Who remembers this rucksack (above) what a great bit of kit. I am sure it was made of a design of Murray Hamilton one of the top climbers of his day
From a pal – Was that the one made by Scottish Mountain Gear? They’re still going. https://www.cuillinsacs.com/
In the team this was my first issued rucksack a very simple canvas bag with simple metal buckles leather and canvas straps no padding. We never carried that much and if you had the rope it went on the top. They wore well and lasted years I am sure they were just made for the RAF Teams?
The next Rucksack I remember was the Karrimor Outward bound. A very basic canvas bag with two pockets attached . No padding again even on the straps.
There was a huge range of Karrimor rucksacks around back 70’s then and this Outward Bound version was designed specifically for that market; simple, hard wearing and well priced.
After this I think we had the Troll rucksack issued. In bright Red with no pockets apart from on the top it was a hard wearing hill bag. The photo below is of the late Big Al McLeod on the North Face of the Eiger. Photo Ted Atkins.
I bought so many rucksacks, I loved my MACPACK made in New Zealand it was great for expeditions but I lent it to someone never saw it again.
The classic Joe Brown, the Haston Alpiniste were other rucksacks that I bought nowadays I never carry that much gear and even my hill bags are as light as possible and I like the bright colours. Others I have used the Pod, Hot Ice and many others.
Comment D. WALKER
My original canvas Karrimore Alpenist lasted for years, replaced with the more modern one with plastic clip buckles in the 80s, however technological improvements in fabrics and back support soon overtook it.
The Troll, Trolltind made larger for MR was a great and simple climbing bag. With only the pocket in the lid it couldn’t have been more streamlined.
Peter Weatherill, was it you that persuaded Troll to enlarge the bag for MR.?
Do you remember the Karrimor Grand Tottie Sac that could carry 90 litres sold as the Karrimor Graham Tiso 90. A great sac that you lined with your karrimat and then piled your climbing gear in along with clothing, a 1 pint primus, pots, frying pan, food for weekend and still room for the bottle of wine or sherry! Unpadded shoulder straps.
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Was Tiso pack the orange one with the full length canvas insert which you could pull out and use as a bivvi bag?
I also had a Dougal Haston one. If I recall when he designed it the gear he needed was always at the bottom so when you opened the sac everything fell out.
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Not sure I thought the orange one was the Joe Brown?
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You carried some gear!
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I still have my Joe Brown that I bought in 1970. I used it last month for a very rainy overnight.
I was issued an Outward Bound backpack on Arduous Training in the Brecon Beacons while I was in the school CCF – probably carrying more weight then at 15 or 16 than ever since. Then I used an OB when I did Outward Bound a year or so later. Oh the aching shoulders! That led to my investment in the JB. I loved its foam filled straps and the way the bottom of the sleeping mat rested on my butt and the (very thin) waist belt let me share the weight between shoulders and hips. Thanks to the safety equipment fitter at Leuchars who reattached the waist belt! The tall extension reassured me that it could be part of a survival bag into which to insert legs while using a cagoule as the top half. All this in 1970. But what useless detachable pockets! And the zip on the red bag that perched on top to hold knick-knacks is bust. I need someone with a heavyweight sewing machine.
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There is a company in Scotland that repair old gear very good, Scottish Mountain Gear well worth it.
Heavy
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