Berghaus Munro II Stone Grey – 35 Liter Daypack
This article is sponsored by LV Equipment.
The Berghaus Munro is a classic that nearly every German soldier should be familiar with. Several years ago, Berghaus already released an infrared-optimized version, back then in the color Cedar. Now, updated to modern standards, the Berghaus Munro II is available in Stone Grey Olive – of course also with infrared-optimized colors. In addition to the color, the backpack has received several minor updates. It is no longer made from 1000D Cordura but from 560d Cordura. Furthermore, the nylon buckles are now olive instead of black.
For these reasons, I’m presenting the backpack in detail in this review.
Specifications
Volume: 35 liters
Material: 560den Cordura
Weight: 826g (+114g removable aluminum frame)
The Backpack
The backpack has a volume of 35 liters and primarily consists of a large, spacious main compartment. The main compartment is closed with a snow skirt and drawcord, making the height somewhat adjustable. Here the material is a bit thinner.
On each side there are two compression straps with nylon ladder buckles. These allow the backpack to be compressed when it’s not fully loaded, helping to transport equipment as quietly as possible.
On the front, the backpack features four ladder buckles. These can be used to attach additional compression or packing straps. The material in this area is also doubled.
Alternatively, shock cord (included) can be threaded through the loops to quickly stow a jacket or other gear on the outside.
Below that are two loops. Aside from these, there is nothing else located on the bottom of the backpack.
Using these two loops, ice axes or trekking poles can be attached. Classic ice axes work well here, but ice tools also fit reasonably.
Complementing the lower loops, there are two removable pole/ice axe retainers at the top. These are now also olive 😉
The lid is secured with two 25 mm nylon buckles. The webbing straps are fairly long, allowing additional gear to be tucked under the lid compartment.
Inside the lid there is a flat zippered pocket for small items that need to be quickly accessible.
A small but very nice detail: the zipper pull of the YKK zipper is no longer shiny. It now has a matte finish and matches the color scheme.
The edge of the lid pocket is finished with elastic binding. This allows the lid pocket to sit neatly against the pack when fully loaded, helping to prevent dirt and snow from entering.
Back System
The back system is very minimalist and essentially consists of fabric only.
Inside the main compartment, there is access to an aluminum frame. This stiffener weighs 114 g.
If you remove the aluminum frame, you save some weight and can roll up the empty backpack to carry it compactly inside a larger pack. Here is a comparison with a 1.5 L Nalgene bottle.
Inside the compartment closed with Velcro, there is also a permanently sewn-in EVA foam padding. On the predecessor model, this foam could be removed.
The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable in length using ladder buckles.
On the inside, they feature a closed fabric construction.
Centered between the shoulder straps is a carry handle.
A sternum strap can be added, which must be purchased separately. I simply used a sternum strap from another Berghaus model from the FLT series.
The hip belt consists solely of a 50 mm wide webbing strap that keeps the backpack positioned against the back.
At the front, the proven Bergbuckle is used. It is adjustable on one side and can be opened quickly and easily even while wearing gloves.
Color and Infrared
The pack is made from lighter 560den Cordura, which meets the Bundeswehr TL 8305‑0278 and TL 8305‑0281 requirements regarding IRR camouflage effectiveness. A certain level of water resistance is provided by the triple PU coating. Previously, the heavier 1000D Cordura was often used.
Here is a comparison with the “original ancestor,” which I also know from my time in service. In the center is the Munro II in Cedar, and on the right is the new version in Stone Grey Olive. The new version has a very harmonious, tone‑on‑tone appearance.
Here again from the rear.
The color matches very well with UF PRO gear and, more generally, with commonly used or issued equipment in Stone Grey Olive. Here is a comparison photo of various Stone Grey Olive items together with the Berghaus Munro. Clothing from UF Pro on the left and right, and a rain jacket from Carinthia on top.
The infrared signature has been adjusted accordingly on this model. Here is an infrared image taken with a modified DSLR camera at 720 nm. Shown in the image are the old Berghaus Munro, next to it the Munro II in Cedar (IRR), and on the far right the new Munro II in Stone Grey Olive. You can see that the old Berghaus Munro appears brighter in the infrared spectrum, and the webbing appears almost black. At night with IR illumination, this effect is even more pronounced. On the Cedar model, the signature of Cordura and webbing is more harmonious than on the other two models.
Here is another NIR photo from the rear.
Additionally, here is the new Berghaus Munro II in Stone Grey compared to original Bundeswehr Flecktarn and Multitarn.
And here again in the NIR spectrum.
Conclusion
I’ve been using the backpack for several months now. Ultimately, it’s very comparable to the standard Berghaus Munro as it’s commonly known. By switching to 560den Cordura, however, the pack has become even lighter. That’s why it even made its way into my ice‑climbing setup.
NIR signature
The overall signature is better than the original model I know from my service time in the German Army. The material complies with Bundeswehr TL 8305‑0278 and TL 8305‑0281. In the NIR images, however, the predecessor model in Cedar appears slightly more homogeneous.
Carry system
The carry system is very minimalist and not particularly complex in its construction. One advantage of the closed material combined with integrated foam padding is that it absorbs very little dirt and moisture. This makes the back system easy to clean in the field and ensures consistent performance even under harsh conditions. Carry comfort is absolutely acceptable for a daypack. The hip belt does not transfer much weight to the hips, while the shoulder straps are relatively wide.
Packed size
A very practical feature of this backpack is that, without the aluminum frame, the packed size can be reduced to a minimum. If you carry it inside a larger backpack to later use it as a daypack for smaller activities, it stows away very easily.
Organization options
With only two compartments, the backpack naturally offers limited internal organization. However, the large main compartment provides a high degree of flexibility. Even bulky items such as ropes or a winter jacket can be packed without issue. The lid pocket at least offers a minimal level of organization for small items like energy bars, a small first‑aid kit, or similar gear. For more organization, additional internal pouches must be used and placed loosely inside the pack.
Final words
The Berghaus Munro remains, as ever, a military classic. It’s versatile and a solid choice even in adverse weather conditions. In my opinion, the slightly thinner material does not significantly reduce durability, while saving some weight – which I consider a real advantage. I also really like that the zipper sliders, zipper pulls, and buckle components are now color‑coordinated.
The backpack is well suited for activities where internal organization is not the top priority – whether tactical, hiking, or climbing. After all, the fewer compartments there are, the less you have to search, and you don’t have to play “Tetris” every time the load changes.
