THE CC SCORE™

A 100-Point Carry Rating Built on Real Miles.

BEFORE THE SCORE, THE PHILOSOPHY

Most rating systems tell you what a bag has. The CC Score tells you what it does.

Before I carry any bag, I ask two questions.

First: What did the manufacturer build this bag to do? Who did they design it for? What problem were they solving? I study the brand, the materials, the design language. I try to understand their intent before I form an opinion.

Then I carry it.

After I've put in the miles, I ask the second question: Does the carry match what the brand promised?

A bag built for weekend trail use is not a daily city commuter. A slim daypack was never meant to carry fifty pounds. The CC Score accounts for that. I'm not scoring a trail bag against city standards. I'm scoring it against its own carry philosophy — and whether it actually delivers on that promise.

That context appears on every review. You'll always know what the manufacturer intended — and whether the bag lives up to it.

Five categories and their potential points used to determine the CC Score for every bag.
Five categories and their potential points used to determine the CC Score for every bag.
CC Score: Ratings for all bags, from 0 to 100, with descriptions. The ranges are 90-100, 75-89, 60-74, 45-59, and 0-44, labeled as 'Carry Culture Elite,' 'Carry Culture Approved,' 'Carry Capable,' 'Carry Caution,' and 'Not for Me' respectively
CC Score: Ratings for all bags, from 0 to 100, with descriptions. The ranges are 90-100, 75-89, 60-74, 45-59, and 0-44, labeled as 'Carry Culture Elite,' 'Carry Culture Approved,' 'Carry Capable,' 'Carry Caution,' and 'Not for Me' respectively

ONE MORE THING

The CC Score is mine.

It reflects my carry — my body, my load, my environments. I commute. I ruck. I hike. I carry real weight every single day. That's the lens.

Your experience might be different.

A bag that doesn't work for my frame might be exactly right for yours. A score of 60 from me might be a 90 for someone who carries lighter and moves differently.

Every review ends with who I think this bag is actually for — even when it doesn't work for me.

The score is a starting point. Not a verdict.

SEE IT IN ACTION

Every review on this channel puts the CC Score to work.