FYI:
- Hiker and skier in switzerland, usually day or weekend trips
- purchased the bag in question (black porter 3400, 55 L) about 2 years ago, after being pretty happy with the white porter 4400, 70 L
The Good:
- slim design, that is super customizable, the additional stuff pocket is a great addition for this one
- no need for rain covers is great when hiking in central europe, especially around autumn
- pleasant to carry, even when loaded
To be improved:
- seam sealings are peeling off left and right (literally) inside the bag
- it was quite early that i realized a weak spot, almost a hole, in the fabric at the bottom of the bag
- it appears someone just forgot to sew one of the daisy chain attachments (?)
Verdict:
All in all I really like the (idea of) the bag and while i guess i might have been the one that got the rotten egg out of hundreds of good, for this price, i was disappointed. I have been in a river crossing recently and my back was lying at the river bank for a couple of minutes and got wet. I had a cup´s worth of water inside the bag...I am aware of wear and tear but seeing the sealing coming off everywhere after 2 years of average use is frustrating, which is also what sparked this review.
In HMG´s defense, i reached out to them when i saw the hole in the bottom (that was still within the warranty window) and they offered repair free of charge, however, i would have to carry the shipping costs. For those unaware, shipping CH-USA back and forth is almost a…