Posted: 10/22/2010 11:56:54 AM EDT
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How does everyone manage there gear? I'm running into the problem that I want to be able to go from my daily gear ( wallet, watch, CCW, etc ) and layer on gear all the way up to my BOB/INCH pack ( 40lb+ backpack ) but retain the ability to ditch gear or fight effectively on the move.....I just can't come up with a way to make it all work like I want.....
My gear is shaping up something like this..... Layer one. The clothes in my back and the stuff in my pockets. I view this as the minimal amount of gear I will have on my person unless I get caught in a zombie apocalypse just stepping out of the shower. Generally, this also includes my CCW unless I am at the desk at work.... Layer two. This would be my GHB type stuff. I live about 6 air miles from work, so this doesn't have to be a lot of gear most of the time. I would like to build a light kit for hiking. Basically a mini-BOB. While not a full dream kit of gear, it would be about 10-15lbs of gear that would be light and easy to manage and would provide you a fighting chance if you where caught up in something out of the ordinary. Layer three. This would be my full size BOB/INCH style pack. Basically a full size backpack for long term support for an indefinite amount of time. This is generally about 40+ pounds of gear ( give or take depending on what is in layer two ). I also need to figure in a way to support and manage a rifle in this mix. Depending on the situation it could come in layer one, two, or three.... Ideally, I want to develop a way to pack all this gear that would allow me to shed/gain a 'layer' of gear without having to stop. I really don't want to have to stop and reconfigure gear. I want to be able to grab and go....or drop and run.... Any ideas? |
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It is pretty simple:compartmentalize your gear. This can be done with molle gear, backpacking stuff sacks, or even zip lock bags if you want to go cheap.
I don't plan on backpacking around during the zombie apocalypse. I plan on getting to one of my BOL's. The chances of having to stay somewhere long term are very small. More than likely around 3 days to a week will cover most scenarios where you may need to bug out. This could be my home, a hotel, a family member's place, or the family cabin. Have different plans for different scenarios and look at what is most likely to happen to you where you live. Is it snowstorms? Earthquake? Civil unrest? Then ask yourself how you would deal with those scenarios and what you would do. Get it as much planned out now, that way there is less worry and think about if the event occurs. Once you have this all sorted out, randomly pick an "event" and see how well you do. IE you wake up and find your house full of smoke. All you have time to do is grab whatever you can from your room and get out in 15 seconds. Do you have clothes? Money? Somewhere to stay for a few weeks? These kind of training events will help you learn a lot about what YOU need for YOUR situation. Do you plan on using a vehicle for possible bugging out? I have action packers (storage containers) labeled in my garage with the # they are to be taken in my vehicle(s) depending on the time. This is another way to compartmentalize your stuff. |
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I have a pretty good handle on most of the 'normal' stuff.....
What I am looking for is a packing solution for personal gear that would allow the wearer (me) to be able to grab a bag or two and head for the door/hills....then for whatever reason, be able to drop a 'layer' of gear on the move without having to reconfigure everything. An example from my past. I was a wildland fire fighter for ten seasons. It was common to practice being able to drop your line gear (20-30lbs) rapidly to be able to move faster to a deployment or safety zone yet you where to retain your fire shelter, a water bottle, a tool, etc. Being able to do all this quickly....without having to reconfigure your gear was key. Having to dig through your gear to get items wastes time. |
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That is the idea behind some of the molle gear & other offerings. They have lids, sacks, or pouches that you can remove in seconds. In these you can have your "10" essentials.
Osprey pack E&E Pack REi Stuff sack backpack |
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Everything I have seen that was detachable molle is not quick enough for me. It also required you to stop, take off the back, and then pull off the pouch. You then also have to take out some kind of strap system, be it shoulder straps or a waist strap, and then attach it to your body. I would like something quicker and/or smoother.
I would also be interested to see how people are managing there sidearm while wearing a full size backpack. For me, everything I have tried so far is clunky and the waist belt of the large pack get in the way. A drop leg holster may be the best way around this....but everything at waist level would have to be very minimal to allow the backpack to work right with the weight sitting on the hips... |
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Quoted:
Everything I have seen that was detachable molle is not quick enough for me. It also required you to stop, take off the back, and then pull off the pouch. You then also have to take out some kind of strap system, be it shoulder straps or a waist strap, and then attach it to your body. I would like something quicker and/or smoother. The backpacks with detachable lids Osprey makes as well as the Kifaru E&E attach using simple clips. Unless you want to cut the bag off your pack you are not going to find anything that is that much more stable or faster. Quoted:
I would also be interested to see how people are managing there sidearm while wearing a full size backpack. For me, everything I have tried so far is clunky and the waist belt of the large pack get in the way. A drop leg holster may be the best way around this....but everything at waist level would have to be very minimal to allow the backpack to work right with the weight sitting on the hips... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_8pS4AdJTU |
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Well, this is my set up for basic EOTWAWKI violent chaos. It works for me but may not work for everyone.
Layer 1- my clothing and personal effects. Usually includes my XD45 and two spare mags. At least 3 ways of making fire, 2 or three lights, at least 2 knives and a multitool. I carry band-aids and water purification tablets in my wallet as well. If I'm going out on day trip, I add my Maxpedition Jumbo with a Nalgene full of water, some gloves, a more extensive FAK, a long sleeve underarmor shirt compressed in a tiny stuff sack, some large black garbage bags, and some snacks. That is not all inclusive, but just the minimums. The bag usually resides at home, and goes with me when I go somewhere with the family. I have a dedicated GHB in my truck, but not in the wife's. Layer 2- if things get a little more hairy, I have a level IIIa concealable vest with a couple Ti trauma plates. On top of that I have a BHI padded duty belt with some home-made suspenders to help keep it up. On the left thigh is a 4x AR mag pouch, modded with a kangaroo 2x pistol mag pouch, with a small FAK pouch attached up front. On the right is my drop leg for my 45 with another magazine, a large fixed blade knife, and an ASP baton. Throw on a Camelbak HAWG with some food, water, comms, a map/compass, and some other basics and I'm good to go for 24 hours. Layer 3- Add a plate carrier with some additional mags and bring on the apocolypse. Layer 4- IF I can no longer bug in, and I have to bug out, I take off the Camelbak and plate carrier and I throw on my BOB. I use a BHI SOF Ruck with the Down East Inc frame. Mine is the older model with the permanently attached side pockets, but I have made various stuff sacks to fit the various pockets and basically just mix and match depending on the time of year. Winter gets the black bags, Summer gets the red. Fall and Spring get the blue, and the orange ones go no matter what. What's in each of the bags depends on what you think you need. A sewing machine is your friend for sure. |
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I don't have mine fleshed out yet, but just layer your gear like the military does. First through third line gear.
Line one could be your daily carry/CCW. Line two is your combat load out. Use a chest rig and or war belt and armor. Line three is your heavy sustainment pack. If your wearing all three, just drop the pack and your ready to fight. For modularity, I don't think you can beat Kifaru. They even have packs now that adjust for armor. |
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Can you effectively use a heavy backpack with a waist belt while wearing first line/second line gear? It would seem that everything on your waist would get in the way?
Also, I think there is a gap in military gear between second and third line gear. I would like to retain a small pack ( something that would function as a good survival kit, something above what you could fit in your pockets. Just thinking out loud....keep the ideas coming. |
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What I was thinking was along the line of a micro chest rig and Kifaru scout as second layer. Add a beltless Kifaru zulu worn high over the scout.
Otherwise, your looking at a large pack with an attached combat ruck, but you would have to take the 3day ruck off when you dropped the bigger pack. |
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Quoted:
How does everyone manage there gear? I'm running into the problem that I want to be able to go from my daily gear ( wallet, watch, CCW, etc ) and layer on gear all the way up to my BOB/INCH pack ( 40lb+ backpack ) but retain the ability to ditch gear or fight effectively on the move.....I just can't come up with a way to make it all work like I want..... My gear is shaping up something like this..... Layer one. The clothes in my back and the stuff in my pockets. I view this as the minimal amount of gear I will have on my person unless I get caught in a zombie apocalypse just stepping out of the shower. Generally, this also includes my CCW unless I am at the desk at work.... Layer two. This would be my GHB type stuff. I live about 6 air miles from work, so this doesn't have to be a lot of gear most of the time. I would like to build a light kit for hiking. Basically a mini-BOB. While not a full dream kit of gear, it would be about 10-15lbs of gear that would be light and easy to manage and would provide you a fighting chance if you where caught up in something out of the ordinary. Layer three. This would be my full size BOB/INCH style pack. Basically a full size backpack for long term support for an indefinite amount of time. This is generally about 40+ pounds of gear ( give or take depending on what is in layer two ). I also need to figure in a way to support and manage a rifle in this mix. Depending on the situation it could come in layer one, two, or three.... Ideally, I want to develop a way to pack all this gear that would allow me to shed/gain a 'layer' of gear without having to stop. I really don't want to have to stop and reconfigure gear. I want to be able to grab and go....or drop and run.... Any ideas? You may want to consider a "sub rifle" like and AR pistol, or a maximized pistol like a Glock 21/ FN 45 |
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Tactical Murse for 'minuteman' / emergency type action in a civil emergency. Load it up with everything you need to support your rifle, and your use of it. Nav, comms, gloves, kneepad(s), woobie / poncho. You just grab it and sling it on. Worked for a couple hundred years, by several names.
Or go with the military 'line gear' model, for extra tactical ninja points. 
Make a more modern version using MOLLE gear with flat mag layers or a more tailored bag. Mine was cobbled together from my old ALICE / Duece gear. Work in progress. Bag has a variety of light, fire, multitool, a good length / bundle of paracord, a variety of other useful items. Cleaning / tool kit for the rifle. Spare batteries, bottle of water and a sillcock key. couple thousand calories in 'energy bars'. Has a tiny first aid kit that isn't really good for much more than bumps and scrapes. Wrapped in a large / long ace bandage. Realy ought to put a blowout kit in it. It's ready to grab and go. There's other gear, more robust sustainment gear. But I'm in more of a suburban bug-in or vehicle-borne bugout situation. I'm not hiking longs distances or going on sustained camping trips, for mutliple reasons. Just posted for ideas, everybody's situation and best solutions are different. |
| the new enhanced military packs are pretty good..... they have the large pack, as well as a smaller removable " assault pack", plus a 6 mag shoulder slung mag pouch. im planning to buy a few of the older woodland ones, i hate acu........................i do buy acu, basically because its so easy to find, but i dye it with green dye to darken it..............no way are you going to be able to carry all three layers and not feel burdoned/ limited in movement.... for any kind of mobility you need to drop the pack. thats why they have quick detach shoulder straps. |
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Quoted:
Can you effectively use a heavy backpack with a waist belt while wearing first line/second line gear? It would seem that everything on your waist would get in the way? Also, I think there is a gap in military gear between second and third line gear. I would like to retain a small pack ( something that would function as a good survival kit, something above what you could fit in your pockets. Just thinking out loud....keep the ideas coming. You have to wear your warbelt low and your (light!) pack high. It's not 100% comfortable or convenient, but that's pretty much true by definition. You're supposed to dump that heavy pack the moment the fight starts, if not before, anyway. The solutions are again a matter of long history. Just variations on a theme, really. Biomechanics and trekking and warfare really haven't changed much. Just the materials have. The 'line gear' concept is pretty much the best summation I've seen of the concepts. Essentials are kept on your person, in various combinations. The next layer is more / better of the same, plus ammo and weapons support. Then the sustainment gear. Each layer expands and to a degree overlaps capabilities. ~20yrs ago in the Marines I was doing the same thing with a buttpack and my deuce gear, long before I ever heard of 'line gear'. I always tried to have a pocketknife, fire, light, a bit of food in my pockets. Then my web gear had more knives, ammo, first aid, water and at least a poncho and MRE, socks and other small necessities in a buttpack. Then the pack had more clothes, food, bedroll, water, more ammo, more first aid, more light. |