Every week a different FADER staff member will pick a clothing item or accessory that he or she has lately been spending a lot of time with—or would like to—and write a little love letter to it. We would’ve done a column on who we’re dating but that seemed a little bit much. This week Maia Stern writes about Buck Products' Knapp Sack. And check out a sweet animated gif demonstration of the bag's roll-top closure after the jump.
About a month ago, I met my friend Beth at a park and we did that funny thing people do when they're trying to find each other and they just can't. We were on our phones helplessly waving and scouring the place with our eyeballs until she finally gave me a strong visual cue, that she was rocking a backpack in the brightest neon green and blue. That pack helped me find her fast, but more importantly, the same vibrancy that made her easier to locate also made me fall in love. She told me the pack was from Buck Products and it was everything I've ever wanted, the perfect size for a stroll in the park, big enough to hold even the largest of park blankets. The Knapp Sack is the ultimate accessory for people who like/need to carry a plethora of things around with them at all times.
Alex Buck handcrafts these happy sacks in Bozeman, Montana and you can customize them to fit your ideal color scheme. There's also a healthy dose of standards, like camouflage. I went with a maroon and black combination, and was not mad at all to see some congruent shades of brown, purple and light blue in the mixture. The details make the bag. There are several pocket compartments inside, even a perfectly snug and padded spot for a laptop. But my favorite part is the roll-top closure. There's no room for anxiety over a broken zipper or the possibility of a lost drawstring. You can fit in tons of goodies and then roll it down to get that perfect backpack size. It's easier to roll than sushi, but in case you need help, check the animated gif below for instructions.
