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bags

March 21, 2014 By Chas Bruce

J. Peterman Counterfeit Mailbag

“The secret thoughts of an entire country were once carried in leather bags exactly like this one. Except this one, a copy, isn’t under lock and key…”..yada,, yada, yada…

J Peterman Mailbag
J. Peterman Mailbag

When I first came across this bag I was concerned that I had heard after years of being parodied on Seinfeld, the J. Peterman Company had gone under. As it turns out there is a story there. J. Peterman was started in 1987 by a Lexington Kentucky native and second baseman for the Pittsburg Pirates, John Peterman. With $500 and a lone product, the iconic J. Peterman Duster, the J. Peterman Company was born in the pages of the New Yorker with a simple ad. The ad, of course, used a battered drawing and cozy familiar copy to sell these dusters to New Yorker readers that never went near a horse nor sagebrush. Success came to J. Peterman and they regularly issued their clever catalogs with the hand drawings and the digressive and quirky writing. Things purred along until 1995 when Seinfeld and friends got their hands on the whole smarmy concept and began to satirize it. Sales skyrocketed and J. Peterman decided to go the bricks and mortar route. Even with sales of $75 million, the growth was too much, too fast. They did go banko in 1999. The name was bought up by another retailer. J. Peterman folded his duster for the last time. But like a Larry David script, that was not the end of it. The retailer who had forced John Peterman out then himself went bankrupt. The name was there to be recaptured. John Peterman called in Seinfeld’s J. Peterman, the actor John O’Hurley, and with some other investors, brought the fabled J. Peterman company back to life.

So needless to say there is still a J.Peterman Catalog for you to peruse and dream of your African Safari wearing, of course, your well worn J. Peterman Safari Jacket. I was disappointed to find no mention of a duster, though.

Oh, the Mailbag. Not a bad carryall. Truly a good copy of the now discontinued US Mailbag. Made of heavy cowhide with a raw finish that ages quickly.

J Peterman Mailbag
J. Peterman Counterfeit Mailbag

15″ long x 12.5″ tall x 7:” wide. One cavernous interior pouch and a small 5 x 8″ zippered pocket. Nice sturdy leather strap with heavy duty buckles.
Sling it on and make your rounds.

$295

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: bags, J. Peterman

April 30, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Mountain Khakis Market Tote

Mountain Khakis Market Tote
Mountain Khakis Market Tote

Just the thing to get all your swag home with the panache of a recycled climbing rope handle. Or perhaps the voluminous tote for your next foray to the Farmer’s Market for your hit of fresh veggies.

Ruggedly made with 20oz canvas and reinforced with 18oz waxed canvas. Each set of recycled climbing rope handles is unique. Flap closure with MK rivet snap and sewn in organizational pocket.

Dimensions: 13”H x 19”W x 6″. Comes in Khaki–what else–and Olive.

$60

Filed Under: Camping Gear Tagged With: bags, Mountain Khakis

April 4, 2013 By Nick Giustina

Arc’teryx Haku Rope Bag

Arc'teryx Haku Rope Bag‏
Arc’teryx Haku Rope Bag‏

Haku is a Hawaiian word meaning “to braid” and I like the meaning of this word, for rope management, as opposed to my words, which are “goddamn snakes nest”. 

The new Haku rope bag, from Arc’teryx, services rope management in a simple, functional, and elegant way.  It is, essentially, a tarp and a bag in one, and it rolls into a compact and clean shoulder carrier, when you’re ready to pack up for the day, or move to a new wall or crag. The funnel loading system makes it easy to pack the rope into the main compartment, which fits a standard 60 m rope. The RollTop closure and compression straps are nice additions by those crafty Cunacks from Arc’teryx.

$69

Filed Under: Climbing Gear Tagged With: bags

August 25, 2012 By Chas Bruce

Detours Ballard Market Pannier Bag

Detours Ballard Market Pannier Bag
Detours Ballard Market Pannier Bag

This is one handy multi-use bag by Detours. A triple-threat poke that does everything from market shopping to bike commuting.

We went shopping and filled its thousand cubic inches like an old paper grocery bag. Stretched out the straps and we had a convenient market bag to load up with supplies. Pulled the adjustable padded straps on one side and slung it over our shoulders for a convenient backpack.

Later, we got back to the bike, tucked the straps away, unzipped the hanger pocket and attached the bag to the bike rack. A waterproof base keeps the bag dry from street spray from below and a removable rain cover protects the goods from rain above.

The bag has an interior laptop sleeve and other interior organization pockets as well as exterior side pockets. Dimensions of 11 x 5.5 x 15 inches provides loads of carrying space. Weighs about 1.8 pounds.

$70

Filed Under: Camping Gear Tagged With: bags, bike gear

July 11, 2012 By Chas Bruce

Grand Trunk Eco Travel Bag

Grand Trunk Eco Travel Bag
Grand Trunk Eco Travel Bag

Do away with wasteful plastic bags and go green with the Eco Travel Bag from Travel Hammock.

The Eco Travel Bag–which comes in small and large sizes–is made of the same high-quality parachute nylon silk that the company uses for its hammocks. As a result, the bag holds up to heavy use and lasts through the years. When empty, however, the bag collapses and fits into an integrated stuff sack, making it a breeze to carry.

The stuff sack is so lightweight and unobtrusive that you can attach to your keychain via the included key clip and keep it close by at all times (small bag only). An ideal carrying sack for groceries, books, camping gear, and more, the Eco Travel Bag is a terrific choice for the eco-conscious consumer.

The small bag measures 11 by 13 inches (W x H) and weighs 1 ounce, while the large bag measures 18 by 19 inches (W x H) and weighs 2 ounces.

$14

Filed Under: Camping Gear Tagged With: bags, Grand Trunk

July 11, 2012 By Chas Bruce

Duluth Deluxe Book Bag

Duluth Deluxe Book Bag
Duluth Deluxe Book Bag

This durable bag is large enough to hold everything you will need for a day of classes, and still have room for your lightweight fleece jacket and homework.

The adjustable shoulder strap makes this bag more practical to carry from class to class than any other bag. When loaded, it hangs nicely over the back of a chair or slides under your seat. Fold-over top flap is secured with two leather straps and high quality roller buckles. All book bag models come with interior pen and calculator pockets. From grade school to grad school, this handy book bag will help with the burdens.

704 cubic inches 11H x 16W x 4D Made of 18 oz canvas, premium leather bottom and flap trim, adjustable cotton web shoulder strap w/ leather pad, leather flap straps, high quality roller buckles, internal pen and calculator pockets, full-length internal divider pocket.

$130

Filed Under: Camping Gear Tagged With: bags, Duluth Pack

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