Kit & Caboodle!

The 28L Forester backpack is the latest generation of hunting luggage from Wisport. Made in Poland from durable Nylon Cordura material with a 5 year warranty, the design incorporates ideas specifically for a shooter. Featuring a large main pocket with internal elasticated divider, two smaller front zippered pockets and two lateral pockets for quick access items, the unique feature of the bag is an internal, marsupial-style pouch.

UN-SCOPED RIFLE

When unzipped at its base, a tubular extension drops below the bag to allow a slim (un-scoped) rifle, shotgun, walking or shooting sticks to fit within the pocket, secured with an external strap at the top with quick release buckles. Ergonomically shaped with a gently curved but stiffened heavy internal cordura/polymer membrane, it’s moulded to fit around the curvature of your back. Coupled to this, the padded and ventilated mesh cushioning upon which the weight rests is separated laterally by a channel in which your spine is able to rest without direct weight bearing.

The ventilated mesh continues through the padded shoulder straps and the fully tailored fit and cargo positioning is finished off by an adjustable waist belt and sternum strap with quick release Duraflex closures. Side straps allow the backpack to be compressed to the size of the contents and prevent any internal slippage that may imbalance the pack in use. I also find these indispensable when it comes to carrying relatively light but bulky items, for example an allweather hunting jacket.

Simply fold it neatly or roll it up and lash it beneath them for easy carry comfort and relatively little difficulty is retaining access to the pockets. The seams and zips are all stitched with overlapping covers or rubber gussets to improve weather resistance, the external small pocket zippers carry a similar rubberised layer that makes them water resistant too. Although not carrying extensive militarized `molle` system straps, there are a couple of points on the front pocket and shoulder straps where nylon webbing allows a carabiner or similar to be clipped securely into place.

AIRPORT PROOF

Weighing 1150g and 50x27x23cm in size, it will also work as hand luggage on a flight and two weeks of sand, sea and salt didn’t cause any deterioration either visible or mechanical. The smart looks of the bag suit an item of luggage for general use and although it never got stretched to its limits, I stuffed it with ammo, binos, clothing and camera kit on a few shooting jaunts too. It got slung on and off my shoulders hundreds of times over the last 6 months and hasn’t shown a mark. I especially liked the contoured shoulder straps that gather the bag around your shoulders yet drift around your stomach. I usually find if I don’t fasten the chest buckle, the straps end up slipping outwards off my shoulders but the grippy mesh and shape prevented any such occurrences.