Usually we Finns carry our kitchen and food in the "sleeping bag compartment" since that's what you need during the day. Sleeping bag goes to the upper bag with all the other gear you need only at the destination. That's an old habit since the most legendary Finnish backpack Savotta 906 that's been a very popular framepack in Finland for decades. Love the honest reviews, Luke!
I agree to that, I don't see the bottom compartment as "sleeping bag compartment", but exactly for the items that you might need during the day / during the travel. The modular side poaches are also good place to store "kitchen" or other items you might need on a (food) break.
Some people say that its for sleeping bag because you can destroy your cooking stuff if you drop your backpack or fall down. And if you dont use trangia but something smaller then there is lot of space for other items too.
Maybe not expensive for what you get. The problem with a good percentage of hikers is that they don't have a realistic idea of what they NEED. We can always get the most-engineered packs with the best materials for the most cost ($450 in this case). We usually NEED only a fraction of those things at a fraction of the price. Still, if I stumbled upon this line of packs somewhere for some unrealistically low price, I'd jump. But not the XL size. That's just getting too heavy for backpacking.
Got the pack myself, and 2x 6 liter side pouches, and 2x 2 liter pouches for the waist belt for 2 military canteens. One of the best parts is definitely customizability with the extra pouches and basically anything that’s pals/molle compatible. If you’re not an UL-hiker, this is pretty close to the best thing money can buy for a pack.
I am a UL backpacker but the gear I had before going UL certainly could be easily carried with a pack weighing three to four pounds. I am just wondering what are you carrying that you need a pack that big and heavy. I am not judging I just can’t rap my head around wanting a pack so heavy. I reminds me of my old Dana Design backpack from 1992. It weighed about the same weight. Back then geared weighed a lot so such a pack was useful. Today my base weight is about eight pounds. I don’t miss my heavy gear but to honest now that I am old I truly could not carry such a heavy pack. Take care and enjoy that cool looking pack.
@@mtadams2009 I agree, the pack IS heavy even for someone who is not doing UL. It is heavy, period, there is no denying. But there is a reason behind why it's heavy: it's very large (like you pointed out), it has external frame which increases durability even further and enables comfortable carry, the materials are military grade so it will not break unless you intentionally try to do that, and the extensive webbing makes it very modular (and increases weight also). If you don't need any of that, of course it's not your thing. I am from Finland myself, and I went to the Finnish military around 2000's. We used plenty of Savotta gear in the army, because they make a _lot_ of stuff that the Finnish defence forces use. I also have a "thing" towards military gear in general, so Savotta is a very special brand to me personally. Why I went with the XL version is because M, which I also have, is too small (for me) for longer than day-hikes or overnighters, and I don't like all the design decisions made in the Large version (e.g. no bottom side pouches and the bottom compartment of the pack is not easy to access etc). So to me the XL was natural choice, being both a Savotta & military gear fan. But thanks for the comment Scott, have fun and enjoy hiking 🙂
@@mtadams2009 troops are going to be carrying heavy items like ammo, radios, batteries and things like that. Infantry here in the US talk about carrying average loads of around 80lbs or more. That’s why they need a pack like this. I do agree with you the typical backpacker isn’t going to need this heavy duty of a pack because they won’t have near that kind of weight to take. For the thru hiker this thing would be absurd. For the weekend warrior who doesn’t care about the weight that’s where this fits in the civilian market.
About ten years ago I was looking for an Eberlestock rucksack when I ran into a Savotta LJK rucksack. I ended up buying the Savotta LJK Modular which is the model this XL was designed from. So this is sort of an improvement over what I have. The carrying harness in XL looks to be simplified a bit from the LJK Modular and I feel that's a good thing. I might buy the XL harness since it will fit into the LJK Modular. These have the same frame.
LJK was made for the finnish army so it's designed to take even more tear and wear than usual Savotta standard, thus its more heavy. LJK meaning laskuvarjojääkäri (=paratrooper).
I’ve had a Savotta Jakkari L for about 3-4 years. I might have found it from watching your channel. I use either that pack or the marine ILBE depending on how much crap I need to carry. The Savotta is the more comfortable of the two, and lighter.
Love this pack. I used it on a month long backpacking trip in Nepal. I had two 4 liter side pouches and a Jaakari S that I added on buckles that were compatible with the buckles on the XL compression straps, which allowed me to have both the main pack that carried the bulk of my gear as well as a detachable smaller day pack that I could use when I wanted to leave my heavy and large main pack at camp to do day hikes summiting peaks. You’re absolutely right, this pack is heavy, but it carries heavy weight comfortably. I had a lot of cold weather gear, and the pack was heavy, but it did much better handling and distributing that weight better than many other packs I’ve used. It also was not awkward at all to use on narrow mountain trails that often had steep elevation climb. Definitely an awesome pack.
I really do like the look and build of their packs, but prefer panel loading packs vs top loading packs. FYI: Varusteleka also sells them and shipping to the U.S. is fast!
Nice!! With all the attachments that you can get for it, I can see a variety of people getting this pack. If I didn't already have my setup I would definitely get one. I have a place I like to go that's only about a 3 mile hike, but it's a place I go to stay for 5 or 6 days. So I take a lot of comfort stuff. I could see others being interested in this for long trips like the Appalachian Trail or the North Country National Scenic Trail. Others for Bug Out Bags or for wilderness hunting excursions.
Can confirm the material quality and durability. I have another Savotta bag that shows almost no wear, but has been in daily use for 5 years. Any ordinary civilian bag would be halfway to broken at this point.
I like the pack and wouldn't mind paying the price for it, looks well made and durable and I really like the features it has to offer, Great video Luke, hope all is well and stay safe, Thanks
I bought one last summer on sale for 430€, normally 550-600€. Got a side pouch for it too, was it 8l one. I liked it so far. But I need the s version to run with it, I have wherestheliquor similar small pack but it don't fold nicely. Speaking of savotta youtube, have you seen the keikka pack ads? They are gold. Carinthia defence 4 is a bit tight to get in the sleeping bag area. Or maybe it was because I tried to stuff it there with tropen in the same bag. Your pronunciation of jääkäri is ok. I was in the Finnish army artillery I know the cannon food, jääkäri. Jääkäri is not a gunner's best friend.
I have the Särmä TST RP80 Recon, which is basically the same pack with a bit less feature inside of the bag and a different harness system, and I have to say this is the sturdiest and most versatile backpack I ever had, I would highly recommend anything made from Savotta (At the time I got it it was cheaper than the Jääkäri XL but now due to the price increase I'd recommend the Jääkäri over the Särmä)
As I've gotten older my big military packs still work for me. I use them in conjunction with either my game carts or pulks. Last resort ill empty out some items and carry on my back for shorter distance per day. Great review. JMHO
I have savottas Jaakari Small and medium equipped with the 6l side bags and the 3 liter belt bags as well. I plan on getting the Hakta 12l, they showed how to attach it to my jaakaris front facings portion. This will be my greatest bag. I'm so excited. Savotta has my FULL trust, Dedication, Support and Loyalty to their brand. Never found something this solid.
I got the jääkäri L with two 6litre sidepouches and its more than enough for my use, one issue i found is the frame makes a squeeking noise inside its compartment that is kinda irritating if doing long hikes, but theres nothing a little silicone spray can fix. Overall.im super happy with.my purchase and i will have this.backpack for the rest of my days here on earth
I think that type or an old ALICE pack would be perfect for my trackchair. But this Savotta looks great! Has the "old school" cool with modern upgrades!!
I got this backpack and i love it! I use to go with eberlestock, but as you say its to “loose” for heavy carry. Then i got the fjælræven kajka for trips and i loved the thightness i could get with heavy carry, but i miss the military thoughness and the molle i got with eberlestock. Now i use this savotta and i could not wish for more. Its perfekt. I can have my carinthia defence 6 sleepengbag in the buttom room in winther times.
I really wanted this pack, but I had to get one in a hurry and it was out of stock from shops avaivable for me. So I went with the recon pack from Varusteleka (aksoa great, "bombproof" pack). But I do like the lidded packs more, if only you could get that seperately 🤔 Used the jääkäri S and M for years daily and sometimes in really rough use. They have never let me down (though I have weeped pitifully under them in multiple occasions 😆). The value for your money is just amazing.
I would also be interested to see a review of Särmä TST RP80 -Recon Pack from Varusteleka. To my understanding, the backpack has been designed by Varusteleka, In association with Savotta and manufactured by Savotta.
That is way better than the ALICE Large Rucksack I carried in the army in the '70s. It was always overloaded, and sat way to low on my back [I'm 6'2"]. I'm thinking of getting one of these and passing it on to one of my grandsons. Great review Luke.
As a fin I would recomend testing finish army boots SIEVI M05 with large last for wide feet, I have owned 4 pairs of those during 12 years of time and consider them the best boots for the price and durability. Pair number four I bought this autumn and send last pair of sievi m05 to ukraine which were still fully usable, I owned last pair of sievi m05 about 5-6 years. None of those finish army boots thick leather frame has ever fall apart usually it is bottom of shoe which consumes wears out slick and then shoe is really slippery on ice but usually shoe has nothing wrong.
You've got my attention. Been looking for a new (large) long trip pack - I used to love my rigid, external frame packs, but seems all the cool kids use internal... might have to go with this one
It’s nice you’re reviewing their whole line up and kinda gettin their name some exposure here in the U.S. Love the Medium it’s absolutely bomb proof. Really appreciated the review on that bag
I've used the Sarma TST RP80 recon pack for a few years. Great pack, sturdy, can take abuse, comfortable but the friction system for the shoulder straps that uses 2 metal D rings is poor to call it mildly with average weight loads it needs either constant adjustments or you need to tie up the strap. But all in all, it takes loads anywhere from 15/20kg to 80kg and still performs exceptionally (the 80kg was a stress test before anyone says anything)
I like it! Ultra light is the fad now, but we all have more fun when we pack the comforts of home. And beer taste better after you work for it, ten miles with a cold six pack is work until you get there!
Nice review! Would love to see you start reviewing gear from Kuiu, Stone Glacier, Sitka, and Kifaru. I know it's not the focus of the channel but it all applies towards hiking/Backpacking as well. 😀
Not a camper, hunter or hiker, BUT, this back pack is known in some circles as a Sniper Rig. The original BP(backpack) is long, in length, to be able to carry 2 rifles, scopes and binoculars. And, sufficient food, water and survival supplies. It's lightweight construction, (tough as Kevlar) design. It's overall design was used in deep mountain and desert deployment. Not sure of this particular "BP", the original kept the user afloat in water and the tube port for water at the top of pack, also included Oxygen, for high elevations. Nice pack.
I find it interesting. I have a surplus CF-90 and a surplus Arcteryx pack , and i think the pack would benefit from long side pockets. At least it ahs the ability to add external pockets or pouches if you want to keep some items separate. or easy to access.
I have thus pack. One drawback is that it is not as quiet as I hope it to be for hunting. Just because it is large does not mean it has to be filled to capacity. Hence going hunting with mostly empty pack and coming out with it stuffed full.
Mine is on the way! I've been looking at the pack for awhile. It's out of stock quick. Finally decided, and ordered from Varusteleka. Paid over 100.00 more. Cry now. Enjoy for a lifetime. BTW Luke, I like your video's. Very informative and no nonsense! Keep'em coming. Thanks
I end up buying most of my stuff from Varusteleka, it's all good. Btw it's the finnish version of the Word Jaegar I believe so the J is a Y sound, so Jakaari is like Yah-kar-eee
Great and honest video! If you want to add a day pack feature to your Jääkäri XL, you might like to see Savotta's video "How to quick attach the Hatka 12L to the Jääkäri M, L or XL"
Luke you sold me, got to say That's one "bad a&#" pack. I have a Marine ILBE which I love,but, I do not have an external frame pack.I am getting one for my collection, this is the one. I will "cry once" but will last a lifetime. Thank you Luke as always your the man.
I love Savotta, I love the way they look, their durability and I have an absolute tonne of their stuff but one can not say they're at all comfortable, the padding on the hip belts is so stiff and never breaks in, at least for a skinny dude like me.
Being large isn't a con if you're looking for this type of pack. I am looking for a large backpack and this looks ideal. The only mod that I'll do to it is to get a sail maker to install a waterproof zipped panel on the side for convenience and for getting access during customs stops. I like how slim the pack is, I have always thought about getting a touring pack that I can slip into a locked seabag/duffle-bag for both security and damage/scuff protection during shipping.
I've got a Savotta M and L in M05 Woodland. Am also excited to see them offered in the new color Coyote Brown. Only trouble is, they last forever so it's hard to justify getting a new one when the old ones never wear out!
👍👍👍 Looks like a very good buy, though, at my age, I'll never need to buy a pack this size. My 'Backpacker Boulder' 75 litre pack bought back in the early 80's is still willing and able to step up to the plate if asked to do so 😊. I've got the Jääkäri Mini with two 4 L Side Pouches, a 'Beaver Tail' for the rear of the pack and am very happy with it. An extremely flexible and versatile load system. Price? Due to the price at the time comparing .. I put off buying mine for quite a few years, settling for a much cheaper 30 litre local Military Surplus Store Outlet 'brand name'. I should have bought the Jääkäri Mini then instead. My pack vendor was Varusteleka in Finland. Great guys, with a unique sense of humour and excellent service .. credit to them 👍. Thanks for sharing .. take care ..
Love my savotta jakkari M... Very versatile strong military grade... This one looks way too big for my old knees... But it's designed to carry ammo n alot of kit. Great pack...great company
Still loving this pack! This will be the last backpack I'll every need. It's truly strong, well balanced, and yes, looks sick! Very confident with this pack doing its job. Hauling!
I've been pondering a Large or even the Xtra Large pack to go with my M05 Medium size Savotta pack. Love that pack. After seeing this review, I'm leaning Large. But, who knows for sure, I till have time to ponder on it. Thanks Luke. Till next vid, catch you later!!!
This is the kind of pack I'm looking for. Able to carry several days of food and water along with camera gear. But I need something I can find in or have shipped to the US. Would love if you did more videos like this.
used this during my conscription and man did i hate using it but it did its job very well considering how much it had been beat up over the years, anyone who wants a really good backpack thatll last(altough its pretty heavy) id recommend this
@@mikejeffsteel That depends on the load size you plan to carry. L has no frame, and is somewhat smaller, so it is quite a bit lighter than XL. If you want something with a frame: XL it is. I'd say L is large enough for almost any 'daily' use. XL is what you need for carrying gear for multi-day trips and travels. Personally I use Savotta bags daily when going to work, camping, sauna parties with friends, festivals... they are insanely dependable. I bought my current Jääkäri L 3 years before COVID, and it shows so little wear, that if someone would sell me Jääkäri XL in this shape for 70% original price, I'd buy it.
@@MVHiltunen Thanks for replying! I have the S for EDC, M for summer overnights and XL for multi-day as you said. But I was wondering if the XL was an overkill for a rucksack. I bought it to be sure everything fits inside for winter trips.
@@mikejeffsteel late response but i only have experience in the xl one, like guy above said L will propably be enough, we used XL because it had to have the possibility to hold 2 weeks worth of supplies so propably overshoot
408 dollars nope I got a 65 L sealine dry bag in same configuration for a little under 200 bucks. I'm trying to think of a situation where you would actually use this having graduated too much smaller packs.
Winter gear is bulky, so the reason to have a large pack. Military gear is heavy and bulky, so reason to have large and strong. 8lbs is a lot of bag to carry. For week long expeditions then great, but no one is going to go at any speed by foot or by skis. Thankfully, long gone the days when I had a need and could carry such a beast. For the young, fit, and strong, me thinks.
Another thing I like about Scandinavian packs , is that they dont hang like a sack of potatos , like US packs . This is because Scandinavian packs are designed to be used with skies .
I had the large. The quality is first rate. Nothing like it. However, for me, during a 6 mile hike, with a weight of 35 pounds, I experienced nothing but pain at my shoulders. I tried readjusting the straps and redistributed the weight. Nothing helped. Nevertheless, I was able to finish the hike in pain. I never read a negative comment about the pack. While I consider myself in good shape, I figure I am to blame.
Hi Luke! We people here in Finland are still to a large extent a kind of "forest people". We feel best when we can be out in the woods (preferably alone).🤨 The weather may be cold, rainy, or terrifyingly hot, because a little suffering is part of it!😬 Some adversity is necessary when you have spent the night in the forest, otherwise you have nothing "real" to tell your friends about. 😒 Savotta's products help and protect our miserable life out in nature.😑 We Finns like to suffer a little out in the forests. Why take any fireware with you, when you can freeze?!😁 Thanks for all the great videos! I wish you and your family all the best!😀👍😉
What would probably get me to choose a Mystery Ranch 6500 over this is the lack of side entrance into the main interior. With a ruck this tall side openings in addition to the bottom and top make a huge difference in retrieving gear quickly without taking everything out.
with frame packs, you need to distribute the load correctly, heavy stuff at the bottom mainly, so that it is easier to carry and isnt top heavy... but good review and Savotta is the only brand you should ever trust.
If you had to choose a pack, from all the packs you have reviewed, just one pack to use in a long term survival type situation in the wilderness........... which one would you choose?
I saw someone yesterday with a 5.11 Rush backpack that has been used for 10 years without any real damage except the discolouration. This pack will last 20 years easily with care.
Im not a hiker but if i was this is the type of backpack id get and use all the time- being im a bit on the large size i need a bigger pack lol- most pack i have tried were to narrow across and hurt my back
Got the Savotta S M and L. Great packs. Using the S as my EDC work backpack. The only two issues i have is with the colors. I wish they came in an off gray. And the webbing. I have no idea how to add the pouches in a sensible way. Would be nice if there was a video showing how to add pouches optimally. I'm using a vertical S pouch on the belt of my M/L as a toiletry kit.
I tried many Bottlepouches for my L and recently ended up with the Onetigris ROC Bottle holder. Love them, minimal, flat when empty and matches the savotta perfectly.
Hey Luke. Where is the XL side pouches. Lol. I know, it so big you don't need them a. My brother has the larger, in M05. There great. Thanks for another, great review.
Usually we Finns carry our kitchen and food in the "sleeping bag compartment" since that's what you need during the day. Sleeping bag goes to the upper bag with all the other gear you need only at the destination. That's an old habit since the most legendary Finnish backpack Savotta 906 that's been a very popular framepack in Finland for decades. Love the honest reviews, Luke!
I agree to that, I don't see the bottom compartment as "sleeping bag compartment", but exactly for the items that you might need during the day / during the travel. The modular side poaches are also good place to store "kitchen" or other items you might need on a (food) break.
@@someroskilde I
Yes I’m in UK and agree, we would do it the same.
Also it makes sense that way because you want your light stuff at the top.
Some people say that its for sleeping bag because you can destroy your cooking stuff if you drop your backpack or fall down. And if you dont use trangia but something smaller then there is lot of space for other items too.
Savotta=Quality. IMO all their gear stands out as engineered for use, utility and durability. Expensive?, not for what you get. Great review, thanks.
Maybe not expensive for what you get. The problem with a good percentage of hikers is that they don't have a realistic idea of what they NEED. We can always get the most-engineered packs with the best materials for the most cost ($450 in this case). We usually NEED only a fraction of those things at a fraction of the price.
Still, if I stumbled upon this line of packs somewhere for some unrealistically low price, I'd jump. But not the XL size. That's just getting too heavy for backpacking.
Got the pack myself, and 2x 6 liter side pouches, and 2x 2 liter pouches for the waist belt for 2 military canteens. One of the best parts is definitely customizability with the extra pouches and basically anything that’s pals/molle compatible. If you’re not an UL-hiker, this is pretty close to the best thing money can buy for a pack.
I am a UL backpacker but the gear I had before going UL certainly could be easily carried with a pack weighing three to four pounds. I am just wondering what are you carrying that you need a pack that big and heavy. I am not judging I just can’t rap my head around wanting a pack so heavy. I reminds me of my old Dana Design backpack from 1992. It weighed about the same weight. Back then geared weighed a lot so such a pack was useful. Today my base weight is about eight pounds. I don’t miss my heavy gear but to honest now that I am old I truly could not carry such a heavy pack. Take care and enjoy that cool looking pack.
@Craig Thanks for getting back to me. Take care
@@mtadams2009 I agree, the pack IS heavy even for someone who is not doing UL. It is heavy, period, there is no denying. But there is a reason behind why it's heavy: it's very large (like you pointed out), it has external frame which increases durability even further and enables comfortable carry, the materials are military grade so it will not break unless you intentionally try to do that, and the extensive webbing makes it very modular (and increases weight also). If you don't need any of that, of course it's not your thing. I am from Finland myself, and I went to the Finnish military around 2000's. We used plenty of Savotta gear in the army, because they make a _lot_ of stuff that the Finnish defence forces use. I also have a "thing" towards military gear in general, so Savotta is a very special brand to me personally. Why I went with the XL version is because M, which I also have, is too small (for me) for longer than day-hikes or overnighters, and I don't like all the design decisions made in the Large version (e.g. no bottom side pouches and the bottom compartment of the pack is not easy to access etc). So to me the XL was natural choice, being both a Savotta & military gear fan. But thanks for the comment Scott, have fun and enjoy hiking 🙂
@@mtadams2009 troops are going to be carrying heavy items like ammo, radios, batteries and things like that. Infantry here in the US talk about carrying average loads of around 80lbs or more. That’s why they need a pack like this. I do agree with you the typical backpacker isn’t going to need this heavy duty of a pack because they won’t have near that kind of weight to take. For the thru hiker this thing would be absurd. For the weekend warrior who doesn’t care about the weight that’s where this fits in the civilian market.
@@motorboater211 why would you say this is absurd for a thru hiker?
About ten years ago I was looking for an Eberlestock rucksack when I ran into a Savotta LJK rucksack. I ended up buying the Savotta LJK Modular which is the model this XL was designed from. So this is sort of an improvement over what I have. The carrying harness in XL looks to be simplified a bit from the LJK Modular and I feel that's a good thing. I might buy the XL harness since it will fit into the LJK Modular. These have the same frame.
LJK was made for the finnish army so it's designed to take even more tear and wear than usual Savotta standard, thus its more heavy. LJK meaning laskuvarjojääkäri (=paratrooper).
I’ve had a Savotta Jakkari L for about 3-4 years. I might have found it from watching your channel. I use either that pack or the marine ILBE depending on how much crap I need to carry. The Savotta is the more comfortable of the two, and lighter.
Love this pack. I used it on a month long backpacking trip in Nepal. I had two 4 liter side pouches and a Jaakari S that I added on buckles that were compatible with the buckles on the XL compression straps, which allowed me to have both the main pack that carried the bulk of my gear as well as a detachable smaller day pack that I could use when I wanted to leave my heavy and large main pack at camp to do day hikes summiting peaks.
You’re absolutely right, this pack is heavy, but it carries heavy weight comfortably. I had a lot of cold weather gear, and the pack was heavy, but it did much better handling and distributing that weight better than many other packs I’ve used. It also was not awkward at all to use on narrow mountain trails that often had steep elevation climb. Definitely an awesome pack.
I just pulled the trigger on this pack. You works. You were exactly right! It's magnificent!
I really do like the look and build of their packs, but prefer panel loading packs vs top loading packs.
FYI: Varusteleka also sells them and shipping to the U.S. is fast!
I’m quite sure that the L version has a zipper down the side. The M size has that atleast.
Nice!! With all the attachments that you can get for it, I can see a variety of people getting this pack. If I didn't already have my setup I would definitely get one. I have a place I like to go that's only about a 3 mile hike, but it's a place I go to stay for 5 or 6 days. So I take a lot of comfort stuff. I could see others being interested in this for long trips like the Appalachian Trail or the North Country National Scenic Trail. Others for Bug Out Bags or for wilderness hunting excursions.
Can confirm the material quality and durability. I have another Savotta bag that shows almost no wear, but has been in daily use for 5 years. Any ordinary civilian bag would be halfway to broken at this point.
I like the pack and wouldn't mind paying the price for it, looks well made and durable and I really like the features it has to offer, Great video Luke, hope all is well and stay safe, Thanks
I bought one last summer on sale for 430€, normally 550-600€. Got a side pouch for it too, was it 8l one. I liked it so far. But I need the s version to run with it, I have wherestheliquor similar small pack but it don't fold nicely. Speaking of savotta youtube, have you seen the keikka pack ads? They are gold. Carinthia defence 4 is a bit tight to get in the sleeping bag area. Or maybe it was because I tried to stuff it there with tropen in the same bag. Your pronunciation of jääkäri is ok. I was in the Finnish army artillery I know the cannon food, jääkäri. Jääkäri is not a gunner's best friend.
I have the Särmä TST RP80 Recon, which is basically the same pack with a bit less feature inside of the bag and a different harness system, and I have to say this is the sturdiest and most versatile backpack I ever had, I would highly recommend anything made from Savotta
(At the time I got it it was cheaper than the Jääkäri XL but now due to the price increase I'd recommend the Jääkäri over the Särmä)
Särmä is made in China
Jääkäri in Estonia
@@janicaven7889 Särmä tst RP80 is made by Savotta.
Made on Finland and Estonia
As I've gotten older my big military packs still work for me. I use them in conjunction with either my game carts or pulks. Last resort ill empty out some items and carry on my back for shorter distance per day. Great review. JMHO
I have savottas Jaakari Small and medium equipped with the 6l side bags and the 3 liter belt bags as well. I plan on getting the Hakta 12l, they showed how to attach it to my jaakaris front facings portion. This will be my greatest bag. I'm so excited. Savotta has my FULL trust, Dedication, Support and Loyalty to their brand. Never found something this solid.
I got the jääkäri L with two 6litre sidepouches and its more than enough for my use, one issue i found is the frame makes a squeeking noise inside its compartment that is kinda irritating if doing long hikes, but theres nothing a little silicone spray can fix. Overall.im super happy with.my purchase and i will have this.backpack for the rest of my days here on earth
I think that type or an old ALICE pack would be perfect for my trackchair. But this Savotta looks great! Has the "old school" cool with modern upgrades!!
I got this backpack and i love it! I use to go with eberlestock, but as you say its to “loose” for heavy carry. Then i got the fjælræven kajka for trips and i loved the thightness i could get with heavy carry, but i miss the military thoughness and the molle i got with eberlestock.
Now i use this savotta and i could not wish for more. Its perfekt. I can have my carinthia defence 6 sleepengbag in the buttom room in winther times.
That sleeping bag compartment at the bottom is a must for me. That is a no brainer which I'm surprised many other brands don't offer.
Finally! Thanks for this review Luke, I love these backpacks, I have all of them except this size.
I really wanted this pack, but I had to get one in a hurry and it was out of stock from shops avaivable for me. So I went with the recon pack from Varusteleka (aksoa great, "bombproof" pack). But I do like the lidded packs more, if only you could get that seperately 🤔
Used the jääkäri S and M for years daily and sometimes in really rough use. They have never let me down (though I have weeped pitifully under them in multiple occasions 😆). The value for your money is just amazing.
I would also be interested to see a review of Särmä TST RP80 -Recon Pack from Varusteleka. To my understanding, the backpack has been designed by Varusteleka, In association with Savotta and manufactured by Savotta.
That is way better than the ALICE Large Rucksack I carried in the army in the '70s. It was always overloaded, and sat way to low on my back [I'm 6'2"]. I'm thinking of getting one of these and passing it on to one of my grandsons. Great review Luke.
As a fin I would recomend testing finish army boots SIEVI M05 with large last for wide feet, I have owned 4 pairs of those during 12 years of time and consider them the best boots for the price and durability. Pair number four I bought this autumn and send last pair of sievi m05 to ukraine which were still fully usable, I owned last pair of sievi m05 about 5-6 years. None of those finish army boots thick leather frame has ever fall apart usually it is bottom of shoe which consumes wears out slick and then shoe is really slippery on ice but usually shoe has nothing wrong.
You've got my attention. Been looking for a new (large) long trip pack - I used to love my rigid, external frame packs, but seems all the cool kids use internal... might have to go with this one
I have the XL. It rocks!! Only issue is it has so much room I tend to carry too much gear. Thanks again for another great review. Happy Thanksgiving!
I own the medium and love it! Quality is top shelf.
It’s nice you’re reviewing their whole line up and kinda gettin their name some exposure here in the U.S. Love the Medium it’s absolutely bomb proof. Really appreciated the review on that bag
Yes savotta puts these american companies that make stuff in Vietnam to shame.
I've used the Sarma TST RP80 recon pack for a few years. Great pack, sturdy, can take abuse, comfortable but the friction system for the shoulder straps that uses 2 metal D rings is poor to call it mildly with average weight loads it needs either constant adjustments or you need to tie up the strap. But all in all, it takes loads anywhere from 15/20kg to 80kg and still performs exceptionally (the 80kg was a stress test before anyone says anything)
I like it! Ultra light is the fad now, but we all have more fun when we pack the comforts of home. And beer taste better after you work for it, ten miles with a cold six pack is work until you get there!
This is a beast of a pack and indeed the last one I bought, hopefully forever the last one. Perfect for all your winter gear.
The XL is the best investment I have made since my MCK blade.
Nobody can go wrong with this pack!
Nice review! Would love to see you start reviewing gear from Kuiu, Stone Glacier, Sitka, and Kifaru. I know it's not the focus of the channel but it all applies towards hiking/Backpacking as well. 😀
And Mystery Ranch
Not a camper, hunter or hiker, BUT, this back pack is known in some circles as a Sniper Rig. The original BP(backpack) is long, in length, to be able to carry 2 rifles, scopes and binoculars. And, sufficient food, water and survival supplies. It's lightweight construction, (tough as Kevlar) design. It's overall design was used in deep mountain and desert deployment. Not sure of this particular "BP", the original kept the user afloat in water and the tube port for water at the top of pack, also included Oxygen, for high elevations. Nice pack.
I find it interesting. I have a surplus CF-90 and a surplus Arcteryx pack , and i think the pack would benefit from long side pockets. At least it ahs the ability to add external pockets or pouches if you want to keep some items separate. or easy to access.
I have thus pack. One drawback is that it is not as quiet as I hope it to be for hunting. Just because it is large does not mean it has to be filled to capacity.
Hence going hunting with mostly empty pack and coming out with it stuffed full.
Mine is on the way! I've been looking at the pack for awhile. It's out of stock quick. Finally decided, and ordered from Varusteleka. Paid over 100.00 more. Cry now. Enjoy for a lifetime. BTW Luke, I like your video's. Very informative and no nonsense! Keep'em coming. Thanks
Regret it?
I end up buying most of my stuff from Varusteleka, it's all good. Btw it's the finnish version of the Word Jaegar I believe so the J is a Y sound, so Jakaari is like Yah-kar-eee
in Finland it is pronounced as it is written
We have this pack up here in Canada for $937.75. I'll buy it as soon as I win the lottery.
I have the medium and it has more room than I need, that thing is awesome! Love Savotta! Great review
Great and honest video! If you want to add a day pack feature to your Jääkäri XL, you might like to see Savotta's video "How to quick attach the Hatka 12L to the Jääkäri M, L or XL"
Love the review. Love these packs. Been hard to find an English spoken review on this pack. Great review!
I have this backpack since many years and definitely love it ❤️ so awesome
I have ii since 1.2 year. Love it. Made several Hikes with 43kg, Overnighter, excellent
Luke you sold me, got to say That's one "bad a&#" pack. I have a Marine ILBE which I love,but, I do not have an external frame pack.I am getting one for my collection, this is the one. I will "cry once" but will last a lifetime. Thank you Luke as always your the man.
I love Savotta, I love the way they look, their durability and I have an absolute tonne of their stuff but one can not say they're at all comfortable, the padding on the hip belts is so stiff and never breaks in, at least for a skinny dude like me.
Great review and great backpack. I got XL and M. I skiped L because there's no elastic side pockets and bad sleeping bag compartment opening.
Backpacks don't as many pockets, zippered compartments, etc., whereas rucksacks have a lot more especially this product. Nice review Luke! 👌
Being large isn't a con if you're looking for this type of pack. I am looking for a large backpack and this looks ideal. The only mod that I'll do to it is to get a sail maker to install a waterproof zipped panel on the side for convenience and for getting access during customs stops. I like how slim the pack is, I have always thought about getting a touring pack that I can slip into a locked seabag/duffle-bag for both security and damage/scuff protection during shipping.
I've got a Savotta M and L in M05 Woodland. Am also excited to see them offered in the new color Coyote Brown. Only trouble is, they last forever so it's hard to justify getting a new one when the old ones never wear out!
You want those long zip loops on the rucsac, as its easier to grab them in winter with thick gloves. I add a reflector to mine so its easier to spot.
That is in fact a very large, very affordable, high quality, sick backpack. I could carry all my fears in that pack.
I thought you said this pack can carry a lot of beer! Then my brain said NO, he said gear not beer!
Getting one of these at some point is gunna be like a wet dream for me. Super stoked.
👍👍👍
Looks like a very good buy, though, at my age, I'll never need to buy a pack this size. My 'Backpacker Boulder' 75 litre pack bought back in the early 80's is still willing and able to step up to the plate if asked to do so 😊.
I've got the Jääkäri Mini with two 4 L Side Pouches, a 'Beaver Tail' for the rear of the pack and am very happy with it. An extremely flexible and versatile load system.
Price? Due to the price at the time comparing .. I put off buying mine for quite a few years, settling for a much cheaper 30 litre local Military Surplus Store Outlet 'brand name'. I should have bought the Jääkäri Mini then instead.
My pack vendor was Varusteleka in Finland. Great guys, with a unique sense of humour and excellent service .. credit to them 👍.
Thanks for sharing .. take care ..
Thanks. Been looking at this pack for s year now. Time to save some money
Love my savotta jakkari M... Very versatile strong military grade... This one looks way too big for my old knees... But it's designed to carry ammo n alot of kit. Great pack...great company
Still loving this pack! This will be the last backpack I'll every need. It's truly strong, well balanced, and yes, looks sick! Very confident with this pack doing its job. Hauling!
I've been pondering a Large or even the Xtra Large pack to go with my M05 Medium size Savotta pack. Love that pack. After seeing this review, I'm leaning Large. But, who knows for sure, I till have time to ponder on it. Thanks Luke. Till next vid, catch you later!!!
I have the Large version of this pack and due to it's limitations regarding space have always wished I had gotten this XL version instead
I had the large version but preferred the bigger lower pocket opening so sold my large and got the xl version which is much better in my opinion.
That's a nice pack. Yes exspensive but hopefully it will last longer than less expensive packs.
This is the kind of pack I'm looking for. Able to carry several days of food and water along with camera gear. But I need something I can find in or have shipped to the US. Would love if you did more videos like this.
Savotta makes great equipment. Their parent company doesn't sell to the U.S. but they sell to companies that do!
Now THAT would be a good comparison to do against the ILBE! Me? I'm gonna stick with the LARGE. Be well my friend! Bill Doyle in Hewitt,NJ
Looks nice. Brings back painful memories of the army.
Another excellent review brother!! Keep’em comin’!!
Happy user of the Large version, but considering buying this one too. Tnx for the information! Best regards from Belgium.
The right pronunciation is "Yah-ah-kahree" but great review i bought it last year and i do not regret it one bit.
I have their 80l duffle. Love it. I've been looking at this bag for a while.
I have all of the other sizes but not the XL. I had hesitated due to the price but it looks like I need to start saving!
Varuste currently has a sale on the jääkäri xl version.
used this during my conscription and man did i hate using it but it did its job very well considering how much it had been beat up over the years, anyone who wants a really good backpack thatll last(altough its pretty heavy) id recommend this
Would you recommend the XL over the L as a military rucksack?
@@mikejeffsteel That depends on the load size you plan to carry. L has no frame, and is somewhat smaller, so it is quite a bit lighter than XL.
If you want something with a frame: XL it is.
I'd say L is large enough for almost any 'daily' use. XL is what you need for carrying gear for multi-day trips and travels.
Personally I use Savotta bags daily when going to work, camping, sauna parties with friends, festivals... they are insanely dependable. I bought my current Jääkäri L 3 years before COVID, and it shows so little wear, that if someone would sell me Jääkäri XL in this shape for 70% original price, I'd buy it.
@@MVHiltunen Thanks for replying! I have the S for EDC, M for summer overnights and XL for multi-day as you said. But I was wondering if the XL was an overkill for a rucksack. I bought it to be sure everything fits inside for winter trips.
@@mikejeffsteel late response but i only have experience in the xl one, like guy above said L will propably be enough, we used XL because it had to have the possibility to hold 2 weeks worth of supplies so propably overshoot
408 dollars nope I got a 65 L sealine dry bag in same configuration for a little under 200 bucks. I'm trying to think of a situation where you would actually use this having graduated too much smaller packs.
Great for winter ops....I'm mean winter camping..lots of room for cold weather gear...looks awesome.
I wish they made a slick version of this pack so it doesn’t scream “military gear!” But still had the compression straps.
The frame and harness design look very similar to my old Jansport Carson 90. Interesting. Definitely comfortable though.
Winter gear is bulky, so the reason to have a large pack. Military gear is heavy and bulky, so reason to have large and strong. 8lbs is a lot of bag to carry.
For week long expeditions then great, but no one is going to go at any speed by foot or by skis.
Thankfully, long gone the days when I had a need and could carry such a beast. For the young, fit, and strong, me thinks.
Another thing I like about Scandinavian packs , is that they dont hang like a sack of potatos , like US packs . This is because Scandinavian packs are designed to be used with skies .
Got 3 Savotta packs now, all so well made and quality stuff. 10/10
I had the large. The quality is first rate. Nothing like it. However, for me, during a 6 mile hike, with a weight of 35 pounds, I experienced nothing but pain at my shoulders. I tried readjusting the straps and redistributed the weight. Nothing helped. Nevertheless, I was able to finish the hike in pain. I never read a negative comment about the pack. While I consider myself in good shape, I figure I am to blame.
They are great backpacks. I have never had one,but I have checked them at a store in Bend Oregon.
I love that backpack … i’m happy with my jakkaari smal back pack
Hi Luke! We people here in Finland are still to a large extent a kind of "forest people". We feel best when we can be out in the woods (preferably alone).🤨 The weather may be cold, rainy, or terrifyingly hot, because a little suffering is part of it!😬 Some adversity is necessary when you have spent the night in the forest, otherwise you have nothing "real" to tell your friends about. 😒 Savotta's products help and protect our miserable life out in nature.😑 We Finns like to suffer a little out in the forests. Why take any fireware with you, when you can freeze?!😁 Thanks for all the great videos! I wish you and your family all the best!😀👍😉
To English speaking ears the word JÄÄKÄRI sounds like "yeah-kerry" (it means the same as Jaeger in German language, ie, infantryman)
What would probably get me to choose a Mystery Ranch 6500 over this is the lack of side entrance into the main interior. With a ruck this tall side openings in addition to the bottom and top make a huge difference in retrieving gear quickly without taking everything out.
Reminds me of the Kifaru EMS and MMS G1 and G2 packs.
I got mine today it's great it's gonna replace my Alice pack
I have their small pack I mix with helicon’s “h” harness. I love the small pack for day hikes.
That’s one of the most durable and most badass backpacks you can get!
with frame packs, you need to distribute the load correctly, heavy stuff at the bottom mainly, so that it is easier to carry and isnt top heavy... but good review and Savotta is the only brand you should ever trust.
If you had to choose a pack, from all the packs you have reviewed, just one pack to use in a long term survival type situation in the wilderness........... which one would you choose?
I really like all the PALS webbing, the more the better. 👏👏👏
I saw someone yesterday with a 5.11 Rush backpack that has been used for 10 years without any real damage except the discolouration. This pack will last 20 years easily with care.
That is a nice pack but I will stick with my "Granite Gear Chief Patrol Pack" when I need to carry heavier loads. Thanks for the video Luke.
Im not a hiker but if i was this is the type of backpack id get and use all the time- being im a bit on the large size i need a bigger pack lol- most pack i have tried were to narrow across and hurt my back
Finnish quality product 👌 I have a Jääkäri M backpack (size of 30 liter) and it is very good for short hikes.
We want to see more Susie. Love your videos keep the good time roll
Oh, joy and elation! Now I can pay an insane amount of money for the privilege of turning myself into a pack mule.
Got the Savotta S M and L.
Great packs.
Using the S as my EDC work backpack.
The only two issues i have is with the colors. I wish they came in an off gray.
And the webbing. I have no idea how to add the pouches in a sensible way.
Would be nice if there was a video showing how to add pouches optimally.
I'm using a vertical S pouch on the belt of my M/L as a toiletry kit.
czcams.com/video/lSxRmpRE3bw/video.html
@@erastelya i didn't think about using the compression straps over the side pockets. Thanks
I tried many Bottlepouches for my L and recently ended up with the Onetigris ROC Bottle holder. Love them, minimal, flat when empty and matches the savotta perfectly.
@@pama5499 got that one too for my EDC pack.
Just makes the compression strap a bit awkward.
Hey Luke. Where is the XL side pouches. Lol. I know, it so big you don't need them a. My brother has the larger, in M05. There great. Thanks for another, great review.
Great looking pack, I am currently using the ILBE Recon pack as my I.N.C.H. bag.
I have wanted this pack for a long time but as a family man this is currently outside my budget ☹