Karrimor Predator SF30


this site is under construction - I would be very happy about every Feedback!

The Predator 30 is considert to be a lightweight and durable daypack for harsh environment. The backpack is covered with modular webbing which allowes to use a wide range of pouches or other things that fit through the loops to be attached.







It has no real "frame". Instead there is a thick plastic plate inside the back of the backpack which could be taken out.


The Predator 30 is perfect for one-day-trips or with the addition of modular pouches also perfectly servicable for longer trips (longer than 2 days) 

Made out of KS60-RS which is basically a 600 Denier polyester fabric with a Silicone/PU elastomer that adds abrasion resistance with the benefit of beeing lighter in weight to the Backpack. The Fabric is coated with a durable water repellent (DWR) elastomer.
On the inside you can see the PU-coating

Dimensions

Height: ~50cm
Width: ~30cm
Depth: ~20cm
Weight: ~1.3kg

Features

  • S-shaped shoulder harness
  • Sternum strap 
  • waistbelt (not removable)
  • Coolmash back system
  • One main compartment
  • elastic stuff-pockets on both sides
  • shock cord carry system on the top lid
  • Ice-axe-holders
  • Ski guides 
  • Durable water repellent coating 
  • Velcro Name Tag
  • Ykk-Zipper
  • Compartment , opening and clip on the shoulder harness for a hydration bladder

Price: 

I bought mine for about 50€ (Sports-Direct on sale) one year ago. 
Now it costs about 100€ (depends on your retailer)

Personal use: 

I use this backpack as my daypack for mountaineering/hiking or biking as well as a backpack for longer trips (yet just 2 days)

What i like...

  • The depth: Due to its depth, the backpack is very nice to carry. The centre of gravity is not to far away from your body and so you are able to control your movement even when the backpack is completely packed. You can also adjust the depth of th backpack by using the straps on the side of the backpack. (Fig. 1)
  • The modular webbing (also on the waistbelt): On the back of the backpack i used shock cord to make an extra shock-cord carry system on my backpack (e.g. T-shirts to dry or a thermarest Z-light) (Fig. 2)
    On the sides I use two 5.11 H2O carrier as side pouches on the backpack. (Fig. 3)
    On the waistbelt i am able to carry 2 small general purpose pouches (Fig. 4)
    (i have not used this loadout yet, but i tried it once just to look if the pouches would interfer my arms while walking - they don't but when you use some bigger pouches im pretty sure they will interfer you while walking... )
  • The adjustment of all straps: When you buy the backpack you will get some special rubber loops on the straps to avoid hanging strap-ends and the ends have small plastic plates sewn in them to fold everything together. I really like how it's done on this backpack. (Fig. 5)
    For example, the Ghost Backpack from direct action uses a similar system but without rubber. They use velcro instead and have no "folding system". (Fig. 6) 
  • The mesh-back (and the padding on the shoulder harness): The mash back on this bachpack is very comfortable and durable. It is made out of two layers. The outer layer is made out of though polyester fabric and the inner layer consists of some sort of padding and moisture wicking material. Same on the shoulder straps, just thinner. You will sweat under this back, but you won't ever have the feeling of sweat running down your back. (Fig. 7/8) 
  • The elastic side-pockets: Just for small items like snacks, schoka-kola or my wood-burner (bushbox). If the pack is not completly packed you can also fit a US-canteen in the side pouches. (Fig. 9) 
  • The clip on the shoulder strap for your hydration bladder (Fig. 10) 
  • The attachment for ice-axes (Fig. 2) 
  • The Waistbelt: MOLLE-campatible and good padded (Fig. 11) 
  • The general design of the back: Top lid, one main compartment, fully adhustable, MOLLE-compatible... just a simple backback made out of good quality.  

Reference Pictures 

Rubber-loops to secure the straps



Mesh on the back (you can see the tan polyester fabric first layer and the black second layer underneath)

the padding-mesh on the shoulder harness (also tan outer layer and grey/black second layer)

Shock-cord system on the top lid (my fleece or my rain jacket fits perfekt inside this)


My self-made shock cord system on the front of the backpack
You can also see the attachment for the ice-axes (2 loops on the bottom and 2 shock-cord loops on the backpack)

Notice the clip for the hydration bladder (on the left shoulder strap)
This small black thing is the Suunto clipper which is attached to my shoulder strap with paracord
Back system on the Predator 30
Molle on the Waistbelt (3 loops, higher dann standard Molle-loops, but works as well)


Maximum - packed: dosen't look pretty but works well. Weight about 16 kg (including 2l Water) 

What i dislike...

  • The attachment for skis: It just doesn't seem durable enough and it is to small for all skis i have at home. I used the backpack with skis once, but i wasn't able to put them through those loops.
    I use the loops now for my snow-shoes to attach them thight to the backback, works well, but it's not what those loops were designed for... (Fig. 1) 
Fig 1: Ski-loop on the bottom of the side pouch (I think it's not wide enough for skis )

Popular posts from this blog

Headwear

Image
The Head is often overlooked when putting together your equipment for a trip in the beautiful mountains. Never forget to bring an appropriate headwear... low temperaturs: Our head is heavily supplied with blood and poorly insulated. When you have sweat a lot, wet hair won't help with insulating and our body loses a lot of warmth. Even with good insulated clothing on the rest of our body we can't compensate this loss.  A very important fact: you never freeze on your head, so you won't even notice that you lose so much warmth over your head (and warmth means energy). Wearing a cap in your sleeping bag also reduces the heat loss of your body.  Caps/hats for cold weather: You can use all sorts of fleece or wool caps you like. They should cover your ears and be thick enough to be windproof.  Examples Merino Wool watch cap: I have two of these and I like them very much, comfortable to wear, very warm... a normal wool cap, but it's made from merino wool.
Read more

Mountain EDC

Image
You have probably heard of  EDC (= Every Day Carry) In this article I will just explain what I carry on person while mountaineering. Some basic items always stay the same, some may vary depending on the route I am about to take. They are not really meant to build up a survival Kit, they are just what I think could be useful to have at your fingerips whithout taking your backpack of. When you look at my article about my clothing system you will find a review about the trousers I use  (summer: KAZ03/M75 trousers of the Austrian Bundesheer - winter: same as summer but with extra layers of clothing underneath or the Gorka 3 trousers) On Person - Basic: My watch, the Samsung Gear S2. I use this watch to track my route and to view my pulse. The watch has a lot of other nice features but I don't use all of them while hiking. Not an ideal solution, beacuse of the low battery lifetime and the high price. My watch (Samsung Gear S2) Upper pockets:  right hand side : Mobile
Read more