Was looking for a backpack for work/travel and decided on the mantra from reviews here. Not the best price ever but reasonable. Only blue navy colour on special
Other notable backpacks: (free delivery with $100 order)
Optimist $90 (RRP $169): https://www.crumpler.com/au/products/optimist/?v=40367356936…
Local guide $95 (RRP $190): https://www.crumpler.com/au/products/local-guide-15/?v=40570…
Further sale items: https://www.crumpler.com/au/shop/online-exclusive
Got a Crumpler in Feb 2016, still going like day one, brilliant quality brand.
DRY RED NO 5
Slate Grey
DR5002-X06150
Oh yeah, that's my one
I’ve always wanted the mantra but I’m still waiting for my dry red no. 5 to fall apart but it’s still going strong after 10 years.
Thing is annoyingly durable lol
It’s my daily and travel back pack.
I’ve also customized it with sternum and super straps , hero clip and water bottle holder.
Got one of these that I previously used for travel, super solid bag. Only switched bags because I wanted something more specific to photography otherwise I would still be using it.
What are you using for photography now?
@Emblex: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 30L! I like the design and side access. I had the 20L but ended up getting the 30L after wasting money on more and more gear.
@eecan: Nice one! I've heard good things about it. I'm looking for a bag that's lower profile in terms of not standing out too much and associated with expensive camera gear. I was looking at wandrd. Good looking bag for edc too
I've had my mantra for about 5, still going strong.
holy moly they made the website so ugly
Yup, and not all products are on it either… We went in-store to try a few on and all the old models were still available.
is it maybe directed at mobile?
It is horrendous on mobile too!
😬
@teacherer: Genuinely shocked to see the site layout. Maybe they can't afford to have someone look after it? I hadn't realised they went into voluntary administration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumpler
Due to voluntary administration, in 2021 all 11 Crumpler stores across Australia were closed down indefinitely. Since Roper's acquirement, four stores have been reopened - Brisbane, Sydney Galleries, Little Bourke St and Fitzroy - whilst a newly-located Adelaide Store was undergoing fit-out as of October 2022.
@darkdinkum: Yes I heard about that, but a trash website is probably not conducive to profit. Surely if they weren't happy with it, it wouldn't be that big of a spend to fix. Wix would be better!
I couldn't believe it when they announced the redesign. The mobile layout is still fundamentally broken, with popups covering half the screen and text overflowing the sides. I'm still not sure who their new design is supposed to appeal to, but it's perhaps telling that they've discontinued all of their business-oriented lines, and none of the older lines like the Mantra or Zero Border are seeing new stock.
I think it's cool
I got my crumpler bag in 1994, I took it in to get the velcro replaced a few years ago (under the lifetime warranty), when I picked up the fixed bag the lady at the counter was a little bemused at the amount of effort which they'd gone to to essentially rebuild the bag so the fix was done properly.
Love Crumpler, I have a couple of their bags still going strong for years. But honestly the photography on their website now makes it really hard to gauge how big the bags actually are for some reason.
You mean the koala doesn't help? 🤭
How does the quality compare to Bellroy bags?
Different target audiences, I expect.
Well, just gonna say my $20 Kmart bag purchased in 2008 finally gave up in 2023. So that was a good 15 years and plenty of use on lots of trips, and it was excellent for carry-on-only. But over the past year I also used it permanently 7 days a week attached to my motorcycle jacket and sometimes baking in the sun for hours outside on my parked bike. For that reason I didn't want a ~$200 bag like this as it it may tempt thieves.
Just went back to Kmart yesterday and found that a similar one is now $35 but seems very sturdy and probably better than the last one. Who knows if it will be good for another 15 years.
https://www.kmart.com.au/product/whistler-x-daypack-black-42…
Cool story about your cool bag bro
Looks ok but from looking at a 3rd picture on, it's dosbt to fit maby crayons in the top pocket and I like to keep a more than three for when I'm hungry and need to draw too
What?
Expensive stuff are for marketing sheeps.
Anyone have any experiences with their hard suitcases? Looking at their Vis 2.0 Lite 68
I don't think they crumple
Can’t comment specifically on the Vis hard, but have had a 52cm soft+hard roller suitcase since 2016. Did a lot of travel with it and it really handled the abuse. Still in amazing condition.
When my big samsonite suitcase dies I will likely replace with a Crumpler.
I have 2 Vis luggages, absolutely love them. Want to get the new all black version…
OOS
Blue still available
This website is all over the place
Fyi, this is last year model… when Crumpler was run by the corporate gods.
Oh man I used to see these at work, forgot all about their existence!
been looking for another mantra to replace the one that was stolen
Do they not do camera bags anymore?
I checked this bag in the store about 2 weeks ago or something and I can attest that it is a solid bag. They use YKK zippers and (IIRC) Cordura fabric, which means that they're pretty much indestructible. The bag itself feels very solid, and the expansion feature is quite cool. Would've definitely considered it if I didn't have my BIFL bag already.
Sad to say but crumpler is a dead brand. Big loyal fanbase and nothing wrong with their bags, but poor management decisions, covid and the other local brand Bellroy killed it with copycat/better products.
It seems that one of the original owners has taken it over and has set about making it what it used to be.
Can confirm. I spoke to the representative in the Brisbane CBD store yesterday (which moved and is no longer next to Noosa Chocolate Factory); they said that the original owner repurchased the company and did the massive rebrand. I love their stuff; my wallet doesn't, though. Good thing I got a new one.
Good bags. I've had about 6 years out of my $99 mantra.
Couple seams are coming undone.
I have to pay to post it back for repair though.