If you are rugged and into mountain hiking, the bigger Rucksack 25 is for you for while this is the smaller 35. The naming convention is a funny one where the bigger bag gets a smaller numbered name, something only Billingham themselves would be able to explain. I find the smaller bag will suit more people as it is sufficiently functional and its less chunky looks will come to use more often.
Some say it's a girl’s bag given how cute it looks but it seriously looks fine on larger people as long as it's not in red. Going with black canvas and tan leather like the rest of my Billingham bags because I have sworn a blood oath with this English company. Be it sage or navy/chocolate, khaki/tan or the rest of the colours, one simply cannot go wrong because all combinations are nice.
PRO
Pretty, real pretty
Quality and craftsmanship
Form and function
CON
Zip operation
Gets dusty quickly
SPECIFICATION
W: 310mm D: 200mm H: 380mm
7-litre
1170 grams
£ 319
RELATED ENTRIES
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It has been on my wish list for a really long time and I wouldn’t have gotten it this soon because it wasn’t me who purchased this Billingham Rucksack 35. Jing did, this site’s other contributor and if you are reading this, thank you so much. Despite that, I won’t spare this bag from my sassy mouth.
Once out of its dust bag, the Rucksack 35 has a gravity of its own gravity that draws dust. I have three other bags of this colour combination but none of them is a bigger dust magnet than this one. Well it is meant to leave home and be used so let’s not care too much about getting it dirty hence moving on to the next downside.
I like neat and fine and dainty things but the zippers on this aren’t the easiest to operate. Its rails are a bit wobbly as soon as there’s an aperture and the zip just stops. So to continue opening the bag, I had to peel it open and that gives me anxiety of damaging the product. It probably doesn’t as all Billingham bags are made very durable therefore I am going to endure the process. Closing is largely the same but slightly easier to do.
Inside lives a removable insert which can be removed to turn this camera bag into a lifestyle backpack otherwise the Rucksack 35 is designed to host telephoto lenses or 3 bottles of whisky and an iPad. The front pocket can be used for storing 35mm/120 film, batteries and hand sanitiser. It is sealed by a zip and Billingham’s bespoke clogball brass quick release system.
Below the pocket sits two loops where leather can be attached to carry a 5/8 tripod which is remarkable for something looking this delicate. The shoulder straps are adjusted through loops that’s quick and easily adjusted to suit the owner. Its paddings feel a tad thin to distribute weight and do a surprisingly good job at keeping things comfortable but I’m left wishing for more bolster.
The Billingham Rucksack 35 is a camera bag that doesn’t look like one and that’s exactly what its owners are looking for. On top of that, it is a theft deterrent because it could be a Leica sitting inside or just whisky bottles. Its waterproof canvas decorated with leather and brass fittings dresses the bag up which makes it something I am particularly fond of so here’s a toast to more journeys ahead.