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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Live Reveal - Thursday 12th of June at 1700BST

    Luggage Bags and Packs

    Accessories
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    • BrandreaB
      Brandrea
      Raw and Unwashed
      Joined:

      We travel quite a bit and one thing I’ve realized, is that there’s no substitute for a back pack.

      My go to is Ogio. They aren’t all that expensive but they hold up really well, they have a great mix of handy pockets and travel straps. Comfortable and balanced too for trekking.

      Oh …. And get yourself a hero clip. They are indispensable IMHO 🙂

      312B81E9-77E2-4341-929C-2B925FC85638.jpeg

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • mclaincauseyM
        mclaincausey
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        I agree on backpacks and Hero Clips.

        I've come to realize that there's almost nothing that a messenger does that a well designed backpack doesn't do about as well or better and it's much better for your back and shoulders to have the weight distributed more.

        Think it, be it.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • chrisjohnnickC
          chrisjohnnick
          Iron Heart Deity
          Joined:

          Love hero clips! I have a medium and a large one on two different bags. I usually buy at least one every Christmas for someone on the list.

          Wants List:
          IHSH-20-Red, XL
          IHSH-208-Indigo Kersey, L-XL
          IHSH-254-Grey Kersey, L-XL
          IHSW-45 Black, M
          IH-526SV 21oz type III, 38 or 40
          IH-777S-SB size 32
          IH-777S-142 size 31 or 32

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • GraemeG
            Graeme
            啓蒙家
            @Graeme
            Joined:

            @Graeme said in Luggage Bags and Packs:

            @ddtrash the Trakke Storr might be another option. They have a flat zip to open the front like a suitcase, so they should be pretty foolproof.

            I've linked to the 35 litre version, there are also 20 and 25 litre models. There's not much stock at the moment, so you might have to wait if you want a particular size or colour.

            The Bannoch Pro has a traditional flap opening, with zips down each side of the front panel, allowing easy access. That might be another option, but it's a more complicated closure than the Storr, which increases the risk that the security people can't close it properly.

            Trakke are made in Scotland, and the packs I've seen are well put together. They tend to be conservative in how they estimate volume, so they can be larger than other bags with the same capacity on paper.

            Unfortunately, Trakke announced that they are closing, and all of their remaining stock has sold out. It's a real shame, as they made lovely bags. I was very tempted by a Bannoch Pro.

            last edited by AnesthetistA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • AnesthetistA
              Anesthetist
              見習いボス
              @Graeme
              Joined:

              @Graeme on top of that apparently the now Yeti owned Mystery Ranch is closing up their Bozeman operation.

              Also @Graeme I haven been on the forums much so I missed your Loyal Stricklin score. Great looking pack in a cool leather. Have you been carrying it often?

              IG: bluehandsslim

              last edited by GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • SourPowerS
                SourPower
                Haraki san Expert
                Joined:

                I wanted to share some local Colorado craftsmanship with y’all. Oveja Negra is primarily a bike-packing brand, and their ethos is very in line with the IH way. I absolutely love my Portero Roll-Top Backpack, which I had embellished with a smiley face patch by the owner Lane!

                IMG_6204.jpeg

                “Oveja Negra designs, manufactures, and sells top-shelf bikepacking bags out of our fun and bustling factory in Salida, CO. We are 16 people and 20 machines working our tails off to provide the best bags and customer service to our riders worldwide. Since our start in 2012 we've been manufacturing bikepacking gear in the Upper Arkansas Valley of Colorado. Born in a 300 square foot hole in the wall shop in the old mining town of Leadville, we've since moved our operation down valley to the river town of Salida. Every bag that bears our name is manufactured by a small team of dedicated and talented sewers right here in our factory.
                When you decide to purchase an Oveja Negra product you are supporting our community. Thanks to you we are able to provide thrive-able careers to people who live and play in our funky little mountain town. We're also committed to supporting other US manufacturers; this helps us limit the environmental impact of the transportation of our raw goods as well as giving us and you the peace of mind that our materials are produced ethically by companies who invest in their communities. Over 90% of our raw materials come from other domestic factories.
                Beyond our ethos of domestic manufacturing, quality is king at Oveja Negra. We are obsessive about the details and keep a close eye on every product. Our gear is designed, tested, and sewn by cyclists that work hard to insure your adventures go off without a hitch.”

                Excess In Moderation

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                • GraemeG
                  Graeme
                  啓蒙家
                  @Anesthetist
                  Joined:

                  @Anesthetist it's been a bad couple of weeks for quality backpacks. 😢

                  I've only used the Loyal Stricklin bag a couple of times. It's a touch smaller than I'd like, and there are a couple of tabs with rivets in the opening, which limit the size of what you can fit in. I want to get a couple of Evergoods Transit Packing Cubes, which I think will be the right size to fit into it. If so, I think that it would be workable for longer trips.

                  If not, I'll have to find a larger backpack for travel.

                  last edited by AnesthetistA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • AnesthetistA
                    Anesthetist
                    見習いボス
                    @Graeme
                    Joined:

                    @Graeme damn, sorry it is a let down. How large so you want your travel pack to be?

                    IG: bluehandsslim

                    last edited by GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GraemeG
                      Graeme
                      啓蒙家
                      @Anesthetist
                      Joined:

                      @Anesthetist it's not a letdown, rather it's just slightly smaller than I'd like. The specs on the website are that it's 12" wide, though it might be half an inch narrower, and 5" deep. An inch more either way would make it ideal. But I think that I can make it work for travel, especially if I get a bit more minimalist about packing.

                      It's great as a day pack, and it feels basically indestructible, so it will get used.

                      last edited by AnesthetistA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • AnesthetistA
                        Anesthetist
                        見習いボス
                        @Graeme
                        Joined:

                        @Graeme have u looked at Mission Workshop for a travel bag? I have the MARS bag and love it.
                        IMG_7387.jpeg

                        IG: bluehandsslim

                        last edited by GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • GraemeG
                          Graeme
                          啓蒙家
                          @Anesthetist
                          Joined:

                          @Anesthetist I've seen a few Mission Workshop bags, and I even dropped by their store in SF when I was over there a couple of years ago. I like their products, but none of them really jump out as a must buy.

                          The Mars bag looks great. I think that was released when I was up in Sydney for a few days, and I didn't pay as much attention to it as I should.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • NikN
                            Nik
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            Just came across this bag maker based in the New Forest so not far from IHUK looks pretty good
                            https://route-unknown.com/

                            IMG_3087.webp

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • SeulS
                              Seul
                              Joined:

                              Italy won't know what hit it...

                              IMG20250403110159.jpg

                              last edited by Seul 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                              • GilesG
                                Giles
                                IHUK Crew
                                Joined:

                                Have good time Eli...

                                "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • mclaincauseyM
                                  mclaincausey
                                  見習いボス
                                  Joined:

                                  Indeed, Piggy. Have fun!

                                  I wanted a carryon-compliant clamshell travel backpack with water resistance and the ability to carry heavy loads (hip belt as needed). I started the search with various Goruck GR2/3 options, but the weight chased me away. I wound up going this route:
                                  https://www.ula-equipment.com/product/36l-dragonfly-pass-thru/ which wound up being half the weight of even the Dyneema options Goruck had.

                                  I wish it had 40L capacity, but feel like this 36L will go a very long way with packing cubes and the internal and external compression straps. It also has massive water bottle pockets that should be able to hold shoes or sandals in a pinch and some utility straps and a stretchy pocket underneath them will help if I need more capacity too.

                                  I’m a bit worried about whether the S shoulder straps will work for me, but excited to try a new sailcloth fabric in Ultra, given how much I love my Dyneema and VX bags.

                                  Think it, be it.

                                  last edited by GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • GraemeG
                                    Graeme
                                    啓蒙家
                                    @mclaincausey
                                    Joined:

                                    @mclaincausey the Dragonfly is loved by the Carryology crowd. I was very tempted when I was shopping for a bag earlier this year. I'm interested to hear what you think of it when it arrives.

                                    As for capacity, I'd be tempted to go smaller rather than larger. The more space you have, the more tempting it is to fill it.

                                    last edited by Graeme mclaincauseyM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • mclaincauseyM
                                      mclaincausey
                                      見習いボス
                                      @Graeme
                                      Joined:

                                      @Graeme I’ll definitely brief.

                                      My issue is that I’m already extremely happy with my EDC and EDC+ bags so I wanted a travel bag. I got the hip belt too in case it helps with heavier loads, though it seems like it won’t be too helpful. The 30L would be great if not for my Defy and Rofmia bags.

                                      Think it, be it.

                                      last edited by GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • GraemeG
                                        Graeme
                                        啓蒙家
                                        @mclaincausey
                                        Joined:

                                        @mclaincausey last time I looked at the Dragonfly there was only one variant, now there seem to be hundreds of options! ULA has certainly expanded the range.

                                        I've found the Verbockel to be about as big as I need for a travel pack. The limitation (particularly for carry on in Australia) tends to be weight, which can be 7 kg (15 lbs) or 10 kg (22 lbs), and I can hit that with a fairly small bag.

                                        last edited by mclaincauseyM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • mclaincauseyM
                                          mclaincausey
                                          見習いボス
                                          @Graeme
                                          Joined:

                                          @Graeme it’s really close for me for sure, size wise. The issues I have are I want a clamshell, I want a luggage pass through for when I either have a roller of my own or am hauling my family’s, and I like the idea of similarly large water bottle pockets but ones that can secure items more effectively than the unsecured VX dump pockets of the VerBockel. Between the stretch fabric and the compression straps I think I’ll have a lot of flexibility with exterior storage.

                                          I will also value the better ventilated back panel and suitability for hiking. This has backpacking DNA and hydration compatibility so I’m hoping it could be a hiking daypack of sorts.

                                          Think it, be it.

                                          last edited by mclaincausey GraemeG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • GraemeG
                                            Graeme
                                            啓蒙家
                                            @mclaincausey
                                            Joined:

                                            @mclaincausey I'd agree that the Verbockel has a pretty basic back and straps. I've never had an issue, but I've never tried hiking of carrying a heavy load in it. I'd expect the Dragonfly to be a lot better.

                                            last edited by mclaincauseyM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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