BLACK EMBER SHADOW 26: REVIEW
FOREWORD
Right off the bat I have to admit that I am partial to Black Ember products. They’re a small innovative team based in San-Francisco that has been pushing the boundaries of what everyday carry (EDC) can be for urban dwellers and beyond. I was fortunate enough to review the WaterProofRollTop (WPRT article) as well as the TechKitSling (TKS article) which both left me impressed and very intrigued to see what else Black Ember would release in the future.
Enter The Shadow (comes in 22L and 26L), their latest backpack that was, once again, funded using Kickstarter (raising almost 30000% of its original goal) and currently on preorder at their website (https://blackember.com/pages/best-everyday-backpacks ).
Black Ember was kind enough to provide me with the 26L version of the bag, which was tested over the course of 8 weeks. This mainly as an EDC in an urban environment, basically as a mobile office.
Does the Shadow 26 live up to expectations? How is it different from previous Black Ember offerings (such as the similarly sized R2 with 25L capacity)? And most importantly, should you consider the Shadow for your EDC?
Read on to find out.
WHO IT SUITS
Minimalists seeking a simple and practical backpack.
Anyone looking for a waterproof bag and who values the peace of mind of having the contents dry no matter the weather.
Those who want a durable, long-lasting bag backed by a lifetime warranty.
WHO IT DOESN’T
Black Ember’s design and aesthetics might not work for everyone.
If you need dedicated access to your laptop you might not enjoy the need to get into the main compartment to get your gear.
Unlike previous Black Ember offerings, the Shadow is not modular so if you want a customizable bag or hope to reuse existing mods and accessories the Shadow might disappoint.
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $229 ( Pre-order price $183)
DIMENSIONS: 19 x 12 x 7.5 in (483x305x191)
WEIGHT: 1.1 kg (22L) and 1.4 kg (26L)
CAPACITY: 22L and 26L
As all Black Ember products, the Shadow 26 came in a stylish black, reusable soft bag secured by drawstring. Upon taking the bag out, it immediately and unmistakably felt like a Black Ember product. Featuring the same sleek, clean silhouette and offering one of the best water resistances in the industry, thanks to the innovative fabrics and bonding process used.
Unlike previous BE backpacks (WPRT, R2, Forge) which in some way or another were modular (even the minimal versions offered a degree of customization thanks to the rich ecosystem of accessories designed in-house) the Shadow is essentially “what you see is what you get”. Despite it being a departure from the previous direction, many will welcome this change. After all, modularity means that to fully spec out the bag you need to invest considerably in the ecosystem of accessories and mods. With the Shadow however you get the bag and you are set.
It makes sense to compare the Shadow 26 to the R2. They have similar capacity (26 vs 25L), full clamshell opening, a nearly identical harness system and both occupy the niche of EDC bags. Unlike the R2 however the Shadow 26 has a few key differences:
The front pocket has much more dimension and is therefore way more usable compared to the flat pocket on the R2.
No modularity, as mentioned before.
The top and side grab handles are permanently attached.
The shape of the bag is more streamlined with rounded corners and easier on the eye compared to the more ‘boxy’ look of the R2.
The fabric and structure of the bag are very different. The fabric is much softer which also means that the bag can look very different empty and full. This in stark contrast to the R2 which looks the same regardless of the load, thanks to the built-in structure of the bag.
Laptop access is strictly from the main compartment, unlike the dedicated laptop compartment accessed from the top of the R2.
The Shadow has built-in organizations very similar to the TKS.
These differences are quite substantial and make the Shadow a very interesting addition to the product line and not necessarily a replacement for any existing bag in Black Ember’s portfolio.
COMFORT
As with all Black Ember bags comfort is excellent and the harness system is nearly identical to the R2 and Forge. Nicely padded, contoured shoulder straps in combination with a dense, yet soft, back panel make carrying this bag a very pleasant experience regardless of the load.
I am sure Black Ember has tried countless iterations of the harness before choosing this one and based on my experience using multiple Black Ember bags, I can say they nailed the comfort.
DESIGN & FEATURES
Minimal. Clean. Streamlined. These words come to mind when looking at and using the Shadow. Deep black color with matching YKK Aquaguard zippers and subtly branded hypalon zipper pulls all come together nicely. There is nothing flashy about it, but I can’t possibly call the Shadow a boring product. It revels in its stealthy technical identity.
There are many little things Black Ember incorporated in the Shadow which made using the bag a joy. Some of the noteworthy features include:
Internal organization of the front pocket, including a magnetic red key clip.
Internal organization of the main compartment with light grey mesh for a beautiful silver interior, which is also great for visibility!
2 side handles.
Full clamshell opening for extreme access and packing convenience.
The bonding process, the fabric and the YKK AquaGuard zippers make the Shadow essentially impregnable for the elements.
Overall, despite the design being clearly minimal, the pack feels polished and complete with just enough features to be useful without getting complicated.
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
Black Ember is well known for having some materials wizards and the Shadow 26 does not disappoint with a new innovative fabric called HTX. The main material is a three layer high tenacity fabric that offers supreme durability and waterproofing. Soft to the touch and less structured compared to the R2, it no longer has a “rubbery” feeling and also allows the pack to be compressed well when empty. This was certainly not the case with the R2.
The hardware is brilliant across the board. The custom-made aluminum hardware and YKK Aquaguard zippers complement the stealthy, technical look of the pack extremely well.
The inner liner is also great and a joy to use, the matte silver 200d ripstop is durable and offers wonderful visibility in the main compartment.
Subtle branding, laser etched on the hypalon zipper pulls, is very appreciated and goes well with the ninja aesthetic of the Shadow. The attention to detail and commitment to making the Shadow the best EDC bag one could ask for really paid off here.
The organization is just right. The front pocket on the R2 was too flat to be truly useful (it reminded me of Goruck’s front pockets in that regard) but in the Shadow the pocket finally has some dimension and, more importantly, subtle yet efficient organization with an included magnetic key clip. Conveniently there is a cable passthrough that goes from the main compartment to the front pocket, allowing you to charge your device with a powerbank placed in the main compartment.
The main compartment has everything one could possibly need: a fleece lined and suspended laptop sleeve, tablet sleeve, mesh zippered and open pockets with some healthy dimension and of course the TKS-style accordion organizer secured with a WooJin Magic Catcher (South Korean alternative to Fidlock buckle). I loved everything about the built-in organization apart from the accordion section, which added some bulk. It can also feel too rigid when in use. This is specific to me as I tend to rotate many bags and have a few org pouches with my essentials that I simply transition from one bag to another. This means that I don’t need the sophisticated organization offered by the Shadow’s accordion section. I did try to use it though and ultimately preferred other solutions to organize the little things I carry. Your mileage may vary and will depend on how you currently organize your EDC. The Shadow 26 would be perfect for those who have zero pouches/organizers, so they can fully utilize the built-in organization offered by the bag.
WHAT’S HOT
Excellent build and materials
Extremely weatherproof (claimed to be waterproof)
Very comfortable, as expected from a Black Ember bag
Thoughtful built-in organization
Fair and reasonable pricing considering the overall quality and lifetime warranty
Comes in 2 sizes to accommodate different needs and body types
WHAT’S NOT
Not compatible with existing Black Ember mods and accessories.
Can look floppy when not full.
TKS-like internal organization adds bulk and is not as convenient to use as I hoped. Some will find it a godsend, others (like myself) nearly useless due to other solutions in place.
No external access to your laptop (unlike previous BE bags), forcing you to get into the main compartment whenever you need it.
VERDICT
The Shadow 26 is a cool pack. It is unmistakably a Black Ember product with the brand’s DNA (blacked out, waterproof, minimal, sleek) all over it. At the same time, it shows a clear departure from the modularity and structure seen in previous products, which for some people could be a huge benefit (no need to invest in a sophisticated ecosystem of mods and accessories to reveal the pack’s full potential) and for others a significant drawback (especially for those who have already heavily invested in the BE ecosystem, which is not compatible with the Shadow).
Personally I enjoyed using the bag and, based on my experience with other Black Ember products, I can clearly see that the Shadow fits well in the existing BE line-up.
At the end of the day, if you are looking for a supremely comfortable, slick and minimal EDC bag, the Shadow should be on top of your list. Just be aware that if you use existing organization solutions some of the cool built-in organization of the Shadow might become useless and will still be a permanent part of the bag.
Disclaimer
The Shadow 26 was provided by Black Ember as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Black Ember before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.