The Second Annual Carry Awards

That time of year has come around yet again. When we all get to kneel down, drop our heads and heave praise on the makers that have knuckled down, dug in and produced something truly rad and sexy.

Our aim? Well, that’s easy, we want to give respect to crews that exhibited real insight, nudged the boundaries and served up something that – to put it bluntly – yielded real value.

So Carryologists, now’s the time speak up and put your stamp on what pieces you really dug.

We’ll open up the floodgates this Friday (24th of January) and you’ll be gifted with a precise little voting box to name your carry fav’s by brand, model, category and we’ll even give you 140 characters to let us know why it’s so awesome.

Your votes will be compiled and melded with those of our contributors, and a concise, uninfluenced list of the elite will be uploaded the following week. Sound good?

To jog your memories, here’s this year’s categories slapped with pics of last year’s winners – just to get the juices flowing. (Oh, and these carry pieces are out of the running this year as we’re after new products, new blood, so think hard.) PS: If a models been updated then that’s new enough for us.

The Carry Awards 2013

Here are the categories with last year’s winners…

Best Work Backpack:

Work focused – these bags suit an office space, but also work on the commute and any travel you do. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Work Messenger:

Work focused – these bags suit an office space, but also work on the commute and any travel you do. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Active Backpack: 

Play focused – whether for sports and activities, or just versatile carry that you can do lots with, these bags play outside on your bike, or even your hover-board (still waiting on that one!). Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Active Messenger:

Play focused – whether for sports and activities, or just versatile carry that you can do lots with, these bags play outside on your bike, or while just kicking it in the park. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Carry On:

Travel focused – this carry gear nails it in the airports, the airport bars and beyond. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Check In:

Travel focused – this carry gear nails it in the airports, the airport bars and beyond. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Specialist:

Speciality categories – whether you need to carry around your surfboards or your Kendo swords, these bags have a single minded purpose. Click here  to peep last year’s award post.

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Best Accessory:

Speciality categories – from computer sleeves and travel wallets, to bum bags if that’s your thing. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Hall of Fame:

Classics pre-2012 – what are the iconic carry pieces, the stuff that helped redefine our industry? And for a twist this year, we’re asking that it has modern relevance to now. Click here to peep last year’s award post.

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Remember the criteria: Consider value, versatility, sexiness, how dialed it is, but most importantly, how awesome it is.

FAQs Is it just carry released in 2013? Mostly, but there is wriggle room. If you love the Cote & Ciel Isar, and we know it gets constantly tweaked and refined, we can definitely include it. Not saying the Isar will be in there, but you know, we needed an example…

How does the judging work? We had the smartest thing known to humankind work out a weighted scoring system for us, where we balance the suggestions of the raddest crew in carry with the people’s vote, and it tells us the REAL winners.

Can we promote this through our own channels? Hell yeah. Let’s spread the word and recognise carry greatness!