Millican Smith Mavericks the roll pack 25l
Thoughts.
Packs, bags and rucksacks. I love my bags (I’m aware that I sound like a girly girl) but packs are important. I’ve always liked quality, design , ease of use and durability. This you would think is surely available in all packs- they’ve been designed and made to fit a brief. This is not the case, I get so annoyed with great bags that are let down by simple details. One thing that I hate is the water bottle holders. I recently bought a Manta 28l AG- was lovely to wear, but a bigger to get much in it- it had zips everywhere. A great bag, but the AG system kept getting in the way- it is sprung, so it always sticks out. On a busy train it gets in the way. You put it on the floor and the wings drone the waist belt stick out. On a mountain it’s wonderful, but 28l ish is the sort of pack I wanted to be versatile – to use around town, to commute, to wear whilst cycling etc. So I went to Cotswold outdoors to see what else was on offer. I came across the Millican range, and the Smith 25l. It was clean cut, elegant and simply brilliant. The buckles are all beautifully engineered aluminium (or steel) they are grey-blue and simply a delight. To access the bag is one simple operation. There is a hidden laptop sleeve- that was padded, discreet and useable…. the detail and design had me almost sold. I was sceptical as I take a a Nalgene bottle and a Hydro-flask everywhere – quite often they never quite fit. In the Manta they did fit, but it was a stretch- and I was well aware that in time it would fray -as it had on my Osprey Stratos. I optimistically took the millican to Cotswold’s water bottle and flask section to see if they would fit. The bag has two pockets for water bottles , or whatever, and they fitted snuggly and importantly really securely!! I was sold…. I went home to research the bag. The next morning I went and purchased the pack! It is brilliant- simple, tough and useable. It has a life time guarantee, but I don’t think I will need it. It is so well built, and the attention to detail is brilliant! Everything is absolutely awesome. The only one thing I have found a minor niggle is the interior pockets are not elasticated, so flap a bit. But that is it. I love it. The straps, simple and comfy- the padding brilliant!! Go and look at them- they are GREAT (cotswold outdoors are great too ) .