Military Surplus: Budget Haversacks & Shoulder Bags

Are you looking for sturdy, dependable gear on a budget? military surplus can be a great option. In this video we’ll take a look at a handful of haversacks & shoulder bags from different parts of the world but readily available in the USA, all of which could be perfectly suited for camping and/or bushcraft depending on your needs and preferences. Thanks for watching!
Featured in this video:
Swiss Military Surplus Shoulder Bag (originally designed for a gas mask)
Czech Military Surplus Should Bag (rubberized)
British M37 Canvas Pack
British M37 Haversack

[@cthulhu6697]

The Swiss bag you've got is, in fact, a gas mask bag and the loop you were wondering about is for a leg and thigh strap. The British pattern 1937 haversack you've got is what they used in WW2. They were meant to be worn, much as our troops did in WW2, in conjunction with another bag a bit larger, one atop the other with the larger bag on the bottom and connected with straps and buckles. The gray bag ( worn on top ) was kinda like an assault pack, with other gear being carried in the larger bag. Our ( U.S. ) soldiers and Marines wore a very similar bag setup. My Grandfather wore such a setup as a WW2 Marine. Your bedroll was generally carried Civil War style across the top and sides ( like a U shape ) on the upper bag, with the E-Tool attached to the front ( I'm not sure how the British carried their E-Tools, maybe on the bottom bag )

[@lordexcellent5610]

The first bag is not Swiss but in fact Swedish it was meant for a Swedish M-51 gas mask

[@leonardneal1297]

I think the first bag is for a gas mask due to the 2 positions it can be changed to. Sportsmanships does have good deals.

[@tedsamuels3203]

That's how I find alot useful bags and pouches. And, I don't worry about the color, Walmart has black, brown and green dye ? You can also buy camp dry at Walmart to make everything water resistant ...I watch all this guy's videos and he's really realistic 👌 and think 🤔 This was very helpful THANKS

[@keithorbell9500]

The two British packs are '37 pattern "small" packs, part of the standard issue webbing set, widely issued across the British Empire and later Commonwealth from 1937 to the 1960's. The blue one was probably RAF issue. The idea was that the soldier would protect the canvas webbing with a product called Blanco, which would colour it green, sand, white (ceremonial) or blue for the RAF. After WWII the Royal Marines polished the webbing with black boot polish.

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Very cool, thanks for sharing the history. :)

[@HomerSlated]

They were also very popular as schoolbags in the 70s.

[@kenr1067]

Good deals you got there. I've purchased from Sportsman's Guide in the past. I got 2 Italian Army rucksacks, very inexpensive. Now I gotta get a haversack, lol.

[@WyeExplorer]

We used to have a big warehouse called Shepherds in Herefordshire England and it was stacked full of army surplus back in the late 70's early 80's. As kids we loved it! I bet your kids love there surplus gear....I like the Czech bag and your presenting tone. I came aware of you via The Otter Outdoorsman and your subscription. Many thanks. Mark

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Wye Explorer great to have you! I don’t have a good local spot for surplus gear where I currently live, but I’ve had good luck with Sportmansguide.com so far. Thanks for watching!

[@marodriguezsr]

Nice gear and good buys bro. Glad to hear you got your kids involved. - Marco

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@jelkel25]

I use versions of the British 38 pat rucksack and a copy of the German Alpine pack in summer for day hikes for the simple reason they're made of canvas and more comfortable in hot weather than the nylon type packs. They're hard wearing and easy on the pocket too.

[@joannekeefe426]

I just got the czech bag today. I got it at my local army barracks for seven dollars. They only had the one. They didn't have much for surplus. I got a desert camo waist pack for 5 buck and the swiss alpenflaunge military poncho. Its a way different camo but the poncho is bombproof and heavy. But I live in New England and without that poncho I'm moving down south. I gave my last one to a homeless person who I hope appreciated it because I have secretly missed my ridiculous swiss poncho! You honestly can't beat it! I'm 5'4" and the thing goes down to my feet I don't need rain pants which are pretty hot and sweaty. In the side pocket of the czech bag fits my 40 oz canteen perfectly! So A ok Today! This funny bag is growing on me already! Its not been used. I'm pretty happy with it.

[@BackpackBushcraft]

Hey man Lone_woodsmen sent me to check you out. Super happy he did brother. I love haversacks, made my own but it is no longer with us so I'm in the market. See you on the next one. Btw My name is bushy God bless man

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Thank you watching!

[@longrider42]

Okay the two M37 British packs, are what is known as the British Pattern 1937 Large Pack, and needs things called L-straps and two utility straps to use as a backpack. Never meant too be used as a shoulder bag. I know because I collect the British 1937 web gear. Great packs, well built. There are a few video's of how to wear that pack. The strap it came with is actually one of the bracer straps too hold up the web belt. Its a rather complex system, but it works.

[@jameshargroder7090]

Those are really OL SKOOL KOOL!! The only mods/improvements U should do are REPLACE THE STRAP BUCKLES with the plastic FASTEK KIND, and upgrade the shoulder straps to some wider ones with decent Padding??

[@emborg3145]

I think the hardware on the back of the swiss and some of the other ones are for hanging on your bike (as a pannier)

[@johnfranta6937]

You might like to try looking at soldier of fortune surplus. They have a lot of British web gear on their web page!

[@danielm9062]

For the pack that needs straps you could use bookbag straps just take them off and attach them to you new bag. Dan in Ohio

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Very true Daniel, I'm sure if you were set on turning it back into a backpack it would be easy to pull something together with a little looking around. Thanks for watching!

[@onetimeoutdoorsdj1394]

Man that's a great fine brother congratulations

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

ONETIME OUTDOORS Dj Rayner Thanks, I was pretty happy with the deals I got too. I thought it was a great opportunity just to show folks the kind of gear you can find at very reasonable prices if you do a little looking around. Thanks for watching!

[@onetimeoutdoorsdj1394]

Happily Ever Outdoors yeah I totally understand and that's very true and definitely have to look around you can't just buy the first thing you see unfortunately with me I don't have the knowledge on what is good and bad and what I need and don't need LOL it's all a learning curve I guess and I'm not sure if I thanked you or not but I received the stickers and put them on my KZbin board but I just wanted to take time and thank you again man I really appreciate it

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

Awesome, glad you got them. Enjoy! By the way, you can find some good videos on KZbin when it comes to military surplus, but oftentimes you just have to look for a good deal and take a little bit of a chance. If the website you're ordering from has customer reviews make sure you read all of those too for a particular item so you can get a better idea of the overall quality of their inventory, since there will be variation with used gear. Thanks for watching!

[@blackrat1228]

That first pack looks like the Swedish M51 pack, not a Swiss pack. This video actually came up when I did a search for the m51 pack, even though it's not anywhere in the title.

[@kennethandes9170]

If I'm not mistaken; those British bags use the "L" straps. You might pay as much for the straps as you did for the bag. Good luck!

[@HappilyEverOutdoors]

I believe you are correct, and I think these bags are tough to track down with the original straps included. I'm inclined to just use them as-is. Thanks for watching!

[@nobodxy]

I have a bag just like your gray one. I use it for little nic nacs and tools in my car

[@redoak3809]

Checkout the Finnish Gasmask Haversack.

[@Kempy_O]

Iam a ww2 British reenactor you need to buy L straps you can get post war ones war time ones cost more. The best places to get them in eBay or you could get replicas or soldier of fortune

[@Hustler1856]

That Swiss bag is bad real bad I purchase two from sportsman's guide and the straps only attached sideways so that bag hang sideways on you that worth the money

[@erikmider6047]

How can all americans be inpervious to the Idea of sweden and switzerland being different nations. Sweden is in the north and made the first bag whilst switzerland is Below germany and did not make the first bag. Can americans Please at least try to learn.

[@mediocrates1937]

That's how they were sold on the website. Sorry he isn't a scholar of obscure vintage European militaria...