The Bastillon
The packsaddle for hiking with luggage and child
The Bastillon is a revolutionary packsaddle released on July 14, 2021. It is built in ash, aluminum, brass, stainless steel and chrome or vegetable leather, respecting the traditional construction criteria of the packsaddles of Balagne (Corsica) and the packsaddles of Ariège (Pyrénées). It is designed to carry panniers, tents, sleeping bags, but it can also carry a child thanks to its ergonomic shape (by adding a blanket or the Tibamac cushion). It can be used on a donkey, mule, pony or horse. It fits the animal’s body perfectly thanks to 4 arches adjustable in angle and width. This construction of the parts of the packsaddle, combined with an enveloping harness and an incorporated carpet, gives the Bastillon exceptional immobility and stability.
The Bastilllon is the only packsaddle which, once in place, does not turn, does not move forward or move backward. The Bastillon rests on the animal’s back on 2 long, wide tracked pads. Each pad is made up of 5 elements articulated on a rubber bumper. In total, the Bastillon has 10 mobile pads. The Bastillon therefore constantly adapts, with each step, to the morphology and movement of the animal while it is walking. As the packsaddle always rests flat on the back at every second, without any overhang, it gives the animal a comfort of carrying never before achieved in the entire history of the art of packing.
Bonus : the Bastillon carpet is integrated to the packsaddle and included in the price. It consists of a thick sheet of felt enclosed in a solid, breathable, removable and washable cotton cover.
Our customers also bought…
The saddlebags Carrélines
The Tibamac, child seat for the Bastillon
Leather straps for hanging saddlebags
The Capucine tarpaulin against rain
The Tortillon attachment stake
The Longerine double longe
Linseed oil for wood care
Neatsfood oil for leather care
Structure of the packsaddle
The Bastillon was designed in the image of the old Corsican Balagne packsaddles and the Ariège packsaddles. It consists of 2 crosspieces which are solid pieces of ash, connected by 3 planks. This construction ensures absolute rigidity. The crosspieces are extended by 4 arches adjustable in angle and width. The length of the arches, as on all mountain packs, ensures absolute stability for the Bastillon and prevents the pack from overturning, even in the event of a difference in weight between the side bags.
The mounting parts between the crosspieces and the arches are laser cut from 5mm aluminum strips.
The ash pieces are 35mm thick. Ash, a wood that is both flexible and strong, resists twisting and external attacks. The strap fixing brackets are made of brass, so as not to damage the leather and not produce any oxidation. The eyebolts for hanging luggage are made of marine stainless steel.
Bonus : a Ø 10 mm wrench is provided to tighten the adjustment nuts in case of wood removal.
The harness of the Bastillon
The leather harness was designed to accompany the intrinsic quality of Randoline packsaddles : their stability.
The main strap is positioned lowest, on the shoulders and rump. Almost horizontal, it is connected to the frame of the packsaddle by 2 suspension belts at the front, 2 suspension belts at the rear and 2 belts fixed on the side boards. Once the packsaddle is in place, it will no longer move forwards or backwards, whatever the terrain of the path.
With its 5 buckles, it will adapt perfectly to the size of each animal. Like other Randoline packsaddles, it is not necessary to tighten the belly band. The packsaddle is stable by itself, the leather does not hold it…
Bonus: the harness is attached to the packsaddle and each strap is blocked by a leather loop under the arches. This clever device avoids a mess of straps when you put the packsaddle in place on the morning of the hike.
Photo caption : 1 – Breeching // 2 – Breeching suspension strap // 3 – Breast collar // 4 – Breast collar suspension strap // 5 – Belly belt
Leather colour
You can choose the color of the leather for your Bastillon :
• Either chrome-tanned leather, with a grey-blue shade
• Or leather tanned with oak tan, light brown in color
Chrome leather requires little maintenance : a little neatsfoot oil wiped with a cloth once or twice a year. Due to its tanning, it is extremely resistant and durable.
Tannic leather is more expensive to produce and requires more maintenance : always use neat’s foot oil once or twice a year, but pass with a brush, thoroughly impregnating the edges and seams. But it is true that its color harmonizes better with the color of ash wood.
The adjustable arches
At the extremity of the front and rear crosspieces are fixed 4 descending arches. These arches are linked to the crosspieces by 5 mm thick aluminum parts. Each arch is adjustable within a extremity range : between approximately 5 and 10 cm per arch. More precise dimensions are given in the “Sizes and Dimensions” chapter. Finer adjustment can be added by refining the angle of the arch.
On a size S Bastillon the arches go down 22 cm. On an M size Bastillon the arches go down 26 cm.
These arches perfectly envelop the animal’s body and ensure absolute stability for the packsaddle, regardless of the difference in weight between the side luggage.
Bonus : a Ø 10 mm wrench is provided to tighten the adjustment nuts in case of wood removal.
The tracked pads
The packsaddle transfers its load onto the donkey’s back via 2 long, wide tracked pads. The total support surface of the 2 pads is almost 1,000 cm2. Please note: this is a real useful support surface, unlike the rigid pads of cross-framed packsaddles.
Each pad is made up of 5 elements articulated on a rubber pad. The Bastillon therefore constantly adapts, with each step, to the morphology and movement of the animal while it is walking. As the 10 elements always rest, at every second, on the flat back, without any overhang, the Bastillon gives the animal carrying comfort never before achieved in the entire history of the art of packsaddle building.
For the first time in the world, the contact surface between an animal and a carrying tool is not with a rigid board, but with a flexible device. The packsaddle adapts to the morphology of the animal, and not the animal’s back is suffering under the board.
The included blanket
The blanket is integrated during the assembly of the Bastillon (and in its price…). In imitation of the Randoline Couvetons (used under our other packsaddles), it consists of a 20 mm thick felt plate slipped into a thick cotton envelope. This enveloppe is removable and washable.
The blanket is securely connected to the packsaddle by 6 wide Velcro straps. Advantage of this construction tip : the blanket remains attached to the arches and the wooden frame when it is transported. When placed on the animal, it slides easily into place, without creating creases.
Huge advantage of the carpet incorporated to the packsaddle : the blanket, due to the thick structure of its cotton, clings to the donkey’s coat (a bit like a scratch). This trick gives the Bastillon a stability and immobility never achieved by any packsaddle before.
The choice of size will be made according to the width of the animal’s belly at the level of the front arches and at the level of the rear arches. When the dimensions are close, you may have the choice between the 2 sizes.
For size S the width between hoops ranges from 32 to 42 cm for the front, from 40 to 50 cm for the rear.
For size M the width between hoops ranges from 35 to 50 cm for the front, from 38 to 59 cm for the rear.
These dimensions are approximate because you can also play, once the arch is adjusted to the right width, with its angle, which gives a few extra cm more or less so that the arch fits the curve of the stomach well.
The distance between the front arch and the rear arch (where a child will sit) is 35 cm.
Please note: if your animal is large (Poitou donkey, Andalusian donkey, horse, mule, etc.) take the measurements as indicated on the page Calculate dimensions of the animal. And send them to us. We will then supply you with the appropriate size of harness, at no extra cost.
Load weight
A Bastillon can carry a load of 80 kg. This figure must of course be weighted according to your animal’s physical capacity.
Stability of the Bastillon
The Bastillon is astonishingly stable. Like mountain packsaddles, its 4 descending arches ensure almost total immobility, even in the event of a slight difference in weight between the side bags.
We can add to this primordial quality the design of the harness, which locks it once and for all in the exact position in which it was placed. Whatever the terrain of the path, the Bastillon does not move forward or backward. It is therefore the absolute assurance of not injuring your animal by repeated friction.
Center of gravity
The Bastillon, due to its enveloping design, is the most stable packsaddle ever built. The center of gravity of side luggage is located very far below the spine (see photo). A Bastillon never capsizes.
Despite this quality, the ground clearance is significant, from 1.05 to 1.25 m depending on the animal. This prevents the luggage from constantly hitting obstacles on the path : rocks, stumps, embankments, etc.
Hanging the panniers
The saddlebag straps simply hook onto the eyebolts which are screwed onto the crosspieces (see photo). And in the eye of the eyebolt, you can slide a bungee cord (tensioner) to secure the luggage above : tent, mattress, etc…
If the bags are Carrélines, specially designed for the Bastillon, they are inserted between the 2 arches. Blocked in this way, they cannot swing and contribute to the general stability of the load. NB: Size S Carrélines have a capacity of 32 liters.
But the Bastillon, good guy, accepts all models of bags, backpacks, boxes, baskets, etc., including of course Bagagines bags.
Carry a child
The shape of the Bastillon has been designed for carrying a child, with or without luggage. With a Tibamac seat, a cushion or a blanket, the child feels like he is on a saddle. He can hold on to the grab handle which is integrated into the packsaddle.
The enveloping infrastructure of the Bastillon, its thick carpet, allows the animal to carry effortlessly and without suffering.
Why Randoline packsaddles are eternal
Randoline packsaddles are designed to last for decades. Their design and manufacturing have been thought to allow rapid repair in the event of breakage or accident.
All breeders, hikers, donkey rentals, owners of mules, horses or ponies, know well that an animal does not respect equipment and that its strength is prodigious. Many hikers with a carrying animal have one day seen their packsaddle burst because the animal, stuck between two trees, suddenly gave a big snap.
But if a part of your Randoline packsaddle breaks, it is not necessary to change the entire frame. Simply order the part to be replaced from us. It will be sent to you by post as soon as possible at a very low cost. At worst, any carpenter will be able to duplicate it.
So, by purchasing a Randoline packsaddle, you are making a long-term investment since you are guaranteed to always keep it in perfect condition.
You will note that the longevity of Randoline packsaddles goes against the grain of our consumer society…
The Bastillon size M on a horse or mule
The Bastillon size M is designed to fit a large animal with a fairly strong build: Poitou donkey, horse, mule.
Some horses and mules (some types of donkeys too) have a fairly pronounced withers compared to the rest of the back. As the Bastillon has a central board, intended to support part of the weight of the child transported, there could in certain cases (very rare) be a danger of contact between the withers and the board. Normally the front skids (there are 5 skids on each side of the pack) are there to overcome this problem, by “climbing” the slope of the withers.
For safety, send us a photo of your mule or horse taken from the side.