PLCE Bergan mods?

[Mulloch]

GIYF is a term folk use. Search for it.
Short back tends to be for shorter people and therefore long back for taller people. In the forces, the training staff tend to have that skill where they can advise you as to what will be best for you. But as you progress you can swap and change to find the best fit for you. If you were short and had a long back bergen and got down in the prone positon then you would not be able to raise your head. I think the short and long both have the same volume but just in a different shape.
Camouflage patterns change. The PLCE Personal Load Carrying Equipment originally came out in green/OG Olive Green, then there was DPM Disruptive Pattern Material and now we have MTP Multi Terrain Pattern. When you use them in an Arctic/Snow location you have a white elasticated cover, and for the desert you have an elasticated desert pattern cover. I think MTP has replaced Temperate, Desert and Jungle pattern uniforms. Many troops prefer the ALICE pack or the 80's style PARA/SAS bergen with the external GS General Service frame for use in the jungle as it allows air to circulate across the back area. All of the above relates to military matters but for civilian/Bushcraft use people often prefer good old plain green as it blends in well and is often seen as being less gung ho and agressive.
I have seen some wider shoulder pads that are slid up over the original straps and held in place with tape. Similar idea to the straps you get for car seatbelts. As for your question about which is best for you. I think you have to decide what your max load will be then decide on what you will need to carry it

 

[cipherdias]

well, I definitive don't need all those mod's,
I walked with Alice packs before,20 years ago) and saw all these bergans all over the internet.
since these are smaller (the Alice is quite wide.) I think I might like them.
What I like to know, is how do you decide which one is for you? size wise, and you seem to have a few different models (long back, short back hills?)
I can remember seeing a film on YT, these soldiers going trough the hills in Wales having their hips and shoulders complete under the rash and blood, that's perhaps why they offer new wider shoulder straps and back pad's as a mod?
and then finally, DPM or MTP? (I'm just curious why the one or the other.)
So, possibly the only mod's for me would be the shoulder loops, and bottom back padding?

You said Google is your friend?, well definitive not mine! we don't even speak the same language!, and no, believe me, we can't go along. period.

Dixies Corner of Brecon

DIXIES CORNER

Based near Brecon Beacons Dixies Corner provides a full range of military products including keela, snugpak, camelback , viper, defcon 5 and more

dixiescorner.co.uk

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[Bert]

I think someone somewhere misinterpret my question, In the meantime I saw what the jayjay and dixie's offer on mod's, I also saw that a reoccuring theme is the bottom of back rash (due to the warmth and moist and friction), and the (too narrow) original shoulder loops, so, That might be the things for me to have changed.
That still leaves open for me the question which size I need, and where to find (read?) how to determine that?

And, What exactly means: "Rucksack and frame (inf) Long convoluted back"?
That was on a label inside a Bergan I saw on the www.

Oh, and is it true that the "Bergen" is designed to be worn with a webbing belt?

 

[Lean'n'mean]

That still leaves open for me the question which size I need, and where to find (read?) how to determine that?

And, What exactly means: "Rucksack and frame (inf) Long convoluted back"?
That was on a label inside a Bergan I saw on the www.

Oh, and is it true that the "Bergen" is designed to be worn with a webbing belt?

(1) There is no written guide regarding the ideal heights for short or longbacks but generally the longback is better suited to people 1.75 m & over.

(2) Bergen is a colloqual term that the soldiers give to a large rucksack. The label inside reads;;
Rucksack C/W frame inf.
short (or long) convoluted back.
DPM (or MTP) IRR.
That means;... rucksack, complete with frame, infantry. (The rucksacks have a removable aluminium alloy frame).
The convoluted back refers to the series of stiched horizontal foam sections at the back (6 on long backs, 5 on short backs)
IRR means Infra Red Reflective.

(3) Yes, they were designed to be carried on belt kit which supports most of the weight & so the waist belt is not intended to carry any weight but just to stabilize the bottom of the pack.

 

[cipherdias]

The one recommendation I would make is unless you really just don’t buy one over the internet but go to a shop where you can try some on


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[Bert]

yep, At least 4Hours trip, and 4 hours back...

I'll have to find another way.

@ lean"n"mean, 1) long back for me then,2)thanks for the explanation, 3)I already thought that they were a bit flimsy, those waist belts.
would one of those dixie or jayjay's mod's make a difference here?

 

[cipherdias]

I only have experience with Dixies of Brecon and their belt mods make a huge difference TBH


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[Bert]

In the way that the waist belt now takes all the weight?

 

[cipherdias]

In the way that the waist belt now takes all the weight?

It doesn’t take ALL of the weight but certainly makes it easier to carry


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[Bert]

btw, Is there a difference between the Inf. and Other Arms bergen?

 

[Lean'n'mean]

btw, Is there a difference between the Inf. and Other Arms bergen?

Yes. The other arms bergen, also known as a turtle back or engineers' bergen, was/is issued to the clever guys & dolls in logistics & designed to carry papers, documents, plans, maps etc. plus a few essentials. It has around a 50 L capacity , they are narrow & uncomfortable but they aren't designed for long distance hiking.They also have handles at the top so they can be carried like bags. They usually travel by air & even have a flap of fabric that rolls down to cover the shoulder straps & waist belt so they don't get snagged during transport or carrying.
With digital technology now, their use must be pretty limited but there are still a few being made in MTP. so they might be carrying laptops & ipads, spare batteries & cables, nowadays.
In the late 90s & early 2000s they were quite popular as starting out bags with novice bushcrafters because they were tough & cheap.

 

[Wildgoose]

The other arms and medic Bergen also lacked the side straps so there was no ability to compress it down. The top is closed by a zip with a couple of light straps to hold a roll mat etc.
As lean n mean says it was designed for being carried in a vehicle or carried for short distances.
I used one for a few years as a cadet and it sufficed, but the lack of adjustment did make it unwieldy

 

[Bert]

Hihi. odd, to make such a difference between your warriors...

I thought that being in the army you are a soldier first, and a specialist after that?

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Hihi. odd, to make such a difference between your warriors...

I thought that being in the army you are a soldier first, and a specialist after that?

Odd ? It's the same in any line of work, different specialities require different equipement.

 

[Wildgoose]

Hihi. odd, to make such a difference between your warriors...

I thought that being in the army you are a soldier first, and a specialist after that?

There’s very few differences between the kit issue. Anyone deploying to Iraq or Afghan used to get issued the infantry bag whatever arm you were in.

the other arms bag was considerably cheaper to produce for training purposes

 

[Bert]

There’s very few differences between the kit issue. Anyone deploying to Iraq or Afghan used to get issued the infantry bag whatever arm you were in.

the other arms bag was considerably cheaper to produce for training purposes

aha, there I see a point.