Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures

[TinMan3]

@TinMan3 thats a Talon ruck? Looks so mint

Yessir. Still has the tags attached. Very cool find.

 

[Bespoke49er]

Those are my listings. I agree the asking price is high on them, but the bags are quite rare and with the current price on the new rucksack being $600, it’s probably not totally crazy. Anyways, if you’re still looking I hope you find one for a price that’s more your speed!

@TinMan3,

Market forces!

Amazing how the Outfitters have appreciated over the years. Speaks to the quality of that era & the unique role they fill in a person’s lineup. My 2 are go to bags for fly fishing gear storage & transport, with a smaller #238 for either skiing or camping gear depending on the season. Best of luck!!

 

[FilsonDude]

Yessir. Still has the tags attached. Very cool find.

View attachment 1876761
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That’s a beaut

 

[White Collar Boy]

For some reason, I can just not get into carrying the 232 Field Bag. I have one - and should sell it, because I NEVER use it. Probably because wherever I go, I take my laptop and it's a super tight fit. I feel it's too much overlap between that and the 256/257 (for me).

Why can't I love this 232 field bag?

I know what you mean. Even without taking a laptop along, there is something a bit awkward about the medium field bag: its narrow opening, lack of internal organisation, the way it flops forwards because of where the strap connects at the rear rather than over the middle, and having to unbuckle two flaps to get anything out of it.

That said, I find it more handsome and charming than awkward. What’s a moment to unbuckle it? So what if it can’t fit everything? For internal organisation, I just use a couple of dopp-kit-type pouches, wherein my notepad, pen, earphones, chargers etc. go. It’s not perfect but somehow I prefer it over the 256 my wife took; I was glad in a way when she did take the 256, not just to see her appreciating something nice, but because I now had no choice but to use the field.

I am looking for something to put my laptop in again though!

 

[FilsonDude]

My first Filson bag was a brown MFB. It doesn’t work for everyone especially if a laptop or large tablet is involved. But I enjoy using them during my travels and on days that I don’t need to pack much in which case I’ll use the 258. Here’s a leather version I carry regularly now.

 

[A JEDI IM]

My first Filson bag was a brown MFB. It doesn’t work for everyone especially if a laptop or large tablet is involved. But I enjoy using them during my travels and on days that I don’t need to pack much in which case I’ll use the 258. Here’s a leather version I carry regularly now.
View attachment 1876972

Nice! I wasn’t aware they made the MFB in brown leather. How old is that one?

 

[FilsonDude]

Nice! I wasn’t aware they made the MFB in brown leather. How old is that one?

Production sample I stumbled upon

 

[mgrennier]

I know what you mean. Even without taking a laptop along, there is something a bit awkward about the medium field bag: its narrow opening, lack of internal organisation, the way it flops forwards because of where the strap connects at the rear rather than over the middle, and having to unbuckle two flaps to get anything out of it.

That said, I find it more handsome and charming than awkward. What’s a moment to unbuckle it? So what if it can’t fit everything? For internal organisation, I just use a couple of dopp-kit-type pouches, wherein my notepad, pen, earphones, chargers etc. go. It’s not perfect but somehow I prefer it over the 256 my wife took; I was glad in a way when she did take the 256, not just to see her appreciating something nice, but because I now had no choice but to use the field.

I am looking for something to put my laptop in again though!

I am traveling to Boulder CO in a couple weeks. I was planning on taking my 257 or my 256. But now considering taking the field bag just because. It definitely has a different look than the traditional briefcase-type bag. A different vibe (or maybe that's just noticeable to us Filson fans).

My challenge for my EDC is that my work gave me a 16" MacBook (not my choice, but not given an option) which will NOT fit. My personal MBP is a 14" which fits, although not super well. I'll also be carrying my Leica Q2 with me - the Field Bag is better for that purpose.

Re: Internal organization, I actually removed the inside divider in my 257 and think it's a TON more functional. I usually carry a small Dopp kit-type electronics/gadget organizer (forgot the name) so I don't need all the pockets in there.

 

[Bespoke49er]

I miss the days when I would get excited about a Filson 40% off Winter sale. They make it hard to buy new vs. pre-owned / vintage / legacy merchandise. Guess that means good business for those in the secondary marketplace.

 

[TinMan3]

I miss the days when I would get excited about a Filson 40% off Winter sale. They make it hard to buy new vs. pre-owned / vintage / legacy merchandise. Guess that means good business for those in the secondary marketplace.

I still picked up a few things like the Smokey bear dining set and some socks. At a discount I think their socks are a good value.

Their sales used to be insane, like 80+% off of some previous season items which made for exceptional deals. I remember getting a brand new wool packer for $295 and some others. Those days are gone now, they just send any old merch to the outlet and it gets bought the next day by one of the few regulars that calls every morning to see if there’s anything worth buying for their eBay store. Don’t get me wrong— if they’ve got the time to do it and they choose to by all means, but I did enjoy when some of these gems would end up in the sale.

 

[Bespoke49er]

I still picked up a few things like the Smokey bear dining set and some socks. At a discount I think their socks are a good value.

Their sales used to be insane, like 80+% off of some previous season items which made for exceptional deals. I remember getting a brand new wool packer for $295 and some others. Those days are gone now, they just send any old merch to the outlet and it gets bought the next day by one of the few regulars that calls every morning to see if there’s anything worth buying for their eBay store. Don’t get me wrong— if they’ve got the time to do it and they choose to by all means, but I did enjoy when some of these gems would end up in the sale.

Glad you found something of use at a discount. I’ve never tried the socks as I’m a fan of “Darn Tough” socks. Made in a single Mill in Vermont, with an unconditional lifetime return guarantee, and family owned and operated for 40 plus years I think. They’ve got my customer loyalty!

Having the Filson Outlet nearby certainly seems like a great opportunity for those looking to expand their personal collection, or as you said, turning a profit on the secondary market. Here in Alaska, Filson has gotten harder and harder to find. We didn’t have a ton of locations selling their products to begin with, but I’ve noticed that most of the retail outlets in Anchorage & Fairbanks that did carry Filson have either dropped them or have a consistently anemic inventory. By not having a Filson store in Anchorage Alaska they’ve really lost market share on the clothing side here to Carhartt, Eddie Bauer, Duluth, and others who have a strong retail pretense. Not that you would get that impression from any of Filson’s marketing campaigns 🙄.

 

[TinMan3]

Glad you found something of use at a discount. I’ve never tried the socks as I’m a fan of “Darn Tough” socks. Made in a single Mill in Vermont, with an unconditional lifetime return guarantee, and family owned and operated for 40 plus years I think. They’ve got my customer loyalty!

Having the Filson Outlet nearby certainly seems like a great opportunity for those looking to expand their personal collection, or as you said, turning a profit on the secondary market. Here in Alaska, Filson has gotten harder and harder to find. We didn’t have a ton of locations selling their products to begin with, but I’ve noticed that most of the retail outlets in Anchorage & Fairbanks that did carry Filson have either dropped them or have a consistently anemic inventory. By not having a Filson store in Anchorage Alaska they’ve really lost market share on the clothing side here to Carhartt, Eddie Bauer, Duluth, and others who have a strong retail pretense. Not that you would get that impression from any of Filson’s marketing campaigns 🙄.

Darn tough socks are very nice and their warranty is unmatched. Most people I’ve talked to prefer DT to Filson socks. I’ve got both and think they have different strengths but are both great options.

It does seem quite strange that Filson “Alaskan Outfitter” doesn’t try a little harder to have a presence in, you know, Alaska. Lol.

 

[jester065]

I am a DT guy myself. I find the quality to be great and the customer service is outstanding.

 

[Bespoke49er]

Darn tough socks are very nice and their warranty is unmatched. Most people I’ve talked to prefer DT to Filson socks. I’ve got both and think they have different strengths but are both great options.

It does seem quite strange that Filson “Alaskan Outfitter” doesn’t try a little harder to have a presence in, you know, Alaska. Lol.

There are days I want to call their corporate office & ask WHAT THE HECK?! Especially after they did this piece on the 210th, 211th, & 212th Rescue Squadrons of the Alaska Air National Guard.

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron | The Filson Journal

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron, nicknamed “The Second 10th,” is an elite peacetime and combat search and rescue (CSAR) unit based in Alaska that’s on call for its citizens 24/7/365. Regarded as “the Guardians of the North,” the unit has saved thousands of natives stranded in remote terrain...

www.filson.com

I have a few friends & co-workers who fly those HH-60G helicopters into harms way 24/7, 365. They are an amazing group of aviators & rescue professionals that save the lives of hundreds of people a year all over Alaska in the worst WX & roughest terrain on the planet. I can guarantee they’re not doing it decked out in Filson clothing or gear based on the lack of any in-state retail presence.

 

[TinMan3]

There are days I want to call their corporate office & ask WHAT THE HECK?! Especially after they did this piece on the 210th, 211th, & 212th Rescue Squadrons of the Alaska Air National Guard.

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron | The Filson Journal

The 210th Air Rescue Squadron, nicknamed “The Second 10th,” is an elite peacetime and combat search and rescue (CSAR) unit based in Alaska that’s on call for its citizens 24/7/365. Regarded as “the Guardians of the North,” the unit has saved thousands of natives stranded in remote terrain...

www.filson.com

I have a few friends & co-workers who fly those HH-60G helicopters into harms way 24/7, 365. They are an amazing group of aviators & rescue professionals that save the lives of hundreds of people a year all over Alaska in the worst WX & roughest terrain on the planet. I can guarantee they’re not doing it decked out in Filson clothing or gear based on the lack of any in-state retail presence.

Regardless, Filson’s marketing department or whoever finds those stories to write about does a killer job. Totally epic.

So, not to discount your point, but I bet their gear is HIGHLY specialized for what they do and Filson would have no place in the actual work that they do. But I’m not military or anything like it so I could be wrong.

TO your point, when not on a rescue mission, they should absolutely be decked out in Filson, like the rest of us haha.