1st Review. Highlander Forces 33ltr Patrol Pack

[maddave]

There are a lot of small packs on the market, and I've tried a few of them. From Berghaus to Karrimor, Jack Wolfskin and VauDe to name a few. This week I decided on a change of tack. I was meandering around the city centre and a small pack in 'Yeomans' outdoor shop caught my eye. It was the Forces 33 Patrol Sac by Highlander and at £24.99 seemed ludicrously inexpensive, but just the job for bushcraft. So several hours later and £24.99 lighter I got the sack home and loaded it up with all my bushcraft basics and off I toddled to the nearest woody place.

The Forces 33 (Let's just call it the F33) is made of a material called XTP900 which the makers say is "a specialist fabric woven from polyester yarns, specially texturised to maximise strength and resist abrasion". It has a 'funnel back' anti perspiration system designed pump fresh air around the spine and keep sweating to a minimum. It has 2 side pockets and one on the lid with elasticated accessory straps on the top of the lid. The shoulder straps have the same mesh padding as the back and are fitted with a chest clip for comfort. There is an unpadded hip belt and an axe/walking pole accessory loop. Down the centre of the pack is a 'Daisy Chain' accessory loop system to fix extra gear on.

The images below can be clicked for a larger pic.

I loaded the pack up with the following items
Hennessy Expedition Asym hammock
Thermarest sleeping pad (full size)
3 season sleeping bag
58 pattern waterbottle, crusader cup and crusader cooker
US forces 1st aid kit
2pt billy
Granny B Small Forest Axe
Bison Bushcraft knife
Washing kit
Fishing kit
Laplander saw
Water filter & Millbank bag
3 days food
Headtorch
100ft Paracord
1 T shirt
1 Pr socks & undies
Gloves
Starkie Sharp
Silva Compass
Blue flame lighter
Trowel
forces Knife fork spoon set
1 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon (i know)

This is how it looked full


I went for a hike and was surprised at how comfy it was although I'm only 5'6" so I don't know how the pack would sit on a taller framed person. The straps didn't chafe and were very comfortable and although I didn't get a real sweat up, the back system seemed to work and I was quite cool.
See the back vent system below:


The fabric seems very hardwearing and the fixtures and buckes are top notch. This buckle is on the chest strap and is typical of the quality of the bag.


Also of note are the zips which are well made and chunky enough to open or close with a gloved hand.


The side pockets on the pack are not large but I managed to get my 58 pattern waterbottle and crusader cup and cooker in one and in the other side my US army 1st aid kit and 100ft of paracord.


The top snow valance is generous and with all my kit in there was still room for about 4 more Ltrs of odds & ends.


Finally I rolled up my M65 combat jacket with liner and popped it under the elastics on the lid and had a quick run. It didn't dislodge and made it all the way home without adjustment.


Roundup.

The F33 is a cracking bit of kit for the money and at £25 you're not going to worry too much about abusing it. I was especially impressed by the comfort and the quality of the fittings on the sac, my only gripe is that the hip belt is unpadded. But with only 33 Ltrs on your back this shouldn't be too much of an issue. Although I've only given the F33 a quick appraisal, The bag feels like it can take a fair amount of abuse and indeed it's going to get it. I can't comment on water repellancy as it didn't rain, but as with most rucksacs, even top notch ones a liner is always worth the investment. So if you're looking for a decent 'no frills' patrol pack that won't break the bank, you won't go far wrong with the F33

[tenbears10]

That looks a good sack Dave and goes to show you don't have to spend top dollar to get decent kit. Interesting to see how it gets on with a bit of abuse. As you said though at £25 you could buy 2 and still only spend the same as other similar sacks.

Bill

[Adi007]

Great write-up Maddave! Looks like a super sack for bushcraft.

Tell me, fully loaded, how much did it weigh?

[maddave]

Great write-up Maddave! Looks like a super sack for bushcraft.

Tell me, fully loaded, how much did it weigh?

Bout 42lbs if I'd filled my waterbottle probably about 45lbs

[tomtom]

well im sold! cheers dave... *goes off to find one online*

[Martyn]

well im sold! cheers dave... *goes off to find one online*

http://www.interhike.com/cgi-bin/sho...ge=hi_rt33.jpg

:wink:

[leon-1]

That's a nice review Dave :biggthump , one question, did you use the chest strap at all and if you so did you find it restrictive?

Some packs that I have used before with these on have enough give for them to provide stability without really affecting your breathing, others appear to have no give if they provide the stability and constrict your chest quite a lot.

Like the new avatar as well ):

[Ed]

It'll stand up to abuse... don't worry about that. I've used one for years and has now been handed on with many years life yet to go. A great little pack indeed.

:-)
Ed

[maddave]

That's a nice review Dave :biggthump , one question, did you use the chest strap at all and if you so did you find it restrictive?

Some packs that I have used before with these on have enough give for them to provide stability without really affecting your breathing, others appear to have no give if they provide the stability and constrict your chest quite a lot.

Like the new avatar as well ):

Hi Leon

The chest strap has an elastic 'shock absorber' for want of a better word. There is about an inch give in it so it moves with your chest when you breathe. seems right enough. :-)

[leon-1]

Hi Leon

The chest strap has an elastic 'shock absorber' for want of a better word. There is about an inch give in it so it moves with your chest when you breathe. seems right enough. :-)

Cheers Dave, that is what I wanted to hear :biggthump

[Paganwolf]

VERY very good review matie :biggthump these are a superb sack a got one from silvermans and i rate it as you do, as a top sack! i was fortunate to be able to put it up against a few other sacks of the same capacity and the same price range, and im a very fussy sod! this one came out tops and it was the cheaper end of the scale, well done again :wink: :biggthump

[tomtom]

http://www.interhike.com/cgi-bin/sho...ge=hi_rt33.jpg

:wink:

not sure that they are quite the same thing mate..

anyone else found them online.. best i found was £30.00

im going to go in to the dreaded plymouth tomorrow (thats right the city with the lowest IQ in the uk) and see if i can find one!

[Tumper]

silvermans have them online, and in store (i was in there last week and they had them on show) for £24.99

[CLEM]

Try www.fieldandforces.co.uk


I just came across the site and they have this sack for 21 pounds.

[tomtom]

Thanks

[hootchi]

That was an excellent review. :biggthump All the information and detail you could need. The pack seems like a tardis mate, very good packing. The review almost made me want to buy one but with no padded hipstrap im not sure my shoulders could take 42lb on their own :roll: .

[Moonraker]

Great review. Thanks, I found it really helpful. :biggthump

[Gary]

My NEPHEW has one of these and while I never used it myself I did study it in detail and was impressed by the quality which went into it, it reminded me of the early Arktis gear - before they became a big company - honest quality and well thought out design.

[Womble]

Great Review! I went out and bought one of these at the weekend, and like what I see.

[TheViking]

Cool review. And it include a packing list too! ack:

[maddave]

Great Review! I went out and bought one of these at the weekend, and like what I see.

They're excellent aren't they :biggthump And there was me gonna pay £70 ish for a Karrimor :shock:

[Womble]

I also spent £15 to get a squaddy folding sleeping mat (which also makes a really good sitting mat/back rest), which fits very comfortably indeed at the back of the pack. I'm probably going to get a crusader stock and mug shortly, as this seems to be a pretty good combo and (if your review can be trusted....) will sit in one of the side pockets.

I'm going to attempt to make this my standard bushcraft pack, and am going to be using it as a benchmark for kit reducing/packing.

[maddave]

I also spent £15 to get a squaddy folding sleeping mat (which also makes a really good sitting mat/back rest), which fits very comfortably indeed at the back of the pack. I'm probably going to get a crusader stock and mug shortly, as this seems to be a pretty good combo and (if your review can be trusted....) will sit in one of the side pockets.

I'm going to attempt to make this my standard bushcraft pack, and am going to be using it as a benchmark for kit reducing/packing.

The mug, cooker and 58 patt bottle all go into 1 side pocket. It's a bit of a squeeze but they do fit, and once they're in the pocket zips up fine. If you really want to make full use of the space you can probably fit about 4 sachets of greenheat round the bottle neck before zipping it up

[Womble]

That's the confirmation I was looking for!

<goes off in search of Gary>

[beachlover]

Has anyone tried the larger Highlander? I think it is the 44 litre model.

[Hogan]

I loaded the pack up with the following items.....
3 season sleeping bag

Hi,
May I ask what type/size is the sleeping back. The reason I ask is that I got a 3 season bag from Argos (with stuff sack) and after putting it into my 75L Karrimor rucksack, I only had room left for a pair of socks, and an after-eight mint (OK, I'm exaggerating, but there was very little space left, and certainly not enough to cram in the stuff you got in half the space.)

I ended up strapping the sleeping back to the outside of the pack with the tent and sleeping mat, but had it rained heavily, I doubt the water 'resistant' stuff sack for the sleeping bag would have kept it dry.

... (And the gymnastics required to get it back in the stuff sack afterwards were worthy of a 'you've been framed' special award, had there been a video handy).

[tenbears10]

Hogan

I don't know what sleeping bag dave has but he is a bit of a master packer to get all that into 33 litres so don't worry if you can't do the same (nor can I). Your sleeping bag sounds like it is quite big but there are things you can do. Does the stuff sack have straps on to compress it? If not you are best getting one with straps as it will make a big difference to the pack size. The bags they give you are NEVER waterproof so pack it in something else if it is going on the outside of your rucksack. Many manufacutrers make the mistake of providing a stuff sack which you can only just get the sleeping bag in, what's the point? With compression straps you will get rid of any excess anyway so it would be better to make the bag with extra room to fit the sleeping bag eaisly.

The best method of packing a sleeping bag is to start with the head end and stuff it into the compression sack until you get to the foot end. the reason for this is as the compression sack gets full you have less and less sleeping bag to fit in. If you start at the foot end you have to stuff the bulkiest part last. (those who don't believe me go and try it both ways with your sleeping bag and see which is eaiser).

Hope that is of use

Bill

[maddave]

Hi,
May I ask what type/size is the sleeping back. The reason I ask is that I got a 3 season bag from Argos (with stuff sack) and after putting it into my 75L Karrimor rucksack, I only had room left for a pair of socks, and an after-eight mint (OK, I'm exaggerating, but there was very little space left, and certainly not enough to cram in the stuff you got in half the space.)

I ended up strapping the sleeping back to the outside of the pack with the tent and sleeping mat, but had it rained heavily, I doubt the water 'resistant' stuff sack for the sleeping bag would have kept it dry.

... (And the gymnastics required to get it back in the stuff sack afterwards were worthy of a 'you've been framed' special award, had there been a video handy).

It's a snugpak bag. Very small. I think I know the Argos bag you talk of, we have em for the van and I'm sure they pack them in a Vacuum cuz once you get them out and they loft up, you could wrestle with em for 20 mins to get them back in the stuffsack. In fact I wonder if I could get one of those into the Highlander on it's own !! :shock: Lol

[Hogan]

The best method of packing a sleeping bag is to start with the head end and stuff it into the compression sack until you get to the foot end. the reason for this is as the compression sack gets full you have less and less sleeping bag to fit in. If you start at the foot end you have to stuff the bulkiest part last. (those who don't believe me go and try it both ways with your sleeping bag and see which is eaiser).

:biggthump Thanks Bill, I will be trying that out tonight (in the comfort of the living room).

I think I know the Argos bag you talk of, I'm sure they pack them in a Vacuum cuz once you get them out and they loft up, you could wrestle with em for 20 mins to get them back in the stuffsack.

:yup: Yep!, That's the one. Even though there are compression straps, the stuffsack is too small. It's like trying to get toothpaste back in the tube.
After trying out tenbears tip, I'll have a squint at the snugpack prices.

Thanks to all for your help,

[Adi007]

For compressing and keeping sleeping bags dry I've just received some waterproof stuff sacks from Ortlieb and Exped.

The new Ortlieb bag is different from the existing ones I have because it has a air release valve - so you can throw your compressibles inside, open the valve and compress away then close the valve. The bag has a great "zip lock" style strip at the top and the valve is less bulky than the type seem on the WX-Tex compression bags (which are like Thermarest valves). The material also seems stronger and is now PVC-free.

http://www.ortlieb.de/_prod.php?lang...ukt=sack-compr

The sacks from Exped are also fantastic stuff sacks with a difference - they are waterproof, lightweight and have compression straps on them to help you get more into less space (something that we always strive for!).

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped...A?opendocument
Scroll down to "Waterproof Compression Bag" and "Waterproof Telecompression Bag ".

There are excellent sacks and so far the best I've ever seen at getting more into less space and keeping your gear nice and dry!