Helikon-Tex Bushcraft Line, Bushcraft Satchel

So, I purchased this on a whim as a replacement / alternative to my Condor E&E bag, which is my daily EDC / get-home bag. I wanted something with more internal space for bulky items such as rain jackets and binoculars, but also was able to carry a 32-oz Nalgene water bottle, which I never leave home without. I wanted something lightweight, water-resistant, and practical that did not look too tactical.The Bushcraft Satchel is a great knock-about weekend bag. It takes water, a Maxpedition admin pouch, small first aid kit, poncho and water filter, and still has a ton of room left over for a rolled up raincoat, a performance fleece, some gloves, my iPad and a set of birdwatching binoculars. Just got back from using it as a two-night travel bag. It's fantastic for a quick trip to the bookstore, the liquor store, or out to the swap meet. Really liking it.The good: Carrying capacity is quite large, even with the interior water bottle pockets filled. The Bushcraft Satchel is much roomier than it appears. The water bottle pockets are fantastic, though one has to make sure you use a sleeve if your bottle is filled with ice (so when it sweats, your stuff doesn't get wet!). The outside pocket is quite large and takes an iPad Pro 10.5" just fine (though it's not likely to take a full laptop). Strap is well thought out, and the extra MOLLE on the ends is a nice touch. Integral waist belt is very useful when you've got heavy things. Finally, I find that it's shape, size and straps combine to make it very comfortable to carry. I don't find it getting in my way or sliding off my hip like other bags.The okay: The sheath pouches on the side are gimmicky. If I wanted to carry an axe or a sheathed knife, they are great. But I've yet to find any more...urban... uses for the sheath pouches. Water resistance is better than my E&E bag, but it's nowhere near waterproof. Holds up to a light rain but not a heavy downpour. One of the two ends could really use a third role of MOLLE to make accessory pouches a much tighter fit. Finally, the bag has no internal structure, and is very floppy when empty. This makes using more structured MOLLE pouches on the ends a bit awkward until the bag is loaded.The questionable: I purchased a padded shoulder strap when I bought the bag. Without it, putting any sort of a real load into the bag is going to put strain on your shoulder. Also, the fabric is much lighter weight than I expected (when compare to my Condor E&E bag); I have concerns about its long-term durability. There is very little organization capacity in the bag; it really is a satchel. I get around this with small modular pouches, but if you want a bag that has a spot for everything, this isn't the EDC bag for you. Unlike the E&E bag or much of Maxpedition's stuff, there's no good spot for carrying a concealed pistol. Finally, since this is an imported bag from Europe, the price is very high compared to some of the competition (One Tigris, Condor, etc). That does not bother me, but I can see it being an issue for others.Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase. I'm still using my E&E bag during the week, but this is now my go-to weekend bag, and pretty much goes everywhere with me. I'll revisit this post in a year or so after I've had more time to test the durability of the bag.

Well thought out product and made from durable materials. This bag is an A+ for someone who enjoys bushcraft activities. I am really impressed by how comfortable it is to carry and the features are perfect for the Woodsmen or Woodswomen!

Don't discount this bag because of price or simple design. I've owned more shoulder bags than you can imagine (multiple Maxpeditions, Tom Bihns, Vanquests, Timbuk2s, etc). This is the most comfortable bag yet for over the shoulder EDC. Also, the simple design threw me off. This bag conforms closer to your body and carries equivalent weight more comfortably than the others. The zippered top doesn't seem sexy, but this design certainly has the best accessibility. The multiple pockets are really sized right. The only changes I would make (and I'm extremely critical and picky) would be to add a couple keeper loops or clips inside the bag and the outside pocket, add velcro for a morale patch (on both sides of bag), and to shorten the strap a little so the adjustment buckle doesn't hit close to the shoulder. The quality of the bag is excellent and it's built at the right durability level. Some of my bags are radically overbuilt and the flexibility suffers. Surprisingly great design and quality bag.

The first thing to know is that it comes in a padded envelope. I saw that and figured that I had pissed away my money. I WAS WRONG! This rig is tough and lightweight. I put my 10 Cs in it and there is a place for everything and a lot of versatility in how you can carry it. It's got MOLLE loops on the ends and under the bottom so that you can add pouches (I added my compass pouch) and the ones under the bottom would work great for a bedroll or a tarp. The side zipper pocket is excellent for holding a book, a notebook, and maps. It has a comfortably wide shoulder strap with quick release fittings on each end. It conforms to your body so when you find the sweet spot where you want to carry it, it doesn't get in your way when you do things. The dog and I took mine to the woods this morning to see how I'd like it. The heat index mid-morning was 103, so I had my 32oz stainless water-bottle/cookset in one of the pockets and my 48oz stainless canteen in the other. These pockets have elastic tops to them so they hold the bottles straight up in place in the bag so they aren't shifting around making noise and leaking. We hiked about 8 miles breaking trail about half of that. If I needed my folding saw, it was right there in the end pocket for it, if I needed my hatchet, it was right there in the provided loop and what's grand, you have them on both ends.I was carrying 19 pounds of gear (the bag weight is negligible) and no sore shoulder or neck; no sore hip from the bag beating against it.I've been looking for a bag set up like this for a decade and have wasted a lot of money on others that were close but no cigar. This is probably going to end up doing double duty as my EDC bag as well. We broke trail through bushes, briars, and swamp. I brought it in, cleaned off the dirt, sweat and blood. It looks as good as it did when it got here.I recommend it.

Bag definitely comes across as bigger than the description implies. The simple design set up can hold a ridiculous amount, and despite the fairly average specifications (11.81 x 12.6 x 6.89 in.), it loads like what seems to be a much larger bag. It has replaced my "tactical laptop briefcase" thingie (that I've had since my active duty time - Fox-Outdoor-Products-Tactical-Briefcase) and carries everything that was in there with ease - and room to spare.Looking forward to unloading my office/commuter items for a cross-country travel trip in a few weeks to see how well it handles with extended use.