Some basic terms:
Rucksack: Same meaning as backpack.
Haversack: A small frameless pack like the ones used by the U.S.M.C and U. S. Army during WWII, Korea and the early days of Vietnam. Not recommended as a Survival Rucksack, but can be used in a “Daypack” role, attached to the Survival Rucksack.
Packboard: As used by our military from WWII, through Vietnam. As the name states, it is a contoured board, usually of plywood, painted OD to camouflage it and protect it from the elements.
Butt Pack: Just like the name says. You have seen the commercial ones, usually with a couple of water bottles attached whenever you have gone for a day hike.
Frameless pack: Essentially the same as a haversack, usually just bigger. I do not recommend these as your main Survival Rucksack or for carrying weights of over about 25 lbs.
External Frame Pack: Just as the name implies, it has the frame on the outside of the pack. I prefer the external frame pack as my Survival Rucksack of choice. They are usually more comfortable and the frame makes it easy to attach extra needed equipment. Additionally, the external frame holds the Rucksack away from your back, providing cooling to your body.
Internal Frame Pack: This pack has it's frame on the inside of the pack, next to your back, usually in the form of aluminum stays that can be bent to fit the contour of your back. If you get this pack and the stays properly fitted to your back it can be a very comfortable pack to carry. One advantage of this kind of pack is that if fit properly it moves well with your body. A big down side to this pack not often considered is that it makes you sweat very badly where it contacts your entire back. This often accelerates overheating in hot weather and it can lead to serious chilling in cold weather when you take the pack off. Even during winter weather, your back will get wet with this pack
Patrol Pack: Usually a small frameless daypack that clips onto your main rucksack and detaches for patrolling or getaway purposes. It usually carries enough food and gear for 1 - 3 days.
U.S. Packs I have used during my military career:
WWII Marine Corps Haversack:
An abomination then and now. Told we could carry up to 45 lbs it felt like 75. Very uncomfortable, the only advantage to this pack was that you could run well with it. It really tore up your shoulders and under your arms. Not recommended except as a patrol pack.
WWII Army Haversack:
A couple notches up from the Marine Corps pack. It had better padding but that is about all. Not recommended, except as a patrol pack to be used in conjunction with your main Ruck Sack.
WWII Army Packboard:
I carried up to 110 pounds on this packboard daily. I attached two Jungle Rucksack bags, one above the other. This was a pretty good system for the day, but it lacked properly padded shoulder straps and a good padded waist belt. This system carried a lot of gear if you were up to the task but was a terrifying contraption to jump out of an airplane with — but that's another story.
WWII Army Bergens Pack:
This was a knockoff of the Swiss alpine Rucksack and was used by U.S. Special Forces during the 50s and into the 60s. It had three outside pockets and one large main compartment. This also was a pretty good pack for the day, but it too lacked well padded shoulder straps, a good waist belt and it did not have ample attachment points to hang extra gear.
Jungle Ruck Sack, circa 1960s:
This was for it's day, the most poorly designed, uncomfortable piece of junk the U.S Military ever palmed off on the American G.I. A rather small nylon main bag with two outside pockets, it fit poorly, bounced up and down like a jack hammer when you ran, and carried all it's weight on your shoulders. After about 35 lbs, it became extremely uncomfortable. A code of honor in Special Forces stated that you never donned a rucksack that weighed less than 70 lbs. That amount of weight compared to today's standards with modern equipment was equal to at least 120 lbs. There are still some of them floating around out there. Stay away from this one unless you have a Chiropractor in the family.
ALICE Pack:
One of my all time favorites. The ALICE often gets a bad rap, but I have some ideas on how to make it into a first rate Survival Pack. There are two sizes of ALICE Pack. There is the Large ALICE, and there is the Medium ALICE. Where is the Small ALICE you ask? I don't know. In fact I have never met anyone who has ever seen one. There are civilian knockoff's (mostly imports) that are called Small ALICE's, but I have never seen a U.S. issue Small ALICE pack. Very interesting.
CFP 90 Internal Frame Rucksack:
Not a bad pack, I guess, but if you don't get the fit just right, it can be pretty tough on your back. This pack was designed as the Special Ops pack for the Army about 15 years ago. It was designed by a good civilian pack manufacturer, but by the time the Army got done messing around with it, they had pretty well ruined it. A big pack with internal aluminum stays, it comes with a detachable patrol pack. It's not great, but it's O.K. if fitted properly.
MOLLE:
This is the new “Hoo-Yah” do everything for everybody modular rucksack that the U.S. Military invested over $20,000,000 into developing at last count; and still don't have it right. Soldiers often complain of it not fitting right and hurting their backs. Most of the old timers who know what they are doing still won't give up their beloved ALICE Packs for this one. This system is highly overrated and very pricey. If you can find a complete system for less than $500, you should consider yourself as having found a bargain. An overpriced bargain that really looks cool and often hurts your back , but a bargain just the same.
Italian Army Mountain Rucksack:
Current issue in woodland Camouflage w/detachable patrol pack. I have found a few foreign military packs I like, but not many. For one thing, most I have tried are not very comfortable. This is an excellent pack that is comfortable and will carry a huge load. The only thing it is seriously missing is a sternum strap, which is easy to fabricate or buy at a backpacking store. This pack sports a very interesting external - polycarbonate half frame that works very nicely. These packs usually run from $100 - $129 in new condition. It's probably the best foreign rucksack I have ever used; a real winner. I have several brand new in the wrapper that I will sell for $100 each (sorry for the commercialism). In case you are wondering why I have so many of these things it is because I wanted a sample to test and I refuse to pay retail so I bought 13 of them and saved a bunch of money (?).
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