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e

Bags

Gargantuan Backpacks from Japan

Too early to say if it's a trend, but these one-meter-tall backpacks are selling like hotcakes

By Rain Noe - January 9

At first glance, this backpack from Japanese bag brand CWF doesn't look like much:

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Then you see this photo, where the bag is actually in use on the left, compared to a regular backpack on the right:

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Yes, that there is a one-meter-tall backpack with a 180-liter capacity. The Backpacker's Closet is reportedly large enough to hold an entire futon (the traditional foldable Japanese futon, that is, not the American grad student's mattress of choice), and is also ideal for "bringing large numbers of items to the campsite," according to Japanese retailer Plywood.

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As visually absurd as these appear, I'd have been happy to use one of these when I was a city dweller making trips to the laundromat. And while I don't know what the most common application is in Japan, the bags are apparently popular; all three colors are sold out.

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The Backpacker's Closet retails for ¥25,920 (USD $240).

Bags

Rain Noe

Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.

8 Comments

Donald Jones

4 months ago

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Kind of Kidnappy.

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Matt Levine

4 months ago

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2Z

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Looks like she stole Thanos' backpack. These look super uncomfortable to use.

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Alexandre Roque de Carvalho

4 months ago

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1Z

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My back hurts only by looking at it.

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- Brad Johnson
  
  Alexandre Roque de Carvalho
  
  4 months ago
  
  Z
  
  Z
  
  Reply
  
  I was about to say the same thing!
  
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Jomy Muttathil

3 months ago

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I asked a Japanese friend about this and he said this is popular with young people who live out of these bags. Think young, fashionable and "homeless". Most are not actually homeless, but would rather spend the night in a micro-hotel or internet cafe than in their family's tiny apartment.

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Jomy Muttathil

3 months ago

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It would be cool for camping. Hang it up in a tree and then climb inside your cocoon.

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Dave Eyvazzadeh

4 months ago

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Yet another example of consumers willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money to look dumb. lol

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Eric Ludlum

4 months ago

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This is amazing.

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