ESP Quickdraw Rucksack

How well is it built?

The Quickdraw is made from 600D camo fabric, which is a sensible, tough weight for a rucksack that's going to be dragged through brambles and thrown in the boot.

The base is reinforced, there are lifting handles for when it's fully loaded, and the main compartment is cushioned and lined.

That cushioning does more than protect your kit. It means the main compartment holds its shape when it's only partly filled, so the bag doesn't collapse into a heap and you can still get a hand in easily.

The detachable tackle case clips to the top with buckles and is built like a small bag in its own right, in the same camo fabric.

For me, it's a well-made rucksack with no obvious weak spots, and the 8.5 for build is deserved. It isn't the heavier 900D fabric of the Nash Scope OPS Recon, but at this price I wouldn't expect it to be.

Storage & Organisation

The main compartment measures 38 x 29 x 16cm, so it's tall and wide but fairly slim, which suits food, a jacket, a bait tub or two and a few cases of end tackle rather than a full session's worth of gear.

On the front, a 36 x 29 x 7cm zipped pocket takes flatter items, and each side has a 36 x 16 x 7cm pocket.

The detachable tackle case is a clever touch. It measures 10 x 29 x 18cm, has internal dividers for terminal tackle and hookbait pots, and can be unclipped and taken to the rods on its own.

The elasticated external pockets take single sticks, or banksticks with buzzer bars still attached, which saves you breaking everything down every time you move.

So, why only 8.0? Forty litres in a slim main section is fine for travelling light, but it won't swallow a long session's gear like the 45-litre Trakker NXG Scout. It's well organised, just not big.

Comfort & Fit Rating

Comfort is where the Quickdraw scores well. It's designed to sit high on your back, which keeps the weight close to your shoulders rather than dragging at your lower back, and the padded shoulder straps adjust to suit your build.

A padded back panel adds cushioning against your spine, so hard-edged kit in the main compartment shouldn't press through.

The sternum strap is the detail I'd look for on any rucksack you'll walk a long way with. It clips across your chest and stops the straps sliding off your shoulders, and that matters even more when there's an unhooking mat on the outside adding bulk.

Does carrying the mat make it awkward? It shouldn't, as clipping it to the bag means one less thing hanging off your arm when you're moving with rods and a net. Overall, I think the 8.5 is fair for a travel-light pack like this.

Is it good value for money?

The Quickdraw costs a little more than the Trakker NXG Scout and the Thinking Anglers Rucksack, and both of those give you a bit more room.

What you pay for is the mat system, the detachable tackle case and a carry that's built around moving quickly, and none of those are gimmicks if you fish this way.

To be fair, the mat attachment makes most sense if you already own a Quickdraw Unhooking Mat or plan to buy one. Without it, you're paying for a feature you won't use, and the NXG Scout would give you more space for slightly less money.

Overall, I'd recommend the ESP Quickdraw Rucksack to carp anglers who travel light, fish short sessions and overnighters, and like to stalk or move onto showing fish with everything in one trip. If that sounds like you and you've got the Quickdraw mat, it's a very good buy.