Luggage Bags and Packs

[Graeme]

Carryology and Mission Workshop have created a new version of The Mars Project backpack, which they have dubbed The Mars Project Prime Meridian.

I'm not sure if it's as interesting as the original, which @Anesthetist got, and the launch article doesn't give any specs about its size.

There doesn't seem to be as much excitement about the Carryology collaborations this year. The GORUCK Berserker Collaboration hasn't sold out as yet.

[Anesthetist]

@Graeme I think a lot of their collabs have cooled, believe it or not there are still Dragon V2s on Mystery Ranch’s site. The Goruck is cool but didn't pique my interest.

I like the new Mars bag but will probably pass as we just bought a house and have some work to do. I really enjoy my Mars v1 and IMO it is one of the most comfortable bags on the market.

New pic, old pic

[terry]

My current travel setup: Rimowa Original Cabin + DEFY Verbockel 2.0 in waxed canvas

My EDC and favorite bag is a Horween Insidious Jr. with buffalo check waxed canvas liner

I also have a Horween Defender briefcase that I use occasionally for work trips.

[Graeme]

@Anesthetist the Carryology collaborations tend to be around 20 to 25 litres, and they're often functionally fairly similar. Unless you're a backpack obsessive, you don't need four hundred day packs.

For example, I use my old Verbockel for 95% of my carry needs. It's been on overseas trips, to the gym, shopping, dog shows, as well as daily use. It's starting to wear out and develop a few holes, so I got a Loyal Stricklin rucksack as a replacement. That's a bit smaller, so I might struggle to travel with it, and I might buy something else for that use case down the line.

(I'm awaiting delivery of a pair of Evergoods travel cubes to see if they'll help with packing it.)

Congratulations on the new house. I'm hoping that it's a cool mid-century pad.

[Graeme]

@terry I'm a fan of Defy bags, and the Verbockel is a really useful pack. (See my previous post! )

[Graeme]

I picked up a Loyal Stricklin roll-top rucksack last year, and I found that my existing packing cubes didn't fit in it. I looked into a few options and the Evergoods Transit Packing Cube 8L was the right size, so I picked up a couple.

They're a split design, with each half being about four litres. A pair of regular jeans pretty much fill a compartment. I haven't tried any heavy weight Iron Hearts, but they might not go in.

The main zip is pretty burly, and it's designed to compress the cube's contents as it's closed.

Criticisms? They're expensive, fairly heavy compared with other cubes, and I think that there are a few features that could have been deleted without loss of functionality. (The Velcro Evergoods logo and patch panel, the zipped pocket, and the webbing handle.)

A lot of carry obsessives rate the Peak Design packing cubes over these, but they don't fit into my backpack.

[Graeme]

GoRuck and Carryology are extending the Samurai range, after they found they had more of the Sashiko fabric than they planned...

[ddtrash]

I know there quite a few fans of the Ortlieb Tizip waterproof duffel and roller bags on the forum. This post may be of interest.

Unfortunately my 110 litre RS roller duffel got irreparably damaged during a international flight from Cagliaria (Sardinia) to Stanstead (UK).

Bag arrived with a large 20 x 10 cm hole tore out of the base.

The bag arrived on the carousel at Stanstead. Normally this bag gets delivered at the oversize baggage area of other airports I have used.

I suspect the carousel conveyor system it was forced through did the damage.

The base has a reinforced foam construction that just got chewed.

I was a bit surprised to be honest as the bag has so far proved pretty robust.

Replacements bag may either be the same type but smaller so if it did end up through the airport conveyor system, it would have less chance of getting stuck, snagged and torn? Or go for the pull out handle version of the bag called the RG. The RG version has the aluminium telescopic handle on the underside which may protect the base fabric a bit more?

Downside of the RG version is the bag weighs more which of course becomes part of your weight limit meaning less stuff you can take.
The RS was the best mix of light weight and size with wheels

Be careful out there!

[ddtrash]

[goosehd]

@ddtrash Thanks for the heads up!! That conveyor did a number and curious how much damage did you have to the clothing inside. Has the airline taken responsibility and offer to cover your losses?

[ddtrash]

@goosehd One of the beach towels got a bit chewed but no clothing fortunately. Nothing lost out the hole in the bag either.

We are trying to get some compensation out of the airline but you end up in a three ring circus with the insurance company also. The airline ask if you have insurance and the insurance company then ask if you have tried for compensation from the airline, and round and round you go until you get fed up and give up.

With bags of this size I would recommend where possible to drop them off at the oversized baggage collection point. Unfortunately you have no control of where the arrival airport choose to send your luggage, in our case it ended up on the conveyor and damaged.

[tody]

@Graeme Interesting. I really like my bag, the kit bag or the field pocket may be a nice addition...

[Graeme]

@tody I'd be tempted by the Bullet and possibly the Kit Bag. However, I've got a lovely Loyal Stricklin rucksack that's about the same size as the GoRuck, so I don't feel the urge to go shopping.

[Tobi]

I have the same bag, and assume this really is a freak accident given how bomb-proof the material is. It might be related though to the flat and long shape that is a real frustration for check-in, since indeed it sometimes (seemingly random) is rejected at normal check in as too long, requiring a separate trip to the oversized luggage check in.

[Giles]

Have you spoken to Ortlieb directly? The guys (in UK admittedly, are amazing).....

[tody]

@Graeme just got the kit bag, could not resist the temptation.

[ddtrash]

@Giles Only approached them to confirm the bag was not repairable. This was one of the insurance companies requests. Funnily enough the predictable answer was "no".

Depending on how the insurance fiasco develops I may well contact them and see if they could assist with the purchase of a new one.

[prpx]

Hej there baggage experts. i need to replace my old filson backpack because leather parts started bleeding color from leather parts whenever it gets wet, leaving stains that are hard clean. i'm looking for something of good quality and nice, 20-25 liters, that can handle 15" notebook width wise. olive color would be a big plus :). thanks in advance

[BalticBob]

@prpx I can highly recommend Bleu de Chauffe. I sold all the bags I had once I got the first one from them and saw the quality.

Great sustainable brand too, all hand made by 1 artisan from start to finish in France. One of the bags I have from them is with the British Millerain material which I would say is exactly the 'rugged twill' from Filson. They call it 18oz lick wax serge canvas, it's this bag:

https://www.bleu-de-chauffe.com/en/backpack/1526-woody-backpack-25-l-navy-blue-bm-3700716018647.html

[prpx]

@BalticBob - beautiful bag, thanks! i think i 'll avoid the leather straps for some time now - but will definitely take a closer look. the look is stunning