Think Tank Photo Launches the Freeway Longhaul™ Carryall Duffel Series

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovation lies at the heart of every product Think Tank Photo designs. For their latest release, the Freeway Longhaul series of carryall duffels bags, the Think Tank team developed and launched the line in just eight weeks — while facing unprecedented challenges. On Tuesday June 23^rd their hard work paid off when the Freeway Longhaul Kickstarter was fully funded in just two hours. The Freeway Longhaul is available now on Kickstarter: https://kicks.to/think/y7J2l7k

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Think Tank company headquarters in Northern California, the team was forced to innovate like never before. With sales plummeting and employees hurriedly adapting to working from home, CEO and Lead Designer, Doug Murdoch, knew an extraordinary effort was required.

“We’re a small, tight-knit company that’s used to working and developing products together,” Murdoch said. “But the company was in a precarious situation, so we had to somehow band together in order to survive. That’s when the Freeway Longhaul concept was born.”

As Think Tank’s active, outdoor-minded team struggled under the mandatory Shelter-In-Place (SIP) orders, and with the media forecasting a summertime wave of road trips and localized travel, Murdoch challenged everyone to innovate. An idea began to emerge. Dreams of all the places they would go when the SIP orders were lifted, and of a bag big enough to fit all of the adventures yet to come.

If there was one thing a company with expertise in carrying solutions could do, it was to design the perfect gear organizer for car travel. The Think Tank team jumped into overdrive to develop the Freeway Longhaul and get the bag to market as quickly as possible.

And everything had to be done under the strict SIP guidelines. Wearing protective masks, keeping 6-feet apart, and working from home over countless Zoom calls, each team member went above and beyond to meet the challenge. Employees even shot their own segments for the Kickstarter promotional video using a GoPro HERO8 to minimize exposing one another to the virus.

In what normally takes many months to more than a year, Think Tank expedited their product development process to create, test, and launch the Freeway Longhaul carryall duffel series on Kickstarter less than 8 weeks after the idea was first conceived.

Available in 75 and 50-liter sizes, the Freeway Longhaul is a high-capacity, carry-all duffel bag that features numerous external pockets for quick access to your gear.

A large cargo space with a customizable divider system provides the ability to organize a wide range of equipment. External attachment points, duffel-style handles, and a padded shoulder strap enable multiple easy-carry options. The Freeway Longhaul streamlines gear transport from the house, to vehicle, to campsites, trailheads, beaches, and beyond.

The Freeway Longhaul is an ideal carry solution for many different users. From weekend-warrior cyclists, runners and boaters, to family campers, soccer moms, beachgoers, and #vanlife road-trippers — the Freeway Longhaul is the perfect organizer for anyone who needs to transport a large amount of gear from location to location.

“Our design methodology is to study the customer’s workflow and look for the most efficient means of carry and access to a wide array of gear,” Murdoch said. “With our California-based design, marketing and sales teams, and expert manufacturing resources in Vietnam, we were able to quickly bring a product to market that met our high standards for quality and excellence. I couldn’t be prouder of what this team has achieved in the past eight weeks.”

The Freeway Longhaul is available on Kickstarter now https://kicks.to/think/y7J2l7k. Kickstarter backers will receive exclusive access to a variety of options and bundles at special discounted pricing. On opening day, the campaign reached the $35,000 goal in just two hours, and with thirty days left to go there is still time to access the discounted Kickstarter pricing. Product delivery is estimated to begin in September for your Freeway Longhaul family road trip this summer.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Full view top opening, similar to tote bags, giving superior visibility
• 75 Supplied with three interior dividers, 50 supplied with 1 divider for structure and organization
• Zippered top cover tucks away into an interior pocket
• Duffel-style handles with secure wrap closure
• Padded shoulder strap is removable
• Six D-rings for multiple shoulder strap positions
• Grab handles on all four sides of the bag
• Multiple exterior utility pockets:
  • Fabric open pockets
  • Mesh open pockets
  • A dimensional front zippered pocket for small items
  • Divider pockets for books and tablets
• One flat rear zippered pocket
• Daisy chains on both sides
• Extra durable and water-resistant bottom

WHAT FITS

Freeway Longhaul 50:
50 Liters of carry capacity, 4 exterior pockets and removable divider

Freeway Longhaul 75:
75 Liters of carry capacity, 8 exterior pockets and three customizable dividers

MATERIALS

• Durable water-repellant (DWR) coating with polyurethane backed fabric for superior water-resistance
• YKK® zippers
• 420D high-density nylon
• Ballistics bottom
• N/ROBIC 100D TRIPLE Ripstop - Medium Grey
• 600D Polyester
• Velex hook compatible material
• 200D poly lining
• Nylon webbing
• Nylon “Seat Belt” webbing
• 3-ply bonded nylon thread

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Freeway Longhaul 50

• External Dimensions: 17.1” x 12.8” x 13.75” (43.5 cm x 32.5 cm x 35 cm)
• Weight: 2.3 lbs. (1.0 kg)

Freeway Longhaul 75

• External Dimensions: 24.8” x 12.8” x 13.75” (63 cm x 32.5 cm x 35 cm)
• Weight: 3.3 lbs. (1.74 kg)

ABOUT THINK TANK PHOTO

Headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, Think Tank Photo is a group of expert product designers and professional photographers focused on studying how photographers work in order to develop inventive new carrying solutions that meet professional needs.

https://www.thinktankphoto.com