Bag 2. Step 2.
Initial details of our next custom camera bag as well as details of new custom options for all our products.
A prototype of Bag 2 on the streets of Nashville - Photo by Glenn Charles
I am excited to share initial details of Iceworm MFG’s second camera bag as well as the next step, or evolution, in our business model. It’s been quite a journey this year and before I get into details, I want to thank those folks that have purchased product and supported Iceworm MFG through our the humble beginnings. Sincerely, thank you. It means the world to me. Nothing excited me more than someone messaging me or sending me a picture of one of my products in use. For those just landing here, either by choice or accident, I encourage you to click and read the Brand Story from above as well as click Subscribe to follow along and get updates.
Just one short year ago I told my wife and closest friends that I was going to start designing and building camera bags. That moment seems both like a long time ago as well as just a few minutes ago. Hard to believe a year has passed since the inception of this idea. My initial spark was not only triggered by me leaving a 25+ year career in brand and product development, but also challenge me and to solve some real world problem statements that I have encountered and longed for as a lifelong, active, adventure photographer. I
I don’t want to give all the elements of what Iceworm MFG’s secret sauce is just yet, but after some market research it was evident that the camera carry and accessory world has an infinite number of brands and products trying to serve all and fit all. These solutions are often made inexpensively overseas, are almost always focused on price points with non premium materials, and focus on protection at the expense of weight and real time usability. Many times the camera offerings aren’t even their primary purpose but its a bag and they make bags so they need to offer something. I am not putting them down and there are some incredibly great brands out there that I admire and personally still use. I was in product development for many years and completely understand business, design criteria/solutions and manufacturing to meet target price points and consumer needs/wants. I simply did not want to approach the camera bag and accessory market from this direction. My intent from the beginning was to offer specific bags and accessories for specific use cases and specific cameras.
Bag #1 Details - My personal Ultra Light Sling Duo with my daily, walk around essentials
My first product, the Ultra Light Sling Duo, is a true example of our brand intent, values and direction. While we have seen our customers use this bag in a number of ways, it was designed specifically to carry one or two small, compact cameras snuggly so that the bag did not need to extra, frivolous padding adding weight and bulk to the bag. It carries two cameras and a journal, pen, iPhone, an extra battery, and a small credit card type wallet. I have travelled all over the US as well as internationally with this bag and cameras and it works perfectly as intended. It isn’t for everyone, but for those that want the lightest, best featured, lighweight camera bag for travel and outdoor activity, it is one of the best solutions out there. Where this first product fell short was in the customization options. At inception only 1 standard color was offered with a second coming a few months later.
After launching Bag 1, it was even more evident that folks wanted specific colors, materials, etc. I did build several custom colors and learned a lot about what the customer wanted and what opportunities there might be for Iceworm MFG going forward. I also learned how hard it was to have everything readily available, build products one at a time out of new materials buckles, hardware & straps that were different than the stock product that I was familiar with. Frankly speaking, the full custom was and is an incredibly challenging proposition and path forward. One of which I fully intend to get too as I build this brand and business.
So let’s discuss bag 2 and step 2.
On Monday, December 12th I plan turn the details of Bag 2 live in my catalog and open pre orders. It is a bag intended for rangefinder type fixed or interchangeable lens cameras with compact lenses. Bag 3 coming early next year will be larger yet and allow for larger lenses so stay tuned if you like to carry larger lenses or slightly larger center EVF type cameras. Below are some images of various configurations of Bag 2 that I have made for myself as well a few friends. With the introduction of Bag 2, I will also updating options for bag 1, the Ultra Light Sling Duo. The Ultra Light Sling Mono will be going away completely with the introduction of this new bag.
With this launch, I will be offering stock colors as well as launching a new semi custom program. This means I will be offering both Bag 1 and Bag 2 in stock configuration(s) that I build 5-10 at a time. I will also be offering a semi custom where you can choose certain materials, colors, buckles, etc that I have in stock. This custom option will come at an additional cost as they result in slower processes such as single cuts, thread color changes, changing needles, thread, etc.
If you have any thoughts, questions or comments, please leave a comment or hit me up in the contact box. Until then, enjoy a sneak peek at Bag #2. Click on any image to view in slideshow mode.
Ultra Light Sling Duo - Iceworm MFG
Introducing the new Ultra Light Sling Duo by Iceworm MFG. Designed for carrying the minimal essentials while walking that city or getting lost in the outdoors.
ULSD - The new Ultra Lite Sling Duo by Iceworm MFG
Introducing the new Iceworm MFG Ultra Light Sling Duo (ULSD) camera bag. The ULSD is focused on ultra light carry experiences. Whether you are in the city or in the outdoors, it’s designed to carry a small and capable daily kit while staying out of the way until you see that moment you want your camera in your hand.
To understand the desired experience and features of this camera bag, it’s important to understand my obsession with with small cameras. The ethos behind this camera bag design is rooted in a few simple philosophies. The first being you should always have a camera with you. The second being you don’t get any pictures you don’t take.
A sampling of my small camera collection. Some old gems in there!
My journey with always having a camera with me began on my Alaskan bike tour. You can read about that in the Iceworm MFG origin story here. On that incredible journey from Alaska to Utah on my bicycle, I learned that a camera in a bag, tucked inside another bag on the front of a bicycle wasn’t conducive to taking images, at least quickly. On that journey, I missed many shots of candid moments. Like many other photographers seeking a camera to always have with them, I went through a what seemed like a never ending quest to find the perfect camera and progressed from film SLR, compact digital, SLR digital, mirrorless fixed, mirrorless interchangeable lens, and again back to compact. I even tried to use my phone as my on the move camera, but as a photographer, I have always found the user experience of a phone to be lacking. My current favorite cameras are the Ricoh GRIIIx and the Fuji X100V.
Along with the obsession with compact digital and film cameras, I have also been obsessed with camera bags…OK all bags really. I know I am not alone here. Over the years I have purchased countless camera bags & straps to make my various imaging devices accessible so that I have access to them while out exploring and experiencing the world on trips big and small. In the end, the desire to solve the carry and access problems I have always experienced, I decided to start making my own.
New Ultra Light Sling Bag, my personal & current prototype and 3 previous versions (disassembled after testing)
This brings us to the introduction to both Iceworm MFG and the the first product, the Ultra Light Sling Duo. I designed this product from a very personal use case and minimal carry experience. I made the first prototype back in January 2022 and have built several versions since. I have hiked, biked, and explored the streets of many cities. Most recently, I spent 2 weeks in Spain and I used the USLD every single day carrying my camera, phone, passport, vaccination card and masks.
The Ultra Light sling bag has the following features.
Features/Spec
Two internal slip pockets. These pockets fit two, small fixed lens cameras. It is ideal for retracting lens digital cameras like the Ricoh GR series, Sony RX100 series, Fuji X70 and Leica X1/X2 series. Note: Larger fixed lens cameras such as Fuji X100 and Sony RX1 series may fit as long as you do not have a hood mounted, but will deform the bag or inhibit some of the features.
Internal sleeve for phone, small writing journal, sketch pad & pen, thin wallet, etc.
External loop back to attach patches, personalize the look and portray your own messages or persona.
1” seat belt weave webbing shoulder strap. Seat belt webbing is soft to touch and slides better making movement of the bag from your back to your side or front easier.Comes with adjustable length shoulder strap, range from 28” to 52”
Angled Strap loops to assist in the bag conforming to your body
Bottom loop for add on stabilizer strap - Not included and sold separately here
Size - 9.5” x 7.5” x 1”
Fabrics/colors
Cordura 1000D exterior, black
XPac interior, black (VX03) or orange (VX25)
Black Hypalon strap loops and hook attachment
Black, YKK #8 zipper and pull
Images showing different carry options as well as finished product.
*Note bag shown with additional items are for visual reference only. Phone, camera(s), ear buds, film, wallet, cash, stabilizer strap and chapstick are not included when purchasing the ULSD.
Welcome to Iceworm MFG
Welcome to Iceworm MFG. We are committed to providing the best carry solutions and accessories for adventurous photographers and videographers.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here to Iceworm MFG. Today marks the launch of a new brand focused on carry solutions and accessories for adventurous photographers and videographers.
Before we get too far, I’d like to take a little time to give you some background information on me and where I intend to guide this brand. My name is Jason Boucher, I am the founder, designer and currently also the maker of these products. The journey to Iceworm MFG began in the late ‘90’s. You can read the origin story of the name here. It was 25+ years ago I wrote Iceworm in a journal with a commitment to start my own company one day.
My path to today and this place has not been a straight road. It has been filled with many twists, turns and ups & downs. After that bicycle journey from Alaska to Utah so many years ago, I ended up working for a growing business in the bicycle industry. I spent 25.5 years at that organization moving through many roles. It was a fun, entrepreneurial company with a growing proprietary business unit. I spent much of my time there in various leadership roles in customer service, sales, purchasing, product management, program management, product development, brand management, supply chain and executive leadership. It was a thrilling career that allowed me to learn and work with amazing people as well as design & deliver some amazing brand experiences & products.
In July 2021 I made the very difficult decision to leave this organization. I still get asked “Why I left?” I wish I could provide a short easy answer. But after 25+ years at an organization, there isn’t exactly a short answer. The shortest version I have words for is simply that like many, Covid and the resulting, tumultuous impact on the lives of my close friends, my family, my organization and myself really hit me hard. What was I working for? Who was I working for? Why was I beholden to all these things that were infringing on me becoming the person I wanted to be? Is there another way? In the end, like many others, I joined the great resignation and spent the last year re-creating a future vision and mapping out a more fulfilling and rewarding future.
Over the last year, I had the opportunity to pursue my passions of both cycling and photography without restrictions of time and commitments to others. I also had time to really focus on my personal & professional development and technical skills. This has been rewarding. My creativity boomed and my clarity for what I wanted to do came into view.
Last September while traveling, I shared with my wife and a few close friends that I had been drawing camera bags and that I think I have a few ideas that are worth pursuing. I continued to pursue and refine these ideas. In January I made the first prototypes and for the past 6 months I have relentlessly pursued both the ideas as well as the technical skills, tools and know how to produce these products. In that time, I have transformed my creative photography space into a cut and sew fabrication space.
Which brings us to today, the launch of Iceworm MFG, a brand and business committed to providing the best carry solutions and accessories for adventurous photographers.
Sincerely, thank you for stopping by and checking out our brand and products. If you’d like to know more and follow along, I’d encourage you to jump on over to our Subscribe page, enter your email and be part of journey. Otherwise, stop back next week as we share our first products focused on small cameras and ultra light, minimal carry solutions.
Jason Boucher
Founder, Designer & Maker
Travel Light. Shoot More.