Firstly I must apologise for the poor photography. The woods where we were staying are so thick that there isn't enough light at this time of year for my 'point-and-shoot' camera. That coupled with the fact that it takes until the middle of the afternoon to get the wife and three kids organised and ready to go!
I contacted Mark and Ali at Rugged River after reading the threads about traditional style canvas packs on this forum and others. After some quick and helpful responses from them regarding some modifications I then placed my order. The pack arrived after about a week.
I must state that this is my first pack of this type and that I know nothing about leather working or indeed any of the craft that goes into making a traditional canvas pack like this. I must also say I have no connection to Rugged River or it's owners. I'm just a punter, so to speak.
Initial impressions were very good indeed. The high quality of the materials was evident just by looking at it and, as has been remarked before about packs like this, it smelled wonderful! When I got hold of it to give it 'the once over' the standard of workmanship became apparent- absolutely faultless. Not one stitch out of place not one rivet that looked like it hadn't hit home. No this pack was made by someone who takes a great deal of pride in their work and is meticulous in their attention to detail.
So it looks and feels the part, how did it perform? What's the first thing you do with a new pack? Load it up! Here it is about 75% full.
This is not a small daypack. I had previously estimated that it would hold around 35 litres in volume. I know this isn't very scientific but it 'feels' like it will hold quite a bit more. More than enough for a day hike with dependants (read kids) and easily enough for a camp out overnight in warm weather. However if this puts you off, the cinch straps on the side will reduce the size of the pack considerably.
Incidentally that is a GB wildlife hatchet in the wand pocket. It is too big to fit in the pocket 'head-down' but is very secure carried as you see it there. A GB small forest axe was a bit unstable when carried in the wand pocket like that due to it's extra length but it was fine when carried head down inside the actual pack with the handle poking out the top (Ray Mears Northern Wilderness style).
So it carried enough kit for a day camp with all the family. Here you can see the pack to my left, now half empty. Please excuse my rubbish tarp set up. The kids were crying with hunger and while I'm trying to do their lunch on the stove it only goes and starts to rain. This probably explains my flushed expression here too!
I was a little worried that the leather straps would take some 'breaking in' and that perhaps I would have to go through a little discomfort on my shoulders to achieve this. This was not the case at all. I found that the generous width of the straps made them very comfortable indeed. The one modification that I requested was the addition of a sleeve on the lower back area to take a waist belt. Mark and Ali were not only very happy to do this but they also offered to make a removable canvas and leather belt to fit. This was very nicely done as well. For my purposes at the moment it was probably an unnecessary addition. I have found the back just as comfortable to carry without the waistbelt fastened as it is with it in use. Maybe if I was hillwalking or scrambling then the waistbelt would offer more stability but this was not something I feel I would need for hiking on reasonably level terrain.
Here's a shot of the pack loaded with the lid open. It has good sized flaps at the sides to help prevent the ingress of rain. Whilst we're talking weather I have not yet been out with it in any inclement conditions so cannot testify as to the pack's weather-proofness. It does feel like it has a proofing agent on the canvas and the care leaflet provided advises re-proofing with 'Fab-Sil'. It also advises using Neatsfoot oil on the leather to keep it soft and waterproof, I have some on the way. Back to the open pack, I'll try and recall off the top of my head what I had inside. DD 3x3 tarp, large FAK, quite a bulky homemade hobo stove, billy cans, brew kit, firelighting kit, water bottle, drinks for the kids and food for everyone, kids overcoats, couple of fieldbooks, folding saw and all the small bits of kit that you need when you're setting up a little camp. The map pocket inside the back of the front (if you get my meaning) is very handy indeed for keeping all those small miscellaneous items close to hand and stopping them from working their way down to the bottom of the pack.
Is there anything I would change about it now that I've tried it? Nothing major. The inside of the leather shoulder straps are finished shiny like the outside and I found that as I walked they would slip outwards and would have to be pulled in again ocassionally to be comfortable. I don't know if it's feasible but perhaps if the inside of the straps were unfinished 'rough' leather then this would not be noticable. When I say noticeable, I mean noticeable enough for me to mention in a review so as to appear balanced but not noticeable enough for me to not enjoy using the pack. One other small thing would be to have more holes in the lid straps so that it could be cinched right down when only half full but that is something I can easily remedy myself.
I fully understand that when you opt for traditional gear over modern then you have to be prepared to compromise. You can't just throw your gear in this pack. You have to decide which bits of kit you want against your back as you walk. You have to accept that you will not get in and out of the pack as quickly as you could if it had plastic snap fastenings. But you will have a pack that, in my mind at least, looks and feels like it belongs in the outdoors, made from natural organic materials. A pack that will last and last and no doubt look and feel even better with time.
To sum up for those skipping to this bit, I really like this pack. It looks fantastic, feels fabulous and performs admirably. As to the makers, Rugged River are very nice people to deal with, I could not have asked for better service.
You'll find them here:
http://www.ruggedriver.com/p1.htm
Cheers
Sean
I contacted Mark and Ali at Rugged River after reading the threads about traditional style canvas packs on this forum and others. After some quick and helpful responses from them regarding some modifications I then placed my order. The pack arrived after about a week.
I must state that this is my first pack of this type and that I know nothing about leather working or indeed any of the craft that goes into making a traditional canvas pack like this. I must also say I have no connection to Rugged River or it's owners. I'm just a punter, so to speak.
Initial impressions were very good indeed. The high quality of the materials was evident just by looking at it and, as has been remarked before about packs like this, it smelled wonderful! When I got hold of it to give it 'the once over' the standard of workmanship became apparent- absolutely faultless. Not one stitch out of place not one rivet that looked like it hadn't hit home. No this pack was made by someone who takes a great deal of pride in their work and is meticulous in their attention to detail.
So it looks and feels the part, how did it perform? What's the first thing you do with a new pack? Load it up! Here it is about 75% full.
This is not a small daypack. I had previously estimated that it would hold around 35 litres in volume. I know this isn't very scientific but it 'feels' like it will hold quite a bit more. More than enough for a day hike with dependants (read kids) and easily enough for a camp out overnight in warm weather. However if this puts you off, the cinch straps on the side will reduce the size of the pack considerably.
Incidentally that is a GB wildlife hatchet in the wand pocket. It is too big to fit in the pocket 'head-down' but is very secure carried as you see it there. A GB small forest axe was a bit unstable when carried in the wand pocket like that due to it's extra length but it was fine when carried head down inside the actual pack with the handle poking out the top (Ray Mears Northern Wilderness style).
So it carried enough kit for a day camp with all the family. Here you can see the pack to my left, now half empty. Please excuse my rubbish tarp set up. The kids were crying with hunger and while I'm trying to do their lunch on the stove it only goes and starts to rain. This probably explains my flushed expression here too!
I was a little worried that the leather straps would take some 'breaking in' and that perhaps I would have to go through a little discomfort on my shoulders to achieve this. This was not the case at all. I found that the generous width of the straps made them very comfortable indeed. The one modification that I requested was the addition of a sleeve on the lower back area to take a waist belt. Mark and Ali were not only very happy to do this but they also offered to make a removable canvas and leather belt to fit. This was very nicely done as well. For my purposes at the moment it was probably an unnecessary addition. I have found the back just as comfortable to carry without the waistbelt fastened as it is with it in use. Maybe if I was hillwalking or scrambling then the waistbelt would offer more stability but this was not something I feel I would need for hiking on reasonably level terrain.
Here's a shot of the pack loaded with the lid open. It has good sized flaps at the sides to help prevent the ingress of rain. Whilst we're talking weather I have not yet been out with it in any inclement conditions so cannot testify as to the pack's weather-proofness. It does feel like it has a proofing agent on the canvas and the care leaflet provided advises re-proofing with 'Fab-Sil'. It also advises using Neatsfoot oil on the leather to keep it soft and waterproof, I have some on the way. Back to the open pack, I'll try and recall off the top of my head what I had inside. DD 3x3 tarp, large FAK, quite a bulky homemade hobo stove, billy cans, brew kit, firelighting kit, water bottle, drinks for the kids and food for everyone, kids overcoats, couple of fieldbooks, folding saw and all the small bits of kit that you need when you're setting up a little camp. The map pocket inside the back of the front (if you get my meaning) is very handy indeed for keeping all those small miscellaneous items close to hand and stopping them from working their way down to the bottom of the pack.
Is there anything I would change about it now that I've tried it? Nothing major. The inside of the leather shoulder straps are finished shiny like the outside and I found that as I walked they would slip outwards and would have to be pulled in again ocassionally to be comfortable. I don't know if it's feasible but perhaps if the inside of the straps were unfinished 'rough' leather then this would not be noticable. When I say noticeable, I mean noticeable enough for me to mention in a review so as to appear balanced but not noticeable enough for me to not enjoy using the pack. One other small thing would be to have more holes in the lid straps so that it could be cinched right down when only half full but that is something I can easily remedy myself.
I fully understand that when you opt for traditional gear over modern then you have to be prepared to compromise. You can't just throw your gear in this pack. You have to decide which bits of kit you want against your back as you walk. You have to accept that you will not get in and out of the pack as quickly as you could if it had plastic snap fastenings. But you will have a pack that, in my mind at least, looks and feels like it belongs in the outdoors, made from natural organic materials. A pack that will last and last and no doubt look and feel even better with time.
To sum up for those skipping to this bit, I really like this pack. It looks fantastic, feels fabulous and performs admirably. As to the makers, Rugged River are very nice people to deal with, I could not have asked for better service.
You'll find them here:
http://www.ruggedriver.com/p1.htm
Cheers
Sean
