Before the main topic.
I've been using a waterproof-zipper backpack from the brand GERRY (ジェリー) for about 10 years now.
Not to the point of saying I'm devoted to it, though.
The one in the picture above is my second one.
I call it "Gerry" following how the current retailers and distributors refer to it,
but I originally called it "Geri."
I thought it was pronounced "Geri" because the surname of politician Elbridge Gerry,
who is the namesake of "gerrymandering" (the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries),
is spelled Gerry.
In English-speaking regions, gerrymandering is pronounced "gerrymandering,"
and particularly in British English, the spelling sometimes differs from the original,
becoming "jerrymander" (starting with J instead of G).
Separate from this, there was another brand called PACIFIC OUTDOOR
that made waterproof-zipper backpacks and waist pouches.
I actually used their backpack before switching to Gerry,
and I was convinced one must be a knockoff of the other.
But when I looked into it, both turned out to be legitimately established brands,
and both have since pretty much disappeared—neither has an official website anymore.
They also share the commonality of being owned by apparel trading companies.
Pacific Outdoor appears to be on hiatus.
↑This is the Gerry logo,
but there's also a separate brand called Gerry Down Wear
with the same logo, focused on down jackets and completely unrelated to bags.
This is a three-pack of boxer shorts that just has the Gerry logo on it—basically the bare minimum brand collaboration.
I saw them and picked them up on a whim.
This is the kind of brand that expands into products with little relation to their original business.
Regarding waterproof zippers: with Ortlieb, when you seal the zipper,
air doesn't leak even if you squeeze the bag hard, and it becomes like an inflatable ring.
With Pacific Outdoor, there's a faint gap at the end of the zipper,
and when you squeeze it, air leaks out gradually with a faint hissing sound,
but it maintains an inflatable-ring-like firmness for a brief moment.
With Gerry, the gap at the end of the zipper is even larger,
and when you squeeze it, it doesn't become inflatable-ring-like and deflates immediately.
Even if you spray rain or non-pressurized shower water on the sealed zipper,
water doesn't get in, but if you ride in a downpour,
water seeps in faintly from the end of the zipper.
It's not 100% waterproof—more like 99% waterproof.
I bought two Pacific Outdoor backpacks with similar capacity to this Gerry,
but both had their zippers break.
At worst, they fail in less than a year.
They use an Ortlieb-like zipper that moves stiffly,
and eventually they end up in a state where "both sides of the zipper pull are open."
If we assumed the brand-new condition persisted indefinitely,
I'd say it's a better backpack than Gerry, but...
My previous Gerry's waterproof zipper area started peeling away,
and visible scratches and dirt that wouldn't wash off became prominent, so I replaced it (it was yellow).
Over these 10 years, I haven't used only Gerry the whole time—
I've had periods using Chrome, Deuter, and others.
Only left and right shoulder straps.
There's no chest strap or waist belt connecting left and right.
Now, to the main topic.
A bicycle wholesaler started carrying Gerry,
so I was able to get one through that route.
The picture above was taken on February 9th of this year, about six months ago.
It's an incredibly compact, portable backpack.
Besides this, there's also a handle-bag-style shopping bag and a tote bag.
It has the Gerry logo on it.
↑This one.
It's made of Cordura fabric, so the nylon won't get runs or come unraveled,
but at ¥4,900 before tax, it's pretty pricey.
I saw the same thing at LOFT in Tennoji not long ago
and it was selling for ¥5,390 with tax (the full retail price).
I placed a cigarette box next to it for scale, but cyclists probably won't get the reference,
so I placed a bottle instead.
Like with bike travel bags, once you take it out, it never folds back
quite as neatly as it shipped, so in practice it's a bit larger after use.
When expanded, it's about this big.
I keep it tucked in my jersey pocket, and
at the end of an evening ride I'll often buy 2 to 3 bottles of 2-liter water
from a 24-hour supermarket, and it has more than enough capacity and durability.
It's sewn on so you don't lose the storage pouch,
but I cut mine off.
I keep it inside when the backpack is expanded.
If you lose it, you're done.
Although Gerry is (somewhat) famous for waterproof bags,
this backpack doesn't have a waterproof zipper.
Also, this part on the back,
—there's a belt sewn down the middle that can be pulled out and separated into two.
I have no idea what it's for.
Is it for attaching clips or carabiners, like the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system on military backpacks?
The wholesaler that started carrying Gerry
is apparently going to start carrying what's probably the same waterproof bag (or its successor)
starting in August.
Bonus
↑I also have something similar with Campagnolo written on it,
but this is a packable wind vest from a generation before the current apparel lineup.
↑Front panel
↑Back panel
The black parts are mesh, so heat doesn't build up on your back.
The interior of the expanded vest has a bag sewn into it.
I'm not cutting this one off—I'd definitely lose it.
I've been using a waterproof-zipper backpack from the brand GERRY (ジェリー) for about 10 years now.
The one in the picture above is my second one.
I call it "Gerry" following how the current retailers and distributors refer to it,
but I originally called it "Geri."
I thought it was pronounced "Geri" because the surname of politician Elbridge Gerry,
who is the namesake of "gerrymandering" (the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries),
is spelled Gerry.
In English-speaking regions, gerrymandering is pronounced "gerrymandering,"
and particularly in British English, the spelling sometimes differs from the original,
becoming "jerrymander" (starting with J instead of G).
Separate from this, there was another brand called PACIFIC OUTDOOR
that made waterproof-zipper backpacks and waist pouches.
I actually used their backpack before switching to Gerry,
and I was convinced one must be a knockoff of the other.
But when I looked into it, both turned out to be legitimately established brands,
and both have since pretty much disappeared—neither has an official website anymore.
They also share the commonality of being owned by apparel trading companies.
Pacific Outdoor appears to be on hiatus.
↑This is the Gerry logo,
but there's also a separate brand called Gerry Down Wear
with the same logo, focused on down jackets and completely unrelated to bags.
This is a three-pack of boxer shorts that just has the Gerry logo on it—basically the bare minimum brand collaboration.
I saw them and picked them up on a whim.
This is the kind of brand that expands into products with little relation to their original business.
Regarding waterproof zippers: with Ortlieb, when you seal the zipper,
air doesn't leak even if you squeeze the bag hard, and it becomes like an inflatable ring.
With Pacific Outdoor, there's a faint gap at the end of the zipper,
and when you squeeze it, air leaks out gradually with a faint hissing sound,
but it maintains an inflatable-ring-like firmness for a brief moment.
With Gerry, the gap at the end of the zipper is even larger,
and when you squeeze it, it doesn't become inflatable-ring-like and deflates immediately.
Even if you spray rain or non-pressurized shower water on the sealed zipper,
water doesn't get in, but if you ride in a downpour,
water seeps in faintly from the end of the zipper.
It's not 100% waterproof—more like 99% waterproof.
I bought two Pacific Outdoor backpacks with similar capacity to this Gerry,
but both had their zippers break.
At worst, they fail in less than a year.
They use an Ortlieb-like zipper that moves stiffly,
and eventually they end up in a state where "both sides of the zipper pull are open."
If we assumed the brand-new condition persisted indefinitely,
I'd say it's a better backpack than Gerry, but...
My previous Gerry's waterproof zipper area started peeling away,
and visible scratches and dirt that wouldn't wash off became prominent, so I replaced it (it was yellow).
Over these 10 years, I haven't used only Gerry the whole time—
I've had periods using Chrome, Deuter, and others.
Only left and right shoulder straps.
There's no chest strap or waist belt connecting left and right.
Now, to the main topic.
A bicycle wholesaler started carrying Gerry,
so I was able to get one through that route.
The picture above was taken on February 9th of this year, about six months ago.
It's an incredibly compact, portable backpack.
Besides this, there's also a handle-bag-style shopping bag and a tote bag.
It has the Gerry logo on it.
↑This one.
It's made of Cordura fabric, so the nylon won't get runs or come unraveled,
but at ¥4,900 before tax, it's pretty pricey.
I saw the same thing at LOFT in Tennoji not long ago
and it was selling for ¥5,390 with tax (the full retail price).
I placed a cigarette box next to it for scale, but cyclists probably won't get the reference,
so I placed a bottle instead.
Like with bike travel bags, once you take it out, it never folds back
quite as neatly as it shipped, so in practice it's a bit larger after use.
When expanded, it's about this big.
I keep it tucked in my jersey pocket, and
at the end of an evening ride I'll often buy 2 to 3 bottles of 2-liter water
from a 24-hour supermarket, and it has more than enough capacity and durability.
It's sewn on so you don't lose the storage pouch,
but I cut mine off.
I keep it inside when the backpack is expanded.
If you lose it, you're done.
Although Gerry is (somewhat) famous for waterproof bags,
this backpack doesn't have a waterproof zipper.
Also, this part on the back,
—there's a belt sewn down the middle that can be pulled out and separated into two.
I have no idea what it's for.
Is it for attaching clips or carabiners, like the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system on military backpacks?
The wholesaler that started carrying Gerry
is apparently going to start carrying what's probably the same waterproof bag (or its successor)
starting in August.
Bonus
↑I also have something similar with Campagnolo written on it,
but this is a packable wind vest from a generation before the current apparel lineup.
↑Front panel
↑Back panel
The black parts are mesh, so heat doesn't build up on your back.
The interior of the expanded vest has a bag sewn into it.
I'm not cutting this one off—I'd definitely lose it.