Let me begin with a quick apology. I said this would be out last week, but as be batten down the hatches in preparation for the holiday season, I found myself pushing it back more and more. It did give me another week to jam with all the Myachis in question, so my hope is that what I sacrificed in punctuality, I'll make up for in specificity.
Because this series is offered in sets of two, I'll be reviewing them in pairs. I think it's important for people deciding which ones to pick up, it's best to look at how each set compliments one another rather than reviewing them individually.
And like the 5.4 review, I'll be splitting this one into a two day thing. Below are the reviews of the first six Myachis offered in the 5.4X:
THE BAGPIPE RED &
THE HODGEPODGE PLAID
Most Myachi collectors will look at this pairing of sacks and see two re-releases. The Bag Pipe Red, one of the best sellers from the previous series sits above what most people would think at a glance is a welcome re-release of the Patchwork Black.
While I can say with certainty that the HodgePodge Plaid is a unique Myachi, the differences between it and the Patchwork Black (series 4.2), the differences are subtle. It would take a trained eye to distinguish them without taking a quick look at the series number on the tag.
Those differences are all in the look, however, as the HodgePodge is every bit the jammer that the Patchwork Black was (and still is). Interestingly enough, the real jammability differences come from the direct re-release of the Bag Pipe Red. While this is the same Myachi that was offered in the 5.3 series, a subtle manufacturing change has made it a far superior jammer.
This pairing offers the best color contrast in the series, so it makes for a spectacular doubles routine. This is the pairing I would suggest for somebody who was a jammer and looking for two new Myachis to be their dominant jam-sacks. This would also be a great pick-up for somebody who was once a heavy jammer and is looking to get back in the game.
THE BLUE CAMMO &
THE GREEN LABYRINTH
Two much awaited sister sacks are paired up in this phenomenal double pack. I've long believed that every good series should have at least one cammo sack (and sales seem to back me up on that). This will be only the second Blue camouflage and by an unfortunate error by as we went to press, they share a name. The "Blue Cammo" from series 4.4 was a significantly different sack with a shag fabric and a far darker set of tones.
Setting aside the name duplication, this sack is the latest in a long series of popular cammo cords that include the legendary Hunter Cammo and the Agent Orange. It's a phenomenal jammer with a quick break in time and the soft blue is easy to pick out in a quick jam in almost any environment.
Coupling a vertical corduroy like the Blue Cammo with a classic horizontal is something that Maverick has been pushing for more and more in the double packs and we wisely went his way this time. The Green Labyrinth is a great contrast to the Blue Cammo, but not just in terms of fabric orientation. A dark color contrasting with a light color, a loud pattern contrasting with a muted one and a flowing design contrasting with an angular one.
This pairing probably offers the best balance between the jammer and the collector. Both sacks are legit shred bags but their connection to such storied classic Myachi families make them must-owns for collectors.
THE BLUE HORIZON &
THE COLD HEARTED
This double pack may be the victim of an incredibly stunning series. In most two-pack series, this pairing would probably jump right off the shelf. The combination of the skull & crossbone design with a classic multi-colored horizontal cord would be a winner in 9 series out of 10. But in this series, this two pack looks almost bland in comparison to it's edgier cousins.
The Blue Horizon has already earned a valued spot in my collection of jammers. It's become my go-to sack from the 5.4X series and despite a relatively dull look, the horizontal contrast looks great mid-shred. Sistering with the Black Hole Sun from series 5.4, the Blue Horizon promises to be a long-term favorite among serious jammers.
The Cold Hearted is definitely more of a collector than a jammer. While the short-shag does break in with relative ease, most jammers shy away from white Myachis because of their propensity to show wear in a negative way. The pattern diffuses it somewhat (when compared to sacks like the White Belt or the CMC), but it's still far easier to imagine this Myachi earning a spot in a collection than it is to see it earning a spot in a 3 Myachi juggle.
As a pair, this is a great split for someone on the fence between being a jammer and a collector. Rather than a double pack like the Green Labyrinth and the Blue Cammo where both sacks are hybrids of jamming and collectability, this two pack offers a clear choice of one of each.
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