Can DB’s Travel Gear Actually Change Your Life? - Stab Mag

Dropping This Thursday 1/16 At 5 PM PST — New Episode Of How Surfers Get Paid

1507 Views

Can DB’s Travel Gear Actually Change Your Life?

Reviews from the perpetually moving Stab staff.

hardware // Feb 1, 2024
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Roughly two years ago, we published a story claiming that a boardbag and luggage set could change your life. 

It may or may not have struck you as a tad hyperbolic. 

But if you considered the condition that you’d need to travel constantly — and with lots of objects — in order to activate DB’s life-changing properties, you’d realize there may be integrity to the claim. 

A few spins around the sun later, we decided to check in with the Stab staff (whom meet the criteria laid out above) to see how their DB gear is going and if lives have indeed changed. 

Let’s. 

Hugger Roller 90L

I’ve been using this all year. There’s a lot of room for all my clothes, towels, toiletries, and tripod to fit easily — in my last bag, my tripod was awkward to cram in there, and it barely left any room for the rest of my gear. The material seems pretty lightweight but has some durability. It was super easy to roll and throw into the back of a car. I liked the shape/design, too. It’s easy to spot on the carousel and has handles on all four sides, making it easier to grab.

-Blake Michel, Stab Films

Surf Roller Bag 3-4 Boards

On my earliest surf trips, I recall traveling with my dad’s old boardbag. Thing was fucking brutal. It didn’t have wheels, and it offered limited protection, despite seeming to contain enough fabric to keep an entire Nordic village warm through a harsh winter. Curiously, this thing came from Nordic people and is the opposite. It protects boards, glides through the airport like Leif Erikson’s long ship heading towards Newfoundland on an uncharacteristically calm day in the Atlantic, and looks great. 

-Brendan Buckley, Editor at Large

Ramverk Sling and Camera insert

These were really nice to have during our recent stint in Hawaii for the Vans Pipe Masters. I fit my B-camera, drone, drone batteries, and controller in the camera insert. I used to just throw my drone and other camera gear in my open pelican case with clothes surrounding it, and this time the camera insert kept everything neat and safe in the pelican case. The sling bag was really nice to have on the shoot because I put all my batteries, SD cards, and lenses in there for easy access while shooting. I also used it as a camera saddle bag. We shot handheld for almost two hours per day, and it kept the camera steady the whole time. 

-Will Stiles, Stab Films

Ramverk Pro Backpack 26L

I bring this to the office every day and it fits my laptop, keyboard, mouse, headphones, waterbottle, and hard drives — I think I fit 11 in there one day. It’s got a lot of separated zippers on the inside to keep all the small stuff organized and the top zipper is nice to access airpods, wallet, keys, sunnies, etc. It’s sweet. 

-Hayden Williamson, multi-purpose weapon.

The Full Kit

The surfboard bag looks good, feels good, and makes me believe (however naively) that luggage carriers will treat it nicely.

The fact that it connects to the Db roller bag is seriously a game changer. I had no idea how much I’d use that feature and how much it would change my travel experience. I’m not sure how they engineered it, but it’s literally less effort to the drag the boardbag connected to the roller bag than it is to drag the board bag on its own. Sweating your way through the airport is a thing of the past.

The roller luggage is exactly what meets the eye: big bag, one compartment, shove everything inside and off you go. Only once have I been called out on the bag being “too big” and had to pay an oversized fee. Most of the time they let it slide.

The Ramverk backpack is secretly the pick of the bunch. It has one main compartment to stuff bulkier travel essentials (book, lappy, water bottle, Now That’s What I Call Music 43-49 CDs) and then a covert top pouch for valuables and quick-grab items.

If you have a significant other, double the price tag on this thing because there’s no way you’re getting just one.

-Michael Ciaramella, Editor in Cheif

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Natural Selection Surf: “Five People Got The Wave Of Their Life That Day”

What really happened in Micronesia last week?

Jan 14, 2025

Nike Swoosh Reenters The Surf Chat

Sierra Kerr inks 2-year footwear deal with distressed sneaker giant. 

Jan 13, 2025

Prediction: Al Cleland Jr. Will Surf On The 2025 CT— Even If It Means Losing A 3x World Champ

What a 2014 Surfer's Journal article says about JJF's competitive future.

Jan 12, 2025

Stab Interview: A Former Stab High Money-Winner Is On The Frontline Of The L.A. Wildfires

We caught Kevin Schulz on his break as he battles the "most destructive fire in…

Jan 12, 2025

Gabriel Medina Undergoes Surgery After Pectoral Injury in Maresias 

CT door blows open: Ian Gentil or Al Cleland?

Jan 12, 2025

What’s The Secret To Taro Watanabe’s Layback?

A six minute single session from San Clemente's crown jewel.

Jan 11, 2025

A Hero Is Gone: Mike Hynson 1942-2025

The Endless Summer star was 82.

Jan 11, 2025

Here’s How Rasta’s Electric Acid Surfboard Test Soundtrack Came To Life

An interview with Stab's resident music maker, Rick Snowden.

Jan 10, 2025

Surfers Are Leading The “Community Brigades” That Are Fighting Malibu’s Wildfires

"The 'hero-saving-victim paradigm' only perpetuates our refusal to acknowledge our decision to live in a…

Jan 9, 2025

The Sponsor Changes Keep Coming In 2025

New year, new deals.

Jan 9, 2025

Online Now: ‘Horse’ – A Tranquilising Surf Film Of Shelf Discovery Ft Noa Deane 

“Mash was just a mash of shit, this is a bit more cohesive,’ says filmmaker…

Jan 9, 2025

“It’s Ridiculous To Put A Two Dimensional Measurement On A Three Dimensional Force”

Alo Slebir and Luca Padua articulately dismantle the rat-race of big wave World Records

Jan 9, 2025

The Expanding Correspondence Between Surfing And Self-Expression

Ozzy Wright, Thomas Campbell, Jaleesa Vincent, Otis Carey, and Alex Knost speak on the curious…

Jan 8, 2025

Can You Make A Living As A Freesurfer In 2025?

Former Quik marketing guru explains the economic realities of surfing for your supper.

Jan 6, 2025

Empty Set: Why The Fuck Are We Measuring Waves In Kilojoules? 

Stormsurf's Mark Sponsler and Surfline's Daniel Thomson explain the surf forecasting equivalent to board volume. 

Jan 4, 2025

A Middle-Aged British Man’s Ins & Outs For Surf Culture In 2025

Let the pendulum swing!

Jan 2, 2025

The 24 Most Spectacular Waves (And Wipeouts) Of 2024

A collection of the most memorable surfing from the past 8760 hours.

Jan 1, 2025

John John Florence and Caity Simmers Just Won Stab Surfer of the Year 2024

Step inside to see who claimed the junior, edit, film, and YouTube crowns.

Dec 31, 2024
Advertisement