Bought a backpack from them in 2019. Recently, one of the straps got frayed at the seams. Emailed them about it, and they said they'd fix it under warranty, no charge; just mail it in. But since I'm local, figured I'd drop it off in person. I walk in, and the shop is awesome. I mean this in the best way, but if you have even an inkling of interest in purpose-built bags & gear, then you better go in here with a game plan and stick to it because man is their stuff is enticing and you'll come up with scenarios for why you need their stuff and just get it because you'll use it, right? It's practical, right? I mean it is. And it's beautiful. And they're really friendly. And the store is like a metaphor for their bags - functional & kinda industrial but chic & clean with economy of space and thoughtful layout. read more

I bought the packing cubes many years ago and I have to say, these are flawless. I have had other brands and those fell to the wayside. These are larger than most brands with tough sailcloth fabric. Years of enjoyment and they feel new to me. Thank you ILE. In retrospect these were a great deal. read more

Inside Line Equipment - Small , medium, large ILE packing cubes - Accessories Near Me - Berkeley, California

We have been loyal customers of ILE for about eight years ever since picking up the first pack. Prior to this we always carried around a variety of Arc'teryx or Mammut packs everyday. The quality of the craftsmanship and materials such as XPAC make the ILE's easily our favorites. We have multiple versions of the Radius and Apex packs and just added a perfect Travel Pack that Eric custom made for me. I cannot say enough great things about Eric and the team at ILE. They are always extremely welcoming and nice to us and our dogs when we visit their showroom/factory. Plus they hand make some of the best designed and most durable packs you will find anywhere. As for price, they are more than fair for the quality of their excellent products. read more

Inside Line Equipment - My male Shiba examining some of his ILE packs. - Accessories Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Wanna support a local business? A place that produces quality products? This is the place. I ordered a backpack from here. It's a burgundy color and I just love it. All the "cool kids" who ride fixies wear these backpacks a d what can I say? I just bit their style and copied them because I need a backpack for longer fixie rides to carry all my stuff in. The bag I got has a top entry and also a zipper entry on the back middle and a strap across the front to keep it from bouncing around when hiking or bike riding. Very cool! read more

Inside Line Equipment - Backpack - Accessories Near Me - Berkeley, California

This review is not all bad, but the bad part is pretty bad, so I'll start with that. About 7 years ago, I bought a ILE Default through a bike shop where I was working. From the moment I put it on, it was clear that the straps were sewn on at two very different angles. The pack sat crooked on my back, and I needed to tighten one strap about twice as much as the other one in order to balance the weight. But, it looked really cool and I needed a waterproof pack to replace one that had just failed, so I used it pretty heavily for several years anyway. A mistake, in hindsight. This week, I was visiting Berkeley and finally had the opportunity to drop in and ask them to take a look at it with me. I was expecting them to immediately be embarrassed by the magnitude of the defect and offer to repair or replace it. Instead, they mostly shrugged. Since the straps are apparently not repairable, the only remedy would have been to replace the pack. But their offer was for me to buy a new pack at 20% off -- $224. (I didn't ask for anything more.) If I'd have told them about the defect immediately, I can only imagine that they would have replaced the pack. But, apparently my using the pack first rendered the defect a non-issue to them. I'm not sure what to make of the place. They claim a "lifetime warranty on all materials and craftsmanship", but it seems to apply only selectively. Eric said that their new bags are made using more repeatable processes than were in place when mine was made, and I'd bet that you're not likely to get a bag like mine these days. But be advised that their warranty shouldn't be taken literally and that their commitment to their products isn't up to the standards of many other small manufacturers. On the plus side, the bag was thoroughly waterproof while I owned it, and the design is very thoughtful. They also replaced some worn out velcro on the pack for me at no cost, even though it was not their fault that it wore out. I checked out some of their new bags when I was there, and they're all really nice. read more

Excellent quality, locally made items. You can buy a bag off the shelf or you can have one custom made. These are high end items that will make people envious. read more

My bro and I walked in here after our excursion at Artis... the staff that Sunday was very helpful and friendly! He explained to me their bags and the materials... answered all my ridiculous traveling issues! The bro and sis-in-law might be giving me this bag for Christmas... customized of course since (Timbuk2) isn't exclusive anymore... the luster of it gone due to them opening everywhere. Anyway - most definitely looking forward to my bag and will update this review probably after Christmas :) BUT really good looking bags - which the bro swears by and did I mention friendly staff? read more

Nice store. I visited with my friend who was looking for a biking bag. The styles of the bags are very bay area. It reminded me of the types of bags you'd see bay area people riding with. There was one style that would be a great travel bag for an weekend trip. It had a roll top and was very spacious. The volume of the bag looked like it would hold a lot of stuff, like my camera bag, clothes, shoes, and other items. The size did not look large when on your back, like those hiking bags from other companies. The store itself is nice. I did find the shelving to be a bit crowded and close spacing. But that may have been due to all the stocks on the shelves full of products. The staff was friendly and helpful. When I look for another work bag, I will come here too see what they have. read more

This is an amazing find / company in Berkeley. Located next door to Artis, Inside Line Equipment is not only a place that sells backpacks, duffles, totes, camera, bike bags and accessories, Owner, Eric and his (very small) team makes the products right on site. While most products (and components) are outsourced overseas, these bags and the fabric woven (from fabric, zippers, toggles, straps), are all made in the USA. Eric is a really humble and knowledgeable business owner who started the idea of re-designing the common backpack in 2012. Fast forward to 4th Street in Berkeley where Eric has set up shop sharing his locally made / sourced product with all of us. I've purchased many bags (including designer and recognizable name brands) that end up lacking in functionality and sturdiness after a couple of uses, trips. All of his bags are thoughtfully curated, designed. Simple at first glance, the bags will surprise you with its functional compartments for your Mac, gadgets, and stackable cubes (purchased separately) to store your pants / jeans, tops and necessities. One of the bags I favored in design, was comparable to Japanese designer, Hideo Wakamatsu's style / creation. There is only one difference - ILE's bags have an amazing and study waterproof interior lining for those spills - and they come with a lifetime guaranty. While most backpacks appear bulky in nature, ILE offers sleek sizes, not compromising space and design. It's refreshing to have a locally sourced product in Berkeley, CA. Thanks for sharing your creations with all of us, Eric! We're big fans! read more

See all

First off I have to say I am not laconic and tend to get overexcited with my reviews but I'll try to be brief. First off I just received my second bag through Inside Line Equipment and honestly I've never been more excited for a piece of gear. I have been using the original ASNMNT bag (18L) for a year and change and the only critique I could give it was that it was a bit on the smaller side. ILE pretty much read my mind and created the exact same bag in a 25L version. Super stoked. I was looking around their Berkeley store during the Christmas season for gifts. I ended up talking with Eric (I think) about different bags and I could tell he was passionate and knowledgeable about the product. I work in the outdoor industry and can immediately tell when someone is a fellow "gear-head". I wasn't really looking to upgrade to a new bag but after talking about color combinations and minor utilitarian changes I knew it was meant to be. Fast forward to yesterday. I got my bag a day before an extended trip and I am making use of all 25L's. I am a sucker for colors and Eric helped me create, in my mind, one of the most attractive bags I've ever seen. Icing on the cake was that ILE custom colored the inside portion of the role top with the Rainbow flag as a momentum of who I am and social justice in general. The bag is stunning and is high quality and I will be proud to wear it and make it my daily commuter bag while journeying around the Bay. Thanks a million and let me know when y'all make a bag with a 17"laptop sleeve. I'll be your first customer. Cheers! TLDR: Inside Line Equipment makes good looking bags, has awesome customer service and their dedication to quality speaks to how much they love their product. Their store is a must visit if you are looking into a high end biking/commuter bag that can withstand the elements. read more

Inside Line Equipment - Accessories Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great workshop/retail space! I was interested in the porteur rackbag, but the smaller size didn't quite fit my bike's front rack, so on the spot they altered the strap for me. Really excellent service as well as a quality product. read more

Inside Line Equipment store have good travel/daily use backpacks/duffle bags etc. Couple days ago, I bought a small backpack to carry my 15" work MacBook and I made the best decision. The backpack is Made in Berkeley with very nice waterproof material and well constructed! They are hand sowed right inside the store itself. The zippers are neat and doesn't look like one. The bag has several compartments and the largest compartment will easily fit a 15" laptop + other things, like books or even clothes, if you are using it for a carry on for your flight. They have backpacks in different sizes, colors and patterns with varying prices. They are not priced like North Face or Patagonia, but well priced for USA made. Inside Line Equipment store is next to Artis coffee roasters on 4th street Berkeley. They have good coffee... :-) It's not really that difficult to locate the store as it's at the end of the 4th street shopping lane. Get a nice cup of Artis and shop for your backpack! Enjoy shopping! I recommend this store to anyone, who is looking for unique, well constructed, USA made backpacks :) read more

Inside Line Equipment - Accessories Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great bag for an overnight camping trip and truly waterproof. I wasn't expecting to test it out as hard as I did but when a sudden rain storm soaked my campsite I was worried about the bag keeping everything dry but not a drop got past the heavy duty zipper or through the sealed bottom. The size was perfect to hold everything I needed and it took some abuse riding around the back of a truck no problem. I'll definitely be back for another. read more

I'm very glad I finally invested in a backpack from ILE. I always visited the flagship store to see if they cooked up something new to fit what I was looking for, and sure enough they did. I bought a Default Category One and beyond satisfied with functionality, and incredible weight distribution it has. The newly added Cobra parachute buckle is a nice touch. Everything I store is easily accessible and secured. On top of that, the business owner Eric is one of the most humblest person you'll ever meet. I think I bought my backpack from a store associate Matthew who was equally as humble and knowledgeable. I hope ILE stays on the scene for a long time. Nothing but good folks with quality products read more

Excellent store, great service and wonderful quality products that truly last for a long time. Highly recommend if you are looking for a bag :) read more

Beyond awesome handcrafted bags! They're well thought out and beautifully crafted. The shop is a bit hard to find. It's in the courtyard behind the bike store. read more

Hands down the best travel bag I've owned. And ive owned alot and travel a lot. Quality is BEYOND amazing and really lasts. Perfect for backpacking around the world and keeping everything you need. So many pockets. Love it, you wont go wrong. The saying "you pay for what you get" is true here. Dont settle for foreign made ****. read more

My husband and I got a backpack from here and he liked it so we decided to buy a smaller day bag. We rushed over after work and got there 20 minutes before closing only to find they had closed early. Disappointing. I won't be coming back... what a waste of time. Call before you go. Apparently they aren't concerned with maintaining posted store hours. read more