1st Review. Highlander Forces 33ltr Patrol Pack

[tenbears10]

Are they expensive Adi?

Bill

[Wink]

On the subject of sleeping bags, check out

http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/Outdoo...language=en-GB

They have snugpack, but also Mountain Equipment bags with expandable knee sections...in olive green! I bought the TDS Military 3, which is rated to -12 comfort, -18 extreme. Comes with great stuffsack! Very warm indeed. They also do a version without the stretchy bit but with a waterproof lining inside the foot area, for those of you who wear their boots in bed.

[Snufkin]

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

Just got the 44 today, not had a chance to load it up but it looks well made. It has a padded hipbelt and a detachable rain cover in the top pocket. Side pockets aren't quite big enough to fit my swedish army mess kit in :cry:

[beachlover]

It would be good to hear how it does load and how it bears up to daily use.
Although you can't get your Swedish army mess tin in the side pockets, do you reckon a crusader mug etc would fit?

[Snufkin]

It would be good to hear how it does load and how it bears up to daily use.
Although you can't get your Swedish army mess tin in the side pockets, do you reckon a crusader mug etc would fit?

Crusader mug/bottle would fit with plenty of space to spare.
Should be able to get out with it monday so I'll post my first impressions then.

[beachlover]

I'll wait to find out how you think it performs. Credit card at the ready :cry:

[spoony]

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

Karrimor and highlander are worlds apart,

[Spacemonkey]

...and prices apart! I have used my Highlander (why do I always want to say-"there can be only one!!" ?) on a daily basis lugging varying weight loads about, and also quite a few trips out in to the sticks, including a wander up an 8000ft mountain in the Pyrennees, for the last 6 monjths or more. All I can say is that it is a great bit of kit indeed. I don't find it any worse than other brand names I have had in the past, but when you consider it is half the price (and probably comes from the same sweat shops out East) it is an even better bargain!

Not a sasauge has gone wrong, and it still looks like it did when I bought it. Thoroughly recommended.

[Doc]

Have to say I'm with Spacemonkey on this one. I have a Highlander Forces 25 and a Karrimor Sabre 45 to compare it to.

The Highlander is so cheap it tends to get abused, sat on, overloaded, etc. I take it wildfowling so it gets exposed to salt water and cold. Now about 3 years old.

The highlander rucksack is comfortable, and all the buckles and zips still work. The fabric is abrasion resistant. It is lightweight.

Not all highlander kit is good, but I have confidence in their rucksacks and recommend them.

[scanker]

Can one of the Highlander owners give me an opinion on the zips please? I have two old rucksacks from years ago - one's a regatta, can't think of the other brand - and they're both just a little too small and really poor quality. The zips, in particular, are prone to "splitting open" if the pockets are anywhere near 3/4 full.
I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger Highlander packs and was just wondering if the zips were fairly sturdy? TIA.

[PatrickM]

I have been using the Highlander Tracpac 35 & Forces 66 for a number of years now. I have had them in both jungle and desert conditions and I use them 5 days a week when I'm running courses, they've been subjected to all weather conditions and river crossings and they are still in great nick - now thats value for money in my book

Karrimor and highlander are worlds apart,

Spoony I've been through a few Karrimors in my day and Highlander gets the cream cake as far as I'm concerned - it's great kit for a reasonable price

[Spacemonkey]

The zips on mine are fine. They're big chunky numbers and don't appear to be able of opening due to expansion of the pocket. You'll be fine..

Has anyone tried their copy of the Berghaus Vulcan Cyclops bag that sells for £99??

[Dogface]

I've had a Highlander Forces 44 for some time now, and I'd highly recomend it - light but strong, comfortably and just the right size. For about £30. To be honest, I can't see the point in paying more when the 44 does a perfect job. I must be missing something. A label, perhaps?

Regards!

[scanker]

The zips on mine are fine. They're big chunky numbers and don't appear to be able of opening due to expansion of the pocket. You'll be fine..

Has anyone tried their copy of the Berghaus Vulcan Cyclops bag that sells for £99??

Cheers for that. I think I'll give the Forces 99 a try.

[spoony]

Can one of the Highlander owners give me an opinion on the zips please? I have two old rucksacks from years ago - one's a regatta, can't think of the other brand - and they're both just a little too small and really poor quality. The zips, in particular, are prone to "splitting open" if the pockets are anywhere near 3/4 full.
I'm thinking about getting one of the bigger Highlander packs and was just wondering if the zips were fairly sturdy? TIA.

I have a highlander and the zips are poo, hard to open with bare hands never mind gloves, maybe i got the friday afternoon one, also heard bad things apart, customer services, have a prob and they dont want to know, this was discussed on a yahoo mailing list i was on,

[Spacemonkey]

That's suprising. I sent them an email ages ago with a few suggestions for improvements which they said they would consider for the next re design (they probably won't though!) and it was a prompt reply. I must admit though that nothing has gone wrong with any of my Highlander kit. Yes, it is not going to last through a war, nor last a lifetime, but that's not what I bought it for. It's cheap enough to not give a damn about, and I accpet that, so I buy it. However, saying that, some of my older Berghaus and Karrimor sacks in the past seem to be on a par with it, yet seem to cost a whole lot more.

If you can afford the designer label, and want that-then fine, they are good bags. If you can't then you won't be dissapointed with the Highlander bags, after all, at that price there CAN be more than one.....

[havingagiraffe]

Karrimor and highlander are worlds apart,

Wow. Old thread. Not as old as my Highlander Nevis 55 back pack though. It's at leat seven years old, probably closer to ten, and it's good as new. Having said that, my Karrimor pack's even older ( so old it has metal buckles and draw strings instead of plastic clips and velcro ) so perhaps I'm just really careful with my kit.

[spandit]

Ancient thread but I've just got one based on the strength of this review. Don't know how on earth you fitted that lot in (picture no longer works) but I've got:
• Carinthia Tropen sleeping bag
• Tenth Wonder XL Hornet
• Alpkit Hunka XL bivi bag
• Swedish Trangia
• Poncho
• Water bottle
• Silk liner

Still a bit of room for food etc. but CCF mat will have to strap to the outside

[BareThrills]

It does look a good pack. Ive been resisting buying a new day pack but this might get my dosh too.

[spandit]

With the addition of a bungee from the 99p store (guess how much?) I've strapped my sit pad to the outside (could probably fit it inside but it gets dirty & wet). Everything nice and compact which should help for bashing through the jungles of East Sussex!

[screwdriver]

i have had the pro force 44 version for 4 years and at 38quid new has been a fantastic purchase and a very comfortable pack. the only downside is i wish the side pockets were a bit taller or fitted as seperate items like my sabre and roc.

[jacko1066]

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).

I don't no of it's Any use to you mate, but I was given some really great advice on here regarding stowing sleeping bags in rucksacks, and that is to quite simply do away with the stuff sack and just stuff the sleeping bag straight into the bag right at the bottom, then with all your stuff on too it will naturally compress it down but will take up a lot less room!!
Seems to work well for me but I'm using a bigger bag!!
Cheers
Steve

[spandit]

I think he asked that question 7 years ago but it's valid advice nonetheless - it's how I pack my sleeping bag now

[jacko1066]

I think he asked that question 7 years ago but it's valid advice nonetheless - it's how I pack my sleeping bag now

Lol very good point!!!
But like you say it may do someone some good somewhere?
Cheers
Steve