Single vs Double Knapsack

[mnreb]

Hi,
I have a double bag knapsack and have been thinking about getting a single one. I am just curious as to which most people prefer in terms of storage and comfort. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Sincerely,
Bill Feuchtenberger
Co. H
1st South Carolina Volunteers (Gregg's/McGowan's Brigade)

[Clsinclair]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Hi Bill,

Having both, I can get more in my double bag. One is a Kibler and the other is a N&%%^*^*^( Federal Bag.

[lojafan]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

If you pack it right, in my opinion, you can get about the same amount of stuff in a single as a double. There are ways of doing it, you just have to know how to do it. I have both single and double bag and I think they equally as good.

[mslaird]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

I am in the same boat as you Bill, I have a couple of doubles and a hard pack and I have been getting set up to make myself a single. They saw a lot of use and they are a good pack to have, in my opinion.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Hallo!

On the one hand, I use what the government issues me.

On the other hand, we do tend to fill up the spaces we have.

;) :)

Curt
Less is More Mess

[mslaird]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Amen Curt, lighter is better. In both our shared hobby and the time I did my bit as a professional soldier I found that all one needs is ammo, water, food, a blanket and a couple pairs of dry socks. Things don't change much over the many years.

[MO-Pard]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Go with what the unit you are portraying was documented to have...

If you end up ( as documented CS unit) with accounts of both, you have a choice.

I always answer this question when asked, with this.... a double bag will carry more than a campaigner can afford to carry. One can get away with this at most events, but experience an event like BGR/Piney Woods, and this will grow increasingly clear each subsequent day as what wasn't heavy a day or two ago, is now a piano.

I also find the double bag very uncomfortable for campaigning. The design of the single bag is much more comfortable and adequate to carry your blanket, a boiler, cup, pair of socks, and an extra shirt.

Best Regards...

[Parault]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

I am going to add my .02cents worth on this one. I had a veteran reenactor tell me when I first got in to this hobby If you have more space you will tend to pack more items than you really need" That is one thing that I learned very fast. I prefer the single bag as the most comfortable IMHO. Reasearch, reasearch, reasearch. Find out about the unit you are protraying, see what they had during the time frame that you are doing. It could very well be during that time that particular unit didn't have anything but bed rolls.

Rounds, food, dry socks, blanket, tin cup, canteen half, and the very basic weapon cleaning items, What else do you need? leave all that other "junk" at the house.

Try looking at these pages for a guide

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1509777

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8551&highlight=haversack%2Fknapsack+packing

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Hallo!

"An instance occurred during this march showing how easy it is to misjudge the carrying capacity of men by their size. One of the six-footer heavy weights of the company in the right files where the tallest men are placed, had been complaining considerably on account of his sore shoulders, although it was not in a cross manner, he being really one of the best natured of men, when he was jokingly scolded for his grumbling by the orderly, marching to the left- a light weight and much smaller sized man. The result was that another heavy member, known as ‘Buckshot,’ who marched in the center of the company, a tent mate of the orderly, made a wager that that the latter had the heaviest load in the company. This the orderly had no idea was the case, although he was carrying besides the usual articles of "extras," shoes, etc., extra ammunition and the company books. However, when they reached Cumberland they weighed up, and sure enough the sergeant's knapsack weighed 28 lbs. to 22 for his tent mate, the third heaviest being 17, and that was not the big fellow's either. This is mentioned as showing that it was not always the biggest looking man that stood the greatest "wear and tear." For while it is true that there were some heavy men, and the two above mentioned were among them, who seemed able to stand everything—good marchers, rough and ready campaigners—yet is it also true that the light weights, from 140 down, were unexcelled for all manner of hard service.
We sometimes hear, out of service, of men carrying 70 lbs. in their knapsack. But no such back-breaking, side-splitting weight was carried by the soldiers—unless some unfortunate was working out a sentence, walking a beat under guard thus loaded; in lieu of the ball and chain, or log substitutes for thumb-tying, the stocks and other hard inflictions. A knapsack must not be shoddy to hold 70 pounds. In light marching order the knapsack, if carried at all, which was hardly the case, had little more within or on top than a rolled blanket, sometimes extra rations, and the balance of 60 rounds of ammunition that couldn't go in a 40 round cartridge box. At other times the knapsack varied all the way from a new outfit—generally with new troops—to the smallest possible kit or supply of extras, principally underclothes, poncho or rubber blanket, and woolen blanket—overcoats turned in. These all told, with 9 or 10 lb. gun, 40 rounds, canteen of water (pretty weighty), haversack packed with hard bread, coffee, sugar, and pork boiled or raw, added, 40 pounds would be more with all accouterments ; and frequently half that was all the boys carried, particularly when off on some hurried service requiring quick movements, wherein the weight of the knapsack itself cut no figure. The average weight of a knapsack with us on general service would not exceed, well packed, 15 pounds."

C. A. Stevens, Berdan’s United State Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac, 1892 (pp. 79-80).

My late friend liked to fill up his "double bag" knapsack with all manner of stuff from spare clothing to shaving kit to a dozen bottles of medicinals to dominoes. It weighed between 65 and 70 pounds, usually the latter even in summer. It took a "helper" to get it on him.
Being a portly, inactive "'coach potato" kind of lad in the Real World, he had the strength, stamina, endurance, and ability to carry his "patent bureau" knapsack no more than 200 yards maximum.

Curt

[Charles Kaiser]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

Hallo Kameraden,
I carry a doublebag, and like it, he is filled with a blanket and pan on the top, shelter half, a second lighter blanket in the " container", a gum blanket between bag and container, and only some items in the bag, a little book from 1821, the added rounds, a pair of socks. Sometimes added by west, if the weather is to hot to wear it, or a second shirt, if ti is to cold, and maybe some" nick- nacks" based on the scenario( For example some things out of a box from home in a camp scenario, or real nick nacks as "fresh meat" in an early war scenario, but always only documentaded things )
But the bag was mostly filled by max 60% of it volume.
I carried this Item as I learned it by the " Bundeswehr" with the so called " Große Kampftasche". I tied the knapsack very close to the body with the shoulder straps, and closed the breast straps. At first it seams unconfortable, but after some minutes this feeling dissapears, and I can wear the knapsack for hours without a break.

just my two cents.

Ach so, I say, the unit and scenario dicated the "baggage"

[lojafan]

Re: Single vs Double Knapsack

I do that same thing with my single and double bags and I can wear them forever.