Need Hockey Backpack recommendation!

[danielb 0]

Morning folks,

Well unfortnately my current hockey backpack a Warrior Mac Daddy, just failed: the top of the back above one of the shoulder straps just tore open (6" gash) after three months use. I use a backpack to carry my hockey gear, because my commute to the rink involves a 20-30 minute walk, skytrain (subway) and bus journey that takes about an hour so a normal hockey bag just isn't practical.

However I've now gone through two hockey backpacks in about six months (the first failure was an easton backpack that's backpack strap's buckle broke), so I'm in the market for a new backpack and I'd like to get something that's lifespan could be measured in years instead of weeks or months! So far the Mission BSX Backpack looks good, although its smaller (17"x26"x16") than my current bag (23"x16"x25") so may not be any use (I'm 6'2" and 220lbs so my gears not that small). The other bag that might work is the Mission Equipment Backpack (21" x 13" x 25").

I believe my local retailer also have some sort of RBK backpack but I don't have any details about it and its a wheeled backpack which probably means the backpack straps are detachable (which usually means less durablilty & less comfort).

Any advice or recommendations on a new pack?

[oggy_3 0]

What about just switching to a wheel bag??

[danielb 0]

What about just switching to a wheel bag??

I don't know if wheel bags are really made for that sort of distance (it takes 20-30 minutes) I have to walk each way on the way to the rink. I always thought they were just to make the journey from the dressing room to the car a bit easier?

[Fury of One 6]

Get the Easton. One lasted me close to 2 years before a skate zipper f'ed up, and that was the only thing and I picked up another one. It's the biggest backpack available so I dunno if that's an issue.

[Chadd 916]

One of the guys on my team bought a mission bag and found it much too small for him and he's 5-11, 180. He picked up a new Easton bag and it works fine. I would make sure all of your gear is going to fit before you buy a new one.

[Hockeydog 8]

I have an Easton, it is big but got a rip in the skate pouch, on the back side. And yes, I always use skate guards and don't force my skates in.

I loved it until it ripped.

[B-Nads 0]

One of the guys on my team bought a mission bag and found it much too small for him and he's 5-11, 180. He picked up a new Easton bag and it works fine. I would make sure all of your gear is going to fit before you buy a new one.

+1 - a buddy of mine had the same problem with the Mission.

Ballistik makes a sharp looking one - I haven't tried their hockey bag, but their solftball gear bag is made with the same material and mine i sholding up well.

[danielb 0]

I had the easton snyergy pack orginally but one of the rucksack strap's buckle broke one day when I picked the pack up to go to hockey, I've never had a rucksack buckle go like that in 15 years of mountaineering! I like the easton one but it was a bit of a whale in terms of size. The Warrior back was a good size and seemed solid until it ripped...

[Law Goalie 147]

I've looked into this a fair bit, and there are significant problems with most hockey backpacks.

The Easton ones are probably the best, but they're prone to two kinds of failures: straps ripping out and skate-pockets bursting.

The RBK bags are a little smaller, and a touch more durable in the straps, but their stitching is otherwise sub-par.

If you're in Canada, the Canadian Tire backpack is a copy of the RBK, and way cheaper. You'll probably go through about a bag every season and a half, but when they're on sale they're only $35.

I've only seen a couple of truly good ones, and neither are (yet) on the market.

[fatwabbit 93]

if you are going to be walking most of the way, go with the backpack. I walked about 5 min with the wheely bag, and the arm that was holding it was aching by the time i got to the car.

[hellkitty 0]

I have the Mission one and i think its great. I do admit that it is a bit small so you have to place everything just right but i havn't had any problems with it and i've had it for a while now.

[cds 0]

I use the Mission for roller and everything fits no problem. When I use it for ice, it's pretty tough to fit everything in, so I have to carry my pants separately. That might be a bit of a pain for you if you have to walk that far.

[Fletch 219]

I have the Easton Synergy and like it a lot. My only complaint is that the zipper "tabs" are kind of weak and I have broken two of them off, leaving me to put zip ties in there to use as replacements. Other than that, solid bag.

[Thockey17 1]

See if you can find the old(er) Hyper backpack. I think it was named the Trinity.

Thing is a tank.

[tbintexas 0]

$30

http://www.hockeygiant.com/mis7wk1eqbkpk.html

[jeffw 1]

Keep in mind whey you're packing your bag that your helmet, gloves and shins will likely fit inside your pants, saving a ton of room. At least they do in mine. B)

[danielb 0]

Keep in mind whey you're packing your bag that your helmet, gloves and shins will likely fit inside your pants, saving a ton of room. At least they do in mine. B)

Yeah I've been putting my elbow pads inside my shin pads which go inside my pants which go inside my shoulder pads and then the helmet goes on top. Looking at my local retailers site (I'd imagine they'll give me store credit for my bag) there is not really any other backpacks available other than a RBK Backpack, which is smaller than my current bag (which is about as small as I could go) so I'm thinking about maybe going for an RBK 5K or RBK 8K bag.

What do you think about those RBK bags or any of the other bags here (as thats pretty much what I've got to choose from)? I've already tried a Easton Snyergy backpack and a Warrior Mac Daddy and both have broken pretty quickly.

[nickyb13 9]

See if you can find the old(er) Hyper backpack. I think it was named the Trinity.

Thing is a tank.

+1 had mine for 5 years and its still going strong

[scharf123 0]

What about this bag it looks quite good.

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/ccm-ebv-pro-ba...black-navy.html

[DBLMINR 0]

i hate the back pack design , you cant get through doors at all and its not like your climbing a mountain to go skate. the wheel bags are the only way to go

[danielb 0]

I ended up going for a non-hockey specific bag after talking to the guys in the local hockey store, as non of the games made by the hockey manufacturers that they had were really designed with the amount of walking I was doing. So I went back to my mountaineering roots and got a XL North Face Base Camp Duffel at 140 litres its more than enough room for me now I'm used to really small hockey bags like the warrior mac daddy backpack. The lifetime warrenty, the fact its designed with himalayan expeditions in mind and its made by a well respected mountaineering equipment manufacturer is really reasurring that it shouldn't disintegrate on me like the other packs.

So fingers crossed!