In late February I posted my review of the Tom Bihn Synik bag, and in that review I showed my GMing kit, which was in my Peak Design Tech Pouch. So today I am going to review the Tech Pouch and show you how I have my GMing kit packed out.

Disclaimer – The Peak Design Tech Pouch was not provided for this review. This is from my personal collection.

Specifications

The Tech Pouch is from Peak Design, one of the best bag makers out there. I have been a fan of their products for some time, and I own their Everyday Backpack (perhaps a future review). The Tech Pouch is large. It is 2L in capacity and 6″ x 9.5″ x 4″ (15 x 24 x 10cm). To give it some perspective, small sling bags and fanny packs typically have about 2.5L capacity. 

It is made from the same materials that Peak Design uses for all their bags. You can read about them in detail here. But the materials are highly water-resistant and the main zipper is aquaguarded. This means that you could take this pouch out in the rain and be fine, but honestly, it’s most likely going to wind up inside another bag. The overall design of it is very modern and sleek. 

The pouch unzips and opens in an accordion manner, designed to sit open on a table. This allows you to open the pouch and go in and out of it, without worrying about the contents spilling out. It is designed for you to have as a work companion on your table. Due to the height of the pouch, for GMing purposes, I like it on a table lower than where my GMing materials are located, so at conventions I will put it on the chair next to me, and at home, on the floor next to my chair. 

Front View (closed)	Side View (closed)
Side View (open)	Top View (open)

My GMing Kit 

So, let’s jump over to my GMing kit in order to understand why I would want a GMing kit this large. Your GMing kit is an exercise in being prepared to run your game or games. It is about having all the things you need to make sure you can run your game effectively. If you have not thought about this before, it’s worth a few minutes of your time.

Kit Requirements and Goals

Before picking what needs to go into a GMing kit, you should consider what you need your kit to do for you. This is going to define what you need to pack, which will, in turn, help you realize what kind of carry you need. 

For me, I had the following requirements and goals for my GMing kit:

• Writing materials (something to write with and on).
• Personal dice for several games (2 standard sets of dice and some Fate Dice)
• Safety tools (X-card, index cards for Lines & Veils)
• Components for the games I am running (assume 2-3 games)
• Backup materials for players who forgot things (pencils and dice)
• Generic components (blank cards, tokens, etc) to use as needed
• Stationery supplies (pencil refills, erasers) so nothing runs out

With these requirements, I can run a game at home or at a convention, and be sure that everything I need is present, as well as cover for players who may have forgotten something.

Items

GMing Kit

Here is what makes up my kit (clockwise from the upper left corner):

• Field Notes notebook (player journal and notes)
• Markers and Pens for the table
• Compass iPad stand
• Pencil Refills, erasers
• Oliblock Magnetic paper clips
• Glass Tokens
• Dry Erase index cards
• Homemade X Card (laminated of course)
• Five Star Index Card Binder
• Personal Pen and Pencil
• Index Card case
• Personal Dice in a small die bag
• Backup Dice in a plastic bag

How I Packed It Out

Everything listed above fits into the Tech Pouch, with room to spare. Here is how I have it laid out. I have broken it out by the compartments, with the far one being the one farthest from me when I sit it down.

Far Compartment

Overhead Far Compartment

This is where I keep the markers and pencils for the players, my compass stand, and some of the refills and the magnetic paper clips.

Middle Compartment

Top View (open)

In here, I have the index card binder, notebook, and X Card. There is also a zipper pouch where I keep the glass beads. In addition, there is a set of stretchy pockets in this section, where I put the dry erase index cards and back up dice. 

Close Compartment

Top View Bottom Compartment

In here I keep my index card box and my personal dice. 

Back Pocket

Back Pocket

This pocket is very slim, and I just keep my writing instruments in there.

The Review

Now that I have shown you the pouch and what’s in it, let me tell you what it’s like. I have been using this pouch since the start of 2020. I have taken it to numerous home games, out to Panera for game events, and took it on a trip to a game day in Milwaukee – which is to say that I am very familiar with it.

Function

The Tech Pouch has no problem holding everything I have shown here, and in a pinch, I can fit a few more things on top of the pens in the far compartment and in the stretchy pockets in the middle. The Pouch has a mix of larger open spaces as well as some pockets for organizing smaller things. The back pocket is narrow and made for thinner items. This gives you some flexibility about what to put where, and you will need a bit of time trying to fit your gear, and likely you will experiment early on, moving things around. 

I really like the way the Pouch opens and sits. I typically put the pouch on the table and unload what I need for my game, and then place it open on the floor next to me. With it open on the floor, I can reach down and pull out anything else I might need during play, without having to mess around with it. I find it too big to sit on the table during the game.

With a 2L capacity, you will be able to hold a lot of components which means that this pouch can get pretty heavy. As mentioned before this pouch is big. If you have a small bag as your normal game bag, this pouch is going to take up a lot of space. I found the Tech Pouch worked great with the 30L Synik backpack and will fit well in a 20L backpack with some consideration. I would not recommend it if you are using anything smaller. 

If you have a lot of things you use in your gaming, this is a great solution.

Quality

Peak Design is one of the best bag makers out there. Their choice of materials is exceptional. Every fabric, zipper, and component is made from some of the best material out there. You will know it the second you touch it. This is coupled with their superior construction. The stitching is tight and clean. You are not going to find a stray thread on this pouch. This pouch feels solid in your hand, and it’s the kind of thing that is going to be with you for a long time. Should anything break down, Peak Design has a lifetime guarantee on the pouch.

Cost

This pouch is $60.00, making it more than an impulse purchase for most. It is the kind of quality product that will cost you more but will also be there with you for years to come. 

My Recommendation

I love the Peak Design Tech Pouch, but in all fairness, I love everything Peak Design makes. For me, this pouch makes a great GMing Kit. It has a large capacity making it able to carry components for several games. I really like the way it sits open, making it accessible when I use it.

The downside for me is that the pouch is large, and does not fit in every bag. I have to use it with my larger bags. It also is so big that it is really too big to sit out on the gaming table during the game. 

All in all, I give the Peak Design tech pouch a 20 for volume, function, and construction, but a -2 due to size, for a solid 18; it’s a hit!