My Haversack. A review and what I carry in it for a day out. 

Great bag , but ive rheumatoid arthritis bad in my hands , I need bigger buckles ,straps . When I was a kid , my granny made me 1 out of a burlap potato sack, the cover was half of the sack , she used cotton flower sack to line the inside of the bottom. I carried my hunting and fishing stuff,and kitchen matches in old tobacco and snuff tins ,to keep up with everything and keep some things dry . Carbide and Carbide lamp ,a 3 cell flashlight. Grandpa , measured my arms , made me a custom handle for my double bit axe, I made a mask from old saddle leather and a belt for it , sometimes id only come home , when I started getting sickly from exposure. If I hunted in the hills in dry places , id carry water for me and a bottle for my Carbide lamp. Id carry ground coffee, when we had plenty.

I have used this in the 70"s as my school bag. It is from the German Bundeswehr and was called Kampftasche. It is the middle size. I loved it. Perfect size for DIN A 4 paper and books which is the most used size here in germany. I loved this bag because it is really indistroyable.

German army big bag, originally made to carry a radio or rolls of radio cable designed to run it along trenches using the handle. But ended up becoming multi functional. The rear pockets were for radio manuals and maps the front pocket for tools and spares. Yet another epic piece of kit later copied by the allies along with the Jerry can.

Nice Video, your bag is probably the BW Kampftasche (Combat pack) from the German army. There is also a smaller version, the so called Brotbeutel (Bread Pack). Keep it up and greetings from Germany💪🏻

I think it's great you show the bloopers,shows you're genuine.

You see so often people doing a bag dump and they have an sas handbook but it's always brand new and never been read, I'm glad to see your little wild foods book is well worn, It looks like a great little book, all best best Simon.

Looks like there’s a few D-rings missing! The Kamptasche was designed so you could attach a mess kit, and canteen, either on the front of the flap or on the sides, while the little loops like the one you tied the rifle sling to were meant for strapping a blanket roll and shelter onto the pack in a horseshoe shape. (Btw pretty neat adaptation using a rifle sling 😙) The rings at the top back portion beside the handle and the two lower ones were meant to hook on to a Y-strap brace with little spring hooks so you could wear it with a webbing set.

Great load out

Simon.... one of the things I love abour your channel is that you show the mess=ups, right along with the successes. I've had meold water bottle leak a time or two too as well, lol. I have a simular haversack, a Polish Breadbag, and love it. Thanks for sharing.... best wishes.... Ax

I like the face you made when you.found out about your water bottle...lol.

G’day Simon, first time viewer tonight. Thanks for sharing your Haversack contents and your uses with them… Cheers from Down Under

Military surplus can' t be beat as a source of versatile & affordable bush gear. Thanks for another informative video; stay safe.. Cheers.

Thanks Simon, great vid

Hello. This bag from the west-german Bundeswehr was called "Kampftasche/Gross" witch means "Fightingbag/Big" It was ment to carry equipment like extra clothing, Poncho an such stuff. It was attached at the backside to an H-Type carrying strap - mainly above another little bag called "Kampftasche/Klein" or "Brotbeutel" whitch means "Fightingbag/Small" or "(little)Bread-Pouch" This was something like the US ALICE-Buttpack and has a very long Tradition in the history of german military. At the front of that H-Type strap, two ammopouches were worn, and also a Bayonett or fighting knive and sometimes a Kind of waterbottle-messkit-Kombination. This kombination of different equipment was slightly changed in Material and shape over the years until the 90s. Then the whole carrying and Clothing-System of the, now united, germany, was completely renewed. But those bags are still popular in Germany. They never realy went out of production. Copys are still produced by companys like "Miltec" I hope this was informativ. Greetings from Germany Chris

Simon, I was given a bag like that when I was a student st Harlaxton in 1974. And old man gave it to me to keep my camera and film in, GREAT BAG!

Thanks Simon, I just sewed three patches on a small canvas messenger bag. I am looking forward to trying it out on a little day hike. I will be a great light weight option to the day pack I usually carry. The bag looks a lot like yours, but is obviously a cheap modern canvas copy. But, I got it very cheap at a yard sale here in the southeastern part of the United States.

Nice video Simon, good for you keeping the spillage in the film, honest and true to the end. Looking forward to the modification video on this pack. ATB, Paul.

A great shoulder carry bag and melted candle wax + petroleum jelly & linseed oil is perfect for waterproofing those old bags . Thanks again Simon .

The water bottle incident - it's happened to the best of us 😆 Thanks for showing us Simon. Atb, Paul C.

HI Simon, I like your Lil' Pack for a short walk through the park it is quite a nice unit. It cool that Wye Explorer found your pack that is cool.

Thanks for sharing buddy.

Nice bit of kit there, Simon. Looking forward to the modification video. Thanks for sharing. Take care.

Same bag can be found now as the BW Kampftasche. Thanks for the video, and thoughts.

The bag is german. We used it in the 70ies, the cover contained the tent, the little bag in the front was for the stakes, the rest I have forgotten...

Ooo... Nice bag, man. Love me some military bread bags, haversacks, slingbags.. whatever you want to call them.

Oh I love how you deal with setbacks! It I had water all over my bag because I forgot to close the lid on my bottle I would probably head back home in a grump :-) I really love your videos and your super calm and gathered attitude!

Nice set-up my friend.. I enjoyed the video. Been looking for a good haversack.. Think surplus is the way to go!! Cheers

Nice bag and if possible I would add some Mollie webbing on both of the sides to attach some canteen pouches and also on the front flap to add some smaller pouches and where the flap comes down the straps I would change out for some quick release buckles with enough material to allow for adjustments,ECT. Plus if you can I would water proof the bag for bad weather it will help a lot.

good video my friend I enjoyed ... lol I spilled coffee in my just the other day lid was cross threaded and didn't catch it

Have had the exact same bag, well a slightly different shade maybe, for over 30 years I think. Remembered it last year, thought I'd lost it forever, then this year did some rummaging through the cellar and... there's the bag. Didn't remember sticking it there but noticed why I stopped using it. Got the original shoulder strap but the seam holding the strap to the bag had unraveled. One fix later, it's alright. It's just poorly balanced for carrying in your hand. Sits nicely on the shoulder though. I think you could turn it into a backpack with the strap easily, just slide it through the back sleeve thing, twist and attach to the other side.

Nice informative film Simon and like you said those fidderly straps would also drive me nuts. I recently bought a new day sack and much to the amazement of my wife I set about cutting off annoying bits of useless strapping. Was rather surprised that a man with your ability and talent, you haven’t designed and made your own personal haversack. Also the leaking water bottle, rather an amateurish mistake! 😂 Only kidding Simon, who hasn’t made that one? Take care and always remember to live simply. ⛺️🏕👍

A very practical, well made and robust haversack Simon with room for the essentials depending on the nature of an outing. We have all experienced the consequences of not securing the lid on our water bottle lol. I have been looking at purchasing the British Army respirator pack which is similar to yours. Thank you. Paul :)

Hi Simon, the pack is West German military, you can Tel this from the number (it's a NATO stock number) and the 5th & 6th character (12) designates that it was first made in West German. The first 4 number relate to the type which I recon is pouch general purpose, I think not sure of the general purpose bit. Hope this helps.

It Is in really good shape considering its age and it holds more than you would think. I think it is a German WWII Haversack but I do not know anything about it. Looking forward to seeing your mods. Thanks for sharing

Deffo ex-West German (Bundeswehr) military Simon. Worked with those guys on a base when taking the queen's shilling back in the early 80s and swapped some kit for one. I then used it for about 20 years to carry my digging kit in my life post-forces. Good Old timey kit.

Hi Simon, Have you modified the bag? If so I would love to see the video. I really love the fact you didn’t edit the leaky water bottle part out of the video. It’s makes it genuine and shows who you are.....HUMAN. So many times you see people never make a mistake or even worse talk about it and letting you know this portion of the video was reshot due to that mishap. 🙄. Keep up the good work. Safe travels and God bless 🙏🏼⛺️😎

The flap pocket was for a Bundeswehr Shelter half, in its hood carrier bag, the long pocket with the three buttons is for the tent accessories pouch ( pegs, poles, guy rope).... it is a serviceable pack. The square rings by the closing straps allow you to half the cover flap if you wish to.as you do not have the shelter half in the cover flap.

Simon..... couldn't help but laugh when you puller your water bottle out of the bag and the cap was unscrewed and the bag contents all wet, LOL. We've all done that, or something similar at some time. Don't feel bad. Just means we're human. Very good review of your haversack. Looks like something I've been looking for for a year or two now. Right size, not too heavy, secure .... nice job!! Thanks for sharing. BTW.... when you get to the pint that you want to modify the little beauty, please give some thought about filming the process. That would make a cool video!! Best wishes.... and thanks again.............. Ax

German army bag. I'm told they were meant to carry a shelter segment plus tent stakes and guylines. They were imported to the States back in the 80s. Very tough. I still have mine. Add a better strap than they came with and they are a solid possibles bag.

Ahoy Simon. This is really a nice haversack and like i have read in the comments it is not too difficult to get one in Germany ;-). But what about a diy project? I think you could sew one which is at least as good as this one ;-). Greetings, Azze

I love items made of this heavy canvas material, they last FOREVER !

Good bag but i would do some mods on it for instance for the flap I would do quick release buckles and same for the inside ear flaps and for flap pocket I would velcro ( hook and loop ) fasteners also add molle webbing on the sides

It is kind of like 'What does the Queen carry in her famous purse?' We are curious because compactness, light weight, and functionality all come most closely together in the musette bag or haversack.

Hi Simon. The NATO stock number stamped on the bag indicates the item was codified by (West) Germany - country code 12. Wolf's identification is spot on

Yep, as already said I think that is BW. Coincidentally I was looking at a mil-tec version on Varsuteleka yesterday.

Nice !

Mate you should run that as a little pack, it’d be great!

clearly W German from the sixties to the 80's, a good piece still made (much cheaper indian version). Too bad I lost mine, now I use a swiss "breadbag" from the 50's, also very cool, another good option would be the old polish breadbag or the old finish gas mask bag (very well made!)

I have the exact same pack. It was made by Mil-Tec. I got it on line. That’s all I can share about the bag

Regarding your bushcraft chair. I haven't tried it myself yet, but I think you could put paracord through the channel where you put a crosspiece. Then, it can be tied between two trees, like a mini-hammock, and used as a swinging seat.

Did a little searching, it appears Raka was a brand that made gear for several militaries in the 50s and 60s. Haven't been able to find that bag as yet, but they have done German flight suits, trousers etc. Possibly a Swedish company?

Hi Simon. Great video. Could it be an old army bike pannier bag? The fact it did not have a shoulder strap and the tab in the centre on the one side near the bottom of the bag could have clipped into the frame of a pannier? Just a guess. Cool looking bag.

It would help for adding bags

Great video buddy. Always screw your cap on lolAtbPaul

There is a mil tec bundeswehr reproduction shoulder bag and it looks a lot like that. So that is probably the original.

Ahoj. Máš moc super videa. Pro mnohé opravdu inspirativní. Spoustu věcí máme takřka stejných. Rád si sám šij a vyrábími různé vybavení do přírody. Skutečně v tom cítím podobnost. To mne moc baví. Podívej se na mé stránky RU-vid. Děkuji. Ahoj a přeji ostrý nůž.

I'm looking at getting a bushcraft Spain haversack.

Are you going to make a pattern and patent it for the Simon the bloke brand of haversack? Etc... The haversack appears to be more light weight and compact bag...... My favorite knitters hail from a interestingly progressive NATO country, Estonia ... NATO history and current events are always fascinating and challenging .... Specifically, with very interesting Observable changes in certain countries or country practicing behaviors in the last two years or so... Thanks for the history and uses of a NATO's product..my first camping out tent was my dads army green canvas tent with a wooden pole down the middle. Not wind worthy at all.. stunk... ww1 or 2 maybe Korean war tent who knows.. granddad was in ww1... Thanks.

It's an old West-German "Kleine Kampftasche". "Small combat pack". Very good condition and very rare.

Hi Simon , are you still using your German Haversack, following this Vid a couple of years ago, I found a Bosnian Haversack, slightly smaller than yours, which I still use, thats why Im revisiting looking for ways to mod mine like you did, great to watch you as always. regards Stevie.

just a silly question.Where do you fit your food?.I have a haversack and find even a few sandwitches half fill it

Greetings friend.. It appears your bag is a British M37 combat pack of 600 cu in and in my quick search is available through Sportsman’s Guide warehouse here in the US. About $14....

I like that jacket, who makes it?

Where did you get sail kit for canoe as want to get one and also where did you get canoe as want to start for fitness and travel. I’m 111kg and never been on canoe or kayak

I got this one. The Nato Stock No 8465-12-127-5600 and "12" means West Germany. Data Stamp IX/64 that is produced in Sept 1964.

Hi Simon, For those of us who are OCD and love organizing these are great reviews! I just had a quick question, why would you choose a haversack over a small day pack? Just wondering why someone would use one over the other? Are there some situations where a haversack is simply more efficient than a backpack?

I like this.it z decent look.unfortunately nt available in my country

That’s a national stock number. Google it and you’ll see it’s German personal field bag. Still available too on eBay

Can you share what chair you carry? I don't think I've seen it in any if your videos I've viewed

Vintage German military Field pack 1961 NSN 12-127-5601 "Feldgepaeck"

Where z located army store in london?my relative live over there nd they can buye for me

Sorry Simon, only just watched your haversack video and completely overlooked that it has some age to it. The subject has been well and truly canvassed already.

It looks so much lile the Czech bredbag but i know its not from the buttons

The 5th and 6th digit (12) in the Nato Stock Number printed inside the bag show it is of German production.

Swedish Home Guard it's what I think it is

It's amazing what you can carry in such a small sack - it's like a tardis in there Simon. That was a really good look inside a very useful bit of gear. I'm excited to tell you I have found your sack on this blog through the serial number. webbingbabel.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/bundeswehr-groe-kampftasche.html There's a good load of info there that will help in the modification maybe. Great video. Take care. Mark

Looks like some more knowledgeable folks than i have offered NATO explainations but to me it looks like a bag we were issued in the US Army and i believed it was called a mussette bag. We called it a butt pack because it was attached to the rear of our web belt and load carrying harness. Im not sure what it was actually supposed to be used for but we used it essentially like a haversack or day pack and put all manner of kit in it. The fact yours didnt come with a carrying strap makes me believe its something like that. It is about the right size. I could be wrong of course..i was once before in the early 70's 😆. Anyway, I still have mine. 🙂 great video!

Leaky water bottle oh dear that's going to effect the afternoons tea production. 😱😨😰

Richard and Kevin avasack ?

Looks like a Polish Military Bread Bag , I have two of them

No nosh?

I saw it was greate but still should have added molle webbing on the sides

🤣😂🤣 unlucky pal 🏝

Did you ever find out what this haversack's "name" is? :)

But no small Survival book, in you bag? Maybe you know, but in a Survival mishaps can you forget things.

Your just human, no problem

Anyone else checking the comments for some random person that knows the make of the haversack?

this is a us army butpack

It looks like an old bread-bag.

Must be where mail carriers got their bags made like.

water bottles go outside :)

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