WIRED Might Have Found a New Best Bag in the World

A confession: I love my bags. A few years ago, I became convinced I’d found the best bag in the world. Now, however, I may well have a contender for that coveted spot. It is the Mountain Cross Bag from Topo Designs, and in just the two months I’ve been using it, this versatile carrier has become completely indispensable to me.

WIRED readers will be familiar with Topo; they make our fave Global Briefcase design, but personally it’s just a touch too large for me. If we’re going to start throwing around even consideration for “best bag in the world” titles, then we’re talking parameters of Goldilocks-zone perfection here, surely? And this is where the Mountain Cross delivers. It is not too big and not too small. It is just right. No, really. Look at it. It’s 15 inches wide by 11.5 high and 4 deep. More than sufficient to hold a 15-inch laptop in a dedicated padded sleeve at the back.

It has so many compartments that on first inspecting the Mountain Cross I thought I’d discovered all the zipped sections. No, there’s another. Oh, and another. And two exterior elasticated bottle holders as well. Apparently this thing can stow 17 liters of stuff. I suspect they’ve low-balled this figure.

As for attention to detail, the removable crossbody strap doesn’t have one of those annoying slide-y pads that’s never in the right place when you need it—this bag’s padded shoulder protector is fixed in place but 10.6 inches long so it’s always ready for action. As a result, the Mountain Cross is astonishingly comfortable to carry, even fully loaded.

And take a look at those bright YKK heavy-duty zipper straps. They’re paracord, so, when not helping you access the Mountain Cross’s inner recesses, they can be taken off and used to help rig up anything from animal snares to shelters, lash rafts, or even a tourniquet. When further unwound, the thin nylon strands apparently make excellent fishing line, sewing thread—even dental floss.

But what is really worth shouting about is this bag’s feel-good factor. The 200D lightweight nylon ripstop upper, 1000D nylon lower panels, and 210D nylon liner are not only tough enough to withstand heavy wear and tear, they are all 100 percent recycled. The dye mills for the textiles are certified to ensure the chemicals used are healthy and safe. Indeed, the whole bag is Fair Wear certified, meeting labor standards for safety, health, and wellness of those who made this peerless portmanteau. And lastly, thanks to Topo’s “MAP Guarantee” repair program, the Mountain Cross carries with it a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Yep, lifetime.

I hear you, where’s the objectivity here? Nothing’s perfect. What’s wrong with this thing? Well, I confess I’m struggling to pick out minus points for the Mountain Cross. At $139 it’s very reasonably priced. A bargain, even. The bright accents on the brand-new fall collection’s Mustard/Forest or Midnight/Caribbean colorways might be too strong for some (not me, I love them). If so, you can go with boring Black/Neutral.

You could also argue it has too many separate sections, simply because, of the 10 or so on mine, after months of use, a few remain stubbornly empty as I just don’t need to hive off my stuff into so many distinct compartments. And if you are looking for a commuter carrier that can double as a gym bag, the Mountain Cross is certainly not going to suffice. Perhaps the biggest gripe is that tall water bottles might feel too bulky for those exterior side pockets. But that’s about it.

Is this the new best bag in the world? It’s close. I’m still deciding if it bests the mighty but sadly no longer available Filson Duffle Pack. In the meantime, grab one before Topo increases the price or, God forbid, stops making these things. As the Financial Times has just so rightly pointed out, there are two types of people in this world: those with bags they’ve given some thought to, and those who don’t care. If you’re the former, Topo’s Mountain Cross is for you.