Karrimor SF Sabre 45 Pack

With so many packs on the market it's damn near impossible to pick one. I've been stuck in the USA gear bubble for a while and just now recently been discovering quality made gear from both Aussies and Brits. Karrimor SF is a British manufacturer that specializes in military, law enforcement, and outdoor adventure gear.

Karrimor will begin selling their packs in the USA by December 2012 and will be distributed by Grey Ghost Gear.

Notable features:
-Coolmesh back system
-F-Format internal frame (removable)
-S-shaped shoulder harness
-Sternum strap
-Compatible with side pockets (PLCE)
-Compression straps
-Shock cord carry system
-Zipped lid compartment
-Twin ice axe holders
-Rotproof thread
-Reinforced with bartacks
-Durable water repellent (DWR)
-YKK zips

Product link:
http://www.karrimorsf.com/patrol-products/item/11-sabre-45-rucksack.html

Top shot of the pack


Lid of the pack, front and center. Karrimor SF embroidery in coyote thread


Bottom of the pack Sabre 45 embroidery


Up close look at the stitching consistency


Even the buckles have a Union Jack


Bottom shot of the pack, notice there are 2 loops for whatever necessary accessory. However, there are no moisture grommets



Long straps on the front have these strap keepers / organizers on them


On the very front of the pack there are some additional loops and tie downs that will accommodate a wide variety of gear



Bottom of the straps on the same front area has additional loops for even more attachments


The top lid has bungee chord which is adjustable of course. Again you can fit such a wide variety of gear



Shown here with a soft shell top


The very very top of the lid there is a VERY large compartment. Zippers are hidden underneath a flap



Dual zips. YKK



VERY LARGE compartment



Side of the pack with compression straps. Notice the shape of the lid. The front is angled lower


Compression straps


Angled lid


These large side zips are for additional optional proprietary side pouches (not included). They do however act as a compression mechanism. You can fully unzip the sides for more space (and add the optional side pouches) or fully zip them for a more compact pack


Here are some shots going from unzipped to fully zipped and compressed





Back of the pack. Would be nice to see some more vent channels



Padding is thick and easy on your back


Top carry handle


Back of the pack again, take notice of all the additional attachment points


Adjustable sternum strap and loops



More loop keepers


Large kidney belt buckle complete with Union Jack. Seem to be of brand name although I'm not familiar with this particular make



Inside of the kidney belt, padded for your pleasure


Outside of the kidney belt features these 2 large straps. Would've loved to see some MOLLE as well



Straps have a bungee keeper


Again notice the angled design. Gives the front more coverage while keeping the sides high and tight


The top lid is secured by 2 buckles


Unbuckle those 2 and you're not quite inside the pack yet. Lifting the lid reveals another buckle and a mesh pocket (located directly under the lid)


Discreet stash pocket



Having this additional bukle basically gives you another compartment. You can store your helmet here and close the lid over it


Finally before getting into the large compartment there is a drawstring and a cord lock


The inside is fairly big but not huge by any means. The 45 in the name stand for 45 liter


Only one pocket on the inside, not many options for storage organization


Back plate is removable


Some random buckles on the pack, not sure what they are for. Probably for more optional accessories


Karrimor claims their packs have a DWR treatment, so let's put it to the test


Pouring a bowl of water onto the pack. Note that the dark spots are where the material absorbed the water



The shock cord and large webbing absorbed the most water but the main materials repelled it quite nicely


Some water drops


I could literally put a straw up to this puddle and drink it


I love discovering new gear companies. Whereas I'm always skeptical at first I get excited when the gear turns out to be quite good. I do like the overall simplicity of the pack. Not too many gadgets and gizmos. Straight to the point and has what you need. The inside was a bit bare but the outside more than makes up for storage woes.

Pros:
-DWR treatment
-Compression system
-External organizational options
-Will come in all the cool guy colors, OD, Coyote, Multicam, etc.
-MSRP $189 (Multicam more)

Cons:
-Internal organizational options
-Would be nice to see MOLLE on the kidney belt
-Back vent channels can be slightly improved
-Instead of proprietary side pouches having MOLLE present can be easier for the user to add their own pouches
-No bottom drainage grommets
-No velcro on the outside of the pack, HOWEVER, I was informed final US version will have it
-Made in Vietnam