D if E kit - rucksack? Any experience of Aiguille?

[BobtheFrog]

My youngest is interested in Duke of Edinburgh, she has most of the kit from our family walking / camping activities, but not really a suitable rucksack

Looking online for options and I found a place not far from us that makes (as in made in UK) bags to different back sizes and colours. Wondering if anyone here has had experience of them (Aiguille)?

For a child interested in DofE you can get something rather a lot cheaper. The bag will need to fit well so get some advice from a good outdoor store.

My dc used the osprey youth series from around 10 to 15 then if still in to expeds one they are adult size I've treated them to a high spec bag that will last them forever.

Go to your local Moubrtain Warehouse, Trepass etc. They’ll be able to kit dc out .

Go outdoor is a great place to get D of E kit. They usually do a rucksack that’s suitable on special offer. Everything is a good reasonable price there.

I've no experience of this brand, but I have a couple of different sizes of deuter rucksacks. They're great, one of mine is over 20 years old (and much used), still looks new.

I've hiked around central America and the UK with it.

She needs to try it on, it's not something I'd buy online, but presumably you don't have to.

It sounds like you're an outdoorsy family so I wouldn't necessarily go for a cheap one unless she's still likely to grow a lot. I can't remember what brand my DDs is - it saw her through all 6 DofE expeditions, and now she uses it when going off camping with friends and also for train travel. If she's not likely to outgrow it I'd see it as an investment.

Re where to buy, if I was you I'd visit Aiguille and see what I thought but also if you're near there you've loads of outdoors shops ... most of us are stuck with the chains mentioned (trespass and mountain warehouse fine for basic clothes but I'd go to Cotswold or go outdoors for boots, coat or rucksack... or take a trip to somewhere like Ambleside!)

She really needs to try it on.

wow, lots of quick responses, thank you.

Good to hear some other thoughts - we looked at a few rucksacks in the chain shops, but everything seemed more 'fashionable and fussy' rather than 'simple and robust' - she has (hopefully) stopped growing so happy to invest in something that will do the job now and last a good few years.