Black Wolf Freestyle 30

Many, many design issues – Rear pocket - zips running to the base means it readily flops open potentially spilling contents. Especially if the horizontal zip pocket has any weight in it. Overall Shape at the base - the bottom panel of the pack slopes up and away from the lower back. This is no problem while carrying, but the minute you put it down the pack flops forward onto the back pocket panel exposing the contents to water, dirt or damage from the weight of the pack itself. Additionally, the pack is then difficult to pick up as it is lower (and may even have rolled onto it's side) and the top handle is now hard to access. The worst part is that the shape throws the ballance out and you can never be sure that it will stay where you put it. Fundamental problem, I think.

Side Pockets - are loose and poorly served by the compression straps. They aren't particularly useful for carrying anything with confidence. Unless the pack is filled to near capacity they don't sit flat and appear untidy.

Shoulder straps - unnecessarily wide and most unergonomic to grasp before placing the pack on your shoulder for a quick carry or on you back properly. This is more annoying than I would have expected, perhaps because you are so often forced to interact with the pack this way because it has rolled onto the back pocket!

Top handle - nice intension, but mounted too far from the shoulder strap anchor points and stiff padded back panel. There's too much tension on the material, it's harder to get to and it deforms the top of the pack enough that it can interfere with the smooth operation of the zip. Terrible.

Main Zip - the length is too short, so access to the main compartment is reduced. The zip runners are often hidden and, indeed, camouflaged under the rain flap.

I have had many daypacks over the years of varying quality and design but this one is easily the most disappointing. I'm annoyed at myself for not having examined it more closely. I couldn't wait to replace it. It annoyed me every time I used it.

New version isn't as good as old version – Loved my old Freestyle. After many years it did eventually need replacing. Bought a new Freestyle and I hate it. The back/spine area constantly collapses with only a little weight in the bag. Edging of front zip is already fraying. Whatever changes they made in that newer version have ruined it. Very disappointed. General design of bag - 3 pockets with sufficient space in each. Inexpensive. Back/spine area collapses into different positions.

Great quality, reliable & recommended – I originally bought one of the freestyle 30 bags nearly 8 years ago and it copped the daily abuse i gave it in its stride. It took almost 4 years for a minor internal tear between internal pockets to happen, but i had no further problems fron it after this happened. I kept using it continually despite this. It only failed me when i managed to get it caught in a skichair and the belt strap tore clean off. The bag still remains perfectly serviceable, with the tear not causing any further problems.

However having served me far beyond what i had asked of it i am now putting it out to pasture, i now stand in an outdoorwear shop with another freestyle 30, ready to buy its successor. I cannot stress enough that i can't find fault in these bags as every day of the 7.5 years i had mine i carried all my stuff to and from work daily. rugged, designed well, actually waterproof! extremely durable nothing to fault.