The couch is fine, but you won't experience anything on it. And as summer starts knocking on the door, that persistent itch in your soul begins to speak louder and louder. That unrelenting need to discover new cultures, feel the energy of music festivals, or the mystical calm of a night forest by the fire. Whatever your reason may be, there's one thing you can't do without. A proper backpack that can handle it all with you. And today we're introducing one such adventurer. Its name is Soldat XL.
" Work fills your pocket, but adventure fills your soul " Jamie Lyn Beatty
Let's introduce Soldat XL first in numbers
Volume: 65 l
Material: 900D Oxford 100% polyester with a water-resistant rubberized layer
Weight: approx. 2 kg
Height: 75 cm
Width: 35 cm
Depth: 24 cm
Available in several colors and camouflage patterns.
What the construction looks like
Soldat XL is, in a certain sense, a traditionalist.
It consists of 6 storage compartments, where the main compartment can be divided into 2 separate sections. You can partition the space with the sewn-in fabric with a drawstring. The outer surface is smooth, without a MOLLE system, complemented by D-rings and smaller loops.
The backpack is tall but has a smaller depth. This helps ergonomics when carrying and even load distribution. On longer trips, an elongated shape is more advantageous than a lower, round backpack, where everything is piled together in one heap. Comfort is helped by a metal stiffener in the back panel, which is removable if needed. I shouldn't forget an important thing. The backpack has height-adjustable shoulder straps. Their central part is simply threaded through the fabric straps in the middle of the back as needed and secured with a Velcro fastener.
Soldat has the advantage of numerous smaller pockets. The top compartment is great for a binoculars, GPS, and similar small items. The side zipper hides a waterproof cover for the backpack. It's quite large, so it can also fit other small items like a solar power bank or a poncho. Of course, every situation requires a different arrangement. If I know I'll be using the binoculars or GPS more often, I prefer to carry them in the pouch on the hip belt, which I've added.
I mostly use the front pocket for documents, a map, and basic hygiene items. It's more or less square-shaped, so it's great for that.
The side elongated pockets are great for bundles of 30m paracord, repellents, and one pocket can easily fit a smaller mess kit, cutlery set, a 100g gas cartridge, a burner, and even a kuksa from Kupilka.
Although the backpack lacks MOLLE, thanks to the shoulder straps, various loops, and D-rings, it's still sufficiently versatile. It's all a matter of your creativity. On one side a pouch with a tourniquet, on the other a radio. And on the hip belt an IFAK and a dump pouch. A small dump pouch is otherwise a great universal platform. It's not just about magazines. You can carry all kinds of small items in it, a one-liter canteen, or a camera.
In the fresh air
One thing is to talk, another is to experience. Hectic work called for a bit of greenery and fresh air. So, pack the Soldat XL, check the route, and head off towards Martin, to Veľká Fatra. The weather wasn't very favorable to us on the first day. Strong storms swept over the north. But will a bit of water and lightning stop us? Not a chance 😁. It's just a chance to experience proper stories and have something to remember.
The outer walls of the Soldat are rubberized on the inside, and the backpack also comes with an additional waterproof cover. So a bit of water is no problem for it. I took a poncho out of the top pocket to stay dry myself, and off we went. 
We had planned a weekend trip with an overnight stay in a cabin, so the sleeping bag stayed home this time. Summer ultralight sleeping bags fit easily into the bottom pocket along with an inflatable pillow and a hammock. A larger sleeping bag can be fitted under the top lid or, after removing one loop, into the strap on the bottom of the backpack. The top opening is wide enough. Clothes and even bulkier items go in comfortably. 
Keeping your gear organized and orderly is mainly about planning and good organization. That's why it's useful to sort items by purpose or time of use. There's no point in throwing navigation and communication items into the middle of the backpack if you'll need them every few minutes.
It's ideal to make piles before packing. That way I always see how much I'm carrying, what condition it's in, and most importantly, where I'll pack it depending on the specific type of backpack and the focus of the trip.
Vacuum bags and fabric organizer boxes have proven to work well. This way, instead of a heap of small items, thematically packed smaller bundles are carried separately in the backpack. Handling the backpack is easier and faster for me this way. 65 liters is quite a large volume, and with two entry points, it's in my opinion the most practical solution.
Based on the result, I always decide which pocket to hide what in and what type of pouch to add to the hip belt. Pouches can also be attached to the fabric straps on the top part of the lid. For an older backpack design without MOLLE, that's, in my opinion, decent versatility. 
Thanks to its tall but shallow profile, the Soldat XL carries excellently. In steep terrain, the backpack hugs the back closely, and with proper weight distribution it doesn't pull to the sides or backward. It's best to test the backpack at home beforehand. I always loosen the shoulder straps first, so it's easier to swing onto my back. But I set the Vario Back system in advance. This is more practical also because the backpack sits on the back differently when everything is packed inside compared to when a sleeping pad and a large sleeping bag with a tent are attached externally. 
The heavier-weight polyester clearly can take quite a bit. Low branches and dense bushes always test not only clothing but also backpacks. The fabric performs well in this regard. It's easy to clean off dirt when I drag it along the ground, and bushes don't leave any marks on it. The metal stiffener also gives the backpack's back panel a firm shape, which only increases its durability and comfort even when it's not fully loaded. Since it's removable, I can fold the backpack flat at home like a pancake and store it comfortably anywhere.
In conclusion
When I first put the Soldat XL on my shoulders, I had a certain idea of it. I know similar designs well, and the material too. But the more I got to know it, the more it surprised me. Soldat XL isn't a backpack for military or law enforcement units. Nevertheless, it's flexible, durable, and comfortable. And whether your goal is Wacken Open Air, a weekend trek in the Alps, or an airsoft Mil-Sim far from home, that's exactly what will matter.
It's always better to experience stories than to read them. And whatever storm they start with, whether you'll remember them fondly or not despite the difficulties, is always a matter of your attitude. Life arose from chaos. And that chaos, together with discomfort, was the driving force of our inner growth. That figurative spice that enriches life and, thanks to challenges, pushes us to be a step better than yesterday and helps us find inner balance. Every adventure begins at the edge of our comfort zone.
