The Sanction - Mission Workshop

Thomas - founder / mad of backpacks -

When I was an industrial design student, I spent a long time looking for a backpack with the features of the Sanction. In fact, I was looking for a kit to put on my back! With this bag's 6 compartments (3 of which are watertight zip pockets), I can now organize and separate my work tools: my markers, sketchbooks, layout pad, drawing pouch, template rulers, computer with charger, mouse and external hard drive. Despite its substantial 20L capacity, Mission Workshop's designers have designed this backpack in such a way that you won't feel it once you're carrying it: a semi-rigid material on the inside of the back keeps the bag upright, so you won't feel objects getting in the way inside, but you won't shift your center of gravity too much. The back and shoulder straps are made of foam and a breathable mesh fabric. So this bag is very comfortable, even after a hard day's work.

The straps above the front pocket are elastic: you can increase the bag's volume while keeping the flap glued to the body of the bag: no risk of losing anything. The same goes for the pocket at the bottom of the bag: with the thickness and strength of the Velcro sewn to it, there's nothing to worry about... The sternum strap is very comfortable when I'm out cycling: it really makes a difference in terms of comfort and ergonomics. As usual, I pay attention to every detail. Above all, I pay attention to the components. And all the components used to make this bag come from the USA. The HT500 fabric was specially developed by Mission Workshop to find the right compromise between lightness, suppleness, softness to the touch and resistance. I have to say that I'm completely seduced by this fabric: it's like no other. It doesn't look like low-denier polyester, nor does it have the flashy sheen of nylon. It's very supple and at the same time seems very resistant to rubbing. I feel the same way about the lining: choosing a ripstop fabric could have enabled the designers to use a much thinner thickness, but here again they preferred to opt for quality. What's more, this shiny gray fabric makes it easy to find your things...

The plastic buckles and clips used are Us-Molding, made by Duraflex in the USA, and the zips are from the YKK brand. As you probably know, Duraflex and YKK are the two biggest manufacturers of accessories, and only produce quality products. Obviously, using these accessories increases the price of the bag, but at least I'm sure not only that the zipper on my pocket won't break, but also that its waterproofness is real and durable. It's a good investment, in a way. The designers also chose to use a bias binding at the most stressed points, which I personally find very reassuring since it strengthens the bag and the joints between the various textile parts. Before trying it on, my only hesitation concerned the fact that the bag's closing straps are elastic. These are areas that are subject to a lot of stress, and as an elastic strap is less resistant than a traditional polyester strap, I was concerned. So I wrote to the president of MW, who replied that it had never caused any problems, their elastic webbing being particularly resistant. What's more, the brand guarantees all its bags for life, so I know that if I have the slightest problem, I can contact them directly.

What fascinates me about this bag (as with the Rhake and the Minimalist, both from MW) is the finishing touches... As a designer, I've already been confronted with the various stages in the manufacture of a backpack, and I'm forced to admit that it's very difficult to achieve this level of finish: it takes a lot of time, hard work and creativity to get it right. When I see the finesse with which the bartacks are sewn onto the straps (and here's where some will call me crazy!), I'm speechless. This bag looks simple enough, in its aesthetics and construction, but it certainly took many months of development and thought to get it as it is today. I'll leave you with a few photos of the details of the bag, before moving on to the rating (more information on our rating criteria). You can find a very interesting interview with one of the brand's founders conducted by the Carryology? team, as well as the Mission Workshop brand website. You can also find this product in our boutique and more photos on our Instagram account.

Thomas.