear Sport backpack I would like to permanently bring a pack to our line up from year to year. We’ve got a couple hundred day packs built up with more lined up in the queue. Over time I’m sure elements of the bag will change, but I would simply love to have, make and sell a very well loved and sought after backpack. Something that has the same following as the Black Rock Hat.

Quality gear made locally has always been our goal. Our pack is well designed, well thought out and will simply lasts for years.

It is more than just designed in the USA, It is cut, sewn and assembled here and when you purchase one of our bags you know It is going to support the local economy.

You also know that if anything goes wrong with it, you’ve got support just down the street. We pride ourselves in making sure our customers get the best quality service and can easily get gear fixed or replaced.