<![CDATA[BushcraftUK: Community Forum - Member Reviews & Testing]]> http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/ put your reviews in here, hammocks, torches, clothing, courses, knives, vehicles...the lot. en Sat, 25 May 2013 06:42:12 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[BushcraftUK: Community Forum - Member Reviews & Testing]]> http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/ <![CDATA[DD's Jura 2 sleeping bag]]> http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108049&goto=newpost Sat, 25 May 2013 04:13:10 GMT Ok folks DD have brought out their own sleeping bag. As I don’t think there is any proper reviews out yet on it I would put this forward. Just so it’s known Nick from DD hasn't asked me to do this, I’m doing it because I helped do some of the trials on this sleeping bag it and I have been using it for over a year now. I’m mostly used to using my ex army issue dose bag and have not used any of the other sleeping bags that folk talk about in this forum, so I can only compare it to my military one.

So as for the Jura 2 sleeping bag at a quick glance it looks similar to my army doss bag with its hood and the zip down the middle of the sleeping bag. But this sleeping bag is not designed totally like my army one it thinner and lighter and unlike my army one it packs away to allot smaller taking up less space in my Bergen. It has three pockets on it two on the inside like my military one so you can store things like your socks or a midnight snack if that’s what takes you fancy. The other pocket is on the left hand side of the sleeping bag and is big enough to hold a small torch and a mobile phone. It also has two baffles inside it, one on the inside of the zip and the other around inner of the hood between your shoulders and head. As for the zip itself is double ended so it can be opened from the bottom should you get to warm. And something I have never seen on a sleeping bag before a waterproof foot area on the bottom of the bag so you can stand up in it without getting your feet or the bag wet, and it is waterproof on the inside as well just in case you fancy wearing your wellies to bed. And finally it is designed to fit people who are up to a 44 inch chest.
The one on the Right is the Jura2 (just in case you didn't guess)

Back in 2011 Nick had asked me if I knew anyone who could do a review this sleeping bag. It was called the Jura and it was named after an island in Scotland. Well after putting myself forward (wouldn't you), I asked MadDave and Mr John Fenner (who else) if they would be interested. Nick also had other people testing the bag as well as us.
Unfortunately by the time Nick had the sleeping bags in the beginning of 2012 Dave had gone on a jolly and wasn't going to be back soon, so he dipped out. But John and l had bag each to play with.


Shoulder baffle and inside pocket. And the pic next to it is the waterproof foot-well with the bottom of the double zip, notice on the first Jura how the zip baffle is on the outside it now works much better on the Jura 2 by being on the inside of the zip


The Jura is rated at go down to -5. So the first time I used it was at a meet near me in early February and that night was at least -5 if not colder the morning after the test everything above and below me was frozen
As for how the sleeping bag performed I found the hood plenty big enough to completely cover my head. And easily covers my face when cords are pulled tight. The shoulder baffles did their job well and going down the bag my upper body was fairly warm.
In fact the only part of me that got really cold was my knees this was because during the night I had slid down my hammock and my knees had been pushing against the sleeping bag. to be honest I did use a under blanket as it was so cold, but apart from that as I was reviewing how good the sleeping bag is I didn't use anything else which I would have normally used in those conditions like a bivi bag , liner or extra clothing.

I did find some things wrong with the Jura sleeping bag like the baffle for the zip was on the outside of the sleeping and was really fiddly to keep Velcro closed. There were some other issues as well like at the bottom of the zip had a gap. And I did find it "let’s just say it was rather snug". Now I'm a 42 inch chest and I know some folk are of a similar size to me (I asked John how he did and he admitted he was a little bit bigger than me). so I sent my findings back to nick and I'm glad to say that along with any other issues that other folk may have found all these were sorted out on the Jura 2, and it is also much more roomy and less 'snug'

I must say that I have been using the first Jura since doing the review and I can say it hasn't let me down although when it is a bit colder I do use a bivi bag as well or if it's really going to be cold I would use my army doss bag instead. And when I say cold I mean in -0 sort of cold


This is my 40 ltr day sack which it can nearly get lost in. And the second pic shows it squashed up so it will take up less space in a back pack


Now I know I can't be taken as a totally un-biest reviewer as I have Links to DD, so I asked diamond Dave for his opinion on the Jura2 as he just brought one in the last DD group buy and here it is in his own words

I had asked Dave two questions first his opinion of the sleeping bag

Here is Dave’s reply.

It's hard to know where to start, but here goes.

I was sleeping in my thermals and in a Sleeping bag liner.

On two nights I felt just a little uncomfortably cold but not anything serious. On the other nights the bag performed very well.

For a Synthetic bag it does pack down well in the Bergen which is a great asset.

The central zip is very good, but when you open the bag and you have things in the little mesh pockets they tend to fall out, perhaps a Velcro closure is required on these.

Another small thing is the boot well and perhaps the whole bag could be just a little larger. Nothing to much just a CM or 2.

Getting in the hammock is much easier even when you lay the bag in the hammock and climb in under the mozzi net?

Trying to control the liner and hold the bag up is quite frustrating but I'm sure it will be addressed sometime.

That said I am delighted as hell with this little bag and it has become my first choice bag for my camping trips.

Why nobody else has thought about this waterproof bottom is a mystery it is just so convenient.

Well not a full review but for the money this is one hell of a bag.




And my other question was what build was he (In reference to if the Jura 2 was as snug as the jura and the fact that he said he would like it slightly Larger)


I'm a well built sort of guy being described as "chunky" around 5-10 in height.

the weather was horrendous most of the time so much so that on two days we had to decamp to a stone bothy as the rain was torrential and winds around 50 miles per hour.

Although we were protected in the bothy it was still damp, cold and draughty. The other days were light rain and cold with the wind chill making it feel colder. During the day we were all dressed in warm and waterproof clothes.

As mentioned the bag could have been a little bigger while it was acceptable it was a little snug restricting me in the bag. On the subject of the mesh pockets, just a point is why not secure the top edge on the pocket and have access in from the side with a little Velcro.

It seemed strange not being able to move my feet sideways but nevertheless it was good being of waterproof material.

I have around 9 bags which I have acquired in my search for a better bag. My real favorite is my ex army bag which is brilliant except it is so bulky to carry and takes up all of the Bergen. My second best is this Jura 2 as it has the ability to be a real classic for the likes of me.


Thanks for that Dave. Mind you I would agree that the leg area is not as big as my army doss bag I was still able to kick my feet around when I used it the other weekend.

Whilst doing this review I have found another one that is on the DD website it is by a Chris Salisbury from WildWise Events Ltd and as it is possibly a bit more of a 'proper review' I thought I would put it on here as well.

So here it is.

I was pleased to see that somebody had finally recognised that sleeping in a hammock demanded something different from a sleeping bag. As soon as I saw this product on DD Hammocks website, I was keen to test it out, as I am a regular hammock user, as an instructor on WildWise's events and courses.

The Jura 2, as sold by DD Hammocks, has been custom designed for hammock sleeping, with 3 key features. The first is a waterproof foot-end, a 'foot-box' that allows you to stand upon damp or wet ground without absorbing moisture. As anyone knows who uses this sleeping system, its more convenient to enter and exit the hammock 'wearing' your sleeping bag, and so this is an excellent development in sleeping bag design.
The second feature is one I would look for in any sleeping bag, and that is the central zip. Why on earth manufacturers insist on a side zip is a mystery, as its far more user-friendly to have one in the middle, like the British army ones do. I am pleased to report that the Jura 2 has a zip-tag on the inside too, which again makes it so much easier to open and close from inside the bag. Thirdly, 2 zip-tags at either end also enables a bit of ventilation when its too warm. Its not rocket science, but these features don't half make a difference to the experience of hammock sleeping, and I applaud the manufacturers for including them in their design.

Of course the other critical factor is the temperature rating, a cause of much frustration in the process of buying a new bag. So often the temperature guide is misleading, or at worst plain wrong, but I'm pleased to say that so far the Jura 2 backs up its claims as a 4-season bag. I have now slept out in it at zero degrees, and I was plenty warm enough, so I'm willing at least to put to the test its official rating of being 'comfortable' at minus 5 degrees.

The other features are becoming more standard in a sleeping bag, such as a hood for the head, and a baffle for the zip, but the last praiseworthy aspect of the design, are 2 internal mesh pockets. Because they are mesh, its uncertain how long they will last with repeated use, only time will tell, but at least its been thought about.

The retail price for this bag at £67 from DD Hammocks represents truly excellent value, and I would heartily recommend it as part of your hammock sleeping system.'

Chris Salisbury
Director, WildWise Events Ltd
www.wildwise.co.uk


Ok folk sorry the pic's aren't the best,I'll have to take some more of them. As for the Jura 2 I like it and I hope it dose well for DD Hammocks and as you can see I'm not alone in that thought. The only problem I will have now is keeping it out of my eldest daughters hands as she has taken a bit of a shin to it.

Thanks for reading :)

Sandbag47 ]]> sandbag47 http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108049 Review : Swazi Tahr XP http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108022&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 12:07:21 GMT I have had my Swazi Tahr XP for a few weeks now so here is a quick review. Image: http://www.swazi.co.nz/images/uploaded/Tahr%20XP%202%20-%20lge.png The Tahr XP is a close relative of the very popular Ray-Mears-favourite Swazi Tahr, a heavy-duty Gore Tex (as-was) smock that Uncle Ray has made... I have had my Swazi Tahr XP for a few weeks now so here is a quick review.

The Tahr XP is a close relative of the very popular Ray-Mears-favourite Swazi Tahr, a heavy-duty Gore Tex (as-was) smock that Uncle Ray has made very popular and many people on here wear. They have been available for some time now in the UK only on Woodlore's site, who do a special edition with an extra chest pocket. The old model is very highly regarded, but has a couple of issues which have put some people off. Firstly, the cuffs are absorbent and exposed (especially on older models with neoprene cuffs), so after a good drenching they soak up water and stay wet for a long time, chilling the wrists. Secondly, the old model has no hand-warmer pockets, which has been a real turn-off for those who get cold hands.

Swazi have now decided to fix these two issues with the XP. It has no bino pocket on the chest but instead two huge hand-warmer pockets. It also has concealed cuffs under an outer velcro-tightened cuff, so no more cold wrists. They have added a new shaped scalloped tail, and also captive hood drawcords, both also welcome additions.

The new design works for me very well indeed, having previously had a standard Tahr.

Swazi have switched materials for this Tahr XP, the standard Tahr and the full-zipped Wapiti. They have dropped Gore Tex, and have gone for their own proprietary laminate, AEGIS, which I believe they source from a manufacturer in Australia. I was very sceptical at first, but got hold of some breathability data from Swazi, which puts AEGIS, a PTFE membrane, at about 20,000g CO2/m2/24 hrs, which is about the same as Gore Tex and Entrant. It certainly does breathe very well for a laminate. The AEGIS fabric itself is a slight disappointment after the last generation Gore Tex material, being a different, slightly less subtle, colour (more tan than tussock green), stiffer and slightly noisier. It is also "furrier" than the Gore Tex Tahr, which I think will mean it beads water better, although I haven't had it long enough to know. It is certainly a very tough fabric and very waterproof.

Overall I am very very happy with the design and have found my perfect serious wet weather smock. I imported it direct from Swazi, which means you get out of paying NZ GST, but do get stung for UK customs. The jacket is very expensive, in anybody's book, and even the customs charge you pay would get you into a bargain waterproof or smock on its own. However, if you want one, then direct importation is very easy and a slight saving over the Woodlore prices, and in my experience, has worked for me on several Swazi items including their superb Windriver jacket, and takes a reliable 12-15 days. I believe Woodlore do not as yet sell the new Tahr XP here in the UK. ]]> Nonsuch http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=108022 Cheap chinese water filter review (pure easy) http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107934&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 13:50:28 GMT So i've been looking at these cheap chinese water filters for some time now, wondering if they're anything worth buying or not..but seeing as the pricetag's only at about $30, i decided to get one just for the heck of it.
While at it, i did a little review :o
So here it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46KpF-dS52E ]]> Aleks http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107934 Arizzon Wolverine Monolith MKII 90L backpack - The verdict after 3 years of ownership http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107737&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 13:23:07 GMT So, this is my first review.:o I'll add updates, edit and review this if people show any interest/have any questions.

It has been three years since I stumped up the bravery to hand out £250 plus £20 odd quid shipping to get my hands on this, the Arizzon Wolverine Monolith MKII. The honeymoon period is most definitely over and I've recovered from the large hole in my wallet. So, what's it been like to live with over three years of week in week out usage?

Before we get started let's take a brief look at the technical specs taken from the manufacturers website:

"Arizzon Wolverine [90]L Monolith II GEN

fabric: CORDURA 1100D, triple PU coating, DWR, IR filter
IR filter on straps, YKK buckles (NATO specified), YKK zips
capacity:
70L to the collar + 12L top flap pocket = 82L
92L including collar + 12L top flap pocket = 104L
pouches 2 x 10L (optional)
(price per pouch 35€)
W90 - overall 124L (including pouches)
measurements: circumference 116 cm; height to the collar 65,5 cm; height of the collar 28 cm; back width 28 cm
weight: 2750 g, pouch set 400 g"

And so it begins..

I was looking for something really, really strong. Yes, it is certainly over engineered for anything I'm likely to do with it, but it inspires confidence and hasn't missed a beat in the last three years. I don't abuse it but I'm not gentle with it either, this one has been dropped down a few hills accidentally and gets usage every week camping and grocery hauling. Before this I was getting a cheap pack almost every year and I think the investment has been worth it. Now, to the bag:
2013-05-18 12.47.34.jpg2013-05-18 12.49.16.jpg2013-05-18 12.49.41.jpg2013-05-18 12.50.00.jpg2013-05-18 12.51.15.jpg
My first impressions three years ago have not much changed with experience, the bag is well constructed and has bartacs at just about every single point you could want them and two where is a stress point such as the shoulder strap anchor point. These aren't done half heartedly and alot of thread has gone into each of these to really create a bar. Since the MKI, they have added larger side pockets. Before it was hard to fit anything over an A5 notebook in them, now they EAT my '58 bottle and cup, keeping it there securely. A nice improvement and a great feature. I've even mounted a tent in the pocket and strapped it down with the side straps on the bag. Another thumbs up here. The three grab handles, one on top and two on each side are just great. It's a joy to move it around and they're well planted and comfy to use. The suspension system is pretty good. I'm a little on the large side for this pack at 6'4" but it does a reasonable job of keeping the weight off my shoulders. I'm sure it would keep it almost totally on your hops if you're even two inches shorter. It is very finely adjustable once you have moved the straps to the right place on the internal frame and feels very secure without being restrictive. The straps themselves are generously padded and have kept their shape and form over three years of usage, if anything they could probably be a little thinner and achieve the same result but they're perfectly comfortable when out and about in the sticks.

In terms of overall general design, I'd say a 7/10. Why you might ask? I have a few small little things that could be improved. The honeymoon period is certainly over after all, and the mind naturally wonders to improvements at this point. The molle on the bag is laid out in three bands each of two strips of webbing as you can see in the 1st pic. This is fine for smaller pockets but for larger items such as an admin panel this leaves it only half attached. I would have liked to have seen no molle or total molle. I've never used the molle on here given its half hearted nature. The webbing is however, very, very well planted on the bag and not likely to come off anytime soon.

The second little issue is the Molle grid on top of the lid. This is 4*3 as the end channels are sewn through for some strap anchor points (straps removed in photos). I'd have preferred these to have attached outside of the molle webbing to give a 6*3 grid for my admin pouch. Not a serious issue but a small gripe all the same.
2013-05-18 12.48.04.jpg


2013-05-18 13.01.42.jpg2013-05-18 12.50.00.jpg2013-05-18 13.03.19.jpg2013-05-18 12.52.53.jpg
For a 90L bag this can hide its size well, The floating lid is excellent and hopefully these pictures show the range to which it can be filled. Even if the lid is a little oversized when you're not running the bag at full capacity, I think it works nicely and in a civilised manner without too much effort. Together with the snow collar and PU backing to the Cordura, it remains waterproof whatever size you end up running it in. I've left it out in the rain overnight on the Isle of Skye and found the insides to be perfectly dry come the morning, despite the wet look of the Cordura. Thumbs up! The waist belt does not detach which may bother some people but on a 90L pack, I can't really see that you'd want to ever detach it to be honest, but from experience I know this is true on the 70L and 50L packs too. The snow collar is reassuringly large and when extended feels like you're delving into Aladdin's cave such is the distance to the divider for the sleeping bag compartment.

2013-05-18 12.56.35.jpg
We also have one pocket on the top of the lid. This is roomy and easily accessible. The flap to cover the zip has a habit of rolling up but it's still pretty much water proof given that the pocket is sewn on top of, and not into, the lid so the lids Pu coating keeps all below dry. On the underside of the lid is a small pocket just big enough for a toothbrush and a few related essentials.

EDIT: I've forgotten to take pics of the sleeping bag compartment and the bottom access panel. I'll add some pics and a bit more on this when I get home tomorrow evening.

I've owned a Karrimor Predator 45L, and the build quality is easily double as good, if not more, as you'd hope for just over twice the price Arizzon ask! Overall, the strength and comfort of this Monolith are absolutely top quality, it only drops some minor marks for a few small design niggles. Would I buy another? Yes, I've had a good experience but I'd like to try a Kifaru Pointman or MMR if I could ever afford one!

Overall design: 7/10
Overall strengh and quality: 9/10
Overall Mark: 8/10
Attached Images
]]> MertzMan http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107737 Frederiek / Altti Kankaanpää puukko impressions http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107439&goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 19:20:31 GMT When I first spotted this "airplane part" inspired knife on British Blades, it immediately appealed to me. It reminded me of one airplane in particular that I have fond memories of.





Frederiek is fairly new to the BB forum and I have followed her work with interest. Scandinavian style blades are not usually my cuppa tea, but this one did away with all those reservations, so I contacted her and to my delight found out that the knife was for sale.

The blade is an Altti Kankaanpää (I believe it is the Saami model), steel is the same as Lauri uses, 3mm Böhler 0.8 % carbonsteel. The stats: length 22,5 cm of which 10,6 cm is blade. I am not sure what the definition of a puukko really is, but as puukkos go, I suppose this one is of generous size, compared here to a Kallioniemi puukko.



The grind is somewhere between a high scandi and a low sabre grind, depending on your point of view. The blade is very slightly convex, with a very small secondary microbevel. After a few passes through the obligatory smurfpoo, the edge felt bitey and ready for cutting duty.

I had my reservations when I first saw the sheath, being used to the higher puukko sheaths that seem to be the norm for these. Aesthetically I still prefer the high throated sheath for this style of knife, but the knife is very secure and tight fitting and the extra handle sticking out makes it much easier to retrieve, so in the end this changed my opinion about it. It is well put together too, with a genuine wood insert instead of a plastic one, and precise and even stitching. I like the antique finish, it goes very well with the rest of the blade. I took off the beltloop as I prefer to keep knives in my pack most of the time.



In the meanwhile I managed to score two sea kayaks from the bulletin board at the local outdoors supplier store and a few days ago they were delivered. An excellent opportunity to try out the kayaks and the knife :D



This is one of those knives that immediately feels at home in the hand. The handle work has been very nicely done, front and end bolsters are aluminium with red and white spacers. Frederiek put a stacked leather handle on this knife, with a combination of reindeer and cowhide. The whole thing was then polished and treated with beeswax. It really has been done well and if I run my finger the entire length of the handle, I feel absolutely no bounderies between all the handle ingredients, it has been polished flat and that feels supremely comfortable.
Aluminium will dull over time but that suits me just fine. The rivet has been covered with a rosewood cap, fitting perfectly without any gaps. The lack of finger grooves makes for a very uniform feel in different grips and the pronounced belly provides enough feedback and protection from slipping forward on the handle.



I had half expected the handle to deform slightly after I got it wet, but the handle dried perfectly flush, the way it was to begin with. Handle felt very grippy when wet and the beeswax probably prevents water from saturating the leather, as it dried very quickly.
The forged look on the top half of the handle works well with this knife (IMHO), leaving a very textured spine that sparked a firesteel easily.



This is a type of blade that has been around for awhile and you can see why. It is very versatile and up to most tasks, particularly woodworking tasks, giving the user lots of control and ample blade length.

We found a suitable camping spot for our overnight stay and the puukko managed to split some fairly seasoned firewood and was very capable at producing fine curls on feathersticks.






It is still reasonably cold over here and there are patches of snow that never seem to go away, but spring is in the air and the evergreens are, well, forever green...
There already were some raspberries, still a bit sour but edible, very early in the season.
Together with common dog violet and some salmon, we had all the ingredients for a tasty meal.







Certainly like this knife very much and I'll be looking forward to Frederiek's next creation. Thanks for looking! ]]> Nightfly http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107439 Video review of one of my S4 types http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107185&goto=newpost Sun, 05 May 2013 19:49:34 GMT Hi folks.

A chap from the US who bought a knife from me recently was kind enough to do a video review/test. Had me cringing :)

]]> HillBill http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107185 Tasmanian Tiger Range Pack Review http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107040&goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 18:11:49 GMT Hi All,

Thought I’d post a quick review of the Tasmanian Tiger Range bag that I recently bought. Haven’t had a chance to put it through its paces properly yet, but given how difficult it was to get info on this pack online, I thought a quick review of some key elements might help anyone else who is considering it.

First off, a quick front and rear view. As you can see it’s an enormous pack but has a fantastic carry system which handles the load and transfers it comfortably even when fully loaded. Padding is generous which makes it a very snug and comfy carry. My only negative would be that the tension straps on the waist belt should be front-pulling as it is difficult to add tension through a sideways pull when donned. The waist belt itself though is wider than most and durable. The aluminium stays from the frame are set into the waist belt to make a better transfer of load from pack to waist.



Now a quick summary of some features that left me searching for answers when doing research on this pack....
Below you can see exactly where ‘side access’ described in product specs is actually located. This is a zip that runs the full length of the top half of the main compartment and which sits almost hidden between the back plate and removable side pocket. This zip is on one side only though...not sure why?


This is the smaller of the Range packs and so the pocket on the front body of the pack is not removable as with the larger version. However, there is a large zippered access into the main compartment via the back of this pocket. A front loading option is one that I really wanted in a pack and this does the job nicely.


Another question that I struggled to get answers on was the height of the load adjusters. As a 6’ 3” user I wanted to ensure these were located correctly and the photograph below confirms that there are infact two sites on the back plate through which the straps can be fed. I currently have them set on the lower of the two, but further use may see them raised.


Many product specs and user reviews highlight the detachable side pockets on this pack and they really are massive. A few pics below of how they look and some different configurations. They can be zipped together as a stand alone daypack or zipped back-to-back into one single hand carry.




Next for a couple of modifications that I wanted to try out to make the bag a little more multifunctional. Being a cavernous pack, I still wanted the option to take it on trips where it’s full capacity wouldn’t be needed. The zippered attachment method for the side pockets mean that the receiving pair of zips on the body of the pack can actually be zipped together, so reducing the internal volume and keeping the load closer to the body when not fully loaded. You can see from the picture that the bottom compartment remains unaffected (still holding a tent and two sleeping bags in the picture!). With the lid compartment also removed (pictured), the main body volume reduces to more than half in size.


My other concern with the size of this pack was that it would be very rear heavy when fully loaded and have a centre of gravity well outside the body of the wearer. I came up with a solution that redistributes the load of the side pockets to the waist belt, so transferring that weight back to the centre line.
After fiddling with all sorts of option on how to achieve this, the best was the simplest. All I did was cut off the last few inches of webbing from some of the more generous straps on the pack and slid them through the waist belt webbing so that the part that is stitched back on itself hooks under the bottom row of MOLLE. The rest is then threaded through the top row of MOLLE and then directly into the top buckles sited at the top of the side pockets. Gravity alone keeps them in place and the back-stitched webbing prevents slippage. This leaves the side pockets suspended at thigh height and within perfect reach for waterproofs, water bladders or food that might be needed without wanting to remove your pack.






To achieve this, the shoulder straps on the side pockets need to be removed to make room for the additional webbing. I’ve tried to then use these shoulder straps horizontally through the bottom rear of the side pockets to secure them to my thigh, but found this pretty unnecessary and preferred the freedom of movement without. One of the pictures below also shows the waist attachment of the side pockets when their receiving zips have been joined on the main pack to reduce volume for a shorter treck.

A rather lengthy review without any field use to comment on so far, but I though the multi-functionality of this bag is worth highlighting and a few people had already asked for my opinions. Overall, a fantastic and versatile bag with great build quality and tons of modularity for those that like to have gear that serves more than one purpose!

Hope this helps! ]]> Amosjl http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107040 Parry Blade http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106895&goto=newpost Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:53:56 GMT Hi was just wanting to know of peoples thoughts on the Parry Blade. I was going to buy a Falkniven F1 and spend an additional £100 on a axe and knife sharpening stone. The Parry Blade looks like it's all of these rolled into one. Does anybody own or have used one and is it worth the £205 or am I best sticking to my original plan? Cheers. ]]> CharlieWhiskey http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106895 Czech Army Sleeping Bag http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106788&goto=newpost Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:57:16 GMT Hello to all I have just got one of these I will be using it on the bank holiday weekend at the Derbyshire meet up and give it a proper review but initial inspection it seems to be good value for the money

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150912997639?ssPageName=STRK:M EWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2 649

Matt ]]> MattF http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106788