No-one will have missed the fact that bum-bags are a thing again – albeit rebranded as ‘waist packs’ – but the trouble with so many of these is that they’re a bit on the small side. Great for visiting a theme park, but not really big enough for even the most pared back hiking or trail running essentials. So it’s good to see models like the Washtucna from KAVU coming through. This roomy three-litre waist pack has a nice big main compartment with two-way zip closure and mesh pockets, and there are also two external pockets – including a neat hidden one in the padded mesh back panel. The strap’s long enough for you to wear it as a sling bag, and there’s external webbing so you can attach a few extra bits if you need to. Top marks from us for the optional ‘canned beverage holder’.
Now here’s an origin story for you. Back in the early nineties, fishing boat skipper Barry Barr was fed up with wearing cheap trucker caps that got snatched off his head in storms, never to be seen again. He decided to make a super-durable cap that wouldn’t blow off whatever the weather, and he did it by stitching the webbing material from a Teva sandal all the way around the crown. Turned out his ‘Strapcap’ was a hit, and KAVU was born.
From humble beginnings flogging Strapcaps out of the boot of his car in Seattle, Barry’s since expanded to produce a whole array of durable outdoor kit with a laid-back, van-lifer vibe. The KAVU range takes in everything from sling bags to swim shorts, and while they’re serious about producing great gear that’s made to last, they’re also not afraid to have a laugh. Their prints are bold, playful, and in some cases so loud that they’ll take some considerable chutzpah to carry off – but that’s what makes them so much fun.
