r/Savotta

Just wanted to share how the XL frame can be used.

Earlier this summer I helped to organize a local MTB race. I mostly took the part of the pack animal, because I had this silly idea of attaching a trash bucket to the XL frame.

And ofc I rode aroud with the trusty Tactical Horse.

There has been too much praise for the JXL the last few days, can't let people think that the Kantamus 60 is inferior.

25 kg because I loaded it for many days with both food and water, despite only planning to be out for one night. Unfortunately only walked 4 km because I live close to nature and found a great spot for my tent way too soon. Could've walked for many more hours. Back didn't get too hot despite sun and 18°c, since the lower backpadding creates a gap for air above. The lid is a ridiculously great daypack that I simply unbuckle and put on to walk away from camp, I'm almost sad about it since I cant justify buying a Hatka. My CCF-sleeping pad goes clean inside the tent immediately, since I can use Savottas sitting pad from the backpack compartment on the ground.

A further test in the daypack switch, the Kahakka stayed outside in the rain all day. Compartment stayed all fine and dry 😎🤘

A quiet day in the forest with my four legged companion, and the Kahakka 25 right where it belongs.

Here is what I packed for the two of us:

- A first aid kit for the dog
- A first aid kit for me
- 3L of water
- A spare pair of socks
- The dog’s food and bowl
- An insulated pouch with a chicken and chipotle sauce sandwich, my favourite
- A book for some quiet time after lunch, The Hedge Knight by George R. R. Martin
- The Savotta Sitting Pad, which works just as well against my back as it does when I want to sit and lean against a tree

I also attached my Suur Kukkaro as an admin pouch/chestpack to the MOLLE webbing on the shoulder straps for my small essentials, along with the Savotta treat pouch that I previously showed here on the subreddit.

The verdict: everything is fantastic. The carry is excellent, the setup is just right for a relaxed day in the woods, and the whole experience is simply delightful.

Just a simple day in the forest, exactly as it should be.

Still evolving daily as I carry it and make some mods from parts I find but here is the concept.

Kahakka and suurkukkaro attached to an old campri external frame.

The kukkaro has straps below and when loosened can fit a sleeping bad sandwiched between the main pack and kukkaro as an example.

I'm tinkering wit the idea of making the shoulderharness adustable as well so I can carry game bags etc. for short periods if necessary.

All quite easily remoavable so can be detached and used separately.

So this one’s a bit more niche - there’s a work life with its own bags (Aer, tomtoc, toshi and brand new Fyro) and there’s a deployment life where I am switching away from 5.11 and testing a Savotta Kahakka 25l setup as daybag and the attachable Askare 8l fanny/sling for Management on site (earthquake deployments / urban search and rescue work).

The daypack has all we need for 24h work/survival, but that is not carried all the time. Typically, it will stay in a truck or at the equipment staging. For management, there would be a laptop going in country but that stays in the base so there is room for an assessment bag (monocular, marking equioment, comms etc). The idea is to bundle all that stuff into its own bag, hence this sling.

Had the opportunity to test the Askare management component for one week at a festival (work never stops) and that worked really well. It is a particularly good fit for the macbook neo with a padding sleeve (called pro elife), plus iPad pro 11 with fold and magic keyboard plus ancilliary stuff. Overall weight is about 4,5 kilo.

It worked really well and the Savotta bag is super rugged yet malleable.

So I just did my first camp with Jääkäri XL!

https://youtu.be/uOPYS7KcvPM

I simply couldn’t be happier with the pack. I have used a lot of different rucks over the years and nothing else has come close to this. My loadout was about 60lbs/28kg, but it felt like it might as well have been 30lbs/14kg. I had my L loaded up with side pockets and was able to transfer all of that gear, plus some extras into the XL. The difference in carrying comfort between the two was noticeably significant. I will do a video on it soon, going over my initial impressions. But, for anyone that has been thinking about the XL, it has two thumbs up from me.

I took my 60 on her maiden voyage. I decided to go a little heavier to get a feel for it so I brought all my “nice to have” stuff. Since I’m also in bear country, I found out that my bear canister also fits inside! 47 lbs (21 Kg) with 1L H2O included.

For shortish hikes and frolicking in the woods this waxed canvas beauty is great. I keep hoping that Savotta will make some new bags with waxed canvas. Dare I dream of a canvas Niukka with leather straps?

Savotta Brown Forever🤎

Hiking trail along the coast of the Stockholm Archipelago.

Went hiking in the Urho Kekkosen national park in Finland for 12 days. Carried everything without complaint. Some slight soreness on the hips on the first day, because my pack weighed 25 kg (about 50 lbs). Got radically better when we am started eating all the food.

Side pouches are the 9L from Savotta and about 6L pouches from Baribal.