Originally Posted By MolonLabeFBHO:
Great post With lots of info Thankyou for taking the time to write it amd Thankyou for your service. I have a question about the peltor comtac, does the whole headset work as a radio or do you need to get a radio also, and if so what kind? I was looking at the peltor comtac III and I guess my question is would all I have to do is buy 2 of those to be able to communicate with it one for my bag one for my wife's.

Originally Posted By machinegunseabee:
K.Boots and footwear are important, get some that work for your feet I have worn out Rocky and Bates quickly. Bellville boots are good and will last a long time. Broken in footwear is better for a call out / ready bag. Get some decent socks as well.

Originally Posted By raf:
glad to see you adding to your thread.

Originally Posted By cap6888:
Instructions for making the sling?

Originally Posted By USSRangerSM:
Thanks for taking the time to type all this down

Originally Posted By machinegunseabee:
After 17.5 years in the military I have learned some lessons about gear in no particular order I just started typing out my thoughts and experiences on the subject. I decided to post them here so maybe someone would benefit from my experiences as some of it may be useful for the prepared American.

Some General Rules;
1.Simplicity is best when it comes to most gear, either simple to operate or simply constructed and preferably both.
2.Two is one & one is none.
3.The philosophy of better to have it and not need than need it and not have it is a good one. Just remember you have to move all this shit yourself.
4.If it looks stupid or ghey but it works for you it’s not stupid or ghey.
5.Mark your shit with your name, all of it… unless you don’t want your name on it for whatever reason.

A.Deployment Bags aka dead hooker bags of all shapes and sizes. Generally the fewer pockets it has it better. It needs shoulder straps and wheels are nice but not necessary. Don’t get a huge one and don’t get a small one and always carry an extra aviators kit bag or duffle bag in case you have to pack fast, you can throw your extra shit in there without packing it like a Tetris game. Those eagle creek packing cubes work great for round duffle bags. AWS Inc. and the North Face heavy duty duffles are awesome, they are also kind of a low key way of transporting your shit as you will look like every other joe that shops at REI.

B.On the subject of packs you cannot beat the old school ALICE pack and a Three day assault pack. The less straps the better. If you are looking for a modern turnkey ALICE pack look at the Tactical Tailor MALICE V2 Kit for a Large size and a Spec Ops Brand Recon Ruck for a bit smaller. The frames from Tactical Assault Gear and Tactical Tailor are good modern welded ones. I still have the old riveted ones but have been looking at those for a replacement. If you have the room in your load out bag a small beavertail style hydration pack is a good extra piece of kit. Look hard at some of the civilian style packs as well, they work really well for what they are and would suit most people vs. the ALICE style pack. If you are worried about color there is Rit Dye and Krylon if you must.

C.A knife, the simpler the better. Don’t get fancy but buy quality and for god’s sake do not get a serrated blade it’s a pain in the ass to sharpen in the field. You don’t need a USMC KaBar but you don’t need a paring knife. Most of the time a high quality folder will do and pack two just in case you drop one. If you want a fixed blade go with a smaller knife like a KaBar Mk1, SOG Seal Pup Elite or Benchmade Nimravus. They can all be had with a ambidextrous scabbard, are light weight and are just about the right size for most tasks. Speaking of knives carry a fucking sharpener please.

D.Multi tool, Leatherman is the original but I find myself having a Gerber or SOG most of the time and after 17.5 years of abusing these types of tools… I still have my original blunt nose Gerber tool. SOG is good and tough; the tools can be customized to your liking by ordering the components from SOG. BTW removable bits are nice but I have had so many problems with the spring retention and the bits themselves.

E.Flashlights, down range CR123 are out there but if you have to purchase your own get stuff that is AA. There are Flashlights that are LED like 4 Sevens that use AA and have a tail cap that work fine just get the spare tailcap kit. Get a headlamp that is multipurpose as well, I was issued a Princeton Tech but purchased a Streamlight Sidewinder 2 and it takes AA and CR123. It can go on a helmet, head band or your vest and it super simple to use with gloves. Oh and the Maglite Mini Mag AA is still going strong.

F.Weapons, I just used what was issued to me but I can offer some advice ;

i.Get or put a cleaning kit together
ii.Keep it clean
iii.Simple is better in all aspects of a weapons system
iv.An optic is better than no optic but if you are stuck with iron sights a carry handle is best
v.AIMPOINT, EO TECH, TRIJICON and ELCAN are legit kit. If you can’t afford anything else get a AIMPOINT PRO and get a good rear iron sight like a Knights, ARMS etc.
vi.LMT SOPMOD Buttstock is awesome
vii.CQD rear and front sling mounting points are worth the money and time to install
viii.A Surefire scout is a good weapon light and the tape switch you can put on the rail is best.
ix.You don’t need a forward grip but it’s nice to have
x.Slings, two point slings that are VTAC, Vickers or Redi Mag are the best to use in my experience. Mind you I am not a shooter but even in the small amount of CQC shooting training I got a two point still works. If you find yourself walking around without a armor vest of some kind I would go with the VTAC or the LBT lightweight 2 Quick Adjust Two point. You can cinch them up tight against your body.
xi.Suppressors are money, if you can purchase one they are worth it.
xii.If you have a NOD you will probably want a IR Laser or at least an illuminator.
xiii.The Redi-Mag is nice if you are a Police Officer on a patrol rifle or a home owner who will use a AR for self-defense since it keeps more rounds with the gun. If you are out hiking, humping the boonies or doing some dynamic shit with lots of running around and stuff for an extended time it’s not worth the extra weight.
xiv.Spray painting your rifle may or may not be to your benefit, it depends on what you are doing and where.
xv.Guns break carry two or at least carry spare critical components. I could not carry spares or a pistol for the majority of my time on active duty but my personal SHTF AR has a spare bolt with it. I also carry concealed when legal and prudent.
xvi.Magazines are disposable invest in Brownells or Magpul for your AR. In factory mags we trust for pistols or MECGAR.
xvii.You don’t need a pistol lanyard
xviii.You want a durable holster with retention, either a BlackHawk CQC or a Safariland Holster with ALS or the bail. Both have their place and are useful don’t be a hater.
xix.Concealed carry holsters are fine just remember you have to train how you fight so drawing from concealment with a  dry gun is prudent.
xx.You don’t need rails on a pistol
xxi.A pistol light is not necessary for most but if you do run one, buy a Safariland holster that fits it.
xxii.Night sights are money
xxiii.Pistols, 1911’s and Berettas are cool but I would stick with Glock or Sig 9mm, they are easy to operate, reliable and they don’t come standard with safetys. 9mm is cheaper than most rounds and will put someone down just like other bullets. If you are in a 10 round mag state maybe .40 or .45 would be more appropriate as to not have that wasted space in the grip.

G.Body armor is awesome; wear it correctly like keeping your plates high as is make sure it covers your vitals. BTW you don’t need to cover every MOLLE strap with some pouch, that shit is heavy.
i.A Hydration pouch on the back of it is money
ii.Carry what you need and no more.
iii.For the prepped American Low Vis carrier is the way to go for most situations i.e. walk softly and carry a big stick. Don’t forget your spouse or kids you have to include them in your plans.
iv.Work out with your shit on or at least practice reloads and moving around, especially in and out of vehicles
v.MOLLE Pouches; if you want to save some cash don’t worry about matching color shades and shit. Just purchase some on sale that work for multipurpose shit, examples include using Specter Gear universal mag pouches, Tactical Tailor large utility pouches for hydration or water bottles and Spec Ops brand medical pouches. No one will care about the exact shade of Coyote or Khaki when lead is flying.
vi.If you can’t afford plates or armor don’t get a armor carrier or plate carrier to put all your shit on, get a chest vest. In fact if you are going low vis get a chest vest anyway so it is well low vis under a large shirt with or without a low vis plate carrier or armor vest.

H.Your Medical equipment should not be more advanced that you or your buddies skill level
i.Carry two or three tourniquet’s
ii.Get trained and practice
iii.Simple and labeled is better; I use a LBT small blow out kit pouch with a zipper closure. There are no elastic straps holding shit in, I put it all in a plastic bag. You could do the same in two smaller bags and label them or whatever.
iv.Boo boo kit and OTC meds are a must.

I.Survival Kits should be worn at all times and a layered approach is best when it comes to various components.
i.Build it yourself or if you purchase it at least take inventory and familiarize yourself with it
ii.Replace consumables or components that could be compromised but wear every 6 months or so
iii.Carry signaling equipment in your first line, second line and third line
iv.Carry a way to make fire in your first line, second line and third line
v.Carry a knife
vi.Carry a way to hold and make water safe to drink
vii.Carry a earth colored pair of gloves and a Balaclava to camo or subdue your skin color
viii.Wear a wrist compass and have a baseplate compass on you

J.Milspec Canteens or Nalgene bottles made of HDPE are the best water carriers if you insist on a bottle of some sort. Make sure you have a cup to boil water in.

K.Boots and footwear are important, get some that work for your feet I have worn out Rocky and Bates quickly. Bellville boots are good and will last a long time. Broken in footwear is better for a call out / ready bag. Get some decent socks as well.

L.Clothing should be well fitting and durable in construction. Again your operating environment will determine what you choose. Cargo pants are popular all over the place so you could get away with them most of the time with some work shirts.
i.Your clothing should blend in your environment or be a good solution to multiple environmental situations i.e. a rural setting where you may be in close proximity to a suburb work clothes from carhartt might be a good choice.
ii.Winter or foul weather clothing should be a color that does not attract attention like the grey PCU layer systems for example.
iii.I wouldn’t carry more than three sets of clothing i.e. trousers and shirts and I would make your shirts long sleeve. You can always roll them up.
iv.Gloves wear out, have two sets
v.A sewing kit and some super glue will go a long way
vi.The layered approach is better than a bulky jacket
vii.Dress warm rather than cool or at least pack the layers in your pack or bag
viii.Have a hat or two
ix.Carry a watchcap / beenie even if you don’t think its cold
x.A sturdy belt is a must especially for a pistol holster

M.Hygiene is important you should probably carry a small hygiene kit in your big bag and some hand sanitizer and foot power in your little pack if you are out and about.

N.Night vision is awesome get some even if it’s a Gen 1, at least you can observe
i.If you have the money get a good unit like a PVS-14 from a reputable dealer
ii.Get a helmet mount and arm for it
iii.If you don’t have a need for a ballistic helmet I wouldn’t worry about it just get the OPS Core bump helmet. Its light weight and has a build in mount or you could go with the TNVC bump helmets.

O.Hearing protection is a must if you plan on doing any extensive shooting. Peltor soundtrap or other electronic muffs are the best choice. If you can spend the coin a set of Peltor COMTACs are worth it.
i.Speaking of COMTACS or other communication headsets, they are a wise investment if you have the radios to go with them. Radios would be worth their weight if you are operating or moving in vehicles or on foot regardless.
ii.Low visibility again you may want to look at earpieces or some other thing like that.

P.Tents and shelter; if you are traveling with family a tent maybe the thing to get. Keep it simple and durable. Practice setting it up. If you are traveling alone a bivy sack maybe the way to go. If you are sheltering in place or have kids some tarps and insect netting would be a good thing.

Q.Batteries are a must; minimize the amount you have to carry by using devices that use the same type. Keep different batteries to a minimum.

R.Tools; if you are using a car or motor vehicle for transport it would be a good idea to have some basics. Trying to fix your shit with a fucking Gerber at 1 am with a flashlight in your teeth is stupid if you don’t have to. Fixing your shit with a proper tool and a LED lantern is probably a better idea. Weight is a consideration so choose wisely and tools that work for most situations.

S.Chem lights are handy, make sure you have good ones stocked and in the wrapper. The uses are varied and they are safe in a house with small kids. Keep the wrapper intact to put a activated one back in should the need arise.

Hope this helps someone not spend a shit ton of money they dont need to.

Originally Posted By usus:
he forgot the mule or 2 slaves needed to carry all that crud. He's talking over 100 lbs of stuff. Need a mountain bike to carry it all, as you walk along side of it.  Best figure on caching 2/3rds of that stuff at the BoL or along your route, or you'll sprain an ankle or pull a calf muscle before you cover 5 miles of rough terrain.

Originally Posted By usus:
he forgot the mule or 2 slaves needed to carry all that crud. He's talking over 100 lbs of stuff. Need a mountain bike to carry it all, as you walk along side of it.  Best figure on caching 2/3rds of that stuff at the BoL or along your route, or you'll sprain an ankle or pull a calf muscle before you cover 5 miles of rough terrain.

Originally Posted By Nameless_Hobo:
A watch cap/beanie/PT cap makes a huge difference in comfort when you are trying to sleep in the cold.

Originally Posted By tc556guy:

Make sure that you actually wear the beanie out in the cold to see how it performs. I've had some that didn't keep the wind out or your head warm.
My personal favorite is the wigwam black poly watch cap. Also, if you're active in the day and get your watch cap sweaty, then camp overnight, the last thing you will want is to wear that wet watch cap at night. Carry a spare to use at night while sleeping. The extra weight is minimal

Originally Posted By tc556guy:
Forgot to say, Good list.

So I'll bump and add as a comment that I've taken your general comments over the entirety of the thread and merged them and your pictures into a single document.
If you want, OP, I'll send you a copy and maybe you might think of more stuff to add....

Originally Posted By Street_Doc:
Great post, thanks

Originally Posted By machinegunseabee:

Don't have the money (or your troop doesn't) or don't want to spend it for a cool guy VTAC sling? No problem just make one out of a silent sling and a ALICE pack strap quick adjust shoulder strap. I still show people how to make them this way because they work and they are cheap. Not as cool or good as a purpose built quick adjust sling like I've talked about before but effective none the less. They enable you to use it as a adjustable carry strap and a shooting aid. There are a few threads on this place on how to do this.

Cliff notes you'll need the following; Alice pack shoulder strap, silent sling or green marksmanship sling, duct or electrical tape and 550 cord.