One of the perks (and problems) with my life and work is an enormous amount of travel. As a result of those journeys I have come to learn a lot about luggage. I have discovered that there isn't one bag or suitcase which can cater for all eventualities, but there are a few designs and brands I have come to trust over the years. One of these is Sandstorm, formerly Beach and Bush. This is a Kenyan based company, employing Kenyans, a percentage of whose profits go to the excellent charity Tusk (find out more about Tusk on my Links page).

All well and good. But what about the bags?

Well, I first started buying bits and bobs from the company years ago whilst working in East Africa. They make a first class series of canvas covers with shoulder straps for field guides, which are fab at protecting your precious books from the worst of dust and showers, and which really look the part. At the moment these are only available in Kenya.

From there, I invested in their bush ice bucket (now sadly discontinued) wine cooler (great for a picnic or party under an acacia, or an oak tree!) and cool bag. I now have my eye on their Champagne Cooler.

I first started using their light to medium weight luggage about 10 years ago and haven't looked back. If I'm heading somewhere for a week or so, then the Deluxe Adventurer holdall is just the job; loads of room, tough, and very "bush". It is a testament to their build and the materials used that they get battered and bruised, but their stitching holds, the zips don't burst and the handles (be they webbing or leather) stay intact. For me, the bags just look better with a bit of a battering over time.

I can also vouch for the tackle bag (mine sadly went walkies somewhere between Cape Town and London) and the toilet bag.

If you fancy soft canvas and / or leather bags which just ooze bush cred, these are the ones to go for.