The Karrimor SF Modi 15: From Cabin Luggage To Emergency Grab Bag.

I've just returned from a journey into Ukraine, and as I sat on the train for 24 hours with not much to look at other than my Karrimor SF Modi 15 I pondered on the question "Is this my most versatile pack?'

As the brand ambassador for Karrimor SF I do have a lot of backpacks, and they do all get used. In my adventurous life, each pack has its own application based on features and benefits. To give one example, I relied on the clamshell opening system of the Thor 40 to access emergency equipment quickly and easily whilst operating on a rescue team in the high arctic. To give another example, I've relied on the capacious Karrimor SF Predator 80-130 when travelling for prolonged periods, or when I needed to carry a huge amount of gear.

But the pack that I've used for the greatest array of activities has got to be the Karrimor SF Modi 15.

With a fifteen litre capacity, the Modi 15 is the smallest pack in the Karrimor SF stable. Sitting in the Karrimor SF 'Nordic' range, the Modi 15 has the same clamshell opening design of the larger models in the range, and boasts features such as a padded laptop compartment and discreet 'laser-cut' MOLLE panels to enable customisation using MOLLE accessories.

My Modi 15 is usually my 'working daypack'. I travel around a lot for work, and the Modi carries everything that I could possibly need for a day of commuting, meetings, or working remotely as a 'digital nomad'.

But it played a very different role in my journey to Ukraine.

The Modi 15 was, for the first part of the journey, my in-flight cabin luggage for the two flights that took me from the UK to Warsaw. It was large enough to carry everything that I could possibly need whilst in transit, compact enough to fit within airline size requirements, and the clamshell opening made it easy to present the entire contents of the pack at a glance when stopped by airport security (I'm always the one who gets stopped!).

For the long train journey  - around 850km - from Warsaw to Kyiv I stowed my larger Karrimor SF Thor 40, but kept the Modi 15 with me in the sleeper cabin: travel documents, Kindle, power banks, washkit and change of shirt were all easily at hand. And again, it made life simple and painless when I was searched by border control.

During my time in Ukraine my Modi 15 became my EDC daypack, and my 'emergency grab bag' containing essentials should the SHTF or if I had to move quickly; passport and travel documents, multi-tool, Karrimor SF MOLLE IA Medical Pouch with trauma kit (including tourniquet and haemostatics), torch, map, water, a little food, facemask, camera, emergency beacon, and - of course - my umbrella!

I attached a 4 litre Karrimor SF Nordic Pouch to the MOLLE on one side of the pack, not to carry more kit, but to compensate for 'bad packing' should I have to stuff kit in a hurry.

At night, in case I had to leave in a rush to get to a bomb shelter, the bag was packed and ready to go next to the door of my room.

With its proven design, robust construction, and military heritage, the Karrimor SF Modi 15 really was the best choice for this assignment. 

So, is the Karrimor SF Modi 15 my most versatile backpack? After using it as cabin luggage, a work daypack camera bag, fishing backpack, emergency grab bag, gym bag and travel companion, I think the answer is probably 'yes'! Other packs in my collection may do specific jobs better, but none have accompanied me on such a wide variety of adventures. For a 15-litre daypack, that's quite an achievement!