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Berghaus Twentyfourseven 20L
by askmeanything
About the bag:
This is a compact 20 litres day sac for walking or cycling. The bag is made with a strong material but designed to be low in weight. It has a padded back 'flow system' for comfort and an organiser clip. It also has a holder for an MP3 player. I's called twentyfourseven as it can be used daily for multi-puposes ... such as school, college, work and leisure persuts such as day rambling.
Let down areas:
1. The pocket at the front of the bag is almost useless. It has no zip or Velcro to seal it. Don't risk storing anything of value in here. In other bags I can put in a key or my purse in the smaller pockets so that I have easy access. I don't want to be fumbling around in the roomy main section. I put a hand size packet of tissues in there as:
a) it's something that I can afford to lose if it falls out and
b) The plastic wrapped tissues are waterproof which is helpful as the rain can get into this front pocket.
This means that the pocket space remains mostly empty and therefore, wasted.
2. The shoulder straps can be tightened and loosened. I have a petite figure so I need the straps to be tight. I have them adjusted to the smallest possible length and this is still too large. Unless I wear zillions of layers to bulk out my arms and shoulders this is never going to sit on me properly. Walking with an ill-fitting bag is bad for the back but also very annoying as I have to keep hitching up the straps back onto my shoulders. It needs a chest strap too.
3. A minor point but the flow system and shoulder straps make a crinkly noise when walking which can be annoying in quiet places.
4. When I'm in a summer t-shirt I find that the shoulder straps can chaff my skin.
5. The worst part is that I wanted to be able to store my water bottle on the outside of my back for easy access. I was happy to see there were two mesh pockets each side of the bag for drinks bottles. However, I soon discovered that my large cycling bottle didn't fit into the small space. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to downsize my bottle. It fitted in fine but then I grabbed my bag to go on my day walk in the mountains and the bottle fell out onto the ground. A water supply is essential for a mountain walker so rather than leave my bottle behind I am forced to store it in the main compartment. Whilst there is plenty of room in there it is very inconvenient to not be able to grab the bottle from the side and drink whilst on the move. Ultimately, I will have to buy a bag that does carry the water bottle in the side but this bag is too new for me to not use it.
The good and the not quite so good:
1. Inside are four smaller pockets. I can store my mobile, notebook and pen and much, much more in them, but it's a shame they are not zipped. Also, the pocket I use for the mobile isn't good enough because I often find it floating around in the main section.
2. The bag is large enough to fit my slim laptop.
3. I love that the bag is light in weight and small on the inside but incredibly roomy on the inside. I've carried two raincoats inside at the same time as a large camera and picnic for two or more people and spare clothing and a small pair of shoes. It has been used for walking an as an overnight bag and as a spare when I've travelled. This ease of use and room is superb. I don't need to go up to bags with 25 litres capacity when this holds so much.
4. The bag is compact and I can store it away easily.
5. The padding and flow system prevents items inside the bag from digging into me.
But for £30 there is too much wrong with it. Berghaus are selling to a market of walkers so how can they get the water bottle and pockets so wrong? I feel a bit cheated. I'll continue to use it as it's a strong bag and it has survived quite rough terrain without looking the worse for wear. I am upset and frustrated about the water bottle issue. If they can make this bag again but without those faults I would be very glad to get it. Otherwise, walkers and cyclists keep looking elsewhere.
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Berghaus Freeflow 35L
by Thony
A comfortable rucksack that can hold everything you need for a day out in the hills is absolutely essential as any outdoor enthusiast will know. It can make the difference between a great day and a downright dreadful one. I'm please to say that this bag has accompanied me on many great days out over the past couple of years and should be ... joining me on many more.
I bought this bag in the sale about three years ago. Since then it has accompanied me everywhere from romping around the mountains of North Wales, on the daily walk to university stuffed full of books, folders and sandwiches, and the weekly shopping trip to Morrisons stuffed full of milk, beans and carrots.
After all this abuse (and trust me, I abuse my gear) it still looks pretty much as good as new, with minimal wear and tear, and no rips, splits or holes. This is a very sturdy bag.
Size and features
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This is a reasonable sized day pack, however for anything more than a day you'll find yourself struggling for space. This bag looks like it will hold more than it does as a result of the Freeflow back system (more on this later) and I have sometimes found myself wishing for a little more space. It makes you think a little more carefully about what you take with you. Do you really need that extra jumper? The Freeflow system also means it's quite bulky and cumbersome as it sits further away from your back than a traditional rucksack.
In terms of other features it has loops for ice axes or walking poles, additional pockets on the sides and inside and outside of the lid to store smaller things in. It also features a hip belt, chest strap and the all important Freeflow back panel. Stashed away in the lid is a rain cover for when the inevitable happens.
Comfort
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This rucksack features Berhaus's Freeflow system which means that the main body of the bag is held slightly away from you, with a mesh screen coming into contact with your back. This means air can circulate around your back and stops you getting sweaty. It also means that if you pack your bag badly with hard, pointy things at the back you don't have to spend the whole day writing in pain as a shoe digs itself deeper and deeper into your spine. The straps are soft and also ventilated, adding to the comfort.
The problems I have with the fit of the bag are twofold. Firstly, I find that it's too short for me. At about 6 foot 4 tall, the hip belt hangs above my hips meaning that it doesn't take weight as effectively as it should. I have found this with many different rucksacks I've owned so it's not a problem unique to this rucksack.
The other issue, which to an extent goes hand in hand with the previous one, is the tightening of the hip belt. It's easy to adjust, but being quite skinny I find that I can't quite tighten it enough to sit snugly. If it hip belt was on my hips this would be less of an issue.
Durability
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As I have mentioned above, this bag have suffered several years of regular abuse. I spend about 6 months working in North Wales and this bag went out in the hills with me practically every day and has been thrown onto rocks, sat on and used to support my bouldering mat on very rough rocks. It was also the bag I used for university and the weekly shop, so it's been very well used. There's little visible wear and tear however, and I envisage it will carry on performing for years to come.
Price
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This bag costs around £50, perhaps a little less. This is perhaps a little pricier than other similar sized bags available however having had several year of use I would happily pay this price again. You're paying for bomb proof materials and study constructions. Other cheaper bags (anything by Karrimor for example) are prone to the stitching coming apart and material ripping. You buy cheap, you buy twice.
In conclusion I would say that this is a great bag for the hills and town alike, and so long as you're not too tall it is comfortable to wear. I would recommend trying it with some weight in the shop and check all the straps fit you properly. By buying one of these bags you're buying a product that will last for many years and won't need replacing every couple of months. Highly recommended!
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