Bedrock Bags, Nightfall Overland, and Agave Finishworks

Bedrock Bags was high on my list of places to visit when I passed through Durango, Colorado, for the first time. I knew they had recently relocated to a larger space, but leaving it at that would be an understatement. The new space, which is located within Durango’s historic Smiley Building, is brimming with history and character. The once-abandoned high school is now the home to over 50 different tenants, ranging from art studios to marketing firms… and bikepacking bag manufacturers. Bedrock scored a huge open space on the second floor, complete with vaulted ceilings and plenty of natural light. What was once the ceiling space of the old theatre is now home to Bedrock Bags, and their newest project, Nightfall Overland. I’ve been using products from both companies this year, including the Moab Handlebar Bag and window covers from Nightfall Overland for my van. I stopped by their new space to learn more about Nightfall Overland, Peter’s Agave Finishworks side project, and what Bedrock Bags has planned for 2020.

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Bedrock Bags has had a busy last couple of years, with some pretty major product launches and big changes. New products include their recently launched Moab Handlebar Bag, which I reviewed here, as well as an updated version of their Tapeats Handlebar Bag, a new handlebar harness, and their new Greysill hip pack. Emily and I took the opportunity to get lost within their new building’s stairwells and narrow hallways, snapping a few photos along the way, and felt the space lends itself perfectly to what Bedrock Bags is all about.

What’s new for 2020? Co-owner Joey Ernst gave me a sneak peek at a new multi-purpose cargo cage bag that doubles as a handlebar bag, which looks like a pretty useful piece of gear. It should be available sometime in February, so stay tuned for an announcement. They also just launched the Taco Tool, a handy little organizer for your repair kit and tools. Check that out here.

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Nightfall Overland

Andrew and Joey have also been busy behind the scenes launching a sister company that offers organization solutions and window covers for the van life and overlanding crowd. Nightfall Overland was launched in May of 2019, offering the same high-quality construction and attention to detail as Bedrock Bags. Their product line consists of window covers built specifically for Sprinters, Transits, and Promasters, as well as behind-seat organization and storage cubes. I purchased a set of first generation window covers for my Transit a few months back, and although they’ve been working great, Andrew insisted he make a small modification to help with the fit. I appreciate their honesty when it comes to updated features, as products like these will undoubtedly see some tweaks over time. While I was visiting, I also picked up one of their behind-seat organizers, rightfully named The Organizer, replacing my much less aesthetically pleasing velcro-on pouches.

For 2020, Nightfall is introducing a portable firepan that assembles with no tools, folds completely flat for transport, and meets USFS regulations. They are also working on adding window covers for 2019/2020 Sprinter vans. Give them a follow on Instagram @NightfallOverland to stay in the loop. The new business will allow Andrew, Joey, and their team to keep busy during the slower times, while also creating products that they can all appreciate and use. It turns out bikepacking and van life are two prerequisites for working at Bedrock.

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Agave Finishworks

The new space must foster creativity, because another Bedrock employee, Peter, has recently started a creative titanium finishing company under the name Agave Finishworks. I stumbled upon Peter’s work a few months back, which included titanium Vargo products with snazzy custom graphics, and more recently he’s whipped up custom anodized King Cage Anything Cages. Peter, a former Moots employee, saw an opportunity for custom titanium graphics, and the results look pretty fantastic. Currently, there are various King Cage Titanium Cages and Vargo mugs and BOTS available on his website, plus Peter has opened up his services for custom work on your favourite titanium bike or some branded products for your shop. You can see some examples of his work below, including my very own Vargo Ti-Lite 750 Mug with Agave’s High Desert Design.

Since my visit, Peter has expanded his colour offerings, and has a line of anodized titanium straws. There’s a good chance we’ll be getting some BIKEPACKING.com mugs designed by Peter for our Bikepacking Collective, so stay tuned for more there. For now, you can check out Peter’s recent projects on Instagram @AgaveFinishworks.

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I’m excited to see what the Bedrock Bags crew gets up to next, and it’ll be interesting to see if other bag makers start diversifying to keep busy and retain staff in the off season. In my mind, it’s just another way to support the rad small businesses responsible for making great quality gear. And I can dig that. You can learn more about their various product offerings at BedrockBags.com, NightfallOverland.com, and AgaveFinishworks.com.