Luggage Bags and Packs
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Big fan of the ASAP. Very versatile pack and the Stick-It has been invaluable. Great place to stash shoes, jacket or smaller items (water bottle and IH hat) clipped to the pals webbing.
Glad you're enjoying it bro!
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I got rid of a lot of bags before moving, and could really do with something new for travelling. As I've said before I've got a profound dislike of wheeled bags. So here are the things that I'm currently considering.
Fjallraven Stubben
The Stubben is a clever looking pack. It's got a steel internal frame, so that it can be used as a seat, and with the side pockets attached it's about 37 litres capacity, and a couple of centimetres (about an inch) wider than the hand luggage "box". It's front loading, which will make it easier to find things.
Without the side pockets it's 27 litres, putting it into the big daypack category. I'd probably get a lot of use out of it as a general bag, whereas some other options would be for holidays only. The downside is the metal frame makes it relatively heavy. If an airline is being strict about hand luggage weights, then, at 2.2 kg, it might eat a quarter or a third of the limit. I'm also not sure where it's manufactured, probably in China, and I prefer to support smaller companies.
There's also a video showing off all the features.
Topo Designs Travel Bag
I like basic bags, and the Travel Bag is one of the simplest carry-on style travel rucksacks I've seen.
It's part of a system, and Topo Designs also sell the Trip Pack, which is a small daypack that attaches to its front.
Plus there are packing cubes that are sized to fit it as well.
Topo Designs are made in Colorado, which appeals, and the size would work well for me. Normally I travel with a 30 litre rucksack. The downsides are that I'm not sure how much it would get used on a day-to-day basis, as it'd probably be a once or twice a year sort of bag, and it's not exactly attractive.
De Bruir Parachuter Bag
Both @trail and arrow and I really like the Parachuter Bag. It's made by a small company in Ireland, and is a really unique design.
It comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from a smaller daypack through to maximum carry on. I'd probably go for the second largest model, which is about the size of the Topo Designs Travel Bag, and then get a stack of their packing cubes to use in it.
The downside is again the same as the Topo Designs bag, namely it's probably an awkward size for day-to-day use. But I think that's just me trying too hard. And it's expensive, at around €600.
Trakke Krukke and Mule
Trakke are a small Scottish company making outdoor gear. They offer the Krukke, which is a 30 litre waxed cotton backpack, inspired by classic, alpinist rucksacks. It'd be a good size for travel, but its smaller sibling, the Arkaig, would be a better daily bag.
The Mule is a large courier bag.
At this stage I'm not sure what I'll go for. The Stubben is the current winner, but I'll probably change my mind at least three times before I order something.
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Topo is sick.
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I found a few more interesting brands whilst digging around.
Alpine Luddites Alpinist
Alpine Luddites are a one-man brand that builds reproductions of sixties and seventies Karrimor rucksacks. If you're desperate for a new Alpinist, in purple only, then you know who to call…
I'd go for something a bit smaller, though.
Rivendell Mountain Works Mariposa
RMW have been restarted as another made in the USA microbrand. The Mariposa is a large daypack, and can be ordered with detachable pockets.
@Snowy will be relieved to see that they've got a more individual style for their leather patches.
Truce Designs Large Drop Liner Backpack
The Large Drop Liner is built out of recycled sails or other materials, and is lined with offcuts from drysuits. They can even use fabric you supply - perhaps I should ask @Giles for some of the subpar 25 oz denim…
Once again, made in the USA by a small company.
Modern Industry Drive Rolltop
A bit more high-tech this time, and probably a bit small for what I'm after. But the Drive is a cool bag.
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You should also check out bedouin foundry….. Hand made in England. Full grain leather, rhino wax canvas, hand screen printed lining, mil-spec cobra buckles. I have the Genghis messenger (first one down in the pics from the website below) and its a beautiful piece of kit.
The roll top backpack they do is also lovely and I will be getting one at some point for sure. If memory serves, all hand made in Lancashire.
The chap who founded the company bikes across India with a brown version of their large messenger. Some pics showing how the fabric aged after been slung on his back all that time….
Article on them here….
http://www.carryology.com/reviews-2/road-test/road-test-bedouin-barbary-messenger-bag/
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On the topics of bags, I'm interested in a solid cycling backpack. My Timbuk2 Custom's going on 3-4 years and is starting to fray in spots. Certainly harder to handle a life time warranty from the other side of the work instead of just dropping it off.
I've been looking for something large-ish (30-40l max), that can carry a laptop, and is fully waterproof (to carry said laptop).
Mission Workshop
ChromeAre what keep coming back, but am not sold on anything really. Any other ideas???
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@Cutlasshound I'd seen the Bedouin Foundry bags earlier. I like the Deleris roll-top, particularly in the pimped out SE form, but it's a shade on the small side for what I need.
The messenger bags are interesting, though…
@Snowy I'm not sure if any rucksack is 100% waterproof. The Fjallraven Stubben (and also theirRucksack No. 21) and Trakke Krukke use waxed fabrics, which are water resistant. The Trakke bags are beautifully made too.
That said, there are dry packs. I saw the Boreas Bootlegger in one of Melbourne's outdoor shops yesterday, and that includes a dry bag as one of its three modular options.
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My timbuk2's have been waterproof for the past 5 years cycling, and chrome/MW both have waterproof lines.
Essentially it doesn't need to be able to go in a bath and remain dry, however, if it's pouring for an extended period of time, the bag's gotta remain dry. Most of the cycling bags have an internal coating over the flap or some such, that is 100% water proof, meaning nothing gets wet. 1000D, as discussed, is not able to hold up to cycling in a heavy storm by itself.
(2 bags, hence earlier comment of 3-4 years and now 5 here)
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(2 bags, hence earlier comment of 3-4 years and now 5 here)
You should also check out Bagjack. Handmade In Berlin. Excellent quality. I have one of their circdisc iPad cases and it's great.
They also make the bags for Acronym.
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Thanks Cutlass Have not heard of that brand @ all!
A pleasure. Went to their shop a few years ago and the quality of their normal range was equivalent to the acronym stuff (with the exception of the fabric choices and the fact that the acronym bags are now ludicrously expensive).
Rickshaw bagworks also have a decent reputation although not seen their stuff in the flesh….. They also did an interesting project on kickstarter where they developed a proprietary 3m reflective herringbone twill fabric.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/markdwight/amazing-reflective-backpack-by-rickshaw-bagworks
With regards to mission workshop, I briefly owned one of their messenger bags and it was alright but I wasn't 'blown away' by either the design or the quality and swiftly sold it to my mate. I do however like the concept of their modular backpack but think it's quite expensive for what it is!!!!!!
A friend of mine cycles with a TAD Gear Fast Pack litespeed, which is also a great bag although it's not designed with cycling in mind.
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D'Emploi Roll Top Backpack
During my search for my dream backpack (I know, I should get out more), I stumbled across the Hammarhead Industries Daypack. Unfortunately I then found out that they had gone bankrupt.
However, it turns out that the backpack was originally made by D'Emploi in Brooklyn, and they sell an updated version.
The website gives the size as being 24" x 12.5" x 6.5", making it similar to the Topo Designs bag I was looking at, and bigger than most of the roll top rucksacks I've seen. I'm very, very tempted.
Price is $380, and it's made by a one-man company.
SSCY Tack
OK, another interesting looking piece. The SSCY Tack is a convertible tote / backpack.
The size looks good for what I want (21" x 16" x 6"), and it looks like it can be cinched down for smaller loads. It's made of canvas, metal hardware, etc., so should last a while too. Price is $198.
Alite X Boreas Collab Pack
Something slightly different. Alite and Boreas collaborated on a pack, which has a minimalist canvas body on a high-tech back system.
They're currently out of stock, and I'd need to check if the sizing would be right for my needs, but they're an interesting pack. Price is $190.
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First one looks the best i think. I love the simplicity of the design and it looks pretty rugged.
I like the second one too but prefer the modern industry bag that does the same thing (although long sold out if memory serves).
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Graeme…I got this in the brown suede...but here it is in black.
Really reasonable and the quality is much nicer in person...and it looks good in the photo. Very comfortable and a generous size.
