HELIKON-TEX

RAIDER 20L
BACKPACK
Words/Pics: Nik Maxwell Scotty has hunted this
a few times before and
NEW TO THE NEW ZEALAND HUNTING SCENE IS THE showed me some mint
HELIKON-TEX RANGE OF GEAR. UP UNTIL RECENTLY, bush stalking spots. Sign
I WAS UNAWARE OF THE BRAND UNTIL KELVIN DIXON was prevalent but no
FROM BUSHLIFE NZ CONTACTED ME A WHILE BACK TO deer seen unfortunately.
DISCUSS SOME REVIEW OPTIONS. So, how did the
RAIDER perform during
BushLife NZ is a Beaver tail panel ideal for Between you and the my time on the hill?
kiwi owned, husband your raincoat. It has two pack are two soft mesh Great! It is comfortable
and wife team who long straps that fasten to covered panels for a bit and there is ample
are endeavouring to the top of the pack. of added comfort. There room to store all your
provide quality hunting There is also a small is a wide channel in useful day hunting gear
and shooting gear at zipped front pocket for between the two mesh and equipment.
affordable prices. items like your panels to help with
GPS, phone etc. airflow. Keeping things CONCLUSION
OVERVIEW Complimenting all upright is a removable, A great little day pack,
The Helikon-Tex of this are two small narrow aluminium bar the Helikon-Tex RAIDER
RAIDER is a 20l day open top pockets that is sewn into the is versatile, lightweight
back ideal for day long located on the lower middle of the pack and looks pretty slick
and even overnight sides of the pack. between the main also. The wide and
excursions, provided Fastening or tying compartment and shaped to fit shoulder
you go with minimal anything to and in the the pack exterior. straps help to absorb
gear. It’d be perfect pack has been well But wait, there is the weight and the thick
for summertime covered. Above the side more! Tucked away mesh backing works to
overnighters. pockets are two small underneath the pack reduces perspiration
The pack is rows of Molle and there is another zippered build-up. With pockets
constructed from a is a large velcro panel compartment that compartments and
heavy nylon and is inside the pack as well house a thin nylon rain attachments galore,
available in a variety of as a small panel above cover to reduce moisture you’ll be able to load
colours; Adaptive Green, the outside front pocket. from getting into the it up at will.
Pencott Greenzone®, The more you look main pack space, mint! It is a sweet little
Coyote and A-Tacs FG. through the pack the pack ideal for day hunts
It’d be easier to search more clips and fasteners IN THE FIELD etc. It isn’t designed
online for these patterns you find giving the Due to the smaller to carry an exorbitant
than describe here RAIDER a tactical feel. capacity of the pack, I weight and so should
in writing! The shoulder straps only spent time with it enjoy an extended life
The main internal are of a decent width during local day hunts. in that regard.
compartment has two and fairly typical in I used it several times Check out
smaller pockets on the their design. You have while chasing fallow BushLife NZ at
front and rear. There is a chest strap and waist and small game up www.bushlifenz.com
another large pocket belt. There is no extra behind Te Puke (I’m for their complete
that is accessed via a zip padding on the waist always up there!). range of Helikon-Tex
on the top of the pack. belt. There are small I did however take backpacks, as well as
It is located in between removable Velcro tabs it away for a weekend a host of other useful
the main compartment that allow you to roll up hunt with my mate hunting and outdoor
and the pack harness. any excess length on Scotty in the Whirinaki equipment.
On the front of the the straps, I ended up Forest for a pre-rut hunt Nik
pack is an open style removing those. after some red deer.

76 | NZG&H #174 | SEP/OCT 2019 NZGUNSANDHUNTING.CO.NZ | 77