GROUNDTRUTH RIKR TOTE : REVIEW
FOREWORD
I first came across Groundtruth in one of the ads on IG with a futuristic-looking bag that looked like something a character from Blade Runner 2049 or Cyberpunk 2077 would carry. Unlike the dystopian future portrayed in these titles, the world in which Groundtruth exists actually makes me hopeful and optimistic.
You see, many companies adopted sustainability as a marketing ploy to attract a more environmentally conscious audience without rethinking their core business model and products from the ground up. It’s easy to use a recycled fabric (one of a half-dozen needed for an average product) and call it a day. But meticulously analyzing every single component, challenging the supply chain of each element from threads, to buckles and zippers requires a different kind of mindset and, more importantly, a commitment on all levels of your organization to make a truly sustainable product possible.
Because it’s not enough to use a certain percentage of recycled materials in your product (though, it's a good start), the main challenge is creating a green supply chain. Groundtruth pursued exactly this goal: creating a truly sustainable supply chain that would allow the creation of products that would embody the definition of “Sustainability” and push the industry forward.
After extensively testing and reviewing the RIKR24, the first backpack from Groundtruth, I was smitten with the quality and the unique, but more importantly completely sustainable materials used by the brand. Now I have the pleasure to share my thoughts on another product in the RIKR range: a 15L tote.
How does it stack up to the fierce competition? How comfortable is it to use on a daily basis? What are the quirks that you should know about?
Read on to find out.
WHO IT SUITS
The urban dweller who needs to carry the daily essentials: laptop, water bottle, a spare mask, lunch, etc.
If you consider yourself an environmentally conscious individual and you carefully select your gear based on the footprint of the brand, the Groundtruth RIKR tote could be a real treat.
Anyone who appreciates the versatility of multiple carry modes. Backpack, tote, briefcase,... The RIKR tote has it all!
Those looking for a forward-thinking, futuristic-looking tote with a unique appearance and smart features.
WHO IT DOESN’T
Those looking for a more heritage vibe will obviously not find it here, the RIKR tote is a very deliberate modern product through and through.
ABOUT THE BAG
* PRICE: 190 GBP (~$260)
* DIMENSIONS: H 380 mm x D 100 mm x W 350 mm
* WEIGHT: 1kg
* CAPACITY: 15L
COMFORT
I did not expect much from the RIKR tote but ultimately was very satisfied with the comfort level in each carry mode.
The top handles are long enough for a quick grabbing and thick enough to be comfortable whilst carrying the tote in briefcase mode. A nice touch was to add a fastener to secure the handles together, this also prevents strangers from easily getting into the main compartment.
The removable shoulder strap has a padded mesh section to add comfort when carrying the tote on one shoulder or cross-body messenger style.
The stowable backpack straps have sufficient padding and are wide enough to carry the RIKR tote as a backpack. This mode was the least useful for me, mainly due to my bigger frame, but my wife loved carrying the tote that way. Being a photographer and a mother, she definitely appreciated having her hands free.
Overall, considering the size and form factor of the RIKR tote the comfort is great and I never felt like it was lacking something.
DESIGN & FEATURES
As with the RIKR24 backpack, the RIKR tote is undoubtedly a futuristic-looking bag that fits perfectly in an urban environment. It has a clean rectangular shape that does not look boring at all despite the bag coming only in black. The unique triangular pattern of the main fabric is unlike anything I have seen and gives the bag not only great looks but outstanding performance.
Some of the standout features of the RIKR tote:
3-way carry (briefcase, messenger, and backpack modes) which is handy when you need to adapt to different scenarios (for example, I used the briefcase mode when going into a work meeting to prevent my shirt from getting wrinkled).
Padded and suspended laptop compartment to fit up to a 15” laptop. The pocket is fleece-lined and secured with a magnetic buckle.
The luggage passthrough is cleverly hidden in the back of the Tote. The bottom of the Tote has a horizontal zipper that allows turning a big pack pocket into a passthrough, very clever! One note however is that the same compartment is used to store backpack straps and I found that passing the luggage handle through that compartment while the straps are there can be strange and somewhat finicky.
A side pocket to fit up to 1L water bottle.
Compression straps on the sides, perfect to secure a yoga mat, umbrella or compact tripod.
The bottom of the bag has nice, subtle, reflective stripes that allow you to stand out in total darkness.
The black inner liner feels nice to the touch but is also a black hole that’s not very convenient in terms of visibility and navigating the main compartment in search for things inside.
After using some complex overengineered bags in the past, I was happy to see that the RIKR tote was quite functional for daily use yet simple in its features and organization. I definitely appreciated that.
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
In my RIKR24 review, I praised Groundtruth a lot for developing a unique fabric for their products. What Groundtruth is focused on is using already manufactured, thrown away plastic and repurposing it to avoid the unnecessary waste of limited energy and resources to create virgin materials.
The fabric Groundtruth has invented is called GT-RK-001. Perhaps not the sexiest name, but it made possible the creation of products that will not only push the industry’s limit of sustainability but also perform exceptionally well in the harshest conditions, like the deserts in Africa or the vast cold emptiness of Antarctica.
Apart from the sustainable Tripstop weave Groundtruth developed, the bag is also built using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). This means that everything is recycled including zippers, mesh padding, fleece lining, etc...
Despite being built from recycled materials absolutely everything about the bag feels premium and performs to the highest industry standards.
The organization is more than plenty for a compact 15L tote.
Internal organization:
Laptop compartment with some of the most pleasant and soft to the touch sustainable fleeces I have ever experienced.
Flat fleece-lined compartment beside the laptop compartment, begging to store something like an e-book or a tablet.
Side mesh, fine to secure a water bottle inside.
Medium-sized zippered pocket inside.
Medium-sized open mesh pocket.
External organization:
2 flat zippered front pockets.
2 side pockets, which can fit a small water bottle but I found it more suitable for something like an umbrella since they don’t have much capacity. Each pocket actually has a drain hole which is handy to help water and debris escape from the pocket.
ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER
Remote Equipment’s BRAVO18 also features multiple ways of carrying as well as a noticeably lower price. The Bravo is great in many scenarios thanks to the lack of the inner liner and big bucket design. The cinch top, however, does not fully protect from the elements and there is no padding/dedicated laptop compartment, unlike the RIKR. Also, the Bravo is less suited to the business environment, unlike the RIKR tote that would not feel out of place in the office. You can check out my in-depth review.
Chrome Industries BLCKCHRM 22X CIVVY TOTE At just $99 the CIVVY tote is certainly more budget-friendly and features a simple, elegant design. It does lack a ‘wow factor’ as well as a backpack carry style.
Peak Design Totepack Famous for modularity and the ability to easily carry camera gear thanks to the included velcro dividers the Totepack is a gorgeous bag, although a bit bulky even when empty (and noticeably larger at 20L).
WHAT’S HOT
Multiple carry modes, all of which are comfortable and useful.
Durability and build are simply outstanding. The RIKR tote is an embodiment of quality and toughness.
Commitment to sustainability is second to none and differentiates the RIKR tote from any other offering on the market.
Awesome futuristic design with features to match.
WHAT’S NOT
Cutting edge fabrics and manufacturing used to produce this tote cost a premium that not everyone is ready to pay.
Lack of high-visibility inner liner makes it a bit difficult to navigate the main compartment, especially in poor lighting conditions.
Remember Henry Ford’s famous quote about the color of the Ford Model T "You can have any color as long as it's black"? The same goes for the RIKR tote and the rest of the RIKR line.
VERDICT
It’s no surprise that I really like the RIKR tote. One of the main gripes about its cousin, the RIKR24 backpack, was its significant weight and I was happy to discover that the RIKR tote does not suffer from the same problem, though it does have the same black abyss of inner liner that I hope will be revisited in the future iterations of the bag.
The RIKR tote is a smart, capable, and comfortable everyday bag that I can confidently recommend to any urban dweller. It is an excellent option for those who want to go minimal and leave their big bulky backpack at home for the sake of something more nimble and agile. The price tag does bite a bit, however, it represents the innovation in fabrics and manufacturing processes that Groundruth is pushing in the soft goods industry. I do hope their future products will become more affordable, which would allow a broader audience to experience their unique look and feel.
Disclaimer
RIKR Tote was provided by Groundtruth as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Groundtruth before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.