Crossfire Australia DG-16 Long Range Patrol Pack
About The Bag
We've got our hands on the last batch ever of CrossFire's DPCU pattern DG-16s. Still factory fresh, they're a strange transitory glitch. Australia now uses their own multicam derivative, but these bags were produced right before the switch was official.
So you have a top-tier modern bag, in a 1970s era camouflage. Neat huh?
It's a long range patrol ruck that’s more load bearing system than just backpack. The amount of time, blood, sweat, tears and super-computer simulation runtime devoted to the design of these packs is mind-boggling.
It's designed with military end users in mind, configurable in countless different ways for any expedition and sports cutting edge ergonomics. If you’re looking for a “buy it for life” bag, this is it.
To do it proper justice, It needs to be broken down into it's components.
The Frame
These frames interface with a luxuriously padded, fully adjustable “H-Harness” shoulder strap system. The shoulder straps meet a large upper back pad instead of attaching separately. This helps avoid the pressure on the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles in the shoulders for a much more comfortable fit under load.
You can adjust the shoulders closer or farther from the neck, move the harness up or down on the frame to fit with your height, and adjust the sternum strap to manage tension and accommodate a well-endowed chest. The cushy hip pads are also removeable and adjustable with a simple pull-forward design.
(For more info on the adjustment, see Crossfire's manual for this frame system)
The finite element analysis that went into the frame's design and aerospace grade resin construction is what makes it more than just a light weight polymer grid frame. It's specifically designed to store and release energy with every stride so you get an extra boost with every step.
With more tactical applications in mind, this pack's frame is designed to be compatible with plate carriers and other armor. It has a deep cavity in the middle of the frame that swallows up a plate carrier or allows for unfettered airflow for those going sans armor. For emergencies, the shoulder straps can be doffed in under a second by pulling on the quick detach buckles on the straps.
The Main Bag
It can be compressed down to the size of a standard ALICE pack, slicked down with no frills or extra straps, or expandable up to a hulking monster with an extra assault pack. It's versatility in this regard is basically unmatched.
The bottom 1/3rd of the pack is divided internally from the main pocket, and can be accessed through a slicked zipper to get to your sleep system or other equipment without removing everything else in the pack. It has an internal cinch system to keep it compact, and a “butterfly” compression clip system on the outside to keep it even slicker.
On the inside removable mesh dividers help organize your gear and keep it visible and quickly accessible without digging into the cavernous main pocket. Straps and Velcro allow you to move the pouches around to any desired configuration. A large hydration pouch is tucked behind a MOLLE panel that allows you to add even more pouches or MOLLE compatible accessories.
This bag has MOLLE all around the exterior, with slightly elongated distances between the webbing to make mounting extra pouches and equipment much easier. The bottom of the pack has multiple MOLLE rows as well to accommodate soft ammo pouches or running extra webbing to support a bedroll.
The outside has two water bottle pockets, both oversized and capable of accepting Australian or USGI 2-liter canteens. On the front of the pack, there's a reinforced E-tool pocket and webbing to cinch down other equipment. Heavy duty velcro-flap protected side zips traverse the full length of the pack on both sides allowing quick access to gear without undoing the top of the pack. Additionally, there is removeable webbing on the front of the pack to secure a helmet (great for high cut helmets). The shoulder straps feature several MOLLE slots all the way down, allowing for smaller items like Grimlocs, clippable radios, or small lights to be affixed.
24-Hour Assault Lid
The top-lid is removable and the pack comes with an extra “patrol lid” that doubles as a 24-hour assault pack. Tucked away in the top, there's a waterproof cover that folds out and down to keep the interior of the pack protected even with the optional lids removed. If you’re stashing the pack and using the 24 hour assault pack this keeps the pack and its contents safe from the environment.
Wrapping It Up
Its rare that we get access to cutting edge kit like this, and it's even rarer that it was made in perfect time to still be sporting a camo designed in the 70s. We use them ourselves during our 15+ milers at 7000+ feet, and we’re in good company as these are becoming the favored bags of the SAS, Australian Commandos, Finnish/Swedish Jaegers and our own illustrious 10th Special Forces group.
Would you like to know more? Check out Bush Lore Survival's 25+ minute long-term review of the pack and its features.
Specs
- 8 Pounds Unladen, 10 lbs w/assault lid.
- 500D Cordura Construction
- 85 Liter Capacity + Assault Pack Lid (Approx. 15L)
- Included extra webbing, repair buckles, and mesh pockets
- Rare Australian DCPU colorway
- Designed for patrols/hikes lasting 96 hours or longer, scalable down for shorter expeditions
- Features Crossfire’s Lightweight Ergonomic 20” DG Frame, fully adjustable (manual here)
