BACKPACKS

A stylish, functional, and Cactus-tough roll-top back pack.

The Ruckus is our ideal backpack for urban life – fits your laptop, lunch, bike lock, spare jacket, and still has room for that copy of The Luminaries you haven't finished reading yet.

• Internal mesh zip stash pocket, and external low-profile zip pocket –  for the detritus of urban life.
• The external sleeve is perfect for storing spare shoes or jandals.
• Slim profile for stealth and comfort.
• Roll, latch, cinch – adjust the volume to your needs with a roll-top closure that's quick and easy to use, secure and weatherproof.
• Cactus 'Device Drop Redundancy' design. The internal sleeve sits up from the base of the pack, to protect your laptop from meeting the concrete when you set down or drop your pack.
• Bike-light attachment tab.

Made by happy people right here in our factory on Lichfield St, Christchurch, NZ.

Our “keep it simple - stupid” canvas day pack built for New Zealand’s rugged conditions. Clean, sturdy construction, minimal seams, C-Canvas for durable water resistance (and less noise in the bush) and that traditional, diamond-in-the-rough feel.

The size, simplicity and all-round toughness make this a popular pack for commuters, walkers, trampers and hunters alike. Also, in a nice (and, it has to be admitted, unplanned) turn of events, the Miklat meets sizing requirements for cabin baggage – another string to this pack’s bow. An extremely versatile Cactus classic.

• A generous size main bag, made of C-Canvas for water resistance and that soft but bombproof feel
• Comfortable foam padded harness and curved shoulder straps for all day comfort, and a 38mm webbing waist belt for stability
• 3D lid pocket for map, GPS, hat, gloves or spare ammo
• A double thickness base and rand for durability
• Compression straps on the sides to keep the load stable and snug to your back for bush bashing. You can also use the tabs for these as anchor points to add bungy if you want to secure items to the outside of the pack
• Hydro sleeve for keeping you hydrated all day and a lid that gives a nice tidy path for the drinking hose
• Made in New Zealand
• No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee
• Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

These back packs last for generations. How cool will it be when your Portal gets passed down to your children's children to tell them that it's one of only a few ever made right here in Christchurch!  An awesome day pack, school pack, uni bag or just an everything everywhere day pack.

Constructed using C-1000n6 and Cactus’ ethical construction techniques, the Portal is perfect for your round-town, to and from school, throw everything at it bag.

• C-1000n6 fabric
• Internal hanging pocket
• Large capacity 3D front pocket

Although, as the name suggests, initially designed specifically for ski patrollers, the Patrol Pack is also the most versatile large day pack we make.

It seemed unfair to limit this pack to purely professional ski field users considering that happily, through some sublime alignment of the comfort/capacity/common-sense parameters, the Patrol has found an appreciative audience amongst – well – just about anyone wanting a good all around pack.

Hunters, photographers, climbers, skiers day-tripping off piste and lightweight trampers all seem to find the Patrol pack fits the bill. A contender for the most versatile pack we make?

• Cushy padded C-Lam harness and waist belt for all day comfort
• Front shovel pocket, for fast access to your shovel when you really need it. In summer it’s a great place for your jacket and scroggin
• Ice axe loops (of course)
• Side pockets for shovel handles, water bottles and internal pockets for a hydration bladder or avalanche probes
• Ski tail straps on the lower sides, with a side release buckle on the upper compression strap for easy ski carrying
• Compatible with our DB Boardstraps (sold separately) for carrying your snowboard
• Boxy base shape to fit the unusual loads that ski patrollers often carry

The Patrol Pack comes with our 5 Year, No Worries, Pack Guarantee. Read more about it here.

Our enduring, streamlined solution for mountain bike trips and running around the hills, or everyday urban existence. The Zero is a unit you hardly know you're wearing - until you need it, that is, when like the proverbial black hole it will consume just about anything you can throw at it (can fit a 6 pack of beer and still have room for a vege burger and chips).

The Zero is our choice for riding the Heaphy or Old Ghost Road, sit low for riding uphill and crank it down for the bumps. It'll take the cheese rolls and dates and it won't torque your lumber like a bum bag. 

• Mesh phone/wallet/keys pocket for the daily essentials
• Hydro sleeve bladder holder to keep you going up the last big hill of the day
• C-Aircell padded back and straps for comfort, and a 25mm waist belt to keep things stable
• External shock cord for load compression and/or that extra item of clothing

The Henry backpack is our fast and light adventure pack for a big day, or even weekend, out. Top loading to handle different size loads easily, we’ve kept things as minimal as possible, using lightweight fabrics where feasible, to enable you to forget about the pack and get on with the task at hand.

The reasonably large main bag will mean adventure racers and speed freaks will push the limits of what is viable with such a lightweight bag, yet the C-Aircell harness and shoulder straps keep the comfort levels high enough for a ultra lightweight multi day MTB trip. A shock cord compression system allows easy stowage of a jacket on the outside, and our oversized lid means lots of storage and maintains protection for the main bag closure if the bag is full or if you’ve got stuff under the lid. Run, hike, bike, ski, you name it - the Henry backpack is your number 1 lightweight option.

• Easy access side pockets with one handed closures so you can get to food or water bottles on the go
• A mesh pocket on the back panel
• Internal hydro sleeve with convenient routing for the tube to keep you hydrated
• Bladder tube retainer on the shoulder straps to keep the tube handy. The tube runs on the outside of the shoulder strap, not internally where it could end up rubbing you the wrong way
• External shock cord for excess clothing, and for load compression to keep things stable on your back

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it an afro shower cap? No, it's a Hi-Vis Yellow Day Pack Cover made from quality 400 denier Oxford nylon to exacting Cactus quality standards to be sure it has your back for miles and miles and miles.

• Hi-Vis yellow fabric with reflective stripe so there's no blimmen excuse for hitting you on your bike
• Handy loop to which you might attach a bike light right in the middle of your back
• Waterproof to keep your faithful old daypack dry even if it is really past its best before date
• Shock cord around the outside to help fit various sizes of pack and variable packloads

The Foray is our take on the classic, single compartment backcountry tramping pack.

Going backcountry often means trips of a week or more, so we’ve sized and designed the Foray to meet the challenge. When tramping in NZ you are bound to meet a good sized mountain (or many), so we’ve covered all bases by including two ice axe or walking pole attachment loops and a crampon patch. 

The eminently simple and reliable Foray will still be comfortable and likely the least of your worries at the end of a big mission. As with all our packs we’ve opted for a fixed length harness and a single main compartment for the Foray – this is intentional as they both reduce complexity and weight, while greatly increasing longevity.

In the case of our fixed length harness, thousands of happy converts from our competitors adjustable systems should be all the proof you need. In the main body of the Foray the Ultra 12oz C-Canvas is inherently water resistant without relying on an easily damaged, laminated inner coating. Up through the storm throat we’ve continued this integrity by using a lighter C-210n6 polyester Oxford. We also take advantage of nylon’s higher abrasion resistance by reinforcing pack wear points with C-1000n6.

• Generous 75L internal volume to fit everything bar the kitchen sink
• Fixed length harness to maximise strength for long term use under heavy loads
• Constructed from Ultra 12oz C-Canvas, C-1000D & C-210n6 fabrics for superior long term durability and water resistance
• Big lids are good – ones that double as a pillow or portable secure storage unit are even better
• Single compartments are lighter, increase water resistance and stronger
• Three dimensional shaped framesheet enables a customisable fit to your back, keeping the load close for maximum comfort under load
• Large compression panel improves weight distribution and allows pack size to be reduced when carrying less gear
• Twin ice axe/walking pole and crampon holders
• Includes No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee
• Covered by Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

The Vacuole was the first backpack ever made by Cactus. The fact that some of the originals are still around is testimony to its pedigree. The classic design lends itself towards versatility and this had ensured its enduring popularity. Over the years (25 and counting) we’ve updated it with new materials and ideas to maintain its relevance. If you are only going to own one pack, the vacuole is a strong contender. Designed for heavier day loads the harness sports our c-aircell fabric, and a 38mm webbing waist belt.

• C-aircell harness and a 38mm webbing hip belt all contribute comfort and stability be it lugging books to university or ski touring
• Internal hydro sleeve to keep you on the go
• Compression straps stabilise the load, take the stress off the zip, and allow awkward items
  (camera tripod, perhaps?) to be carried externally
• Ice axe loop and shock cord for crampons keep the winter options open, and can be used
  for other things – axe loop for your flashing bike light, shock cord for – well – anything…
• ‘Road kill’ front pocket for those wee items – keys, wallet, phone etc
• Includes No Worries 5yr Guarantee
• Covered by Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty

The Hector is our proven dedicated tramping/trekking dream pack – featuring genuine "Ultra Canvas", a single main compartment and a comfortable, modular harness system. Honed by our collective decades of experience in the New Zealand backcountry, the Hector has more of what you want (strength, comfort, simplicity) with less of what you don’t (excess weight, Murphy’s Law complexity, dangly straps and feature-bloat).

We’ve designed the Hector with shorter multi-day trips in mind. It’s got a single axe/walking poles attachment point, and good sized zip up front pocket, which is perfect for a damp pack towel or dirty underwear.

The removable lid allows you to keep valuable items close by in a hut, can be used as a pillow and includes a security pocket. We even include straps to convert the lid to a bandolier bag for your map, camera, water bottle and jacket - perfect for the summit assault or that end-of-day sunset photography side trip.

If you think you are going to be out in the hills closer to a week, or need a slightly more technical tramping (as opposed to alpine) pack, sidle over and talk to our Foray.

• True Ultra Canvas fabric – be wary of imitations
• Front pocket with vertical zip for easy access or for stuff you don’t want in the main compartment
• Removable lid – doubles as a pillow, triples as a close-at-hand security store and quadruples as a shoulder bag
• Three dimensionally formed framesheet – keeping the weight tightly fixed to your back
• Seamless front panel ensures good water resistance
• Made in New Zealand
• Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty
• No Worries 5yr Pack Guarantee

The Vacuole was the first backpack ever made by Cactus. The fact that some of the originals are still around is testimony to its pedigree. The classic design lends itself towards versatility and this had ensured its enduring popularity. Over the years (25 and counting) we’ve updated it with new materials and ideas to maintain its relevance. If you are only going to own one pack, the vacuole is a strong contender. Designed for heavier day loads the harness sports our c-aircell fabric, and a 38mm webbing waist belt.

• C-aircell harness and a 38mm webbing hip belt all contribute comfort and stability be it lugging books to university or ski touring
• Internal hydro sleeve to keep you on the go
• Compression straps stabilise the load, take the stress off the zip, and allow awkward items
  (camera tripod, perhaps?) to be carried externally
• Ice axe loop and shock cord for crampons keep the winter options open, and can be used
  for other things – axe loop for your flashing bike light, shock cord for – well – anything…
• ‘Road kill’ front pocket for those wee items – keys, wallet, phone etc
• Includes No Worries 5yr Guarantee
• Covered by Cactus-Tough Lifetime Warranty