Filson + Magnum

[Timmyjoe]

I've been wearing a Filson leather belt for decades. Replaced it recently and the new one isn't made quite as well as the one I bought 20-some years ago, but it's still a nice piece.

I think their bags look nice, but none are big enough to carry what I carry in my Domke F-6. Couldn't afford a camera bag that cost's three times as much and carries half the gear.

But that could be just me.

Best,
-Tim

 

[bigeye]

Bought the filson field bag in '89-'90 for goose hunting (it's a shell bag). It will last my lifetime in hard use and that makes it pretty inexpensive.

It's always gone hunting (just fall and early winter) but my wife took it around the world summers during the '90s as her day pack. Around 2005, dropped in a green Billingham liner to carry the Leica kit. It blends into the city and the country.

I lift the liner out this week, with the camera gear inside and it goes back to work for the season (10lbs of shells and calls). It's the real deal.

 

[rolfe]

The Filson Magnum is larger than you might gather from the photos...

 

[sghaynes]

I've had one of their bags that I carried with me every day 5 days a week for the last 15 years. It's dirty, beat up, but so tough it's amazing. And yes, it has a camera in it every single day.

Now, if mine would only wear out I'd buy a new Filson. Probably got another 15 or so years on this one though....

 

[Stephengv]

Ayone using the backpack?

 

[newsgrunt]

afaik, Filson isn't selling Magnum bags anymore.

 

[Stephengv]

Someone is selling it to me. Is it worth it? for an M gear. Thanks.

 

[peterm1]

Bought the filson field bag in '89-'90 for goose hunting (it's a shell bag). It will last my lifetime in hard use and that makes it pretty inexpensive.

It's always gone hunting (just fall and early winter) but my wife took it around the world summers during the '90s as her day pack. Around 2005, dropped in a green Billingham liner to carry the Leica kit. It blends into the city and the country.

I lift the liner out this week, with the camera gear inside and it goes back to work for the season (10lbs of shells and calls). It's the real deal.

Field bags are a great option for a camera bag - in fact its how Billingham started out originally - making cartridge, fishing and game bags from leather and canvas. I am not sure how they compare price wise with what were the competition in that field.

If you Google "leather and canvas field bag" you will get an awful lot of hits and many of them look like Billingham. Or, more accurately, before Billingham started making camera bags their field abgs looked pretty much like the ones depicted at this search and I assume many of the top end offerings from other makers did too.

https://www.bradybags.co.uk/bags/dart-canvas-fishing.bag.html

 

[Stephengv]

Anyone using the backpack version of the filson magnum?

 

[newsgrunt]

Someone is selling it to me. Is it worth it? for an M gear. Thanks.

depends on price and whether you like working with backpacks or not. they're a spendy bag and a friend has/had them but I haven't actually seen on irl 😉 I prefer Domke or ThinkTank.

 

[bob338]

Anyone using the backpack version of the filson magnum?

I have been using one off and on for a couple years. I like it, but there are definitely more ergonomic bags out there. It holds a lot of stuff. I can squeeze clothing and gear for about two days in it, but I travel pretty light. Quality is excellent, and it's comfortable to wear.

 

[bob338]

Someone is selling it to me. Is it worth it? for an M gear. Thanks.

How much are they asking?

 

[emraphoto]

I've had one of their bags that I carried with me every day 5 days a week for the last 15 years. It's dirty, beat up, but so tough it's amazing. And yes, it has a camera in it every single day.

Now, if mine would only wear out I'd buy a new Filson. Probably got another 15 or so years on this one though....

Ditto. Thousands of miles, over a decade of use and still use it daily. I suspect it will outlive me.

 

[Contarama]

Resurrection!

I have just purchased the Harvey Messenger myself and my only complaint is that the shoulder strap is too short for tall people. I'm getting used to it, but the bottom of the bag barely reaches below my beltline when worn across my chest (I'm 6'3").

The quality of the bag is excellent, and I actually like that it's not designed to carry a TON of gear inside, and that the insert doesn't span the entire internal width of the bag. What this does is allow the bag to hug against your body (something I have been craving forever) and keeps it from sliding around all over the place.

I talked with Filson asking if they by chance had longer straps available or if they could do an alteration and they said no. Then I asked if I was to replace the strap with my own (say a 2" Domke shoulder strap) would the rest of the bag be covered under their guarantee and they said no.

So as much as I like this bag I need to decide whether to just wear it as is or void any guarantee and swap the strap (an easy and immediate solution to my only problem).

Take it to an upholstery shop and have it altered. Then enjoy!

 

[Stephengv]

They are selling it brand new for 400 USD. Expensive, but I can't find one brand new.

 

[Stephengv]

I have been using one off and on for a couple years. I like it, but there are definitely more ergonomic bags out there. It holds a lot of stuff. I can squeeze clothing and gear for about two days in it, but I travel pretty light. Quality is excellent, and it's comfortable to wear.

Does it fade? any other issues?

 

[Stephengv]

Ditto. Thousands of miles, over a decade of use and still use it daily. I suspect it will outlive me.

Is that the backpack?