Explorer IV Canvas Duffel Bag

Elements and Activities - the Explorer IV Canvas and Leather Safari Duffle Bag :

Quick Facts: ⊙ Size 29 x 12.5 x 12 inches; 70 to 75cm x 32cm x 30cm (as the bag is made from soft-sided canvas, the length depends on how much you pack into the bag, but the dimensions are perfect for safaris). (72 litres); ⊙ Weight 2.7 kg

Features:
⊙ Made from strong, light, PFAS-free 1000D canvas with genuine cowhide and brass details.
⊙ Super-quality matte nylon canvas with a cotton canvas look and feel with the added benefits of abrasion resistance and water repellency.
⊙ Uninterrupted cavernous interior with a horseshoe-shaped zip for easy access.
⊙ Reinforced base.
⊙ Four lockable, zipped outer compartments for smaller items.
⊙ Soft-sided to fit into cramped spaces in light aircraft transfers and to fit your clothing and gear.
⊙ Padded canvas carrying handles and an adjustable/removable shoulder strap with leather shoulder pad.
⊙ Lockable zips pockets and main compartment for security while you travel.
⊙ Fully lined interior.
⊙ Packaged in a re-usable canvas drawstring bag as part of our 'say no to plastic' environmental philosophy.
⊙ For added protection for your luggage - as luggage handlers do not always handle your check-in bags as gently as you do - also get the Luggage Protector bag.

Activities: ⊙ Safari ✓ ⊙ Travel✓ ⊙ Multi-day adventures and expeditions✓ ⊙ Weekend trips✓ ⊙ Everyday use (such as going to the gym)✓ ⊙ Business trips✓ ⊙ Short-haul and hand luggage-only flights (check luggage allowance with your airline; soft sides means that when not fill it could be used as hand luggage - again check with your airline)✓ ⊙ Charter flights and overlanding✓ ⊙ Perfect to put in your car for daily use ✓

Introduction:
In our quest to create a bag of superior utility, the Explorer IV pays homage to heritage. The classic styling meets the benefits of new, super-quality 1000D nylon matte canvas, which has a cotton canvas feel and heavy-duty durability.
Extremely durable canvas fabric
The difference is in the material. This upgraded canvas has exceptional weight-to-strength performance, offering high abrasion resistance, water repellancy, and a classic aesthetic. It has also been tested to be PFAS-free – better for you and better for the environment.
Soft, squashable, strong – and safari-suitable
With strict luggage restrictions prevalent around Africa, this duffel bag was made to be soft, squashable, and strong for safari. It is perfectly suited to the cramped conditions on light aircraft transfers, with enough space to pack all your essential clothing and gear. This safari styling and practicality make it a match for day trips and every destination.
Easy access to all your gear
The horseshoe-shaped zip makes packing and unpacking easy, giving you top-to-bottom access rather than just a top zipper. The interior has a large, uninterrupted space and is fully lined.
Extra exterior pockets
This holdall has four zipped exterior compartments for quick access to smaller items. All zips on this duffel are lockable, giving you peace of mind around security.
Reinforced bag base
The bottom of any luggage is vulnerable to scraping and hard knocks. We have reinforced the base of this duffel with a skid plate that offers rigidity for protection, with flexibility that keeps this soft and squashable bag true to its name.
Removable shoulder strap and woven canvas carrying straps
The handles of this bag are made from woven canvas – padded for comfortable handling. It also has a removable shoulder strap with a leather shoulder pad.


Why do you need a 'Soft and Squashy' Bag for Africa? The main catch phrase you will hear your tour operator use when you ask the question, "What type of bag should I take?" will always be, "Soft and squashy." While we would change this to, "Soft, strong, and squashy," the reason why taking a bag with soft sides is so important comes down to the strict luggage limitations of African travel.

Many tailormade safaris include, at some stage, a scheduled charter or fully chartered flight. The aircraft used for these charters will usually be (and we include this for the plane fundis): Cessna 206, Cessna 210, Cessna Caravans, and Twin Otters. On these planes, the luggage hold is cramped and small, so your pilot will need to be able to 'squash' your 'soft' bag into the tight corners and confines of the hold. Keep in mind that you will often be sharing these flights with others and so the pilot is tasked with fitting everyone's luggage into the hold.

The weight is also important. The bush landing strips which serve the lodges are typically short, so overloading the plane with luggage is not an option as this would affect take-off and the handling of the aircraft. The Explorer IV weighs just over 2kgs. Should you arrive at the airfield with a monstrous, hard-sided suitcase, the pilot may find a place for your bag on the plane if you’re lucky, but he or she is more likely to tell you that you will either not be able to fly or that you need to charter a separate plane for your luggage.

The hardy construction of the Explorer IV is also important. We have had clients lose their luggage off the back of Land Rovers in transit to or from an airfield. We took these kinds of experiences into account during the design process. Our bags are made to take a beating.

A note about luggage handlers, ground staff, and canvas and leather luggage: We stand by the quality of the construction of our canvas and leather range and the quality of the safari-grade canvas and leather we use to make our bags. We have also expedition tested all of our canvas and leather luggage so that we know just how tough it is. Leather and canvas are, however, fabrics and, as with all fabrics, they have their limitations. While cases are few and far between and we have not experienced puncturing on our own safaris and expeditions, fabric, by its very nature, is able to puncture or tear if subjected to force, sharp objects, if thrown along an abrasive surface, or other forms of harsh handling. We urge any clients who have their luggage damaged by luggage handlers & ground staff to contact us for a quote to submit to their travel insurance to make a claim.

Kindly note that we do not have a professional repair service. We will try and assist in any way we can but, in the event of your bag being damaged on your travels, please submit a claim to your travel insurance.

Be the first to leave a review

• 

  What To Pack for a Safari to Tarangire, Tanzania

• 

  Tarangire Safari Travel Guide

• 

  Tarangire National Park

• 

  A Quick Travel Guide to Ngorongoro Crater

• 

  What To Pack for a Safari to Ngorongoro, Tanzania

• 

  Ngorongoro Crater: A Wildlife and Wild Space Wonder of the World

• 

  Central Serengeti, Seronera, and Grumeti

• 

  Northern Serengeti