Best of the Rest – The Korum Ruckbag

The Korum Ruckbag

Korum Ruckbag

Like most anglers who like to walk any kind of distance I find a rucksack an invaluable item of tackle, as transporting any amount of gear without shoulder and waist straps heavy, uncomfortable, cumbersome even bloody painful so a basic rucksack design is an essential. But, and it’s a big but, the real disadvantage is you have to dig all the gear out and spread it all over the swim every time you need an item from the bottom of the bag. The Korum ruckbag’s brilliance is its simplicity, a hard base (which is positioned where a normal rucksack’s back would be), and a fully zipped top (which is positioned against your back when in transit) meaning that Korum have simply switched the traditional top and bottom through 90 degrees.

This means that when you arrive on the bank the ruckbag is laid flat, the top zips open and everything is instantly to hand. Zip the top closed and you have a table to place your bait, rigs, or in my case digital radio to listen to the football. Yes I know it isn’t rocket science but trust me, once you have used one you won’t want to go back. As I said earlier the cleverest inventions are the most simple, sometimes obvious ones, and this falls into this category.

Now for the boring bit, it has three side pockets, which I suppose, could be described as small, medium and large. Everyone will find there own use for these but in them I keep I keep a camera, scales, sling, a few pots of bait, flavourings and pva system. Open the ‘lid’ and there are several ‘slots’ in the inner lining, to be honest I don’t use these but the underside of the ‘lid’ has two zipped mesh pouches and I do find this useful to keep permits (in a sealed plastic bag), headtorch, spare needles, bobbins, forceps, scissors and anything else I may need to place my hands on in a hurry. Inside the main compartment I store larger items like tackle boxes, bags of boilies or pellets, waterproofs, etc. Unsurprisingly, like everything else from Korum that I’ve used, it is well constructed and after 2 years of total abuse (including a week’s sea fishing) all the zips are working well and there has been not the slightest sign of the stitching deteriorating.

The Korum Ruckbag

Its been designed to accept both the Korum chair (which clips to the ruckbag when in transit) and the tackle boxes in the ‘intelligent management system’ so fans of Korum products will find it perfectly compatible with any gear they already own. Another nice touch is the 2 hardwearing plastic handles at each end make lifting the bag in and out of the car, or moving it around the bank an absolute doddle.

If any of this hasn’t persuaded you to check it out I don’t know what will, but just in case here is one final bonus, it is made slightly smaller than the maximum size limit for hand luggage when flying out of the country. In other words when flying off on that fishing adventure with your mates, you can load up your ruckbag with all your ‘must have’ gear and carry it on the plane with you for safe keeping.

Expect to pay about £ 39.99 (absolute bargain!) for the Korum ‘Ruckbag’ which is my number one choice of luggage for all my river fishing (except roving for chub) and also for any single night sessions on stillwaters where I’m taking minimal gear. A great idea, a fantastic product and the first item on my ‘Best of the Rest’ review.