Reviewing a 60 year old camping backpack!

I take out a 60 year old camping backpack. This thing does indeed disappoint. Six decades of development have made packs more comfortable, more accessible, and easier to use. Still, it is always fun to connect to the past. What was your first backpacking pack?

[@josephmartin1540]

I've had two of that design. They were still very common though the 70s! You could trick out the zippers and buy quart sized plastic water bottles to fit those pockets. Typically sold at all stores selling the packs. I never had too much trouble fitting mid 60s cheap sleeping bags, pads, plastic ground cloth, era style backpacking tents, all my other gear and food in one. I too often fit way more gear in one than I might use in 3 weeks [freeze dried "food"]. They did great, but I would go modern!!! Enjoyed the video!

[@Catfish3842]

I have a Himalayan 55, from 1974 that I still use. When I camp it’s a time capsule campground, love it

[@filmic1]

That was just like my first backpack from '72. It served me well hitching across Canada. When I got across the country I sold it on the street and bought a CampTrails which I used for years. Thanks for surveying this.

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

i just made some vids recently about this Apex1 (vintage Coleman) ruck with flexible frame, it's really quite amazing and interesting, i'm really enjoying using it as a chassis and keep my shelter, sleep components, first aid, water containers, and rain gear/ pack cover, and poncho in there. Then you just add the rest of your use case items for that time, and attach or put in the gigantic compartments. The bag is basically indestructible. They don't make packs like this any more. Water can't penetrate it. 😂 The flexible frame is really unique, it flexes while still carrying and supporting the load (it's basically lbe) but you can bend, or twist, and you don't have the normal solid feeling frame that you have to conform to, but still supports and rides like a serious ruck. very strange but cool and fun. plus like i said, it really carries well. i'm really enjoying playing with different gear loadouts and went on some trips already, vintage stuff is very cool!!

[@JP-qj7te]

It's funny since we saw a guy on the trail the next day with an Alice Pack!

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

He knew what a good pack really was lol

[@coyoteblue9733]

I came up on old school packs. IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR TIME they were great

[@skunksdoinglaundry]

Nice piece of backpacking history. Just picked up the Mountain Crest which is the same Era. Looking forward to trying it out. Definitely different than my Osprey. Thanks for the upload.

[@DrJohn493]

Looks a lot like my Eddie Bauer (Jansport made) external frame backpack from the early 1970s. Back in the day that beast could haul a load (55#) easily. When I could handle that weight. Yes, a lot of improvements over the years and my go to pack is now a ULA Catalyst. 25#-30# max. But I still have my EB/JS pack for the memories.

[@chrismoore600]

Had one just like in in the 80's great pack.

[@toddcunningham3213]

I have this exact same model. Mine's green and it's called the Jasper model 4730 by Academy Broadway. I found it at an old hardware store brand new, still in the bag about 25 years ago in western Kansas. I think that I paid $15 for it. The original price tag says $60. The old man running the store said that it had been sitting on the same shelf for at least 30 years. I've never actually used it for hiking, but it's loaded up and ready to go. I use it more for storage purposes at base camp. I don't have a tent with it, just a tarp and blankets attached to the bottom. You can put a ton of stuff in it, but you're right, it ain't the most convenient apparatus to haul around the woods!

[@OldMotorcycleAdventures]

I have one that looks exactly like this, marked as an Everest no. 288. It was free, probably 7 years ago or so. I have yet to use it, no friends of mine have gone backpacking, until now. I intend on getting out this spring and seeing how it works out

[@skunksdoinglaundry]

Did you use it? How did it work for you?

[@OldMotorcycleAdventures]

@@skunksdoinglaundry I will be doing part of the Appalachian trail with a friend this spring, I will hopefully remember to let you know!

[@skunksdoinglaundry]

@@OldMotorcycleAdventures right on then. Hope it works.

[@turdfurgeson2032]

I had a couple similar hand me down packs when I started in Boy Scouts in '96. They weren't that bad, but after a couple years my parents bought me an rei traverse new star and it was much better.

[@gertvanpeet3120]

That was a standard pack in the seventies..i used one on a fourteen day tour through the dolomites. I was sixteen.....now the only brand that sells them is kelty..

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Wow 14 days out of that pack is impressive. As are the dolomites. That must have been an incredible trip for a teenager.

[@mrmeme-jq6qr]

It’s dumb to compare this to a newer pack - it’s not about versatility as much as it is dependability. Imagine mixing style with functionality instead of utilization with progression

[@Thestripper1]

I still have and use my Haglofs Alaska frame backpack. It is an amazing design compared to the sleek backpacks of today. It is extremely flexible when it comes to carying different size and weight cargo. The many outside pockets are genious and not too big to get caught in tight terrain with trees and rocks. Only thing I would wish for is a more modern hip belt that pivots, like on arcteryx and most packs these days.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Interesting. I guess like today, older packs can be great, terrible, or somewhere in between

[@jasonkaiser6084]

My Dad had a Hillary back pack that looked a lot like that one. One thing I liked about it was that it had a lot of pouches to store things rather than having them piled into one pouch.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

It is a benefit. I end up packing my stuff as 'bags within a bag' which presents its own issues

[@SSN515]

Not a bad design in it's day. High speed. You could replace those tie down cords with modern bungee cords and hooks. Most people were using military surplus (cheaper) wood/canvas/lashing pack boards or the old GI Mountain Rucks. Some even used the M-1928 Haversacks. Those cost something like a buck or two. And the WW2 Musette Bags were the "day packs".

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Wow, wood canvas and lashing pack boards are the real old school!

[@workingfortheirfuture]

Dude! I still use mine! My dad left it to me- absolutely nothing wrong with having to work for the stuff... if you're wanting something easy (?) stay the eff home.

[@skylarschmitt3104]

I have that exact backpack I had to replace the pullstaps though.

[@williammccaslin8527]

I still have my backpack from the B.S.A, it was from the 60's . Its not even as versatile with the aluminum frame as that one, thx for the vid.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Thanks for watching! Maybe this was a high end pack when it first came out back in the day

[@bengarrido638]

My dad had this same bacpack when I was a kid. I'm 47 years old ad remember it hanging inthe basement. His was Everest 228

[@alphapatriot8405]

Thnxs 4 sharing.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Thanks for watching!

[@spanishjohn420]

surely just put all the stuff you need to quickly access in the bottom compartment that opens on the front zipper

[@PaulRounds-l7c]

After a forty year break from backpacking, I just broke out my 45 year old Kelty pack.

[@hooXpoo]

I would rather use a pack like that than the junk made today.

[@СергейЛозовенко-ф1р]

Great channel👍 i subscribe

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Thanks!

[@richardturner9755]

Pack weight not distributed properly. Zipper is scratchy. Ive lost faith in mankind now

[@strikingbushmaster9071]

Wow, horrible review thanks.