African Sporting Creations is the premier supplier of safari gear, including African shooting sticks, crocodile belts & leather goods. Originally a safari outfitter headquartered in Mansfield, Ohio, they have expanded into lifestyle and home décor products.
One of the product lines they carry are shoes and accessories from the Courteney Boot Company of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Founded in 1992 by a master shoemaker, Courteney specializes in products combining natural gameskins such as Ostrich, Kudu, Cape buffalo, Impala, Nile Crocodile and Hippo leather.
African Sporting Creations carries Courteney’s Haversack’s in impala, warthog, and ostrich leather. Traditionally, the term “haversack” refers to a bag similar to a knapsack but worn over one shoulder, something like a large “messenger bag.” Regardless of the classical definition, the term can be applied to rucksacks of several configurations, including small backpacks, which is what the Courteney Haversack is best described as.
At first blush, the Courteney Haversack conjurs up images of the affluent hunter on safari, which is precisely what this pack was designed for. Unlike modern nylon packs, it has no waist strap, no chest strap, no hook and loop, no PALS webbing. It isn’t “tactical” in any sense of the word and it isn’t trying to be.
As it so happens, I received my Courteney Haversack just before SHOT Show and that seemed to me like a good place to try it out. At SHOT Show, it’s nice to have a comfortable pack that’s big enough to hold everything you want to carry to the show: water, snacks, an extra layer, batteries and charging cables…along with all the swag, literature, and other goodies you might pick up along the way. I had a busy schedule planned this year that demanded I get started as soon as the doors opened and not leave until they were ready to throw me out. I would be on my feet for hours each day and covering a lot of miles. This wouldn’t be a torture test of durability – but I never had any doubts about that – come on, it’s warthog leather, that’s about as durable as it gets. This would be a very hard test of comfort, which is a significant consideration for a pack like this in my opinion.
Maybe you are looking for an appropriate pack for a safari. Maybe a safari isn’t in your future, but you want a durable daypack for travel that looks more classical than tactical. Maybe you are a professional that can’t bring yourself to carry a briefcase, but you still need something practical and with some rugged stylishness. In any of these cases, I think you could do a lot worse than the Courteney Haversack. Sure there are nylon packs out there for all tastes and budgets, and I have my fair share, but part of the beauty of natural materials is the character they gain with use and wear. A pack like this is one you can make memories with.
In addition to Courteney Haversacks, African Sporting Creations also carries footwear, knives, African spears and shields, some really cool field bar sets, and plenty of other premium goods and especially safari gear.
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
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