Review of backpack Doldy Big Wall
There are not many Czech brands with suitable equipment for freeride. This is a detail review of backpack made by Doldy, which we had for longtime test.
Many years ago, when I was still on snowboard, I was deciding which backpack should I buy. Criteria for this are clear: enough space for ordinary equipment, possibility to attachsnowshoes and snowboard in the same time, easy but strong construction. I felt good about Big Wall 40 backpack from Czech company called Doldy. After 6 years of using it in winter and in summer I can say, that I choosed really good.
On the first sight it captivates by a number of straps, you can attach there any combination of equipment with them. You can pull the backpack into minimal dimensions with these straps, so you can also take it on bike in the summer. Buckles and clips keep up with experienced design, which doesn’t belong to the lightest ones, on the other hand, it‘s basically indestructible. From the sides there’re lugs for attachment of skis, heel of 125 mm gets through them. In the front there’s classic attachment for SNB. Bucket blade fits into front outer pocket, and you can attach stem and probe into side pocket and fasten to some of the straps.
Enter to the backpack is resolved unconventionally, with scroll lock like on packs for watermen. So when you carry SNB or skis, there’s one more strengthening buckle, see in the photo. Inside there’s one big chamber and a zip fastened pocket for little things. This solution is really universal, you can put in things for a three-day trip in winter, including sleeping back. Sacrifice for this is confusing organization of things inside, simply after a few falls is everything mixed up. But if you have some system in packing, it’s not a big deal.
Back system is adequately ventilated, from the inside reinforced with one metal reinforcer along the spin. The shoulder straps are anatomically shaped and there are loops for climbing material on them.
The chosen combination of Codra nad Cordura materials is really durable, backpack isn’t anywhere punctured (crampons, snowshoes spikes, ice axes), cut (edges od skis and SNB) or ruptured. And I really didn’t spare the backpack, it’s loyal to motto, that things are made to serve...
The weight of the backpack is 1850 g, capacity 40 l, so nothing for low-weight skialpinists. But whoever wants an universal backpack, which serves for many years, you can‘t get many better things for (recommended) price 1890 CZK.
