nomadic gear Nomad Gear Bag – Desert Island Gear

nomadic gear Nomad Gear Bag – Desert Island GearDesigned and built with direct input from river guides in northern Idaho during a 4 day Selway trip. They shared the issues they've seen with other gear bags and we listened! Optimized for whitewater, but functional anywhere you need a durable bag with thoughtful features. Issue #1: SAFETY. Safety Third might be good for a quick laugh, but Safety First is what gets you to the takeout in one piece. Entrapment hazards around gear are unavoidable, but we

Designed and built with direct input from river guides in northern Idaho during a 4-day Selway trip. They shared the issues they've seen with other gear bags and we listened! Optimized for whitewater, but functional anywhere you need a durable bag with thoughtful features.

Issue #1: SAFETY.

Safety Third might be good for a quick laugh, but Safety First is what gets you to the takeout in one piece. Entrapment hazards around gear are unavoidable, but we try to mitigate the issue. Take a look at the attachment points. All of them are loose enough to get cam straps or carabiners in there, but that's about it. The handles (top center) can be pulled out for carrying but tucked away while on the water. Paddle sports can be really dangerous and knowing that this bag may be used on boats, we listened and did what we could to help mitigate entrapment risks. 

Issue #2: Broken Zippers.

The Nomad has a No. 15 zipper with two zipper pulls. If you ever break this, we really want to hear about it because it ought to be a wild story. Mud, sand, silt, ice, or whatever gets on it, really not a problem.

Issue #3: Attachment Points.

There are seven locations to run your cam straps through. Pick which suits your setup best and go for it. Further, it's unlikely but if you ever cut through the webbing handle, there's more webbing inside! We took 1" tubular nylon webbing and ran 11/16" tubular nylon webbing through the center of that. This way you have a more comfortable handle for carrying and a backup in case a rogue cam strap chews through the outer webbing. 

Issue #4: Durability.

We are building these out of heavy-duty vinyl coated mesh. The tight weave provides more durability but also keeps most debris out of the bag. We have found another mesh that's one more step up on the durability scale, but frankly our chosen mesh is already overkill (but if you want overkill max, we can make it happen, just let us know).

Bottom line, we built this with guides in mind, but with benefits for everyone. As a former guide I wanted to give today's guides something they can rely on and specifically what they asked for. Oh ya, if you want a shoulder strap to carry it a little way to or from camp, just rig up your flip line to the 1" webbing loops on the ends. It's just that simple. 

Dimensions: 36" x 16"

Colors: Mild to Wild - flavor of the day, or custom with a lead time (contact us BEFORE purchase for options and see the Custom tab)

Like all our products, it's handmade in Utah and all materials are also Made in USA except the seatbelt webbing (made in Europe, Canada, or S. Korea)

What's in the Wanderer upgrade?

First, two 14-inch tall, full-length internal mesh pockets with #10 zippers. Second, a detachable change pad to keep your feet out of the dirt and provide one additional layer between your drysuit and the rocks at the put in. Everything else is the same as the base Nomad.

Why Nomad?

This bag drew inspiration from hanging out on the Selway trip, sharing a love for good gear and amazing rivers with PJ, a river Nomad. No permanent abode, just going where the river is calling him. From the Lochsa to the Futaleufu or wherever the clean lines are running, modern day Nomads like PJ need solid gear to continue their journeys of living lives well lived.