Los Angeles-based Ignoble is a two-person boutique shop that produces small runs of pricey, “noir”-inspired travel goods.
The brand makes five pack models, all of which are super stealth and blacked-out.
I got the Marion Tombs models this winter and took them on a pair of cross-country road trips for a test.
The packs, which are hand-assembled in small runs, got the job done. Tough nylon construction and plenty of space (the Cora has a 36-liter capacity, the Tombs has 29) made the packs great for travel.
Both have a large main compartment equipped for storing a laptop and more than a few days worth of clothes and goods. The Cora has an adjustable top and draw-sack that makes it better for storing and balancing a large load.
The Marion is a lighter bag that is faster and easier to access given the main compartment’s large wraparound zipper and a handful of zippered external stash pockets.
When I haven’t been traveling, the packs have both proved more than adequate for daily bike commuting and easy hiking as well.
The packs both passed the test in terms of functionality and looks, but as far as pricing I was a bit floored. $200. For each.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m usually willing to pay more for made in the USA products, especially when it’s a small shop. But holy smokes. $200 is tough to justify when I could get the same functionality in a pack that might not look as cool, but is less than half the price.
