Quick and light! This is most often the mantra of my time outdoors. I have a 2-hour window of time, I’m going hiking. I always have a small hydration pack loaded with the essentials and an empty bladder; ready to go for these last minute quick trips, and it is important to have the right pack to survive the abuse I am capable of inflicting on my gear. The last few months I have been using the Crumpler Bumper Issue as my ready “quick and light” pack. It has been loaded, and waiting for those unplanned forays into the dirt, and has shined doing it.

The Bumper Issue is built like a tank; a stylish tank, but a tank no less. Thick durable fabric, burly zippers, and heavy stitching are all details that indicate the Bumper Issue is in it for the long run. The exterior of the bag is comprised of water resistant600D nylon cloth while the interior is lined with a more supple 150D nylon. The shoulder padding is comfortably minimalistic, and the hip belt is unpadded and removable. A plethora of pockets make organization a breeze. The bag has a surprising amount of volume for a narrow cut pack. The design, as with most of the Crumpler bags I have seen, is superb. The pathway for the hydration tubes on the shoulder straps are internal, eliminating the straps, and tubes that get caught on anything and everything that comes near it. The oversize zippers are smooth and easy to grab even with gloves on. The narrow cut, and four compression straps keep the load centered and close to the body.

The Bumper Issue includes a 2-liter hydration bladder with a wide opening top that is sealed by folding the top over a plastic rod, and sliding a clip over the top and rod. I was initially a little nervous about this configuration, but it has been secure to this point. The hydration tube ends in a rubber bite valve that is has a cap tethered to the valve. I do wish that the tube had another way to shut off the valve to prevent dripping.

Overall the Crumpler Bumper Issue is a great day pack for those day hikes with smaller loads. The Bumper Issue is stylish enough that you won’t mind wearing it around town but technical enough that you can really cinch up your load and get down to business of that rough terrain. The durability and quality build of the Bumer Issue are beyond question. An investment in this Crumpler bag or any other is a long term investment in which you can look forward to years of service.