We didn’t reinvent the wheel - only refined it slightly.
For over 30 years, our 3-Pocket Rucksack has been a cornerstone of the Groundcover bag collection. Born in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, this bag was designed to be a rugged, lifelong companion for adventurers, creatives, and daily commuters alike. Over the past three decades of handcrafting this icon we’ve made slight adjustments to the design, but the overall DNA has remained unchanged.
Today, we want to take a look at the journey of the 3-Pocket Rucksack - comparing our early, vintage design with the modern masterpiece we craft on our farm today.
THEN vs NOW
When you look at our original rucksack from thirty years ago (on the left) alongside today's modern version (on the right), the family resemblance is unmistakable. The silhouette is iconic, but the details reveal a journey of continuous improvement.
1. Reimagining the Carry: Harness to Grab Handle
The original vintage rucksack featured a distinctive central brass ring at the shoulder yoke. While beautifully rustic, we realised that modern journeys require different types of utility.
Our modern version replaces the brass ring with a sturdy, integrated leather grab handle at the top. This simple change makes the bag infinitely easier to pick up, hang up, or manoeuvre in tight spaces like a car seat or a flight cabin.
2. Next-Level Comfort: Padded Shoulder Straps
The thin, unpadded leather straps of our early models were classic, but they could bite into the shoulders during a long day of exploring.
To make this a true daily companion, the modern 3-Pocket Rucksack features widened, contoured, and heavily padded leather shoulder straps. It distributes weight beautifully, ensuring that whether you're carrying a heavy load of books, gear, or daily essentials, you'll feel the difference in comfort immediately.
3. Upgraded Security: The Leather Drawstring
The classic design relied purely on the top flap buckle to keep things secure. The modern rucksack elevates this by incorporating a soft leather drawstring closure underneath the main top flap. This adds an extra layer of weather-proofing, keeps your belongings secure inside the spacious main compartment, and lets you expand or compress the bag's capacity effortlessly.
What Remains Unchanged: Uncompromising Craftsmanship
While we’ve evolved the ergonomics and comfort, some things will always remain sacred at Groundcover:
- The Three Outer Pouches: Perfectly sized for the items you need to grab in a hurry, complete with solid brass buckles.
- Handmade by Artisans: Every single rucksack is still individually handcrafted by our highly skilled team of local artisans on our solar-powered farm.
- Built for a Lifetime: Just like the vintage rucksacks still being carried around South Africa today, our modern bags are constructed to outlive their owners.
Whether you carry a piece of our history from 1996 or are just beginning your journey with our latest model, the 3-Pocket Rucksack remains a testament to the beauty of slow, deliberate South African craftsmanship.