Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures - Page 12

I picked this up today for $60 off of craigslist.

257 in otter green. Looks more brown when outdoors or in direct sunlight.
It has Talon zippers, so it's pre-2004.

The only problem is that the person I bought it from has had it in storage for a couple years, so it stinks like a skeevy Army surplus store.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can get rid of that musty canvas smell?

Maybe try hosing it down with Febreeze?

Cheers,
G

^Try airing it outside in the sun.

Thanks for the advice, both of you.

I'm actually going to do both. I washed the bag inside and out with only cold water and a brush, per Filson's website's instructions, and I plan on hosing it down with Febreeze and leaving it out in the sun tomorrow while I'm at work, and over the weekend if it stays sunny.

I need to get this remedied ASAP as I'm flying to Europe soon and I doubt my fellow passengers will appreciate the stench of musty canvas wafting from the overhead compartment for 10+ hours.

Probably won't be the worst aroma during that flight.

Cheers,
G

I'm on a quest for the "best" carry-on bag -- looking at the
medium duffel (222),
pullman (243), &
large travel bag (248)

Here's my criteria for "best:"
1. Largest size that can be carried on & stowed overhead (which I understand is roughly 10" x 21" x 14" or 45 linear inches total)
2. Not too heavy
3. Can be carried over the shoulder or (preferably) like a backpack
4. Is functional or otherwise well-designed

I plan to use it for plane travel including international travel. I limit myself to one carry on piece, plus my camera/sundry bag

I currently use a 3lb. Rick Steves 'convertible carry on' ( http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/ca...entId=8&id=139 ). It's almost perfect because it holds 3-4 changes of clothes (so, short trip, you're fine; longer trip, you have enough clothes to comfortably manage when to wash stuff along the way). But I especially appreciate the backpack straps which is great for moving through airports, traversing bumpy roads, stairs etc, and it allows me to manuever my bag AND my girl's roller bag at the same time when needed. The problem is that it doesn't sit on my back properly -- top of the bag pulls far out from my shoulders. Not good, especially after about 20 minutes.

I looked at several Filsons in person, including the pullman (which seemed perfect on paper) but, I've got to be honest, they seemed a little heavy and not particuarly functional.

If you have one of the bags mentioned, what sort of travel did you use it for & how did it perform? (and be honest, are they a little 'heavy'?)

Could you take it on, say, a three week trip to Europe & be able to comfortably live out of it (for ex: carry 3-4 changes of clothes) and yet ALSO easily manuever with it through towns & on trains & planes without resorting to checking it?

Would you recommend any of the Filson bags (those mentioned above or another) as one which fits my criteria for the "best" carry on? Is there a non-Filson bag that fits the bill?

Thanks!

make sure it is warm enough and sunny enough to dry completely within a day. If the dampness lingers for several days you are going to worsen the smell (it comes from mold).

It mostly dried, and the smell was almost gone, but the Febreeze smell was too strong so I washed it again last night and let it dry with a fan blowing on it. I'm going to put it out in the sun today and hopefully that will do the trick. If not, I'll keep washing/drying until the smell is gone, and maybe try some vinegar. My main concern is ruining the water repellency of the fabric.

Look at this and this, exactly what you're after. I've taken the Air Boss to India multiple times. It's the lightest bag you'll find with the most strength.

I've heard great things about these bags, though I have not had the opportunity to try them myself.

Wow, thanks -- I hadn't heard of these bags. And they're made in Montana, USA???

I was hoping to find a Filson carry-on style bag that fit the bill, because I like their look, but the design functionality of these Red Oxx bags looks hard to beat.

Just one question: it looks like the one you have (Air Boss) does not have backpack straps -- have you heard whether the packpack aspect of that Sky Train bag is functional & comfortable?

The Sky Train works fine, but many people end up not using the backpack straps. The more important differentiating feature is the overall size. Sky Train is bigger

L.L. Bean makes the Waxed Cotton Continental Rucksack. I have the nylon version and it makes a nice carry on bag. http://cdni.llbean.com/is/image/wim/...id=330&hei=295 LL Bean Site REI used to make what was basically a duffel with backpack straps. A quick look at their web page and it seems like they no longer make it. The Eagle Creek Continental Journey was a carry on sized backpack that of course is no longer made. The last two might be found used and the L.L. Bean is made of the same materials as a Filson so it's close. Chad

I would recommend the filson medium travel bag. I love it.
This is the link to it on filson's website, but you can get it for much less elsewhere.
http://www.filson.com/product/index....entPage=family


-LR

That bag by Bean is not made of the same material as a Filson. Filson uses 22 ounce waxed cotton twill and bridle leather. At best the Bean pack is 12 ounce cotton canvas and most likely the leather is not in the same league either.