The Passport from Futures Fins
In my very humble opinion (I mean, very humble), Futures Fins makes the best keel systems on planet Earth. They have everything I need – performance thrusters and quads, single fins and my favorite lately, twinies.
But Futures, based out of Huntington Beach, Calif. where the brand makes most of its rad gear, is moving beyond hardgoods and their stab at functional soft stuff has been pretty damn awesome thus far.
To wit, I recommend you check out the Passport Backpack from Futures, a supremely hardy knapsack built for surfers and travelers like all of us.
First off, the material: the pack is made using British Millerain, an extremely tough ripstop wax canvas. This thing really feels burly. You’re not buying some cheap knockoff here. Second, the interior of the pack is separated for things like a computer (up to 17-inch screens with its own entrance to keep that important machine dry) and a 20-liter separated nylon wet/dry sack to put soaked things in, like of course your wetsuit.
The matte zippers finish this thing off and it looks really good with its black meshed design so it works as both a business carry-on or a tough backpack for Trestles trips. Again, the Passport is super tough, as each pack has been treated with a water-resistant coating and all the zippers are metal, none of that flimsy plastic stuff. To top it off, the Passport has two divided back panels for comfort as you carry if you need this for extra long hikes, etc., which is super comfortable. The pads are really well ventilated, too.
The one drawback on the Passport might be price at $250. But you’re paying for excellent craftsmanship made in America. And as hardy as this bag is, the price tag is certainly justifiable.
