I sit down with Wolf from the YouTube channel @Nitpacker to discuss the elusive search for the perfect bag, the life of a gear reviewer, and real-world carry systems. Wolf is known for his "nitpicky" reviews and reveals the single backpack that sparked his obsession, how he uses a Bellroy 10L Camera Sling as an ingenious Dad Bag for his two young children (ages 3 and 1), and his ultimate multi-bag system for traveling internationally with a family.

From why he reviews bags to his red-eye flight hacks, this episode is packed with insights for anyone interested in EDC, travel gear, or simplifying family travel.

0:34 - Intro: A New Voice in Bag Reviews (Wolf from Knit Packer) 1:48 - Wolf's Background: Why He's "Nitpicky" 2:27 - How Wolf's Professional-Looking Videos are Made 3:58 - Why Bags? How a Revolving Door of Hobbies Led to Gear Review 6:06 - The First Bag That Started the Obsession: Why the Patagonia Refugio 28L Failed 7:56 - Daily Carry and Loadout Philosophy 10:52 - The Bellroy 10L Camera Sling: The Ultimate Dad Bag Hack 14:40 - Wolf's Multi-Month Family Travel Packing System (Carry-on vs. Checked Luggage) 18:11 - Why Traveling with Kids Requires SO Many Bags 21:29 - Travel Tips: Red-Eye Flights, Screen Time, and the Flyaway Bed 26:25 - Wolf's Minimalist EDC Wallet 29:17 - The Problem with Over-Engineered Dop Kits (and Peak Design) 31:31 - The Christopher Ward Watch Dilemma & The Watch That Finally Clicked (Tudor Ranger) 32:54 - Wolf’s EDC Watch: The Tudor Ranger

Watch the video version here.

Welcome to a new podcast episode where I dive into my Top 5 Favorite Bags of 2025! This list focuses exclusively on the bags I actively used this year, highlighting unique features, build quality, and why they earned a permanent spot in my rotation.

The list includes unexpected usage (a rolling case as a mobile editing station and a travel backpack as a gym bag), a deep dive into the ergonomics of my favorite sling, and a nostalgic shout-out to a classic bookbag design.

00:00 Preview

0:17 - Introduction & Why a Podcast for Bag Reviews

1:56 - #1: Bellroy Rolling Case (The Mobile Editing Workstation)

3:31 - The Challenge: Carrying a Dual-Screen Setup & Peripherals

4:26 - Why the Bellroy Rolling Case is perfect: No Sweat Commute

5:03 - Key Feature: Integrated Hooked Packing Cubes (Gear Protection)

6:27 - The Downside: No Dedicated Laptop Slot (Paired with the Black Ember Forge)

7:48 - Multipurpose Use: Carry-on Luggage for Camera Gear

8:46 - #2: Nayosmart U5 Backpack (The Surprise Budget-Friendly Favorite)

9:36 - Why the Material Works: Easy to Wipe Off & Unique Feel

11:15 - Key Feature: Mystery Ranch Trifold Style Opening (Fast Access)

12:15 - Comfort & Flexibility: Why I was Surprised I Loved It

14:26 - #3: Able Carry Core Sling

14:56 - Initial Hesitations: The Front Pocket & Permanent Shoulder Padding

16:15 - The Game-Changer: Four Attachment Points & 360-Degree Hooks

18:29 - Real-World Use: Quick Access with the Front Temporary Storage Slot

19:45 - Small Nitpick: Confusing Zipper Pulls on Dual Compartments

22:22 - #4: Evergoods CB22 (Classic Book Bag) (Nostalgia & Build Quality)

23:23 - The Iconic Design I Always Wanted (Eastpak/Jansport Vibe)

24:29 - Evergoods Quality: Build to Last & Clamshell Opening

25:23 - Downside: The Unprotected Front Pocket (Pickpocket Risk)

26:56 - #5: Pakt Aero Carry-On Backpack (My Dedicated Gym Bag)

28:29 - Key Feature: Suitcase Style Opening (Perfect for Locker Rooms)

29:33 - Great Organization & Build Quality (Fits Two Water Bottles)

30:34 - Major Downside: Laptop Slot Squished Between Halves

32:12 - The Risk: Pressure Points on Your Laptop Screen (Chargers/Hard Items)

33:33 - Conclusion & Favorite EDC Item (Anbernic RG35XX Plus)

Watch the video version here

Welcome to a new essay-style episode for Season 2! Today, we dive deep into the philosophy of Everyday Carry (EDC) and introduce a new concept: EDC Optimization.

Everyone has an everyday carry—your phone, wallet, and keys are the non-negotiables. But for enthusiasts, EDC is about so much more. I discuss whether carrying extra items (like a camera, gaming device, or multi-tool) is bogging you down, or if it's providing essential creature comforts and a much-needed security blanket.

I also cover practical steps on how to evaluate your EDC loadout, choose high-value gear (like a quality Leatherman vs. a dollar-store tool), and stress the importance of understanding local laws regarding items like knives.

My Personal EDC Loadout: I reveal the gear I'm currently carrying, including my favorite mechanical watch (Steinhart Ocean 500), my preferred multi-tool (the Gerber Dime), and why a power bank and flashlight are essential.

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00:00 Intro

00:16 Welcome to the Essay Style Podcast (Season 2)

00:46 Question: Is Your Everyday Carry Making Your Life Worse?

01:16 Defining EDC: Beyond Phone, Wallet, Keys

02:41 Expanding the Loadout: Multi-Tools, Headphones, and Watches

03:36 Why EDC is Special: It's Highly Individualized

05:04 The Struggle: Carrying a Gaming Device (Anbernic RG35XX Plus) & Camera (DJI Pocket 3)

06:33 Psychological Benefits: The Security Blanket Argument

07:27 A Real-Life Example: My Multi-Tool Saved Me in a Hotel Room

08:24 Why a Dedicated Camera is Better Than Your Phone

10:14 Experience Over Convenience: Dedicated Items vs. Phone Distractions

12:13 How to Start: Organizing and Deciding Your EDC Items

14:57 Sling Bag vs. Backpack: The Loadout Limit

15:53 Value Proposition: Balancing Cheap vs. High-Quality Gear

17:10 Evaluating Your EDC: Fun & Utility Check-ins

18:53 IMPORTANT: Abide by Your Local EDC Laws (German Knife Laws)

20:46 The Hobby: Introducing EDC Optimization

21:54 My Current EDC Loadout: Phone, Watch, Wallet

23:03 My Sling Bag Contents: Camera, Gaming, and Power

24:00 My Multi-Tool & Flashlight: The Gerber Dime and Wuben X2 Pro

25:05 Support the Podcast! (Affiliate Links Below)

Watch the video version here

Back with Ron Kwok! Why Having Two Kids Changed My EDC & YouTube Welcome back to the podcast! 🎉 For the first episode after a six-month hiatus, I'm thrilled to welcome back the incredible Ron Kwok from Live with Purpose!

Since our last chat in March 2023, Ron’s life and content creation journey have seen some big changes—including becoming a dad of two!

In this episode, Ron opens up about his recent content sprint, experimenting with new video formats (like his viral interview-style EDC video), and the evolution of his gear setup. We deep dive into what it really means to have a practical Everyday Carry for Dads when your hands are full 🍼.

Spoiler: Say goodbye to the knife!

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00:00 Intro 0:15 - The Podcast is BACK! (And I'm rusty) 1:12 - Ron Kwok Update: Family Life, Content Sprint, and the 5 AM Grind 2:58 - Ron's New Netflix-Style Interview EDC Video 5:01 - Ron’s Camera Gear: Why the Sony a7C is Still the Workhorse 7:00 - Filming at Home: The Challenge of Work/Life Balance for Creators 7:45 - What is Ron's Current EDC? (The Dad Edition) 9:40 - The EDC Essential: Why Ron Rocks a Sling Bag (Front-Slung) 11:04 - The No-Knife Rule & Why He Carries a Leatherman PS Style 11:33 - Why Ron Switched to a Fountain Pen (Big Idea Designs) 14:59 - Power Banks, Tech, and Preparedness for Day Trips 18:31 - The Daddy Diaper Bag Dilemma: Ron's Solution 19:23 - Ron’s Day Pack: The Able Carry Daybreaker 20:35 - Organization Secret: Using Color-Coded Pouches (No Cavemen Here!) 23:37 - X-PAC vs. Ripstop: Do You Need Expensive Materials? 25:35 - Ron's System for Unpacking Every Bag to Stay Organized

The podcast is coming back

Tha analytics got to me. I am doing an hiatus.

Talking to one of the newer bag reviewers. This is Kevin from Pack & Roam.

Talking to one of the newer bag reviewers. This is John from Unpackd.

Talking to Odie Matthews on why he came back to the bag world and what he has done during his hiatus.

I'm biased. Are reviewers bieased?

Talking to Nightshift EDC about what's in her bag as a medical professional and more

Talking to Orlaigh from  @gearbywomen  and her female perspective to the bag enthusiast space

Talking to Life Behind Bars  @lbbjkt  Co-Founder Aldo and Designer Deus.

I believe 2025 will be the year of the totebags

These are my favorite bags, my favorite Everydaycarry and my favorite tech items of 2024

In the last episode with Alex we had some technical difficulties to record the whole conversation. This time I was able to record the whole conversation about his minimalist packing style, retro gaming and more.

I talk to Klint of The Perfect Bag about his incredible bag collection, his packing and travel style and more.

It was such a fun conversation. However, due to some technical issues the recording stopped after 14 min. We will rerecord the conversation in the future.

In this episode I have been traveling to Thailand to train Muay Thai. These are my thoughts and experiences

This episode is all about my Travel Hacks that I have been using for years and that I recently learnt and want to try out.