Luggage Bags and Packs
-
Picked up an Ortlieb 110L duffel having seen @Giles and others sing their praises and tell about how they stand behind the product. We needed something to haul our baby's stuff around for a trip coming up and then it will be a general dry bag for car camping and boating.
It is very robust, the Iron Heart of dry bags.
The base is alumin[i]um:
Great design overall. I like how the straps are easily used as shoulder straps, and of course we will use the robust and large wheels frequently. The wheels being so large seems advantageous for the kinds of terrain this will be schlepped over, and I love that I can throw it on my back as needed.
I look forward to many years of myself and baggage handlers trying to break this thing.
-
My old bag has this very useful key thingie.
So I cut the hem off one of my XHS off-cuts and used a brass hook @sabergirl gave me a long time ago to make a new one on my new bag.
-
Thank you very much for the hook.
-
So, I've been looking around for a black leather messenger / satchel type bag. Most of what I find is just fine. Usually there's at least one detail that just seems superfluous and gets a "why the hell did they have to do that?" sort of reaction out of me.
The closest I've seen to something ideal is this from Ewing Dry Goods:
I don't like the ornate buckles but I'm sure if I emailed him about a custom order, that'd be obviously swappable. I kinda also prefer the design of his Satchel 01 — that could be cool in black.
I've also seen some cool bags from Bleu de Chauffe but they're a little busier than the EDG. But also cheaper.
I'd like find some other options. Does anybody have any suggestions for minimal bags of this variety? What am I missing? Thanks in advance!
-
Local maker here in Nashville named Emil Erwin has some great minimal designs. This one looks like it may be up your alley.
https://www.emilerwin.com/collections/bags-1/products/mailbag
-
@chrisjohnnick ooh sweet, checking him out! I've seen his belts before, but that's it. Looking now…
-
That's actually pretty close to perfect. I wonder if they could make the flap a little less round, though — I like the way it is on the briefcase a little better, more of a rounded-corner rectangle vs a full on semicircle. Thank you for the rec, definitely a contender now! I really like the silver hardware.
-
Bole do a really nice shoulder bag, but it's 32 x 22 cm (about 13" x 9"), so might be a bit small.
Vasco offer a Postman's bag in various sizes.
-
Ooh yes the Faith and the Vasco both look like really great options. @Giles I’ll definitely message you.
-
I was very happy with an Ortlieb backpack (https://www.ortlieb.com/en_us/light-pack-two), super light and able to fit into a rear pocket of IH denim when empty. Loved using it for grocery shopping trips on the bike. It came apart after two years in service when the welded seams started splitting. I can get it sewn up locally where the seams came unglued but it won’t be waterproof any longer.
Any suggestions on a similar replacement pack? The standout features for me on the Ortlieb were: ultra light, tiny when folded up, waterproof, circa 20 liters. Thanks for any ideas!
-
Hey @motojobobo I have a HMG Summit pack as a secondary, waterproof pack that I have rolled up and stashed in my main bag/pack. A bit bigger (30L) but ultralight, tough, and packable. They also make a even more streamlined Stuff pack that may be an option. HMG gear is extremely solid - my favorite UL brand.
https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/collections/packs/products/summit-pack
-
So who's owned a Vasco bag? What'd you think of it? I've zeroed in on the large black postman bag, seems to be all I want. Just would love to hear some thoughts on the quality — it's Japanese so I'm expecting top notch, but of course some verification would be good
-
Thanks for the tips on superlight packs @Manticore and @Graeme . I’ll be hunting down the lightest HMG I can find an report back.
