Offers
Reviews
 |
Karrimor Bobcat 65
by MagdaDH I bought the Karrimor Bobcat 65 when my £25 rucksack from Aldi gave up the ghost after five years of service (I had hoped for one so it was pretty good). I normally buy cheapie walking equipment (apart from boots) as I think there is a lot of snobbery and ''statement making'' about all those brands that are perhaps offering ... added advantages for serious mountaineers or at the advanced age when every bit of technological help one can get is important but are just a way of showing off for most people who climb an odd hill and use the kit for ''normal'' travelling and walking around. It never ceases to amaze me how an unfit 20-something or a child can go up a hill in trainers and jeans but a 60 year-old, even a fit and experienced one, needs hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth of kit. I am digressing though, or being jealous of those able to afford £400 waterproofs. The point I was trying to make is that at £50 (reduced from about £70, and bought in an actual high-street shop due to leaving the next day), this Karrimor rucksack was by my standards quite expensive. I am pleased to report that it performed well, and I used it extensively during about a 14 months' worth of travel (of which about 6 was by car though, so the rucksack didn't have to do much) in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. 65 litres is the perfect size for me, anything bigger and when I stuff it too much it becomes to heavy to walk any distance, anything smaller and it's just not enough. We travel as a family and when travelling by public transport we tend to have two rucksacks for the adults, a small (maybe 20-30 litre) for the Big Child to carry which acts as the on-board bag as well as a day pack for all the important documents, electronics and similar. This means that all the clothes as well as any other items like sleeping bags, mats and similar have to fit in the rucksacks. The 65 litres holds basic clothing for me and the children for autumn/spring/summer travel without too much problems, resulting in a weight of about 14-18kg depending on stuffing and the number of books sneaked in. This is just about the weight I can carry around for a while when walking between stations and terminals, to meetings, accommodation or on public transport, although anything above 2-3 km would become a little bit of a struggle. The fit is important with any rucksack but is also largely individual and if you have a chance it's good to try, especially if you are uncommonly short, tall, or otherwise non-standard in body shape. I have big boobs and I like to have the sternum strap that can be moved fairly high to prevent the shoulder straps digging into the armpits and yet allowing me to breathe. This pack has just such a strap, which slides up and down easily. The shoulder straps on the Bobcat are excellent: very well padded and wide, and again, the adjusting straps (two sets of them as usual) allow them to be made just right. I do think, however, that men, especially bigger ones, might find the straps less comfortable fit. I am fairly broad-shouldered for a woman, but my other half (of average built) finds this pack less comfortable than his very old, fairly thin-strapped Berghaus one (he doesn't use sternum straps or hip belts much though). The hip belt is also fine, very well padded again, and with a buckle that's fairly easy to adjust and easy to clip on and off. The rucksack consists of two main compartments, the bottom one is accessible through a zip (nicely covered with a flap which I suppose prevents minor rain getting in and things get caught) but also through the main one - you can in fact have just one internal space if you want to. The main compartment is accessible only through the top, which is not so good. I like the ability to pull out things from the middle through a side zip that some rucksacks have, but it's not a huge issue. The side pockets are excellent, really roomy but without sticking out too much. The top flap cover has two pockets, one underneath (good for papers and similar) and one externally accessible. The well padded back (does nobody use external-frame packs now?) has also a space for one of those hydration bladders and there is a hole to thread the pipe through. As I don't use this pack for longer-distance walking I never tested the arrangements (and I don't have - and don't wish for - a hydration thingy anyway). There are also net pocket at the bottom, ideal for things like sun screen, insect repellent, wipes and a smallish water bottle. The straps, toggles and buckles are strong, sturdy and east to clip on and off (and believe me, anything that survives with intact buckles and straps in this family must be sturdy). Numerous loops and straps allow attachment of external loads like foam mats and even a sleeping bag, and there is also a large, flat pocket along the front side of the main compartment presumably for a map. This map pocket brings me to my only real complaint about the Bobcat. I think the zips are on a slightly weak side. I am making this statement with a caveat that I tend to stuff bags and packs too much, and that both I and the children yank the zips badly. In the light of such treatment, the fact that ONLY the map pocket zip is completely gone, and that the bottom compartment one became temperamental, may be taken as a compliment, but I still think that if the teeth were a wee bit bigger, the issue could have been avoided. Apart from this, I have been very happy with the Bobcat, and I can recommend it as a lower-priced branded choice, available online from around £40. It's very comfortable to carry, well padded, with good compartments and quite light for a rucksack of this size. NB. Dooyoo picture that goes with this general category actually happens to show the Bobcat 65. Read the complete review |
 |
Vango Planet Traveller 70+20L
by jaseG I bought this bag to take with me while travelling India , the main reasons for choosing this particular bag were the price (£70 including postage) , the added day bag and the fact it wasnt a top loader so it unzipped all the way around just like a normal bag or even a suitcase. After looking at various bags for sometime I ... came across this one its price doesnt seem to differ too much between sites or shops so I just decided to use a local shop , it does however seem to be a little cheaper than other brand bags that dont seem very different to me just another reason for me to buy it I suppose. The bag itself did everything I wanted it to it held everything needed in honesty I thought there would have been a little bit more room but thats probably down to the stupid measurements used for bags I mean who rally knows what 70l off luggage looks like !!! The day bag was very very useful I put our passports, money, and just about anything that was valuble and important it was pretty much stuck to my back anytime I wasnt in guest houses. The bag as a whole was great on long train journeys ( 48hours is a long long time on a train) bus journeys and was comfortable to wear walking around trying to find places to stay. If your looking for a bag to take travelling I ticked all the boxes for me so I would certainly recommend this to all budding travellers Hope this was helpfull Thanks Read the complete review |
 |
Jack Wolfskin Trek & Roll 55+10L
by Stephiej I'll be the first to admit that at nearly £150.00, 6 years ago, this suitcase cost me far more than I would normally be willing to pay for something I would only use a few times a year. What prompted me to invest this much in a suitcase was a plane journey to Scotland, when I used a band new Marks & Spencer suitcase, which I ... collected from baggage reclaim in pieces. I had thought that M&S, being a good quality store, would produce a strong, reliable suitcase, now I may have just been unlucky, but having previously experienced broken handles and wheels with various makes of suitcases I was determined that my next suitcase would be strong and robust enough to withstand the rigours of a journey and the over-enthusiasm of baggage handlers. Jack Wolfskin is a German company, they started producing outdoor clothing and equipment in 1981. They now sell their products throughout Europe and Asia, and are particularly popular with Hikers and climbers. In 2010 they agreed a sponsorship deal with Liverpool Football Club, to raise their company profile in the U.K. I came across this Jack Wolfskin Treck & Roll Phantom suitcase at a local outdoor activity shop. It is only available in one colourway; black/grey. I bought it for £149.99 on sale (RRP £189.99), but they are now available for much less if you shop around online. It is a semi-hard case, with a rigid back, structured but flexible sides with reinforced corners, and a soft front. It is made from super strong 600 denier polyester, which is abrasion and UV resistant. It weighs 3900g when empty, which is really light, and I find ideal because the case itself doesn't add much to the overall weight of my luggage. When standing upright the height is 65cms, the width is 37cms, and the depth is 23cms. I find it spacious enough for my needs. I have used it for a 6 week holiday travelling around various islands in the West Indies. Although I do try to pack sensibly, being a girlie I needed quite a lot of stuff for 6 weeks, including a hairdryer and several other items that could be considered luxuries, as well as my diving/snorkelling equipment. With a little effort I was able to fit everything I needed into this case, including my fins! The main part of the case is an empty cavity, which has a volume of 55 litres, with no separate pockets, secret compartments or zipped sleeves. I prefer this, as I like to organise my packing in my own way, and I have often found with other cases I have put small items in separate pockets, forgotten about them, and experienced moments of intense panic while rummaging around trying to find them! The cavity is lined with very strong polyester fabric in a pale grey colour. Through the back of this it is possible to feel the handle which runs up the back of the case, but it does not encroach on the space available inside. The only other feature of the inside of the main case is four adjustable webbing straps, which connect to a small zipped pocket made of pale grey polyester with black mesh on the front of the pocket. These straps can be used to secure and compress the contents of the case in the usual way, with the additional benefit of the small zipped pocket that lies flat on top of the packed items and its' extra surface area helps to keep them in place. This main cavity opens with a very strong zip around both sides and the top. This zip is very robust, and despite the extreme pressure I have put it under at times e.g. needing people to sit on the case so it is sufficiently compressed for me to be able to do it up, it has never stuck, split or caused me any problems whatsoever. It is a two way zip, with two separate zip runners, that can be closed to meet at any point around the case. I prefer to have the zip runners meet on one of the long sides, as I believe there is less chance of them catching on anything during transit when they are tucked away at the side under the small fabric valance. The runners are metal, and have two small holes that meet when the zips are fully closed, and can be used to pass a small padlock through to secure the case. I would ideally have liked a mini-padlock to have been supplied with the case (as it is designed with this feature), but a padlock is not supplied. This is not a major problem as they only cost a couple of pounds, and I prefer a combination padlock which is not usually supplied with items like this anyway. The case has two very sturdy, in-line skate style wheels, with ball bearings to keep them running smooth and straight. This is the first wheeled suitcase I have ever had, that after a couple of years hasn't tried to emulate a supermarket trolley and head off in its own preferred direction. I find it rolls easily and smoothly, has a good degree of directional stability, and never veers off in an unpredictable direction. Also on the base, opposite the wheels, are two plastic feet, which allow the case to stand upright securely. When packing I tend to prioritise fitting in as much as possible, rather than considering how well balanced the contents of the case are, but even with my 'unbalanced' packing style, this case manages to stand up, remaining reliably steady and stable. There are two built in handles on the top and side of the main case. These handles are made of webbing, and are attached to the case by strong stitching. Although this is not a huge case, I do tend to push the limit when it comes to baggage weight allowances, so I have often hauled this case around by either one of the handles, whilst considerable weight was creating pressure on it. Even after 6 years of regular use these handles are showing no signs of wear and tear yet. Both handles have a thickly padded piece of polyester wrapped around them, which is secured with two press studs. This improves comfort when using the handles to lift a heavy case, and prevents webbing handles from digging into my hands. There is a strong, retractable, handle at the back of the case. This handle can be extended to two heights, by pressing a plastic button recessed in the top of the handle, which then locks into place when the handle is retracted. One of my favourite features of this case is the ability to zip the retracted handle away, so it is hidden behind a small zipped flap at the top of the case when it is fully retracted. This reassures me, as a previous case I had with a button operated retractable handle snapped off during transit - I presume the button must have been depressed whilst baggage handlers were moving it, and the handle was snapped as a result of this. With my Jack Wolfskin case I know once I have securely zipped away the handle, there is no chance of it being damaged. Another feature that, for me, makes this case stand out when compared to others is the ability to convert it into a rucksack. At the back of the case is a zip which runs around the two sides and top of the case. When this zip is undone, the flap of material covering the top two thirds of the back of the case can be folded down and secured to the underneath of the case by a handy velcro strip, there are also two material pockets built into the flap which slip neatly over the wheels. Folding down this flap reveals a padded back, and two well padded, adjustable, shoulder straps, which enable me to wear the case as a rucksack. I found this invaluable when travelling in places where there were no roads or pavements, making a wheeled case more of a hindrance than anything. I think this is a really useful addition to the case, the flexibility this gives has been invaluable to me, and I feel this convertible function alone justifies the price of this case. My only complaint, or suggestion for improvement, would be if a waist or chest strap had been added, as I find the weight of my case is often too much to be comfortable over long periods as a rucksack, without the extra strap to distribute the weight more evenly. The front of this case has a 10 litre daysack attached. This daysack it completely zipped to the main case, creating a strong, secure attachment. Initially I was concerned that this may become detached, or be easily damaged during transit, but after 37 flights (including a couple on 'elastic band airlines'), this has not happened, and it is still as secure now as it was when I bought it. The daysack makes the case an unusual shape, which is handy as it helps me spot it at baggage reclaim, because the case is certainly not a colour that stands out. The daysack can be detached from the main case, revealing padded, adjustable shoulder straps and an air-flow ventilated back panel. I often use this as a pack for day trips when I have reached my destination, and I find it perfect for this. The daysack has a small zipped pocket on the front, elasticated mesh pockets on the side, which are just right for a bottle of water or something similar, and the main compartment zips open to reveal a large cavity that also has a laptop/notebook padded case and lifter incorporated in it - although I have never used it for this purpose. This case has withstood the rigours of travel for 6 years, and although I can now find a couple of minor scuffs on the corners if I look closely, there are no obvious signs of wear - despite the best attempts of some baggage handlers. I would have no hesitation recommending this case, and although there are a couple of small improvements I think could be made, like the addition of a waist/chest strap to the hide-away rucksack straps, and the inclusion of a padlock, I don't think there is a better case available. It is especially useful for people who may need a regular suitcase sometimes e.g. business trips, and a more adaptable, practical case for personal travel. I love this case, because it's multi functional, and for me it really is worth the price tag. Jack Wolfskin = Jack of all trades, and in this case, master of them too. Read the complete review |
> 45 Litres Rucksack |
||
|---|---|---|
|
2 reviews Brand: Karrimor / Rucksack / Style: Daysac / Max Litres: 65 |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: Vaude / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: The North Face / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: The North Face / Type: Rucksack |
|
|
Manufacturer: The North Face / Type: Rucksack |
|
| > 45 Litres Rucksack Recommendations 1 2 3 4 5 6 next | ||
| dooyoo Results 1 - 10 of 64 | ||
