Armed Lifestyle - Issue 2 - June 2022

located around the top of the pack. Keeping with the simple design,
you won’t find however, a waist belt for long range lower back support.
DULUTH ADVENTURES
So, just how well did the pack work over the initial test period
compared to regularly using more modern style packs, you ask? Not
bad, not bad at all!
In the original review, Jared’s adventures took the Wanderer on a
couple weekend kayak trips when it wasn’t seeing Monday through
Friday use as an office work bag. The pack even joined his regular
family outings for blueberry picking as well as serving as the “go to
pack” for a few relaxing hikes.
“I found the Wanderer was easily used as a day pack. The canvas is
solid but didn’t offer much breathability as was expected. The cotton
shoulder straps are slightly angled to allow ease of use but made
for awkward adjustment at times. The side pockets are buckled with
noticeably thinner leather. This made opening and closing easier but
left me feeling that they were a little too thin compared to the sections
of boot leather that held down the top flap. Since the design was a
simple box style, users may find the pack sag or load shift without a
supporting frame. In reading other comments about the pack online, I
had found one suggestion about using a small office waste basket to
give the main compartment structure. I didn’t find it an issue as most
of my outings had the pack filled to capacity.”
“One of my favorite points about the Wanderer was the fact there
were no plastic zippers in the design to burst open or break off. The
leather strap system was easy to use and offered a sound piece of
mind that my load was secured. I loved the overall simplistic look and
rugged feel of the Duluth Pack Wanderer. It carried well and filled the
role of a medium day pack just fine. A waist support could have been
helpful on a few heavy loads, but the pack performed well without
it.” – Jared Peltz
FUN FACT: If your travels happen to take you near the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness or Quetico Provincial Park area close to the
company’s base of operations in Duluth, Minnesota, you can rent a
pack directly from Duluth Pack for your adventures. Sounds like a good
excuse to plan your next adventure!
After reading about all the fun Jared had integrating the Wanderer
into his lifestyle, I wanted to see how this pack would fit into mine. Like
Jared, I am a family man always on the go. On an average weekday,
I can be found running in and out of the office, dropping kids off or
picking them up from school, tutoring and karate when I’m not working
with clients indoors and outdoors on the range. The weekends offer
more of the same including teaching classes and taking family trips to
the many theme parks, historic sites and beaches Florida has to offer.
Ever since I was four years old, hunting has also played a large role
in my outdoor adventures with family and friends. Combined with a
love for sharing the knowledge of Bushcrafting with my kids, a good
quality pack such as the Wanderer has always been more of a “need”
than simply a “want”. (More on these topics coming in future issues of
Armed Lifestyle Magazine!)
When my waxed Khaki version of the Wanderer arrived in the
mail, I immediately loaded it out to become my daily truck pack.
In the main compartment, I placed a military style wool blanket
for emergencies such as retaining core temperature during a critical
incident, sleepy kids, or impromptu outdoor seating on lunch breaks.
DULUTH TRAINING PACK: OR PRACTICE? WANDERER
www.thearmedlifestyle.com