
Tasmanian Tiger, the German military and police backpacks and tactical equipment supplier, has this year celebrated its 25th anniversary, writes Bob Morrison.
Founded as TATONKA and now a very familiar brand on continental Europe, particularly with top kit suppliers across Germany and the BeNeLux nations plus with a few UK dealers, Tasmanian Tiger has built a great reputation with elite and specialist users as the quality of their products is second to none.

The TAC SLING PACK 12 is a diagonal-carry bag but can also be carried vertically on one shoulder – Revision pouch on side (not included) carries my netbook leads [©BM]

The TAC SLING PACK 12, carried here by Joanne, is worn slung diagonally over just one shoulder – a removable cross strap provides added stability if needed [©BM]
Although this small daysack is perfectly acceptable for civilian carry, being available in both black and carbon grey, as well as a more military olive green & tan, it is actually intended as a low profile tactical pack and can be used to tote a hydration bladder as well as for covert carry of a sidearm. There are six pairs of laser cut slots down each side for attaching slim PALS/MOLLE-style pouches and a removable (lace-in) laser cut internal pouch attachment panel (8×4 slots) which doubles as a retention pouch if a hydration bladder (not included) is carried.

The secondary compartment has various internal zipped and non-zipped mesh and nylon pockets etc [©BM]

In the main compartment there is a removable laser-cut back panel and a mesh pocket under the lid [©BM]

The well-concealed extra pocket is velcro-backed allowing a discreet pistol holster or pouch to be fitted [©BM]
Since penning the original review I have bought a second, slimline, netbook to ensure I have a back-up means of adding web pages to JOINT-FORCES.com when on assignment just in case there is a problem with my main netbook; they don’t call me Mr Belt & Braces for nothing, but after 20 years of editing COMBAT & SURVIVAL I suppose it is probably unsurprising that I almost always have a fall-back plan. This netbook fits snugly into the covert compartment, well out of sight of prying eyes, and I carry its charger and other peripherals in a pair of spare Revision Sawfly MOLLE-type kidney pouches attached to the laser cut slots on the sides of the pack.
Another neat little feature is the horizontally-zipped pouch concealed underneath the top panel on the back face which is ideal for stowing passport and other valuables documents etc. As this is located underneath the top strap and worn next to the back it is impossible for light-fingered dippers to steal your ID while jostling you in a crowd; I have even experienced such an attempt on Westminster Bridge in London when carrying my normal daysack, but the gang member who tried this on me got a surprise he truly wasn’t expecting.
Other useful features, something Tasmanian Tiger are good at providing, include a hydration bladder port under the top grab handle, a secondary grab handle on the base (to allow the wearer to pull the pack round to the front) and two compression straps each side. The diagonal strap bottom attachment point can be easily swapped to the other side for carrying on the opposite shoulder, the removable cross strap can be attached to a D-ring either side, and this strap can be tucked away inside the velcro-closure lower tunnel if not required. All in all, a very well thought out pack.
To see the full range of Tasmanian Tiger gear go to tasmanian-tiger.co.uk and to read more about the pack featured here click on this TAC SLING PACK 12 link.
{ images © Bob Morrison }

The padded shoulder strap can be easily reconfigured for right or left carry – note also four rows of laser-cut slots for chest pouch attachment – I use this 12-litre pack, carried here by Ramilla, a lot when carrying just a single camera kit and netbook plus a few light bits and pieces [©BM]

I frequently use velcro-backed mesh pockets affixed to the rear face to hold camera body and lenses [©BM]

D-rings, velcro tapes and a nylon hoop allow different types of hydration bladder to be suspended [©BM]

Two lines of laser-cut slots down each side allow thin PALS-type pouches and the like to be attached [©BM]

The lower end of the removable thin cross strap clips to a D-ring either side at the base of the back [©BM]