Does anyone have a 30 litre waterproof rucsack recommendation to give me? I am getting overwhelmed going into huperfocus / obsessive mode to find the best one where peerhaps good enough is,, well good emough!!
So far I have: -
Alpkit Gourdon 30l - had 3, 4 or even bottom many as 5 over the years in a variety of sizes. They are lasting increasingly shorter time. Last one I found out packing it for going home that the base was a series of holes that were linking up or about to. I rolled and stapled the holes shut to get home, but the hole edges were brittle for 1cm in from the edge. Cheap
RED Equipment - twwo types a lihgtwweight and a heavier weight version (£75 or £115).
Lomo, Earthpak and Proviz cycllng ones - £30 to about £50 I thinl. Mostly thick tarpaulin style cycle pannier shape sacks (a little fugly perhaps).
Altura - IIRC £76 and as you'd expect from a pannier brand they are pannier like (ortlieb panniier like)
Ortlieb - Pricey at well over £100 and even closer to £200 I think. They do various fabric types from lightweight (like the lightweight RED Equipment one but more rucksack shaped) to the ortlieb pannier like fabric ones. ALso ones with waterproof zip to make them like a duffel bagf and special commuter ones with a boxy, standup base.
I am sure there are more but I have lost the links and forgotten them.
So, does anyone have any experience of this type of bag and which model / brand? Would you recommend it?? Any other recommendations?
My use is basically commuting by mixed mode to and from work (office location for my on site days and WFH the rest with no need for it). I live in Cumbria so we get our fair share of rain, and some from other areas too!!. I will carry laptop, food flask, empty water bottle, Full insulated leakproof coffee cup, paperwork, notebooks and paper planner system, etc. Also waterproof trousers carried with easy access if possible on those days when the rain is more like high humidity otherwise light. Then I will wear them if it gets worse. I travel by train for 45 minutes then ride a bike for 10 to 15 minutes at most. I need 30 litres from experience (I hate over stuffed not least because I have to carry it with all my stuff if I have to move around on site and that means less full = I can find stuff when not at my own desk.
This is not bushcraft but I bet that there are people on here who have such a style of rucsack and even if not used in my way they will know its suitability for my use case. RED Equipment is a watersports equipment brand with really good paddleboards and I bet that some paddlers on here do a little SUP so will know that brand too. I hope it is ok to ask non-bushcraft gear enquiries.
Did I say my budget? No? Well I am tight with spending money so prefer cheap but IMHO that will probably mean Alpkit Gourdon but I am tired of these bags so looking for something a little more durable. Not sure about ortlieb cycle pannier style fabric ones as I don't like that shiny, rubbery look on a rucsack but perhaps it is best to get one like that. I will spend up to £150 IF I have to or I get something special or decent for that.I figure £50-75 is about right band for me this time butmoree is possible for the right sack.
So far I have: -
Alpkit Gourdon 30l - had 3, 4 or even bottom many as 5 over the years in a variety of sizes. They are lasting increasingly shorter time. Last one I found out packing it for going home that the base was a series of holes that were linking up or about to. I rolled and stapled the holes shut to get home, but the hole edges were brittle for 1cm in from the edge. Cheap
RED Equipment - twwo types a lihgtwweight and a heavier weight version (£75 or £115).
Lomo, Earthpak and Proviz cycllng ones - £30 to about £50 I thinl. Mostly thick tarpaulin style cycle pannier shape sacks (a little fugly perhaps).
Altura - IIRC £76 and as you'd expect from a pannier brand they are pannier like (ortlieb panniier like)
Ortlieb - Pricey at well over £100 and even closer to £200 I think. They do various fabric types from lightweight (like the lightweight RED Equipment one but more rucksack shaped) to the ortlieb pannier like fabric ones. ALso ones with waterproof zip to make them like a duffel bagf and special commuter ones with a boxy, standup base.
I am sure there are more but I have lost the links and forgotten them.
So, does anyone have any experience of this type of bag and which model / brand? Would you recommend it?? Any other recommendations?
My use is basically commuting by mixed mode to and from work (office location for my on site days and WFH the rest with no need for it). I live in Cumbria so we get our fair share of rain, and some from other areas too!!. I will carry laptop, food flask, empty water bottle, Full insulated leakproof coffee cup, paperwork, notebooks and paper planner system, etc. Also waterproof trousers carried with easy access if possible on those days when the rain is more like high humidity otherwise light. Then I will wear them if it gets worse. I travel by train for 45 minutes then ride a bike for 10 to 15 minutes at most. I need 30 litres from experience (I hate over stuffed not least because I have to carry it with all my stuff if I have to move around on site and that means less full = I can find stuff when not at my own desk.
This is not bushcraft but I bet that there are people on here who have such a style of rucsack and even if not used in my way they will know its suitability for my use case. RED Equipment is a watersports equipment brand with really good paddleboards and I bet that some paddlers on here do a little SUP so will know that brand too. I hope it is ok to ask non-bushcraft gear enquiries.
Did I say my budget? No? Well I am tight with spending money so prefer cheap but IMHO that will probably mean Alpkit Gourdon but I am tired of these bags so looking for something a little more durable. Not sure about ortlieb cycle pannier style fabric ones as I don't like that shiny, rubbery look on a rucsack but perhaps it is best to get one like that. I will spend up to £150 IF I have to or I get something special or decent for that.I figure £50-75 is about right band for me this time butmoree is possible for the right sack.
