The folks over at Green Guru sent us the Spinner Recycled Bike Tube Backpack a few months ago. We decided to do a long term test on this unique backpack, because we feel that only after a bit of time do you really get a feel for a pack.
Unique you ask, well the Spinner has quite a few things that set it apart from other companies offerings. The first and most obvious is that it is made from upcycled bicycle inner tubes and recycled performance fabrics made from post-consumed water bottles. In fact every product that Green Guru offers is made from a combination of recycled materials. I dove a bit more into their story and this use of recycled materials stems from their love of the outdoors and the accompanying realization that a lot of the gear they used was not exactly made in the most eco-friendly ways. Instead of sitting on their laurels they did something, and now offer some great products that also have low environmental impacts. This is a huge plus in our opinion here at Blue Ridge.
Alas I digress, back to the pack. So I put this pack through its paces. Daily commutes to work, hikes, overnight trips, a gear pack, you name it I used the pack for it. After all this abuse, it doesn’t look a bit worse for wear. This thing is tough. The inner pockets of the pack have plenty of organization so if you’re OCD like me this thing is right up your alley. I never found a problem stashing all my gear and belongings in this pack on hikes or short trips. At 1268 cu. in. of space it has room for everything you can imagine.
I can’t say this is the lightest pack I have ever worn. The recycled tubes make for a heavier feel, but as I mentioned earlier this is also the cause of its durability. At $99.95 this pack is at a very competitive price point. Many other companies offerings are much more than this, and are not nearly as environmentally friendly as Green Guru.
Bottom line: This pack helps you experience the outdoors, and doesn’t come with the accompanying guilt of less environmentally friendly offerings.
