Savotta Kahakka 15L Combat Pack

A seriously sensible, utterly functional, and rugged all-around combat/daypack, made to meet the diverse carrying needs of the regular soldier. Perfect for demanding outdoor and everyday use, too. The total capacity with side pouches filled is c. 20 liters, with many external attachment points for additional gear.

Features

• Capacity c. 15 L (excl. bellowed side pouches)
• Pleated, expandable side pouches, c. 2.5 L each
• One exterior zippered pouch
• Large main compartment, fold-top lid with two SR buckles
• Hydration bladder/radio compartment and tube/antenna/cable ports
• Two side compression straps with G-hooks on each side
• PALS webbing on the front and bottom for attaching extra gear
• Exterior open-top compartment for the back pad or other gear
• Closed cell foam back pad/support, useable as a sitting/kneeling pad
• Padded, contoured shoulder straps with D-ring attachment
• Sternum strap with SR buckle, movable and removable
• Top carry handle
• 15 x 10 cm (6" x 4") loop surface on the top for patches and identifiers
• All color options offer good NIR performance
• 5-year material and workmanship warranty
• Made in Finland/Estonia
• NSN: 8465-58-002-0195

Technical specs

• Weight: 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs)
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 25 x 42,5 x 15 cm (9.8" x 16.7" x 5.9")
• Main fabric: 1000D and 500D Cordura (100% polyamide)
• Webbing: 100% polyester
• Buckles: steel and acetal

The fold-top lid of the main compartment is quick and easy to open and close using two SR buckles. Fast like a zipper, but super reliable in extended use in mud, sand, and snow. Inside, you’ll find a hydration bladder/radio compartment with two tie-down loops and a hydration bladder attachment webbing tab on the top. Each side of the pack has one antenna/cable/tube port.

The pleated, expandable side pouches allow quick access to equipment such as water bottles, E-tools, bolt cutters, etc. Each pouch has a capacity of c. 2.5 liters when filled so that the top side compression strap tightens the pouch shut. When empty, the pouches lay neat and flat. Vertical webbing loops keep the side compression straps neatly in place. The pouches have water drainage holes on the bottom.

The two side compression straps with steel G-hooks on either side of the pack offer both compression and a means of quickly strapping gear to the outside of the pack. The G-hooks also enable you to add extra pouches/bags to the back of the pack.

The Kahakka 15L has one external zippered pouch, a flat one on the front of the pack with a webbing loop with a D-ring inside, good for small trinkets and valuables. The zipper has two pullers with generous cord loops to silence them and make the zippers easier to use with thick gloves on.

PALS webbing on the front and bottom allows you to attach extra gear using an elastic cord or packing straps. The webbing loops above the side pouches can be used to secure gear with cords, carabiners, or packing straps.

The back is padded and supported with a thick and stiff closed cell foam pad, placed in an open-topped compartment on the outside of the pack. The pad is quick and easy to remove and reinsert, and you can use it as a sitting/kneeling pad. You can also use the compartment to carry other equipment, such as a tarp or rain poncho.

The padded, contoured shoulder straps attach to steel D-rings, which allow the shoulder straps to turn and conform to various body shapes. The shoulder straps can be removed and replaced if needed. The sternum strap is removable and can be moved up and down the shoulder straps as desired.

Use

"Kahakka" is Finnish for a "small battle" or "skirmish", quite suitable for what is literally a small combat pack. The "special thing" about the Kahakka packs is that they really aren’t special at all. They are serious packs for the 99% of users who need a straightforward all-around combat/daypack with enough scalability and versatility for various jobs and changing situations.

The Kahakka packs are made for the realities of military use. Savotta has over half a century of experience in making gear for the Finnish Defence Forces, who prefer their gear to endure up to and beyond a decade of vigorous use. The Kahakkas are rugged indeed, but Savota hasn’t sacrificed functionality nor dumbed down the design for the sake of durability. What we have here is a peculiar mix of functionality, comfort, and traditional Savotta ruggedness.

This smaller pack has a total capacity of c. 20 liters, plus numerous attachment options for extra gear on the outside. It is a very compact pack with enough capacity for essential personal and mission-/task-related equipment, including rainwear, etc.

Rugged and repairable

The main body of the pack is made from 1000D Cordura for high abrasion resistance- Some details, such as the back pad compartment and fold-top sides, are made from lighter and less coarse 500D. The covered zippers have two pullers, so you always have a backup in case one fails.

The shoulder straps are easily replaceable if damaged., The bottom straps can be replaced with any length of 25 mm (1") webbing if needed.

All plastic buckles can be removed and replaced without sewing. The side compression straps use steel G-hooks, which will not fail and offer the option to quickly hook on extra gear to the back of the pack.

Kahakka 15L or 25L, Which one to choose?

First of all, we are not the experts on what you need, you are. The big difference between these two is of course the size; the 25L is considerably bigger than the 15L and also has a belt and additional rectangular pouch on top of the lid.

If you commonly need to carry bulky winter clothing on top of your other essential gear, get the 25L. If you want a streamlined, compact pack and don’t need that extra 10 liters of space: get the 15L. Either way, both packs offer many options to add extra gear to the outside, and good compression straps to tighten down the pack when half full.