Karrimor Rucksack

The Karrimor rucksack will be one of the most important items of your camping and outdoor equipment. It is your back camel that will carry all your camping equipment whenever you go camping. So when you are out shopping for a rucksack it is important that you spend quality time looking and comparing all available rucksacks to you and trying out all the alternatives as well. Remember that the Karrimor rucksack will become a part of your body and an ever present friend on whom you become dependable upon. So choosing the correct rucksack for you must take as much thought and consideration as choosing a bride. Well not to that extreme, but something similar!

Camping and Outdoor Equipment

Karrimor Rucksack

Choosing a rucksack

When choosing a rucksack such as the Karrimor rucksack there are a few considerations that you need to think about. Firstly you must think about how you will be using the rucksack. When you are camping what type of trips will you be taking and for how long will you be camping for.

Karrimor Rucksack Cheetah 50 - 70 by Karrimor

Here is a very nice piece of camping and outdoor equipment to own for camping. It is constructed out of N420D Dot Matt, N420D HD and Hypalon. It is hydration system compatible and has the new SA back system and 3 point compression. On the capacity front you have a maximum of 70 L with the main body, expansion side pockets, 2 pockets in the lid, a front pocket and 2 mesh wand pockets. It has main body access from an expanding lid and lid shock cord carrying system. There is a rope strap and base load straps. For comfort and security on the back there are adjustable padded shoulder straps and a sliding elasticated chest strap. To protect the bag from the rain is a rain cover and you can carry your walking pole or axe with the available attachment points. With a very useful grab handle as well this karrimor rucksack weighs 2.2 Kg

Karrimor Rucksack Bobcat 65L by Karrimor

This Karrimor rucksack is a standard style of backpacking bag with 2 zipped side pockets and a base unit. It is hydration pack compatible as well. It is sized nicely with a capacity of 65 L and weighs 1.4 Kg. Other features on this bag include 2 front lid closure straps and 2 base load carrying straps. For your walking pole there are attachment points. The bag has a lid shock cord carrying system and for comfort when wearing it on your back there are padded shoulder straps which can be adjusted to fit your body snugly. For extra stability and comfort there is also a adjustable padded hip belt. And secure the bag completely to your torso there is a final chest strap. With 4 external pockets and 1 internal pocket this karrimor rucksack gives you a lot for a very reasonable price.

The Rucksack

A rucksack such as the Karrimor rucksack is basically a sack made of some sort of cloth that is carried on a person’s back with the help of 2 straps that go over the shoulders. This of course is just a simple explanation and does not do justice in it’s description of the modern day rucksack that has evolved incredibly over the last couple of decades due to research and technology.

Frameless, external frame, internal frame and body pack are the 4 categories that the rucksack fall into.

Frameless

These are the simplest design of a rucksacks and are a bags that have a set of shoulder straps attached to them. A rucksack like this is used for carrying general goods and come in all different shapes, designs and sizes. The most basic frameless rucksack has just one main pocket and a set of shoulder straps. More advanced models will have extra pockets, chest straps. waist straps, padded backs and cushioned shoulder straps. On the production front these rucksacks can be produced inexpensively.

External frame

This type of rucksack has a frame which is carried on the back and the frame in turn carries and supports the sack. Traditionally external frame rucksacks were used to carry heavy weight because the frame gave the carrier extra support and protection and weight distribution in comparison to the frameless rucksack. The frames of these external frame rucksacks used to be made out of wood but nowadays the frame is usually of aluminium lightweight metal tubes. On the frame of an external rucksack there are pads and straps which actually prevent the sack and frame from coming into contact with the body. This protects the body of the user as well as giving ventilation around the rucksack and reducing sweatiness. The bag of an external frame rucksack is smaller than the frame itself, with the frame protruding above and below the bag. The areas of the frame that protrude from the bag are used to strap additional camping and outdoor equipment on such as tents and sleeping bags. The main compartment of an external rucksack is smaller than the main body of an internal frame rucksack as internal space has been sacrificed to make way for more external space. The external frame rucksack is not as popular amongst the camping fraternity as the internal frame rucksack but companies such as Jansport, Coleman and Kelty still produce them.

Internal frame

The internal frame rucksack was invented in 1967 by Greg Lowe and nowadays are the most popular rucksack with examples out there such as the Karrimor rucksack. The internal frame rucksack has a large body into which a small frame is integrated. The frame can be metal or plastic strips that when worn on the users back, mold to the shape of the back to give the wearer a good and comfortable fit. Being tight on the back makes the rucksack user friendly with the feel of predictable load movement, though it has very little ventilation and can be sweaty. But these internal frame rucksacks do have large storage compartments and with good shoulder straps and waist straps they are a very good rucksack to use. The internal frame rucksack has more or less replaced the external rucksack in many outdoor activities and have become an essential part of most people’s camping and outdoor equipment.

How to pack a rucksack

Whatever you plan to do or wherever you plan to go on your camping trip it is very important for you to know the correct way to pack your karrimor rucksack. By packing your bag correctly it will be more comfortable to carry on your back, carry more gear and ensure that the most important items that you need instantly or first are not stuck somewhere down near the bottom of the bag. Rucksacks can hold a lot of clothing and equipment at the same time, but this does not mean that you should pack everything imaginable into them. Before starting on packing your pack always plan out your trip and the gear you will need for it.

So you have decided where you are going and for how long. The next step is to actually think about what you need for the trip you are embarking upon,

Karrimor Rucksack Panther 55-65 by Karrimor

If you are looking for a piece of camping and outdoor equipment that will serve you well for many years then this Karrimor rucksack fits all the criteria you look for in a rucksack. If on any camping trip you embark upon you are looking for a rucksack in which you can squeeze a tent, sleeping bag, other camping gear and a few clothes as well as a sleeping mat then this little beauty is for you. When you first own one of these, pack it full and then do all the adjustments with it on your back. Once you have the settings you want they are there for all time and maybe you will only have to make small adjustments to the waist strap once in a while.

The bottom chamber of this bag is deceptively large and can hols a sleeping bag along with a couple of more items. Not bad at all I say. Another nice little feature on this bag is that the side straps have clips on. This allows you quick release for your walking pole or water bottle that you have sitting in one of the side pockets. And another great little innovation is the rain cover that is not sawed in like on many bags. This is ideal as it means that you can replace your rain cover when it begins to leak.

Think logically with this and apply as much common sense as possible. Once you have decided everything and chosen your required gear, lay everything out on the floor next to your karrimor rucksack. You are now ready to start the packing. First in to the bag should always be the heaviest camping and outdoor equipment. With the weight at the bottom of your rucksack your rucksack will have a better centre of balance. As you continue packing your items should get lighter the higher up in the rucksack they are. But do keep some soft items aside as you will be using these as padding. Once you have packed almost everything try the rucksack on your back to see if any of the harder camping equipment protrudes and sticks into your back. If so then you can use the soft items out aside to pad out the bag so you no longer have anything jabbing your back. A little tip with the harder items is to actually wrap them first in clothing items or place clothing between them before placing them in your karrimor rucksack. These tips give you additional padding and stop any movement by the heavier items once inside your bag. The whole aim of packing your rucksack correctly is to make the bag as comfortable as possible whilst fitting everything in.

Most good quality backpacks such as the karrimor rucksack are equipped with an easily accessible outer section, side pockets and strap on points. These outer sections you shall use for carrying items such as maps, mobile phones, keys and all those small items like fire starters and your camping first aid kit. Water is the essence of life so make sure you pack your water bottles in the bottle pockets as well.

Such is the advancement in research and technology with camping equipment that the standards and function ability of camping and outdoor equipment has improved greatly over the years. But water can still be the camper’s enemy. Despite what manufacturers say about the weather resistance capabilities of their rucksacks, water always seems to find a way through so your rucksack may not be as waterproof as you think. So just in case of extreme weather conditions and torrent rain do not pack all your clothes around the outside of the karrimor rucksack. Pack some in the centre of the bag protected by other clothes. This way at least if your bag does let you down you will at least still have access to some dry clothes. So pack properly and efficiently and your trip will be a lot more pleasant with your karrimor rucksack.

Karrimor Rucksack Cougar 60-70 by Karrimor

Here we have a Karrimor rucksack which is very comfortable to wear, very versatile and extremely spacious. It would make an excellent addition to anyone’s camping and outdoor equipment as it possess all the attributes you look for in a rucksack. This rucksack has been built to last and the features include: New SA back system, side compression, Hydration system compatibility, rope strap, base load straps, extending lid, 2 pockets in lid, expansion side pockets, grab handle, rain cover, 2 mesh wand pockets, front pocket, lid shock cord carrying system, walking pole attachment, sliding and elasticated cheat strap and weighs 2.1 Kg

Tips

If you are planning on taking an extended camping trip that will last for more than 5 days then you should be looking for a rucksack that can hold 70 litres of camping equipment as a minimum requirement. With this type of rucksack you will be carrying weight and it’s essential that the pack has adequate support and suspension for the wearer. These larger packs can of course be used as well for shorter trips.

If the camping trip you are planning is going to last for approximately 2 - 4 days then the ideal size of kallimor rucksack you should be looking for is between 40 and 70 litres carrying capacity. These size of rucksacks are the most popular and even though they have great capacity just remember that for a long trip they are not so suitable because they do not provide the same degree of comfort as a larger bag will.

If you are planning to go on hiking trails for a days hiking or something like that then what you should be looking at are technical day packs. These are lightweight and compact and are designed to just carry a days essential items. Some of these examples now even have places for hydration packs.

Well I hope these tips help you out in finding the right rucksack for you. The Karrimor rucksack range suits most needs and they are of a very high standard so check out the whole range to see if they can accommodate you. If not there are other brands and styles out there on the market and you can view these by either going to your local camping and outdoor equipment store or browsing the internet in the comfort of your own home. Just don’t buy a rucksack in a hurry because you may regret it at a later date.Take great care and pay attention to detail. Your patience will be rewarded and you will have a camping friend for life.

When you know the answers to these then you have to think about what camping equipment you will be taking with you on your trip and how will you fit it all in your rucksack. Also under your spotlight should be what actual type of rucksack do you want for example lightweight, minimalist or ultra light. You then need to try on as many different styles of rucksack to see which type and style fits your body well and adheres snugly to your torso. Once you have thought all this through and have a pretty good idea of what you need then you are ready to commit yourself.