Canvas Backpack Review for FANTASY Adventurers
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- This Canvas Backpack has appeared in a number of my videos, and has served me well for years. For FANTASY adventuring, how does it hold up?
This canvas pack is anachronstic with as far as I can tell, 0 historical accuracy, but being that I am usually attempting to recreate a LOTR equivalent world, this pack fits that goal, and it's why I chose to purchase it 2 years ago. Since then I have used it for day to day activities as well as travelling and camping.
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/ livinganachronism
Specs (are approximate):
19 in Height
11 in Width
9 in Depth
Pros:
Water Resistant
Color scheme and overall aesthetic meet my current standards for LOTR reenactment
Spacious
Easy to clean
Cons:
Completely Anachronistic
Zipper (failed and now no longer functions)
Buckles are attached via magnet
Strap studs are inconvenient
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![Gentcreate Vintage Canvas Backpack "OG" Review [Retro backpack for gents?!]](/img/n.gif)
So your video made me remember that 15 years ago I had a really nice canvas backpack, so I went to the garage to find it.
I can now confirm that my backpack has transitioned to a magical artifact :D
It is now a bag of molding :(
Can it be washed?
Oof! I wonder if you can do something to fix that.
😭
While I am sorry to hear about the mold issue, I could not help but laugh at your - quite clever - word play on a "Bag of Holding" ☺
I’d love to see you do a “day in my anachronistic life” vlog every once in a while. Your content is great and your personality shines through, but I want to see more of your medieval lifestyle.
Yes, ABSOLUTELY make a video of you modding the heck out of that bad boy
I’ve always been curious about these sorts of back packs so this review was actually very helpful especially as it’s not on a $200 item which is what a lot of reviews seem to stick too
As someone who sews I definitely prefer real buckles and magnets over zippers. Zippers fail eventually and can get caught in things but magnets (as long as you get strong ones) are quick and easy for people who like that and adjustable buckles may be a bit more work to open and close but are great for long time use.
Zippers are mechanical devices and all mechanical devices fail eventually. The same is true of buckles, but they are generally more robust and tend to last longer.
@@randomdude4505 exactly what I said. Except buckles unlike zippers have a much lower chance of just screwing themselves up. The amount of times I've had to meddle with a zipper because I used it normally and it all unzipped itself or 1 singular tooth broke causing it to be permanently broken is why I only use zippers for certain projects. A buckle doesn't do that and it's easier to replace.
Taking a seam ripper to a zipper, undoing it and then re-pinning and sewing it is annoying.
@@whoahanant Plus buckles look more cool. :D
@@nanettesage1112 they totally do XD
Have you tried to cast things out of zipper teeth? Might be a fun project to try in the future at least.
Stitching down the magnetic strap would make a good 'Intro to Leatherworking' project. You basically just need the pricking irons, thread and leather needle. Perhaps removing the failing zipper and replacing it with draw string, as well.
If you want to retain a scabbard, don't cut the pocket. Just sew retention straps like you see on skip packs or the LL Bean Continental ruck. Then you can use the pocket or the straps, you don't have to choose between one or the other.
i love when people do these sorts of long term reviews, for some kinds of gear you just have to *use it* for a few years to find out about all the little quirks or hidden flaws
I love the idea of keeping costs down by modifying things we already have to suit our needs, so yes definatly would like to see something like that.
I think the "medieval" backpack you are looking for is the classic wood-frame/trapper backpack. It is as it sounds, a wooden frame you strap to your back. You strap bags/boxes/baskets/buckets to the frame as necessitates. This eventually evolved into the Alice-frame backpack.
The wood frame might sound uncomfortable, but that only if you are strapping the frame straight to your back. There's nothing stopping you from adding padding to the right places; hell, you can use your bedding as your padding.
Having said all of this, the frame is a simple or complex and/or robust as you want to make it. Yes, if you have some basic tools (ie. knife) you can make this backpack from shoots to scrap lumber in your backyard with a bit of string. How medieval can you get?
Another way to solve the stud problem would be to add a ring of thick/stiff leather (or hard plastic) at that level.
Would give you some extra rigidity to the system as a whole too
You could add a dry bag style close to replace the zipper too.
Yes, thank you for putting out a review on a nice looking pack that mortals can afford.
Also, mod the hell out of that thing!
Would love to see how you modify the backpack
I recently bought the Johnny Fly all leather rolltop backpack. It's very adventurous and historical looking, and absolutely great quality and design. But a bit expensive for some. Also it's not too spacious and the roll top style means it's very deep, so getting things from the bottom can be a bit annoying.
Also Johnny fly is a small independent American backpack brand. So it's a good way to support a small business that handcrafts items of good quality.
I like the look of the Johnny Fly a lot. American made? Sign me up. This is going on the list of future packs.
I'd love to see a video from you on what your ideal combat adventurer load out would be.
While I am entirely too lazy to modify anything myself, I do enjoy seeing how it might be done.
You are helpful in so many ways, good sir! So thankful you are here. It's OK to get support for all your hard work. Amazon has a few helpful perks. Small (unsolicited but heartfelt) suggestion from someone who actually shops creator links--it's nice when creators keep their lists as current as possible so it doesn't just seem like shameless plug. I know y'all are busy but it is a little disheartening when I go to a list and it hasn't been modified in over a year... I then don't buy from that link just cuz it looks like a lack of continued faith in those products, just like you touched on. This bag looks very practical and roomy. This looks like a great camp/river gear specific bag for my use. I'm luck enough to live minutes from the Colorado River and stuff being tough is vital. Would it be easy to hand sew through it to add covers to those pockets?
Yes! Another long video w00t
Edit: I also have a waxed canvas/leather backpack in the same style as yours because it's what the hobbits had in LOTR.
When we were stationed in Germany and were going to medieval markets, some folks with small children would modify/cover their baby carriers with pack baskets.
Some of the commenters here have brilliant ideas for improving the pack. I would love to see you modify it so you can enjoy it fully for many years to come.
Modify it? Oh absolutely!
Definitely do a backpack refit vid, that would be interesting. I think the more you customize it, the better it will look and the more satisfied you'll be with it.
Making me think about designing my own pack. Good points were made, ideas are forming. Thanks for your review and your channel.
I hope the UA-cam algorithm continues to favour you, your content is too good
Thank you
Excellent review. I was wondering about this pack and I’m glad you took the time to talk it through.
I'd love to see a video about modifying the rucksack!
That's hilarious that this just came out, because I started looking up LARP backpacks for inspo and nostaligia. So glad this came up so I could find this channel. Looking foward to going down the rabbit hole of your videos.
Just here to say that I would really like to see the backpack modification video.
Thanks so much for this review - really helpful! I’m putting together my pack and still deciding on what I want it to look like and my gear
yes please do a video on modifying the bag
love the videos with leather working and i love this channel
Thanks for the great video! I have been looking at some options and glad you did a review on this.
Way to go! almost to 10K subs in such a short time-span. keep going at it man you're by far the best channel for explaining this stuff.
Thanks so much!
I bought the same backpack and was searching for ideas to modify it for larp. So thanks for this video ;)
First of all I removed the zipper, it was really easy and looks great.
Fantastic review, you did a great job showing off what you liked and did not like with this pack. Its great to see a review of something that is not >$100, a real budget conscious option, is it perfect nope, but it works. Looking forward to seeing more gear videos.
I'm all for custom mods for a pack, based on your actual field and faire experience.
One idea follows the modern military model of a small removable daypack, on top of a large rucksack that you leave back at camp. You take your daypack with a fighting load of weapons and magical items, with a minimal amount of food, water, and healing items for patrols away from camp. Top off with spare supplies from your ruck, as needed.
This is exactly what I was thinking as well
I enjoyed this video. I quite appreciate your personal tendency towards saving money and your empasis on doing so in your videos. I am very frugal and tend to feel guilty for buying things that are entirely for fun. I am so glad you introduced me to medieval anchronism. Developing it as a hobby has caused me to re-learn things I once knew and to learn how to do new things (such as knitting.) I am learning to be more adventurous because of you and your channel. I am learning to be less of a consumer and more of a researcher and creator. I am deeply grateful to you, Kramer. You have changed my life.
Yes please make a video over backpack mods!
Great review thanks for posting 👍
I really appreciate this video. I’ve been searching similar backpacks online and have a lot of the same preferences as you (no zippers/magnets because they don’t feel like fantasy, waterproofed canvas and leather).
I would absolutely watch a video of you going through all of the modifications you talked about. if it goes well, it'll be useful, and if it doesn't, it'll be entertaining.
You should do a video on making and talking about a medieval frame back pack
that pack has so much potential.
Very interesting video. I like your thought process and would like to see you modifying the backpack. :)
The zipper is super easy to fix. Draw it all the way down and check the actual tab, odds are the spacing for the teeth have expanded. (Not where they feed in, the back end) Just take a pair of needle nose plyers and compress them back down. Should work fine after that. :)
I can't tell you how many times I've done the same thing. It doesn't work on the cheap zinc alloy ones though, they just break.
I can't say that I am interested too much in buying a backpack right now. However I still appreciate the production quality of this review. 👌
I want see you do a video on just modifying the hell out of that backpack.
Like you, I really adore things that let me carry that bit of "fantasy medieval" feeling into my every day life, so things like my antiqued leather journal, my Ruana cloaks or, yes, a backpack are important (to me, anyway) ways to add a little magic to the mundane.
Depending on whether you'd want to keep a straight-through usable space at the top of your pack, my first thought would be to cut out the zipper *but only the metal part* leaving that bit of cloth to use as sort an anchor to sew a doubled over piece of sturdy canvas trim (like, say, 3" to 4", which would be about 1.5" after being doubled over) and then punching some metal eyelets on both sides, which you could then use to thread two lengths of leather through, beginning at each end and meeting at the middle. Kind of like what you have at the neckline of the tunic you are wearing in this video. This would be so that you could open one side at a time, without having to unlace the whole top of the pack.
Just a thought. ☺
I really loved this video, and I am actually going to follow that link and take a look at this pack. It would fit quite well with what I like. Thank you!
That is a really good idea, to open the pack one side at a time. Thanks for the support and awesome comment
Good review.
If/When you decide to mod the pack, please share. Demonstrations of how to mod easily obtainable goods are always appreciated.
One of your earlier camping vids inspired me to get a similar backpack. Im planning on some mods
I think a video on modifying the backpack sounds like a good idea and then maybe a follow up video to talk about how the modifications were and were not a good idea
I’d love to see a backpack modifying series on the channel!
Bags. I have searched through so many. So so many. I only need one good one.
Great video.
I used to have one of those packs , slightly different, I loved it, it is a small imitation of a USMC Alice pack, I have one of them also
Definitely would watch a backpack mod video.
Mine have the magnets as well. I am going to sew a strip of cloth over them such that the magnets are together but the buckles still work. I figured I would do that so that if I find I don't like having it only as a buckle, all I have to do is cut the cloth binding off. IF you glue yours, then you have two things to worry about. 1) if the glue crystalizes and breaks off you have a mess to clean up before RE-gluing and 2) if you don't like it you have a mess to clean off.
In regards to modifying the bottle pouch with a slot to slip your sword through, my first thought is that the weight of the sword would twist your pack uncomfortably unless you have a sufficient counter weight on the other side. In my opinion, the most balanced place to attach a sword to a pack is vertically between the straps. However, that too has issues. It'd be a lump on your back and neck, and if the sword belt remains attached to the scabbard, it'll get in the way too. So that leaves tying it to the front of the pack. But because your pack is so small, the sword will probably drag the pack down while the sword itself will try to flip causing the tip of the scabbard to constantly poke at your legs.
A decent sword with a scabbard will weight somewhere around 1.5-1.8 kg, so, not significantly more than liter and a half bottle of water or other drink, so I doubt it will affect the packs balance that much, what might be more problematic is the sword catching on things as you go through brush and so on. Which is why prefer to carry mine on my belt, same as quiver - easier to control.
@@Verion01 A water bottle is compact and all of its weight will contained in the pouch. A sword is long and most of its weight will be outside of the pouch. In fact the pouch may well act as the pivot point for the sword to swing while you're walking.
I guess there is only one way to figure out if the sword on the pack will work or be cumbersome, and figure out questions like that is what the channel is all about!
@@LivingAnachronism I have tried that back when I was involved with LARP, and, at least, back then my conclusion was that it was more trouble than worth. Of course, that was my personal impression.
I'd be very interested in a video of you making modifications to this backpack to make it more adventurer friendly!
I'd like to see the modifications!
I would love to see you modify it.
Very nice Backpack! Current is Paratus f/ 3V Gear non LARP. It's nice but has an extremely tactical look less in Coyote Tan.
I'd love to see how you modify the backpack, as I think a lot of us are eyeing off this backpack and these sorts of backpacks,. Would be great to see both the aesthetic and practical changes you make, but don't feel obliged to risk it for us.
Please do the backpack customization video. Would be a good video I think and with how much you mentioned it I feel you really want to do anyway so I say do it. :D
I'd definitely like to see you mod it.
Bro your videos are amazing 🤩 and educational as well I strive to one day have a Channel like yours and go on an Adventure of my own someday untill than I’ll just go to the renaissance fairs and enjoy your videos in the meantime
Thanks man! best of luck to you, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. Cheers mate.
@@LivingAnachronism 🥂
The Mod is the word. You will mod and we will judge. I wonder if you could remove the zipper and replace it with a leather flap. Then you could roll a tarp or ground cloth in it and secure it with the straps. I'd suggest you attach the buckles lower than where the studs are, it looks like it would be harder to feed them through with those retaining straps right there. I'd also like to see you fabricate buckled leather covers for the side pockets. Excelsior!
I would enjoy watching you pimp your backpack. 🎒 (Borrowed from Xzibit''s old show "Pimp my ride.")
Probably going with a big buckle to hold the thing together would last the longest. Zippers aren't the only things that fail over time especially with regular use. And perhaps you could add some straps to the bottom to carry a bedroll/fold up tent.
i don't know if you have fixed the zipper but you can use a pair of pliers and make sure the zipper pull is actually not stretched a little (the bottom of it is further away from the top. Pinch it with the pliers gently to see if that fixed the issue. I suggest this because of the pulling up motion as you are zipping the bag will lead to the body of the zipper stretching out some. Good luck. :)
*begins chanting…
Mod that pack!
Mod that pack!
Mod that pack!
…
Currently working on a pack frame that is also a chair when it's unloaded. You could tie a waxed canvas bag to it as well as anything else you'd like to carry. Right now it should be able to carry up to 500 lbs. I know it's a bit over engineered but I'd like the chair function to handle all of my husky friends :)
Sadly I haven't done much on the project in a while so this is a good reminder to get er done!
BTW For the Sword and Ax attachment I think the manufacturer should borrow from modern back packs and put something similar to molly's in so you can tie what you want where you want. Sadly I think you're gong to have to modify these things yourself for you to be fully satisfied with this kit item. Which is often the case with most kit items lol
Thanks for these videos. They are very helpful to our community.
Looking for forward to more :)
Thanks mate! Hoping there will be a video of your chair pack when you are done. I've seen a few on pinterest and they look really cool. A medieval/fantasy style molly webbing would be really cool on packs like this, but we'll probably always have to do that ourselves.
Thanks for the support mate, Cheers!
My "buckles" on my leather satchel laptop bag attach via metal snaps like on jeans. They are strong enough that I can tighten the straps. They are actually tough to unsnap so it wouldn't be unreasonable to use the buckle if it wasn't an emergency like a phone ringing.
This is the video that made me join your Patr*on! Well done, helpful, and great ideas for modifications.
While my adventures are not as rugged as yours seem to be (think more along the lines of the "Expotition to the North Pole" in the Winnie the Pooh books), I still think that my party (including a 7yo and a 9yo) need good gear. We sit on the ground, we go through the brush. We've got our Skjoldehamn (aka Viking) hoods, tunics, and cloaks. And now we can think about backpacks.
I was wondering whether you have thought about what kind of gear might be useful for an adventure in a big city. Would you use the same gear as in the wilderness?
Your channel is great and helpful. Thank You.
I might be too late for this to matter, but I'd love to see a full remodel of this backpack.
I've got a lot I'm working on currently, but modifying this pack is still something I'd like to do, it just lower on the list at the moment.
You could remove the zipper and replace it with a couple toggles or two strips of leather glued along the seam with a male and female clasp on either end to make it a proper roll top, if the zipper kills the immersion vibe for you.
If you're not up to replacing the zipper yourself, find a local shoe repair shop, cordwright, or leather worker. Motorcyclists create a demand for such shops so they're not as rare as you may assume. I'm sure they'd be able to get the magnets pulled off and the buckle sewn down proper, as well.
Check out the italian, russian or czech army canvas back backpack, cheap and big and simple.
Also look at a ryecroft frame pack, you can build it in the woods out of sticks and string.
Yes please, as many gear and mod videos as you are willing to produce. I don't own anything I purchased commercially that I haven't modified, and more ideas from others are always appreciated.
Unsolicited thought; near as I can tell the zipper is mainly for water resistance but has a serious flaw in that it faces up when the bag is stuffed. If it were mine I'd lose the zipper and sew on a leather flap to the side that goes against your back so that when closing the bag it goes down to the loops that hold the straps, completely covering the opening. Even when fully stuffed the flap would cover the whole opening plus a bit and can be rolled up as needed when only partially loaded.
I personally view items like this as "practical props", with a specific look that suggests their place in history but without as many of the limits of similar historical artifacts as possible.
I would definitely like to see you modify the pack.
Not looking for a backpack. But still a cool video.
You paid 50 bucks I say modify the crap out of it. Also, leather and wood toggles are a nice aesthetic change to the zipper and they work super well. The size of those side pockets would be almost perfect for an ax. I think something more ridged would be needed for a longer sword more for comfort than actual need.
I have a similar backpack myself and yes after about 3-4years the zippers failed occasionally, but I use it mostly rolling the top so I don’t really worry too much about it. Another thing is after intensive use for so long, (for the one I have) because the piece contact with my back is made of unwaxed canvas and the bottom was probably constantly rubbing against my waist and butt, the bottom of that unwaxed piece is a bit worn down, I’m actually thinking about enforcing it with something but haven’t made up my mind yet
I have a canvas backpack it's a pain but it is very useful tool to have
Check out the frost river bushcraft mini pack. I think that would have everything you wanted if you're willing to put down a little extra money. They are great quality packs
I’m working on making my own hikers/ hunters pack I’m looking in to making a wood framed wax canvas pack. I have watched another UA-cam who has made some himself. Idk the name of it but I happen to like that style. I’ll let you know how it comes out.
I've ruined a few things I like trying to make modifications. When possible, I like to get 2 of the thing I like (hats, shirts, backpacks, etc) and then modify one. This doesn't just give me a spare if I ruin it, but helps me determine through use which version I like better. Otherwise I feel like I don't know if I would have used the original or the modified version more. Sometimes even mods that succeed and I like them I find myself going back to the original. Other times I end up modifying my spare because I never use it anymore.
I would like to see you modify the bag or what you most feel like changing and why
A couple leather straps on the outside of the side pockets would looke like its reinforcement of the side pocket, except you could push the side pocket towards the pack and then have a nice sword or axe (?) loop instead :).
Then you wouldnt need to cut the side pocket to hold a sword =).
I'd love to see a list of features and design of the perfect version of a pack like that, i'm going to make my own and want your thoughts.
From my POV, velcro breaks immersion far less than zippers, since there are plants that naturally act like velcro - so in theory medieval people could have used those plants to create velcro without too much problem. Zippers on the other hand would be much harder to replicate using medieval technology.
Now, there may be no evidence that burdock or similar plants were ever used on purpose as velcro... but since people obviously knew those plants, why wouldn't someone try it at some point?
I was just coming down to comment that you could remove the broken zipper and add toggles or grommets. XD You got it though. However, I would love to see a mod vid on the backpack if you're comfortable possible butchering your cool bag. I have a heavy duty sewing machine that supposedly can handle leather. I wonder if I can design and make my own adventuring pack...
I've actually tried to fix the unfortunate problem of water bottle pouches not exactly being built to securely hold anything larger than a standard soda can. Making them taller with matching material, my pack has mesh pouches, so nalbound black cotton thread works for patching and said pouch extension well enough. They are more secure after sewing the extensions onto the pack but they don't hold a 1 liter stainless steel bottle as well as I would want yet.
Hi,
Nice Video.
What Are your thoughts on the German Alpine Backpack. I think the backpack would fit the overall looks.
Backpack makeover video please!
Let us see a modification video my friend!!!! Cheers!!!!
Removing the zipper and adding a large flap to the top, with the straps going over that and holding it shut, would allow you to close it completely and not have to roll it over to close it, leaving a bit more space inside. =^x^=
I'm also in the "Yes, videos of the bag mod" camp. And maybe make a series out of it if it's too long for one video.
It is easy fix on zipper. Take players and press part of zip lock that closes zip, that laves closed zip behind, straight part, when you close is further away on zip lock.
As for the perfect adventuring pack, mine will be my "forever" pack because I am going to just slowly recreate it as needed. Eventually getting what I want. It would be cool if you tried to do the same with yours.
With all the modifications you seem to want to make on the pack, it might be easier and even cheaper to have a leatherer craft a custom pack for you to your specifications.
I'll probably end up making my own one day, Modifying this one will give me some good experimental data to pull from
I’d like to see you mod it out