The Temba Pack from CTOMS was designed for military assault climbers but is quite adaptable to a wide range of applications including use as a medical kit container. As you can see, the top loading basic pack has very clean lines with no snag hazards. A year in the making, Chris K has gone through seven iterations of the Temba to get here.
Constructed from a combination of MultiCam LiteLok with 4-way stretch Softshell side panels. The rear of the pack worn against the back is Drilux for comfort.
The top flap features a simple envelope style pocket with a removable daisy chain which can be accessed even with the zipper closed.
The top has a helmet retention fly feature, made from 4-way stretch.
The hooks for the removable helmet fly are inset on the lid in small garages.
It’s the little features that count. For instance, rather than using grommets, they’re using small burn holes for drainage.
The pack comes with three removable compression straps that can be used to really crank the load down within the pack.
The side pocket panel loading zippers along both sides incorporate backup split at SR Buckles. These side pockets also have hydration bladder hangers as well as a port hose.
The Temba pack gains its internal structure from strategically placed sheets of HDPE and foam along each side, at the rear and along the bottom. The foam panels in the side pockets can be used as a moldable splint. Additionally, if you pull the foam panels from the pack, they can be inserted into a sleeve that can be used as a rudimentary casualty insulator, or a sleeping pad. Since this sleeve is also a pocket, you can stuff leaves or pinestraw into it for additional insulation.
There are handles on all four edges of the back of the pack which also features the suspension. The pads are removable and can be replaced with a developmental pad sets that better accommodates the wearing of rear armor plates. There are also cable routing ports.
The bottom of the pack has a flat pocket that fits a new Sil Tarp for shelter building or other expedient uses.
One thing I love about the Temba is that you can remove the waist belt. It is padded and clips on, attaching at three separate points and can be released from any one of those points if you find yourself fouled in some way and need to jettison the pack. Additionally, the pack is configured to allow you to use a trouser or warbelt for the pack when used with Surface Mounted SR Buckles.
The shoulder straps, while simple to use, incorporate a lot of thought. To begin with, the removable sternum strap has a small, removable admin pouch with Velcro front.
The shoulder straps can be worn alone and are also compatible with CTOMS’ Pack to Armor Rapid Integration System which allows you to connect this pack directly to your armor carrier with quick donning and doffing capability. This really frees up the motion in your shoulders.
The entire inside of the Temba is Velcro compatible and will accept the pockets from CTOMS line of second line packs. Items such as the TRaCE kit will mount for easy access right to the top row of PALs webbing.
The Temba opens completely for full access to the contents. It opens so much that you can place a casualty into the bag and use it as a littler to extract a casualty by using the handles found inside both side pockets.
There are currently three piggyback panels available. The first is the Alpine panel which accepts a shovel, probe, crampons and two ice axes.
Next, is a PALS panel.
Finally, there’s an accessory pocket piggyback panel.
There’s also a pack cover in MultiCam Alpine pattern coming.
Update: here’s the cover.
Although CTOMS is a Canadian company, the Temba is Made in USA.
Learn more at www.ctoms.ca.
Tags: CTOMS
That is a sweet pack
Why are burn holes superior to grommets?
Weight savings.
If a grommet tears out somehow, it usually frays the cloth and leads to further damage, burn holes not so much as the cloth can be tear-resistant and sealed.
Pretty sure that is actually a laser cut hole ( essentially it is made with heat cutting ). Laser cuts on nylon are amazingly resilient, the surrounding fabric will give before the hole is compromised, nice little detail. A practice in light weight use is to insulate from ground heat loss by putting your pack and other gear underneath you, looks like this one has that covered in spades, all in all appears to be a super multi functional pack. Like the stretch panels too!
Hats off to CTOMS, I can tell a LOT of thought went into that pack, I don’t remember when I have seen that much versatility in one piece of gear. Outstanding work guys!!
“Also makes julienne fries”
Wow. Outstanding pack, with a ton of features. Very impressive.
Wow, this thing’s flipping amazing.
Cue the “shut up and take my money”
This pack is epic. What is the new sil tarp?
It’s a sil tarp.
Silnylon tarp, a blend of silicone and nylon. Lots of newer camping gear is made out of it. Extremely lightweight and compressible. Sil tarps are great, handy little items when you’re out and about.
LOVE this idea for a medic pack & can’t wait to try it as such.
….well, looks like I;m gonna be broke again soon.
Thanks for the great comments everyone. This pack has been a long time in the making!
The sil tarp will be 8’x10′ 30D MultiCam with anchor points. Alpine cover images will be sent to SSD very soon. We’re expecting to go into production early next year.
Almost forgot – a HUGE thanks to SSD for taking the time to spend with us to review the pack and our other new gear! Wait until you guys see the rest of it.
Nice pack! What all colors will it be offered in?
Right now, MultiCam.
Thanks for the response. Would have been nice to have when I was a Marine Assault Climber
That would have to be one of the best releases I have seen all year.
That is one sick rig.
Kudos to Chris K for such an excellent and thorough design, this looks bloody amazing, and with the PARIS would be an absolute winner for me on mountain ops – that sternum admin pouch is the cherry on top.
Also spy what looks to be a new chest harness…? Can’t wait to get my hands on the new Gen 2 gear!
Drooling. This might be the first pack that can handle EDC, climbing days, and light ski tours. Will it only come in Multicam and Alpine Multicam? I would love to take this up a few couloirs in Utah during the OR Show.
Nursing a serious boner at the moment; how much is the RRP going to be, if you have any idea?
I dont trust burn holes if its not a laminated fabric like Hypalon
WOW!! I am really impressed about how much thought you guys put into this, looks like an amazing pack with above standards (way above..!!) functionality. If only I could afford it..!
Job well done guys!
Whats the volume of this pack? (L)
Also, when is this expected to release?
Thanks! Looks great!