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How a “maker” builds their personal bike says a lot about how their mind works. For Kyle from Outer Shell, a bag manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, that means go with time-proven staples and splurge on the important places. Kyle’s Mikkelsen is unique, to say the least, but every moment, every bolt, every component has been thought out, down to the cantilever arm, machined to hold his Sinewave Beacon light and Hite Rite dropper.
Outer Shell has been putting out some truly innovative products since Kyle first began the brand, including my favorite on the bike camera bag and now, these new Pico Panniers, which utilize a unique mounting system are sure to be a hit. Path Less Pedaled takes an up close and personal look at these new bags.
For those looking for a bag that can function as both a camera and a basket randonneur bag, then check out the latest from Outer Shell. These basket bags are meant to fit in a Wald 137 basket, but will also strap to just about any porteur rack. These are all made in the Bay Area and come in a variety of colors or patterns, including camo and leopard. Head over to Outer Shell for more information.
Dropper post compatibility with bikepacking seat packs can be a real drag. Path Less Pedaled looks at Outer Shell’s design to accommodate a full-size pack and a dropper post.
Inside / Out at Outer Shell in San Francisco
Words and photos by Spencer Harding
When we set out on the DFL the Divide trip earlier this year I noticed a bunch of my bay area friends were rocking bits and pieces by Outer Shell. Kyle’s work continued to pop up in my world and one day I noticed that he had pretty much made my dream camera strap, I emailed him as quick as I could to get in on the next batch. Kyle has been putting his own very thoughtful twist on many now classic bike packing bags for a few years. With a background in engineering and a focus on versatility and durability, Kyle started Outer Shell.
While I haven’t had a chance to use mine, I will say that this looks to be a very promising solution for everything from extensive bikepacking to around town jaunts. See more at Outer Shell.
