I just got one of these British bergens and you have done a great job showing me what all it will do. Some I already knew, but you took it a step further for me. I had no idea, when I got it, that it could do so much. Thanks for your helpful video. Who knows; maybe our paths will cross, we can put these to the test. lol
GOOD REVIEW!!! nice demo on the day carry too the best bergen on the market - if you look after it, it should last a lifetime :) thanks welcome to the plce world darren
I've got my old olive green plce bergen the one before the dpm. Still a get bergen there getting harder to find now a days very good video very informed as well mate keep up the get work there and maybe I'll see you on the trail some time once of course were off lockdown
Great video so much more straight forward informed advice especially about the fitting of the yolk, I've seen some who were crossing this and that to sort out the day sacks, many thanks for explaining it so clearly 👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hello, I fully appreciate your video is showing what you can fit into the Bergen and how good is, so please don't take any offence to my next comments :).I am currently in the British Army, so I feel I should give share some of my views. The side pouches can have the yolk clipped on whilst its zipped onto the Bergen so you can zip it off and use it straight away(I normally have wet-warm kit and 24hr rations inside that),I always use a Bergen liner(giant canoe bag basically) because they are not water Proof, same goes for the small pouch at the front, I personally use it for wash kit and wipes, but a general rule is to waterproof pretty much everything I:e canoe bags or plastic zip lock bags especially the first aid kit ! I have learnt that the hard way.I would advise against strapping your roll matt to the top put it where your rope was.Good vid though.
Thanks for the info James. Didn't know the pouches could be fitted with the yoke attached I will have a play with that. Everything goes in dry bags when its packed for use and I have found if I leave a space inside the main compartment just above the rocket pouches then the mat sits nicely on the outside under the lid straps.
Hi Darren You can zip the 2 pouched together back to back, the extra clips can be used to also clip them together. There may be other uses for them but thats what I use them for.
brill review mate,you cant beat british army bergens,i had a copy which is ok but I saw genuine one in a and n store and just had too get it.brand new never been used,no side pockets though but already had some with other one,only £55 more stronger and much better quality you can see the difference.well pleased with it,gary palmer said can hold 150lbs,and I can believe it.i will be carrying no where near that only about 45 lbs.again good vid and thanks
yer me to its got the yoyo for the day pack to so thats cool im locking forward to when it come so i can lode it up with all the stuff i need for the road
That possibly wasn't the best description. It goes on the front. Under the lid, but i leave a space inside the rucksack so the mat doesn't stick out. The main compartment still comes above the mat so weather is still kept out. The mat goes on a level with the top of the side pouches. Not easy to explain in writing. I will do a vid when i get chance and show you what i mean.
I would say the long back, I am 5'4" and I prefer the long back. but your best bet is to try and get to an army surplus shop and try both see which is the best fit for you. The short back has the same capacity but is a shorter main body so there is more sticking out behind you. So it will pull you backwards more.
I would highly recommend you get some dry bags for the inside . They sell them on ebay . They have a habit of leaking in heavy rain. Just look for plce 120 ltr dry bags.
Brill video. What capacity is each pouch and what is the capacity of the main body of the Bergen without the pouches on please? I've recently started wild camping and find my 65/70l OEX rucksack just a bit too tight when everything is packed. Never been in the army but looking at getting a Bergen maybe off ebay. Thanks for the vid 👍
Hi Mark, the main section is 100 litres, each side pouch is 10 litres, total 120 litres. You can also get a yoke to make a smaller backpack from 1 or 2 sidepouches giving you a 10 or 20 litre pack. The bergen is available in short or ling back versions, i suggest you try both before you buy to see which is most comfortable for you.
These are a great piece of kit and even better if supplemented with a standard army plce belt kit, which raises the pack and allows a lot of the pack weight to be supported and shared by your hips. I'm a little unsure of the grumbles regarding DPM pattern, as it's part and parcel of buying military surplus and olive green is just as military in appearance, although it is a shame nobody seems to manufacture this bergan pattern in civilian colours for those who'd prefer the choice.
Is that an actual army surplus or is that the one Kombat UK sell? I'm not sure what to buy. Also, great video! Very nice to see and helpful information!
Yep - just bought a short one for 1 or 2 day hiking and camping. Less than £50. Absolute bargain when you look at the quality of materials and stitching etc. Not sure how comfortable it will be yet, but I will let you know…
ive watch you video yesterday that is mint so i went on ebay and their was one on their and start bid was £60.quid so i bid and won it so cool.i got a 55 liter two weeks ago and its two small as im going to live on the road and my home has to be on my back with all my kit ?no moor house bills for me and i live better.thanks for this video
Ah, i see, so it's under the lid and sitting on top of the side pouches, the way i have it is on my bergen (some funny dutch one) there is two quick release straps at the bottom front of it, so it actually helps it stand up when i put it down, i would recommend doing something similar to yours. perhaps i will post a video showing what i mean :)
hi do you know what the utheir two clips on top of the day pack are for.my rucksack is nearly full now just got to get two moor things and thats my home on my back and then when all my house stuff is go im on the road thats mint
i cant seem to get all my kit into the bergen ive put most of my kit into dry bags ive yet to find space for the meths bottle inflatable mat and sleeping bag the tarp and hammock are in the main compartment should i fix tarp to outside of pack?
Bit small isnt it marra? :-p I believe that the 'waist' strap isn't actually a waist strap, I feed it through the retaining tabs, around the front and through the tabs at the front then secure, it holds the shitbins to the yoke, not the yoke to you. Cracking review 👍
Thanks for the info, hadn't thought of using the strap like that. My personal preference with any rucksack big or small is to have a waistbelt, i find them much comfier that way. But always good to hear of alternative ways of doing things.
i just bought the 135L ultimax version of this and am having a few concerns regarding the placement of my hydration pack, is it worth buying a pouch dedicated to a hydration bladder or is it safe to use the pouch in the back of the main compartment [the one with the back support rods] there are no exit holes for a hose so i will probably buy a pouch but i didn't really want it on the outside of my pack so i thought i'd see what a fellow bergen user recommends. thanks
Hi Prodigal, I haven't used a hydration bladder, I use water bottles. I wouldn't recommend putting it in the compartment with the frame, you could well get issues with the frame bursting it, and it wouldn't be over easy to get at. You could put it in the main compartment itself tucked down the back ( keeping the weight nearest to your body ) but I would recommend using something like a piece of roll mat as padding between the bladder and the other gear in your pack to stop any puncture issues, and also put it outside your dry bag so if it does leak your other kit doesn't get wet.
Samwell Yates i decided that the pocket in question would be a good place to keep my ground sheet tarp and the bladder rests nicely inside it, so it's kinda what you suggested, will post a vid at somepoint, it all works fine... thanks
Bluejay1968 no worries, it's about a year later and i am more than happy with it... after weeks on end of unpacking and repacking this until i had my set-up exactly as i like it, it has served me well on many occasions... it's tempting to go overweight with a bergen like this but i soon managed to strike a good balance between weight and usefulness of items i was carrying... with the vasts amount of space available it is very easy to arrange and sort as needed using modular bits of kit that you pack as needed... basically i can go from an overnight camping set up, to an i'm never coming home bag set up [and everything in between] just by adding or removing items, and there is always room to spare... best item i ever bought
The trouble I find is you pack it differently each time you use it depending on where you are going or whether you have vehicle access to your campsite. I have just repacked mine with basic carry camp kit and everything else vehicle related is going to go in a separate box. Hopefully that way I will remember where I put each item of kit LOL
T to the bottom of your bergan!! It pains me to see a camouflaged rucksack of such excellence having a feckin giant rollmat strapped so obviously to the flipping top of it! Great review though mate:)
To the bottom!! Nooooo, it won't stand up with it strapped to the bottom. If i stop for a brew i want it to stand up so i can get my brew kit out easily. When i am using it properly i usualy leave a space inside at the top so the mat will fit under the lid with the lid clips holding it in place.
I've just bought one of these for £7 off a workmate who didn't realise how big it was. I'm delighted.
Bloody hell haha! That's theft :-D hope he got a few pints anall 🤘
I just got one of these British bergens and you have done a great job showing me what all it will do. Some I already knew, but you took it a step further for me. I had no idea, when I got it, that it could do so much. Thanks for your helpful video. Who knows; maybe our paths will cross, we can put these to the test. lol
GOOD REVIEW!!!
nice demo on the day carry too
the best bergen on the market - if you look after it, it should last a lifetime :)
thanks
welcome to the plce world
darren
I've got my old olive green plce bergen the one before the dpm. Still a get bergen there getting harder to find now a days very good video very informed as well mate keep up the get work there and maybe I'll see you on the trail some time once of course were off lockdown
Great video so much more straight forward informed advice especially about the fitting of the yolk, I've seen some who were crossing this and that to sort out the day sacks, many thanks for explaining it so clearly 👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best review of this bergen anywhere, really comprehensive and very informative. Thanks
Thanks Callum,
Hello, I fully appreciate your video is showing what you can fit into the Bergen and how good is, so please don't take any offence to my next comments :).I am currently in the British Army, so I feel I should give share some of my views. The side pouches can have the yolk clipped on whilst its zipped onto the Bergen so you can zip it off and use it straight away(I normally have wet-warm kit and 24hr rations inside that),I always use a Bergen liner(giant canoe bag basically) because they are not water Proof, same goes for the small pouch at the front, I personally use it for wash kit and wipes, but a general rule is to waterproof pretty much everything I:e canoe bags or plastic zip lock bags especially the first aid kit ! I have learnt that the hard way.I would advise against strapping your roll matt to the top put it where your rope was.Good vid though.
Thanks for the info James.
Didn't know the pouches could be fitted with the yoke attached I will have a play with that. Everything goes in dry bags when its packed for use and I have found if I leave a space inside the main compartment just above the rocket pouches then the mat sits nicely on the outside under the lid straps.
Great review Duane and a great piece of kit... They really do hold a shed load of stuff
Hi Darren
You can zip the 2 pouched together back to back, the extra clips can be used to also clip them together. There may be other uses for them but thats what I use them for.
brill review mate,you cant beat british army bergens,i had a copy which is ok but I saw genuine one in a and n store and just had too get it.brand new never been used,no side pockets though but already had some with other one,only £55 more stronger and much better quality you can see the difference.well pleased with it,gary palmer said can hold 150lbs,and I can believe it.i will be carrying no where near that only about 45 lbs.again good vid and thanks
Thank you for a great useful video, just ordered the bergen. If i need the extra room i now know my options.
yer me to its got the yoyo for the day pack to so thats cool im locking forward to when it come so i can lode it up with all the stuff i need for the road
Nice one Mally. They are a good bit of kit and will last you for years. Glad you found it useful. :)
That possibly wasn't the best description. It goes on the front. Under the lid, but i leave a space inside the rucksack so the mat doesn't stick out. The main compartment still comes above the mat so weather is still kept out. The mat goes on a level with the top of the side pouches. Not easy to explain in writing. I will do a vid when i get chance and show you what i mean.
Nice vid mate, bit long in tooth for yomping around with such an animal on my back, great bit of kit.
Thanks for sharing mate, just got one of these today, but no yoke, think I will have to invest in one! Great review!
ATB Shaun
Thanks Shaun, the yoke will make it a lot more versatile.
I would say the long back, I am 5'4" and I prefer the long back. but your best bet is to try and get to an army surplus shop and try both see which is the best fit for you. The short back has the same capacity but is a shorter main body so there is more sticking out behind you. So it will pull you backwards more.
I would highly recommend you get some dry bags for the inside . They sell them on ebay . They have a habit of leaking in heavy rain. Just look for plce 120 ltr dry bags.
Can you give me an idea of how much you can carry in it just for the record. Cheers and great review
Brill video.
What capacity is each pouch and what is the capacity of the main body of the Bergen without the pouches on please?
I've recently started wild camping and find my 65/70l OEX rucksack just a bit too tight when everything is packed.
Never been in the army but looking at getting a Bergen maybe off ebay.
Thanks for the vid 👍
Hi Mark, the main section is 100 litres, each side pouch is 10 litres, total 120 litres.
You can also get a yoke to make a smaller backpack from 1 or 2 sidepouches giving you a 10 or 20 litre pack.
The bergen is available in short or ling back versions, i suggest you try both before you buy to see which is most comfortable for you.
Great review
Thanks now I know how to fully use my Bergen 😃
Great review great videos
These are a great piece of kit and even better if supplemented with a standard army plce belt kit, which raises the pack and allows a lot of the pack weight to be supported and shared by your hips. I'm a little unsure of the grumbles regarding DPM pattern, as it's part and parcel of buying military surplus and olive green is just as military in appearance, although it is a shame nobody seems to manufacture this bergan pattern in civilian colours for those who'd prefer the choice.
Is that an actual army surplus or is that the one Kombat UK sell? I'm not sure what to buy.
Also, great video! Very nice to see and helpful information!
Cheers for the comment, I am happy with this one budget is a bit on the slim side :)
Just got one of these. Second hand, paid,,
More versatile and much more robust than most.
Yep - just bought a short one for 1 or 2 day hiking and camping. Less than £50. Absolute bargain when you look at the quality of materials and stitching etc. Not sure how comfortable it will be yet, but I will let you know…
ive watch you video yesterday that is mint so i went on ebay and their was one on their and start bid was £60.quid so i bid and won it so cool.i got a 55 liter two weeks ago and its two small as im going to live on the road and my home has to be on my back with all my kit ?no moor house bills for me and i live better.thanks for this video
Ah, i see, so it's under the lid and sitting on top of the side pouches, the way i have it is on my bergen (some funny dutch one) there is two quick release straps at the bottom front of it, so it actually helps it stand up when i put it down, i would recommend doing something similar to yours. perhaps i will post a video showing what i mean :)
Cheers for the advice bullethead, already got some :)
For me the dpm works well it blends in well in the woods. Have to agree tho civvy colours should sell well.
Nice vid!
Is this an army issue Bergen or a commercial made one?
iv got the long back version its great!
Mine cost 3 quid off a car boot, an it came with free half eaten beret,gloves,moth grubs an spiders.great vid on a great bit of kit. I
Sounds like you got a real bargain there :)
Thank you i tried to make it as thorough as possible.
Its certainly a very well made rucksack it should take a good few years of use :)
Great video. Just bought one of these and you have gave me some great ideas. Is this a long back or short back version?
hi do you know what the utheir two clips on top of the day pack are for.my rucksack is nearly full now just got to get two moor things and thats my home on my back and then when all my house stuff is go im on the road thats mint
Wow that kit is a beast. Now that is a load out. How much does your kit weight? Thanks for a great video.
i cant seem to get all my kit into the bergen ive put most of my kit into dry bags ive yet to find space for the meths bottle inflatable mat and sleeping bag the tarp and hammock are in the main compartment should i fix tarp to outside of pack?
It's a loop and tie-off point for ice axe, etc.
Good review really useful and were abouts did you get the karimor straps at the front cheers
Aiden Connacher Thanks Aiden, I took the Velcro Karrimor straps off a karrimor daypack I have got.
great video, cheers pal
I got it from an auction on ebay so can't give a set price for them. Ebay seems to be the cheapest place to get them from.
glad you liked it :)
Bit small isnt it marra? :-p
I believe that the 'waist' strap isn't actually a waist strap, I feed it through the retaining tabs, around the front and through the tabs at the front then secure, it holds the shitbins to the yoke, not the yoke to you.
Cracking review 👍
Thanks for the info, hadn't thought of using the strap like that. My personal preference with any rucksack big or small is to have a waistbelt, i find them much comfier that way. But always good to hear of alternative ways of doing things.
@@Bluejay1968 I made a pair of pads for the yoke/bergen that make them more comfy and included a sternum strap, always ways to get what you want 👍
@@OldNavajoTricks put a sternum strap on mine, made a huge difference. Think its in one my vids.
@@Bluejay1968 I'll have a binge when sober Marra, try and find it🤘
When I'm at cadets I don't need 120 litres so I put my roll mat on the side with the side pouch straps :)
i just bought the 135L ultimax version of this and am having a few concerns regarding the placement of my hydration pack, is it worth buying a pouch dedicated to a hydration bladder or is it safe to use the pouch in the back of the main compartment [the one with the back support rods] there are no exit holes for a hose so i will probably buy a pouch but i didn't really want it on the outside of my pack so i thought i'd see what a fellow bergen user recommends. thanks
Hi Prodigal, I haven't used a hydration bladder, I use water bottles. I wouldn't recommend putting it in the compartment with the frame, you could well get issues with the frame bursting it, and it wouldn't be over easy to get at. You could put it in the main compartment itself tucked down the back ( keeping the weight nearest to your body ) but I would recommend using something like a piece of roll mat as padding between the bladder and the other gear in your pack to stop any puncture issues, and also put it outside your dry bag so if it does leak your other kit doesn't get wet.
Samwell Yates
i decided that the pocket in question would be a good place to keep my ground sheet tarp and the bladder rests nicely inside it, so it's kinda what you suggested, will post a vid at somepoint, it all works fine...
thanks
Glad you got it sorted. sorry for any confusion my son had the computer logged on to his youtube :)
Bluejay1968
no worries, it's about a year later and i am more than happy with it... after weeks on end of unpacking and repacking this until i had my set-up exactly as i like it, it has served me well on many occasions... it's tempting to go overweight with a bergen like this but i soon managed to strike a good balance between weight and usefulness of items i was carrying... with the vasts amount of space available it is very easy to arrange and sort as needed using modular bits of kit that you pack as needed... basically i can go from an overnight camping set up, to an i'm never coming home bag set up [and everything in between] just by adding or removing items, and there is always room to spare... best item i ever bought
The trouble I find is you pack it differently each time you use it depending on where you are going or whether you have vehicle access to your campsite. I have just repacked mine with basic carry camp kit and everything else vehicle related is going to go in a separate box. Hopefully that way I will remember where I put each item of kit LOL
At 5'11" which is best, short or long back?
song? sounds native. I like it, peaceful..
Forest of india by ghecko. Its one of the sound clips on movie maker
T to the bottom of your bergan!! It pains me to see a camouflaged rucksack of such excellence having a feckin giant rollmat strapped so obviously to the flipping top of it! Great review though mate:)
:0 That's even worse! You're letting all the weather in! How about a compromise: strap it to the front if you can :)
Does anybody know what the current issue rucksacks are like a daysack ?
Your welcome any time ;)
It does not get more British than this chaps.
What's the average weight that people are carrying in one of these?
depends what your carrying but some can weigh up to 200 pounds
To the bottom!! Nooooo, it won't stand up with it strapped to the bottom. If i stop for a brew i want it to stand up so i can get my brew kit out easily. When i am using it properly i usualy leave a space inside at the top so the mat will fit under the lid with the lid clips holding it in place.
don't know what make it is i got it from Lidl a few years back.
It will certainly hold a lot.
You're very welcome :-)
how much did you pay for it
It can comfortably hold and support 150lbs
Sounds like you got a good deal there :)
Mine is a long back. I am only little so the long back should be fine for you.
You're possibly over packing, as most kit should fit within a bergan of this size.
I had the same rucksack to this but a different make but it was really shit and i got a real british army rucksack.
Apparently there are some cheap and nasty copies about, you have to be carefull you get a genuine one
Trust me, Its not that full when being used Al :)
i got this bergen for 25 pounds from the british army
Strap that goddamn rollma
WA
I've just bought one of these for £7 off a workmate who didn't realise how big it was. I'm delighted.
Josh Hanson you got an absolute bargain there