A soldier carrying a fully loaded Bergen during a Commando Conditioning Course. Photo: MOD, Open Government Licence.
Every year we get the same question from customers eyeing up a genuine Bergen next to a £150 branded hiking rucksack: what's actually different, and is a 25-year-old surplus pack really worth it over something new? Having sold both for years, here's the honest answer.
What a Bergen is built for
A Bergen is the British Army's large-capacity load-carrying rucksack — built to survive being dragged through undergrowth, loaded to 40kg-plus, dropped from the back of a vehicle, and used daily for years without failing. Civilian hiking rucksacks are built for a very different brief: comfort over long trail miles, at a fraction of the weight and load rating a Bergen is designed to handle.
Head to head
| Feature | Genuine Bergen | Civilian hiking rucksack |
|---|---|---|
| Typical capacity | 80-130L including side pouches | 50-70L |
| Build fabric | Heavy-duty Cordura/PLCE nylon | Lighter ripstop nylon |
| Load rating | Rated for 40kg+ field loads | Usually comfortable up to 15-20kg |
| Weight (empty) | 2.5-4kg | 1-2kg |
| Frame | Rigid internal/external PLCE frame | Lightweight flexible frame |
| Side pouches | Detachable, sold as spares | Usually fixed, non-detachable |
| Typical price (genuine surplus) | £40-£80 | £100-£250 new |
Where a Bergen wins
- Abuse tolerance. Bergens are built to be thrown in and out of Land Rovers, dragged over rocks, and left out in the rain for a fortnight without the fabric or stitching giving up.
- Raw capacity. With side pouches attached, a genuine Bergen holds more than almost any civilian pack on the market, which matters for base-camp bushcraft and vehicle-supported wild camping where you're not carrying the full weight on your back all day.
- Cost per litre. A genuine, honestly-graded surplus Bergen at £40-80 undercuts an equivalent-capacity branded rucksack by a wide margin.
- Repairability. Simple stitched construction with no proprietary parts means a Bergen is easy to patch or repair in the field, unlike some civilian packs built around bonded seams and specific hardware.
Where a civilian rucksack wins
- Weight on your back. If you're covering serious trail miles rather than running a static camp, the 1-2kg weight saving on a civilian pack adds up fast.
- Comfort systems. Modern hip belts, load-lifter straps and back ventilation on branded packs are usually more refined than a decades-old military frame, since they're designed around all-day trail comfort rather than field durability.
- Weatherproofing. Most civilian packs now come properly waterproof or with an integrated rain cover; genuine Bergens are usually only showerproof.
Our honest take
If you're doing vehicle-supported wild camping, running a static bushcraft camp, or you just want maximum capacity for minimum outlay, a genuine Bergen is very hard to beat on value and durability. If you're covering long trail distances on foot every day, the weight saving on a modern civilian pack starts to matter more than the extra toughness of a Bergen you probably won't need.
Either way, buy graded stock so you know exactly what condition you're getting — our Bergens & Rucksacks range is all genuine surplus, graded before listing, so there's no guesswork on what turns up.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Bergen heavier than a normal rucksack?
Yes — genuine Bergens typically weigh 2.5-4kg empty, compared to 1-2kg for a comparable civilian hiking rucksack, because of the heavier fabric and rigid frame built for durability.
Can you use a Bergen for normal hiking?
Yes, plenty of people do — the main trade-off is carrying extra empty weight and slightly less refined comfort systems compared to a modern trail-specific pack.
Are genuine Bergens waterproof?
Most are showerproof rather than fully waterproof; a dry-bag liner is recommended for serious wet-weather use.
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