Archived Posts » 59,789,155
GI patrol pack modification question...
1/15/2012 10:22:07 PM
I have one of those Pack, Patrol, Combat off of the CFP-90 series bags and am wondering if anyone out there has ever found a better set of shoulder straps to use with that setup. It has 1" webbing top and bottom and the squareish looking factory shoulder pads look like they would come off easy enough, just wondering if there was another woodland patterned bag with straps I could borrow from.
1/15/2012 11:15:53 PM
I'd get a pair of Tactical Tailor Super Straps and have a shoe repair shop change the TT straps to use Fastex buckles. I'm not sure if the TT straps are made in woodland, though.
1/16/2012 1:45:35 PM
1/16/2012 2:05:06 PM
The Patrol pack is not terribly large, and the original shoulder straps are probably adequate unless you really overload the pack, and attach a lot of weight, via pouches, to the exterior.
If you want to upgrade, either the ALICE LC-1 or the much better LC-2 shoulder pads should attach without much fuss and bother. They are easy to find, and cheap.
What you DO want to add is a Sternum strap to either the OEM shoulder straps, or the LC-1 shoulder straps. The LC-2 shoulder straps come with a sternum strap already installed. Here's a pic of the LC-2 (enhanced) shoulder straps: http://www.omahas.com/product_info.php?products_id=1234. All the real USGI ones I have seen were woodland camo.
$20 seems about right for new surplus. Note that both straps have quick releases.
I can't see where the TT Super Straps, which lack the QR feature, are worth more than twice what the GI stuff is selling for, but YMMV.
To fabricate a Sternum strap, you will need a few feet of nylon webbing, two tri-glide buckles and a dual-adjust quick-release buckle.
Wrap the webbing, with tri-glide attached, around the shoulder strap, and thread loose end of webbing through the tri-glide. Back-thread the loose end back through the tri-glide, and the end of the sternum strap is attached. Repeat for other shoulder strap. Attach dual-adjust quick-release buckle in the center, and trim the ends of the straps that you have threaded through the ends of the DA-QR buckle AFTER you have donned your cold-weather gear and anything else that you might be wearing around your body when using the pack. This almost takes longer to explain than to perform. The addition of a sternum strap relieves one from constantly fiddling with the shoulder straps, and thus leaves one's hands free for more important things. Try one, and you will love it.
If you want to upgrade, either the ALICE LC-1 or the much better LC-2 shoulder pads should attach without much fuss and bother. They are easy to find, and cheap.
What you DO want to add is a Sternum strap to either the OEM shoulder straps, or the LC-1 shoulder straps. The LC-2 shoulder straps come with a sternum strap already installed. Here's a pic of the LC-2 (enhanced) shoulder straps: http://www.omahas.com/product_info.php?products_id=1234. All the real USGI ones I have seen were woodland camo.
$20 seems about right for new surplus. Note that both straps have quick releases.
I can't see where the TT Super Straps, which lack the QR feature, are worth more than twice what the GI stuff is selling for, but YMMV.
To fabricate a Sternum strap, you will need a few feet of nylon webbing, two tri-glide buckles and a dual-adjust quick-release buckle.
Wrap the webbing, with tri-glide attached, around the shoulder strap, and thread loose end of webbing through the tri-glide. Back-thread the loose end back through the tri-glide, and the end of the sternum strap is attached. Repeat for other shoulder strap. Attach dual-adjust quick-release buckle in the center, and trim the ends of the straps that you have threaded through the ends of the DA-QR buckle AFTER you have donned your cold-weather gear and anything else that you might be wearing around your body when using the pack. This almost takes longer to explain than to perform. The addition of a sternum strap relieves one from constantly fiddling with the shoulder straps, and thus leaves one's hands free for more important things. Try one, and you will love it.
1/16/2012 2:57:26 PM
The sternum strap is one of the best things about the Tactical Tailor straps. They're also curved for a much more ergonomically correct fit. They have no quick releases, though, but any competent shoe or canvas repair shop can add those (they're likely the only places with needles and/or machines capable of handling fabric of that weight.)
1/16/2012 9:05:16 PM
I knew TT made ruck mods but didn't know about the super straps by themselves. Well it's a good thing I only live 45 minutes or so from the shop so I'll just take it down there and have them mod it up for me. Thanks for the imput everyone!
