Photograph: Michael Calore
The walls of the bag are tough enough, made of 1,200-denier polyester, which is heavy-duty and water-resistant, not to mention so rugged that it’s nearly indestructible. I’ve checked it as luggage on about a dozen flights, and there aren’t any scratches or scuffs. The zipper at the top is not sealed, but it is heavier than necessary and works fine in the rain. However, what really sets the bag apart is its lining. The entire interior of the tote is coated with a thin layer of thermoplastic, further increasing its impermeability to moisture.
Photograph: Michael Calore
Photograph: Michael Calore
Now, of course, the purpose of this type of lining is to keep the contents dry when using the bag in wet environments, like on a canoe trip, a rainy bike ride, or duck hunting in the Maine woods. And of course, I’ve used this bag in a canoe and on several rainy bike rides (I never went duck hunting), and the stuff inside has virtually always remained intact. I even trust the bag enough to carry electronics and music equipment to the office or studio on drizzly mornings. But for me, the utility the bag provides is quite the opposite: it’s an excellent place to neatly carry items that are muddy, wet, or sticky.
For example, I’ve gone backpacking car camping several times. Once upon a time, I used it to pack my tent, ground clothes, shoes, and rain cover. On the last day of the trip, it was raining heavily outside, and by the time it was time to head home, my rain jacket and tent were drenched, the ground fabric was strewn with wet pine needles and pieces of bark, and my shoes had a thick layer of Mendocino, California, walking mud. I stuffed all those items into the Hunter Tote, zipped it up, and placed it in the back seat of my rental car. The interior lining kept dirt inside, saving the tuck-and-roll upholstery of a rental car. Back home, I emptied the tote, turned it inside out, and blasted all of the forest floor with a hose.
There are two heavy plastic tabs on the sides of the tote, one at each end of the zipper. This is where the shoulder strap attaches. I’ve never actually used the strap (honestly, it just gets in the way), but these tabs are great for hanging the tote up to dry after washing.
The Hunter Tote comes in three sizes. The largest I have is the XL, which has a capacity of 53 litres. (It’s too big for a tote bag.) I like the larger size because when you set the reinforced bottom on a flat surface and hold the mouth of the bag open, you have a generous flat bottom 10 by 19 inches inside. All that space really makes the bag more versatile, so I recommend going larger.
Plus, just know that there are no frills here: no external pockets, no padding, no laptop sleeve. Just a sturdy carrier that’s ready for your dirtiest jobs. Whether you’re carrying barbells or buffleheads to La Croix, it’s indispensable.
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