Since I name-dropped my new IC-705 transceiver in my previous post, I thought I’d add another quick post to cover the rest of the kit as well.

I went for this bag on advice from a SOTA Reflector post, and honestly it could do with being about 20mm wider, as it does feel like it’s pushed into a bit of a trapezium shape by the size of the IC-705. However, it does close up properly, and the clip still properly clips around it, so it does the job.

I have the radio held so that it can be accessed only by opening the top, and further down inside are compartments for my 6Ah LiFePo4 battery (as previously used with the FT-817) and the fist mic. So in order to get on the air, I do have to fully unzip the bag to sort things out before closing it up again.

Since space is tight on both the left and right sides, I have used right-angle adapters for both power (DC 5.5x2.5 barrel jack) and coax (BNC). The BNC also has a short extension cable that I can loop through and out of the top. The bag can then sit between my legs while I’m activating, with coax coming out one side, fist mic out the other, and the battery hidden away inside.

I haven’t bothered to protect the front of the radio with a cover. Having it sat in the bag a few centimetres shy of the top seems to do the job well enough, as the bag is quite rigid when closed.

I did consider both the official Icom LC-192 backpack and the cheaper Windcamp equivalent, but for me they seem to be simultaneously too much and not enough. While they would be fine for a quick walk from the car to a picnic table, they just don’t have enough space for the extra bits an actual hike demands: water bottle, thermos, jumper, coat, etc. But for putting inside a larger bag with all that other stuff, the Icom and Windcamp bags are just too heavy and bulky. So, I settled for something that—while still a little bulky—can happily be chucked into a hiking rucksack with plenty of space left over.

And of course, you can do it up when it rains.

The speaker in the fist mic makes things even better here; I think this is the first radio I’ve owned with that feature. Now with the whole thing buttoned up, even operated from inside the rucksack for extra waterproofing, I can still hear what’s going on clearly. It’s helpful to be able to hold it up to my ear when I’m feeling deaf as well!

I can’t lie, this wasn’t a cheap purchase. However, the VHF contest experience was much easier than with the FT-817, and I had fun with it QRP on the HF bands as well. There’s a definite chance this will end up being my “middleweight” kit from now on (compared to the heavyweight FT-891 + 20Ah battery, or the lightweight QMX + USB power bank) and the FT-817 and X6100 will end up getting sold on.

Now that I’ve completed that damn challenge I’m thinking much more about taking it easy on the radio, running QRP, with more focus on enjoying myself in the countryside and less on caring if it’s a “successful” activation. For that purpose, the new kit seems ideal.

It’s got a lot of catching up to do, to match the QSOs-per-pound value of the 891, but fingers crossed with a few more years of more relaxed outdoor radio operating, it’ll get there.