James Brand Knives & Topo Designs Launch Rugged EDC-Focused Capsule
Oregon knifemaker James Brand and Colorado’s Topo Designs join forces for an outdoorsy everyday carry capsule.
Venturing into the great outdoors requires a special kind of fortitude, and of course, the right gear: Anything less than the best could leave you up a creek, which is where the new Topo Designs x James Brand Utility Collection just might save the day.
The Utility Capsule might seem simple at first on the surface — after all, it features only two items, a knife and a daypack. And yet, if you know anything about the overbuilt, durable gear coming out of both Colorado’s Topo Designs and Portland’s James Brand, you know it’s anything but standard (in the best way possible).
The partnership comes on the heels of another handy EDC collaboration by the two rugged, essential outdoor outfitters last year, and carries on the impressive decade-old legacy of James Brand. Its Portland workshop has produced impressive pieces like a black Micarta EDC knife, while Topo Designs regularly churns out hard-wearing nylon daypacks, tough flannel shirts and durable dopp kits.
The new Topo Designs x James Brand Utility Capsule boasts two equally impressive additions to your own daily carry: A new take on the James Brand Redstone Knife, billed as an “outdoor daily-carry knife with a small footprint and loads of features.”
Those features include a hard-wearing die-stamped chassis and a slide-lock design for one-handed use. The visually striking red colorway, a Topo signature, means this highly visible knife won’t go missing any time soon.
The bent-wire clip also makes it easy to secure the knife on your belt, a strap or a loop for easy access, and the island design concept allows one’s finger to rest between sections of the knife for an easy grip in less-than-easy conditions.
The equally rugged Mini Shoulder Bag from the outdoor-minded partnership is also notable in its own right, fashioned from repurposed, “climate neutral X-Pac nylon, and recycled 210D nylon.” Seam-sealed zippers (finished off with red zipper pulls to match the knife) add another degree of performance to this compact EDC crossbody or shoulder bag.
A webbing shoulder strap, secured by strong clips, makes it easy to tote this bag, and we could even see the front zipper pocket acting as a useful storage space for the Topo Designs x James Brand knife itself.
Throw in the fact that both items are delivered for an agreeable package deal — $159 online at both brands, or in select retail stores — and you’ve scored quite the savings on two rugged-as-can-be EDC essentials. Time to plan your next outdoor getaway.