I got a tweet from a friend (thanks Johnny) with a link which made me raise both eyebrows, yes, not just one. So, one thing led to another and I was with the people from the link today.
A photie of a rucksack and a sewing machine, did I fly to China on a whim? No, I drove up the road to Glasgow to meet the guys at Trakke who make packs and courier bags in their workshop from materials sourced almost entirely locally or from the UK.
It was a mix of new and old, I see mountaineering heritage in the designs of a young business run with skill and enthusiasm in a place rich in industrial history. The Krukke pack is like a Whillans Alpiniste for the 21st Century, the same mix of then and now, the materials, the features, the simplicity, I was turning a sample over in my hands grinning from ear to ear.
The guys are making me up a test sample, in purple, and I’m going get out there and use it, pretty soon with an ice axe and crampons attached to it I hope.
I’ll visit the workshop while the pack’s being put together in a couple of weeks or so and come back with the full story about the whole thing when I’ve got the pack home.
It’s not lost on me that Karrimor, Mountain Equipment and Berghaus started this way and its a joy to see gear being made, not product, and there is a difference. More soon.
That is a great find. Homegrown gear. Look forward to seeing more :-)
I’m actually dead excited about this, the design is very good, there’s hidden pockets that take a bottle and the harness feels great.
I’ve used the old Whillans in that link a few times and its great, I’m hoping this will be even better as there’s so much modern thinking gone into it as well.
I look forward to reading about this!
There is lots to say, where they are for a start, the construction quality too.
Which all reminds me, next week, Monday I hope, I’ll have a rather special UK thing to announce with a rather nice sample to match…
Hey, that’s excellent. I immediately thought of you when I saw the purple pack. Looks great. I’m eyeing the messenger bag.
The sack doesn’t seem to have a chest strap or a waist belt, I’m wondering how that’ll work on the hill.
Looks like it has great potential. I’d love to support more local gear makers.
The stripped-down design is something we talked about and I’m going to take the pack as-is to see just how immediately usable it is in the hills. They’re interested to see what changes if any are needed.
There’s buckles to attach a 25mm webbing waistbelt as standard, and they’ll do me a waistbelt for mine. It won’t be load bearing, but it’ll give stability, identical to the 55L Terra Nova Quasar pack I used on last weeks bivi.
There’s webbing on the shoulder straps, so you can add a chest strap, but I’ll see how that goes, my Whilllans pack doesn’t have one, or need one as the shoulder straps don’t slip.
We’ve already talked about some little things that would be quick updates for outdoor use and we’ll see what happens when I get it out and about. It’s not quite as plain as it looks, there’s enough there to be able to pack my kit with more or less regular accessibility.
It’s interesting stuff this, fun too. The last time I could take somthing back to the man who made it and say “Hey Misterm what about…” was when Mike Parsons had OMM.
It looks bigger than 30L too, or maybe the model is a wee fella. Either way, I’m guessing you could squeeze enough kit into it for an overnight.
My wife is a seamstress – makes curtains and handbags and such. Used to have her own business selling leather handbags and purses. I’d love for her to start a wee business making outdoor gear. Then I could retire.
Don’t retire, just become product R&D!
Zactly :)
I’m happy to advise on colour schoemes.
If you get a chance, can you discreetly ask where they get their materials and buckles from :)
Locally!