Romanian Bread Bag, Surplus

Let's kick the wannabe-retro bags off the stage! This old Romanian army bread bag was already delightfully obsolete when introduced in the 70s. Bombproofly made from Genuine Materials. We generously give you permission to carry other things in this in addition to bread. There are several versions to choose from until there aren’t. If you are looking for an actually practical vintage bag, here’s a great example that doesn’t even ruin your budget!

Features

This time, we got a shipment that contained several kinds of Romanian bread bags. Since they are pretty similar, we put them all under the same product. However, because the ability to choose can be a nice thing, they are available in different varieties. First, let’s say a few words about the unifying and then the unique features.

In short, this is the wet dream of a vintage fanatic - except it's no dream and not even expensive! The Romanian bread bag is not only unbelievably pretty but also damn well made. It's pretty big, too; volume-wise, this bag is like a small rucksack, and the outside has options to attach even more stuff.

These feature a divided main space, adjustable with the lid's closure straps and an extra fastening strap at the mouth. The dimensions are c. 32 x 28 x 12 cm (12" x 11" x 5"). If you don’t want to haul bread, you can use these, e.g., to carry some books, a compactly-sized iPad, or beer.

The strong canvas shoulder strap will probably never break. It looks like an old karate belt, except that it gets narrower at the ends.

Green or blue

There are two color options. The deep lagoon blue bag reminds you of the summer evenings in the Carpathians. And the green one is perfect for all those who identify as wood elves or retrospectacular forest guerrillas.

With leather or fabric general purpose straps

If the inside space isn't enough, there are three or four general-purpose straps on the outside for tying more stuff on top of the bag. You can choose between two options: older leather or newer fabric straps.

If you want to replace the old ones, you will fit most straps up to 25 mm (1") wide, but anything over 20 mm (0.8") will require some shoving. The D-ring on the front is also a nice way to carry your enamel or alu mug!

Buckle modification guide

Are the slide buckles too slow for you? Consider swapping them for other buckles, the easiest choice being the GT Split-Bar, but if you want the best go for G-hooks. Neither option requires sewing!

First, do away with the old buckles with some side cutters. The steel is mild so it takes no time. Installing the Split-Bar is pretty straightforward, just note that the steel end of the strap only goes through the male buckle sideways.

Installing the G-hook is a bit complicated but more rewarding. The steel end of the strap doesn't fit through at all, but you can fold the strap into a bight and feed it through as two layers. Put a short 20 mm (7/8") piece of Paracord into the strap loop and capture it by pulling it tight. Just look at the pictures, and you'll get it.

Materials

The bag is made from sturdy cotton duck, the thickness of which varies a bit, and comes with cotton or nylon straps and detachable fabric or leather general-purpose straps and strap points. The blue bags seem to be made from a tad thinner material than the green ones, but both are tough bags. The buckles are made from steel.

Strangely, they haven't saved banis when it comes to the materials, and even the sewing thread seems sturdy. Unlike the faith in humanity, this bag will not fail.

Condition

Romanian military surplus. These have been used with more or less vigor, but they are all still perfectly serviceable. Some are in a very nice condition for their age and might even be unissued. But be emotionally prepared that the fabric can have some small stains and warehouse dust. The metal parts might have some scratches or surface rust. On some bags, the canvas straps that close the bag have been replaced with straps of a different color. Most have the original straps, but don't be astonished if you happen to get one of these rare collector’s items.

The thickness of the leather straps varies a bit, and the leather has gone somewhat stiff with age on those that come with leather straps. We strongly recommend wiping the bag clean with a moist rag and treating the leather with generous amounts of grease. The lovely warehouse smell will, unfortunately, vanish with use. However, some seem to consider it a good thing.