Our Story

We are inspired by cycling and make bags for traveling. Whether it’s for one hour or one year, the spontaneity of a plan can be necessary and/or rewarding. That's why most of the bags can expand to higher volumes and adapt to different situations. Founded in 2015, Outer Shell focuses on the highest quality gear with function forward design, backcountry security and minimalist style. We design for versatility, durability and repairability, using fewer seams, replaceable parts, and weatherproof construction. When you only have the few things you can bring on a trip, they should be simple and reliable companions. Each product is handcrafted in our San Francisco shop by people who care. We design it here, we ride it here, and we make it here. It’s the secret behind functional bags that last the test of time, guaranteed with a lifetime warranty.

In chemistry and physics, the 'outer shell' is an orbit around an atom's nucleus. The electrons in this shell determine how the atom behaves in chemical reactions and, as a result, represents the unity of all objects and events. We encourage users to explore the environment that they are, not just deeply connected to, but wholly a part of. 'Outer Shell' embodies our quest towards spiritual harmony with ourselves, nature and other travelers.

Kyle, Founder & Product Design Lead

When I grew up in Los Angeles, if you were a biker, you were almost immediately a friend. That’s because bike culture was so marginalized in the car dominated city. I remember going to Critical Mass 20 years ago and seeing so many different people, age groups, and walks of life brought together. Now I feel like there are so many cliques and subcultures that don’t integrate in our community. I believe bicycles have a great power to unite and I hope our company can be a unifier of bike cultures. The bags are meant to adaptable, not hyper-specific or proprietary like some other companies are trending towards. Mountain bikers, road bikers, and commuters shouldn’t exist as separate markets. They should be recognized as people with much more similarities than differences. I’m really proud to see our customers come together that otherwise wouldn’t have, just because they’re fans of our gear.

When I started making bags, my intention wasn’t to sell them. It was to use them. I got into bicycle touring about ten years ago and started making bags because it was the only way I could afford them. Wilderness bicycle camping wasn’t as popular back then, and the term ‘bikepacking’ didn’t even exist, so to make touring bags work with mountain bikes, you had to get creative. I had some design ideas that weren’t available at the time and I wanted these specific designs with me in the wild. That was my inspiration, not sales or quotas or making a living. I hope my inspiration always comes from adventures and the love for being outdoors. What matters most to me is the experience of getting outside and enabling others to do so.

Jim, Co-Owner & Business Operations

I started commuting to school by bike in 4th grade, and rolling on 2 wheels has been a foundational passion of mine ever since. Add in a heaping scoop of curiosity with all things mechanical/electronic/intricately-designed, a childhood library comprised of encyclopedias and look-what's-inside books, and you have a solid recipe for a lifelong autodidact.

Like many Silicon Valley locals, I worked in big-tech (sales ops) for nearly a decade after college, but my focus honed in on more creative entrepreneurial endeavors that interplayed with my personal interests. After a few years competing with Kyle under a solo label, we joined forces in 2018 and forged ahead into a new phase of growth for Outer Shell.

Xin, Head of Production

I joined Outer Shell in 2017 and bring 30 years of textiles manufacturing experience in fashion and apparel. I started as an assembly line sewer in a sewing factory but eventually graduated to become a sample maker - working with designers to help make their ideas tangible. Handling heavy duty fabrics is a lot different than making clothes but I teamed up with Kyle to learn the ways of bag making pretty quickly. Now I advise him on manufacturing procedures and construction methods. I’m happy to have a change of pace from the typical factory setting that usually demands low cost, high speed labor. It’s nice to slow down and focus more on quality, but I still know how to get all these bags made efficiently!