KAVU's range of rope bags have a bit of a cult following. Available in heaps of different fabrics and colours, they're casual 10-litre sling bags with oodles of easy-going traveller style – and the distinctive feature is the comfortable braided rope strap that sits over your right shoulder. This new 'Camp Cozy' version is a bit unusual, featuring a mix of 12oz cotton canvas panels and soft wool/polyester felt, kind of like a mackinaw coat. There are two main vertical zip pockets with polyester liners, plus two smaller easy-access front pockets (one zip, one Velcro). Inside you've got a small zip compartment and a key loop – and there's also a secret squirrel zip pocket in the padded back panel that's perfect for important travel documents or whatever. Compared to some of KAVU's, erm, louder rope bag styles, the Camp Cozy has a more understated, woodsy vibe that goes especially well with muted colours and heritage-style gear
| Mini | Regular | |
|---|---|---|
| Cross body strap length | 51 - 102 cm | 56 - 112 cm |
| Dimensions | 41 x 23 x 10 cm | 51 x 28 x 13 cm |
| Volume | 4 L | 10 L |
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.
