Recently I posted about the Army’s plans to replace an old GI standby; the cotton towel. Well another military icon may be on its way out as well. While it might not be as sexy as a new rucksack, the venerable duffel bag is one of the few items that will follow a Soldier into civilian life. Other than updating the material and shoulder straps in the 80s the design hasn’t changed since before WW II. The Army’s PM-CIE plans to incorporate features of the flyer’s kit bag into the new design while retaining the ability to secure the new bag’s zippered opening with a padlock. The new duffel will also feature cargo handles on each end in order to facilitate loading of the bag on to trucks and pallets.
There will be a user field evaluation in FY09.