Pound Octothorpe Review
Well how is life with the Octothorpe ?
I've played a handful of rounds with the Octothrope and it's been great so far.
PROS:
+ Lots of storage. Actually still figuring out how to best utilize the various pockets. The tall side compartments are very roomy; I've been using one side to store rolled up extra layers and the other for a stack of 12oz beverage cans. Currently holding 9 drivers/5mids/5 putters, could easily hold more discs if I felt so inclined. Plenty of smaller pockets to hold scorecards, minis, pencils, and whatever else you need to keep organized. There's an umbrella holder, if you're into that. There's a bungee strap for a folding stool, if that's your jam.
+ Carries very well. The weight is held close to your body and doesn't swing around much. It's surprising how much this saves on fatigue in your shoulders and back, and even legs when hiking in technical terrain. The Octo feels very form fitting, especially compared to my previous backpack (Flak3) that feels much boxier. Felt comfortable to wear even when loaded with full compliment of discs, 2L of water, various bonus beverages, spare layers, and other incidentals.
+ Hydration pack compatibility is very well thought through and user friendly. The dedicated hydration pocket is located perfectly (high in the pack, close to the back, centered) which optimizes a number of factors: hydraulics, weight distribution, and hose routing. It's just a night-and-day difference compared with when I used to carry bulky, rigid 1L water bottles. I could probably write a long post about just this feature, but I feel like the point is made.
+ Materials and craftsmanship are top-notch. All parts seem to fit together naturally into a clean, concise package. Zippers are of very high quality; I've actually gotten a number of zipper compliments. Overall it's just a satisfying piece of gear to own & use.
CONS:
- Can tip over somewhat easily. It's not a huge hassle, but something to think about when you set the bag down on an uneven surface.
- Chest strap can get in the way when putting the pack on. It's a minor detail, but I pick up the pack much more frequently than I use the chest strap, so the nuisance seems unjustifiable.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
* The neon green color is seriously bright. Like, pound-you-in-the-eyeballs bright. The pictures online don't really do it justice unless you have your screen settings jacked way up.
* I'm not a big fan of the "quiver" style putter storage. (This is just a personal preference thing; I know that a lot of backpacks have the quiver and a lot of people like that feature.) I think I'm going to build a small frame w/ mini holder to fit in the lower side pocket on holder's left. That would mimic the putter access from my Flak3, which I love. That putter/mini solution will free up the quiver pocket for keys, sunglasses, etc.
* I know that for a lot of people, Cost would be a big factor in the "Cons" category. However, based on the bulletproof warranty that comes standard with all Pound bags, I think the cost is easily justified. In the past 5 years, I've pretty well thrashed 2 bag setups that had a combined cost roughly equal to the Octothrope. Seems like the Octo will last me at least 5 years (probably without needing the warranty in that timeframe) so in terms of cost-per-use I feel like I'm coming out ahead. And that's not even taking into account that the Pound bag has better features and is more user friendly than my previous packs.
