Watch The Incase Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag

October 19th, 2011

Incase have partnered with renowned photographer Ari Marcopoulos to create this LIMITED EDITION camera bag that meets his exacting standards. As a veteran photographer whose work takes him across the globe to a variety of locales and climates, a durable yet comfortable bag is a must. The result of this particular design challenge is a low-profile bag with optimal weather resistance, long-wearing comfort, excellent protection and functional features that allow Ari to access his equipment as quickly as possible, never missing a shot.

View the Incase Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag

Meet The Family: Gravis

August 16th, 2011

With a steady focus on product research, development and attention to detail, Gravis bags and luggage are built to take you around the world and back.

Describing themselves as “a family of creative individuals who seek out adventure and discovery via global exploration”, Gravis is best described as an action lifestyle brand, rooted in four elements: skate, snow, surf, and art. Basically, they build strong, design focused bags for the people that need them most.

We have seen Gravis really mature over the last 3-4 seasons by tightening the screws on some strong core designs, while also stirring up a flurry of attention with some progressive collaborations with pro skater Dylan Rieder (he’s so hot right now!) and graphic artists Thomas Campbell & Dan Funderburgh.

Utilising a strong product development team, Gravis blend clean design lines with a variety of quality materials like canvas, wax coated canvas, rip-stop nylons, brushed cordura and ballistic nylons. Their seasonal colour palette often uses muted tones, earth tones, and shades of grey and black with the occasional splash of intense colour to keep things exciting but never OTT.

The branding is usually quite minimal which we love, however the function, design and overall aesthetic of the range tend to give the bags their own personality anyway.

At Rushfaster, what we love most about Gravis is their small but strong travel collection. Comprised of two pieces of rolling luggage with the carry on sized 52l Jetway (we LOVE this bag!), the 90l Trekker (for those longer trips), and their most recent addition, a laptop friendly travel duffle.

The new Travel Duffle (pictured above) is perfect for a 2-4 day road trip, and a blessing for anyone who likes to travel light with a laptop. This killer bag features side pockets for a 15″ laptop, pens, cords and sketchbooks. The inside main pocket is big and roomy for your clothing and on the end is a pocket that keeps dirty shoes or clothing away from your clean stuff… awesome huh?

It is seemingly simple stuff, but it would seem that Gravis are leading by example in this exciting new world of lifestyle travel.

Gravis is only sold at specialty stores such as Rushfaster, and are well respected in their industry and among blogs such as Carryology.

The All New Coated Canvas Collection by Incase

May 22nd, 2011

At Rushfaster, each brand and range that we sell are all hand-selected and available on the site because they are (in our opinion) the best products currently on the market in their respective categories.

We sell bags you won’t find on everyone else. You know it, we know it.

So for that very reason, not every range or brand we bring on necessarily warrants a special shout out, considering the great company they are already in. Of course there are exceptions, and we do think that the all new Coated Canvas collection by San Francisco brand Incase is a bit special, and is a well-deserving exception.

Combining smooth clean lines & discreet features with maximum functionality, the updated 2011 Coated Canvas collection showcases some of the best examples of modern carry design that we’ve seen.

Made of heavy-duty cotton canvas, the exterior of the bags and sleeves are finished with a weather-resistant coating for added durability and a truly refined look and feel. Every last detail of the Coated Canvas is perfected; from the colour-matched embedded logo to the quilted padded interior laptop protective compartments.

Our personal faves in the range are the laptop backpack (holds anything from a 13″ – 17″ laptop perfectly), the Macbook Pro sleeves (available in 13″ and 15″), and the laptop messenger (will take up to a 15″ laptop).

Choosing a Carry Quiver – a guest post by Carryology

May 19th, 2011

At Carryology, we spend much of our lives searching for better ways to carry. We figure that when you have your tools and toys close at hand, you’re more likely to explore the world with confidence and curiosity, and that sounds like a key ingredient to a happy life.

So is there such a thing as the perfect bag? In the same way as a Ferrari makes for a terrible off-road car, we think that there are carry items that suit varying carry needs, and infact you’ll be better served with a ‘carry quiver’ than with just one bag.

As frequent customers of Rushfaster, we thought it would be neat to pick out a carry quiver from their range, to help explain just what we mean. We assumed that this quiver would be for a working person who may need to carry a laptop, a few digital toys, travels a bit, and mixes work and play.

With that in mind, here goes…

Main Backpack:

This is a go to pack that will work on a bike, train or plane. It can carry gear for work and an after hours activity, and then double for an overnight trip with the basics.

Chrome is a San Fran brand built with bikes in mind. This means you get great water-resistance, an ability to swallow larger loads, and a bit of street cred in the mix. Their Ivan Roll-top is a larger pack, with the smaller option called the Pawn.

With laptop sleeve:

Because the Chrome Ivan was originally designed with bike couriers in mind, you need a padded sleeve if you’re going to haul a laptop around. The front zip pocket works a treat to slip a sleeve into though, so it’s pretty easy.

Incase is another Californian brand, with close ties to Apple. While we’d normally pick a portrait oriented sleeve for a backpack (easier access for a pack’s vertical format), we settled for the landscape Coated Canvas sleeve that feels deluxe and will work well in messenger bags. (not ideal for a backpack being in landscape format, but we like the mud!)

Small satchel:

There’s times when a big pack just feels unwieldy. If you’re carrying an iPad, a bit of food and a document or book, there’s nothing like a small satchel to stay discreet.

All The Kings Men is a tiny brand with a long history of making really neat shoulder bags. Based in Melbourne, their iconic messenger bags/satchels were one of the front runners of the return to urban bags. These age really well, and are just large enough to cover a work day’s worth of stuff.

Weekender/Duffel:

Weekender bags are really tricky to do well. A good weekender should let you escape for a few nights without looking like it’s a work trip. We think wheeled cabin bags belong in airports, and if you’re going leather, you generally need to spend a bomb for something that looks good. This is where duffel or utility based bags can work well; they give you that relaxed feel, without spending a fortune.

The North Face Base Camp Duffels are a classic, having been hauled up countless big walls and through plenty of deep swamps. They’ll last you years, and become more credible with the more abuse they receive.

Wallet:

Big wallets are really not cool. They bulge and skew your trousers, throw your back out, and announce to the world that you are totally unorganised. In wallets, small is the only way to go.

When it comes to wallet brands, we have to admit we are a little biased, as some of our contributors also work and design for Bellroy. But if you’re after a small wallet that can still carry up to 15 or so cards, some cash, and show you appreciate a little craft, then we love the Slim Sleeve.

Of course we have MANY more bags, wallets and travel pieces than the above. But as a starting point, we think you’d be pretty stoked with these.

Rushfaster presents Eastpak!

March 2nd, 2011

In Europe, Eastpak are one of the leading backpack brands, producing a range of bags, apparel and accessories that combine style, utility and value for money. Now they have hit Aussie shores and we are all really excited to welcome them to our range!

If you’re looking for a simple, durable backpack, messenger or tote, Eastpak could be right up your alley. The brand was established in 1960 and originally made products for the US Armed Forces. Their philosophy is “Built to Resist” which is why they use only the best materials and offer a 30 year warranty on all of their bags.

To find out how tough Eastpak really are, check out this hilarious video from their latest campaign!

Eastpak is now available at Rushfaster.com.au

Incase x Paul Rodriguez Signature Collection Redesigned

February 11th, 2011

Incase’s collaboration with top skateboarder Paul Rodriguez has always been extremely popular on Rushfaster. Now the Signature Skate Pack has been redesigned to be slimmer, more functional and even cooler.

Check out Paul Rodriguez in action, showing off his Signature Skate Pack:

Incase x Paul Rodriguez available at Rushfaster.

Bellroy Hide and Seek

February 1st, 2011

Bellroy have hit the ground running since launching their range of wallets in 2010. Now the Melbourne-based design brand have created stop frame videos to really show you the ins and outs of their most popular products. This one is the Hide and Seek, a clever wallet with more features than you would think at first glance.

Check out the video and if you like what you see, you can get the full range of Bellroy wallets on Rushfaster.com.au.

We’re hiring!

January 12th, 2011

We’re looking for a bunch of great people to join the Rushfaster team. For our web designer position we’re offering $500 if you refer someone who successfully passes their probation period. Please take a look at the positions on offer and get in contact with us if you’re interested or know someone who might be suitable to one of the positions.

Sydney Brand, Dosh, launch street range with stunning stop frame animation piece

January 12th, 2011

Sydney based brand, Dosh, continue on their path to collaborate with interesting and creative people from around the world with their latest piece of work from stop frame animation young gun Tileman.

To help launch the Dosh Street wallet range Tileman and the dosh guys built a miniature world filled with tree’s, houses, surfboards, musical instruments and even a couple of their friends….all of which get’s sucked into the wallet communicating it’s very compact benefits.

Priced at $69.95 AUD, the street range is a slight twist on the original Dosh wallet, sporting a bi-fold six-card engine tailor made for guys with their eyes on the modern world. As always, the colours are rich, Caddy, Synth, Datsun and Felix the clear standouts. Available for worldwide shipping from rushfaster here: Dosh Wallets.

A chat with dosh + win a free dosh wallet!

September 8th, 2010

dosh’s new range has landed at Rushfaster! We decided to get in touch with Mark Armstrong, one of the founders of dosh, to have a quick chat about the innovative design behind the wallet.

Can you give us a brief rundown of your design background prior to the dosh project?

The core team at dosh are all Industrial designers. We still run one of Australia’s leading design consultancies- BlueSky and our work includes projects such as new check-ins for Qantas, appliances for Electrolux and even complex medical products such as the Cochlear Bionic ear. Innovative Design is in our blood…

How did the dosh concept come about and what was the major source of inspiration?

Both Henri and I in our roles at Blue Sky have been designing lots of products for some of Australia’s leading brands and it was just a matter of time until we decided it was the right time to design something for ourselves. We have seen how successful companies bring new products to life and now we have the opportunity to control our own destiny. It’s fantastic fun.

What is the design process like for dosh?

At dosh we use a combination of strategic research with creativity. The design process starts with understanding the drivers of culture, the competition, and the market forces in general. A good understanding of those things help identify new business opportunities. This research is then fused with new technologies and materials.

The last and most potent ingredient is innovation and requires the input from a talented team of innovative thinkers.

Sourcing for production of the wallets, how challenging is it to find quality materials that meet your specifications, and what made you decide to go for the unique polymer blend used in the dosh range?

We have surrounded ourselves with a network of suppliers who are the best in their fields.

When it came to materials selection we met up with key technologists at Bayer Materials Science and selected the polymers with the performance and characteristics that are smooth and friendly to touch while at the same time are durable, chemical resistant and will last a lifetime. When we chose to re-invent the wallet we knew it would require new materials and manufacturing processes.

Where are the wallets made?

We’re always very proud to say that the wallets are made right here in Sydney. We are not trying to make the cheapest wallet in the world we’re trying to make the best.

In Australia there are some specialist manufacturers who are equivalent to the world’s best and for us there is no need to run off to China to try and save a few cents. The factory is close to our office and we can respond to requests for stock very quickly – there is no lag in time due to freight or customs. Many of our customers love the fact that the product is designed and manufactured in Sydney… One of our German customers said how refreshing it was to buy from Australia rather than China.

How do you decide who to collaborate with and who would you love to work with in the future?

We’ve been very fortunate to work with some incredibly creative and talented people with both the ‘Wallets as Art’ range and the ‘Collaborations’ range. Our agency, Phoenix, have done a great job in introducing dosh to like-minded people like Kill Pixie and Pedal Consumption (a fixed gear bike blog). We’re all inspired by creative original things so we hope that’s rubbed off onto the brand and product!

What is your favourite feature of the wallets, and which is your favourite in the new range?

I love the fact that the dosh is streamlined. Before dosh I had a fat wallet full of receipts, business cards and rubbish that I didn’t need or use. Now I have a selection of cards and some notes and I travel light. it’s good Feng Shui!

My new favourite is ‘Spider’ from the ’street’ range. This is the first tri-colour Wallet we’ve made and I’ve been using one for the last couple of weeks. Its comfortable, easy and quick to use, plus the look is jumping.

Thanks Mark!

To celebrate the new range of dosh wallets, we’re giving you all a chance to pick one up for free! Just comment this post telling us why you think dosh wallets rock and you’ll be in the running to win!

See all Dosh Wallets.