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EVERYDAY CARRY BLOG

Apr 23
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The Ridge Power Bank (10k mAh) Review

By Gadgets, Tech, Video

Video Overview

Many thanks to Pack Hacker Reviews for this two-weeks-of-use look at The Ridge Power Bank in its 10,000 mAh configuration. Pack Hacker has built one of the most thorough gear-testing approaches in the travel and EDC space — they actually use products for extended periods before drawing conclusions, which means their assessments carry real weight. This review covers functionality, packability, and a quick comparison against competing power banks, giving you a grounded sense of how The Ridge’s take on portable charging holds up in practice.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The Ridge Power Bank 10k mAh is the sole focus of this review — a deliberate, singular choice from Pack Hacker that allows them to spend the full runtime on real-world testing rather than surface-level comparisons. The result is an unusually honest look at what The Ridge brings to an already crowded power bank market.

Editor’s Insight

The Ridge built its reputation on wallets — specifically, the minimalist aluminum cardholder that became a defining EDC product of the 2010s. Moving into power banks is a natural extension of that brand identity: clean industrial design, premium materials, and a price point that sits above commodity options. The question is whether the execution matches the aesthetic.

At 10,000 mAh, The Ridge Power Bank sits in the sweet spot for daily carry. It’s large enough to fully charge most modern smartphones twice over — critical for long travel days or multi-day trips where access to wall outlets is unpredictable — but small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or the top compartment of a sling without dominating the load-out. This is the capacity category where most EDC-minded users actually land: 20,000 mAh banks are for camping trips, 5,000 mAh is for a single emergency top-up. The 10k range is the everyday carry sweet spot.

Pack Hacker’s two-week use period is meaningful here. Power banks have a well-documented reputation for failing quietly — the charging circuit degrades, the stated capacity diverges from actual output, or the build quality reveals itself through daily handling. Reviewing a power bank after a weekend tells you very little. Two weeks of actual use, including repeated charge cycles and real-world charge times, tells you whether the product holds up to its marketing claims.

The Ridge’s design language translates interestingly to a power bank. Their wallets are all about precision machining and minimal visual noise, and you can see those priorities in the power bank’s form factor — fewer ports than most competitors, clean lines, and a build quality that doesn’t feel like a compromised off-brand unit with a premium sticker. The question Pack Hacker is really answering is whether that restraint costs you functionality, or whether the focused design actually serves daily carry better than spec-maxed alternatives.

Pack Hacker’s packability section is worth paying close attention to. A power bank isn’t just a charging device — it’s something you carry, which means dimensions, weight distribution, and surface texture all affect the experience. Smooth aluminum surfaces can be slippery in a bag pocket; heavy units shift carry balance; sharp edges create wear on adjacent items. These aren’t spec-sheet considerations, and the two-week format lets Pack Hacker address them credibly.

The quick comparison section in the video is where the competitive positioning becomes clear. The Ridge isn’t trying to beat Anker on price-per-mAh — that battle is already lost before it starts. They’re competing in the premium segment alongside brands like Zendure and Shargeek: power banks where design, materials, and brand identity justify a premium over raw specs. Whether that premium is worth it depends entirely on how much weight you put on aesthetics and brand association versus pure utility.

For the EDC community specifically, The Ridge Power Bank makes sense as a carry piece if you already own their wallet and appreciate the visual consistency of a matched set. If you’re agnostic about brand aesthetics, the value proposition becomes harder to defend against Anker’s PowerCore lineup at similar capacities and lower prices. But then again, the same argument applies to most premium EDC gear — you’re often paying for the experience of carrying a well-made object, not just its function.

Pack Hacker’s approach here — honest, time-tested, comparison-grounded — is the kind of review that EDC buyers actually need before committing to a premium product. Credit to Pack Hacker Reviews for doing the actual work. Watch the full video for their hands-on comparison against competing power banks.

Closing Remarks

The Ridge Power Bank is a considered choice for EDC users who value design consistency alongside function. If you’re building a clean, minimal carry and already own Ridge accessories, the 10k mAh version is a natural fit. For pure charging value, the competition is fierce at this capacity level — but Pack Hacker’s two-week testing gives you an honest baseline for the decision. What power bank are you currently carrying? Let us know in the comments. Affiliate links support the site at no additional cost to you.

Apr 23
Love0

13 Must-Have Japanese EDC Essentials

By Bags, Fashion, Gadgets, Tech, Tools, Video

Video Overview

A genuine thank you to HICONSUMPTION for this deep-dive into Japanese everyday carry. Japan has quietly become a gold standard for EDC gear — the country’s craft tradition, obsessive attention to detail, and commitment to functional design have produced some of the most coveted pieces in the carry community. In this video, HICONSUMPTION gets hands-on with 13 Japanese-made essentials, from a century-old folding knife design to premium leather goods and iconic hip bags. If you’ve been curious about building a more intentional, craft-forward EDC loadout, this is essential viewing.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

Three items stand out from this lineup. The Higonokami Folding Knife is a piece of living history — its split-spring design dates back over a century and is still made by hand in Miki City. The Porter Tanker Hip Bag is arguably the most recognized Japanese EDC bag globally, beloved for its military-inspired aesthetic and buttery nylon. And the Fujifilm X-E5 brings Japan’s optics legacy into compact street-photography form.

Editor’s Insight

There’s a specific kind of carry philosophy embedded in Japanese design that doesn’t get articulated enough in the Western EDC conversation. It’s not just about quality — it’s about the relationship between maker and user, and the idea that a well-made object should develop character over time rather than wear out and be replaced. That ethos runs through nearly every item in this lineup.

Start with the Higonokami Folding Knife. At roughly thirty dollars, it’s the most approachable item in the roundup, but it carries more craft heritage than most knives at ten times the price. The blue paper steel blade requires actual maintenance — it will rust if you ignore it — but that’s the point. It demands engagement. The split-spring construction, which has been essentially unchanged since the Meiji era, is elegant in its simplicity. You open it with your thumbnail against the spine, not a flipper or a thumb stud. Using one feels deliberate in a way that modern assisted-open knives simply don’t.

The Porter Tanker Hip Bag operates in a completely different register. It’s a premium item — $291 is not impulse-buy territory — but it’s earned its status. Yoshida Kaban, the company behind Porter, has been making bags in Japan since 1935. The Tanker line, inspired by military flight suit materials, has been in continuous production for decades. The ripstop nylon, the YKK zippers, the hardware — every element is sourced and manufactured at a standard that makes most Western “premium” bags look like approximations. If you’re going to spend that kind of money on a hip bag, the Tanker is one of the few that justifies it.

The Fujifilm X-E5 rounds out the three standouts and represents something different again: Japan’s dominance in optical engineering. Fujifilm’s X-series sensors and lenses have attracted a loyal following among street photographers specifically because the files they produce have a character that digital-native camera systems often lack. The X-E5 in particular is compact enough to carry daily without feeling like you’re hauling camera gear. It’s the rare piece of tech that also functions as an object of appreciation.

Some items in this roundup — the Tsuchiya Diario wallet, the Tetzbo brass pen, the Candy Design & Works Kendric Keyholder — sit in a category that EDC collectors know well: Japanese artisan goods that aren’t widely distributed outside Japan. These pieces develop a patina, a personality, over years of daily carry. The brass pen tarnishes to a deep brown. The leather wallet creases and forms to your pocket. The keyholder develops a worn finish that catalog photos will never capture. That aging process is the point.

The Penco Coil Notepad and Tiger water bottle represent the other end of the Japanese design spectrum: functional, everyday goods done with quiet precision. The Penco notepad has been a cult object in the stationery world for years — it opens flat, the paper takes ink well, and the coil binding doesn’t distort. The Tiger MJF-A water bottle is pure function, keeping liquids hot or cold longer than most Western alternatives without the brand-forward aesthetic that dominates insulated bottle marketing in the US.

If there’s a theme connecting all 13 items, it’s restraint. Japanese design at its best doesn’t announce itself. The Higonokami doesn’t have a blade steel spec sheet on the box. The Porter bag doesn’t have a logo plastered across it. The Kuoe watch doesn’t try to look like anything other than a simple, honest timepiece. That restraint is increasingly rare in the EDC market, where gear has trended toward specification maximalism and brand performance. These pieces push back against that current.

For anyone looking to introduce Japanese EDC into their carry, the Higonokami is the obvious entry point — the cost is low, the quality is undeniable, and it introduces the maintenance mindset that makes the rest of this category make sense. From there, the Porter Tanker or the Penco notepad are natural next steps depending on whether you’re drawn to carry or craft. A big thanks to HICONSUMPTION for handling every item in person — watch the full video for the hands-on context these pieces deserve.

Closing Remarks

Japanese EDC is a world unto itself — one where craft tradition, functional design, and an almost philosophical approach to daily objects converge. Whether you’re drawn to the Higonokami’s century-old simplicity or the Porter Tanker’s premium nylon carry, there’s something in this lineup worth adding to your rotation. What Japanese EDC pieces are already in your carry? Share in the comments. Affiliate links support the site at no additional cost to you.

Apr 23
Love0

The Perfect Sling for Nintendo Switch 2 – tomtoc Arccos Sling

By Bags, Gaming, Tech, Video

Video Overview

Big thanks to Excessorize Me for spotlighting a carry solution that most Nintendo Switch 2 owners haven’t considered yet. With the Switch 2 launching alongside the usual parade of cases and docks, it’s refreshing to see the everyday carry angle addressed head-on. This short but focused clip walks viewers through why the tomtoc Arccos Sling makes sense as a Switch 2 companion bag — covering the console, its charging brick, Joy-Cons, and essential accessories in a compact sling designed for real-world mobility.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The tomtoc Arccos Sling is the sole focus here — and it earns the spotlight. Tomtoc has built a reputation for smartly designed tech carry, and the Arccos Sling represents that in a compact, Switch 2-friendly form factor that EDC enthusiasts will immediately recognize as more versatile than a dedicated gaming case.

Editor’s Insight

There’s a familiar problem that shows up every time a new gaming handheld launches: cases flood the market, but carry solutions that work for both gaming sessions and everyday use are rare. The tomtoc Arccos Sling appears to close that gap in a way that’s worth examining.

Tomtoc has a consistent design language across their product line — structured but not bulky, padded where it matters, and sized to avoid the oversized-bag problem that plagues many Nintendo-focused accessories. The Arccos Sling continues that tradition. It’s compact enough to pass as a regular EDC sling while still accommodating the Switch 2’s larger footprint compared to the original.

What makes this relevant to the EDC community specifically is the way the sling handles organization. Beyond the console compartment, you get space for cables, a spare charger, SD cards, and the kind of small everyday items — earbuds, a wallet, keys — that make a bag genuinely useful outside gaming sessions. That versatility is the key differentiator from a hard-shell case you’d leave at home.

The Nintendo Switch 2 brings an upgraded form factor: larger screen, updated Joy-Cons, and a heftier overall build. That means older Switch cases may not fit cleanly, and this is where bags designed with the Switch 2 specifically in mind have an advantage. Tomtoc clearly targeted this gap intentionally, and the Arccos Sling’s dimensions reflect that planning.

From a materials perspective, tomtoc typically uses ballistic nylon or similar scratch-resistant fabric on their slings — practical for daily carry without looking like gaming gear. The neutral colorways mean you’re not walking around broadcasting “this is a gaming bag,” which matters to EDC-minded folks who prefer understated carry.

The sling format itself is worth calling out. Over-the-shoulder slings are having a real moment in the EDC world, and for good reason — they’re more accessible than a backpack, more secure than a tote, and sit comfortably across the chest or back for commuting. Pairing that with Switch 2 compatibility is a smart product decision that targets a very specific, underserved overlap between gamers and everyday carry enthusiasts.

If you already carry a sling as your daily driver, swapping in the Arccos for sessions when you’re bringing the Switch 2 along makes more sense than carrying a second bag. The organizational overlap with standard EDC loadouts — cable management, a pouch for small items, quick-access pocket — means you’re not making sacrifices in either direction.

One thing worth noting: tomtoc’s affiliate link in the video description resolves to an older ASIN that predates the Switch 2 — likely a placeholder or reused link. If you’re shopping specifically for Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility, it’s worth confirming fitment via the Amazon listing details or the tomtoc website directly. The search link above will surface the current Arccos Sling lineup so you can verify dimensions. A huge shout to Excessorize Me for keeping the Switch 2 EDC conversation going — check out the full review video they linked in the description for a deeper look.

Closing Remarks

The tomtoc Arccos Sling hits a narrow but real target: Switch 2 owners who want a carry solution that doubles as a legitimate everyday bag. If you’re picking up a Nintendo Switch 2 and want to avoid dedicated gaming cases that look out of place outside the house, this sling is worth a close look. What’s in your Switch 2 carry setup? Drop it in the comments. Affiliate links above support the site at no extra cost to you.

Apr 22
Love0

RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L Review — Sustainable Carry Done Well

By Bags, Travel, Video

Video Overview

Pack Hacker evaluates the RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L over two weeks of real use. RE:FORM is a brand focused on sustainability and considered design, and the XB:01 is their entry into the crossbody sling market — 3 liters of capacity aimed at all-day urban carry where you want your hands free and your essentials close. Pack Hacker’s format digs into every aspect of how this bag performs in daily conditions.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L is the complete focus of this review. At 3 liters, it sits in the sweet spot between a phone sling (too small for much beyond a wallet and keys) and a full daypack (too large for light daily carry). Pack Hacker’s two-week evaluation tests whether the XB:01 holds up as a genuine daily driver across the range of situations a crossbody actually faces.

Editor’s Insight

The 3-liter crossbody is one of the most useful bag sizes for everyday carry, and also one of the most competitive. Aer, Dsptch, Alpaka, Evergoods, and a dozen other brands all have offerings in this range. RE:FORM enters that conversation with a sustainability angle and a design philosophy that prioritizes intentional construction over feature accumulation.

RE:FORM as a brand deserves some context. They build products with an explicit focus on recycled and responsible materials, which is increasingly relevant to buyers who factor environmental impact into purchasing decisions. Their products aren’t marketed as premium for premium’s sake — the sustainability positioning is substantive, with material sourcing and construction practices that back up the brand story. For EDC buyers who are already thoughtful about what they carry, that kind of brand transparency tends to resonate.

The XB:01’s external features will determine how it sits and carries before you ever open it. Crossbody bags live and die by their strap comfort and their worn profile — a bag that digs into the shoulder or sits awkwardly against the body undermines every other quality it might have. Pack Hacker’s external features section addresses strap design and material directly, which is the right place to start.

The harness system on a 3L crossbody needs to do more work than a larger bag might require. Counterintuitively, smaller bags can be harder to carry comfortably because there’s less volume to distribute weight across — the load sits in a more concentrated point. The XB:01’s strap construction and attachment geometry are what determine whether the bag feels like a natural extension of your body or a foreign object hanging off your shoulder.

Fit notes from Pack Hacker cover how the bag wears across different body types and wearing styles, including the front-carry position that crossbodies accommodate — a useful option for crowded transit and situations where keeping the bag in front of you matters for security or access reasons. A bag that works well both front and back carry has significantly more use-case flexibility.

Secondary compartments in a 3L crossbody are necessarily small, but their design determines how efficiently you can organize the things that live in them permanently — a transit card, a ChapStick, earbuds, small cables. The difference between a secondary pocket you actually use and one you ignore comes down entirely to its size, placement, and how easily it opens. Pack Hacker covers this in detail.

The main compartment walkthrough will reveal the XB:01’s organizational approach and what it’s optimized for. Some 3L crossbodies treat the main compartment as a single open space; others add internal structure for specific item types. What fits, how items are accessed, and whether there’s a dedicated laptop or tablet sleeve are the questions that determine fit for a specific carry style.

At 3 liters, the XB:01 is large enough for a full day of light urban carry — wallet, keys, phone, earbuds, a small notebook, a cable or two, a snack — without becoming the kind of bag that makes you look like you’re prepared for an expedition. That balance between capacity and discretion is the core value proposition of the crossbody category.

Pack Hacker’s full written review on their website includes exact dimensions, weight, and comparative notes that complement the video well. Worth reading alongside the video if you’re making a buying decision. Subscribe to Pack Hacker for the most thorough and consistent bag review coverage available.

Closing Remarks

The RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L brings sustainable materials and thoughtful design to a competitive category — and Pack Hacker’s two-week evaluation gives it the thorough treatment it deserves. If you’re in the market for a 3L crossbody that aligns with considered purchasing values, this one earns a close look. What crossbody are you carrying right now? Share it below.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 22
Love0

The Most Comfortable Tablet Stand? — AboveTEK Pillow Stand Holder Review

By Gaming, Tech, Video

Video Overview

Excessorize Me covers the AboveTEK Pillow Stand Holder — a soft, adjustable hands-free viewing stand designed for tablets, e-readers, and gaming handhelds like the Switch 2. If you’ve ever tried to watch a video or play games in bed or on a couch and ended up with a tired arm from holding your device, this stand is exactly the kind of problem-solver that earns its place in your setup.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The AboveTEK Pillow Stand is the single focus of this review — a cushioned, multi-angle stand that replaces the tired-arm problem with a stable, comfortable hands-free solution. Its compatibility with tablets, phones, e-readers, and the Switch 2 makes it versatile enough to earn a permanent spot on a nightstand or couch-side table.

Editor’s Insight

Hands-free viewing stands occupy a practical niche that rigid desk stands can’t fully cover. A traditional phone or tablet stand works well on a flat, level surface — a desk, a kitchen counter, a nightstand. But the moment you move to a couch, a bed, or a recliner, flat surfaces become unavailable and rigid stands become useless. The AboveTEK Pillow Stand is designed for exactly these non-desk scenarios.

The pillow base is the key design decision. Soft, weighted bases conform to uneven surfaces — a duvet, a couch cushion, the curve of a lap — in a way that rigid kickstands and clamp mounts simply can’t. That conformity is what enables stable viewing at angles that would topple a conventional stand. The physics are simple but the execution requires the right material density and base weight to stay put under the device’s load.

Multiple viewing angles matter more than they might seem for a device you use in a fixed position for extended periods. The difference between a comfortable neck angle and a slightly-off-axis one compounds over an hour of viewing into real physical discomfort. The AboveTEK’s adjustable tilt allows you to find the precise angle that keeps your neck neutral, which matters for both gaming sessions and binge-watching stretches.

Switch 2 compatibility is highlighted in the video, and it’s a relevant addition to the product’s use case. The Switch 2 is both a home console (docked) and a handheld, but there’s a third mode that often gets overlooked: tabletop play with the kickstand. The AboveTEK Pillow Stand provides a more stable, more adjustable, and more comfortable alternative to the Switch 2’s built-in kickstand when you’re playing on a soft surface where the kickstand can’t get reliable purchase.

The lightweight design is worth noting for an EDC audience. A pillow stand isn’t a daily carry item — it lives at home. But for travel, a compact soft stand that weighs almost nothing and folds flat is a real addition to a travel kit for anyone who spends time in hotels or on long flights where device viewing is a significant activity. The AboveTEK’s packability makes it more travel-practical than bulkier alternatives.

AboveTEK has established a catalog of ergonomic viewing accessories, and the Pillow Stand represents their solution for the soft-surface problem specifically. The build quality and material choices in their products generally hold up well to regular use — this isn’t a single-use accessory that deteriorates after a few weeks of daily contact.

For anyone with a tablet-heavy workflow — reading, video calls, streaming — a dedicated soft surface stand eliminates the micro-decision fatigue of constantly repositioning a device. Setting it down in the right position once and leaving it there is a small quality-of-life improvement that adds up meaningfully over time.

Thanks to Excessorize Me for the hands-on look at this one. Their accessory coverage consistently surfaces practical solutions for everyday tech use. The full video is linked in their description for a complete walkthrough. Subscribe for ongoing coverage of the best accessories for your everyday setup.

Closing Remarks

The AboveTEK Pillow Stand Holder solves the soft-surface viewing problem that rigid stands can’t touch — literally. If you spend meaningful time reading, gaming, or watching on a tablet or Switch 2 somewhere other than a desk, this stand belongs on your shortlist. What do you use for hands-free device viewing at home? Drop it in the comments.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 21
Love0

Matador FlatPak Waterproof Toiletry Case Review — The Flat-Folding Dopp Kit

By Bags, Travel, Video

Video Overview

Pack Hacker puts the Matador FlatPak Waterproof Toiletry Case through a two-week real-use evaluation. Matador’s FlatPak line has earned a reputation for solving the packing space problem — gear that stores nearly flat when empty but expands to full utility when needed. The Toiletry Case applies that same philosophy to your dopp kit, giving you genuine waterproof protection for your bathroom essentials in a package that takes almost no space when empty.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The Matador FlatPak Waterproof Toiletry Case is the sole focus of this review — and Pack Hacker’s two-week format gives it a thorough workout across the daily use cases that a toiletry bag actually faces: hotel bathrooms, hostel showers, airplane kits, and the general compression and handling that travel puts on your gear.

Editor’s Insight

Toiletry bags are one of the most personal categories in travel gear. Everyone has a system — a bag they’ve used for years, arranged in a specific way, with specific contents. Switching toiletry bags is a bigger disruption than switching a stuff sack or cable organizer because the stakes are higher: a leaking shampoo or a broken product inside a non-waterproof bag is a genuine problem that affects everything else in your luggage.

Matador’s FlatPak Toiletry Case addresses that risk directly. Waterproof construction means that a leak inside the bag stays inside the bag. The welded seams that define the FlatPak line create a genuinely sealed interior rather than a water-resistant exterior that eventually saturates. For travelers who’ve had the experience of opening their bag after a flight to find shampoo distributed across their clothing, that level of protection is worth real money.

The flat-fold design is Matador’s signature across their FlatPak line, and it solves a problem that plagues most toiletry bags: they’re either full (and cumbersome) or empty (and wasteful of space). The FlatPak collapses nearly flat when empty, sliding into a flat pocket or along the back panel of a bag without creating a lump. When you arrive at your destination and fill it with your bathroom essentials, it expands to accommodate them. This sounds like a minor feature until you’re packing a small bag and every centimeter of wasted space is felt.

Pack Hacker’s external features section will cover the hanging hook and any external organization — details that matter more for toiletry cases than for most bag categories because hotel and hostel bathrooms often lack adequate counter space. A bag that hangs on a towel bar or shower door transforms a cramped bathroom into a functional workspace.

The main compartment walkthrough is where toiletry bag reviews earn their keep. What actually fits, how the contents are accessed, whether the opening is wide enough to see everything at once — these are the functional questions that spec sheets can’t answer. Pack Hacker’s format is thorough on exactly these points.

Fit notes for a toiletry case mean something slightly different than for a backpack — it’s about how the bag fits within your larger packing system. A toiletry case that works perfectly as a standalone item but creates compression problems inside a 20L daypack is a net negative. The FlatPak’s flat-fold design is specifically engineered to avoid this problem.

Matador has developed a consistent quality level across their FlatPak product line. The Dry Bag reviewed here recently used the same construction principles and received strong marks for build quality. That consistency matters when you’re buying into a system rather than a single item — if the Toiletry Case matches the quality of the Dry Bag, it’s a reliable purchase.

For one-bag travelers, a waterproof toiletry case isn’t optional — it’s the product that protects everything else in your bag from a toiletry failure. The Matador FlatPak Toiletry Case competes with the Peak Design Wash Pouch and the Tom Bihn 3D Organizer Cube in the premium travel toiletry segment. Its waterproof construction and flat-fold innovation give it a strong position in that comparison.

Pack Hacker’s full written review at packhacker.com includes measurements and comparative context that the video format can’t fully cover. Worth checking if you’re making a buying decision. Subscribe to Pack Hacker for the most thorough travel gear coverage available on YouTube.

Closing Remarks

The Matador FlatPak Waterproof Toiletry Case brings genuine waterproof protection and flat-fold packability to a category where most products offer neither. If you travel with liquid toiletries and value your other gear, this is the upgrade that protects your investment. What’s your current toiletry bag setup? Share it below.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 21
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This Dock Fixes Your Switch 2 Setup — SUPCASE Charging & Storage Base Review

By Gaming, Tech, Video

Video Overview

Excessorize Me reviews the SUPCASE Charging & Storage Base for the Nintendo Switch 2 — a dock that goes beyond simple charging by adding organized game cartridge storage to the mix. If your Switch 2 setup currently involves loose cables and cartridges scattered across a surface, this accessory is designed to consolidate all of that into one clean, purpose-built station.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The SUPCASE Charging & Storage Base is the single focus here — a dock that charges your Switch 2 while keeping game cartridges organized and accessible in the same footprint. For anyone who plays physical games and has dealt with the frustration of hunting for cartridges mid-session, the integrated storage is the feature that justifies the upgrade from a basic charging stand.

Editor’s Insight

The Nintendo Switch 2 charging dock category is more crowded than it’s ever been, but most products in it do exactly one thing: prop the console at an angle while it charges. SUPCASE has identified a real gap in that market — the absence of physical game storage in the dock footprint — and built their solution around it. For players with physical game libraries, that’s a meaningful differentiator.

Physical game cartridges are the forgotten organizational problem of modern gaming. They’re small enough to lose easily, numerous enough to create real clutter, and important enough that losing one is genuinely frustrating. Most Switch owners end up with a dedicated cartridge case or case insert — a secondary item that solves the storage problem but adds another thing to manage. The SUPCASE dock consolidates the charging station and the cartridge organizer into a single desk object.

SUPCASE’s brand reputation is built primarily in the rugged case space, where their Unicorn Beetle line has become a recognized option for drop protection across phone and tablet categories. Bringing that same product sensibility to a charging dock means the build quality expectations are reasonable — this isn’t a generic AliExpress dock rebadged with a known name, it’s a designed product from a company with an established manufacturing track record.

The compact design claim is worth scrutinizing. Charging docks that also hold cartridges risk becoming bulky accessories that take up more desk space than the problem they solve. The SUPCASE’s execution on balancing storage capacity with physical footprint is what determines whether this is a net desk-space improvement or a lateral move. Excessorize Me’s hands-on coverage addresses this directly.

For the EDC-minded gamer, desk organization is an extension of the same philosophy that drives everyday carry curation. A cluttered charging setup with cables going in multiple directions and games spread across a surface is the desk equivalent of an overstuffed pocket. Consolidating those elements into a single, purpose-built station applies EDC principles to a stationary context — everything has a place, and the setup works more smoothly as a result.

The Switch 2 accessory ecosystem is still maturing, and products like the SUPCASE dock are among the first wave of thoughtfully designed third-party accessories that treat the console’s real-world use patterns seriously. Early adopters who build their setups around quality accessories now will have less to change as the ecosystem develops further.

No more lost cartridges, no more cable hunting at the end of a session — the value proposition is simple and the execution, based on Excessorize Me’s coverage, appears to deliver on it. The full review video is linked in the description for the complete hands-on walkthrough.

Thanks to Excessorize Me for the focused breakdown. Their Switch 2 accessory coverage has been consistently useful for anyone building out their setup. Subscribe for ongoing coverage as more quality accessories hit the market.

Closing Remarks

The SUPCASE Charging & Storage Base solves two problems at once — keeping your Switch 2 charged and your cartridges organized — without requiring two separate accessories to do it. If you play physical games and your current setup is less than tidy, this dock is worth a serious look. What does your Switch 2 charging setup look like? Share it in the comments.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 20
Love0

Sympl Phone Sling 1.5L Review — Minimal Carry Done Right

By Bags, Tech, Travel, Video

Video Overview

Pack Hacker puts the Sympl Phone Sling 1.5L through a two-week real-use evaluation. Sympl is a brand focused on minimal, purpose-built carry accessories, and the Phone Sling is exactly what it sounds like: a 1.5-liter sling designed around phone-first carry for situations where a full bag is overkill. If you’ve ever left the house with just your phone and found your pockets inadequate, this is the category that solves it.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The Sympl Phone Sling 1.5L is a focused product with a specific use case — and Pack Hacker’s two-week evaluation covers whether it delivers on that use case across different daily scenarios. At 1.5 liters, it’s genuinely compact: enough for a phone, a wallet, keys, earbuds, and a few small items, nothing more. That constraint is the point.

Editor’s Insight

The phone sling is an underappreciated carry category. Most sling bags start at 3-4 liters and scale up from there — they’re designed around carrying a meaningful amount of gear. The sub-2-liter phone sling occupies a different niche entirely: it’s for the person who wants their hands free and their essentials secure without committing to an actual bag. It’s the carry solution for coffee runs, city walks, short errands, and social events where a full sling would feel overdressed.

Sympl has positioned themselves in the minimalist carry space with products that have clear use cases rather than trying to cover everything. The Phone Sling 1.5L doesn’t pretend to be a daypack or a travel bag — it’s built for the scenario where your phone is the most important thing you’re carrying and everything else is secondary. That focus produces a better product for that specific use case than a larger bag trying to scale down.

The external features on a bag this small are necessarily constrained, but the design choices matter more precisely because there’s so little room for extras. How the main compartment opens, where the phone pocket sits, and how the harness distributes the (minimal) weight determine whether the bag actually works in daily use. Pack Hacker’s evaluation framework covers all of these specifics.

The harness system on a tiny sling is often the most neglected aspect of the design. At 1.5 liters and minimal weight, there’s a temptation to skimp on strap construction. But a sling worn cross-body every day needs a strap that doesn’t dig in, doesn’t slip, and sits correctly at the right angle. The difference between a comfortable sling and an annoying one often comes down entirely to the strap hardware and material choices.

Fit notes from Pack Hacker’s format are particularly useful for a sling this small because the worn footprint matters. A bag that’s too wide sits awkwardly at your hip; too narrow and it doesn’t balance properly. The 1.5L form factor requires precision in proportion that larger bags can be more forgiving about.

The secondary compartments section is where phone slings usually disappoint. The main compartment handles the phone; everything else competes for whatever space remains. Pack Hacker’s walkthrough of what actually fits — and what doesn’t — is the practical information that determines whether this bag works for your specific carry needs.

For one-bag travel or minimalist EDC, a phone sling at this scale has a specific role: it’s the bag you grab when you arrive somewhere and want to leave the main pack at the hotel or Airbnb. Lightweight, secure, hands-free carry for exploring a city or running a few local errands without hauling your full setup. The Sympl’s 1.5L capacity is well-calibrated for exactly that scenario.

Pack Hacker’s two-week evaluation is one of the most reliable review formats in the bag space because it forces real-world conditions rather than first-impression takes. Check their full written review at packhacker.com for measurements, materials breakdown, and comparative context. Subscribe to their channel for consistent coverage of carry gear across every size and use case.

Closing Remarks

The Sympl Phone Sling 1.5L fills a specific gap in the carry market — minimal, hands-free, secure, designed for the times when pockets aren’t enough but a full bag is too much. If that scenario comes up regularly in your routine, this one is worth a close look. What do you carry when you’re traveling light? Leave your setup in the comments.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 20
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Travel Is Brutal if You Sweat — Maurice Moves’ Complete Hygiene Routine

By Fashion, Tech, Travel, Video

Video Overview

Maurice Moves gets unusually candid in this one — covering the full daily routine he uses to stay clean, dry, and presentable while traveling for work. If you sweat more than average and travel regularly, the tips and tools here are genuinely practical. This isn’t a product dump; it’s a morning-to-night system with specific product recommendations at each step.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

Several standouts from this list: the Aer Travel Kit 2 is one of the most respected toiletry organizers in the one-bag travel community — well-designed, TSA-friendly, and genuinely useful. The Unbound Merino clothing line is the go-to recommendation for sweat-prone travelers because merino wool naturally resists odor even after multiple days of wear. And the La Roche-Posay SPF 50+ sunscreen gets called out specifically for not leaving a white cast — a real differentiator for darker skin tones.

Editor’s Insight

Maurice Moves has built a following by being honest about the realities of travel that most gear content glosses over. This video is a prime example — talking about sweating as a real, embarrassing travel challenge rather than the sanitized version of “staying fresh” that dominates lifestyle content. That honesty makes the recommendations more credible, because you know they’ve been tested under genuinely demanding conditions.

The morning routine structure is smart editorial framing. Rather than listing products alphabetically or by price, organizing by time-of-day maps the gear to specific problems at specific moments. CeraVe Foaming Cleanser starts the face clean and free of overnight oil buildup — an important reset before sunscreen and any other products. The order matters, and the video respects that.

The foot hygiene section is where the video gets unusually specific. Dr. Scholl’s OdorX spray powder plus the small container decant plus the mini funnel is a system — not just a product recommendation. That level of detail, down to the specific container size and the funnel needed to fill it, is what separates useful travel content from generic “pack this” advice. The Fruit of the Loom Dual Defense socks add another layer to the same problem, addressing it from the fabric side rather than the topical side.

The Unbound Merino section deserves attention. Merino wool’s natural odor resistance is the key feature for heavy sweaters — the fiber’s structure wicks moisture and inhibits the bacterial growth that causes smell. Unbound specifically optimizes for travel: their pieces look like normal clothing rather than performance wear, which matters for work travel where you need to look professional. One polo worn multiple days in a row without odor is a genuine packing advantage that synthetic alternatives can’t match.

The La Roche-Posay sunscreen recommendation is specific for a reason. Most high-SPF sunscreens leave a white cast from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — a visible problem that’s worse on darker skin tones and under certain lighting conditions. The Anthelios formulation uses encapsulated UV filters that apply more transparently. For daily travel use where you’re applying sunscreen to your face every morning, this matters more than it might seem.

The night routine section closes the loop on the daily system in a way that makes the whole approach feel complete. The USB-C rechargeable toothbrush eliminates one more cable dependency. The tongue scraper addresses morning breath at its source rather than masking it. The 5-Year diary is an interesting non-hygiene inclusion — Maurice is clearly talking about a complete travel wellbeing system, not just product recommendations.

What this video models well is the idea that travel comfort is a system problem, not a product problem. Adding one great product to a weak routine produces marginal improvement. Building an end-to-end routine where each product reinforces the others produces a travel experience that’s measurably better. Maurice has done the iteration work over many trips, and this video shares the output.

For EDC-focused readers, many of these items translate directly into daily carry even when not traveling. The decanted powder container, the compact toiletries kit, the USB-C toothbrush — these are all items that work in a daily gym bag, an office drawer, or a regular commute kit. The travel framing is just context.

Thanks to Maurice Moves for putting together such a practical and candid breakdown. Subscribe for ongoing travel gear, EDC, and lifestyle content that’s grounded in real-world use.

Closing Remarks

If work travel is a regular part of your life and staying clean and dry is a constant battle, Maurice’s system is worth adopting piece by piece. Start with the Unbound Merino clothing and Aer Travel Kit 2 if you’re building from scratch. What’s your most important travel hygiene product? Share it below.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Apr 20
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The Screen Protector You Can’t Mess Up — dbrand Prism 2.0 Review

By Gaming, Tech, Video

Video Overview

Excessorize Me covers the dbrand Prism 2.0 Screen Protector — their follow-up to the original Prism with improved installation tooling, cleaner alignment, and the same durable tempered glass that dbrand users have come to expect. If installing screen protectors has ever been a source of frustration (bubbles, misalignment, one-shot stress), the Prism 2.0 is designed to take that friction out of the equation entirely.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

The dbrand Prism 2.0 is the headline item and the focus of the entire video. For anyone who’s ever ruined a screen protector during installation — or paid someone else to install one just to avoid the experience — the Prism 2.0’s guided installation system is the feature that matters most.

Editor’s Insight

Screen protectors occupy a strange space in the accessory market. They’re among the most purchased phone and device accessories, yet they’re also among the most frequently botched. A misaligned protector with dust bubbles under the glass is worse than no protector at all — it’s a daily visual reminder that the installation went wrong. dbrand’s Prism 2.0 is a direct response to that frustration.

The original Prism established dbrand’s credibility in the tempered glass category. They brought the same precision approach from their skin product line to glass protection — meaning the cutouts, curves, and coverage area are engineered for the specific device rather than cut as a generic rectangle. The 2.0 iteration builds on that with improved installation tooling that makes alignment nearly automatic.

The installation experience is genuinely where the Prism 2.0 differentiates itself. Most tempered glass protectors include a basic alignment sticker at best. dbrand’s system uses physical guides that register against the device’s edges, removing the guesswork that causes most installation failures. For phones with curved glass or aggressive edge geometry, this matters significantly.

Tempered glass quality varies enormously in this category. Cheap alternatives use lower-grade glass with inconsistent hardness ratings and oleophobic coatings that wear off within weeks. dbrand’s tempered glass maintains its touch sensitivity and fingerprint resistance over a realistic ownership period — meaning the protector still feels good to use months after installation, not just on day one.

The Nintendo Switch 2 context here is worth noting given the video’s hashtags. The Switch 2’s screen is a significant target for protection given the console’s use as both a handheld and a docked device — it slides in and out of the dock regularly, creating friction opportunities that most phone screens don’t experience. A well-fitted, properly adhered protector is more critical for Switch 2 than for a phone that stays in a pocket.

dbrand’s Prism 2.0 pairs naturally with their Killswitch Case covered in a recent post — together they form a complete protection system where the case handles impact and the screen protector handles surface abrasion. The two products are designed to work together without lifting edges or creating gaps at the case boundary.

For the EDC-minded buyer, screen protection is about maintaining the display quality of a device you carry every day. A scratched screen on a phone or handheld isn’t just an aesthetic problem — it degrades the daily use experience in a way that compounds over time. The Prism 2.0’s approach of making correct installation accessible to everyone addresses the single biggest reason people end up with poorly protected screens.

Excessorize Me’s clip format delivers the essential information efficiently. For the full hands-on installation walkthrough and detailed impressions, check the full video linked in their description. Subscribe for ongoing coverage of the best device protection accessories in the everyday carry space.

Closing Remarks

The dbrand Prism 2.0 takes the stress out of screen protection by making correct installation the default rather than the exception. If your current screen protector is a compromised installation you’ve been meaning to replace, this is the upgrade worth making. What do you use to protect your screens? Drop it in the comments.

Affiliate disclosure: Links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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April 23, 2026

The Ridge Power Bank (10k mAh) Review

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13 Must-Have Japanese EDC Essentials

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The Perfect Sling for Nintendo Switch 2 – tomtoc Arccos Sling

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RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L Review — Sustainable Carry Done Well

Video Overview Pack Hacker evaluates the RE:FORM XB:01 Crossbody 3L over two weeks of real use. RE:FORM is a brand focused on sustainability and considered design, and the XB:01 is…
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