Review: Bravo Haul Bag

With the wide variety of backpacks on the market these days, we have the luxury of tailoring them precisely to our chosen activities. For example, rather than reconfiguring my day-hike pack for doing errands around town on my bike—out with the TP & bear spray, in with the bike lock & helmet—I instead picked up a Bravo 18 Haul Bag from Remote Equipment, and now, I'm out the door and on my way that much quicker.

This durable, water-repellent pack has the simplicity and versatility I want for short outings, either on foot or in the saddle: a roomy main compartment, side-access zippers, and a small inside pouch for keys & whatnot. Two big loops let me switch from shoulder- to hand-carry, and there's no waistbelt to flop around or get caught up on clothing. The shoulder straps can be quickly converted to cross-body or over-the-shoulder carry.

Worth a special mention is the cinch, which keeps the contents dry and secure, as well as offering a little more space for that inevitable over-stuffing. Instead of requiring the typical two-finger pinch on the tiny locking mechanism, the Bravo has a clever system with an oversized loop and pull-tab, for quick, easy opening & closing of the shroud, even in the dark or with gloves on.

All in all, this is a great pack at a great price, one that's well worth adding to my increasingly large and diverse quiver. And yes, the Bravo would make a great haul-bag for a climbing rope, too, provided it's a short approach to the rock.

$119; remotehq.com.