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Not your imagination: from backpacks to food, consumer goods are getting worse
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2026
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I wonder if the crappified backpacks weigh any less than the older more durable ones. There's a strength vs weight tradeoff as well as the cost tradeoff. I kind of want a USAF SKRAM pack since they're near indestructable, but they weigh a ton so meh.
Try Tom Bihn backpacks. I've had my Synik 30 for five years, it's flown internationally for work shit, and it's my daily driver to and from work. They're not cheap though... I got mine as a Christmas gift with multiple people chipping in.
They're watchlisted, heh.
https://ledger.worseonpurpose.com/brands/tom-bihn
I won't need another backpack anytime soon though, and I know where to get good ones if I'm willing to drop enough cash. But I like being low budget when possible.
Always good to learn sewing or find a friend that does in this enshittified world
About four years ago we got our kid a used imported Japanese schoolboy backpack. It's still in daily use, and all his friends have to get new ones every year because the pieces of shit all fall apart.
Edit: they're called randoseru and they're perfect
I bought some Vanquest products maybe 10 years ago, and they're still like new, except for the elastic object holders in the pockets which will lose elasticity as they're stretched over years (and I've never seen a product without that problem). At the time, they were a small team of veterans with a vision to create high quality packs of all kinds.
They're solid, so might not be light enough for you (4.1 lbs).
I own the Trident-21 (gen 2). The one linked is a bit different from mine with the molle loops but otherwise the same.
Hopefully that hasn't changed. The site looks like it's still the same. Their zippers and seams are top notch. I have no ripped shoulder harnesses etc.. The molle sticks are freaking awesome for attaching smaller packs to the backpack.
Nice. I think very durable packs will tend to be heavier fwiw. Neither of my two current "good" packs (both Bozeman-era Dana Design) have any elastic that I can think of, other than the foam in the hip belts. I'm not in the market for another pack any time soon but I'll keep Vanquest in mind and will also ask on an outdoor forum that I sometimes inhabit. The regulars there are extreme connoisseurs of good packs.