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Posted: 9/10/2008 2:41:58 PM EDT
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any recommendations on a good back pack |
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Yeah, we need to know what the bad is used for and kind of what you want to carry. Here's how I break it down: For AA missions or when the trucks are not anywhere near us, I pack a London Bridge Tactical Field Care bag. It's big, comfortable, and holds everything I would need in a very organized manner. If something happens I can operate out of this bag for a long time and have access to advanced procedures. If I am mounted doing dismounted patrols I leave the LB in the truck and I work with what I have on my chest rig, Usually TQ, blow out packs, some airway, and occlusives. The trucks are always close by and I can manage. During raids, SKT missions, I use the new CLS TC3 bag and I stuff it with trauma packs and airway. It's small and isn't so bad wearing it on my hip. I have about 5 bags and I pack them according to the mission. They are all speciffically designed to be aid bags. A decent backpack will allow you the same function. I just happen to have uncle sam fitting the bill. |
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Wow, that actually sounds a lot like my set-up. I have a STOMP II for when I remain close to the truck (it remains in the truck), and I have a Chest Rig that I have set up with things I'll need when I'm away from my STOMP for a little while. I won't be able to handle a Mass Casualty incident with what I carry on my chest, but I can effectively treat 2-3 patients if need be with a couple bags of Hextend, some airways, tourniquets, and bandages. I hate the TC3 bag, as I can't stand the wierd strap thing for it. _______________________________________________ Now, back to the original topic, which would be a Medical Backpack recommendation: It really depends on the individual using it. I own all the aid bags I talk about below. Personally I dislike the new MOLLE aid-bag that the Army has. To me it is just one giant pocket, and is very difficult for me to keep organized. Now I just use it to hold extra supplies I might need, like my extra IV supplies, giant bottles of Sun Screen, and other misc. stuff I don't have in my regular use Aid Bag. BlackHawk Spec-Ops Bag: This is a decent bag. I used it at the Combat Medic course, and it was the first Aid-Bag I personally owned. It has one giant pocket on the outside, which I found useful to place things I would need to grab quickly. Mainly I just used it to store a lot of IV sets. Inside the main part of the bag, I liked that there was a flap with lots of pockets (VERY good for organizing!), but again there was a giant square pocket, which again made it difficult to keep things organized. Unless that thing is packed, all the stuff juggles around when you run, and then when you open it you can't find your Israeli bandages or your Asherman's. A decent bag, but not 100% what I like. TC3 Bag: This bag is supposed to be the new bag for CLS. It is made by a company called Recon Mountaineer. It seems to be a versatile bag, but the shoulder straps really ruin it for me. Mainly I use this bag as a sick call bag, as it holds little medication stuff in it for me (Cepacol, IB). I still carry sick call like meds in my regular Aid Bag, but the TC3 bag I use for sick call because I don't need to bring IV bags or Airways to a sick call. STOMP II: And now we come to the STOMP II. This is the bag I now use as my primary aid-bag. I like it very much! It hold lots of medical supplies, there are lots of pouches and elastic tabs to keep things organized, and the straps on the outside are nice as well (I use the top straps to hold on my canvas litter, and the straps on the side have extra pins on them). the STOMP II has a slot on the outside to hold your scissors, so you don't need to open your bag to grab them (If you aren't carrying scissors on your person). My only major complaints with the STOMP II is that it is difficult for me to get my Camelbak Bladder, and larger items are difficult to put in it. My Combi-Tube just doesn't quite want to be in there comfortably. Also, if you are rucking it on it's own, sometimes the STOMP II just feels strange on your back. I've found I like to ruck with a ruck and the STOMP on top of it, even when I don't need the ruck, just because it is more comfortable that way. And with an IBA on and a TT Mav, my shoulders kind of get crammed and the shoulder straps for the STOMP will move out towards my arms, which is also not too comfortable. Still, it is the bag I prefer. |
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Here is what each bag looks like: The new Army MOLLE Aid-Bag: reviews.ebay.com/Medic-and-Corpsman-bag-information_W0QQugidZ10000000003577332 Blackhawk Spec-Ops: www.blackhawk.com/product1.asp?P=60MP00&C=C0939 The New CLS TC3 Bag: www.reconmountaineer.com/PDF_flyers/ReconMountaineerTC3-V1.pdf And the STOMP II: www.blackhawk.com/product1.asp?P=60MP01&C=C0940 www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=5883&tabID=1 |
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The straps on the TC3 bag are the first things to go. I have the bag connected to a molle belt that I wear, sort of like a fanny pack but I prefer it on my hip. There's not much in it besides a few extra blowout packs, blood stoppers, and a bag of hextend. Since it's not packed full it rides nicely and is pretty easy to move around with it on. Since I only wear it during direct action style missions I"m not sure how it feels on a long day/night of dismounted patrol. I had a STOMP II. I liked the bag but once my unit bought us LBT bags I sold my STOMP II. Eagle makes a nice bag as well. It's a little more coin than Blackhawk but worth it IMO. I have a Blackhawk SPEC OPS bag that I was given. I had it modified so much that it really wasn't much of a Blackhawk bag anymore. It's now my Aid Station on straps. I have a bunch of plastic containers holding all the sick call goodies in it and leave it sitting in the corner where it belongs. Another bag I have been known to pack and use is the Conterra Long Bow. It's nice for comfortable packing of a decent amount of stuff. I typically will mount this up if we are going to be a few K's from the trucks. It holds enough to work on some heavy stuff and it's not as bulky as the LBT. It also works great with the body armor. Lately it's been getting the nod as the LBT sits in the trucks or at a rally point. Obviously I have a ton of bags and have used pretty much every bag out there at one point to see if it works. You can honestly get away with one bag, probably a mid sized bag like the Eagle, and be happy. Key is not to go too big for what you need. A big bag means you can stuff a lot of stuff in there, which you will, and then you have to deal with humping 100lbs. of crap you won't use. |
Does it interefere with your other gear when you wear it like that? Like, if you were also wearing a MAV or a vest, would the TC3 bag get in the way in the way your describe wearing it?
Nicer in what way? From the internet pictures the two designs look pretty darn close, so what makes the LBT bag better? I've heard this from other medics before, but never thought to ask the differences in the bags.
I've never heard of this bag, but I'm pretty glad I have now. It looks like it was made to go the distance with lots of gear. |
Nope, it rides low on my hip. About midway between the bottom of my IOTV and say a drop leg holster. When I wear this bag I put my pistol on my chest. It also kind of holds my rifle back when I transition to task with both hands. When you need to work just slide it around to the front and there you go. Imagine a large thigh rig that rides high. I might be able to get a pic later if you'd like. I even have "modified" the old smaller green CLS bags and they work awesome like this too. Just need some buckle and velcro mods to make it "hsld".
The LBT bag is a hair smaller than the STOMP II and has better build and material quality. What you get for paying more basically. The pockets and suck are pretty much the same. My PA has one as his little dope purse. The LBT bag I have is the Tactical Field Care bag. Completely different design than the blackhawk stomp II bag. Besides the design I do believe that LBT and Eagle have much better quality in their bags. That's the reason the STOMP got shelved and the same reason why the BH Spec Ops bag sits at the patrol base/fob/whatever. I will probably replace the BH SO bag with the larger conterra soon. Don't mean to knock everyone's favorite bag, but it's just my personal opinion and experience.
If I remember I can take some pics of the LBT opened up tomorrow. It's still trashed from some action right before I went on leave. I dumped it at the aid station, turned in my weapon and went to the pax terminal, lol. I came back and it's time to go home (lucky me) so no restocking for now.... Here's my LBT:  The Conterra:  |
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SKD has the Eagle AIII molle medical packs on sale right now. Very nice pack, only thing I don't like is that it won't except a frame sheet. Eagle Pack on Sale |
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