Recycled Boat Sail Bags: How to Choose the Right One

A bag made from a recycled boat sail catches the eye first: the numbers, the zigzag stitching, the reinforcements, a cloth that once held the wind. But a bag is also chosen for what it will carry, every day, for years. In this guide we go through what to look at before you buy, using the two models from our luggage range as examples: the Sac 80′ and the Sac Heuskal Herria.

Why choose a recycled sail bag?

A sail is a technical cloth, designed to withstand tension, salt and sun. Once it comes off the boat it is still a strong material, and that is exactly what makes it such a good material for bags. Choosing a recycled sail bag means:

• giving a second life to a sail that would otherwise have been thrown away;
• carrying a one-off piece: every sail has its own marks, colours and story, so no two bags are alike;
• supporting craftsmanship: at OÈST, Nicolas de Chénerilles carries out every stage of making on his own, in our atelier in the Landes.

To learn more about the material itself, read our article recycled sail bags: why each one is unique.

Criterion 1: shape and size

Start by asking yourself what you will put in it. Our two models share the same build, a cylindrical, holdall-style shape:

• Sac 80′: L 57 cm x diameter 28 cm, recycled sail, €245.
• Sac Heuskal Herria: L 57 cm x diameter 28 cm, recycled sail, €245.

At 57 cm long and 28 cm across, it is a versatile size: roomy enough for a full gym kit or a weekend’s worth of clothes, compact enough to carry by hand without getting in the way. The cylinder shape has another advantage: things lie flat inside, and the bag keeps its line even when half empty.

Criterion 2: marine rope handles

The handles are the part that works hardest. On our bags they are made of marine rope, strong and comfortable. Round rope sits well in the hand, even when the bag is full, and it takes on a patina over time.

Look at how the handles are attached, too: on the Sac Heuskal Herria they run through eyelets set into the cloth. It is a detail borrowed from deck hardware, and it gives the bag its seafaring look.

Criterion 3: pockets and organisation

A beautiful bag with no storage soon becomes a jumble. Both our models have:

• an outside pocket, to keep the essentials within reach: keys, phone, card;
• an inside pocket, to organise your things so you are not digging at the bottom of the bag.

Criterion 4: how you will use it

A recycled sail bag is not a showpiece. It is made for everyday life:

• the gym: the cloth takes the daily back and forth and is easy to clean;
• the weekend: the holdall shape swallows a change of clothes and a wash bag;
• the harbour or the beach: a sail is made for the seaside, and sand comes out with a good shake;
• a gift: since every bag is unique, it makes a present unlike any other.

Criterion 5: the cloth itself

The last criterion is the most personal one. Each bag is cut from a different sail: colours, numbers, seams, patches. In the photo above, the Sac Heuskal Herria combines a white cloth, a red panel and a large green number 4. The next one will be different. Choose the one whose cloth speaks to you: that is the one you will keep.

Caring for your recycled sail bag

Good news: sailcloth needs very little looking after. A few simple habits are enough:

1. Shake the bag regularly to remove dust and sand.
2. For a stain, use lukewarm water (30 °C at most) and a mild soap such as Marseille soap, applied gently with a sponge.
3. Rinse with clean water, without rubbing.
4. Dry flat, in the open air and in the shade.

Avoid bleach, ammonia and the tumble dryer. For the handles, a gentle dry brushing is usually all it takes. You will find every detail in our care tutorial for sail objects and in our marine rope care tutorial. And if a seam or a handle ever wears, the atelier offers a repair service for its products.

Ordering your bag

Our bags are shipped within 2 working days of order confirmation, and delivery is free in France from €199, which a €245 bag qualifies for. You then have 14 days to change your mind. A question about a particular cloth, or an idea for a custom piece? Contact the atelier and Nicolas will get back to you.