swedish lk35/lk50

[Mike8472]

I am thinking about getting myself one of the above for summer camping.
I have found a couple of vids online but they are quite light on details and actual expirience with using the bag.

Can anyone give me some first hand knowledge about the pack/comfort/practicality/robustness?

Im thinking the cheap prices are worth a punt but don't want to be lumbered with a pack thats not fit for purpose.

 

[copper_head]

I've had the cordura version of the LK35 for some years. It is very well made and don't worry about robustness, I'm pretty sure you could drop it off a cliff and it wouldn't scratch it .
Personally I don't like the back system much, compared to modern bags its uncomfortable and doesn't offer any real adjustment. This could be just me though, I've not tried on an external frame pack that I enjoyed wearing for any length of time.
You can get alot of gear in this pack and would be great for a weekend, particularly as you can strap gear to the lower part of the frame. I do use mine from time to time but never if I had to do any serious walking, it's certainly worth the money but I'd try it on if you can before buying.

On a side note they are fun to mod, I added a set of 58patt kidney pouches to mine.

 

[Mike8472]

Did you change the stock shoulder straps or keep the original ones? Ive seen a few people in america posting pics with alice pack straps on them.

 

[copper_head]

Stock ones on mine still.

 

[sausage100uk]

Ive done like copperhead but also added a waist belt (i posted some pics recently) With a belt the comfort of the straps isnt as important as there more for stabilising the load rather than carrying it.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

 

[big_swede]

It's specced to withstand a 10 meter fall fully loaded so it's pretty tough. We had them in the army during basic training, you would be astonished of the amount of stuff you can fit in them. It's still used today, but mostly the frame, for carrying mortar shells, grenade rifles, radios and general boxy stuff. But it's not a good backpack really, specially considering weight. More modern alu-frame packs are better if you wanna go the external frame route. Like all army stuff it was made to last generations and withstand the abuse of clumsy and wreckless drafted soldiers, you don't really need that in a civilian outdoor setting. Nice colour though..

I would consider using it if I was stranded in a vast wilderness with no backack but lots of kit. Emphasis on consider.

Do a search here on the board. Must be loads of things written about it.

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

I really like mine, I think for the price you can pick them up for they are a good deal. I have always found them very comfortable even with a thirty pound load in, but I might just be lucky in that they fit my back shape perfectly. I had to move to external frame packs for medical reasons and for me they work well. I have its big brother too the LK70 and I like that as well. And the extra airflow through the back system is great.

I like what copper_head has done with the adding of side pockets, as that's all it needs to be better. I have kept the original straps on mine, they are wafer thin but they have never caused me grief.

 

[Trod]

I picked one up last week (lk35) unissued in canvas and have only just had chance to examine it , inside the lid it says Haglofs 1984 ! I thought that only the lk50 and 70 were Haglofs ?

 

[Granite Head]

Where did you get this?

(lk35) unissued in canvas

 

[Trod]

Where did you get this?

Military mart ( no affiliation) I asked for a unissued cordura but they only had issued , they were still in great condition ! The bloke said they had unissued in canvas for a couple of quid more so got one instead , glad I did its pristine and a lovely light olive , only noticed the Haglofs marking today

 

[decorum]

I thought that only the lk50 and 70 were Haglofs ?

That's my understanding ... but the other day saw what looks to be an LK50 with a makers mark other than Haglofs and then my understanding that the range shares a common frame was totalled by putting LK50 and 70 frames back to back ... . Every day's a learning day! . A couple of pics and some dimensions of both the frame and pack would help with ID .

I'm wondering, at the moment, whether it's the lid design which makes the difference between the LK35* and 50

* the standard pack, not the Medic variant .

 

[Trod]

That's my understanding ... but the other day saw what looks to be an LK50 with a makers mark other than Haglofs and then my understanding that the range shares a common frame was totalled by putting LK50 and 70 frames back to back ... . Every day's a learning day! . A couple of pics and some dimensions of both the frame and pack would help with ID .

I'm wondering, at the moment, whether it's the lid design which makes the difference between the LK35* and 50

* the standard pack, not the Medic variant .

I'll try and get pics tomorrow if I can work out how to ! Never done it before and not the most tech minded , I'm also wondering if maybe its a lk50 ?

 

[decorum]

I'll try and get pics tomorrow if I can work out how to ! Never done it before and not the most tech minded , I'm also wondering if maybe its a lk50 ?

If it's easier to do a comparison then there's a couple of pics and dimensions in this thread

 

[Trod]

If it's easier to do a comparison then there's a couple of pics and dimensions in this thread

Thanks , no dimensions yet but there is a photo on that thread of a pack leaned against a tree that looks exactly like mine , same lid design and colour

 

[decorum]

... there is a photo on that thread of a pack leaned against a tree ...

That'll be mine

 

[Trod]

That'll be mine

Ha , well if yours is a lk50 then I'd say mine is too !

 

[decorum]

...
I have found a couple of vids online but they are quite light on details and actual expirience with using the bag.

It is a bit like that, isn't it . I've not made a video* but I do have real world experience of using an LK50 ...


* Face made for radio, voice made for mime

...Can anyone give me some first hand knowledge about the pack/comfort/practicality/robustness?

It's green, has a main compartment with an elasticated pocket, frame can be used independently from the sack ... . Like any pack, it'll either suit you or it won't ~ the back isn't adjustable, so if your back isn't right for it then the fit will be 'less than optimal'. The frame curves and some people also experience issues with width ~ again you can get the same issue with almost any non adjustable pack ~ this is more of an issue for those with a larger than average frame (but it suited me just fine before I lost a chunk of weight ~ like I said, it'll suit or it won't ...). The only time I ever had an issue with lack of comfort was when I had to carry a weekends worth of water ~ but you can mod a belt onto the frame to sort this . As for robustness ... it's proper robust! .

...Im thinking the cheap prices are worth a punt but don't want to be lumbered with a pack thats not fit for purpose.

Oh, it's fit for purpose alright ~ whether it's fit for your repurposing could be a different matter

First off ~ even empty this pack is heavy (steel frame ). There's no guarantee that the shape and size of the frame will suit ~ but for the money it's not _that_ much of a gamble and if you don't get on with it and you go to easy access Meets (or the Moot) then you could always repurpose the sack and use the frame as a log / water lugger

 

[decorum]

Ha , well if yours is a lk50 then I'd say mine is too !

Possibly ~ it'd be interesting to see if the dimensions are the same .

I'm pretty sure, initially at least, that LK50s came onto the surplus market and were marked up as LK35s

But, again, until the past couple of days I was also labouring under the false belief that later 35, 50 and 70 were designed around the same frame ~ and bearing in mind that I've got both 50 and 70 and hadn't thought to put them together and do a back to back check .

 

[Trod]

Possibly ~ it'd be interesting to see if the dimensions are the same .

I'm pretty sure, initially at least, that LK50s came onto the surplus market and were marked up as LK35s

But, again, until the past couple of days I was also labouring under the false belief that later 35, 50 and 70 were designed around the same frame ~ and bearing in mind that I've got both 50 and 70 and hadn't thought to put them together and do a back to back check .

I'll try and measure it soon mate but I'm almost certain its the same as yours , its a beautiful thing ! Think I struck lucky as live 30 mins from the store , asked for the cordura first and he said " hold on I've some in the van outside " . I'm pretty new to this so am trying to build kit up and this looks great for a weekend , can't wait to get out there