A behind the scenes look
By Curtis Williams
Dropping a new design is always an exciting moment for us here at North St, and these new packs were no exception. Last month we launched two new Sling Packs to the site. The all-new Eliot pack is a great camera bag, EDC pack, journal carrier, large purse or tool organizer. Here are a few insights into how the Eliot Crossbody Sling came to be, and why we made the choices we did.
Seeking Sling Improvement
Launching a new product takes a lot of time and effort, and we want to make sure that every design choice we make serves to improve on a product. Can we make it more durable, more comfortable, easier to use, or (in the best cases) all of the above? After talking with countless customers about our line of Pioneer Hip Packs, and seeing many folks wear them crossbody style, we saw the opportunity to make an improved, dedicated crossbody sling. After many prototypes built and patterns tweaked, the Eliot Sling Pack was born. We took the basic design of the Pioneer 12, restyled it, added an ergonomic and easy to use sling strap. This feature is what makes this the best bike sling pack.
Crossbody for Cycling
One of the most common complaints we hear about riding with a crossbody sling is how they don’t stay put. The cross strap is essential to keep the pack squarely on your back when riding a bicycle, and not swinging wildly into your arm or handlebar when at speed. We used a simple ¾” strap with a buckle. The strap attaches to the pack via a Ghost Eye hook, and is easy to swap from one side to the other, depending on which shoulder you wear your pack on.
Endless Organization
The best part of the Eliot Sling pack is just how versatile it is. We build in several sleeve organization pockets, including a large zipper compartment inside the pack. On top of that we added our modular velcro strips, allowing even further organization! Stick in any of our Shortstack Pocket Add-ons (the wide size works best) to suit your specific needs.
Premium Details
We carefully selected some of the best new color combinations that we could find, featuring new accent fabrics from Dimension Polyant and some favorites from Challenge Sailcloth.
Make your pack even more comfortable with the padded shoulder strap (a $45 upgrade). This option comes with a 38mm COBRA buckle, which will outlast your grandkids.
