These come to mind in addition to the ones mentioned:
Ortlieb (e.g. roll top, weatherproof, biking)
Freitag (recycled, fashion, expensive)
Lundhags (hiking brand, like fjällräven)
Also these (no personal experience):
WAYKS
Db
I have 2 ortlieb bags and they are way better than my newlooxs (also a dutch company I think)
The backpack and bike bag in one is very nice. My girlfriend uses that one and I use the bigger size shoulder strap bike bag. Very thick material and nothing inside has gotten wet yet.
Ortlieb truly is the number one brand when it come to bicycle equipment. I do know people who have had their Ortlieb bags for close to 20 years now and they’re still in top condition.
Deuter make really good hiking backpacks but also daypacks. They are a bit expensive and cliché (german tourist stereotype) but well made.
Nobody mentioned Decathlon?
I think that for a lot of stuff the quality/price ratio is unbeatable (backpacks qnd much more)
If you look for quality, no matter the price all other companies mentioned in this tread are fantastic, btw
Edit: I checked, not really made in Europe, but still a lot to do with Europe:
https://sustainability.decathlon.com/the-production-and-manufacturing-of-decathlon-products
(https://www.fjallraven.com/) see @whaleross@lemmy.world comment below for better insight regarding quality
Off the top of my head, there might be more. Quality is good, for Deuter and Vaude. I don’t have experience with fjallräven, so caution is advised.
I think Fjällräven was great some twenty years ago but has since been sold and bought and traded and is yet another one of the overpriced former outdoors gear now lifestyle brands nowadays. AFAIK it is still good quality in the upper tiers but very far from the affordable lifetime investments they once were and that made them great.
The more you know! Thanks for the info, I had no idea.
+1 for Vaude, their products seem decent quality
I bought one from Feuerwear last year and I’m in love with it. they make all kinds of products from recycled fire hoses, so the markings on each item are unique.
I got a laptop bag from them and it’s amazing!
Thule based out of Sweden
CabinZero. Especially if you’re a frequent traveller.
Mammut for mountaineering and hiking
Savotta they make military stuff for the finnish defence forces and also military style stuff for civilians
also available at varusteleka both finnish companies
Yep, got myself a Jääkäri S after getting fed up with backpacks breaking all the time. This time it actually seems like it can stand up to the test of time and lugging two laptops around everywhere.
Whatever the brand, one thing to keep in mind is the material. Nylon (polyamide) can take much more abuse than e.g. polyester. Good if the bag bottom is as continuous as possible instead of being held up by seams. Savotta also adds reinforcement on the bottom so it doesn’t wear as much from weight.
If you happen to be in Finland it’s Jääkäri S currently on sale in Motonet for 90 € – not sure if they ship elsewhere in Europe though.
Salewa for mountaineering, hiking or climbing. Made in Europa.
I have a Commuter Daypack and I love it.
Aevor. Outstanding quality and design. 100% rexycled material. https://www.aevor.com/products/travel-pack-black-eclipse
Pinqponq is another brand of the same company: https://www.pinqponq.com/
Different company but also from Cologne, Germany: https://www.airpaq.de/ They turn old airbags into backpacks.
If we’re going European, not strictly EU, then CabinZero is a great option IMO.
Sounds good, this community is for European products
I have a Sandqvist now for nearly 8y daily use on workdays and multiple airtrips as a carry-on, looks a bit rocked, but function-wise and material-wise I never had a problem. No seam losen, no no deformation, no show of wear on any straps and no breaking on any plastic part. Top Quality. For a Price. I thought about buying a new one… but why? It is still a fully functional working backpack with only slight look of usage after daily use for nearly a decade. But a new one would have a fresh new look. But then again, what would I do with the old fully-functioning one? I have to stay with that bug for another 10y I think.
Really buy it for life product for me. Sadly.
You sold it to me
In Canada, Thule is a pretty respected brand. I assumed they were northern European and according to Wikipedia they are Swedish.
I love my Kohla Rucksack
