Remote Equipment Bravo 18 Review

The Best Eco-Bag – A Dependable Shopping Companion that Doubles as a Backpack and Tote Bag

Many people have started carrying around eco-friendly bags since the supermarkets started charging for the plastic shopping bags.

Once a week I go to my local supermarket to buy food for the week.

I’ve been looking for a sturdy eco-bag that would hold a lot of food, as it’s a fair amount of shopping, including buying a few 2-liter bottles.

I’ve always wanted to have a bag that had the following characteristics:

• Light
• Easy to store (foldable)
• Sturdy
• Easy to get things in and out
• You can use it backpack style
• You can use it in a tote bag style
• The design is cool

I didn’t know if there was a bag like that, but there is.

That bag is the Bravo 18 from Remote Equipment.

It currently comes in three colors: white, black, and tropical camo.

They had a black camo one in the past, which I really wanted, but they were out of stock when I bought it, so I went with the tropical camo one.

What is Remote Equipment?

Remote Equipment is an American bag manufacturer.

They make functional and stylish EDC (Every Day Carry) using the most advanced materials.

The bags are all made in the USA (which makes them more expensive).

Their most famous model is the Alpha 31.

It is a famous backpack among military style backpack lovers and originally came out of KickStarter.

It is difficult to get nowadays because it is usually sold out.

There are rumors of a V2 coming out, but so far there seems to be no confirmed information.

Remote Equipment – Bravo 18 Features

Turn into 5 different styles

The Bravo 18 is designed as a bag that can be carried in five different ways

1. Tote bag
2. Shoulder bag
3. Messenger
4. Sling
5. Backpack

The straps are attached to the body of the bag with strong Velcro and can be removed.

That feature can be used to change the formation of the straps and transform the bag into a form that suits various situations.

I often use it in the tote bag, shoulder bag, or backpack mode.

Easy to get your stuff in and out.

The Bravo 18 has a simple structure and consists of two compartments: a main compartment and an external pocket.

The main compartment is a large hollow space which can be opened by a drawcord.

The drawcord is very well made and easy to operate.

There is no other lid, so there will be a small opening even when the drawcord is fully drawn.

There is a possibility of water getting into the main compartment if you are not careful on heavy rainy days, for example.

You can also access the main compartment through the outer zipper.

This allows you to get items in and out of the bag while it is slung over your shoulder.

There is a small pocket inside the main compartment for small items.

There is also a quick access pocket on the outside of the bag for small items.

I would have preferred to reverse the position of the quick access pocket, which I use more, and the access to the main compartment, which I rarely use, as I feel more comfortable holding the bag in front of my body with the strap over my right shoulder, but it is what it is.

State of the art materials

The body of the Bravo 18 is made of XPAC (X50).

This material is lightweight, durable and waterproof.

The zipper is made of YKK Aquaguard.

The strap is also made of the same material used for car seat belts.

The components used are high end and the bag feels very high quality.

How I Use the Remote Equipment – Bravo 18 

The Bravo 18 has an 18-liter capacity but weighs only 0.55 kg, which is quite light.

Because it lacks cushioning, It’s also flimsy and can be folded up reasonably thin when not filled up with things.

The bag itself has a sufficient height so one can fit several wine bottles and 2L PET bottles leaving capacity for more items.

I usually leave it near the front door where I can pick it up casually when I go to the supermarket.

You can take it on a trip with you and use it as a walking bag when you arrive at your destination by taking advantage of its lightweight and thin, foldable features.

I think it’s also useful as a bag to take to the beach or for activities, taking advantage of its water resistance.

On the other hand, it doesn’t have any cushioning, so it may not be suitable for everyday city use, such as carrying a computer or other equipment.

For the same reason, the straps have no cushioning so if you are in backpack mode, it may not be very suitable for long periods of use.

Conclusion.

Remote Equipment – Bravo 18 I like it a lot!

The price is high because of the high quality materials, cool design, and because it is made in the USA.

The price of the bag is $189, plus $44.10 for shipping, plus custom duties, and the total cost is over 25,000 JPY.

It may be too much of an overkill for an eco-bag, but it will definitely make your weekly trips to the grocery store a lot more fun!

I’m going to spend the rest of my life using this bag (and recoup my investment)!

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