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Luggage · Fishing rucksacks · Our take
Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack
Olive Fishing Rucksack
A compact, properly practical bit of luggage for short carp sessions, overnight trips and river work — with a few clever touches that make life on the bank easier.
- Made from olive 600D fabric with a hard, waterproof base.
- Measures 45cm high, 40cm wide and 27cm deep.
- The boxy design allows it to stand freely and double as a bivvy table.
- Three elasticated bankstick holders sit on each side, with extra elastic and webbing on both side pockets.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack made from olive 600D fabric, not another Thinking Anglers luggage model.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-thought-out compact rucksack for shorter and more mobile sessions.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.1/10
- Ease of Use9.2/10
- Value for Money8.7/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Short-session and overnight carp anglers. There’s enough structure and organisation for the essentials, without hauling a full-size carryall to the lake.
- Mobile river anglers. The rucksack format, padded straps and external attachment points suit a roving approach where you’re covering water.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers carrying lots of bait and bulky tackle. The compact dimensions are a strength for lighter trips, but they naturally limit how much you can cram inside.
- Long-session anglers with a full bivvy setup. This is a support bag rather than a complete luggage system for several days on the bank.
The lowdown
Introducing the Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack
A compact, properly practical bit of luggage for short carp sessions, overnight trips and river work — with a few clever touches that make life on the bank easier.
- Made from olive 600D fabric with a hard, waterproof base.
- Measures 45cm high, 40cm wide and 27cm deep.
- The boxy design allows it to stand freely and double as a bivvy table.
- Three elasticated bankstick holders sit on each side, with extra elastic and webbing on both side pockets.
Quick verdict
A tidy little bank companion
The Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack is a cracking choice when you want to carry the essentials without dragging a huge carryall around. Its boxy shape, padded straps and hard waterproof base make it properly useful on the move.
It won’t replace a big luggage system for long sessions or loads of kit, but for overnighters, short trips and roving river angling, it looks bob on. The removable EVA tray and bankstick storage are especially dead handy.
A well-thought-out compact rucksack for shorter and more mobile sessions.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.1/10
- Ease of Use
- 9.2/10
- Value for Money
- 8.7/10
600D fabric, padded straps, strong handles and a hard waterproof base suggest a properly considered build.
The structured shape, useful pockets and adjustable carrying system make it practical for its intended lighter-duty role.
It won’t catch fish for you, but quicker access to rigs and less luggage faff can help you stay mobile and ready.
Free-standing storage, the removable EVA tray and dedicated bankstick holders are all dead handy on the bank.
Its multi-use design gives it good value for anglers who’ll make use of the table function and compact format.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Thinking Anglers
Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack
There’s a lot to be said for keeping your luggage simple. Especially when you’re heading out for a quick bite-time session, an overnighter or a wander along the river with a few rods and a pocketful of bits. The Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack is built for exactly that sort of graft. No massive holdall faff. Just a compact, boxy pack for the kit you actually need.
Made from olive 600D fabric, it has the sort of understated Thinking Anglers look that’ll sit nicely with the rest of your bank gear. The dimensions are 45cm high, 40cm wide and 27cm deep, so it’s not a tiny daypack, but it’s well shy of the great big luggage you’d take for a full-on campaign. That makes it a useful middle ground for lighter fishing.
The boxy shape is one of the cleverer touches here. Rather than flopping over every time you put it down, the rucksack can stand freely. That’s handy when you’re sorting rigs, digging out bait or trying not to spill half your terminal tackle into the grass. It also means the bag can double as a bivvy table, which gives it a proper second job on the bank.
That table option could be a real winner for short sessions. Get to the swim, put the rucksack down, and you’ve got a stable surface for tying a rig, keeping alarms or resting a brew. Obviously, you can’t rummage through it as easily while it’s being used as a table, but for a quick bit of tackle prep it’s a dead handy trick.
Storage is sensibly spread around the bag. There are internal and external pockets, giving you somewhere to separate smaller tackle from the bulkier bits. The top pocket has a removable EVA tray, which should be useful for hooks, swivels, hookbaits and other fiddly gear you want close at hand. Take the tray out when you need the extra space.
The top pocket straps are adjustable too, so you can give that section a bit more room when it’s carrying a fuller load. It’s a small detail, but these are the things that make luggage less of a pain when you’re trying to organise a session. Keep the tray for your terminal tackle, then use the main compartment for clothing, food or a compact amount of bait.
On the outside, each side has three elasticated bankstick holders. That’s six dedicated holders altogether, which gives you plenty of options for carrying banksticks without throwing them loose inside the main compartment. Both side pockets also feature extra elastic and webbing, so there’s room to secure other handy bits of kit as you move around.
Carrying comfort hasn’t been ignored either. The back and shoulder straps are padded and adjustable, while the lifting handles give you a couple of easy ways to grab the bag from the car or bivvy. For river work, those padded straps matter. You want your hands free for a landing net, rod or bucket as you move between swims.
The hard waterproof base is another proper bank-friendly feature. Damp grass, muddy ground and puddles are all part of the job, and a solid base helps keep the contents protected while making the bag more stable. Add in the bespoke zip pullers and you’ve got a rucksack that looks thoughtfully put together rather than just being a basic sack with straps.
The main thing to remember is what this luggage is for. It’s not designed to swallow every bit of kit for a long weekend, and trying to make it do that will turn the compact format into a bit of a squeeze. But for a tidy overnight load, a short carp session or a mobile river mission, it looks like a cracking bit of kit. Keep it sensibly packed and it should make getting on the bank quicker, cleaner and a good deal less faffy.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Material
- Olive 600D fabric
- Dimensions
- H 45cm x W 40cm x D 27cm
- Best suited to
- Overnight, short-session and river angling
- Storage
- Internal and external pockets, including a top pocket with removable EVA tray
- Bankstick storage
- Three elasticated holders on each side
- Base
- Hard and waterproof
Specs checked with Thinking Anglers, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Small luggage, big practical thinking
This rucksack’s real strength is how easily it fits into a mobile approach. It gives you organised storage, a stable shape and useful external attachment points without becoming a great big lump on your back.
The bivvy-table option adds another layer of flexibility. You can carry your gear in, then use the same bag as a handy surface for rigs, bait or a brew once you’re settled in the swim.
What you’re buying
A compact rucksack with a few smart tricks
The Olive Fishing Rucksack is made from olive 600D fabric and measures 45cm high by 40cm wide by 27cm deep. Its boxy build lets it stand freely, which is useful in a bivvy, on the grass or beside your chair. The hard waterproof base adds protection underneath and helps the bag keep its shape.
Inside and outside pockets give you a few ways to split up the load. The top pocket includes a removable EVA tray, ideal for terminal tackle and smaller bits. Its straps are adjustable, so you can alter the space depending on what you’re carrying.
Both sides have three elasticated bankstick holders, plus extra elastic and webbing on the side pockets. That’s a strong setup for keeping banksticks and other slim accessories secure rather than rattling around loose.
Worth knowing. The rucksack can also be used as a bivvy table. It’s a particularly useful feature on short sessions, where carrying one item that performs two jobs can save space and a bit of faff.
Pick your luggage properly
Best for lighter, more mobile fishing
This is a natural fit for overnight and short-session carp angling. Pack the essentials, keep your terminal tackle in the EVA tray and use the outside holders for banksticks. You’ll have a tidy load without taking a huge carryall for a quick bite-time visit.
River anglers should also get on well with it. The padded adjustable straps make carrying more comfortable, while the compact shape is easier to manage when you’re moving between swims. It’s a good match for a roving approach rather than parking up for days.
It’s less suited to anglers who carry a mountain of bait, spare clothing and bulky cooking kit. The dimensions are intentionally compact, so it works best when you’re disciplined with what comes along. Pack smart and it’s spot on; overfill it and the whole point starts to disappear.
The useful bits
Answers before you pack it
Can it replace a full-size carp carryall? Not really. It’s better viewed as a compact rucksack for shorter trips, with enough organisation for essential tackle and personal kit. A longer session with lots of food, bait and spare clothing will call for more luggage.
What can go on the outside? The six elasticated bankstick holders are the obvious option, while the extra elastic and webbing on both side pockets can help secure other slim or lightweight accessories. Don’t overload the outside, though, or it’ll become awkward to carry.
Is the base genuinely useful? Yes. A hard waterproof base is exactly the sort of detail you appreciate when the ground is wet or muddy. It helps protect the bottom of the bag and lets the rucksack stand more confidently while you’re sorting your kit.
Worth knowing. For the neatest setup, use the removable EVA tray for hooks, swivels and rig bits, keep banksticks in the side holders, and leave the main compartment for the larger essentials. That keeps everything easy to grab when a bite-time window appears.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Compact shape suits overnight, short-session and river angling.
- Padded adjustable back and shoulder straps make carrying more comfortable.
- Removable EVA tray in the top pocket is handy for rigs and small tackle.
- Hard waterproof base helps protect the contents on damp ground.
- Six elasticated bankstick holders in total, plus extra side-pocket attachment points.
Worth knowing
- The compact format won’t swallow the kit needed for a lengthy session.
- A boxy rucksack can feel less streamlined than a standard daypack when fully loaded.
- Using it as a bivvy table means giving up the bag as a free-standing storage unit while it’s in table mode.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Can the Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack be used as a bivvy table?
Can the Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack be used as a bivvy table?
Yes. Its boxy shape allows it to stand freely, so it can be used as a bivvy table when you’ve reached the swim.
02How many banksticks can it carry externally?
How many banksticks can it carry externally?
There are three elasticated bankstick holders on each side, giving you six dedicated holders in total. Both side pockets also have extra elastic and webbing for attaching other bits of kit.
03Is the rucksack suitable for river fishing?
Is the rucksack suitable for river fishing?
Yes. Its compact rucksack design, padded adjustable straps and organised external storage make it a sensible option for mobile river angling.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a tidy little bank companion. The strongest reasons to choose it are compact shape suits overnight, short-session and river angling. and padded adjustable back and shoulder straps make carrying more comfortable.; the main trade-off is the compact format won’t swallow the kit needed for a lengthy session..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Compact shape suits overnight, short-session and river angling.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Short-session and overnight carp anglers: There’s enough structure and organisation for the essentials, without hauling a full-size carryall to the lake.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The compact format won’t swallow the kit needed for a lengthy session.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Thinking Anglers Olive Fishing Rucksack
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