Karrimor SF 45L Sabre Review - Worth The Money?

[@Critical-thinker85]

Bomb proof bag I love mine and had it for years I have the multicam version mine was 120 plus 50 for pouches. I think it's nearly 300 for same set up nowdays

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Yeah at £70 with the pouches in pretty much as new condition, last year, I definitely got a good deal!

[@MarkCreed007]

Love my 45L Sabre I have had many bags but finished with this one perfect for me.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

On the whole I think its a great bit of kit. I just washed mine treated with Fabsil ready for the autumn/winter.

[@leecalladine]

Very good equipment. Had mine for ages. Surprised how light it is as well. Plenty of space.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I was surprised at how little difference there is between this and the Osprey bags given the robustness of the materials used. I guess the simplicity of the design helps. I'll take robustness and simplicity over complicated and a bit more delicate any day!

[@dtheguy]

What a cool looking & useful bag! 2:46 that cost cutting thing looks like a came out of a cheap 15-25 £ shower-ware traveling organizer pack (what a long description for a small green rectangle)

[@soggz4246]

Great bags. I’ve had one for years, a mate left the Army, bought himself a new one and gave me his old one. Nothing wrong with it, just seen some ‘Action’. All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Yeah, I can see its the sort of bag that is going to do the rounds because they look pretty robust. That's what I want in a bag, I want to use it, not worry about scuffing it up!

[@soggz4246]

@@dogdadoutdoors I never worry about scuffing anything up,tbh. I buy things, to use them. 😉👍🏾🇬🇧

[@BalearicBeatnik]

love my Sabre 45.. managed to get one cheap from a Police Equipment Supplier in the rare Pencott Greenzone Camo, complete with matching Rocket Pockets on the side. Whilst it's not as comfortable straps-wise as my Warrior Assault Systems bags when fully loaded, it really is worth the £.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Those are pretty rare. I imagine that will hold on to its value!

[@BalearicBeatnik]

@@dogdadoutdoors no way that’s awesome !!!

[@david6920-r6z]

Looks like a good quality rucksack. Hard to find a good one over here these days. I got me an old army Alice pack. A few years ago I scored a 70 year old pack , at a flea market, with an alloy frame that you can put white spirit in (literally stored in the hollow frame). I mean to get it to a canvas maker and replace the canvas and leather straps. I do like the wide and low profile on that Bergen. Be good in close country I figure. Cheers Dave 🇬🇧 🇳🇿

[@dogdadoutdoors]

lots of people rave about the Alice pack over here in the UK too. seems like a good bushcraft option.

[@steveproud2893]

As usual a great vid,👍👍

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thanks 👍

[@Legionnaire7777]

I had this pack a good while ago i moved it on as it just didn't sit right on my back and the waistbelt on it was a let down to me. Moved to a Crib Gogh predator patrol pack much more comfortable.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Yeah its a pretty personal choice something like this, particularly with no adjustable back.

[@thewhitezulu3283]

Good review 👍🏼

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thanks! 👍

[@goldenphoenix88]

Hi. Can I ask if the hip belt is effective enough to transfer a significant percentage of the load away from the shoulders and onto the hips? Thanks

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Yes, although I guess it depends on your height, or rather your back length. For me the hip belt works OK.

[@dumitruvalentincrihan2527]

Hi, When you are going to make a video about how to chose and fit a back pack?

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I'll add that to the list. No plans at present but thanks for the idea.

[@PokeEyeSlapSlap]

I use a Marauder 100L Tactical Bergen, IMHO far far superior and cheaper at £125. Can be used for longer Wild Camp/Bushcraft & Hiking Trips and it’s a beast, it has way more options for adaptations too. Personally I think Karrimor are taking the proverbial with the price of the SF Sabre even scrimping on some elements ref quality. As an British Ex Infantryman I’ve used many different Bergens, most are rubbish but now & again you’ll find one or two that will stand out. It’s all about what’s good for the individual at the end of the day. Maybe you should review the SAS/Para Marauder 100L, it may surprise you.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

100L is just too big for me these days, I don't need to haul that much kit about anymore. Who knows, maybe in the future though.

[@arjay5824]

The real trick is finding a Sabre 45L review that mentions what the webbing and buckle on the bottom of the side pouches are used for. I've seen basically every review of this pack and not one person has identified the use case for that feature.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

The one in the centre? I'm pretty sure that is to attach it to the optional yoke so you can use them independently of the main bag as a daysack.

[@arjay5824]

Nah the yoke attaches via the same buckles and zippers that are used to connect to the main rucksack, just in a slightly different end result. I've been rocking a Sabre 45, yoke, and side pouches for almost half a decade, taking it out in the field at least once a month, every month, all year round. Never have been able to figure out what that unused webbing/buckle system is for. Sooo I went ahead and reached out to Karrimor SF right after making my original comment. Turns out, the hanging buckle/webbing on both side pouches are part of the legacy PLCE system. They are no longer in use, and do not have a function on the Sabre 45 or the yoke. It's just included in case you happen to be rocking one of the older bergens.

[@scotbotvideos]

I had considered getting this once. Ended up getting the Kombat UK medium molle instead.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

How do you find it?

[@scotbotvideos]

@@dogdadoutdoors It's alright. I really bought it as a BOB, but I didn't find it spacious enough. The padding is a bit ropey. So now it's just a sort of rough-and-tumble day bag. My best bag is the Condor Trekker, but I don't think it's available any more. The Trekker has really good shoulder and lumber padding, as well as load-lifters, so is very comfortable, despite being heavy-ish (well, compared to the ultralight packs you see on the Appalachian Trail). I'd have loved to have gotten the LA Police Gear Atlas 72 hour pack, but @GruntProof kinda put me off them. Plus I was wary of ordering from the US in case I had to return it.

[@captaincarl1603]

Thanks for a good review! Concerning the hip-belt, how tall are you? /Cheers from Sweden!

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I am hobbit sized, 5' 7"

[@davidhudson7590]

I love mine and yours is by looks one of the old issue ones maybe as the black buckles there green now great rugged pack I also have the 60 to 100ltr in mtp a real beast alot more features than 45 has it's 70 litre with the rockets on the 45 but I found if no rockets on and just want day pack if you use big rocket zips on pack zip together and gives you around 25,30litre pack so it's say 30,45 or 70 litres in one pack a bombproof alrounder

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Yes that's what I think is good about it, its flexible. Its not the best daysack as its just one giant bucket with a lid, but it does an adequate job and then you throw the rocket pouches on and you have a beast of a rucksack. Not tried just the rocket pouches together as I don't have the yoke for that.

[@dtheguy]

Nice video, I’m don’t really find the cost to be “attractive” or worth that amount of money. (Especially in Israel where curtain stuff can be highly marked up in physical stores) If I may I would like to share my go to bag that was and is still sufficient for most things I do and do a small product review here. I don’t have the exact model but its a 30L bag that was made by “Quechua” and was bought by me in one of many decathlon stores . (Was quite cheap for what’s its worth) It has one main compartment fitted with a compressible laptop holder / water bladder holder with two hooks hanging right above that part of the compartment+ plus a net to store extra stuff near the opening point. It has a second smaller compartment with some sorting nets and Stuff. Right below it there is a pocket that is open with a zipper vertically which is quite large actually. The bag also has two external water bottle holders/ general pouches and a extra zipper down below that gives you some extra space and better ease of you when loading the bag. I have personally taken it to sand dunes, forests and mostly everything in between, I can highly recommend it for regular use and use in nature

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I'm a big fan of decathlon, there stuff is usually decent value for the money and I think they really do live up to their company motto in making sport available for all. I'm lucky to have a big one about 2 miles away, great store to have in town.

[@dtheguy]

@@dogdadoutdoorsneat

[@Revup1]

Over the years and deployments I have collected an OG PLCE Long Back Bergen, an Alice pack, a DPM NI Patrol Pack, an issued MTP day sack (same as the Karrimor predator), a black 'day sack' (Useless rubbish) and I bought a Coyote brown Karrimor SF Predator. All have their PLCE side pouches in various colours plus a few oddities like a PLCE med pouch which I used to carry particular items relevant to my role. All these still get used, but clearly I don't need them all.....or so my wife says.....the problem is they all have stories. I can't let them go, I've tried....but it is embarrassing to open the door and reveal enough kit to supply a small third world nation. Is there a psychologist or some such that can help me de clutter?......Oh, there are also various sets of webbing too.....

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I'm with you on this. I still have my webbing, I did get rid of my 58 pattern set and have regretted it! Also got more bags than I can possibly use, but like you say, each has a story or does one thing particularly well!

[@OldNavajoTricks]

I'm not a psychologist but if you send it all to me you'll be decluttered and I'll have project food haha :-D So erm, yeah.... Zen something something, calm breathe relax? And shit. 😂

[@Revup1]

@@OldNavajoTricks You can't eat them, I've seen a few PARA's try when they're really hungry, 1000D is too tough even for them!

[@OldNavajoTricks]

@@Revup1 Pmsl :-D I'm currently thinking of a few ideas, one is an Ni Pat pack either side as rocket replacements, another is stitching two Bergens together side by side with the adjoining sides cut out and increasing carry capacity that way.

[@Revup1]

@@OldNavajoTricks I would modify a NI Patrol Pack to take rocket pouches, I'd also modify a Bergen with wider straps for comfort, and possibly a utility pouch on the waist belt. I'd also probably remove the bergen centre pouch (for mess tins) and put something more useful there. Mine are all unmodified though. Personally I wouldn't want a Bergen any bigger than it is, If I have to carry more than 120litres there is something seriously wrong. Apart from water and rats, the Bergen as it is can keep me comfortable for two weeks! I don't need anything heavier.

[@kevinroche3334]

Rather expensive (got mine in a sale). At 6'2'', the pack does not sit right - not designed for anyone over 6 foot. Also, sorely missing side water bottle pouches (like the 30l pack), padding is poor and does anyone use the huge ice axe loops on the belt? Other than that, I do like it for bushy stuff - bombproof :)

[@dogdadoutdoors]

That is the issue with non-adjustable backs, one size definitely doesn't fit all! I tend to agree on the ice axe loops, I personally don't use them, I'm sure some do but I can't help think they could have sone something more commonly used instead. I do find the padding OK though, pretty much identical to my issue bergen.

[@EdwinDekker71]

Nice bag but I think I still prefer my helikon matilda

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Fair enough! I looked at those too, love Helikon's 'Adaptive Green' colour, looks great with Coyote Brown. From memory I think they are a bit smaller, particularly with the rocket pouches but it does look like a solid bag.

[@OldNavajoTricks]

If the price wasn't exorbitant I'd use two as rocket pouches :-D