I recently started hiking in a kilt and have found it to be very comfortable. I'm not planning on full Highland attire, but thought it might be nice to have a small backpack/rucksack that didn't look like something from the 21st century. Any ideas?

I've worked with the local wilderness search & rescue group, and so it feels wrong to go for even a short day hike without some basic gear.

Here are several photos of what I wore whilst hill-walking in Badenoch. The gear was very basic: A day-pack with rain gear, a wee bit of food, water bottle, etc; hiking boots; and layered clothing. The weather in the Highlands is obviously unpredictable, as is the case in most mountainous areas, so essential gear and dressing in layers is a must.

http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/scan0003.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/scan0001.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...scan0011-1.jpg
http://i987.photobucket.com/albums/a...scan0010-1.jpg

Cheers,

How about this? It's a Coach satchel and is very adaptable to many situations.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...lts/manbag.jpg

Well, this certainly doesn't look 21st-century, does it? The fellow on the right is wearing a pretty traditional pack with his kilt. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/06...r/79th1852.jpg


Seriously, though, I think the best option would be a WWII-era or Cold War era military rucksack. I have a Cold War (1960s, I believe) East German rucksack that I use for carrying supplies whilst hunting or light day-hiking. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, especially compared to more modern smart designs. But it does the job. Mine is like this, but you could probably find something similar that's plain canvas in olive drab or khaki:

http://s31.dawandastatic.com/Product...472247-964.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Angstrom

. . .small backpack/rucksack that didn't look like something from the 21st century. Any ideas?

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Possibilities:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/10672753..._7&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=waxed+canvas+backpack&ga_page=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

http://www.etsy.com/listing/10076144...26&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=waxed+canvas+backpack&ga_page=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

http://www.amazon.com/L-L-Bean-Conti...anvas+backpack

(I have the LL Bean one and love it)

http://www.amazon.com/Military-Inspi...d_sim_sbs_sg_5

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dale Seago

http://www.amazon.com/L-L-Bean-Conti...anvas+backpack

(I have the LL Bean one and love it)

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I have this one too and I love it! The day pack I am wearing in the photos above, which doesn't really have the more "traditional" look in which you are going for, is from LL Bean as well.

These old Boy scout packs are very common on e-bay and usually pretty cheep.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Boy-...item2a23fc32cd

The Duluth pack line has lots of nice models.
http://duluthpack.com/outdoor-gear/c...acks-backpacks

Don't know if you have a military surplus store near you but I have two nearby and they stock a whole lot of basic canvas backpacks, rucksacks and butt bags that are from various and sundry countires...most in Europe...and those bags are pretty basic...BUT...NOT WATERPROOF. Repeat: NOT WATERPROOF...and I don't care what anybody else has to say, there is no good, simple or environmentally safe way to waterproof one of these basic canvas bags. You could try but it'll add to the cost, create a frickin' mess and not work in the end. One simple solution is to put everything that you carry in the canvas pack into waterproof containers...when I carry one of these bags, I have a simple plastic bag from the art supply store folded up inside of it and if it starts pouring rain, I put everything in side of the plastic bag and toss it all back into the canvas bag. Just a caution about how style and function can sometimes be mutually incompatible.

The Duluth stuff is, I believe, waterproof...I have a nice pack from LL Bean that was reasonably priced and is made out of waterproof synthetic:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/54123...ental-rucksack

...and if you want to get a tad mo' traditional and spend a coupla extra bucks:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/54122...123-ppxs&dds=y

....both of those may be a tad large, so there's this one:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/49400...122-ppxs&dds=y

Just some possibilities...if you're going to get a lot of use out of it, I'd say that spending a coupla extra bucks is well worth the effort...

Best

AA

Here's my LL Bean waxed canvas & leather pack, with a couple of other items to give a sense of size/scale:



http://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/...o/42f47056.jpg