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Oxford XS35 Rucksack

(15 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by MeepMeep
  • Latest reply from Cyclingmollie

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  1. MeepMeep
    Member

    I was out at the Hermiston Gait TK Maxx store on my lunchbreak and picked up a new rucksack. The Jansport bag I currently use everyday for carrying stuff in (both on and off my bike) used to be my schoolbag back in a past life and, whilst still otherwise structurally sound, the zips are on their very last legs.

    Being quite keen not to cross over to the pannier darkside (because I need a multi-purpose bag), I saw this Oxford rucksack labelled as 'for motorbikers' and have taken an admittedly somewhat uneducated punt.

    http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Products/productsresults/Parts-accessories/2013/July-2013/jul2913-oxfordxs35/

    The big draw personally is that there's plenty of space. Useful for the days where I need to carry extra/unexpected items home, and will be big enough for some backpacking in Europe and around the Highlands & Islands which are both pipedreams.

    The reliability of the bag doesn't look promising judging from the link above but I'll see how it goes and report back if any good. Anyone have any experience of the brand?

    Worth noting TK Maxx had a few different models of the make in stock - all good discounts from even online prices.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. gdm
    Member

    "the pannier darkside"?

    That's a thread in itself: Pannier versus Rucksack.

    Rucksacks even with the most technologically advance 'Airflow Cooling System' (i.e. a wee space between you and the bag) lead inevitably to Sweaty Back Syndrome.

    It's admittedly a bit of a pain having to attach and remove the shoulder strap when wanting a more 'pannier-about-town' look, but I wouldn't trade that dry-back comfort for the rucksack's functionality.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. DaveC
    Member

    Can't you get panniers which double as backpacks?

    If not I'm sure Instographic could rustle you something up on his sewing machine!

    I'm a Sith Pannier Lording it over Rucksac wearers, type of guy myself!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. amir
    Member

    I started with a rucksack, migrated to panniers because of sweaty back and comfort and now use a Carradice saddle bag. The latter works really well for my commuting and I have a shoulder strap for ease of carrying off the bike.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. sallyhinch
    Member

    If panniers are the dark side what does that make baskets? One of the things I love about my Brompton is the huge front basket which can take anything from a rucksack to an overnight bag.

    Of course in a properly ordered universe it would be big enough to take another Brompton...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. fimm
    Member

    Panniers are expensive and require expensive things to attach them to your bike.
    Rucksacks are cheap and are attached to the cyclist.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Uberuce
    Member

    I remain very happy with the courier bag I bodged from army surplus kit and a laptop bag's strap. Sits on the hip, and is second only to panniers for sweat avoidance.

    Cost me £6, but I still don't begrudge the ~£90 I paid for my Ortliebs.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. DaveC
    Member

    Sallyhinch said "Of course in a properly ordered universe it would be big enough to take another Brompton..."

    I'm imagining and fractal type image of a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a folded Brompton sitting in the a basket, attached to the front of a folded Brompton, with a ....

    only I'n not good enough with paintshop to produce it...

    )>>(((O)>

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. allebong
    Member

    Thread drift detected! Instigating emergency procedures!

    Did you mean recursion?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. DaveC
    Member

    nope defo a fractal. Its a repeating image as you zoom in on it.
    :O)

    A recursion has the image within the image, this fractal is a normal image bike with a folded Brompton in the basket, with another folded Brompton in its basket only smaller etc.. as you zoom in the image is repeated.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. Instography
    Member

    You could try taking a standard man bag and attaching a set of Ortlieb pannier hooks to it. I have such a beast - a canvas bag I picked up in Fat Face for £20. It has a zipped pocket on the back and I slid some 3mm plywood into that. The ply stops the bag flopping into the spokes and gives something for the pannier hooks to attach to. The strap for the bag just lives inside when it's on the bike.

    For added rigidity I opened a small seam near the top of the bag and slid in a piece of dowel (like a Carradice). This is held in place by cable ties through the fabric and round the dowel.

    The only downside is that when it's a bag, there's pannier hooks sticking out but they're far enough apart to sit either side of your hips.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. 559
    Member

    @MeepMeep, Last year I got the Oxford XS25, in terms of space great. Build quality.... zips broke, not waterproof, lasted 8months. But I hope your different model is more successful.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. DaveC
    Member

    What size in Litres is this bag? I'd recommend Macpac for tough, waterproof and long lasting. I had my last one for over 10 years before I sold it. It was so good, when I moved back up here and took up hill walking again, I bought the same model (Macpac Ascent) - cheap in Cotswold. Nevisport also stock Macpac, and I can get staff rates ;o) sometimes!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. MeepMeep
    Member

    559: Ooft, thanks for the heads up. My cheap cycling jacket has the same 'waterproof' zip coatings as the bag and two out of three pocket zips broke in less than a year of having it. It's mainly a top-loading bag secured by clips though so I'm not sure how much strenuous use the zips will be subjected to. I'll have to wait and see how robust it really is.

    DaveC: I'm not sure but I think perhaps the clue may be in the name... 35l possibly?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    Sallyhinch said "Of course in a properly ordered universe it would be big enough to take another Brompton..."

    I think you mean "big enough to take another universe..."

    (...which is a tribute to this).

    Posted 11 years ago #

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