Rucksack, knapsack, packsack, pack, Haversack, or Bergen – whatever term you use,
it’s simply a bag to put on your back, with two shoulder straps, often with many pockets or
several compartments. You call it, it is the simplest way to carry your gear easily, safely and over long distances.
Large backpacks, used to carry loads over 10 kg usually offload the major part of their weight onto padded hip belts. This leaves the shoulder straps mainly for keeping the load in place making it easier to carry heavy loads because the hips are stronger than the shoulders. It also improves agility and balance, because the load lies closer to the centre of mass of the person wearing it.
The Rucksack
The term backpack was coined in the United States in the 1910s. Prior to backpack, moneybag and packsack were used. The word rucksack is a German loanword mainly used in the UK, US and in other Western military forces. In Middle High German, ruck(e) means “back” (dorsum), which led to the Upper German word ruggsack. The name rucksack is cognate with the:
- Danish rygsæk
- Norwegian ryggsekk
- Dutch rugzak
- Afrikaans rugsak
- Swedish ryggsäck
- Russian рюкзак (rjukzak)
Alternative names include Kraxe (a German rucksack with a rigid framework), and Bergen (a large load-carrying rucksack, from a design issued by the British Army during the Second World War). In fact, British troops used to call their Alpine-style backpacks “Bergens”, maybe from the name of their creator, Norwegian Ole F. Bergan, combined with the name of the Norwegian city of Bergen.
Key Players
Famous within military circles is the Tornister (from Switzerland: Infanterie-Felltornister), a form of rucksack in which a fur or fabric covering is sewn over a rectangular wooden or plastic frame. They were also known as monkeys because of the fur covering. Later, the German Gebirgsjägerrucksack came along, made of leather and fabric, and a few generations later in the US Army, the All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) system, a carrying frame backpack. To this day, the US Armed Forces use similar systems, except that the heavy and sharp-edged metal frame has given way to a lightweight and body-hugging plastic frame. For US airborne forces, the Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) 4000 backpack system was introduced in 2019. “The new MOLLE 4K is a compilation of the best parts of the legacy ALICE pack and the newer MOLLE,” according to Capt. Fritz Carr, commander of the US Army Advanced Airborne School. The 4000 “moniker” addresses the cubic inches of load volume and replaced the ALICE rucksack.
The German Armed Forces introduced the 110-litre system for infantry and special forces years ago. It consists of the Berghaus ATLAS IV 110 litre and the Berghaus MUNRO daypack with 35 litres. This system was recently supplemented or replaced by a new 110 litre system in two variants. Snigel Design AB, the main supplier of backpack systems to the Swedish Armed Forces, and Tasmanian Tiger (Tatonka GmbH) supplied a total of up to 60,000 systems. The 110-litre system consists of a 110-litre backpack, a 30-litre daypack and six packliners (two packliners each of 8, 20 and 40 litres). The packliners are waterproof bags that can be carried as inliners in the backpack or in the side pockets. The supply contracts for the packliners were secured by Logistik Unicorp Inc from Canada and Wise Pearl Ltd from Hong Kong. In addition to the requirement for the size of the backpacks, a specific material as well as front and top loader concepts were demanded by the armed forces. This allows them to be loaded from the top as well as from the front. The side pockets of the main backpack are detachable and can be used individually or combined as an emergency backpack if required. Meanwhile, another contract – for 250,000 systems – has been awarded to Snigel Design AB to fully equip the Bundeswehr. The timetable is ambitious, with the Ministry of Defence expecting to receive the equipment by 2025 at the latest.
New Berghaus System
In the meantime, Berghaus has also developed a new system. This was presented in March 2022 at the EnforceTac in Nuremberg, Germany, by the sales partner LV Equipment BV. The Fight Light System (FLT) comprises 18 new products, from the Big Bag Pack to the small Gear Bag. These are essentially the well-known MMPS CRUSADER systems, with some additional enhancements and in new, significantly lighter material and a stone-grey colour (RAL 7013). Thanks to the new and lighter material, a considerable weight saving has been achieved and a special coating makes them practically invisible to infrared detection. In addition to the MMPS CRUSADER, the FLT TITAN 60 FA-IR, HEROS 45 FA-IR, HEROS 35 FA-IR or ARES 25 IR will also be available. New to the range are FLT Stash Pack side bags, cargo bags, organiser bags or medical bags. However, the range is not intended as a replacement for the 110-litre system introduced by the Bundeswehr, but as an additional system. FLT is the latest development from Berghaus’ tactical line. The lightweight load carrying system (LCS) contributes to a higher individual performance of the soldier without sacrificing important features or comfortable load transfer. All backpacks are made of 560 dtex polyamide and thus meet the technical delivery conditions TL 8305-0278 of the German Armed Forces, including high-quality infrared protection. The backpacks can be equipped with a wide range of accessories to meet almost all operational requirements. They are equipped with Accessory Connector Hooks (ACH), specially developed and hardened aluminium hooks that allow safe but quick attachment and removal of all equipment pouches and inlets.
Ghosthood Backpacks
The camouflage specialist CONCAMO Ghosthood has announced its own backpack family. Thanks to the arrangement of various zips, the backpack allows access from all sides and in all positions. There is also no need for a camouflage cover, as the material takes care of this task right away, including IR camouflage. An EOD backpack with a volume of around 20 litres was developed as the first variant.
All-in-One System
With the HL 334, Lindnerhof Taktik offers a tactical backpack that can be integrated directly into the combat waistcoat. With a volume of 10 litres, it can be used as a stand-alone rucksack or attached directly to the shoulder strap or back section of the plate carrier via clips. The HL 334 can also accommodate hard ballistics and replace the back section of the plate carrier. This makes the system highly flexible and modular, as well as fast, light and slim. The HL 334 was developed together with a European authority.
The Dutch Armed Forces have just procured the Individueel Soldaat Systeem (ISS), with Elbit Systems as the prime contractor. This modular combat equipment includes the combat equipment “Verbeterd Operationeel Soldaat Systeem (VOSS)” and the clothing system “Defensie Operationeel Kleding System (DOKS)”. Marom Dolphin supplies the plate carrier, bags, backpacks, tactical belts and soft ballistics. The motto here is: “One system fits all”. The backpack and transport solutions form a unit with the plate carrier and the waist/weapon belt. The plate carriers can flexibly accommodate soft and hard ballistics, thanks to different compartments in combination or as a single solution. This provides the wearer with a quick and flexibly adaptable solution. Thanks to the TPP connector, the plate carrier is connected to the tactical belt, thus transferring the weight of the plate carrier to the hip. And all this while retaining full freedom of movement. The same principle is used for the backpacks, which can be adjusted in height and are also connected via TPP. Their weight is also transferred primarily to the hips. All the units have a fast release so that they can be thrown off quickly in an emergency. Marom Dolphin is distributed in Germany by Messer Waffenhandel.
Packs for Special Forces
For some time now, and with a budget that has been available for years, the Bundeswehr’s special forces have intended to procure a new rucksack family through the Special Forces Command (KSK).The aim of this backpack family is to replace the previous 110-litre system and to provide a continuous family from the daypack to the heavy-duty backpack based on a Kraxe. The family also includes backpacks for specialists such as the long-range reconnaissance soldier, medic or sniper; it also includes the cover systems.
The backpack supplier of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Mystery Ranch, is also a hot candidate here. This manufacturer is known for being able to offer not only standard backpacks, but also many specialised solutions for mortar, sniper or telecommunication squads. The materials used are mainly 330D Lite and 500D CORDURA. Since the manufacturer is primarily in the top price segment, a somewhat more cost-effective series was developed with the “International Line”. This is BERRY compliant, intended for sale in the USA and now includes more than 12 different backpacks, ranging from daypacks to 110-litre systems. Unlike the previous backpacks, the International Line is no longer manufactured in the USA but abroad. However, it is said to be in no way inferior to the originals in terms of durability and resilience. Mystery Ranch is distributed in Germany by Lindnerhof Taktik GmbH.
The RECON 125 L Synkroflex pack from Norrøna was developed in cooperation with the Norwegian special forces, and Denmark is also introducing it. The Recon Synkroflex is the “king of backpacks”, according to the manufacturer. The pack has been approved by the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish militaries and holds up to 125 litres. It is suitable for even the heaviest and bulkiest loads. Designed for carrying extremely heavy loads for extended periods of time, the pack is constructed around a unique aluminium frame that provides stability, balance and comfort. The design ensures that weight is distributed evenly across the anatomically shaped back, frame, shoulder straps and hip belt and is tailored to body movement. The backpack has a wide range of flexible solutions and is made of an extremely durable material. This allows the “bag” to be removed from the frame and strapped to a box or barrels similar to a Kraxe. It also includes two spacious and removable side pockets that can be zipped together to create an additional 16-litre backpack. It is made of ECONYL yarn, the latest generation containing recycled materials. The tare weight is 4,674 grammes. The special feature is the Synkronflex Carry System with the “back plate” separated from the rest. The frame is easily and quickly adjustable for any size and is also decoupled so that no up-and-down movements of the load are transmitted. The pelvic belt takes the load but is also decoupled and thus absorbs lateral swaying movements. Even heavy loads around 25 kg feel more like 5-7 kg with the backpack compared to a standard backpack.
Notably, in the field of rucksacks, many suppliers are offering modern solutions. For example, the TATONKA Lastenkraxe with packsack 2 has a net weight of 2.7 kg and can be used with or without a packsack (80 litres) and up to a load of 50 kg. The Kraxe consists of an aluminium frame, the robust packsack is made of 420 nylon material in the “High Density” (HD) version, and Cordura 500 was used for the base. Another example is the Eberlestock F1 mainframe carrying system. Simply put a waterproof packsack on the Kraxe and you’re done. The tubular aluminium frame weighs 1.9 kg and is extremely strong, despite its ultra-lightweight properties. The system has been tested to 317 kg.
Since 2012, US Army researchers have been working with Lightning Packs LCC to refine a special backpack technology that enables infantry soldiers to generate small amounts of up-and-down energy as they walk, run, or otherwise operate in the field. The company’s backpack technology can generate as much as 7.4 Watts of electricity when the wearer is walking — enough to power or recharge an MP3 player, night-vision goggles, three LED headlamps, a handheld computer, CMOS image decoder, or handheld GPS. The solution was presented at different defence fairs, but it is unknown if it has ever been fielded.
From Air to Land
Infantrymen or special forces units do not always arrive by land or on foot with 4×4 vehicles, instead, they often use vertical insertion. To carry the large and heavy backpacks, the US Marine Corps uses the Parachutist Drop Bag (PDB) from Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS). This is a multi-function, jumpable drop bag that can be configured for both military freefall and static line operations. The bag comes in three standard sizes or can be customised to meet user requirements. Germany uses the SGE-006 jump bag from Spekon Sächsische Spezialkonfektion. The Dutch and Belgians use a jump bag from the German company Paratec for their “Ensemble de Parachutage du Combattant” (EPC) parachutes. The Dutch have just ordered an additional 240 systems. In parallel, Germany is having Safran develop a multi-mission harness for the new EPC parachutes. This harness should be able to carry a large number of different backpacks – in different sizes – and with a maximum weight of 80 kg. The overall system also includes a multi-weapon harness that can carry a variety of different, and also heavy, handguns. If backpacks are insufficient, so-called door loads and heavy loads are used.
MAIBACH Industrie-Plastic GmbH offers appropriate solutions on a glass fibre reinforced plastics basis for air transport. In the case of the transport and storage containers (TuLB), the customer can rely on 35 standard sizes that are immediately available in accordance with standard VG 95613. These are also drop-proof and break-proof according to MIL-STD and VG 95613, corrosion-resistant, pressure- and vapour-tight up to 100 mbar and air-loadable according to LTR 8145. And MAIBACH MILTAINER – RM are reusable, available in seven standard sizes (alternatively customised), fully inter-stackable unlike-sized cases, outfitted with special corrosion-proof recoil spring levers, fasteners and snap-back grip handles and are impact and water-vapour proof (optional). MILTAINER – RM are versatile application possibilities designed to withstand any amount of wear and tear. They protect against impact and stress, e.g. when dropped. Sensitive equipment is protected against vibration, humidity, moisture and dust, in all climate zones and under harsh environmental conditions. All MILTAINER – RM are certified for air transport.
Similar solutions are also available from PELI with the Single Lid Cases and RACK Cases. The latter can also integrate a 19-inch frame and thus accommodate IT. Single Lid: Thanks to Memory Foam, dents disappear over time.
Particularly in the area of special forces, many nations rely on so-called Guided Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (GPADS) for follow-up supply. If the GAPDS can no longer be recovered – e.g. water landing – Airborne Systems offers two more cost-effective variants for one-off use. The FC MINI is not an alternative to the MicroFly II and uses the MC-4 glider and can deliver a payload of up to 227 kg. It can drop from altitudes of up to 7,468 m using the static line. Another system is the FlyClops 2K with a payload of up to 998 kg.
Load Cart
The infantry in particular wants to use Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) in the Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) role in the future. Most countries are still testing extensively. The UGVs can autonomously – via GPS control – transport loads or operate in follow-me mode. But they are often large and heavy. A transport solution that works like a UGV but is much lighter and suitable for off-road use is WILD GOOSE by Marom Dolphin. With this tactical hauler, the aim was to design a system that meets all infantry requirements; it does so by being attached to the waist belt of the combat waistcoat and pulled by the user. The locomotion is electrically assisted, so the payload is hardly noticeable. The Robotic System is available in 4×4 and 2×2 versions, which are extensions. The 4×4 can carry 140 kg and the 2×2 75 kg of payload. The system’s own weight of 28 kg (for the 2×2) and 48 kg means that it can be carried over obstacles by two soldiers. The range of the battery charge is given as 25 km (off-road) thanks to the large wheels. Because of its sensors, the latest version can also be controlled remotely by joystick and can drive or follow about 50 m ahead. Remote control, also non-line-of-sight (NLOS), is being introduced, and full autonomy should also be possible in the future.
Cold Skills from Sweden offers the FJELL PULKEN (Mountain Pulken) for transporting equipment or injured people in snowy terrain. TAIGA’s camouflage solutions – IR and UV – have been integrated into this “pull sled”. The vehicle is very light – less than 5 kg – and can be pulled by a soldier using a waist belt. The “sledge” is available in lengths of 154 cm, 168 cm and 188 cm.
