I recently purchased a couple of Czech M85 packs on the basis that they were the correct size, would repel water and were cheap. They're definitely function before form.
These packs are horrible.
Honestly ... they're truly awful!
Think cotton canvas with all of the vintage goodness removed ~ these packs are soul suckingly worse ...
And, in my opinion, whoever designed and signed off on them for use by the poor Czech squaddies must have had a serious issue(s) with regarding the comfort (or otherwise) of others.
No padding ~ at all!
BUT, for some gods-forsaken reason, I seem to have developed a soft spot for them :yikes: :sad6:
Perfect for a 9 meter Irwin Type I 32/Mk2 A parachute plus all of the rigging and perimeter ropes. Even wet, the 'chute fits with ease.
The main sack has a full depth pocket on the inner of each side. These pockets are where I keep the perimeter lines that I attach the 'chute lines to (idea via Mesquite). The two top flaps also have a pocket each ~ a set of tree huggers in one and a pair of carabiners in the other. This pic was taken without the inclusion of the main rigging line which sits on top of the 'chute.
The smaller bag holds the tie-outs (cut off to drying of the whole a whole lot quicker and easier), catty and a crab line with weight. The smaller pack fits nicely into the main pack between the top flaps and the lid flap.
The smaller pack has all the qualities of the main pack . Inside the main compartment there are a three flimsy pouches. Two half width and one full width ~ hidden by the flap at the front in the pic below. As with the main pack each of the two fold over flaps has a simple pocket.
Let's not consider it a sin but a flaw
Thanks for taking the time to look and read through.
Please feel free to add your own guilty secret bit(s) of kit to the thread
These packs are horrible.
Honestly ... they're truly awful!
Think cotton canvas with all of the vintage goodness removed ~ these packs are soul suckingly worse ...
And, in my opinion, whoever designed and signed off on them for use by the poor Czech squaddies must have had a serious issue(s) with regarding the comfort (or otherwise) of others.
No padding ~ at all!
BUT, for some gods-forsaken reason, I seem to have developed a soft spot for them :yikes: :sad6:
Perfect for a 9 meter Irwin Type I 32/Mk2 A parachute plus all of the rigging and perimeter ropes. Even wet, the 'chute fits with ease.
The main sack has a full depth pocket on the inner of each side. These pockets are where I keep the perimeter lines that I attach the 'chute lines to (idea via Mesquite). The two top flaps also have a pocket each ~ a set of tree huggers in one and a pair of carabiners in the other. This pic was taken without the inclusion of the main rigging line which sits on top of the 'chute.
The smaller bag holds the tie-outs (cut off to drying of the whole a whole lot quicker and easier), catty and a crab line with weight. The smaller pack fits nicely into the main pack between the top flaps and the lid flap.
The smaller pack has all the qualities of the main pack . Inside the main compartment there are a three flimsy pouches. Two half width and one full width ~ hidden by the flap at the front in the pic below. As with the main pack each of the two fold over flaps has a simple pocket.
Let's not consider it a sin but a flaw
Thanks for taking the time to look and read through.
Please feel free to add your own guilty secret bit(s) of kit to the thread