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No, we didn't know what MLC stood for either. It's short for 'maximum legal carry-on'. This, then, is Patagonia's take on the airline cabin bag, and while it won't get you an upgrade on your cattle-class plane seat, it's certainly a serious upgrade on your luggage. Let's start with the material – a super-tough and weather-resistant recycled polyester ripstop with a matte-finish recycled TPU laminate coating. Looks smart, performs even better. The MLC opens right up like a suitcase, and inside you've got two interior organisation pockets plus a drop-in top pocket. There's a padded laptop compartment for devices up to 15" – along with pockets for chargers and cords – and this tech compartment opens right out, making it easier to get through security. You can carry it three different ways – with a stowable backpack harness, a shoulder strap (cleverly adapted from the backpack waist belt), and three simple grab handles. Streamlined, adaptable and well-thought-out. Unlike most airports.
Patagonia is the brand that other gear companies want to be when they grow up. In 2022, the company's founder, Yvon Chouinard, famously gave the company to the planet. It’s now jointly controlled by a charitable trust and a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting the climate crisis, and all post-operating profits go to environmental causes.
But in some ways that’s the tip of the (melting) iceberg. For nearly half a century, Patagonia has been an experiment in responsible business. From the farms that grow their cotton to the factories that make their goods and everything in-between, they’ve tried incredibly hard to set the gold standard in terms of ethics, transparency and social responsibility. Not only that, but their gear is made to last – to take hard use and repairs, and to maintain its performance through thick and thin.
All of which is even more extraordinary when you consider that Yvon Chouinard started out blacksmithing climbing gear for his mates in his parents' backyard, using a forge and anvil that he bought from a junkyard.
At WildBounds we don’t usually tend to go for the big-name brands, but this was one we simply couldn’t resist. Quite apart from their amazing ethical and environmental credentials, they just make great gear. We’ve used it and loved it for years, and you will too.
-Paul, Verified Buyer
