A Reputable Heritage Brand Becomes an Unexpected New EDC Bag Contender

Reigning Champ, founded in Vancouver, Canada, first hit the scene back in 2007. It quickly established a loyal fan base through its blend of a minimalist aesthetic and premium quality.

While the brand has sold EDC bags on its site before, including those made by legendary Japanese brand Porter, Reigning Champ had never offered its own take on the category … until now.

For the first time, the brand has taken this logical next step and launched its own Reigning Champ Road Program EDC bags.

Reigning Champ

EDC heavyweights

The initial launch includes a trio of classic EDC bags. While they feature differing layouts, sizes, and capacities, they share a few commonalities that help tie them together.

First and foremost: styling. As is typical with Reigning Champ gear, these bags boast a highly minimalist aesthetic. Both their interiors and exteriors are pretty stylistically barebones and stripped down. The only branding is found on a single square logo patch on their lower right corners.

Reigning Champ

They’re all also made from the same material: a nylon twill. That makes these bags abrasion-, tear- and puncture-resistant. It also means they’re easy to clean, doubly so when you consider their DWR finish (which serves to add even more weatherproofing.)

Other shared details include YKK zippers, nylon webbing handles and straps and pockets both inside and out.

Reigning Champ

Title fight

The largest bag is the Road Helmet Bag, a large carry-all tote. The middle-ground pack is the Road Crossbody bag. And the smallest is the Road Two-Way Pack, a smaller sling bag or fanny pack.

Unfortunately, the brand isn’t entirely clear on the bags’ internal carry capacities. And there’s another potential issue: unlike much of the brand’s fan-favorite apparel, these bags aren’t made in Canada.

Recently, there have been some fan complaints that, when the brand began outsourcing its manufacturing, the quality dropped. While these complaints have largely been about the Vietnam-made products — and these bags are made in the Philippines — it’s still worth noting that the complaints exist.

Reigning Champ

That doesn’t mean you should expect these bags to have a similar dip in quality, but you should be aware of the risk if you’re interested. They may very well be excellently produced, and their style and materials appear to be of solid quality.

If the brand can shake those complaints (or avoid them entirely) with these bags, it could mark a bold new chapter for the brand. And I’ll be eagerly waiting to see what comes of it, as the bags do appear quite good. I’d like to see what else Reigning Champ can manage.

Reigning Champ

Available now

Reigning Champ’s Road Program EDC bags are available now on the brand’s site for between $75 and $138, depending on the style you choose.

Reigning Champ

Reigning Champ Road Two-Way Pack

• $75 at Reigning Champ

Reigning Champ

Reigning Champ Road Crossbody Bag

• $98 at Reigning Champ

Reigning Champ

Reigning Champ Road Helmet Bag

• $138 at Reigning Champ

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