In a randomised, cross over and in most cases also double blinded study, the casualty stretcher "Sjukbår 2 MT" of the Swedish Armed Forces was compared to Nato´s standard stretcher STANAG 2040. The reason was a suspected tendency of the Swedish stretcher to be too narrow and short and possibly give rise to injuries with prolonged transport times. However, no differences were found in any important parameters. From one standpoint one stretcher type was the better one, from another standpoint the worse and vice versa. One stretcher type was not superior to the other with respect to certain defined types of injury or ways of transportation (ground, air or sea). The risk of sustaining additional injuries due to e.g. pressure from the stretcher itself was not greater with one type of stretcher than the other. Data were viewed in respect to a possible minor increase in body height and a probable 4-kg mean increase in body mass among conscripted 18-years old Swedish men towards the year of 2020. Since no data indicate that the NATO stretcher is superior to "Sjukbår 2 MT", it is recommended that the latter is retained by the Swedish Armed Forces. Its length should, however, be increased by 10 centimetres. The foreseen increase in mean body mass should not make "Sjukbår 2 MT" obsolete, but could be a problem to the personnel assigned the task of loading, lifting and carrying stretchers with an increasing load of heavier casualties.