This limited-edition backpack pairs 'best of Bellroy' design features, with Carryology's approach to performance.
DESIGN INSIGHTS
- Limited run
- Composite ripstop leather front panel and accents from ECCO Leather
- Detachable Chimera morale patch
- Ripstop Baida nylon body fabric
- Padded 15” laptop sleeve, and document slip pocket
- Dual-zippered dropdown front panel access
- Two invisible exterior zip water bottle pockets
- Adjustable slide hook flap closure
- Two internal zip mesh pockets on the front panel
- Versatile mesh pockets, raised out of the crush zone
- Soft-lined valuables pocket at the top
- Premium mesh back and shoulder strap padding
- Adjustable sternum strap
- Accessory loops on the front and shoulder straps
- Backed by the Bellroy 3-year warranty
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dimensions: 490 x 440 x 135mm
- Capacity: 22L
- Model height: 184 cm
- Weight: 1250g
- Materials: This bag is made from 100% recycled ripstop nylon, and eco-tanned composite ripstop leather from ECCO Leather.
BEHIND THE DESIGN
“This pack represents the epitome of Carryology’s ethos – cutting edge design that integrates seamlessly into your daily interactions.”
Mike, Carryology’s editor-in-chief
LEATHER INNOVATION TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL
This stuff is space-age, but still retains the luxurious look, feel, and patina of real leather. A 3-layer composite construction; a leather top layer, a ripstop flat yarn mid-layer, and backed with a balance woven nylon. It has incredible tear resistance, improved tensile strength, is lightweight, and is finished with a water-resistant treatment. High-tech performance meets classic handfeel and looks and vibe. It was so compelling, it would become the hero, covering the entire front panel in one glorious piece, and accenting the grab handle and flap for extra impact and handfeel.
A CELEBRATION OF RIPSTOP
The invention of ripstop occurred to fill one dilemma: to produce lightweight fabrics with strength. The weave was first invented in the early 20th century, used in parachutes, and has followed on to proliferate in the pack industry for its awesomeness and carrying properties. We’ve always been fans of the sweeping grid pattern, and so we decided to celebrate it to its fullest. Going in search of an equally amazing secondary ripstop to complement the luscious FSDX.
While similar to Bellroy’s famous Baida nylon, it’s unique to this collab. It’s slightly less stiff so it’s even easier to use, providing just a touch of stretch and drape. The best way to describe it would be a Baida crinkle nylon micro ripstop, custom created by an expert Taiwanese mill and hit with a PU X2 backer for improved water resistance.
CLEAN, MINIMAL, AND VERSATILE
The combination of the micro Baida and FSDX is one killer combination: luxurious, technical, lightweight and rugged, all at the same time. And you know we had to go #allblackeverything. Because of this, this pack can go anywhere: from the streets, to offices and everything in-between, blending in and standing out in perfect harmony.
Patterned with an idea of lightness, with a modified base, and smooth sweeping shape, the Chimera shape is clean and timeless. This was all thanks to the in-house Bellroy pattern ninja formerly from Arc’teryx apparel, who sculpted the silhouette in the Bellroy HQ.
All in all, 14 sub-assemblies were created and then 8-9 different full prototypes, each inching closer to perfection, resulting in the final Chimera.
APEX ACCESS AND ORGANIZATION
The flap went back under the knife for some resculpting, making it a little less wide, and more sculpted with an updated pattern.
The interior uses the same four-way stretch gigamesh pocketing as the Apex, and incorporates the Apex’s ‘tool kit’ approach to pockets, offering up a ring of quality pocketing, easy to access, and out of the crush zones.
URBAN-READY DETAILS
At 18L and expanding to 22L, the Chimera would be our ultimate everyday pack but with refinement and elegance dialed up, so this pack could move into more formal and fashion environments.
Strap keepers keep your dangling webbing neat and clean. A suspended laptop compartment and tablet sleeve. And a gigamesh-lined quick-access pocket on the top lid, to keep your sunnies or valuables snug and protected from scratches.
ELEGANT HIGH-VIS INTERIOR
A signature feature of our collaboration. Unlike our eye-melting interiors of the past, we’ve bumped up the elegance and refinement here, selecting a three-tone interior for inside the main compartment, so there’s still our signature high visibility but dialed down to a work-friendly vibe.
HIDDEN POCKETING FOR TRANSIT
Two rear access pockets hold anything from Essentials pencil case to sunglasses, a water bottle, and/or passport in its Bellroy Apex Passport Cover. It’s redesigned the pockets and back panel with an hourglass silhouette to provide easier access to the pockets as well as additional volume to the pockets, allowing you to carry larger items without stealing a bunch of your interior volume.
The pockets are lined with PU-coated ripstop to create an additional water barrier, just in case you’re storing a leaky water bottle in there, and for that little extra peace of mind.
A SHIFT IN CLOSURES
The iconic Slide Hook mechanism first designed on the Bellroy Shift would be our chosen closure. It allows for a secure, unique, easy, and fast access solution to a well-secured main compartment. Access and security. Cast from metal (nickel) and then coated with a black top hardcoat for durability. System is redesigned with two different layers of webbing, so the hook slides in easily, and interlocks with the second layer of internal webbing to keep things closed via solid positive engagement – but still pops open easily when you want it to.
The webbing weaves through the front layer of leather, providing several loops down the front panel to help the pack expand and accommodate however much you’re carrying, allowing you to refine the fit throughout the day.
PERFORMANCE HARNESS
A long air channel sweeps down the spine for air circulation and two flanks hug the back with premium air mesh to provide comfort for long days of carry.
The shoulder straps use a dual-density foam design (soft on the underside for comfort and hard on the top for structure) in an edgeless contoured form, designed to fit snug to the body. The straps also use gigamesh for the underside of the straps for a luxe and gentle feel against the skin.
BUILT TO LAST
The micro ripstop Baida would do a fine job of warding off scuffs and scratches but the Bellroy team went above and beyond, secreting reinforcements ‘under the hood’ with hidden bartacks and reinforcing all major intersections, with strong and bold box stitches to secure the top and cushy grab handle.
