From the classroom to the coastline: one customer, three bags, and everyday use
If you’ve ever wondered whether a bag is worth investing in, not just for one trip or one purpose, but for years of everyday use, Simon’s experience is a good place to start.
Simon lives in Kirriemuir, not far from Montrose. He’s a primary school teacher, and outside of work, he spends a lot of his time outdoors, kayaking, walking, biking, and travelling when he can. He’s used a lot of branded kit over the years, and he knows what tends to hold up and what doesn’t.
He now owns three of Montrose Bag Company bags. Not because he set out to, but because each one, over time, proved useful in a different part of his life.
The Jura Holdall: used outdoors, trusted for travel
Simon’s Jura Holdall was his first Montrose Bag, and it’s the one that gets used the most.
When he’s kayaking, often along the Arbroath coastline or on longer river trips, he packs smaller dry bags inside the Jura and carries everything down the water.
“I just chuck all my dry bags into it, put it in the hatch, and off we go,” he says. “I know it’s not going to get wet inside.”
It keeps things simple. Everything in one place, easy to carry, easy to load, and easy to find when he needs it.
The same bag also comes with him on holiday. It’s been on over 20 trips across Europe, through airports, car boots and beaches.
“It’ll take a kick from the airport staff and it’s going to be absolutely fine,” he says. “It just comes up smiling every time.”
He’s had it for around four years now, and it’s still his go-to bag for travel and adventures.
Messenger Bag: used every day without thinking about it
For work, Simon uses one of our messenger bags.
It carries what you’d expect, books, worksheets, a laptop, lunch, and it goes back and forth with him every day.
“It does what it says on the tin,” he says. “It’s just a handy bag for lugging around work.”
There’s nothing dramatic about it, but that’s kind of the point. A bag that gets used five days a week for years, without needing replaced or worked around, is doing its job!
The Lee Rucksack: a simple way to travel light
The Lee rucksack came into the picture for a very practical reason. It fits under the seat on flights.
For anyone travelling with budget airlines, that makes a difference. Simon uses it as his carry-on, avoids paying for extra luggage, and still has space for what he needs for a short trip.
“You can cram a lot into it and away you go,” he says.
Once he arrives, it becomes his day bag. Beach trips, walking, city use, it covers all of that without needing anything extra.
“It saves you taking another bag,” he says. “It just doubles up.”
Using both bags together for travel
On most trips, Simon takes both the Jura holdall and the Lee rucksack.
The holdall goes in the hold, the rucksack stays with him, and between the two, he has what he needs.
“It’s a perfect travel setup,” he says.
Once he arrives, both bags continue to be used, which makes the whole thing feel a bit more straightforward.
Why simple design matters
Simon has spent a long time around outdoor gear, and that shapes what he looks for.
“I think a lot of other bags are overdone,” he says. “There’s too much on them.”
What he values instead is something simpler. No unnecessary features, no excess, just something that works and keeps going.
“They’re simple. They’re strong. They just do the job”.
The bag's design stands out for all the right reasons. When he’s out and about, people often ask where the bag is from.
“If someone asks, I just say it’s been solid,” he says. “I’ve used it for years and it’s never let me know”.
Why Simon kept coming back
For Simon, it wasn’t about buying into a brand. It came down to how the bags held up and how easy they were to deal with.
He’s used a lot of outdoor kits over the years, so he knows the difference between something that looks good and something that lasts. What stood out to him was the quality and the straightforward design.
It also mattered to him that he knew where the bags were coming from. Being based nearby, there’s a sense of connection to the people making them, and to the process behind it.
“I know it’s been made in Montrose, and that matters to me,” he says. “You feel like you’re supporting something real.”
There’s a level of trust that comes with that. When something is made close to home, and made properly, you have a better sense of what’s gone into it and how it’s been put together.
The experience around the product mattered too. When he got in touch to ask about a bag in a different colour as a gift, it was sorted.
“They just did it. No fuss.”
It’s a small detail, but it gives a good sense of how things are handled.
Three bags, years of real use
Simon didn’t set out to buy multiple bags from us. He started with one, it worked, and over time the others followed.
Between work, travel and time outdoors, they’ve been used properly. Not occasionally, but regularly, over a number of years.
If you’re working out which bag fits your life, browse the full range here or get in touch. We’re a small team and we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
Discovers simon's favourite bags
Explore the three bags Simon uses week after week.
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