International > General Travel Discussion

Found an old stock backpack deeply discounted...jump on it?

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Canonite:
Hi guys,

So in about 6 months my two best friends and I are going on a month-long backpacking trip to Europe. Since my biggest backpack currently is a 30L, I've been looking for something bigger.

I found a Lowe Alpine En Route 60L + 10L (60L main pack, 10L detachable day pack) that I haggled the guy down from 380,000 won to 200,000 won. The catch? It's been sitting in his shop window for probably 2-3 years and the material is faded (and patchy, where things like straps, etc have blocked the sun). Other than that, it's 100% brand new with tags, etc.

The backpack (the description says 60+13 for some reason...I'm going by the tags on the backpack)

http://shop.packyourbags.com/acatalog/Lowe_Alpine_En_Route_60_10.html

I like the way the backpack fits and looks, it has all the necessary things (inside divider, raincover, hide-away straps if I check it on an airplane), plus I'm a fan of the little detachable day pack. Also, I've been using LowePro (same company) camera bags for nearly 10 years and I have been very satisfied with them.

So...question is...is 200k for a brand new, good name travel backpack as screaming a deal as I think it is, or should I shop around for one that hasn't been sitting for a few years?

thanks,
Tamas

jon-anon:
Only thing I'd be concerned about is the material being weakened by the long term sun exposure.  Does it seem structurally sound?  I'm totally a function over form kind of guy, so if the defect is solely cosmetic, and the price is right, go for it...

Canonite:

--- Quote from: jon-anon on February 03, 2012, 07:56:40 am ---Only thing I'd be concerned about is the material being weakened by the long term sun exposure.  Does it seem structurally sound?  I'm totally a function over form kind of guy, so if the defect is solely cosmetic, and the price is right, go for it...

--- End quote ---

That's what I'm thinking too...it SEEMED fine...is there any way to test it?

jon-anon:
Haha, well a true test would be attach a pulling force-type gauge and then yank on the thing until it fails, but seeing as you don't own it, I've noticed that sun-worn fabrics that have weakened tend to become brittle and less pliable, so maybe give it a rub?  Does the texture feel different? Does it feel stiffer than the non-faded? 

You could also check what kind of fabric it is, then research that a bit...

That all being said, it's probably okay.  I've owned LowePro cases too, and they seem pretty sturdy.

Canonite:
Thanks haha...it didn't feel any different (I mean I didn't specifically rub the faded and non-faded areas, but nothing jumped out at me)...it's in Busan and I'm in Masan, so I'll have to go back this weekend to look at it...but if this helps, this is what it's made of, according to one site:

Lowe Alpine En Route 60+10 Fabrics:

TXP600/TXN1000

No idea what those are, but maybe you do :) (and I"ll do some research on it as well)

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