Dutch Military DPM Bergen Side Pouches

1x grade 1, 1x grade 2 still a great deal

I received 1x grade 1 and 1x grade 2 (well used), they do fit my long back bergen but upside down... the zips are at the bottom rather than the top. For the price I paid I can't moan. They're still very much functional just be cautious of how much weight goes in then as on my bergen the zips are at the bottom

Excellent Value at Current Price

Firstly, the answer the obvious question: “Is it compatible with the British Bergen?”

Well, they fitted mine perfectly. The vertical attachment zip system does give you a little wriggle-room. The attachment zips are of the same type and configuration as used on UK examples: ie, the puller is on the left side. You can zip a British side-pouch to a Dutch one, although the different carrying system may make that impractical.

The latter is the most obvious difference. The Dutch pouch has a simple 20mm rectangular slider buckle mounted on each corner. My UK pouches have female side-opening (fastex) buckles instead.

The pouches came with carrying straps. These may be used to carry one or both of the pouches. The 20mm width end straps simply feed into the slider buckles, quick and simple. The carrying straps are very nice. They have padding, and the straps over the padding are sewn in loops, like those of a large Bergen. Notably, these straps are not green, but printed in full-colour DPM! Why don't more manufactures use camouflage strapping?

An added bonus: Each pouch has two accessory pouches/lash tabs. Each of these was fitted with a 25mm strap with a fastex buckle, and these are also in DPM! Buying similar straps separately would probably cost you several pounds each.

All the zippers are fitted with pull-tabs, so the kit is all ready to use.

The Dutch DPM used is a nice example, not too dark nor too green,

My set showed little wear, other than the names of previous users. Each is evidently from a different source.

My only reservation is the zips that close the compartments. These are black, small-toothed spiral zips. The UK version uses green, large-toothed zips similar to the attachment zips. Spiral zips, in my experience, are potentially more likely to fail.

The zips can be a little reluctant to close. The trick is to turn-up the flap covering them. Interestingly, one zip closes left to right, the other right to left. Sort of feature that might be most useful when the pouches are on a larger pack. The labels are also on opposite sides, so evidently the Dutch issued left and right pouches. All my UK side-pouches (4) close left to right.

This set comes with two pouches, two shoulder straps and four accessory straps. That represents excellent value at the current price!

A minor niggle: three-day delivery was closer to eleven, so order well in advance.

https://survive.phillosoph.com

Dutch Bergen Side Pouches

Delivery was very prompt and sent via Royal Mail. The items were as described and were well packaged. This was my first time in ordering from Peppers Shop and I would have no hesitation in ordering from them again.

The pouches that I received are in very good grade 1 condition. Yes, they are somewhat faded as advertised, but other than that and a single name inside they look practically unissued. All of the zips work and all of the buckles and straps are present, working and intact. They even included shoulder straps so that the pouches can be used as single sling packs or they can be connected together and used as a mini backpack. These function in the same way as the British Army Rocket Pouches however there is no need for a Yoke.

This price is for a set of 2 pouches and in this condition and at this price they are a bargain!