The UK is full of some incredible outdoor brands. But while the big name behemoths dominate the market, hidden in the corners are smaller, more independent companies looking to make a mark.
One that I’ve had on my radar for a while now is Salkan. Founded in 2018, the company is the baby of friends Will and Tom, who met in the Alps while travelling. They then came together to make a backpack company.
Since then, they have made a number of backpacks, from small daypacks, all the way up to hefty 45L Long Haul packs. But it was the Shorthaul, the 27L middle of the group backpack, that we wanted to test.
It, for all main purposes, is the company’s most diverse pack. It can fit under plane seats, isn’t too large and can get you through most of life’s events with relative ease. But how does it match up to its competitors?
Design and features
It's fair to start off by saying that Salkan's backpack both look and feel great. High-end materials and a sleek modern design go a long way, including the Salkan logo on the front.
The Shorthaul has a canvas-like feel, made using recycled 900D COTNA polyester. Each bag has a wax coating which makes the backpack water resistant. While the backpack isn’t waterproof, it can take a punch.
“It’s weatherproof rather than waterproof, so for heavy or prolonged rain you’d want a rain cover or a dry bag,” Tom Dimond, the Co–Founder of Salkan told BBC Countryfile Magazine.
The inside of the bag is made of 210D recycled nylon with a polyurethane waterproof coating. Between the inner and outer materials, I found the backpack was able to get me through some pretty rough weather.
I was using this backpack during Storm Austen, including some good bouts of heavy rain. While I was never out in the rain for long periods of time, the bag did take a couple of big hits, coming out completely dry on the inside.
However, it is worth noting that the outer material can take a while to dry off. This is pretty normal for backpacks with a canvas-style material.
Outside of the weather, I was impressed with how sturdy the whole backpack felt. Every part was well made, from the inner lining to the padded shoulder straps and back panel.
Functionality comes first
The Shorthaul is a roll top bag. With the top fully rolled down, you can fit it under a plane seat. Unroll it fully and you can squeeze a few extra bits in there for longer journeys.
Rolltops are notoriously a little bit of a challenge to access on the go, trying to re-roll the top and clip it back up after diving in to grab something as you walk. That is where Salkan has introduced a feature that I have grown to love.
Along with the roll top opening, there is a front panel that you can fully unzip. This gives you full access to the middle of the bag without having to touch the rolltop. It’s a small feature but one I found praising over and over again for easy access. This fold out also includes two small pockets.
An equally small feature I enjoyed about the front panel is the responsiveness of the zips. So often zips get stuck or are a struggle to undo on the go. That was never a problem I had with the bag.
It is worth noting that one of the major downsides of zips (and where rolltops normally benefit) is their ability to let water in at the seams.
I also appreciate that both of the bottle holders on either side of the bag can hold up to a 1L bottle. On one long walk, I was able to bring two massive bottles to keep me going while keeping them in easy access.
Equally, the front of the bag has a number of clips, as well as some bungee cord. You can use this to hang extra accessories or cram a pair of shoes or a coat when the bag becomes full. It’s not something I found myself using regularly but I think it's a great extra feature.
While the backpack feels sturdy, Salkan does offer a lifetime warranty if you have a failure with the backpack. This is specifically for manufacturing issues that has come from how they’ve made the bag. Loose stitching, a faulty zip, burnt fabric etc.
Outdoors, but not really
The Shorthaul is durable. It’s made of materials that can take a good beating and this could well be a backpack that will last you a lifetime. However, just because it is sturdy, it doesn’t mean this is going to replace your outdoor backpacks.
For hikes or long outings, the Shorthaul will fall short. Of course, this isn’t what it is designed for, but it is where its shortcomings are more noticeable. As we mentioned above, its weatherproof but not waterproof.
Some of Salkan’s other backpacks (and a lot of travel and hiking bags) offer better load-bearing and more ability to transfer weight. On weekend trips where the backpack was full, this was never too much of a problem, but is worth keeping in mind if you’re looking for a pack to load up and carry for long periods of time. At 27L, this is on the smaller side but that is the intended size. Small enough to get under a plane seat, big enough to get your essentials in.
While you can get a good amount of stuff in the pack overall, especially with the rolltop fully extended, this size does decrease noticeably if you have bottles in the side pockets. This isn’t necessarily a criticism as most backpacks struggle here, but worth noting.
Verdict
The Salkan Shorthaul is a great all-rounder. It won’t replace your suitcase or large pack for big trips away, but Salkan has other backpacks for that. It won’t beat a lighter traditional hiking backpack for camping or long walking trips, but it isn’t trying to be that.
Instead, this is a backpack that will last you a long time, offering functionality across your everyday needs.
While using it, I kept finding small features that made the backpack more useful. The front-zip system, carabiner attachments and bungee cords on the front, small hidden pockets for passports and keys, all of these are fundamentally useful features.
Fundamentally, the one glaring issue that is hard to avoid is the price. Yes, it is a truly solid backpack, built by a small team and is intended to be with you forever. However, it is £160 for a 27-litre backpack.
For pure value, there are better options out there, both for travel bags and everyday 27-litre packs. Overall, Salkan as a brand is pricier, with its packs going all the way up to £280. Whether that price is worth it is up to you. You’ll find similar products for cheaper, but Salkan is aimed at those wanting something that feels purpose built for a life of adventures and constructed by a small passionate team.
