I always give the same advice, if budget or storage is an issue buy one large, comfortable and well made bag preferably used. If price is no problem and you have room for your gear buy a 75l, 45-50l and a 30l to give you all the options. A big bag does not have to be filled but a small bag quickly runs out of space for 4 season camping and lacks a decent harness system. Modularity is essential, side pouches for me are essential and so is the ability to carry an axe, trekking poles or an ice axe. The perfect Bergen, no such animal! It's like the perfect knife a matter of opinion and the search for the holy Grail. Good series Woolster, on to the next one now maybe the perfect jacket? 😉🏴
When I was looking for a one size fits all 4 seasons bag, I couldn't find one that made me say, yes, this is it. They all had me just settling for or compromising on. I had this canvas Australian style rucksack I got a long time ago. It's been waterproofed. It was a little uncomfortable in the summer and a little small in the winter. I wound up using it as the base and modified it into my own perfect bushcraft rucksack. I reworked the straps, added some padding and molle webbing, two large military surplus sustainment pouches and an old chest rig pouch that I had as an EDC bag. It looks a little odd, but for me, it's perfect. I have about maybe $120 in it all together.
I agree with you I still use my Berghaus Munro 35 in 1986, purchased after basic training, and used it through my civil engineering career to day ( now just paperwork and packed lunch) - the 45 litre is probably designed like the Munro to sit on top of the webbing kit hence waist band is not great as stand alone. So after nearly 40 years of daily use only the plastic buckles have crystalized and the trim is now badly worn away. Best money ever spent.
So far I've been using the Savotta Jaakari Small combined with the two 4ltr pouches and the Hatka 12ltr go-bag attached to the back. I recently completed the South Downs Way over 4 days with this and wild camped and it was perfect. The thing as you mention is that whatever size pack you have you will fill it! With this in mind, I went small to force me to be more pragmatic with my load-out needs. I used the British army light-weight sleeping bag + bivvy and a DD 3x3 tarp and the Savotta sleep pad doubling up a s a groundsheet. Excellent set up. However, I would not use it for a winter trip where more/heavier gear is required as there is nothing padding wise in the straps or back to distribute a heavy load. My total SDW load was 7.5kg (base weight). I love watching your videos and I must say you are one of my top 5 go-to people for bushcraft. Thank you for your considered and highly informative content and of course all the work that goes into making the channel so good.
I’m. It even sure I can carry a 90litre 😂 cragghoppers dynamic balance is worth a look only found used now , I was going to try a Karrimor Sabre only seen pictures but affordable but guess I will find out if any good , I do like good side pockets for tarp or tent to be split up into 2 nice quick access if the weather turns
You should still try and test a Crib gogh predator patrol pack 45L and also the Anaconda 75/95 also by Crib gogh these packs are excellent and the comfort when even heavily loaded is sublime 👌🏻
I just love my karrimor sabre 45 . In the main body i have 1 half of a 4 season 2 person bag. All my clothes and a karrimor panther 3 tent and a double camp mat . All my tools and cooking gear is in one pcle pouch food and water in another. Once i make camp i put the pcle pouches on the yoke and i have my day pack. If im going solo for loads of miles i go to a single mat and a oex bobcat. It carries amazing and without the pouches you can get it on as hand lugage . Then reassemble it on the other side. Only a pluss if you do international. But i got fam in texas so my gear flies .
Nice series, I've been using the Lowe Alpine Sting with side pockets, which I was luck enough to pick up new.. I've added 2 British army water bottle pouches on the molle, and a tarp pouch above them, good if the tarp is wet... To be honest this holds as much gear as I'd want to take... It probably weighs 20-25kgs fully loaded... I've had it now for 15 odd years...
The dog does not care about your stuff, he wants to play :) 4 super examples I have no one presented here, on the same vibe I have a Karrimor Saber 60-100 . When I gought it was in competition with Savotta Jääkäri XL and also Berghaus, Snugpak, Mystery Ranch, ... Sometimes my Karrimor is too big specially if you have side pockets like me (and specially when you are becoming older like me too ) Thank you
Great video series and I liked the scientific approach. I think your main conclusion is the the volume- 50-60l is ideal. It is a pity that none of the manufacturers reached out to you to assist especially Savotta as they have a number of other bags that would be worth a review - sorry I am a Savotta fanboy 🙄. I have been told that the probable reason for the reduced waist belt on the smallest pack is it is designed for the military who do not use the as the weight of the pack will rest on the soldiers webbing and not on their hips. Apparently soldiers will just fold and tap away the belt so it does not get away. Therefore Berghaus have probably listened to military feedback and not invested too much in it.
Here in New York, I've been using my 65L Kelty Coyote in both the summer and winter and it's been my favorite. I do have a Decathalon Forclaz 50L for maybe a bivy camp. But I also have a Teton Sports 75L bag but haven't found myself really needing that extra 10L so I keep going back to the comfort of my Kelty.
I like the idea, but a "molle" or "alice" type system may be better. You can change out the size of the pouch to accommodate the gear. The british army bergen side pockets come with a harness, if you attached that to a webbing belt kit........should be big enough.....????
About price: Savotta is made in Finland and Estonia. Berghaus is made in Thailand,Vietnam or China. I don't mean that Berghaus is any worse than Savotta, I used Berghaus Vulcan for years and when I sold it, it was good as new but you can see that Savotta is European made in price. Nowdays I have Savotta Jääkäri XL and I will pass it to my son when I get too old(never😂). Summertime hikes I use Osprey Aether Pro because it is so light. Winter use, Savotta Jääkäri XL is very good. I have hauled about 35kg with Jääkäri XL, 11 days trip in Finnish Lappland and for that Jääkäri XL was perfect choice. For 20kg or less I will choose Osprey.
You really got a deal on the Spartan. :-) And it's probably been said, but you can also get the pouches in 15l, so you can expand with 30l in total. ;-)
What, the Belgian Jigsaw Camo 110L Rucksack didn't make the cut as a winter pack. LOL I have one in pristine shape, and love it. That 60L, yeah good choice for an all around pack.
Brilliant series of videos mate, you're always informative and funny, "have I just unanswered my question" cracked me up. Have you used the 60 with pouches? Going to get it as my only pack. Now do I go with 10 or 15 ltr side pouches 🤔
Any rucksack or bergen or daysack should be considered as part of a Carry System, rather than on it's own. And it is the Carry System that should be assessed, and not the rucksack per se. For example, for me the perfect all-rounder is British Army Virtus 40L Daysack (the front-loading one - it is made in Israel for some reason) for SAS, very similar to Commanders Daysack. With some clever modifications (elastic meshed pockets, PLCE rocket pockets, e-tool holder etc) I find that it plays very ergonomically and practically with my overall Carry System. It can go from a compressed Daysack, to a 40L Daysack, to a 65L Bergen. Standard issue 45L Daysack and NI Daysack, as well as Shortback Bergens are also very good choices on the budget (tough as nails), if one is prepared to mod it: divide the main section 2/3 for Sleep System, and 1/3 for Clothing System and to make each of these isolated sections to be front loading. (3-day Food and Water bladder go into dry-sack section up-top; you can take additional 7-day food and more water in 2 additional 12.5L PLCE rocket pockets) It is important to categorise your gear into individual "kits" or "systems", and have a quick access to each one. One of the most important considerations for me is how large and well organised (or potentially organisable) is the top Admin/Nik-Nak pocket is. You will never find a system that is perfect - be prepared to do your own modifications; after all "craft" is part of "bushcraft" :)
(Inner thought before viewing: Oh no, more temptations for my wallet, hide!) Thank you for the reviews/comparisons. I do like the Sarma one, but that price; might change from the 45l to the 60l now ... decisions, decisions.
@RedBranchBushcraft gotcha. I think that karrimor 45 sf with the LARGE SAVOTTA SIDE POUCHES irs the best small pack, and the EBERLESTOCK WARHAMMER with the 65L/120L roll top dry bag zipped internally on the frame with the HEAVY PADDED STRAPS ARE. THE BEST LARGE BAGS IN THE WORLD.... BUT.... EBERLESTOCK HALFTRACK 35L( WITH HEAVY PADDED STRAPS AND SAVOTTA LARGE SIDEPOUCHES) AND SAVOTTA JAAKARI L ARE CLOSE #2'S
I am an unapologetic gear junkie with more rucks and packs then I will ever use but I don't own any of these. I actually should disperse some of the hoard but I am not ready for that just yet!
@@RedBranchBushcraft that's a hard question mostly because I have dedicated rucks/packs for different jobs with some crossover modularity. For actual backpacking it is the 3Ful Gear pack and that kit can go to about -10 Celcius comfortably for me at about 20lbs. My day ruck (with overnight capability that can be extended) is the USGI MOLLE 2 Assault Pack in OCP, it goes almost everywhere with ne and s under 30lbs with push capabilities to the negatives as well. Then I have a little 6 liter sling bag that has overnight capability with almost no comfort consideration. My main bushcamping ruck is a mongrel cobbled together with the old Canadian C2 (people wrongly call it the 64 pattern) frame and an 82 Pattern Canadian ruck body and straps. That ruck is about 40lbs and for me has almost infinite longevity for me. Then there are the various ones I haven't used yet lol. Yup dedicated gear whore here.
@@RedBranchBushcraft Almost nobody had heard of them back then, I knew I’d got a good deal soon as I saw the LK35. Bought from a shop in Worcestershire named Surplus and Adventure, it was a great shop to visit. Its moved to Ledbury and named something else now.
@RedBranchBushcraft would it be possible to just get a list of names and capacities in the description? I mean don't go out of your way to change the description in this one seeing that it's already posted. But maybe in future videos looking at products there could be a product list or description even if there are no available links. That way we can go to the video description for at least the make and model of things. Some of them have some interesting spelling.
@RedBranchBushcraft I really appreciate it. But like I said if you can't remember, it's not the end of the world. I'm sure there will be other review videos you do and that kind of info could probably just be popped onto the bottom of the description.
I always give the same advice, if budget or storage is an issue buy one large, comfortable and well made bag preferably used. If price is no problem and you have room for your gear buy a 75l, 45-50l and a 30l to give you all the options.
A big bag does not have to be filled but a small bag quickly runs out of space for 4 season camping and lacks a decent harness system.
Modularity is essential, side pouches for me are essential and so is the ability to carry an axe, trekking poles or an ice axe.
The perfect Bergen, no such animal! It's like the perfect knife a matter of opinion and the search for the holy Grail.
Good series Woolster, on to the next one now maybe the perfect jacket? 😉🏴
Lol, Jesus the perfect jacket! Now that would be a rabbit hole
When I was looking for a one size fits all 4 seasons bag, I couldn't find one that made me say, yes, this is it. They all had me just settling for or compromising on. I had this canvas Australian style rucksack I got a long time ago. It's been waterproofed. It was a little uncomfortable in the summer and a little small in the winter. I wound up using it as the base and modified it into my own perfect bushcraft rucksack. I reworked the straps, added some padding and molle webbing, two large military surplus sustainment pouches and an old chest rig pouch that I had as an EDC bag. It looks a little odd, but for me, it's perfect. I have about maybe $120 in it all together.
Very cool
I agree with you I still use my Berghaus Munro 35 in 1986, purchased after basic training, and used it through my civil engineering career to day ( now just paperwork and packed lunch) - the 45 litre is probably designed like the Munro to sit on top of the webbing kit hence waist band is not great as stand alone. So after nearly 40 years of daily use only the plastic buckles have crystalized and the trim is now badly worn away. Best money ever spent.
Excellent stuff, hard to beat quality
So far I've been using the Savotta Jaakari Small combined with the two 4ltr pouches and the Hatka 12ltr go-bag attached to the back. I recently completed the South Downs Way over 4 days with this and wild camped and it was perfect. The thing as you mention is that whatever size pack you have you will fill it! With this in mind, I went small to force me to be more pragmatic with my load-out needs. I used the British army light-weight sleeping bag + bivvy and a DD 3x3 tarp and the Savotta sleep pad doubling up a s a groundsheet. Excellent set up. However, I would not use it for a winter trip where more/heavier gear is required as there is nothing padding wise in the straps or back to distribute a heavy load. My total SDW load was 7.5kg (base weight). I love watching your videos and I must say you are one of my top 5 go-to people for bushcraft. Thank you for your considered and highly informative content and of course all the work that goes into making the channel so good.
Brilliant stuff! Thanks so much, sounds like quite the adventure
Wow!
I think that I would've gone with a medium sized bag with lots of water and food.
I’m. It even sure I can carry a 90litre 😂 cragghoppers dynamic balance is worth a look only found used now , I was going to try a Karrimor Sabre only seen pictures but affordable but guess I will find out if any good , I do like good side pockets for tarp or tent to be split up into 2 nice quick access if the weather turns
You should still try and test a Crib gogh predator patrol pack 45L and also the Anaconda 75/95 also by Crib gogh these packs are excellent and the comfort when even heavily loaded is sublime 👌🏻
These look like excellent packs , and if I can get my hands on some I'll definitely test them
Always put something extra in a bigger bag but at least it fits 😂 great reviews on all the packs
Cheers buddy, all great bags
I just love my karrimor sabre 45 . In the main body i have 1 half of a 4 season 2 person bag. All my clothes and a karrimor panther 3 tent and a double camp mat .
All my tools and cooking gear is in one pcle pouch food and water in another. Once i make camp i put the pcle pouches on the yoke and i have my day pack. If im going solo for loads of miles i go to a single mat and a oex bobcat.
It carries amazing and without the pouches you can get it on as hand lugage . Then reassemble it on the other side. Only a pluss if you do international. But i got fam in texas so my gear flies .
Excellent stuff, cheers buddy
Nice series, I've been using the Lowe Alpine Sting with side pockets, which I was luck enough to pick up new.. I've added 2 British army water bottle pouches on the molle, and a tarp pouch above them, good if the tarp is wet...
To be honest this holds as much gear as I'd want to take... It probably weighs 20-25kgs fully loaded... I've had it now for 15 odd years...
Great bags
The dog does not care about your stuff, he wants to play :)
4 super examples
I have no one presented here, on the same vibe I have a Karrimor Saber 60-100 . When I gought it was in competition with Savotta Jääkäri XL and also Berghaus, Snugpak, Mystery Ranch, ...
Sometimes my Karrimor is too big specially if you have side pockets like me (and specially when you are becoming older like me too )
Thank you
Lol, I understand that
I love this community ❤️
It's great
I’ve just realised where you are! As a young man in 1977 I spent four and a half months in Forkhill. I’d love to visit again!
Really cool, where you on holidays or was it for other reasons
@@RedBranchBushcraft other reasons 😞 I was just 18 at the time…..
A tough time in history for everyone involved
Fantastic I really enjoyed that series buddy
Cheers buddy, I really enjoyed it
Great video series and I liked the scientific approach. I think your main conclusion is the the volume- 50-60l is ideal. It is a pity that none of the manufacturers reached out to you to assist especially Savotta as they have a number of other bags that would be worth a review - sorry I am a Savotta fanboy 🙄.
I have been told that the probable reason for the reduced waist belt on the smallest pack is it is designed for the military who do not use the as the weight of the pack will rest on the soldiers webbing and not on their hips. Apparently soldiers will just fold and tap away the belt so it does not get away. Therefore Berghaus have probably listened to military feedback and not invested too much in it.
That makes perfect sense
Here in New York, I've been using my 65L Kelty Coyote in both the summer and winter and it's been my favorite. I do have a Decathalon Forclaz 50L for maybe a bivy camp. But I also have a Teton Sports 75L bag but haven't found myself really needing that extra 10L so I keep going back to the comfort of my Kelty.
Excellent stuff, we don't get them here
I like the idea, but a "molle" or "alice" type system may be better. You can change out the size of the pouch to accommodate the gear. The british army bergen side pockets come with a harness, if you attached that to a webbing belt kit........should be big enough.....????
Could be
About price: Savotta is made in Finland and Estonia. Berghaus is made in Thailand,Vietnam or China. I don't mean that Berghaus is any worse than Savotta, I used Berghaus Vulcan for years and when I sold it, it was good as new but you can see that Savotta is European made in price. Nowdays I have Savotta Jääkäri XL and I will pass it to my son when I get too old(never😂). Summertime hikes I use Osprey Aether Pro because it is so light. Winter use, Savotta Jääkäri XL is very good. I have hauled about 35kg with Jääkäri XL, 11 days trip in Finnish Lappland and for that Jääkäri XL was perfect choice. For 20kg or less I will choose Osprey.
Excellent, I understand the difference in manufacturing costs and your right, both excellent bags
Nice one buddy I hope you came through the storm ok
Cheers buddy
Good choice woolly I knew you choose that one, now could you do a video with your winter kit in it to round it off👍
I think I did ?? But I've new winter kit coming so I'll get it done
@@RedBranchBushcraft sorry woolly I’ll av a look back for it 👍
@Nofixedabode859 I'll be updating it soon
If you can find a Tactical Tailor MALICE pack, it might tick all the boxes. Brilliant bit of kit.
Nice, I'll have X look
You really got a deal on the Spartan. :-) And it's probably been said, but you can also get the pouches in 15l, so you can expand with 30l in total. ;-)
Great deal, that's good to know
What, the Belgian Jigsaw Camo 110L Rucksack didn't make the cut as a winter pack. LOL I have one in pristine shape, and love it. That 60L, yeah good choice for an all around pack.
The Belgian was deemed too big for a summer bag so I didn't include it
Brilliant series of videos mate, you're always informative and funny, "have I just unanswered my question" cracked me up. Have you used the 60 with pouches? Going to get it as my only pack. Now do I go with 10 or 15 ltr side pouches 🤔
Yes, but usually the 45 with the pouches
That's the thing with so many bags. Doesn't that make it the same size as the 60 😂. I've gone through so many packs trying to find the right combo.
@dannyknight8082 lol, only one pouch
Any rucksack or bergen or daysack should be considered as part of a Carry System, rather than on it's own. And it is the Carry System that should be assessed, and not the rucksack per se. For example, for me the perfect all-rounder is British Army Virtus 40L Daysack (the front-loading one - it is made in Israel for some reason) for SAS, very similar to Commanders Daysack. With some clever modifications (elastic meshed pockets, PLCE rocket pockets, e-tool holder etc) I find that it plays very ergonomically and practically with my overall Carry System. It can go from a compressed Daysack, to a 40L Daysack, to a 65L Bergen.
Standard issue 45L Daysack and NI Daysack, as well as Shortback Bergens are also very good choices on the budget (tough as nails), if one is prepared to mod it: divide the main section 2/3 for Sleep System, and 1/3 for Clothing System and to make each of these isolated sections to be front loading. (3-day Food and Water bladder go into dry-sack section up-top; you can take additional 7-day food and more water in 2 additional 12.5L PLCE rocket pockets) It is important to categorise your gear into individual "kits" or "systems", and have a quick access to each one.
One of the most important considerations for me is how large and well organised (or potentially organisable) is the top Admin/Nik-Nak pocket is. You will never find a system that is perfect - be prepared to do your own modifications; after all "craft" is part of "bushcraft" :)
Great comment, cheers
If you like comfort and your interested I'll send you my karrimor saber 80/130 To try out. Now that is one comfortable bag
Cool, email me and we will get it organized
(Inner thought before viewing: Oh no, more temptations for my wallet, hide!) Thank you for the reviews/comparisons. I do like the Sarma one, but that price; might change from the 45l to the 60l now ... decisions, decisions.
It's tough sometimes
Why wasn't eberlestock included?
I don't have one, I contacted a few companies, all declined to send stuff for testing, so I borrowed stuff and used my own
@RedBranchBushcraft gotcha.
I think that karrimor 45 sf with the LARGE SAVOTTA SIDE POUCHES irs the best small pack, and the EBERLESTOCK WARHAMMER with the 65L/120L roll top dry bag zipped internally on the frame with the HEAVY PADDED STRAPS ARE. THE BEST LARGE BAGS IN THE WORLD....
BUT....
EBERLESTOCK HALFTRACK 35L( WITH HEAVY PADDED STRAPS AND SAVOTTA LARGE SIDEPOUCHES) AND SAVOTTA JAAKARI L ARE CLOSE #2'S
@user-zi5lx6lx5k excellent stuff, I like the Berghaus bags at the minute
Wooley!wife had to bring me round again 400quid top guy wooley 😊.
Some money!
But can you baton with it🤔
Lol
I am an unapologetic gear junkie with more rucks and packs then I will ever use but I don't own any of these. I actually should disperse some of the hoard but I am not ready for that just yet!
Lol, what's your favourite?
@@RedBranchBushcraft that's a hard question mostly because I have dedicated rucks/packs for different jobs with some crossover modularity. For actual backpacking it is the 3Ful Gear pack and that kit can go to about -10 Celcius comfortably for me at about 20lbs.
My day ruck (with overnight capability that can be extended) is the USGI MOLLE 2 Assault Pack in OCP, it goes almost everywhere with ne and s under 30lbs with push capabilities to the negatives as well.
Then I have a little 6 liter sling bag that has overnight capability with almost no comfort consideration.
My main bushcamping ruck is a mongrel cobbled together with the old Canadian C2 (people wrongly call it the 64 pattern) frame and an 82 Pattern Canadian ruck body and straps. That ruck is about 40lbs and for me has almost infinite longevity for me.
Then there are the various ones I haven't used yet lol.
Yup dedicated gear whore here.
@turtlewolfpack6061 lol, great comment
Stihl frosty.
Good man Bud
Still using my LK35 and LK70 over twenty years later. Cost me £4.99 and £40 respectively 🙂👍🏻
WOW!! Some bargain there
@@RedBranchBushcraft Almost nobody had heard of them back then, I knew I’d got a good deal soon as I saw the LK35. Bought from a shop in Worcestershire named Surplus and Adventure, it was a great shop to visit. Its moved to Ledbury and named something else now.
@Mutley00735 excellent stuff
Maybe shouldn’t of had a smoke before watching.
❤🙏love from Scotland 🏴 ❤
Lol
Links for all kinds of random gear in the description, but not the packs
These came from all over , not sure where, some second hand some surplus. For surplus try the go army and Varusteleka links
@RedBranchBushcraft would it be possible to just get a list of names and capacities in the description? I mean don't go out of your way to change the description in this one seeing that it's already posted. But maybe in future videos looking at products there could be a product list or description even if there are no available links. That way we can go to the video description for at least the make and model of things. Some of them have some interesting spelling.
@xMrBlack I'll see if I can do it from memory
@RedBranchBushcraft I really appreciate it. But like I said if you can't remember, it's not the end of the world. I'm sure there will be other review videos you do and that kind of info could probably just be popped onto the bottom of the description.
There is a video on each of these packs on the channel
That’s the problem with these videos, there’s 30 minutes of rambling before we get to the point.
Sorry for the rambling buddy
Everybody in Ireland rambles for half an hour before getting to the point! At least he got there, I know lads who never get to the point!
@Thedagda801 lol, true
So expensive though..
Yep