Alkem Gear makes premium backpacks, bags, and accessories for trading card and tabletop game players. The brand was founded by Tim Heck and Emily Wedel, two gamers who kept noticing the same problem at every game night: almost nobody was carrying a bag that was actually built for the hobby. So they built one.
It Started at Game Night
Tim plays Magic: The Gathering with friends at his local game store. Look around the tables on any given night and you’ll see what he saw: deck boxes rattling around the bottom of everyday backpacks, playmats squeezed into tote bags, dice loose in jacket pockets. The gaming bags that did exist often looked the part but missed on the details that matter most, like protection, organization, and materials that hold up.
Nothing fit gaming gear the right way. Nothing felt premium. And almost nothing worked as well on a weekday commute as it did on Friday night at the store.
A Designer Who Knew He Could Do Better
Tim is a product development engineer, and he looked at that gap the way designers do: as a problem worth solving. What would a bag look like if it started with the gear players actually carry? Where should decks go so they stay protected? How do you carry a playmat without bending it? Can one bag handle game night and daily life?
He teamed up with Emily Wedel, an industrial designer who plays games with her family at local stores and at home, paints miniatures for Dungeons & Dragons, and sews her own cosplay. Together they set one rule for everything Alkem makes: build the gear we would want to use ourselves.
Designed by Gamers, Shaped by Players
Every material and piece of hardware was chosen to survive real use, from weekly store nights to tournament days and convention floors. The goal was premium quality at a price that still makes sense for players.
The gaming community helped shape the line before launch by wear-testing products and helping choose colorways. When Alkem Gear launched on Kickstarter in May 2026, players showed up in a big way: 524 backers pledged more than $103,000, finishing at 412% of the goal.
Quality control, for the record, is overseen by Gryff, our chief inspector and resident cat, who takes his job very seriously.
What Makes Alkem Gear Different
Alkem bags are designed first for trading card players and built to flex for board games, tabletop RPGs, and everyday life. A protective vault system keeps your most important cargo secure. Pockets and compartments are sized for what players actually bring, from dice and tokens to pens and accessories. Laptop storage in the Large Backpack and Messenger Bag lets your gaming gear and everyday essentials travel together. And accessories like the Playmat Case and Dice Travel Tray attach to Alkem bags, so you can build the setup that fits how you play.
What’s Next
The first run of Alkem Gear ships October 15, and this is just the beginning. We believe the table is where community is built, and we plan to keep showing up at local game stores, events, and conventions, playing alongside the people who inspired all of this.
Thanks for being part of it. We’ll see you at the table.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Alkem Gear?
Alkem Gear was founded by Tim Heck, Founder and Product Development Engineer, and Emily Wedel, Co-Founder and Industrial Designer.
What does Alkem Gear make?
Alkem Gear makes backpacks, bags, and accessories for trading card and tabletop players, including the Medium Backpack, Large Backpack, Limited Edition Founders Series Medium Backpack, Messenger Bag, Playmat Case, and Dice Travel Tray.
Are Alkem bags only for trading card games?
No. They’re designed primarily for trading card players and are versatile enough for board games, tabletop RPGs, and everyday carry.
When does Alkem Gear ship?
The first run ships late October.
