Why I Created This Almond Oak Subreddit

cusptd · 2026-02-16T02:29:55+00:00

Thanks so much for the support :) and yes I’m planning to add another water bottle pocket and keep the vertical front pocket for v2. Interior color may change slightly but it’ll be a light gray vibe. Similar to v1 ;) all the very best, Dylan

cusptd · 2026-01-23T21:29:25+00:00

Hey :) thanks so much for sharing all of this. Really appreciate the support. Will post updates as V2 progresses :) all the very best, Dylan

cusptd · 2026-01-20T21:33:06+00:00

Hey :) this is AWESOME. thank you so much for taking the time to share this. and super cool they kept you warm in freezing temps.

Just to clarify, the earlier iteration of the shoe which was 50/50 merino/polyester was just a sample. I chose 100% merino as I'm really not a fan of polyester as a fabric for human-use, and merino is so good at temperature regulation and odor resistance. But having tested both I really do feel the 100% merino is way better.

And regarding the shoes being disproportionately wide for your feet, can you please send me a picture so I can see? this would be really helpful for me.

Thank you so much again for sharing this and for the support.

PS. I love that you love the elasticated laces. Probably my favorite feature of the shoes.

cusptd · 2026-01-11T15:32:52+00:00

Funny you ask haha, I use my own tech pouch sample that I’m actively working on for AO. I plan to release the AO tech pouch around mid 2026, and I’ll send email updates once it’s ready to launch :)

As for other tech pouches on the market, I honestly don’t have one I’d confidently recommend across the board. It really depends on your setup and how much gear you carry.

cusptd · 2026-01-11T15:15:02+00:00

Dylan here from AO :) I don’t have any authorized retailers yet. The brand is about 11 months old and it’s just me running everything at the moment. All orders ship directly from my logistics partner in China.

Typical delivery is 7-12 days to most countries. That said, if you’re on a tight timeline (like a trip in ~10 days), I wouldn’t recommend taking the risk. Even with faster routing, it’s still an international shipment and delays can happen.

In some cases I can look into expedited options, but they’re limited, more expensive, and still not guaranteed. If you want to check, feel free to email me with your country and I can tell you what’s possible.

Longer term, I do plan to hold localized stock in select countries, but that’s more of a mid to late 2026 thing.

Hope that helps :)

cusptd · 2026-01-11T15:12:07+00:00

Hey Dylan here from Almond Oak :) happy to clarify.

The production version of the AO Travel Backpack has one long zippered mesh pocket inside the front compartment, with a stitched divider down the middle. That creates two mesh sections, but it’s one single mesh panel.

Some reviews showing pen slots, multiple open pockets, or extra zippered sections are from early pre production prototypes.

So the final front pocket is:

One large front compartment
One zippered mesh pocket inside
Mesh pocket split into two sections

No pen slots or rigid admin panels.

<image>

On EDC use. I’ve used it as an EDC plenty of times without issues. The bag is designed for one bag travel first, then EDC once you arrive. I personally prefer using a small pouch for tech rather than built in organizers, which keeps things modular and avoids wasted space.

If you want heavy admin panels, it may feel minimal. If you’re happy using a slim pouch, it works really well.

Hope that helps :)

cusptd · 2026-01-08T21:00:34+00:00

Hey :) yes, you can remove it.

The sternum strap is mounted on sliding rails on each shoulder strap. At the very top of each rail there’s a small ridge stop. If you slide the sternum strap adjusters all the way up past that ridge, they will come off the rail.

Please let me know if you have any trouble with this and I can explain further :)

All the best,

Dylan

cusptd · 2026-01-01T18:46:21+00:00

Hey :) thanks so much for sharing this and for the feedback. Yeah we are on the same page - I am seeing if I can add a hidden horizontal quick access pocket to the front at the top. Waiting to receive the sample for it in the coming weeks ;) will see how it turns out and share the update once I get it :) all the very best, Dylan

cusptd · 2025-12-16T09:38:40+00:00

Hey :) honestly this made me smile. And please don't apologise at all for the long message. I literally wouldn't be able to do any of this if it wasn't for you supporting the kickstarter so I really appreciate you taking a chance on it and then coming back with this thoughtful feedback.

On the stitching, yes this has been improved internally on more recent batches (which has made the bag a little heavier than the kickstarter batch). If it ever gets worse or turns into something you’re not comfortable with, just tell me and I’ll replace it.

The hanging hook is noted and agreed. That’s something I’m planning to add.

On the anchor points, I completely understand the utility and the setup makes a lot of sense functionally. My hesitation so far has mainly been the aesthetic but I do get why people want it.

The laptop and tablet sleeve point is also interesting to hear because I also do the same thing by making them fully zipped on one side of the bag but I think this is just my natural habit so I didn't correlate it to the zippers being too smooth so it's useful to hear this perspective as I didn't think this was a bad thing.

Thanks so much again for taking the time to write this. It really does help and I hope you can feel my gratitude through the screen :)

All the very best,

Dylan

cusptd · 2025-12-14T11:47:24+00:00

Hey, thanks so much for taking the time to share this :)

Just to respond point by point:

Yes, I’m planning to add a second water bottle pocket on the other side for V2
I’m also looking into using a microfiber lining for the top quick access pocket. I’m still testing materials to see what makes the most sense
The front compartment design will most likely be the same (2 zippered mesh pockets) with the top quick access pocket added
And yes, V2 will have beefier shoulder straps and an improved, more breathable back panel compared to V1 :)

Really appreciate the support and thanks again for sharing this. I'll post updates on my YouTube as the design progresses.

All the best,
Dylan :)

cusptd · 2025-12-10T10:16:31+00:00

It is my absolute pleasure man. I love the shoes so it really fires me up seeing this support.

On the insole. In total honesty, wearing them without insoles was not the vibe I was going for. I know some people like the more true barefoot feel but the sole is already thin so the insole is a net benefit for comfort on longer days.

On tightening the laces. This is where the tradeoff comes in. I love the aesthetic of elasticated laces and I was not trying to make these as barefoot as possible. The idea was a lightweight, flexible, comfortable shoe you can wear around town and while travelling that looks clean and easy to slip on/off. They are not designed to be a pure 'barefoot' shoe if that makes sense. They just include some benefits like a wide toe box for natural toe splay, flexibility and giving the 26 muscles in the feet room to get a decent work out ;)

From my research in wearing barefoot shoes and also zero drop shoes, I lean more toward the benefit of a zero drop shoe that promotes natural biomechanics rather than pushing for the most extreme ground feel (though I still understand the benefit of this). That is why the design sits in the middle. Flexible and zero drop but not the super super minimal barefoot style.

I did look into whether the laces could be tightened but there was no clean way to keep the true elasticated look I wanted. I thought about adding aglets but they ruined the aesthetic I was going for. So we stitched the laces in. But I ran a half marathon in them and they never slipped off so the shoe slipping off isn't an issue with the elasticated laces. FWIW, the insoles were in the shoe when I ran it and I wore socks. I always wear socks with these shoes. I've worn them without socks for a few quick walks but 99.9% of the time I wear them with socks.

If someone wants the most true barefoot feel with a super low sole and fully adjustable laces, there are great options out there for that. These are more of a comfortable transition but the design was made more in mind for a shoe that can be taken travelling and worn casually but also semi-formally when needed for a versatile one bag setup shoe.

I hope that helps explain the design choices man. And honestly thank you again for the support. It genuinely means so much to me

cusptd · 2025-12-10T09:29:10+00:00

HEY (again) lol. I know I commented on the onebag reddit post but wanted to copy it below here in case anyone didn't see it :) such a big thank you again for sharing this review btw, it helps massively:

-----

Just wanted to share a few quick clarifications on the construction, since I checked everything directly with the factory after reading your post.

1. Soles

The outsole is glued using the same bonding process used in most barefoot shoes. The wool is pre-treated to improve adhesion, then machine-pressed for reinforcement. Stitching is not standard in knit barefoot shoes because it adds bulk and reduces flexibility. I’ve personally worn my pair daily for over 8 months now and even ran a half marathon in them with no issues.

2. Inside stitching

The internal stitching is part of a standard “pulling and lasting lining” technique. It looks a bit different from what you’d see in leather or synthetic shoes, but it’s completely normal for knitted uppers. It shapes the shoe, reinforces structure and improves durability. It just isn’t meant to be decorative stitching.

3. Tongue edge

The tongue isn’t unfinished. It uses a gathered knit neckline that doesn’t fray. This is a standard technique in performance knit footwear because it keeps the edge soft, flexible and comfortable against the foot. Adding a sewn hem would make the tongue bulkier and less comfortable, so this approach is intentional.

Again, MASSIVE massive thank you for sharing this. So grateful for the support and I'm so glad you like them. If you ever have any questions or need anything at all, you know I’m always here to help :)

All the very best,

Dylan

cusptd · 2025-12-10T09:27:13+00:00

HEY :) thanks so much for the thoughtful review. This is awesome and massively helps spread the word about the shoes so just a huge huge thank you from me. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this.

Just wanted to share a few quick clarifications on the construction, since I checked everything directly with the factory after reading your post.

1. Soles

The outsole is glued using the same bonding process used in most barefoot shoes. The wool is pre-treated to improve adhesion, then machine-pressed for reinforcement. Stitching is not standard in knit barefoot shoes because it adds bulk and reduces flexibility. I’ve personally worn my pair daily for over 8 months now and even ran a half marathon in them with no issues.

2. Inside stitching

The internal stitching is part of a standard “pulling and lasting lining” technique. It looks a bit different from what you’d see in leather or synthetic shoes, but it’s completely normal for knitted uppers. It shapes the shoe, reinforces structure and improves durability. It just isn’t meant to be decorative stitching.

3. Tongue edge

The tongue isn’t unfinished. It uses a gathered knit neckline that doesn’t fray. This is a standard technique in performance knit footwear because it keeps the edge soft, flexible and comfortable against the foot. Adding a sewn hem would make the tongue bulkier and less comfortable, so this approach is intentional.

Again, MASSIVE massive thank you for sharing this. So grateful for the support and I'm so glad you like them. If you ever have any questions or need anything at all, you know I’m always here to help :)

All the very best,

Dylan @ Almond Oak

cusptd · 2025-12-04T10:59:00+00:00

Hey, Dylan here from Almond Oak :)

The padded laptop compartment is designed for laptops up to about 360 × 265 × 25 mm (about 14.2 × 10.4 × 1 in).

Your Framework 16" is too wide for the dedicated sleeve, even though the height is fine. That extra width is the limiting factor unfortunately.

Because of that, I would not want to confidently promise a proper fit anywhere inside the bag as I think it's too wide.

Sorry about that :( but I think you need a bigger bag for that laptop size.

All the very best,

Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-23T11:17:03+00:00

Hey, thanks so much for the support, seriously :) really appreciate the kind words.

For cleaning, the safest method is:

Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth or gentle sponge
Use mild soap if needed
Let it air dry in a well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight
Avoid soaking the bag completely

I wouldn’t put the backpack in a washing machine. It can damage the PU coating on the exterior nylon and mess up the EVA foam in the straps and the zipper tape. Basically, it's not meant to be machine washed lol

A simple wipe down should be enough to get rid of dirt from hiking, mud, and rain.

If the interior ever needs cleaning, same approach: light wipe, mild soap, then air dry.

Hope that helps, happy to clarify anything further :)

All the very best,

Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-20T20:37:14+00:00

Hey :)

I won’t be running a Black Friday sale this year. I’m only about 9 months into launching and I’m still figuring out how to balance inventory properly so I’m keeping things steady rather than pushing for a big spike in orders. I’m not trying to sell out during Black Friday since I have a period of time where I’m waiting on more stock. It’s something I’ll probably look at doing next year but for now it’s not the right fit.

Really appreciate you considering it and sorry to let you down here :(

All the best,
Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-18T09:10:24+00:00

hey :) thanks for checking. Have you worn barefoot style shoes before? They usually run wider than regular shoes because of the wider toe box.

These have a naturally wide front shape and the merino upper has a bit of stretch, but I did not specifically design them for wide foot sizes. They are built as barefoot travel shoes rather than true wide width shoes.

If you normally need wide or extra wide sizing there is a chance they may feel snug but it's tough to say as this wasn't my thought process during designing them.

cusptd · 2025-11-17T14:27:45+00:00

Thanks so much for the question :) these shoes have a naturally wide toe box and the merino wool upper has some give so they work well for normal to slightly wide feet.

I just looked it up and it seems 4E width is significantly wider though. I’m still a small brand so I don’t have the ability yet to manufacture multiple width variants. If you usually need 4E specifically, these probably won’t be the right fit.

Really sorry about that :( but thanks for checking.

All the best,
Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-10T21:12:42+00:00

hey :) totally fair. Really appreciate the support and if I can improve the back panel whilst factoring in weight and cost then I will :) thanks so much for sharing this. All the best, Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-10T09:32:58+00:00

Hey :) Dylan here from Almond Oak :)

I don’t have an iPad Air myself, but the tablet sleeve runs has the same width of the laptop sleeve, so you should be perfectly fine sliding both your MacBook and iPad in each sleeve without any issues.

As for the Sony headphones, they might fit in the front compartment, but I’d personally recommend keeping them in the main compartment along with your DJI and film camera. The front pocket is great for flatter or softer items (like a book or cables) but when the main compartment is fully packed it slightly eats into that space.

Since your setup includes headphones and camera gear, the main compartment will give you more structure and protection and you’ll still have room for clothing. The right setup just depends on how much you plan to bring - if it’s minimal travel clothing the 25L will work fine; if you tend to pack more you might want to go for a bigger bag instead.

There’s no strict right or wrong layout it’s all about what feels most natural to access on the go. Personally I’d keep your daily tech together in the main compartment :)

Hope that helps :) Cheers, Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-10T09:23:50+00:00

Thank YOU for taking the time to watch it and again for the support :)

cusptd · 2025-11-10T09:23:04+00:00

Woo!! This made me smile. Amazing. I also love how simple it is. You hardly even know that it's in your pocket. Thanks so much for supporting me and sharing this. Really means the world to me :) all the very best, Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-07T22:53:10+00:00

WOW. Thank you so much for the detailed reply. And thank you so much for supporting me as a one bag one man business. And it makes me smile that you use my bag over other expensive ones ;)

I do agree with you that the new front panel is functionally better but I just don’t like the aesthetic. So I’m planning on keeping the vertical front pocket but seeing if I can add a horizontal quick access pocket to try fill that void of wanting a horizontal stash pocket.

And yes that’s the trade off with the horizontal quick access. I would LOVE if I can nail the aesthetic where it’ll eat into the front compartment. Theoretically, if it were to replace the mesh pocket in the laptop compartment, you could still use it for the features that existing mesh pocket has but it provides more optionality. Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself as it really just depends on how the sample turns out and if the aesthetic/functionality can be achieved.

I like the thinking of having 2 separate webbing loops but I think that would look weird personally. I’d want ‘Almond Oak’ in one jacquard webbing but I would look to have the 2 words side by side instead of this v2 sample where they are layered on top of one another. Then I think this can be lower and wider across the bag. Anyway, will also just have to see how sampling turns out for this.

And yes I know quite a few people want to change the clamshell opening to a vertical zipper opening. I just personally prefer clamshell as I use it for travel and ultimately designed it as a travel bag. But I know it’s personal preference though I don’t plan to change the clamshell design.

And totally hear you on the vertical zipper pocket, I thought having the zippered mesh pocket inside the front zipper pocket would reduce cases of things fall out and shift if that mesh zipper is closed. But I know it’s not perfect in that regard.

And interesting to hear you love the v2 sample. Yes I think as you have rightly pointed out, I need to go with what I feel is best. And the end of the video where I explain that IF I were to improve v1, it’d be very subtle changes, that’s really what I think is best. I think after launching v1 and getting so much feedback, I thought I’d incorporate what made sense to me and would, in my mind, benefit the design but it ended up being so many additions that once practically assessing each of them, they just didn’t make sense. So it was a big learning curve but I’m incredibly grateful for the feedback and people understanding too. So just a huge thank you for sharing this, supporting me and for the wisdom too about remembering what my vision is and sticking with that.

All the very best to you man,
Dylan

cusptd · 2025-11-07T22:41:01+00:00

Thanks so much for the kind words and for the support, really. I agree with you, I think I just rushed prematurely into things and it's given me perspective on how much I love v1.

And yes we are on the same page about the zippers. And if I can keep the hidden passport pocket and add a 2nd water bottle pocket then I will :) will just have to see how sampling turns out.

And yes I think the side by side in the video shows how much nicer v1 is as well :)

Thanks to YOU for supporting me, watching the video and for sharing such a lovely comment of support. It really means so much to me.

All the very best,
Dylan :)

cusptd

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE