rucksack needed

[mentalnurse]

i am looking for a rucksack poss a 70l to 100l new or second hand,poss exarmy must me waterproof loads of room and pockets.
could anyone put me in the right direction of some good sites and the kind of money i should be looking at. thanks

[h2o]

i like karrimor rucksacs myself,but i think you would be best going and trying a few different ones on ,
In the shop you will be able to see which is best fit for you,but decide how much your willing to spend before you set off and work out what size you will need.
The british army one is quite cheap and very robust but isnt the worlds comfiest pack.I wouldnt recommend it ,although a lot do seem to like them.

[bushscout1]

I've got / had far too many rucksacks over the years...

I'd ask yourself how much you really need / want to carry & how much you want to spend / use it.

The larger the bag the more likely you'll just throw everything in & then suffer if you're carrying the excess any distance - trust me I've done it many times.

I now use a Berghaus Munro 35L daysack, and have a Karrimor Sabre 45L with a pair of PLCE side pockets & a water bottle pouch strapped on the front to make it around 70L. This set-up makes me think what I need (especially if I'm carrying it a distance) and if I've got a base camp, I can always take both.

The advantages of the above are:
the PLCE side pockets are huge & offer much more flexibility when packing,
they can also be separated from the pack & used with a yoke to form a separate pack,
all of the above gear is very hard wearing.

The down side was the cost, although you can scoop some good deals if you shop around, that said I doubt I'll be buying any more sacks for some time as these seem to be bombproof.

[UKHaiku]

I just got hold of a similar set-up - Karrimor sabre 45 plus 2 PLCE side-pockets - and it seems to be pretty good... Looking forwards to trying it out, but nursing a dodgy ankle and have been attacked by a cold :( (but thanks to Toddy's link at least I can put a face on it!).

I think it's best to forget about a waterproof rucksack - they don't really exist in practice (or at least not for long!). I think you'll find a selection of dry bags will give you better water-proofing...

[Lasse]

I like my Highlander Forces 88: it's big, quite comfy, quite water proof, quite light (2,4 kg), feels very rugged, has some nice features and, I think, is a good buy compared to most other brands :)
It comes with a rain cover (0,425 kg) which can be used as a flight bag (or huge sack)
Available colors are olive green and camo, both look nice (I've got the Forces 88 olive, my sister prefers her Forces 66 camo)

There are several positive posts about the sack elsewhere on this forum, which is why I bought mine. (Thanks a lot! :) )

[Dougster]

I've had loads of rucksacks and use some for four or five days at a time in the Cairngorms in winter. The 45 is good for overnighters or long winter days, but not the best with a weeks winter kit.

I have a Macapac Glissade and it is by far the best pac I have ever owned in terms of long term weight carrying.

I bought it after several hours in a good outdoor shop where they gave me weight to put in it and helped me fit it. That was ten years ago and cost me £180 then.

It's horses for courses, but the consolation of that payout was that it's always been comfy, is still going strong and once, when utterly shattered I threw it down a hill ahead of me, it had one scuff when I got there. This is one of those packs I will pay a decent sum to fix when it goes wrong rather than buy a new one.

Stay clear of army ones if you are tall, they are designed to sit above webbing and put too much weight on your shoulders. No rucksacks are waterproof, you'll be best off getting a load of rubble sacks from B&Q for all your kit.

[Angus Og]

Rucksacks and waterproof don't seem to go together.:eek: :rolleyes:

[Sickboy]

PM sent :240:

[SimonM]

I agree with the other posters - avoid army bergans - the back system is not the best and you can not transfer weight to the hips so are very uncomfortable!

I use a Karrimor Sabre 60-100 as my large pack. It has 2 sets of compression zips to make it smaller when needed but can still handle large loads. It has good "stash" type open top pockets (2 on each side) and is compatable with PLCE bergan side pouches to further extend it capacity. (I have a medics pouch and an ordinary side pouch but to date have not needed the space - but do use them as they make a nice day sac when in a fixed camp).

There is a review of the older model on this site, and here is a link to the Karrimore SF page:-

http://www.pri.uk.com/ksf/sabre60-100.html

Simon

EDIT:

I can recommend Tamarack as a supplier of the Karrimor range amongst others (no link to seller etc!)

http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/index.htm

[FGYT]

i have a berghaus vulcan 2 in og i put up in the sale section a while ago its 15yrs old and had a few knocks but still perfectly servicable its to big for my needs these days
a search should bring up the ad it was a while back

atb

Duncan

[h2o]

i am looking for a rucksack poss a 70l to 100l new or second hand,poss exarmy must me waterproof loads of room and pockets.
could anyone put me in the right direction of some good sites and the kind of money i should be looking at. thanks

buy from a shop try a few on

[Northern Giant UK]

I Highly recommend Highlander packs and the 88ltr is within that range.
They have a good adjustable back system they're tough and spread load onto the hips well, they also have a good airflow padded back.

One thing to add tho is that besides the "Forces" range which come in olive green and DPM there is also the Nevis range which come in blue (for those who aren't too keen on the army look).

Great packs, I got my 88 for £60 but they've probably come down since then.

Kev.

[big_swede]

Military backpacks have some cons one might not think about, but a friend of mine told me of people being really rude and hostile towards him when he was backpacking (africa, asia and south america), so if you wanna go backpacking you might wanna go for a more civvy looking pack. Other cons I've encountered is weight (being soldier proof..), comfort (if designed to be worn with a assault rig). In general the waistbands are usually quite flimsy.

There are of course exceptions. I like the LK70 (but heavy), LK100 (heavier) and Norrønas military packs, they are unfortunately not made anymore, those left (recon pac syncroflex super-hifi grand deluxe etc.) are way to expensive. Bergans also makes some really good packs somewhere in the twilight zone between military and civilian. The Lks are made by sacci, and are quite hard to get by, Recon vildmark sells some of their stuff (this (http://www.recon.se/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=435) one and my dream (http://www.recon.se/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=434)).

The berghaus atlas and trident are also very good packs, but I prefer an external frame, works better on my back (except when skiing, then the softpacks are ace).

I think it would be wise to search the classified ads if you want a military pack since they are designed to withstand generations of use.

The market is flooded with civilian packs. And almost every brand boast new revolutionary features, one more technical and advanced than the other. Personally I haven't found a single one I really like (problems of the modern world...). To much flash and to many weak points. A friend of mine has one he bought in germany which I do however quite like, it's the Salewa Cape Horn 80+10. It cost him a mere €120! And the carrying system is brilliant. The downside? It's antracite.. The 70+10 model does however have a green dash to it. Those bags have a clean design and very little mindless features.

[Greg]

I have bought two PLCE Infantry Bergens from here and they were worth it!
They do come without the side pockets which increase the size from 100 to 120Lt.

http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co. uk/ishop/1069/shopscr87.html

I have no links with this site other than being a satifyed customer.

[Mikkel]

big_swede> You dont want to wear anything remotely militray-ish when traveling in certain 'wierd' countries. Colombia have a huge problem with CIA agents that you basicly wont be allowed over the border if your shirt got shoulder loops, or if you are wearing anything in military colours (OD, Tan, etc), or got the military look.
I guess that problem extends to many countries where the central government is not firmly in control of the country, or where no local warlords are present.
Camouflage is a huge NO GO, in most non-western countries, and even in some western.

[big_swede]

big_swede> You dont want to wear anything remotely militray-ish when traveling in certain 'wierd' countries. Colombia have a huge problem with CIA agents that you basicly wont be allowed over the border if your shirt got shoulder loops, or if you are wearing anything in military colours (OD, Tan, etc), or got the military look.
I guess that problem extends to many countries where the central government is not firmly in control of the country, or where no local warlords are present.
Camouflage is a huge NO GO, in most non-western countries, and even in some western.

Yep, totally agree. Doesn't matter so much to me though, I go for the holiday-look when I go to warmer latitudes (think hawaii shirt.. :cool: )

[andy_e]

I use a Karrimor Sabre 60-100 as my large pack. It has 2 sets of compression zips to make it smaller when needed but can still handle large loads. It has good "stash" type open top pockets (2 on each side) and is compatable with PLCE bergan side pouches to further extend it capacity. (I have a medics pouch and an ordinary side pouch but to date have not needed the space - but do use them as they make a nice day sac when in a fixed camp).

There is a review of the older model on this site, and here is a link to the Karrimore SF page:-

http://www.pri.uk.com/ksf/sabre60-100.html


I'll second the Karrimor SF 60-100 recommendation, I have two std PLCE side-pouches attached to mine. I also like the fact that you can expand and contract it to the size you need from 60L up to ~120 with pouches. It's a heavy beastie but comfortable. It's reasonably water-resistant and comes with a rain cover that keeps the worst weather off it. You'd still want to use dry-sacks for clothes and the like. I use a combination of sizes rather than one big one. It's not my over-nighter or day-sack but its a good buy for longer trips.

[benp1]

I have a Macapac Glissade and it is by far the best pac I have ever owned in terms of long term weight carrying.

I bought it after several hours in a good outdoor shop where they gave me weight to put in it and helped me fit it. That was ten years ago and cost me £180 then.

It's horses for courses, but the consolation of that payout was that it's always been comfy, is still going strong and once, when utterly shattered I threw it down a hill ahead of me, it had one scuff when I got there. This is one of those packs I will pay a decent sum to fix when it goes wrong rather than buy a new one.

Stay clear of army ones if you are tall, they are designed to sit above webbing and put too much weight on your shoulders.


Completely agree here. My 2 'bushcraft' packs are non bushcrafty and VERY comfortable. One is an Osprey Eclipse and the other is the Macpac Glissade

I can't recommend them highly enough. The Macpac is my real bushcraft pack and its absolutely fantastic. Comfortable, fits me (I'm tall), hard wearing, well made but pricey.

I really recommend Osprey and Macpac kit, its at the high end of packs but they'll last a lifetime

[ledamni]

Id try one of the little Swedish army packs (LK35?!?) there indestructible, amazingly roomy and for 7.95 a bargain. Its not to far a stretch to sew yourself the connectors for PLCE sides if you want to expand it out. If you cant sew take it all to your local shoe repairer and they'll do it, but its really not hard.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/bags-rucksacks/army-issue-35-ltr-rucksack-with-345426.html

The great advantage of the PLCE backpack system is that not even airlines throwers have managed to kill mine after 7 years of international flights, if you can't handle the hideous camouflage colours paint it.

Be very wary if you buy an "expensive" guchi bag, I've found the karrimor bags complete rubbish, and like karrimor most chinese made bags(blackmountian, berghaus, lowe, osprey, etc) will fail with any decent usage. Best way to test a bag, fill it full of crap till its about to pop, kick it around the backyard for an afternoon, throw it in the pool, drop it out of a tree, if you can still use it keep it.

[Mikkel]

if the chinese can figure out to manufacture my computer hardware, I'll trust them to also make my backpacks ;)

[crazyclimber]

The berghaus atlas and trident are also very good packs, but I prefer an external frame, works better on my back (except when skiing, then the softpacks are ace).


Can second the Atlas II having really loaded it up a few times the last few weeks - one very very good load carrier.

[Ben Trout]

Decide how much you want to spend and go along to a decent outdoors shop. Try on everything in the size and price range. A good shop will have ballast so you can try sacks on with a realistic weight in them. Walk around, jump up and down a bit and make sure everthing stays reasonably still. If there are stairs wander up and down, some sacs will upset your balance more than others. Buy what suits you.

[PaleoHunterGatherer]

Hi mentalnurse, might I suggest something a little different, that will probably last you a lifetime:
http://www.frostriver.com/canoe_packs/canoe_packs_menu.html
or this:
http://www.duluthpack.com/sub_packs.aspx
Both outstanding products, and waterproof too boot.
You have to order them from America, but they are a good deal.
Cheers
Alex

[mentalnurse]

thank you all for your input , i have sorted one over the weekend.

[SimonM]

thank you all for your input , i have sorted one over the weekend.

So what did you get in the end?

[h2o]

Id try one of the little Swedish army packs (LK35?!?) there indestructible, amazingly roomy and for 7.95 a bargain. Its not to far a stretch to sew yourself the connectors for PLCE sides if you want to expand it out. If you cant sew take it all to your local shoe repairer and they'll do it, but its really not hard.

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/bags-rucksacks/army-issue-35-ltr-rucksack-with-345426.html

The great advantage of the PLCE backpack system is that not even airlines throwers have managed to kill mine after 7 years of international flights, if you can't handle the hideous camouflage colours paint it.

Be very wary if you buy an "expensive" guchi bag, I've found the karrimor bags complete rubbish, and like karrimor most chinese made bags(blackmountian, berghaus, lowe, osprey, etc) will fail with any decent usage. Best way to test a bag, fill it full of crap till its about to pop, kick it around the backyard for an afternoon, throw it in the pool, drop it out of a tree, if you can still use it keep it.

my bag was made in accrington lancashire not china

[robadams]

For what it's worth, these are my thoughts on rucsacs. As has been said before on various threads before, buy the best you can but the most expensive is not necessarily the best.
You can't go far wrong with a berghaus as a first try, they are basic but very tough and can be picked up very cheaply on ebay if you can wait a while.
One option is a cyclops roc approx 60 litres, this is based on a climbing sac and has no side pockets. This means it is a slim rucsac and will not easily get caught on branches and bushes. you can extend the capacity by adding side pockets or strap roll mats, bivis etc to the sides.
The other option is the crusader 65-80 litres, pretty much the roc with zip off pockets that convert into a daysac. I have been using these for over 20 years and they work for me. I have had plenty of other rucsacs, issued to me and bought by myself and keep going back to the crusader. sold my DPM one on ebay and bought a green version in great nick for £30, 2 weeks later.
The final option is the vulcan, 100 litres and a monster. Great sac but then you are tempted to pack all you own and regret it very quickly. Plenty of these come up on ebay.
The most important thing to be aware of is the fact that they come in different frame sizes 1-4, depending on the model.
Size 2 - 5'3" to 5'8".
Size 3 - 5' 9" to 5'11".
Size 4 - 6' to 6'6".
size 1 is found in the sacs designed specifically for women.
They fit close to the back and the frame can be shaped to your back. The plus of this is the stability over rocky ground, the minus is a sweaty back, only a problem if you are stopping and starting and don't like the cold feeling.
When buying, look for a small white tag sewn on the back, between the shoulder straps with a little number on, this refers to the frame size.

I could probably knock up some photos of my crusader if you want.

Hope this helps and prompts some more posts on rucsacs.
The added beauty of the roc or crusader is the fact that they have side compression straps that enable you to reduce the size of the pack and the crusader has extra compression straps on the lid to pull in the sac even further. The problem with a 45 litre sac is that you then have to buy a larger sac for longer trips, meaning more cost.
I have used my crusader without side pockets as a patrol day sac and so long as the back length is not too long it makes a great overnight sac. I admit it means the pack is slightly heavier than a true 45 litre sac but you have the added versatility of chucking some fire wood under the lid for a quick and easy fire towards the end of the day. Some people place their roll mat inside first in order to bulk out the pac and to keep it dry in the rain.

Others may offer other opinions on the merits of this but it works for me.

I would stay away from the PLCE bergens. They are OK for squaddies but are not designed to be as comfortable as the civvie versions, and trust me, I know. that is why most squaddies buy their own rucksacks if they can.