Boundary Supply Rennen EDC Case Review

When reviewing other members of Boundary Supply’s Rennen family, we felt that the recycled materials felt premium but lacked structure in places where they mattered. Typically, we wouldn’t think fabric standing on its own feet would be a huge issue for an EDC case, so we’re amped to find out whether it does. Let’s dive in!

Materials & Aesthetic

The Rennen EDC Case uses recycled materials like the rest of the Rennen family—with this iteration using EPN-041L-XPAC, as printed on the pouch’s interior. The materials are roughly a 7/3 ratio of recycled to newly-produced goods, which is great from a sustainability standpoint.

The material isn’t as wind-panty as we expected, though it does crinkle a fair amount. The case holds its shape—so it looks nice on the table at the local coffee shop or cafe. It sneaks back in quickly when you force all of the air out of the pouch, even when empty. It can get dented or bunched up occasionally, but for the most part, it looks the same no matter what you’ve done to it.

The exterior has the classic XPAC look—diamonds interconnected into a pattern covering the entire pouch. This grid helps strengthen the material and ensures it won’t tear further if a hole is punctured. However, it isn’t very thick, so we don’t expect it to protect our fragile gear from drops.

The interior appears to have a TPU laminate, which is ideal for water resistance. We don’t often take a case like this into the elements without protection, but a quick test under the sink proves that if we do, the crayons we packed to color the restaurant tablecloth will be dry when we arrive. Does anyone want to play tic-tac-toe?

There’s a small black fabric tab on one of the short edges of the case that has ‘Boundary’ spelled out on it. It isn’t noticeable because of the fabric loop just above it—but we’ll get to that shortly. For a utilitarian case of this size, we wish there wasn’t any exterior branding or that it was more subtle, but it doesn’t look unprofessional.

The zipper Boundary Supply opted for is a YKK #8 model with a water-resistant track. Such a large zip on a small pouch feels a little overkill, but it enables us to stuff this thing full of cables, pencils, or those tricky crayons we mentioned earlier without worrying that the zipper will pop open.

The pull on the zipper is a paracord-like material knotted at the end. There’s a piece of hard rubberized plastic to add some structure, which makes finding and using the zipper a little easier. The plastic is slippery when wet, but the knot is easy to locate and grasp in those situations.

Usage & Features

Remember the fabric loop near the logo we mentioned earlier? It’s crafted from a durable material that feels like nylon and has enough clearance to grab onto with three fingers (maybe two or four, depending on your hand size). We dig it because it makes the pouch easier to carry on its own and grab out of your pack when you need it. There’s a risk of getting poked when you reach for the case if you have rigid items or sharp pencils inside, but that isn’t a worry with the handle. It’s also relatively easy to loop a carabiner or strap through it to fasten it to your pack.

On the opposite side of the case, there’s a smaller loop well-suited for a carabiner. You could use this to fasten the Rennen onto the exterior of your daypack or in the bathroom if you turn it into a makeshift toiletry kit. We dig the inclusion—and are happy that it doesn’t take up a ton of room if you aren’t using it.

The interior of the Rennen EDC Case is a vast open space. There’s no organization to speak of, and we’re happy about that. It’s such a small pouch that it doesn’t warrant additional pockets or loops. Just toss your gear inside, stow the case, and hit the road.

It has ample space to fit a ton of pens and pencils, and the water-resistant zipper makes it a good candidate for art supplies for those who like to create while traveling. Just as the Rennen keeps rain out, it’ll keep any messes you stow from escaping (within reason). There are a few pen marks inside, but they aren’t easy to notice unless you’re looking for them.

Our favorite use for the Rennen EDC Case is as a mini tech pouch. You can stow one of every standard cable inside here, with room to spare— plus a wall charger to boot. We easily fit a USB-A to USB-C, USB-A to Micro-USB, and USB-C to USB-C cables inside the Rennen with two power bricks, and there was some room at the top when everything was said and done.

Depending on how you typically roll your cables for storage, you may have to switch things up to make them fit nicely. Rounding your cords up into a circle doesn’t work—as the case is long and skinny. We had better luck winding them back and forth to make a more elongated oval shape. It also helps to put your power bricks on top after stowing the cables because, if not, you may have to remove all of the cords to gain access to them.

The size of the Rennen EDC case makes it hard to lose things. There aren’t many corners, nooks, and crannies to speak of, so there aren’t many places for dongles and other small objects to hide. Its small footprint allows it to fit into your daypack or travel bag without taking up much room, and we were even able to stow it inside a larger sling on a few occasions without eating up too much space.

Overall, the Boundary Supply Rennen EDC Case does exactly what it’s supposed to and not much more. It’ll keep your pens, pencils, cables, power bricks, and even crayons organized, so you know where they are at all times. You never know when you’ll need a crayon!