Rollerblade Bag

Custom mods for a blading backpack

July 2022

I’m a big rollerblader. I’m also a big fan of backpack design, you can find me watching a Kickstarter video and scrolling the whole campaign page.

The First Bag

This bag was made from an old North Face bag that I cut holes out of the side of so the cuffs of the blades could fit through. It presented problems when trying to get through subway turnstiles. Because the blades stuck out horizontally, I was essentially double-wide.

The FR Bag

In Spain I picked up an FR bag that I thought would be a lot better than my current solution. This bag is designed for blades, with the skates held vertically on the outside. It’s much more slim, making it easier to navigate the city.

Mods

Even with a purpose-built bag, I felt there were some improvements to be made.

Reflective Back

For safety during night blading, I added a huge reflective panel to the back of the bag. This makes me much more visible to cars from behind.

Water Bladder

Staying hydrated while blading is important, especially on long summer skates. I added a 2L water bladder to the internal compartment, with the tube routed through a small opening to the strap.

Key Clip

I’m always worried about losing my keys while being active. I added a dedicated key clip inside the small front pocket to ensure they stay secure while I rummage through.