After my disastrous introductory post, morphing from one thing to another and back again (i’m not good at typing, but good at pressing the wrong buttons!) and i’m no good at small talk, i now start my first proper post being about my disastrous buying of a large rucksack. 
I’m hoping that anyone here can be of help to me, as in New Zealand i cannot try any cordura rucksacks that have the capability of having sidepockets attached.
Most available here are the lowest common denominator; however, one can get DD Hammocks, Morakniv, and Fällkniven (i prefer convex grinds), plus some &cs.
*************
Last year i bought an olive green Karrimor SF Predator 80-130 rucksack, being imported from the UK; and unforeseen, as i don‘t have a manly shape to my body: the total width across the shoulderstraps is much too wide for me, each arm easily touching the side of the strap when back is adjusted correctly (closer to the top of the range than to the bottom); and the hipbelt is too short where it matters for me, it just reaching the centre of my iliac crest. I was disappointed; i like the bag of the Predator, it having all that i want in a large rucksack…most unfortunate about the harness though of which is completely removable (see below), apart from the lumberpad which actually fits me on top of my buttocks (to get perfect here, bending of the lamels (stays, or whatever they get called) being easily done).
At the very least, beware of the KSF SA-system should one have narrow shoulders—your hips may vary.
My old pack is a US-made Lowe Alpine Expedition (about 80L) that i bought when living in the States, which is very much like the Dutch army Sting but without the PLCE sidepockets, the Expedition sidepockets (two different sizes) attaching via the compressionstraps instead. I’ve carried 80lb\36kg in this, although should i sit on the ground i can‘t get up with it on!
i’m stumped on buying a new large pack as i don‘t want to keep buying more large rucksacks that don‘t fit (smallish ones being no problem). Moreover, i have mild scoliosis and thoracic kyphosis of the spine so an external frame could possibly work better for me.
*************
I’ve done in-the-bush tests with different ’grellows’ (to me olive green is not green) and greens, placing at a distance on the ground, and hanging from a bough, my observing from a reasonable distance (maybe twenty feet or so) directly and from a track: the medium olive of KSF works very well (interestingly, when the Sun shines through the trees it looks like leaves on it); the olive drab of my Helikon Tex stuff does well; but a smaller Wisport rucksack (a going-to-town ruck), of which to me is more of a moss green than the claimed olive green, stands out. I have very acute perception of colour, so others may have a different opinion here. The endemic NZ trees, being nondeciduous and subtropical (it doesn‘t make it that hot here though!), tend to be darker and-or shifted more towards the yellow, not a brighter green like European hardwoods.
*************
The following are what i have narrowed it down to.
1.
To save the KSF Predator, buy from Varusteleka a Savotta-made Särmä STS RP80-frame and -harness; but i don‘t know how viable that this is for attaching the Predator bag to it—the colours wouldn‘t match of course. Should it not work i could then buy the RP80 bag the total price (excluding shippingcosts) only about a euro difference to buying it all together; the bag also has some unusual features: i don‘t need such large stuffpockets (not an issue per se), i only use them to stop anything from falling out from the side.
I don‘t know whether the RP80-harness would fit me, specifically the shoulderharness my not knowing the total width across the shoulderstraps; and i don‘t know whether the Savotta 8L- and-or 12L-sidepockets fit it. Any information here would be appreciated.
2.
The Savotta Jääkäri XL should fit me as i have photos of this on a woman in the online photos, and i estimate that she could be around 5’ 10” (Finns are some of the tallest folk in Europe), my being shorter but with an East Asian build so shortish legs and longer back length for my height. I can buy one from at least two well known UK shops one having the sidepockets (of any other UK shops please tell me), and any extras i would assumably have to buy from Varusteleka. I like the quality of construction (also applies to the RP80)…useful in case i’m dragged along behind a truck, or fall off of a cliff. Better gear, less misery…eh!
Should anyone have a Jääkäri XL, then please i would like to know the dimensions of the frame. Ta.
3.
Berghaus large rucksacks, of which there are three different ones: Vulcan IV, Crusader II, and Atlas IV. Cons being having no stuffpockets, old colours with hardware and webbing, and very basic; pros being of lighter weight than most, and the Cedar (is this referring to an actual cedar tree?, and not the white cedar (actually a species of Thuja) in North America?) is a sort of medium olive green(?). I’ve read of problems with them regarding the thickness of the material, and the unremovable(?) plastic inserts in the hipbelt (the LA Expedition has no stiffening here, and i’ve never found this to be a problem). And buying from overseas is problematic regarding a non-adjustable back and my narrow shoulders.
4.
The three different Tasmanian Tiger rucksacks, Pathfinder Mk II, Range Pack Mk II, and Mil Ops Pack 80. I can buy these from a shop in Western Australia. I can‘t really warm up to these for some reason, although they are said to have comfortable harnesses (at least for a male habitus).
5.
Wisport Raccoon 85. Very contrastive colours with the hardware and the webbing, and as mentioned earlier the ”olive green” looks to me like a moss green. Looking at videos and photos this one sits rather low, so not sure whether the load-lifters actually work as such.
6.
I’ve looked at the various US-made and rather expensive ones such as Kifaru, &c, but they don‘t have olive green, instead a greenish colour which seems greyish and washed out (ranger green?)—olive greens blend in best into the endemic foliage in NZ.
7.
I’m not familiar that much with any other European brands, but am open to investigation.
*************
Enough eh!
Ta for reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toi
I’m hoping that anyone here can be of help to me, as in New Zealand i cannot try any cordura rucksacks that have the capability of having sidepockets attached.Most available here are the lowest common denominator; however, one can get DD Hammocks, Morakniv, and Fällkniven (i prefer convex grinds), plus some &cs.
*************
Last year i bought an olive green Karrimor SF Predator 80-130 rucksack, being imported from the UK; and unforeseen, as i don‘t have a manly shape to my body
: the total width across the shoulderstraps is much too wide for me, each arm easily touching the side of the strap when back is adjusted correctly (closer to the top of the range than to the bottom); and the hipbelt is too short where it matters for me, it just reaching the centre of my iliac crest. I was disappointed; i like the bag of the Predator, it having all that i want in a large rucksack…most unfortunate about the harness though of which is completely removable (see below), apart from the lumberpad which actually fits me on top of my buttocks (to get perfect here, bending of the lamels (stays, or whatever they get called) being easily done).At the very least, beware of the KSF SA-system should one have narrow shoulders—your hips may vary.
My old pack is a US-made Lowe Alpine Expedition (about 80L) that i bought when living in the States, which is very much like the Dutch army Sting but without the PLCE sidepockets, the Expedition sidepockets (two different sizes) attaching via the compressionstraps instead. I’ve carried 80lb\36kg in this, although should i sit on the ground i can‘t get up with it on!
i’m stumped on buying a new large pack as i don‘t want to keep buying more large rucksacks that don‘t fit (smallish ones being no problem). Moreover, i have mild scoliosis and thoracic kyphosis of the spine so an external frame could possibly work better for me.
*************
I’ve done in-the-bush tests with different ’grellows’ (to me olive green is not green) and greens, placing at a distance on the ground, and hanging from a bough, my observing from a reasonable distance (maybe twenty feet or so) directly and from a track: the medium olive of KSF works very well (interestingly, when the Sun shines through the trees it looks like leaves on it); the olive drab of my Helikon Tex stuff does well; but a smaller Wisport rucksack (a going-to-town ruck), of which to me is more of a moss green than the claimed olive green, stands out. I have very acute perception of colour, so others may have a different opinion here. The endemic NZ trees, being nondeciduous and subtropical (it doesn‘t make it that hot here though!), tend to be darker and-or shifted more towards the yellow, not a brighter green like European hardwoods.
*************
The following are what i have narrowed it down to.
1.
To save the KSF Predator, buy from Varusteleka a Savotta-made Särmä STS RP80-frame and -harness; but i don‘t know how viable that this is for attaching the Predator bag to it—the colours wouldn‘t match of course. Should it not work i could then buy the RP80 bag the total price (excluding shippingcosts) only about a euro difference to buying it all together; the bag also has some unusual features: i don‘t need such large stuffpockets (not an issue per se), i only use them to stop anything from falling out from the side.
I don‘t know whether the RP80-harness would fit me, specifically the shoulderharness my not knowing the total width across the shoulderstraps; and i don‘t know whether the Savotta 8L- and-or 12L-sidepockets fit it. Any information here would be appreciated.
2.
The Savotta Jääkäri XL should fit me as i have photos of this on a woman in the online photos, and i estimate that she could be around 5’ 10” (Finns are some of the tallest folk in Europe), my being shorter but with an East Asian build so shortish legs and longer back length for my height. I can buy one from at least two well known UK shops one having the sidepockets (of any other UK shops please tell me), and any extras i would assumably have to buy from Varusteleka. I like the quality of construction (also applies to the RP80)…useful in case i’m dragged along behind a truck, or fall off of a cliff.
Better gear, less misery…eh! Should anyone have a Jääkäri XL, then please i would like to know the dimensions of the frame. Ta.
3.
Berghaus large rucksacks, of which there are three different ones: Vulcan IV, Crusader II, and Atlas IV. Cons being having no stuffpockets, old colours with hardware and webbing, and very basic; pros being of lighter weight than most, and the Cedar (is this referring to an actual cedar tree?, and not the white cedar (actually a species of Thuja) in North America?) is a sort of medium olive green(?). I’ve read of problems with them regarding the thickness of the material, and the unremovable(?) plastic inserts in the hipbelt (the LA Expedition has no stiffening here, and i’ve never found this to be a problem). And buying from overseas is problematic regarding a non-adjustable back and my narrow shoulders.
4.
The three different Tasmanian Tiger rucksacks, Pathfinder Mk II, Range Pack Mk II, and Mil Ops Pack 80. I can buy these from a shop in Western Australia. I can‘t really warm up to these for some reason, although they are said to have comfortable harnesses (at least for a male habitus).
5.
Wisport Raccoon 85. Very contrastive colours with the hardware and the webbing, and as mentioned earlier the ”olive green” looks to me like a moss green. Looking at videos and photos this one sits rather low, so not sure whether the load-lifters actually work as such.
6.
I’ve looked at the various US-made and rather expensive ones such as Kifaru, &c, but they don‘t have olive green, instead a greenish colour which seems greyish and washed out (ranger green?)—olive greens blend in best into the endemic foliage in NZ.
7.
I’m not familiar that much with any other European brands, but am open to investigation.
*************
Enough eh!
Ta for reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toi
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