Reviewed: Trespass Braeriach 30-Litre Canvas Backpack

The Trespass Braeriach Canvas Backpack (pronounced “Br-air-re-ack” - we think) is a 30-Litre daypack which combines a backpack’s daily utilitarian function with an appealing hipster retro look, whether heading to work, the hills, or school.

The lid top, which is held in position by two buckled straps, folds back to allow access to the pack’s main compartment, which is further protected by a drawstring, sitting atop an attractive stripped synthetic material. The compartment is ample for day-to-day use, with the capacity lending itself to commuters, students, or casual hikers looking for an affordable and stylish solution. The generous offering of pockets across the bag offers up plenty of functional storage and organisation options.

The Braeriach is constructed from canvas, which, while making the pack lightweight, offers little structure or rigidity. This perceived ‘floppiness’ did initially raise an eyebrow of concern in the office, but we’re happy to report that the backpack went on to defy our expectations and was remarkably easy to pack and comfortable to wear.

The back panel is lightly padded, protecting the wearer from anything pointy or awkward that they might be carrying, and the shoulder straps are thickly padded, allowing heavy loads to be carried without undue stress, friction, or pain. If you were to carry a laptop in the main compartment’s internal pocket, this would of course add considerable rigidity to the pack, and the device would be protected from minor bumps and drops by the lightly padded bottom panel.

There are four pig-snout lash points, one gear loop, and a number of carabiner-points along the bottom of the front compression straps, and each zip is provided with a faux-suede pull-tap.

Available in Navy or Olive.

Reviewer use: A week of commuting, and continuous use over a weekend break to Edinburgh and Glasgow (12+ hours of use per day).

Five Features

Main Compartment with Drawstrings

The 30L main compartment is the perfect size and shape for a daypack, whether the user is looking to commute to work or school. It'll easily house lunch, documents, a laptop, and a waterproof. The compartment is about as secure a backpack can be without locks – the top drawstring-access opening is covered by a lid and secured with two buckle fastenings.

Plenty of Pockets

One of the best features of the Braeriach is the number of useable pockets; in the lid there's a sizable, quick-access stash pocket; either side of the pack there’s a mounted elasticated water bottle pocket; on the front, there’s a zip-accessed ouch pocket; internally there’s a large open-topped laptop pocket, which could also accommodate a hydration-bladder.

Lid

The backpack’s lid is a welcome design feature – not only does it add to the pack’s look, but it offers the main compartment extra security, water protection, and an extra pocket.

Front Compression Straps

The front straps, which clip the lid into place with two buckles, double up as a method of pack compression which prevents the pack becoming baggy and loose when carrying fewer items which ultimately improves its comfort.

Waist and Sternum Straps

The Braeriach comes with an adjustable waist and sternum strap, which are great for stabilising and distributing heavy loads. The pack is comfortable, so these won’t be needed all of the time, but they’ll help any student hauling library books back and forth.

But, if we were to change one thing…

Even though the Braeriach handled a day of city rain well, we feel that the canvas would struggle on an exposed hillside during a downpour - this issue may be combatted to some degree with the application of some weatherproofing spray, like Nikwax TX.

The Technical Bit

Capacity - 30 Litres

Dimensions - H50cm x W30m x D15cm

Material – 14oz Canvas, Polyurethane

William Lobley is a Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and outdoor equipment. He also writes for Empire Online.