ROAD TEST


Independent Footwear Retailer, Steve White, takes his Healthy Back Bag for a spin around the block and finds it more than fit for purpose!


S


o, the question I often ask myself is… What is the perfect bag? Now it seems an easy


question, but we all have different criteria. My late wife just went for a handbag which had


the capacity of a skip! The fact that it took hours to find anything in it seemed to pass her by.


I also see lots of women with little rucksacks


on their backs and many men with bulging pockets rammed to bursting, as they wouldn’t be seen dead with a man bag.


It’s one of life’s conundrums, a bag that


doesn’t look out of place but is practical and ergonomic, that lets you find things in a second, isn’t a pain to carry around and most of all does what it says on the tin.


I have tried the dreaded “bum bag”, too


small and not really my style. How about a rucksack? Well yes, it can carry a lot, but is not very secure to


theft as it is easily accessed, hanging off my back and out of sight. The other problem with the conventional rucksack is that it is just a cavernous sack which I can never find anything in other than searching for some time.


Despite searching for years, I think I may have at last found the answer,


the holy grail of bags. The Healthy Back Bag! Reading the comprehensive brochure that I picked up, the range of sizes, colours and materials was simply gobsmacking.


The initial design was set up in America following collaboration between


doctors and chiropractors and was an immediate success. 2004 saw the bags available in the UK and is now available throughout the world. All in all, a successful brand and product that is clearly being bought by consumers world-wide.


Let’s get down to the nitty gritty and discuss my road test on my Hemp


bag, it’s a Medium size, in the colour Dune. A tough and hard-wearing material which is also natural, sustainable and eco-friendly means that I am doing my bit to save the world. The medium bag is listed as ideal for day trips and sightseeing - and having used it at Sole Fashion and Moda shows, I can confirm it can devour all those glossy brochures that I take home to read later. Another tick in the box from me.


20 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • SEPTEMBER 2020 On initial inspection it would be easy to think it is just a bag, however, dig


deeper and you begin to realise it has a host of features that the designers really gave a lot of thought to. With more pockets than your favourite combat trousers, pen slots, key hooks and zipped sections, it is like an Aladdin’s cave. The medium sized Healthy Bag Bag even has a full size internal zipped and padded security pocket for a tablet or documents or other valuables. How clever is that?


One of many things I have found useful is the handy key hook, no


more searching for front door keys whilst standing out in the rain. Being a man it’s the simple things in life that impress me the


most. Most flapped pockets I have come across have velcro to hold the flap down, well not this bag, it uses magnets, how good is that. No more velcro full of fluff or sticking to your clothes, like I said somebody has really thought about the design features of this bag and the more times you use it, the more the design features really make sense.


I am currently walking using a prosthetic leg supported by crutches, a


pirate in training, and need to carry not only those day to day necessities, tablets, phones, note pads, wallet and keys etc but also medicines and towelling socks associated with my hi-tech leg.


Having the Healthy Back Bag worn diagonally across my back it is not only


very comfortable but far more important to me, it is very easy to slide around enabling me to access the numerous pockets and zips. I really am struggling to find a downside to this bag.


Whether for male or female wearers, there is a style, colour or material for


every taste. Any downsides? Well having used the bag every day I think I might just need a small version as well.


The Healthy Bag Bag just makes so much sense. Product details:


Healthy Back Bag, Fabric Hemp, Size M, Colour Dune “Hemp, the perfect material for a Healthy Back Bag.


Durable, lightweight but also natural, sustainable & eco-friendly”. RRP: £95 Trade price: £43.65 + VAT Contact | T: 020 7812 9800 | E: niamh@thehealthybackbag.co.uk


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