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Rucksacks which ones ?

Paul Clotworthy

Senior Member
Looking for a new rucksack Nothing to big or small either in between good quality that will last any recommendations appreciated it’s hard to look at things in shops at the min anyone using the nash scope ops
 
All I would advise is go for one with as few zips as possible as in my experience these are the first thing to fail . The old style Drennan ones are very good , sadly discontinued but they do crop up on e bay fairly frequently
 
I’d avoid the more recent Drennan Super Specialist ones. As @Mike Hodgkiss says, it’s the zips that fail on them. Especially if they’re put under any (and I mean minimal) duress. I’ve had one 30l and two 40l Drennans in the last five years. One 40l went in the bin after a couple of years due to side pocket zip failure, at the time I thought it was me overloading or being heavy handed. However, the teeth on the side pockets of the 30l upon inspection are on their last legs, after relatively limited use, probably 20ish sessions. The large front pocket on my newer 40l (should’ve learned my lesson) is now on its way out too, after less than two years.

It’s a shame, as space & size wise, they’re really well thought out, the fabric is mega durable and they do the unhooking mat which clips on the front too. All undermined by shoddy teeth on the zips!

My missus got me the new Korda Compac rucksack for Christmas. Whilst it wouldn’t have been a purchase I would’ve made myself (she asked my Dad...), it seems really sturdy and has enough room for the essentials, plus a bit more (bait, food, etc). Other than transferring my gear into it and ‘trying it on’, I’ve not used it yet and probably won’t until June. Ticks the boxes on first inspection, but don’t they all? Will report back once it’s had some use.
 
I’d avoid the more recent Drennan Super Specialist ones. As @Mike Hodgkiss says, it’s the zips that fail on them. Especially if they’re put under any (and I mean minimal) duress. I’ve had one 30l and two 40l Drennans in the last five years. One 40l went in the bin after a couple of years due to side pocket zip failure, at the time I thought it was me overloading or being heavy handed. However, the teeth on the side pockets of the 30l upon inspection are on their last legs, after relatively limited use, probably 20ish sessions. The large front pocket on my newer 40l (should’ve learned my lesson) is now on its way out too, after less than two years.

It’s a shame, as space & size wise, they’re really well thought out, the fabric is mega durable and they do the unhooking mat which clips on the front too. All undermined by shoddy teeth on the zips!

My missus got me the new Korda Compac rucksack for Christmas. Whilst it wouldn’t have been a purchase I would’ve made myself (she asked my Dad...), it seems really sturdy and has enough room for the essentials, plus a bit more (bait, food, etc). Other than transferring my gear into it and ‘trying it on’, I’ve not used it yet and probably won’t until June. Ticks the boxes on first inspection, but don’t they all? Will report back once it’s had some use.
Have a fox voyager ruckbag, can strap a chair to it and has great zips,lays flat as well for very easy access to your gear👍
 
I have a Fox R series rucksack that I'm currently very happy with. Used it for a year and over 50 sessions with no zip problems. It's just the right size for me, not too big and not too small and also has attachment points for an unhooking mat.
 
I use an older Korum Ruckbag,which is good if I am doing a day / nght long session, I wanted something smaller for roving with just the one rod, Christmas was coming and SWMBO knew I was in the market for a roving bag, and suprised me with one of these.


At first sight it looked just what I was wanting, then on closer inspection, I noticed something , what I would call a stupid manufacturing mistake. The shoulder strap is firmly sewn onto the bag, no problem, but, it is actually sewn onto the top section ,above the zip, so the full weight of the bag is actually being supported by the zip itself and not the main body .!I fully expect it to fail in use. Seems that quite a bit of Korum gear is wanting these days, maybe they are trying to adapt some original designs with add ons, plus, why would I want a for a gas cannister hanging on the side? Maybe they cannot sell them so are giving them away as a freebie?

Schoolboy error in design.

Anyway , I have not had chance to use it yet, and if the box had not been thrown away . I would have returned it unused .
4D1146F1-4A19-41DF-98B3-572B18CBC3FB.jpeg


It will be going back when it fails.

David
 
As Terry rightly pointed out imo the best bags are the ones that lay flat and open fully from the front. Different names often given like ruckbag or ruckall and they are the way forward certainly for me.
The beauty is they sit, pack and open from a horizontal position so once opened everything is there to hand rather than a vertical design where everything you need is under all the other crap you packed on top.
The fox ruckall is great but you won’t get one anymore now as typical fox discontinue everything that’s any good inside a year🤷🏻
Another great option that I’m a huge fan of which I’ve been using for my pike gear is the Korum foldasack. It splits down the middle and opens at both sides. I get my Mat in one side and my gear in the other again all to hand.
 
They look excellent Bob.
Yes Joe - excellent bags and bought a number sometime ago. Really well thought out bags - my favourite is the RUSH 72 - almost too many pockets and sections with very comfortable straps. Also the webbing loops to add bits and sections for extra capacity Only negative is the price.

Cheers
Bob
 
Pockets and compartments etc drive me absolutely barmy. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to be able to have items of tackle in its own dedicated little pocket as I do love a good system but in reality for me it doesn’t work. I forget where I put stuff and I end up stripping the thing to find something.
the worst is when you have a sort out and rearrange stuff it then takes half the season to remember where everything is
i need another rucksack i like to keep my big river and small river stuff separate
 
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