When I started going out to the field with my university department to conduct geologic fault measurements and line leveling at a national park, I started out with a small ~11L day pack. At the time it was adequate to some few dozen ounces of water and some snacks and some medical items, however I needed more capacity. The job typically went on for almost the entire day and I would find out that my supplies would be nearly depleted by then. And so I would start my mini adventure to find a good pack that would hold all I need but not necessarily a Alice pack.
(Patch from Prometheus Design Werx)
The Sävotta Jääkäri M is a 30L rucksack modeled after the Light Patrol Pack used by the Finnish Border Guard. It features a large single compartment about 30L in capacity, a hidden waterproof zippered pocket underneath the top flap, side pockets, molle all around, and a kidney pad/waist strap.
(Hiking in the dense rain and high winds looking for poorly maintained cairns. These are nicer examples on this trail)
What made me think this to be "perfect" for my needs is that it was a simple design and had molle webbing to attach whatever pouches I needed. It was also a somewhat scalable pack where I could cinch down on the straps to how slim I wanted it or blow it up all the way. To a limited degree I could also shorten the profile. It really depended on how much I could pack in this thing. This is a great versatile utility pack which is what I wanted even though there are other internal frame packs that are much lighter than this one but I don't think those would be more durable than military/bushcraft oriented packs.
(Above: a hidden zippered pocket on the top flap. A ORC level 5 PCU and some baby wipes I always have with me. Missing the 3L Hydration bladder. Extra space for work material if I have to carry them.)
When I first got the Jääkäri M I just stuck a small UR-Tactical ifak and general purpose pouch on the front and one side while the other side remained empty for my machete. This was fine the way it was except when I needed to find a way to organize items and other work necessities especially for external access that my workmates can get to easily. Eventually I would come to purchasing Varusteleka's Särmä TST Large general purpose pouch because they could carry more on the outside which was much more easier to access than dig through the 30L compartment. Each of the large pouches would hold a 3.2L capacity. I would then play around with the configuration to what I needed.
Wearing this rucksack prompted me to change a few things. The first thing would be to upgrade the plastic internal frame insert. Sävotta offers a upgraded version of the same plastic frame but it is reinforced with two vertical aluminum bars riveted to it. There's nothing wrong with the original plastic frame. It's substantially thick and will work fine but for me I like having rigidity. I went to my local Home Depot and bought flat aluminum bars about 3/4" wide, drilled holes into them and the plastic frame and tied them together (I don't have riveting tools nor the time to do it from scratch), this creating a cheaper ghetto version of Sävotta's upgraded frame.
The next thing was the shoulder straps which were not padded. I took my pair of Qore IveVents shoulder pads from one of my plate carriers (I replaced them with something else) and threw them onto the pack. This would improve comfort and widen the pressure spots instead of weight being focused in a narrow area. Excess straps were organized with velcro.
The one issue I could not solve was the lack of circulation around the back. The back is lined with two thick pads that don't have mesh to it nor are they ribbed. While there is still some air flow, there is now way to improve it besides wearing a next to skin moisture wicking shirt.
Overall I think this is a great pack for long days or a 2-3 night camping pack. With the way it is set up I find it pretty comfortable to wear over extended periods thanks to the kidney/waist pad taking the weight off my shoulders as well as the Qore IceVents. There are certainly ways to attach bushcrafting tools and you can add up to three large utility pouches summing up to about 40L of compartment capacity along with other external items like a USGI patrol sleeping bag in a compression bag strapped underneath the pack and maybe a folded or rolled up tarp on top, whatever. It's a versatile pack but only if you stick to the limitations of a 30L sized pack. You can shrink it by tightening the straps but it'll still be quite large and heavier than necessary for a regular day pack.
(Above: A side zipper allows to access smaller items inside the main compartment, however I never really found the need for it but it's good to have that available should I ever use it.)
(I keep tools on the side for quick and easy access. Most of the time we have to cut down foliage to get a clear line of sight between the leveling rods and the total transit station, as long as they are invasive plants). For me this is roughly what I need. A large compartment to hold a 3L hydration bladder, food and a rain layer for the work day, external pouch or two to hold first aid and other emergency items and smaller tools, larger tools like a folding saw and a machete can be attached externally as well. I also often carry miscellaneous items not listed here but they do help with work in a bind. I hope to have more opportunities to use this pack to give it its own proper review in my applications as a student and a avid hiker.
(Stretching my legs out in the middle of a 10 mile round trip hike on a old lava flow in a cold-temperate/sub-alpine environment. iykyk)
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