Thanks to the insightful style musings of HOWL’s Men’s Fashion Editor Ruairidh, I decided that I was in the market for a new backpack. I’d previously bought one from TOPMAN, in a fetching Aztec style print. However, I was really disappointed after red dye from the lining of the backpack had rubbed off onto my journal and all of my papers.
So when I got my hands on a new Killington bag from EASTPAK I couldn’t have been happier. There is a reason why EASTPAK are in the premier league of backpacks; superior stitching, hard-wearing materials and extra comfortable.
I’d been taking my new bag around town a bit, but I wanted a real acid test. So what better way to test out my new bag than by taking it to a party packed full with a crap load of booze? The Killington is very generous with space, with numerous pockets and even a padded sleeve inside the main compartment, capable of fitting a 15″ screen laptop. This area was filled with a litre of vodka, a bottle of lime and a bottle of soda (my friend had recently fallen out with wine). There was plenty of room left so in went my six bottles of pear cider, while I split a four-pack of lager into the two compartments on the sides of the bag.
I’m going to hazard a guess and say this lot weighed in at about 7-8 kilos. But do you know what? I didn’t even notice (because I’m really hard, not just because this is a great bag). The shoulder straps are super comfy and the bag is well padded, so despite the walk to the party I didn’t even know I was carrying enough alcohol to satiate a Jeremy Kyle Show guest.
The Killington bag does come in with an RRP of £130, but I have found it cheaper elsewhere online. But when compared with the TOPMAN bag I bought earlier this year, I think it’s clear to see why quality will always trump mass-production. EASTPAK must have faith in their product too: a 30 year guarantee comes as standard across as bags, which makes them an obvious choice if you’re thinking of buying a bag that will get used every day or beaten up a little bit.
I’m going to a few more festivals this year, and this bag is coming with me. If I go camping, this bag is coming with me. It’s a solid bag, it will never go out of fashion, and I’m covered for 30 years. Win win?
