Remote Equipment

Engineering the perfect tool for independence. Philip De Los Reyes combines his outdoor expertise with high-performance fabrics like X-Pac and Spectra to create bags that transition seamlessly from urban commute to mountain trail.

Philip De Los Reyes spent over a decade designing bags for Gregory Packs and Black Diamond. Ten years of engineering high-mountain gear, understanding how a harness should hug the shoulders under a 25-kilogram load, how a fabric resists the abrasion of a rock face, and how a zipper survives desert dust. In 2017, he left it all behind to launch Remote Equipment from Berkeley, California. One brand, one man, one obsession: the bag that does everything.

The first model, the Alpha 31, arrived on Kickstarter in 2018 and was an immediate success. With 31 liters expandable to 36, its triple-access design was a game-changer: top roll-top entry, front access via a large U-zip, and a side portal for laptop access without opening the main body. Then there are the "Torpedo" vertical front pockets - Remote Equipment's visual signature. They expand outward without consuming the internal volume of the main compartment. Elegant and clever.

The nomenclature follows the NATO phonetic alphabet: Alpha for the first model, Bravo for the second, Charlie for the third. Each name is followed by its capacity in liters. It’s military, it’s clean, and it says exactly what it is. Phil comes from the outdoor world, not marketing.

The materials leave no room for doubt. X-Pac VX21 and VX42 for the structure, ECOPAK EPX600 (100% recycled and waterproof) on certain editions, waterproof YKK Aquaguard zips, ITW Nexus and Duraflex buckles, and Spectra thread in high-abrasion zones. These are the same components found in professional expedition gear. Phil has transposed them for daily urban use, and that is where Remote Equipment’s brilliance lies.

The first Alpha was manufactured in the USA. Starting with the second model, Phil moved production to Ho Chi Minh City. This was not to cut costs, but to access technical expertise that few American workshops possess: the stitching of multi-layer laminates, the sealing of heat-welded seams, and the complex construction required by these high-performance fabrics. Vietnam has specialized know-how in technical bag making, and Phil recognized this early on.

On specialist forums, Remote Equipment has achieved "grail" status. The enthusiast communities forums are full of praise for the exceptional comfort of the harness and its urban-outdoor versatility. The Charlie 25, a compact version with a minimalist alpine style, expanded the range without diluting the brand's DNA. Each bag remains a tool designed for the autonomy of the modern nomad, as comfortable in the subway as it is on a mountain trail.