[Closed] PSA Podsacs sale

Ace.. I got a 40l one for Christmas but wanted a 50l..
Guess I should get one while in the sale!
If anyone wants a blue 40l one, used once let me know...

What makes these any better than other brands apart from the discount?

Back int' day they used to be handmade in Sheffield, so they are trading on their old reputation a bit. However, the designs haven't changed - the Cragsac/Black Ice/X-Pod etc. are all still brilliantly simple, in an old-school kind of way (I've not seen the new Alpine packs in person mind you).

Ta, just ordered a couple of tiny ones for tools and bits that I want to stay dry on the jersey pocket.

Interestingly enough the PayPal receipt is from Planet-X retail!

Interestingly enough the PayPal receipt is from Planet-X retail!

Owned by Planet X. Sold by Equip - the company behind Rab and Lowe Alpine - last year. Next development: bike packs. Solid, no-nonsense packs ime.

I used to have a sack/tank bag that I bought from PoD himself that he made for his own bike. Great bit of kit until I didn't tie it down properly and it fell off the bike, bursting into flames from the friction!
I think he sold the business a while ago so I suppose they are all made in the east somewhere now.

I've just bought a load of stuffsacs and drybags at very cheap prices. I wonder if they're closing down. Bargains at the mo tho. [url= http://www.podsacs.com/i/q/CCPDSTS/pod-stuffsac ]cheap stuffsacs[/url]

I wonder if they're closing down.

Did cross my mind when I saw that. Shame if so, well designed gear.

Did cross my mind when I saw that. Shame if so, well designed gear.

Far from it. Live and kicking, with our Hugh...

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/gear-blog/a-short-walk-with-the-man-from-pod-sacs/12456.html

Use the On-One/CRC pricing policy too!

Apologies for slow response. Just to introduce myself I'm Hugh Cottam, manager of Podsacs at Planet X. Thanks for all the kind comments. We're really excited about the future of Pod. We've got Pete O'Donovan (the founder) back on board as a design consultant. We're maintaining the current range, but also extending and developing it. We're also very focussed on keeping Podsacs to its original core values of bombproof, no-fuss, functional kit.

Switching to a direct sales model allows us to offer substantially better pricing than before, and gives us that quick-to-market advantage meaning we can get new products up and running quicker. Expect to see new products soon, for both climbing and biking.

I'll make a point of keeping an eye on SingleTrack and answering any questions that people might have,

cheers Hugh

I picked up some stuff sacks and dry bags. Great price and delivered next day.

Hi Hugh,

Can we have something like Alpkit's Gourdon but more comfortable please?

Cheers

I'm really glad you said that. That's exactly one of the things we've got in the pipeline.

I like the basic Pod stuff sacks - good middle ground between the two Alpkit weights.

Not tried the new Alpine packs, but a big fan of the cordura ones. Way too many companies making packs in only one back size!

There are a lot of disadvantages for the manufacturer to multiple backsizes. You end up with excess stock in particular sizes (e.g. we currently have an excess of Black Ice is Size 1, which is why we've reduced the price of these so much).

I realise myself how much more comfortable and usable a pack is of the correct back size and we are committed to continuing to make packs across different back lengths. I do however think this is really only an issue on larger packs, so I don't see us making light hydration packs in different back sizes. I hope this clarifies things.

cheers Hugh

In that case, Hugh, I'll be keeping away from the buy button on a gourdon for now. Thanks for your reply.

Hugh - that's good to hear, and one of the reasons I like Pod stuff so much (as a tall person). My trusty Cragsac is probably quite big on paper (~45L?) but it's really just a sensible size for something that fits me first and foremost. Any smaller and I just go with a multipitch type daysack (currently a Gourdon) as hipbelts become useless for actual comfort - so we're on the same wavelength there!

Looking forward to the new stuff

Deft - thanks for the feedback. As a matter of interest we are going to relaunch the Escape Pod which is a pack that I love. It's also pretty big on paper, 42L for a Size 2. I find it a brilliant cragging and general purpose pack.

Hi Hugh, thanks for your input.
I don't suppose you fancy getting a DofE supervisor and keen outdoorist to test your kit?...

Hi Ontor, no problem with the input. The free kit might be another issue. It's really a question of what we would get back. The people we sponsor at the moment give us a lot of nice photos and stories about what they're doing. I'm keen on promoting people who are doing interesting inspirational stuff rather than people who are necessarily the best climbers.

cheers Hugh

Any chance you could make the zips squirrel proof Hugh 😉

My black ice has been faultless, other than a squirrel eating through the top zip whilst climbing at the Dewerstone, oh and the elastic going on the back. Not bad for a tough 5 years use.

I've got a Super Teardrop and an X-pod, both from the made in Sheffield era. I adore them both. They show up North Face / Berghaus / (dare I say it) Osprey for the fashion-driven disposables that they are.

I have a Sheffield made pack and a newer Chinese one. All the materials and fasteners etc clearly come from the same place anyway, and the workmanship is identical in my eyes. I'd prefer made in UK, but if it's not realistically sustainable (which I assume it wasn't) then they're obviously doing the next best thing. Aiguille still make their packs in the UK, but unless you can go there in person it seems a bit of a stab in the dark ordering online.

I have investigated manufacturing in the UK but I'm afraid that the economics simply don't stack up. It would result in having to charge so much more for the end product that I don't think people would buy.

Hi Finbar,

the feedback that we've had is that the stitching on the Classic range of Podsacs backpacks is actually better on the Chinese made packs than those made in Sheffield. Wherever we make our packs the crucial thing for us is that quality is paramount.

cheers Hugh

I'd buy a Chinese Teardrop if you reintroduced them Hugh 😀 . Any chance you'll be doing a small (25l) robust cordura daypack again?

Any chance you could make the zips squirrel proof Hugh

My black ice has been faultless, other than a squirrel eating through the top zip whilst climbing at the Dewerstone, oh and the elastic going on the back. Not bad for a tough 5 years use.

Nothing can protect you from Dewerstone squirrels. No prison could hold them for long.

Hi Hugh!
I think bumbags are going to make a comeback... I just bought a large 'Alpine' one and can fit everything I need in it and don't have a sweaty back any more. Just sayin'.

Hi Deveron 53, we are looking at a heavy duty waterproof bumbag in two sizes (9L and 2L). We could have this available within 2 to 3 momnths cheers, Hugh

Sorry finbar, just noticed your comment on the teardrop. The answer is yes we are going to re-introduce something very similar to the teardrop. It may be a few months away though, cheers Hugh