Cheap rucksacks

SpookyPistolero

SpookyPistolero

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
6,105
Hello all-

I've been on the hunt for an inexpensive ruck that I could take into the woods for a hike/overnight. I started looking at these initially:

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But everywhere seems to be sold out of them, or they're $40 on ebay. I found a similar version for a bit more money, though not military in origin:

TRW-138.jpg

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/TRW138-961-514.html

Also looks good since it's still canvas and still has the reinforcements, and similar dimensions.

Lastly I found these little guys:

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http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=333345

I like the idea of a frame to lash a tarp/blanket/junk to, and it looks simple. The price would be more than the others (unless you could find a couple of buddies to split it with). I'm wondering if the frame would eat your kidneys up or something..

Basically, I'm looking for anyone who has experience with either of the last two packs. How have they held up? Have there been glaring limitations? Something you wish you'd bought instead?

Folks who'd like to share other cheap rucks they've found (and the source!) are very welcome, too!

Thanks for any thoughts-

-Spooky
 
I have the last rucksack, it is a good pack. I got my mine for 20 bucks and its held up. If you want pics just say.
 
I've seen ones just like that at surplus stores. They were Swiss (Or possibly Swedish) surplus rucks, and they had used ones for cheap. Look well made, but were on the heavy side.
 
Hi Barny, thanks for the good word. Is it pretty comfortable to wear? Does it jab you after a long hike? Pics would be great if it's not an inconvenience!

Tknife- Weight is worth considering, but probably will come with the territory for a cheap pack. I wish we still had our surplus store, for the possibility of getting to handle packs like these...
 
How heavy are we talking, for the Swedish mil-surp packs? I've been thinking of getting some backpacks for my kids for school that are sturdier than the usual "Spiderman" variety you get at places like Wal-Mart or K-Mart, and could thus do double duty for outdoor stuff. I'd toyed with the idea of getting German mil-surp rucksacks, but those are kind of big. (I'd seen these for maybe $20 each at Cabela's.) The little Swedish pack looks like a potential contender, but I wonder if the steel frame will make it too heavy.
 
Also, which of the rucksacks shown above have hip belts? I see that the "CheaperThanDirt" ones do. Do the Swedish ones come with them?

Incidentally, the "European Rucksack" listed for $23 on the Gr8Gear page DaleW mentions is a great pack--I have one (bought elsewhere, different color, for I forget how much), and have one of my survival kits in it. What I really like about it is that it's got an additional small pocket on the outside/back, and the top flap also has a roomy pocket in it. I find that such little pockets are a great aid in organizing stuff. The side pockets are just about exactly the right size for a Nalgene 1-liter canteen, by the way.
 
Check L.L. Bean for their rucksack.

It's made of nylon and runs about $29 last I checked. I've had one for a long time and used it extensively in the woods and while travelling through airports and have never had a problem with it.

The large front pocket will hold a Swedish Army Trangia and the side pockets will hold the Nalgene bottles with a cup or the Snowpeak Trek700 cup.

I've loaded mine up with about 20 pounds of gear and find the straps to be more than adequate for at least a few (probably 6) miles.

B
 
tknife said:
I've seen ones just like that at surplus stores. They were Swiss (Or possibly Swedish) surplus rucks, and they had used ones for cheap. Look well made, but were on the heavy side.
Click to expand...

They're Swedish,

They go for about $15 at our surplus shops and are excellent day packs.

attachment.php
 
Thanks for the pic, Nordic Viking. I'm kind of leaning towards those Swedish frame packs. They look very hearty and I really like the support, and ability to add extra gear if needed. I also won't feel bad about adding 'too much' weigh, like I would on a normal pack.

Do you have one yourself? I'd love to hear if whether or not you felt it was comfy enough, etc.
 
I had one of these that I really liked. I sold it because I had too many backpacks. I wished I hadn't sold it! I paid $25 at a swap meet.

It was really comfortable and already broken in for me. :)

pack_front.jpg


Swiss Army Rucksack (scroll down for more pics)

It was really sturdy. Downsides is that it's slow to get into with the buckles, it's heavy, and it only has one outside pocket.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Thanks for the pic, Nordic Steve. I'm kind of leaning towards those Swedish frame packs. They look very hearty and I really like the support, and ability to add extra gear if needed. I also won't feel bad about adding 'too much' weigh, like I would on a normal pack.

Do you have one yourself? I'd love to hear if whether or not you felt it was comfy enough, etc.
Click to expand...

Dunno who's Steve (:D)

Mine is very comfortable for day trips (the external frame is quaint but effective) and I bought it mainly because it allows me to chuck stuff in and go for a trip. I can manhandle it and if it breaks I will just buy a new one ;)

Here are some more pics:

Pic1: Front
Pic2: Back - No waist belt
Pic3. Inside - One main pouch and a thinner side pouch.
 
I thought all Vikings were named Steve? No? Seriously, I don't know who I was thinking about while typing...

Thanks for the extra pics. That looks like a really handy pack to have around. The divider would work great to hold a water bladder, too. Also looks like it would be easy to retrofit a waist belt on it.

I'll have to either find one for sale at the next gun show, or find a buddy who wants to go halves with me on the deal.

Thanks!
 
I have the german pack paid for it $10. I think its about 2,800cc. Its very well build pack something that should last many years. I use it when i ride my motorcycle and need to carry bulky stuff. As for comfort its not as good as many newer packs. But i had no problem walking for many miles with it. So for something to abuse its a great pack if you are looking for something that would carry easy and with the most comfort it wont work. For that look for a newer pack.

Sasha
 
I have the German Mtn Ranger rucksack as well. The side pockets are side stitched, which makes it possible to place something behind the pocket. I believe that it was originally for the rangers skis.

I have about 25# in the ruck and it carries pretty good.

The Swedish ruck is a dandy from all accounts that I've read, but does weight near 5# empty, so keep that in mind if weight is a concern. The German rucksack weighs in at about 2#.
 
All the ones that I've seen have the belt. Prefer to carry the bag high, so I don't use it.
 
I personally use a used medium Alice Army pack. I paid about $40 for mine. If you check some of the military surplus sites you should be able to find them. They are extremely tough and will last for ever.
 
SP & other guys: Sportsman's Guide seems to be selling used German rucksacks for about $10 apiece, which is thus far the best deal I've seen on them. I ended up corresponding with them via e-mail, and they tell me that these do, indeed, have waist belts, and that the bottoms are vinyl-backed canvas, not just vinyl. (Sportsman's Guide's product description was unclear on these points.)

I've ordered a few, as I'm interested in getting some abuse-proof packs for my kids, mostly for use on little car campouts at this point, but I could see a little short hiking going on in the near future, and I figure these will last long enough for them to use them for books during high school. Heck, at 10 bucks apiece, we can use them just to keep the kids' stuff organized on road-trips in the mini-van. Of course, at this stage, one or two of my kids could probably fit INTO one of these rucksacks.
 
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