STOIRM, Gaelic for STORM, is a new range of tactical packs and clothing from long-established Highlander Outdoor of Livingston in Scotland, writes Bob Morrison.
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On most field assignments I carry a MultiCam daysack with additional PALS / MOLLE pouches to expand capacity, but for non-tactical trips where camo could look out of place I usually swap for a black or grey pack. So, knowing I had a forthcoming trip where a non-camo airline-compatible pack to carry cameras and laptops would come in very useful, I happily accepted the offer of a STOIRM 25L for evaluation.
My first impression of this 50x31x14cm (or 500x310x140mm) clamshell-opening, 1000 Denier nylon pack with EVA moulded back system is that not only is it well constructed but it is also well thought out in design. Inside the main compartment there is a laptop / bladder compartment and two zipped pockets, on the outer face there are both a decent-sized secondary pocket and a lined eyepro hard pocket, and there are elasticated pockets on both sides. Zips are YKK and clips are Duraflex, so no skimping on quality here. Finally, inside the main compartment there are removable laser cut hook & loop attachment panels for individual organising and inside the secondary compartment, which also has two zipped pockets behind the lid, there is a removable organiser panel with more pockets. There really is a lot going on with what initially looks like a simple backpack / daysack.
It is my intention to return to STOIRM 25L Pack in more detail once I have put it to practical use on a week-long assignment later this month and checked it out for both comfort and usability. I don’t think I will be disappointed.
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