Karrimor SF Ambassador Justin Miles Heads to Ukraine on a Journey of Purpose

Karrimor SF brand ambassador - adventurer, speaker, author and education advocate Justin Miles - will soon travel to Ukraine on a journey defined not by distance, but by purpose.

For more than twenty years, every expedition, challenge and adventure Justin (Just) has undertaken has served a wider educational mission. His expeditions have been broadcast live into classrooms around the world, the learning materials he has created are used in schools globally, and his books (published in 26 languages) have become education resources in their own right. Through partnerships with technology providers, he also conducts regular virtual visits, at one time engaging with up to 4,500 students worldwide each month.

Alongside this work, Just has supported organisations striving to ensure that every child, everywhere has access to quality education. His efforts have ranged from supporting initiatives here in the UK to helping break down barriers to education across more than thirty countries.

It was through one of his virtual school visits thirteen years ago that Just first connected with a school and college in Ukraine. That relationship has continued ever since, including throughout the current conflict.

In 2022, Just had planned to travel to Ukraine to meet the teachers and students that he had worked with for years. The visit would also have included time exploring some of the country’s unique landscapes, from bushcraft and foraging in the vast Ukrainian forests to visiting the world’s smallest desert and its shortest volcano.

The Russian invasion halted those plans, but now, the opportunity has returned, this time with a different focus.

The education facility (location withheld) will be hosting a TED-Ed event where students and teachers will present ideas and experiences that they are passionate about, including how they continue to maintain education provision under extraordinary circumstances. As a professional speaker, presenter and former TEDx speaker, Just will support the event and work with participants as they prepare their talks.

Behind the event, and behind the continued delivery of education, lies a deeper story of resilience, culture and community. Throughout the journey, Justin will gather stories, insights and experiences from the people working to make education happen - and the students themselves - that will later be shared through talks, writing and educational programmes. His work will focus on translating first-hand exposure into learning, helping audiences move beyond headlines and better understand the human realities behind global events.

Turning real-world experience into meaningful education has always been central to his work. Justin operates at the intersection of expeditions, travel and public engagement -transforming time spent in challenging environments into talks, educational programmes and storytelling that help others better understand global realities. And throughout that time, through every adventure and journey, Just has relied on Karrimor SF load carrying equipment.

Operating in environments like this requires preparation, discipline and dependable equipment. Travel in uncertain conditions demands gear that performs without compromise.

For this journey, Justin will be relying on the latest version of the Karrimor SF Thor 40.

Originally designed for military and professional users, the Karrimor SF Thor 40 provides a robust and versatile 40-litre platform suited to demanding field conditions. Its compact, streamlined profile allows efficient movement through urban environments whilst still providing the capacity needed to carry essential equipment.

Durability and practicality are key. The rugged construction of the Thor 40 and modular design means that essential kit, including documentation equipment, field essentials and daily gear, remain secure, organised and immediately accessible throughout the day.

In environments where conditions can change rapidly, reliability really does matter.
But the mission goes beyond equipment.

For Justin, expedition life has always been about responsibility as much as adventure: the responsibility to engage, to listen and to share what is learned.

Equipped with experience, purpose and the Karrimor SF Thor 40, the journey to Ukraine will focus on one objective: understanding the realities on the ground and bringing those stories back to the world.

Follow the journey as it develops by joining @KarrimorSF on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

From everyone at KSFG Ltd and Karrimor SF, we wish Just all the very best for his journey to Ukraine. We are proud to stand behind him as he continues to turn real-world experiences into meaningful education, helping others better understand the people and stories behind global events.