JACK WOLFSKIN ECOLOADER 12 SLING BAG
£55
Reviewed by David Chandler
Earlier this year Jack Wolfskin introduced its ECOLOADERS – a 12 litre sling bag and a 24 litre backpack. I took a look at the sling bag – a single strap bag that can cope with a modest load.
What’s ECO about it?
This bag is made from seven plastic bottles and some algae – well, most of it is. The synthetic bits – the fabric, the webbing, the yarn and the trimmings are all made from recycled materials. The zip is metal but here’s the really innovative bit – the foam padding on the back panel and in the strap is made from algae. And in collecting the algae water is cleaned up and then returned to the environment. There’s also a PFC-free durable water-repellent coating. The outdoor industry really is trying to green up its act.
Performance and functionality
In my short time with the ECOLOADER it seemed to be well-made, thoughtfully designed and comfortable enough to carry. As a sling bag it only has one strap, but this is centrally placed at the top, and can be clipped to either side at the bottom, so you can wear the bag over your favourite shoulder and across the body. There’s a grab handle at the top as well.
The main compartment is accessed via one zip which wraps around the top (so you can open that bit like a top flap) and then cuts diagonally across the main body of the bag. This zip has four zip-pulls on it – which gives you multiple access options – it’s one of the bag’s best features. There’s a simple slip pocket in the main compartment and a discrete zip-up security pocket tucked away where the back panel joins the side – you can squeeze a fairly large phone in there.
The ECOLOADER 12 doesn’t claim to be totally waterproof and it isn’t. It coped pretty well with a bit of light rain but if you’re going to use it in wetter conditions you’ll need something else to keep the contents dry.
With a 12 litre capacity this is not a huge bag – whether it’s right for you depends in part on what you want to carry. If you want something twice the size with the same eco-credentials and novel approach to zippage check out the ECOLOADER 24 (a rucksack - with two shoulder straps). The ECOLOADER 24 comes with an integrated rain-cover.
£55, in dark cyan, black, storm grey or wild brier (new colours will be available in the spring). 350g. ECOLOADER 24 costs £90. jack-wolfskin.co.uk