Black Ember Kompak (Merch)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Publisher: Black Ember
Whether it's for vacation or for city exploration, having a nice pack to carry around essentials is, well, essential. A purse isn't for everyone; backpacks can be too bulky, but a tech bag certainly is the best of both worlds, and Black Ember's Kompak might be ideal if you enjoy having everything you need in one minimalistic crossbody.
The Kompak looks fairly diminutive at first glance--it'd be easy to think that it wouldn't be able to fit much, but in actuality, it's quite spacious. You're not going to fit anything larger than an iPad Mini into its form factor, but what it lacks in overall size, it makes up for with tons of pockets and storage space on the inside. Rather than be large and bulky, the Kompak tries to nudge you towards only taking essentials you might need on a trip in the city. If you happen to cram it to capacity, it does start to look a little puffy, and the boxy shape of the bag isn't exactly elegant, but it does have a place for everything.
You've got a large main compartment, with two sleeves on either side--good for a small tablet or e-reader, a notebook, and a change of clothes or some snacks. It's the biggest pocket the Kompak has, and it's still fairly small, but if you're good at organizing, you can easily fit a lot into it. Due to the lack of padding, in either the pockets, or on the outside of the bag, it makes me a little wary of keeping anything fragile in the outer pocket, but even so, my e-reader always survived the journey.
The second pocket is an EDC nerd's dream; there's three pockets on the left, and another two on the right, with a zipper pouch behind it. You also get a little cutout meant for carrying credit cards, though it feels redundant if you're the type to carry a wallet. Because of the squarish design of the bag, anything in these pockets isn't easy to get at, which is probably why there's one last pocket, on the front of the bag, with a magnetic flap for quick access. This is ideal for putting your phone or something you'll want to be able to access quickly.
Black Ember's zippers are super smooth, and they don't snag on the material. They've even got little tabs on them that both make it easier to grab them, but also lets you loop two tabs together in order to make the bag a little more secure, so someone can't just unzip the Kompak from behind. It's a small touch, but an appreciated one. What isn't so appreciated is the bag's shoulder strap, which is nigh on unusable. It's made from a recyclable material--nice--but it doesn't lay without crinking; the strap will always be bent at 90-degree angles, and it will never sit flush with your shoulder. This also makes it an utter nightmare if you try to take the Kompak off and put it somewhere, with the gangly strap unfurling itself everywhere. I'm surprised at how much it stands out and how at odds it is with the rest of Black Ember's fairly solid design and construction. Luckily, you can just unclip it and buy a better strap--literally anything is better than the included strap.
For the price of $119, the Black Ember Kompak is a small, well, compact, everyday carry bag. Those that enjoy carrying a lot of small tools and utilities while out and about will no doubt enjoy the Kompak, assuming that you're willing to put up with some of the bag's quirks.
Verdict
- Nice aluminum clasps and good, smooth zippers
- Tons of organization
- Tough material is durable and well-made (and rainproof)
- The front pocket offers seamless phone access
- The shoulder strap is atrocious
- The fabric is a pet hair magnet of nightmares
- Slightly overpriced
