Norwegian Army Rucksack

[Mike8472]

Has any one used one of these packs?
I think they look cool and retro and I am thinking about buying one but have no expirience with external frame packs or vintage gear.

are they comfortable to wear fully loaded?
Comfortable for long hikes?
How durable are they?

thanks in advance

 

[Radix lecti]

Hi Mike, i got one of those in mint condition off evilbay,the straps were very stiff but after a few coats of neetsfoot oil they were soon supple,good canvas,mine was made in 1963, the frame was in good nick too. I have used the pack a few times and have had no problems with it,but then i have used external frame sacks before. Fits quite a bit of kit in,it even has a section between the main compartment and pouch to fit in an axe or machete.On the whole i have found it a good vintage rucksack,but that is just me others my have their faults.


Darren

 

[Tor helge]

I own one (not canvas) and have one canvas type on a loan from the government.

No, it is not very comfortable fully loaded. It is an old type of pack not like any modern packs. It is however better than the old Alice pack.
As they are not very comfortable fully loaded they are not comfortable on long hikes. That said in the army we hauled these rucks around for days with loads of cr*p in them. Not very comfortable but doable.
These packs are absolutely bomb proof, and cheap as well.
I use mine mostly as a day pack.

Below is my load out from a previous trek (overnighter). The weight was 16-17 kiloes.

As you can see on the top picture I have two straps holding my bedroll, rifle and sleeping mat. These are not on your pictures.

Tor

 

[rik_uk3]

Cheap as chips
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Norwegian-Arm...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item45f95ba0f5

 

[Mike8472]

I have taken the plunge!
thanks for the link RIK, I checked out their website and they had unissued condition ones for only a few quid more so I got one of them and a swedish one as well as it seemed like the thing to do at the time. (i may regret it later when SWMBO catches me sneaking it into the house)

http://www.militarymart.co.uk/Load-...n-Army-Vintage-Canvas-Rucksack/prod_1395.html

http://www.militarymart.co.uk/Load-...sued-Swedish-Army-M39-Rucksack/prod_1394.html

I will post some pics when they arrive.

(No connection to seller etc etc.)

 

[Man of Tanith]

i got one of the ones you link to above and used it for my minimal kit pack
good pack i found it quite comfy but then it wasnt overloaded

 

[Mike8472]

How much have you used it sam? I was thinking about using the swedish pack as an everyday bag as it doesn't look too military and has the cool retro ora about it.

 

[walker]

i have two one old one in canvas and later replaced with nylon one which i still use today
use for day hikes and up to one to two weeks as long as your perpered to wash you kit
i also have the norwegian army sleeping bag in canvas which is bulky but quite light and very warm
neatsfoot oil on the leather and bees wax if you like for waterproofness
there a very good sack thumbs up from me

 

[Mike8472]

mine came today it is very comfortable but smaller than I thought it was going to be; it will fit my arctic sleeping bag uncompressed with a little room round the sides to fit a jacket but thats about it for the main compartment.
I can def see me using it for overnighters or day walks though.