In 2010, my wife and I set out for the same trail with the BB Style Sacoche. We were very moved by the beauty and scale of the American West Coast and this trip had a profound impact on our way of thinking. We realized that the conditions of the American trails are very different from here in Japan and we decided to reflect our own experiences from living and hiking in Japan much more directly into our products. (For more on our John Muir Trail hike in 2010, see the Product Story of our ONE backpack.)

Upon returning to Japan, I designed our Sacoche to fit the conditions of the Japanese trails equipped with all the functions I yearned for: Neither too big nor too small, a wide opening allowing for easy access, and equipped with a quick height adjustment strap.

I seriously thought about whether to include a zipper or not, but ultimately decided not to. I thought the sacoche would be easier to use if the top was kept open and you could take out what you wanted on the spot much like a tote bag, and its design would become simple and carefree without a zipper. By carrying the sacoche close to your chest, you don’t have to worry about items falling out even on a steep trail. I have never had anything drop out while hiking.

Moreover, the line lock of the Yamatomichi Sacoche enables speedy strap length adjustment. I believe our sacoche is the very first product on the market to use a line lock often seen on a tent guyline for easy length adjustment.

Try our Sacoche once, and you will realize how handy and convenient it is for taking out your snacks, map, sunglasses, etc. while on the move. When sleeping inside a tent, you can store your valuables in your Sacoche beside you, and grab it if you need to go out for a short walk. You can also use it as a large wallet to keep your money and valuables close at hand when staying in a mountain hut or when shopping around town between hikes. (2017)