Bedouin Foundry Poacher Review

It’s no secret that I, and all at Carry HQ, are big fans of almost everything that comes out of Bedouin Foundry’s workshop. We’ve collaborated with Silas four times, and those creations are highly regarded amongst the community and our readers. Every bag that I’ve owned from Bedouin Foundry has become a favourite of mine. In fact, I even kitted out my parents with a Genghis and Delireis this Christmas. 

When the time comes to look at a new design, I get all giddy and excited. While Taylor and I were visiting the UK in the summer of 2022, we met Silas at his local pub in rural Wales and he was carrying a special something… that something was the new Bedouin Foundry Poacher.

Let’s dive in.

Who it’s for

If you like old school cool, heritage materials and refined looks, the Poacher will become a firm favourite quickly.

Who it’s not

If you’re a XPAC and Dyneema fiend, this isn’t for you. Simple pocketing could be limiting for you if you prefer an individual place for every item.

British Charm

One of Bedouin’s main characteristics are the aesthetics of their bags. From the original Barbary all the way to the newest Poacher, they are unmistakable. With the Poacher that manifests in a wonderful array of cotton drill, leather, cobra buckles, and netting. The Poacher takes cues from fishing, poaching, and game bags of yesteryear, but it’s more suited to modern life, although it could certainly do the dirty jobs in a pinch!

The front of the Poacher is an engaging sight. There is a beautiful leather chevron on the lid that guides you to the Cobra closure, which is easily used with one hand. I really like single closures on a smaller bag and I’m glad to see that here. This is also where one of my favourite newer features from Bedouin lives. On the pull tab webbing, there is a small leather patch that makes using the adjuster really tactile experience. I think Bedouin should put this on all of their bags going forwards, it makes such a difference to your experience when using the bag.

On the front of the bag there is the colourful Portuguese knotted netting with leather rim and a collar stud closure for your extra accessories.  The netting may have once held your catches from a day of snaring and hunting (it may still for you!) but I found it to be a home for all of my “might need, but not critical” items such as gloves, a hat, and occasionally a hip flask. It can hold a good amount of gear, and is a surprisingly useful addition to an EDC bag.

On the rear, you have an indulgent veg tan leather that makes up the whole back panel. This is subtly printed with the Bedouin stamp at the bottom, and there is also a stitched in slip pocket. On paper this is designed for passports, but I found it a great landing spot for quick access to my phone.

The cotton drill is from Oldham in Manchester, and is a trip down memory lane. It is the kind of material that’ll exist long after we’re gone, and it feels excellent in hand. It is robust enough to take a lot of abuse, but supple enough to move with you as you go about your day. A cotton webbing strap is comfortable and feels great in hand, and the diagonal attachment to the bag allows it to carry very well, without any hotspots. It is worth noticing on the Navy cognac colourway that the lighter strap will show use rather quickly.

Bedouin Foundry do an excellent job of marrying heritage styles with modern touches, and that is apparent on the Poacher. Internally you have their signature rebellious crank pattern printed on the liner. There are technically three pockets/sleeves in the Poacher and they live in a 1:2 orientation. One larger full width sleeve at the back, and then two smaller slips on the front of that.

It’s a charming looking bag, and I’ve been asked about it time and again when wearing it. 

Daily Driver

Ever since I pored over the Poacher prototype in a welsh pub, I was excited by the possibility of its carrying potential. I’m traditionally an over carrier (for better and worse) and I’ve been trying to hone my carry for EDC. At 12L, the Poacher gives me just more than a sling without the need to bring a full backpack. I truly enjoy that, as I’m not wanting more or less, it feels like a Goldilocks size for me.

I’ve now been using the Poacher for two months, and I would consider it my daily driver for EDC. Obviously, when I’m taking specialised carry such as camera equipment or sports gear – the Poacher doesn’t suit those needs. However, I come back to this bag time and again for a few simple reasons.

Firstly, I love how it looks (and smells!), I mean really love it. It’s probably my favourite looking bag. If you’ve read my love letter about the Barbarossa, I waxed lyrical about how the bag was loved into existence. I feel the same way about the Poacher, it feels like my bag rather than a product off the line. Personally, as a country boy, there’s something special about that and I’ll always gravitate to it. After my two short months, the rear leather panel is getting its own character, and the cotton drill is softening to my usage patterns. You don’t get that experience with modern laminates.

Secondly, it is unobtrusive. The 12L size (I make it 13/14 when you include the netting) is enough to be genuinely useful, but also small enough to stay out of the way. One of the features I’ve really come to love about the Poacher in use is how it carries so well in different situations. I can wear this on my back for walking around or rambling, and quickly swing to my side to gain access. I can spin it round to the front and raise it up with a quick adjustment of the strap for when I’m driving or when I’m on public transport. I know you can do this with many bags, but the choice of materials here means that those actions aren’t a loud and crinkly exchange, but a more subtle, private one.

Thirdly, it’s surprisingly versatile. For a bag that doesn’t have a fixed utility (I.e. Not a camera bag, laptop briefcase, hiking backpack etc) it performs really well in an array of tasks. I’ve carried a mirrorless camera (and accessories) on hikes, I’ve packed it with nappies and hazmat clean up equipment for my three month old daughter, I’ve loaded it for the office with notepads, books, and my standard EDC. I’ve even taken it out pretty empty to the farmers market and come back with some goodies for dinner.

Versatility is an underrated trait in the carry world, but not by Silas and the team at Bedouin Foundry, they’ve banked on versatility with the Poacher and it’s paid off.

Verdict 

When we talk about soft goods, I’m definitely team ‘buy it nice or buy it twice’. I’m drawn to items that tell a story and will continue to tell one the more they are used. The Poacher ticks those boxes with its vintage background, best in class materials, and modern touches. The Poacher has continued to impress me each time I’ve used it, and it is now the one that hangs over the bannister at the bottom of my stairs ready for duty at any given moment. They say the best bag is the one you have with you. I almost agree, but I think it’s more the one you want to take with you. For EDC and lighter carry – I want to take the Poacher.