Korda Compac Rucksack 45 Dark Kamo

How well is it built?

The Compac 45 uses a durable, water-resistant fabric over a reinforced waterproof base, so it should cope with wet grass and the odd shower without the contents getting damp.

The lining is wipe-clean, which is more useful than it sounds once mud, spilt bait or a leaking pot of hookbaits gets inside.

The zips are heavy-duty and the carry handles are reinforced, and those are the parts that usually give up first on a cheaper rucksack. It's a neat, well-finished bag in the Dark Kamo pattern, without any complicated features that could go wrong on the bank.

To be fair, the Nash Scope OPS Recon goes further with 900D fabric and a base that folds out as a seat, but it costs a lot more. For a mid-priced rucksack, I think the build is excellent, and it should handle years of regular use.

Storage & Organisation

The 45 litres are split sensibly. The main compartment measures 31 x 42 x 24cm, which leaves space for a jacket, food and a bag of bait, while a zipped internal pocket keeps your wallet and car keys together where they won't go missing.

Outside, there are four side pockets sized for Compac 100 or 110 EVA pouches, so if you already use Korda's pouch system, everything slots straight in.

The front pocket takes a Korda box for your terminal tackle, which puts leads, rigs and hooks a zip away without opening the main bag. Four pouches also mean separate homes for PVA, hooklinks, hookbaits and bits, so there's less rummaging.

Is it a workstation like the Trakker NXG Deluxe? No, it's a straightforward rucksack built around pouches and pockets, and that suits a lot of anglers who'd rather tie their rigs at home. For simple, well-organised storage, it's very hard to fault.

Comfort & Fit Rating

The back panel is fully padded and the shoulder harness is fully adjustable, with chest straps to hold it all steady.

That's a good, honest set-up for a 45-litre bag, and the chest straps stop the shoulder straps drifting apart when you're climbing a steep bank or stepping over a stile.

At 45 x 42 x 32cm overall, it's a fairly compact shape for its capacity, so the load should stay reasonably close to your back. That matters on a long walk, because a bag that hangs away from you drags on your shoulders.

It's built for anglers who carry everything rather than barrow it, and comfort clearly got plenty of attention.

For me, it should be comfortable enough for a long walk to a far swim. The Trakker NXG Deluxe adds a waist belt and lumbar support for heavier loads, but for 45 litres the Compac's harness should be plenty, and the 8.5 feels about right.

Is it good value for money?

Is it good value? It sits in the middle of the market, costing a good deal less than premium rucksacks like the Trakker NXG Deluxe while giving you 45 litres, a padded harness and pouch-ready pockets.

It costs only a little more than the Korda Compac Rucksack 30, and for the extra 15 litres that's money well spent if you fish overnighters.

The Trakker NXG Scout is similar in price and size. The Compac 45 is the natural choice if you use Korda's pouch system, while the Scout adds a removable rig tray with a magnetic corner, so it comes down to whether you tie rigs on the bank or at home.

Overall, I'd recommend the Compac 45 to carp anglers who walk to their swims and fish day sessions or overnighters, and to anyone who already uses Korda's Compac pouches and wants a rucksack that's pretty much made for them.