Review First Look: Tasmanian Tiger Survival Pack

T

TheHunt

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Dec 26, 2006
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GHB (Get Home Bag) backpacks or those that want to be, there are plenty.
But when a manufacturer like Tasmanian Tiger adds a survival backpack to its lineup, it's worth taking a closer look.



The Survival Pack is a small (16 liter capacity) modular, multi-function backpack designed to carry the "most important survival essentials." How these look, everyone can define for themselves, so my equipment serves only as a "serving suggestion".

The carrying systems (yes, plural) deserve special consideration:


First, similar to a tote bag, you will find two large carrying handles that allow the backpack to be carried comfortably on the "long arm".

A backpack also usually has two shoulder straps:


Or even just one, here in the "Slinger" use case:




Here is the back view, flat padded, a use over a plate carrier is no problem:


The shoulder straps are tightly padded, a chest lock can also be found.
If you want to wear the pack as a slinger, simply undo the straps, stow one in the back compartment and clip the other on crosswise:


On the right and left, in addition to the top carry handles, there are two simple but sturdy handles each.



The shoulder straps can be stowed in their own compartment, which can also accommodate the top carry handles:
 
The Velcro strips hold the compartment closed:





The lower straps also disappear into the back compartment if you don't want to take them off completely:


Once you've stowed everything on the handles and straps, the backpack fits under train or airplane seats, in small overhead compartments, or in the large drawer of your office desk.


All zippers are taped and shrink wrapped.

All the zippers?
No, one small unbending.... Zipper for the bottom compartment comes without.
Inside the compartment we find the rain cover (I don't know of any other backpack this size that has this on board...), which has a signal stripe on one side.



Securely clipped on and adjustable by cord stopper.
In addition, there is a signal panel, which can be attached to the front.

Shown here from 20 meters away:


7 meters:


The signaling effect is there, but you shouldn't rely on that alone.

Here's the rain cover:

 
So on the front we find three zippered compartments plus one closed with Velcro.


Gloves and mask must not be missing in case of disaster....

A view from above into the Velcro compartment, here with pen and notepad, in the compartment itself there are three elastic loops, for multitools, pistol magazines (AR mags are too long) or flashlights.


On the top we can find loops for pens or cyalume lights, or even carabiners, in addition to the outlet for cables or drinking tubes:


Suspended from the carabiner, you can nicely see the daisychain attached to the front.
Two Velcro areas are also on board, one large enough to attach Velcro organizers or small pouches.


A little hidden are the two G-Hooks used to attach additional pouches (Tac Pouch 8.1).

Here's a little taste of the interior:
You can arrange all the zippers inside so that they can be accessed from one side. Very practical!





The clamshell design allows the backpack to open completely flat, lying or hanging then depends on the load.


Let's take a look at the interior.
At the very top, two (actually, four) loops for the aforementioned pop-up lights (you can never have enough...) or pens. Behind that is a compartment for a hydration bladder including suspension (3 liter Source was too big, a 2 liter I could not test unfortunately) or as in my case a thick Shemagh.

 
Some pretty nifty design:
All inner pockets have a semi-transparent front, so that it is immediately visible what´s inside. Very helpful and saves a long search. In the top pocket a large Nalgene, including Tatonka cup, also in large. But that fills the bag only partially.



In the second, larger compartment, a food bag. Practical here the Velcro strips, so the food bag can not fall out unintentionally. Also inserted, a fleece jacket.


On the other side we find four individual pockets, two of them removable by Velcro:




Below loops for shockcord (included, sic!).
In one pocket "master key" and poncho, in the other First Aid, in its own signal-colored pocket.




In my case, the top two pockets contain a Sillcock key along with a compass and scavenging pouch, in addition to a flashlight and headlamp.


If you want to attach wet clothes or rain jackets to the outside of the backpack, for example, simply thread the shockcord into the daisychain, CordLock on, done:


Also wears well in the still very warm weather:



What can I say great, once again a very thoughtful backpack that TT has put on the market here. I use it a little off-kilter as a tech bag, thanks to the super organization options, the Survival Pack is made for it.

However, it is cooler like this:



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As always, if you have any questions, just ask!
 
Awesome review. Thanks.

I am looking at buying one of these due to the thin profile.

Any other thoughts on it now that you have had it a while?
 
Very interesting. I like it very much and I'm going to look into one. Thank you for your review.
 
Hotshot10 said:
Awesome review. Thanks.

I am looking at buying one of these due to the thin profile.

Any other thoughts on it now that you have had it a while?
Click to expand...
Well, still use it as an Emergency bag, as it fits perfectly in my work desk.
Just in case, you know?

As far as small sized bags go, this one is pretty near to perfect for me.
 
Just placed an order for one. It will be a few days before it arrives, but I'm eagerly awaiting it.

It is close in size to another favorite of mine, the Kifaru Door Gunner, but that one I have configured solely for grab-and-go day hikes. This one I am planning to use more as a dedicated bag for my vehicle.
 
T TheHunt - great review!!

Hotshot10 said:
This one I am planning to use more as a dedicated bag for my vehicle.
Click to expand...
Just FYI - my wife recently had her survival backpack stolen from her vehicle. Unfortunately we hadn’t planned for that possibility and most of her best gear was in that bag.

We still keep survival bags in every vehicle, but now they contain our “second tier” gear.

Just something to consider - happy packing!
 
The bag arrived yesterday. It is high quality and well designed. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, though.

scdub said:
T TheHunt - great review!!


Just FYI - my wife recently had her survival backpack stolen from her vehicle. Unfortunately we hadn’t planned for that possibility and most of her best gear was in that bag.

We still keep survival bags in every vehicle, but now they contain our “second tier” gear.

Just something to consider - happy packing!
Click to expand...
Good point. This one is going to be minimalistic. First aid, flashlight, some paracord, etc. It will supplement a more comprehensive bag at home.
 
I’ve been using the pack, and there is one issue that I have found. The straps secure at the bottom using plastic D-rings, and those D-rings tend to sit uncomfortably on my back. I want to wrap an elastic band, maybe about 2” high, around the D-rings where they connect to the straps. Any suggestions?
 
Hotshot10 said:
I’ve been using the pack, and there is one issue that I have found. The straps secure at the bottom using plastic D-rings, and those D-rings tend to sit uncomfortably on my back. I want to wrap an elastic band, maybe about 2” high, around the D-rings where they connect to the straps. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Hey Hotshot10,

I recently bought this pack and I'm waiting for it to arrive by post. A modification I saw suggested on another review of the pack (Moorlander EDC's video) was to cut the D-rings out and use G-Hooks in their place, that might be a cleaner solution to your problem?

I'm looking at immediately doing that modification on my pack once it arrives. Can't find the measurements of the shoulder strap webbing or the D-ring webbing online to know what size G-Hook to buy, could you help me out?

Thanks
 
TheHunt said:
Some pretty nifty design:
All inner pockets have a semi-transparent front, so that it is immediately visible what´s inside. Very helpful and saves a long search. In the top pocket a large Nalgene, including Tatonka cup, also in large. But that fills the bag only partially.



In the second, larger compartment, a food bag. Practical here the Velcro strips, so the food bag can not fall out unintentionally. Also inserted, a fleece jacket.


On the other side we find four individual pockets, two of them removable by Velcro:




Below loops for shockcord (included, sic!).
In one pocket "master key" and poncho, in the other First Aid, in its own signal-colored pocket.




In my case, the top two pockets contain a Sillcock key along with a compass and scavenging pouch, in addition to a flashlight and headlamp.


If you want to attach wet clothes or rain jackets to the outside of the backpack, for example, simply thread the shockcord into the daisychain, CordLock on, done:


Also wears well in the still very warm weather:



What can I say great, once again a very thoughtful backpack that TT has put on the market here. I use it a little off-kilter as a tech bag, thanks to the super organization options, the Survival Pack is made for it.

However, it is cooler like this:



[/url][/url]:


As always, if you have any questions, just ask!
Click to expand...

Hey TheHunt, great review, this sold me on buying the pack.

Sorry to bother you, I'm still waiting on it to arrive and I'm trying to figure out what modifications I can make to the bag to make it mine, I want to replace looping through D-ring mechanism for the shoulder straps with a G-hook on the shoulder straps that hooks into the D-ring webbing point. My guess from your pictures is that it's the width of PALS/MOLLE webbing (25mm/1 in) or maybe just a little more, but I can't find any information online about it, could you measure the width of the shoulder strap webbing and D-ring webbing point for me please? Thanks :)
 
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