GROUNDTRUTH RIKR ACCESSORIES : REVIEW

FOREWORD

This is my third review of Groundtruth products and it should be no surprise that I am very impressed with the level of sustainability the brand is pushing across the board on all its offerings.

After being smitten by the RIKR24 backpack and RIKR Tote, I was excited to test other products in the RIKR line, specifically:

• Travel Wallet

• Camera case

• 13” laptop case

• Tech pouch

Let’s see what makes these products special and why you should consider having them in your life.

WHO IT SUITS

• Those who care about the environment and conscious consumption will be impressed by the commitment Groundruth has made to sustainability.

• Anyone looking for high-quality, durable accessories to integrate into their demanding, active lifestyle.

• Those into techwear and futuristic products will dig the aesthetics and unique materials used by Groundtruth.

WHO IT DOESN’T

• Those looking for a heritage vibe in their products will not find it here. Groundtruth has a very distinct and modern look that might not work for everyone.

• If you love bright colors and a variety of options to choose from, Groundtruth products, at least for now, only come in black.

MATERIALS

Talking about Groundtruth products is impossible without focusing on the unique fabrics that were developed in-house to meet the ambitious sustainability goals the company set for itself.

You see, the majority of the products available on the market are made out of virgin materials, which means an entire supply chain is required from sourcing raw materials, transportation, manufacturing, etc... Bags are rarely made from a single material and are often a combination of dozens of materials and hardware. This means dozens of supply chains are involved to bring the product to life, which results in an enormous environmental impact.

What Groundtruth is focused on is using already manufactured, thrown away plastic and repurposing it to avoid the unnecessary waste of limited energy and resources to create virgin materials.

The most notable fabric Groundtruth has invented is called GT-RK-001. Perhaps not the sexiest name, but it made possible the creation of products that will not only push the industry’s limit of sustainability but also perform exceptionally well in the harshest conditions, like the deserts in Africa or the vast cold emptiness of Antarctica.

Apart from the sustainable Tripstop weave Groundtruth developed, the bag is also built using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). Everything is recycled including zippers, mesh padding, fleece lining, etc… Simply put, Groundtruth is using 100% Recycled Materials and all the products are ethically manufactured with the highest focus on sustainability.

Furthermore, despite being built from recycled materials, absolutely everything about the Groundtruth products feels premium and performs to the highest industry standards. Admittedly for something like a laptop case the materials are likely overkill, but it is also very confidence-inspiring to know that an accessory will probably outlast my children.

TRAVEL WALLET

This oversized wallet is perfect to store all your credit cards, cash, flight ticket, passport and could even fit a phone inside (tested with an iPhone 12 without the case).

It features three dedicated segments, folds easily, and is secured with an elastic band that I found to be great to carry the wallet in a clutch mode.

There is one slit pocket on the outside that I found handy to store a plane ticket.

Inside you have:

• a whopping 10 card slots, which I found to be way more than I personally needed (I try to keep my card count to 5 or less).

• a mesh YKK NATULON® zipped interior pocket.

• a passport slit.

• an interior money note slit.

Made out of GT-RK-001, the wallet features extreme water and abrasion resistance, but more importantly, it looks unlike anything else with a very beautiful triangular pattern that also has an extremely pleasant tactile feel to it. The inner liner is made out of 100% recycled hypalon which I found to be very durable and slightly rough to the touch, but also a dust magnet.

Each Travel Wallet removes 8 plastic bottles from our environment and is packaged in a 100% biodegradable cassava bag.

Priced at 75 GBP ~ $105

ORGANIZATION POUCH

Many tech pouches tend to be quite thick and bulky (for example Peak Design’s Tech Case, Evergoods’ CAP2), so it was quite refreshing to see Groundtruth’s take on what the daily tech organizer should be.

Rectangular yet with quite a thin profile, the tech pouch has a clamshell opening, a thick and padded top grab handle, and even attachment points (concealed when not in use) to attach to the RIKR24 or Tote. The thin profile allows throwing this pouch in smaller bags, better utilizing limited space. I loved using this pouch with the ORBITGear S400, which has a slim and long profile.

The top of the case is made out of the signature GT-RK-001, while the bottom features 100% recycled hypalon.

Upon opening the pouch a whole range of different organization features becomes available, from small zippered pockets ideal to store tiny adapters and memory cards to mesh pockets that have some volume to it, great to squeeze a portable charger or a power bank. There are plenty of compartments and elastic loops to organize your cables and even when full the pouch never becomes unwieldy.

The inner liner is all black and I would personally prefer something brighter for increased visibility.

Priced at 55 GBP ~ $76

CAMERA CASE

The camera case is an interesting product that can be used as standalone camera protection as well as integrated into the RIRK backpack. The case is supremely padded so I never had any concerns about my camera, even when accidentally bumping against the solid objects.

The zipper has a very generous opening allowing easy access to the camera and the silky smooth operation of the zipper always made the access effortless and quick. Another praise for the zipper: it is double-sided, allowing opening/closing the case from either side.

The liner is a high-quality fleece with a removable lens hammock to further protect your precious gear.

The shoulder strap is detachable, but I always preferred to keep it on even when the case was inserted into a larger bag. A zippered pocket on the outside was great to store a memory card or other flat objects. The mesh pockets outside were handy to store an extra battery for my camera.

Overall I found the camera case to perfectly complement my existing bags in rotation and I appreciated the seamless integration into the existing RIKR line, not just from an aesthetic point of view but also a functional one.

Each Camera Bag removes 25 plastic bottles from our environment.

Priced at 89 GBP ~ $123

LAPTOP CASE

Offered in 12”, 13” and 15” options the Laptop case features the same slick minimalist design seen across the entire RIKR line.

The case is unique thanks to the included, removable, shoulder strap that allows going ultra-minimal and cruising the city with only the essentials, as well as a handy removable mesh pouch attached to the back of the case. This is great for additional, somewhat concealed organization. I found it perfect to throw my passport or phone in. Great for flat items, so don’t go planning to store an apple there.

A welcome feature is the L-shaped opening with recycled YKK NATULON® zips, the shape of the zipper makes accessing the laptop a breeze.

I’ve seen plenty of laptop cases but not the ones that are modular and also feature a removable shoulder strap. This makes the product unique and easy to recommend. Well done, Groundtruth!

Each Laptop Bag removes 31 to 34 plastic bottles from our environment (depending on the 13” and 15” option)

Priced at 95 GBP ~ $130

WHAT’S HOT

• Outstanding build quality and materials across the board.

• Pushing the boundaries of sustainability and challenging how the softgoods industry should treat the manufacturing of their products.

• Seamless integration into the entire RIKR product line (backpack, tote, etc...).

• Highly functional, no gimmicks or redundant features

WHAT’S NOT

• All the accessories only come in black, for now, which might not work for everyone.

• I can only praise GT-RK-001 with its unique design and tactile feel, however, the hypalon used on the accessories is a dust magnet, so maintaining the pristine condition was a bit of a challenge

VERDICT

The team at Groundtruth continues to impress. The RIKR accessories are great as standalone items but also work very well together, keeping the same unique futuristic aesthetic that sets all Groundtruth products apart, as well as their excellent usability.

If you don’t mind having a single color option (and let’s admit, black is a timeless and very practical option anyway) and don’t care much about hypalon being a dust magnet, the RIRK accessories deserve your attention as industry-leading products, not just in terms of functionality but also in sustainability and ethical production.

I can’t wait to see what else the wizards at Groundtruth have planned for the future. Surely, with companies like Groundtruth, the future is bright.