Czechoslovakian M60 Backpack, with Straps, Surplus

Brown c. 20 L frameless cotton canvas or linen backpack from the Cold War-era Czechoslovakia. Excellent size for a day pack. This is a very traditional backpack shape, also familiar from WWII Germany. Super cool, very affordable, and awesome for traditional bushcarfters, hikers, and hunters. High-tech geardos might disagree, but they are simply wrong.

Features

Czechoslovakia didn’t start fully copying Russian military gear like many other Eastern Bloc countries. Instead, they continued copying many of them from the West. These are probably made in the earlier part of the Cold War, very similar to the German World War 2 rucksack, but the attachment to the Y harness is reversed. These have loops in the pack and hooks in the Y-suspenders.

The same Y harness keeps your belt kit up. (The belt kit is not included because it isn’t part of the backpack). Original modularity at its best! If you don’t need fast detachability, you can bend the metal hook thingies "shut". Or alternatively, just anchor them on the loops with, say, pieces of string or wire. If you don’t need the straps that dangle in the front, you can simply cut them off.

The volume is something around 20 liters, possibly a bit more. So, for a military pack, it is quite compact and also frameless and thus lightweight. The design is very simple - the sack-like pack has a drawcord adjustment and is closed by a small flap. The pack has a main compartment and two side pockets. The main flap and the side pocket flaps have a strap closure. On the sides, you can find loops for general-purpose straps (the straps aren’t included). You can use these to attach all sorts of gear on the outside, such as shelters, blankets, sleeping pads, etc.

There is a smaller pocket inside the main compartment. A clever person can slide in a piece of foam or such to make the back wall a bit more rigid and, thus, nicer to carry. You can of course, use it to carry a compact reservoir or some other useful gear, too.

Use

Durable and charming old-school stuff. These aren’t really comparable to modern packs as far as comfort and features go. However, these have a lot more character than any modern pack could ever give you. Plus, the size is pretty handy, and they look great. Perfect for all retro hikers and vintage junkies.

Condition

Pretty nicely used Czechoslovakian military surplus from the era when curtains were still made from iron. The packs may have some signs of wear, but for their age, they are in pretty good condition. Some might be completely unissued. Remember that one day these will be gone forever, get yours while still available!