Mike Parsons was the owner of Karrimor back in the latter part of the Twentieth Century (1960-2000 approx) during that time they were a leading UK brand specifically in the production of high quality rucksacks. Now retired, Mike came to visit us in October 2025 and, among many other topics of conversation we asked him about the rucksack we have here in the collection, here’s what he had to say:

“Yes, it’s definitely a Joe Brown pack, produced circa 1963/4 at Haslington, Lancs.

– Wax proofed cotton canvas, colour grey with brown leather base.

– Single flap strap

– The crampon patch has leather tabs through which leather straps are threaded.

– The shoulder harness is ribbed edge webbing, with wool felt padding.

– Single ice axe loop at base with upper axe shaft retaining strap

– Width; was a little too wide for best arm movement. All packs after this were made to the standard 1 set of 11 inches.

There were 3 versions of the Joe Brown pack

1. as above

2. the Joe Brown extendable (as on front cover of Mountain 8) showing in use on blackladders

3. final version in KS-100e fabric, simple classic construction, exclusive to Joe Brown stores

We have all the other versions of Joe Brown’s elsewhere in the collection, plus one he hasn’t told us about yet! The one we have here was kindly donated by Ian Curfie and it looks like some red crosses were stuck on at some point indicating that it was a first aid sack, maybe Ian was the First Aider.