Luggage Bags and Packs
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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.
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@Cutlasshound the D'Emploi bag (the first one) is the most likely option right now. It's built out of 18 oz canvas, and will probably outlast the pyramids!
@khaki8 the Duluth looks nice. Too many choices…
