Black Ember TKS - sleek combo sling/tech kit with high tech materials & frustrating usability issues

[@TMCC401]

Very cool....I wish they had a version that wasn't for tech

[@tamasbarad8202]

Another example of modern gimmicky "want-to-be-everything" bags that are made for Kickstarter and impulse buys. Quality build on a horrible concept. I think as a rule of thumb it's wise to rule out everything that has a thick hardshell inner devider in it for that size, it just kills so much space. (ie. the PeakDesign Everyday backpack 30L is more like 20 in usable capacity for the same reason) I admit hip packs and sling are probably the hardest to get right, pouches are a bit easier bit it's also an exciting challenge. Nevertheless this is a good negative example. As said before I highly appreciate your excellent unbiased reviews, there are only a handful channels who actually help people to make a good decision and not just recommending everyting for affiliate revenue. I ended up with the Modern Dayfahrer Active Sling. It's quite ingenious actually. Can recommend it.

[@TheMountainborn]

Thank you so much for the kind words Tamas! And I completely agree with everything you wrote. On the one hand I really appreciate that so many manufacturers these days are willing to take on new and novel takes on different concepts - it's really made the modern carry world so vibrant and exciting versus even a 5 or 6 years ago. On the other hand, the shortened development and distorted hype/virality cycle incentivized by kickstarter-funded production in particular results in a ton of products that, as you rightfully point out, prioritise design or form over actual function and practicality. For some people such as myself for whom bags are a hobby this can sometimes be okay - it's not the end of the world to get something that is novel but not so practical, simply because it's cool to add to a collection and there are dozens of other more functional bags for practical everyday use. But for the average (sane) consumer who (wisely) doesn't have dozens of different bags for different use cases, the consequences of spending their money only to be ultimately disappointed by an unusable/flawed product is significant, and lamentable. I just wish that more manufacturers (even those who fund by Kickstarter) would put more time and effort into making sure the usability/functionality matches the looks/hype - and both spend more time testing before release and making sure to fix issues found in testing before final production (i.e. there is no way Black Ember didn't realise the myriad of usability issues with the TKS - they just chose to release it as is anyway which is ultimately disappointing). > I ended up with the Modern Dayfahrer Active Sling I've never used their Active Sling but I am a big fan of their original Wayfarer Sling. The Active Sling looks cool - the shape reminds me of what an updated Peak Design Field Pouch with more modern materials/design could look like. Might have to pick one up! :)

[@kjtechandthings7263]

I was about to pull the trigger till I saw your video. Wondering now I it really for me.

[@TheMountainborn]

There are a few positive things about this sling, but personally I believe there are far better choices out there, especially for the price.

[@eagle9516]

Thank you for the on point review, Normally I like Black Ember for the materials they use but once again a poor execution. I bought this also as part of the kickstarter campaign and was highly disappointed. No real storage capabilities and I hate when it I swing it to the front it leans away from your chest due to the strap placement design. I have two peak design sling bags and love the execution. Thanks again for the review. Hopefully Black Ember is listening!

[@TheMountainborn]

Hi Lord Vader! I'm glad you enjoyed the review. And yes, the TKS was a major disappointment but I have high hopes for the upcoming Black Ember Kompak - although like others who pre-ordered, I just received a notification that shipment will be delayed until February 😢. Will be sure to do a review of it once I finally get it in my hands!

[@michaelklein23]

Have the chap stick somewhere else. Open the front “quick” access pocket half way thru to take your phone. Have the wallet in the back and anything else that’s “bulkier”, possibly move the kick stand in the accordion. Appreciate the honesty but a little nit-picky imo. This sling is still probably not for me just find it interesting and I’m a sucker for fidlocks and minimalist design. I recently picked up the modern dayfarer active and is fine for my use case.

[@TheMountainborn]

Hi Mike - thanks for your comment. Believe me, I did try several different variations and load outs (I've been in this carry game for quite a while now) but in each case there were significant compromises to be made due to the non-trivial flaws inherent to how this sling was designed. I think you actually hit the nail on the head with this statement: > This sling is still probably not for me just find it interesting and I’m a sucker for fidlocks and minimalist design This characterises a lot of Black Ember's products for me - really great materials and hardware and lots of individually cool ideas and features, but when combined the holistic user experience of the end product is somehow... less than the sum of all the parts at best (BE Shadow, Forge) and/or marred by significant compromises and quirks (BE TKS). I refer to this as "refinement" (I probably stole this term from somewhere as I didn't invent it). Black Ember products tend to be really cool and interesting from a feature/spec-sheet perspective but unrefined in the final user experience, in my opinion. > Appreciate the honesty but a little nit-picky imo. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I own literally dozens (more than 30) different slings and sling-like bags and I am very comfortable in saying that the issues in the TKS sling are non-trivial and significantly impede the comfortable use or utility of this bag. It is significantly worse in use than the vast majority of the competition out there and with one or two narrow exceptions, most people will be far better served spending their money on virtually anything else. I don't consider not really being able to comfortably use a bag for its intended function or failing to think through properly a central feature like the accordion pocket (which dominates the space in this tiny sling) to be nitpicky. Now there are people out there (such as myself, actually) who for whatever reason don't mind buying bags for purposes other than use and without thought of derived utility for the money - notable examples of differing design approaches to existing problems, or because we like the visual asthetic or materials even if we don't intend to use it very much, etc. I think there is room in the carry world for review videos that speak to this perspective (approached from the perspective of an enthusiast appreciation of the item as a design object) and maybe someday I will make them, but for now my videos are intended as deep dive examinations of bags for people who are considering using them and presumably care about getting a certain amount of utility/benefit from their money. (I like to think that because I am fortunate enough to be able to own and buy hundreds of bags and really put them through their paces that I can take some of that broad experience base and share it with people to help them better decide how to spend their hard earned money.) Given this paradigm from which I approach my videos I want to make sure I call out issues with bags so people can make informed purchasing decisions. If you see these as nitpicks I understand, but I think that most people watching this channel will appreciate it, especially when there is a host of other options from the competitors at similar price points without some of these flaws.

[@unmen]

Excellent review and constructive criticism. Thanks.

[@TheMountainborn]

My pleasure! Glad it was useful for you!!

[@High_Key]

Regret backing this thing on Kickstarter. Awesome features but executed horribly. And it’s way too big to be a dual tech pouch/sing.

[@TheMountainborn]

Aye my friend, I feel your pain!! 😂

[@MrJed_s]

What exactly is the use case for wearing a tech pouch on your body? Also the zipper pulls are supposed to go through the small holes (either in the garage or each other) according to the promo video FYI. Looking forward to the shadow review. I was actually pretty keen on that bag but the accordion being non-removable killed the deal.

[@TheMountainborn]

> Also the zipper pulls are supposed to go through the small holes (either in the garage or each other) according to the promo video FYI. *facepalm* oh my goodness, watching back through my video I can't believe I did that. Sigh..... so embarrassing. Thank you for pointing this out! 😅 > What exactly is the use case for wearing a tech pouch on your body? Exactly! While on the one hand I appreciate novel approaches in the carry game, just because something is unique doesn't necessarily mean it makes sense or is good.... 😂 In general I think that convertibility / multi-carry modes/purposes is so hard to get right in bags and the smaller a bag, the harder it becomes. In this case there are just so many needless compromises that arose from trying to serve such disparate use cases that it ends up being not a very good sling or a very good tech kit. Alas. > Looking forward to the shadow review. I was actually pretty keen on that bag but the accordion being non-removable killed the deal. Coming soon! FWIW I actually ended up finding the accordion much more useful on the Shadow than I expected (I'm generally a heavy pouch user so I thought the non-removable organisation would really annoy me, but I found myself enjoying the slightly different organisation/access options it ended up providing me) which is why I ended up taking the risk and buying the TKS. I think the biggest difference is the Shadow has a lot more volume and other pockets so it's easy to work around the constrained limitations of the accordion pocket and only use it for the bits that it works well for (little bits and bobs you need quick access to and want to keep organised), while other larger things (battery banks, etc.) can be stashed elsewhere in the bag. Also, being a backpack the use case is naturally different than a sling, so it means that I'm often carrying more "stuff" - that means more things that might naturally work well in the accordion pocket, versus a sling where it's generally pared down to the bare essentials, many of which (earbuds, wallet, etc.) are too bulky for the limited capacity of the TKS.

[@andris996]

Hey, first time viewer, loved it! :) I was considering the TKS because I would like to buy a multi purpose pouch. I would like to store it in my bag (without having to fight with the strap) and when I am out and about I would like to use it as a sling. Do you have any suggestion on a similar concept? I was considering the PD TechKit though it is a bit too big for my liking (as you said it too). Even a Pouch with detachable strap would be nice. Thank you.

[@TheMountainborn]

Hi Andras! Thank you for the kind words! So I didn't mention it in the "Also consider" because I didn't have one on hand, but the Wandrd Tech Bag (available in 3 sizes, but the Medium is the closest in size to the TKS I believe) is very close to this same concept - a tech pouch with an internal accordion organiser that can also double as a sling via a removable (as opposed to stowable) strap. www.wandrd.com/products/tech-bag I noticed you said "multipurpose pouch" as opposed to a "tech pouch" - depending on your needs, there are many pouches that could potentially fit your use case, especially if you're looking to carry smaller EDC goods like wallet/earphones/etc. as opposed to big laptop chargers, etc. Two bags I use for *exactly* this purpose (small organiser bag that gets left in my bigger bag but also works as a sling) is the Bellroy City Pouch and City Pouch Plus (these are different from the Bellroy Sling I showed in the video) bellroy.com/products/city-pouch-plus/ bellroy.com/products/city-pouch/ Another option might be the Heimplanet Neck Pouch A5 (there is also a smaller one available) www.heimplanet.com/products/carry-essentials-neck-pouch-a5-dark Finally, I would suggest is looking up sacoche bags - there are tons of bags like this out in the market, many of them in interesting fabrics like X-Pac or Dyneema if that's your thing, with varying degrees of organisation. At their heart however, they are all essentially flatter pouches with removable straps that would work great for your use case. I am a big fan of this style of bag and I have a feeling you might like them too. I hope this helps!

[@andris996]

@@TheMountainborn Thank you very much :) Helped a ton :)

[@epretto]

I own a TKS. I have supported it on Kickstarter. The quality materials are there. 😁

[@TheMountainborn]

I feel you my friend! The materials are amazing! The functionality on the other hand.... 😅 I do love how it looks though, sitting on my shelf, empty haha

[@epretto]

@Electronic Samurai What other sling did you look at lately ?

[@epretto]

@Electronic Samurai after this review , I find it pretty easy to decide ;) Bo Ismono also made a review on the TKS ... go take a look.

[@epretto]

When I got the tks, I was using the zpacks multi-pack as my main sling. It is still my go to sling. My CoB Xpak is my sling for larger needs. CoB is awesome.

[@epretto]

@Electronic Samurai if after all this reviews, you are still interested, then do it! What I can say is: I like bags. Even the ones that I won't use much actually teach me something about how I like to carry. :)

[@mauricesaunders5460]

Can it fit an iPad mini in that pocket where the power bank is suppose to be in the accordion pouch?

[@TheMountainborn]

Hi Maurice - unfortunately this bag is nowhere near enough to fit an iPad mini. If you want to carry an iPad mini I suggest to go with something like the Bellroy Venture slign line (either the 6L or 9L will carry it), the Bellroy Sling lite (surprisingly will fit an iPad mini), the Aer Day Sling 3 Max (will also fit a smaller iPad Pro with type cover) or else some of the various offerings from Alpaka Gear. Good luck!

[@woyaodapian]

Own one and I can say everything in this review is spot on. Though It really looks and feels good.

[@TheMountainborn]

Thanks Peter - yes, this bag has got some real head-turning looks - I just wish it were.... better and more useable 😂

[@juscallmemickey]

Couldn't agree more. I have the 26l and it feels more like a 23l

[@royziimen1392]

Awesome vid! Do you plan to do a review of the Black Ember Shadow? Am holding off on making my purchase until I hear your thoughts and also hoping to get some guidance on whether the 22L is sufficient or if it's better to just go for the 26L..

[@TheMountainborn]

Hey Roy!! I just release a review of the Black Ember Shadow 22L yesterday - it's the latest video on my channel. I didn't really compare between the 22 and 26L in that video though. However, if you let me know what your intended purpose (travel, edc, etc.) is and/or what you're planning to carry in the bag I can try to share some guidance on which might work better in my opinion!

[@royziimen1392]

@@TheMountainborn thanks so much! So my EDC are two 13” laptops (one with a sleeve), laptop charger, power bank, a few cables and SD card reader, glasses, small umbrella, water bottle, and a light sweater/jacket. Occasionally I would have a tablet and some snacks.

[@TheMountainborn]

Ah I see. Based on the fact that you are two-laptop-ing (+occasional tablet carry) it, I would lean towards suggesting the 26L. My primary concern is how thick your laptops are - if they are both thinner like MacBook pros for example, you should be able to get one in the laptop pocket and one in the tablet pocket (or possibly both in the laptop pocket depending on how thick the sleeve is). However, if they're thicker laptops you might only be able to carry one in the laptop holder and then have to put the other one (with the sleeve) in the main compartment. There's no padding really on the bag (just a little bit on the bottom) so you'll want to be careful about throwing the bag around :) I personally prefer a tighter, snugger carry so would normally lean towards the 22L however since you want to carry both a water bottle and umbrella and light sweater/jacket along with the two laptops I think you'll need the bigger 26. Here is how I think a first pass at packing might look: * Front Zipper compartment: phone, keys, etc. (Possibly glasses in case depending on size), possibly snacks. * Inner accordion pocket: SD reader, little odds and ends (possibly glasses depending on size), wallet if it's slim enough, earbuds, etc. Possibly powerbank depending on size. * Inner mesh pocket: power bank (if it's too large to fit in accordion), cables, laptop charger. * Inner mesh water bottle pocket: Water bottle * Main compartment: umbrella, sweater/jacket, possibly 13" laptop in sleeve * Tablet sleeve: Tablet or one of the 13" laptop if thin enough * Laptop sleeve: another 13" laptop I hope this helps!

[@royziimen1392]

@@TheMountainborn incredible feedback and help! Thank you so much!

[@idrissamorehouse5776]

Funny enough after looking at every sling like this ON EARTH i found the best pound for pound in this same style is actually the REI tech sling --BUT the water proofing is something i really need !! They got some really great ideas Despite the kinks - im excited to watch BLACK EMBER grow - its rare that anyone thoroughly and physically models all the use CASE scenarios for each pocket wow SUPER APPRECIATE THAT!! I really wish PEAK DESIGN would make some actual water proof stuff :(

[@TheMountainborn]

Hi Idrissa! I just searched but I couldn't find anything named the Tech Sling on REI's site - I'd love to check it out, do you happen to have a link to the product page? Agreed on the waterproofing challenges with the Peak Design lineup - even though I have a ton of their stuff, I just generally feel like there's a lot of not so great things with their bags. They were very innovative when they came out but there's a whole host of frustrations I have with them especially when trying to carry even minimalist EDC stuff (wallet, earbuds, keys, notebook and phone) alongside my camera gear. I hope they bring their A-game for the version 3s, but I'm not holding my breath :( Regarding Black Ember - I wasn't super thrilled with the TKS as you can see in this video, but I did preorder the Kompak - that one i have higher hopes for. If you haven't seen it, check it out!

[@idrissamorehouse5776]

@@TheMountainborn i just examined the bag and theres no defining model # unfortunately:/ if i go to REI anytime soon ill ask them to look up my purchase history see if they can help :)

[@drone9]

The design fail became apparent the moment I tried to fit my bulky old school wallet into the accordion pocket. We decided to part ways soon thereafter.

[@TheMountainborn]

Yup, that about sums it up. 😂

[@guestleather9442]

goooooood

[@TheMountainborn]

Thank you!

[@guestleather9442]

honest

[@TheMountainborn]

Thank you!

[@stefanbreuer3953]

Think before you order 😉. And the belroy sling is a cheap peace of stuff.

[@TheMountainborn]

Oh believe me my friend, I was 99% sure before I pulled the trigger on this that it wasn't going to work out, but sometimes my wallet has to take the hit just to be sure - the things we do for the love of the carry game 😂 > belroy sling is a cheap peace of stuff Did you mean it was cheap as in quality-wise or price-wise? (or both?)