Pack, Patrol, DPM

History

Like many Western armies, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) did not issue a dedicated patrol pack to its soldiers for many years. Troops who needed one were often left to source or purchase their own—resulting in a mix of commercial and improvised options being used in the field.

By the early 2000s, the NZDF began issuing patrol packs alongside the standard large field pack. One popular commercial alternative at the time was a patrol pack, produced by Nikko Outdoor Specialist. These were available for private purchase through military base shops and typically retailed for around $150 NZD. It was offered in DPM and Woodland style patterns, though what you got depended entirely on whatever was stocked at the time.

The Nikko Patrol Pack wasn’t larger in overall volume than the standard-issue patrol pack, but it was notably more slim-lined and compact in profile. Featuring a removable metal frame, it could be dramatically compressed when not in use—making it far easier to stow inside a large ALICE pack, something that was often awkward or impractical with the bulkier issued version.

Once in position, the ALICE pack was left in a patrol harbour or secure rear area, while the Nikko Patrol Pack was used for short-range patrols, reconnaissance tasks, or section movement—providing just enough capacity without unnecessary weight or bulk.

Description

The pack’s lid is permanently fixed to the rear of the main body and features side panels that extend several inches downward to fully enclose the pack mouth. These side panels are edged with elastic trim, allowing them to be drawn in snugly around the mouth opening to help keep out debris and moisture.

The lid is secured with two 25 mm side-release buckles, each attached to a length of nylon webbing that is sewn directly to the bottom of the pack. On top of the lid is a large external zippered pouch, with the zip positioned at the rear. Just below the pouch—centrally located on the front of the lid—is an embroidered “Nikko Outdoor Specialist” logo. The underside of the lid also features a flat, zip-entry map-style pocket.

The mouth of the pack can be cinched down over the contents using a nylon draw-cord and cord lock. At the top of the front panel is a small nylon loop, and beneath this is a central bellows section that allows the pack to expand when carrying bulkier items.

On both sides of the bellows panel are full-length nylon webbing straps, each sewn down at 4.5 cm intervals to create nine evenly spaced loops per side. These loops allow a black nylon cord to be threaded in a criss-cross fashion across the front of the pack, forming a flexible external compression system. The cord is anchored at one of two webbing loops sewn to the base of the pack, allowing the entire front to be drawn inward to reduce overall bulk or secure loose items against the outer face of the pack. A nylon webbing ice axe loop is also sewn to the left-hand side.

Each side of the pack includes two adjustable compression straps, each with a side-release buckle. These allow the user to compress the load or secure external items.

At the top of the back panel is a reinforced nylon carrying loop. Directly below this sits a short fabric envelope with hook-and-loop closure on its underside—designed to hold the top of the removable metal frame in position. The base of the pack features two short webbing pockets, one on each side, which the ends of the frame slot into, fully locking the frame in place.

The padded hip belt is filled with soft closed-cell foam and is sewn directly to the sides of the pack. It secures using a 35mm side-release buckle. Unusually, the left side of the buckle is adjusted by rolling up the excess strap and trapping it within an internal loop, rather than by sliding adjustment.

The shoulder straps are permanently sewn to the top of the pack and are shaped in an ergonomic “S” curve. They are padded with closed-cell foam and adjust using ladder-lock buckles. The outer surface of the straps matches the camouflage pack fabric, while the underside is made from black nylon. Three webbing loops are sewn to the top of each shoulder strap to allow a chest strap to be fitted and adjusted as needed.

The pack’s external frame resembles that of the ARVN or Tropical Rucksack style. It measures approximately 42 cm tall by 34 cm wide at the top and tapers toward the base. The frame is constructed from metal spring bars, riveted at the top and bottom, and features a mesh nylon back panel for ventilation and comfort.

At the top, a hook-and-loop section secures the frame to the inside of the rear sleeve. At the base, a black nylon lumbar pad—padded with closed-cell foam—offers additional comfort. The mesh backing is permanently fixed at the top of the frame, but is removable at the bottom. It’s held in place by metal D-rings on each side, which slip over the ends of the frame. The mesh panel can be detached simply by flexing the bottom bar and slipping off the D-rings.

Examples

Example One

Example One is marked “Dept Coy 05” in permanent marker on both the waistband and lid strap. The duplicate markings suggest it may have been part of a unit-level bulk purchase, possibly issued from a shared gear pool rather than being privately owned. While unconfirmed, the consistent labeling points to some level of organized group use.

¹ Note 1: This is just a generic name, as we have yet to find its actual name.