Keep your gear close

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s12.aaxtell

Joined
Apr 9, 2009
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234
Hey guys,

I was thinking the other day about what would happen if I lose my pack for some reason on the trail. I would want to make sure I had my most important gear, specifically a knife and a water bottle/canteen and flashlight. Is there a way to keep these things on you, seperate from your pack while you hike? I would imagine a vest of some kind (flak vest? load bearing gear?) that would not get in the way of wearing a pack. WHat do you guys use?

-Alex
 
There are these new things that come with most pants called pockets. I would suggest finding a decent pair of pants that has this feature and utilizing them.

The objects you desire (knife, flashlight, canteen) also have been upgraded with clips that would serve very well when paired with a "pocket" on the pants.
 
The use of pockets as mentioned is a great idea.
Many board members here utilize what is often called a PSK, and if you do a thread search here I'm sure you'll find answers.
 
Only thing I would add in addition to what can be added to your pockets, is a mini-rollypoly from Maxpedition for your belt to carry a small water bottle.
 
I went backpacking last weekend. Kept my Compass, spare slipjoint, snackfood and first aid kit in a Blackhawk E&E Pouch. It hands low off my pants belt so it wasn't in the way of my Pack. When I got to base camp I took off my pack and clipped a water bottle to my belt. A canteen case uses alice clips or other such devices to clip to webbed gear, well it worked great on my belt also.

If I was using my medium Alice pack on a trip, I have a webbed belt with water, food, emergency gear and what not. That webbed belt is always on me or close by, even if the Alice pack is not.

Heber
 
you could carry some stuff, (small knife and fire-steel) around your neck, or depending on the size of the pack, on your belt. some guys prefer an all in one system where extra survival gear is attached to the sheath of their knife. lots of options, all depends on what you want to carry. if you like the vest idea, there are a few tactical chest rigs that would work, or something like Ribzwear.
 
Josh K said:
There are these new things that come with most pants called pockets. I would suggest finding a decent pair of pants that has this feature and utilizing them.

The objects you desire (knife, flashlight, canteen) also have been upgraded with clips that would serve very well when paired with a "pocket" on the pants.
Click to expand...

lol :thumbup: what would they come up with next? :D
 
By the way, I keep a fire steel on my keychain that I clip to my belt. If I'm wearing pants I always have a firesteel, knife and keys.
 
I am a big guy, and my belt has to work extra hard. On a few day long hikes, I've kept a small flashlight on my belt in a knife sheath (I sprung for a Surefire sheath for it), as well as a small fixed blade on my belt. I also had cargo shorts on, and had the beginnings of my small Altoids tin PSK kit. A buddy of mine uses a fishermans vest year round on the trail for all the extra pockets.
 
Josh K said:
There are these new things that come with most pants called pockets. I would suggest finding a decent pair of pants that has this feature and utilizing them.

The objects you desire (knife, flashlight, canteen) also have been upgraded with clips that would serve very well when paired with a "pocket" on the pants.
Click to expand...

Put this together with one o' them newfangled belt thingies and you'd have it made.
 
Try the MaxPed water bottle holder which you could sling over your shoulder. It has a pouch already attached and you can add other pouches as needed. I also think it's a good idea to keep these few essentials separate.
 
Maybe check into getting a murse. ;)

I use a very uncool fanny pack for extra gear, but I think the essentials should be in pockets.
 
I ordered one of Bill's custom wallets and I love it. It holds a small sebenza, surefire flashlight, compass, flint, tinder, paracord, whistle, water purification tablets and band aids. All neatly fits in my front pocket. I got a red wallet, which is easy to find if I set it down for something. Just carry your water bottle.
 
Oh, yea, what BigNate said is good.

I like the waist pack by Maxped, octa something or other. (don't tell anyone, but the rear most zippered compartment is kinda hidden and can hold a small handgun)

Real nice, and you can customize it by adding some auxiliary pouches. Also, if you want, the entire waist pack can be attached to your main pack.
 
old SF trick... link your SAK to a Bic lighter with a piece of 550 cord... attach it with a couple of feet of duct tape... loop it with a half hitch to your belt, lighter and SAK in front pocket...I use a duck brand tape reinforced heavy duty zip pouch to carry my soft PSK supplies (Katadyn ClO2 tabs included) ... double as a 300ml emergency water bottle
 
I buy and break in my packs to the point where they fit like a vest, to where they are an extension of my body. Pack weight becomes bodyweight, the kidney pads and shoulder straps adjusted perfectly, to the point where I shouldn't notice it. The pack doesn't get taken off until I'm completely stationary. IE, camp is set up, firewood and other necessary materials collected. I'm actually kind of surprised people DO ditch their gear before this point, for any reason other than taking an emergency dump on the trail... I'd think the pack is the most secure place to stash your stuff anyway. It's held on with three, sometimes four straps...
 
First step is to ID your essentials, which it sounds like you did.

I do put most on my Rigger's Belt: knife, LED flashlight, multitool and pistol. My knife sheath has a shapener and firesteel, plus I carry some 550 cord in the pocket along with a Bic lighter and a few other items in the pockets.

A small carabiner could clip a small Nalgene or Kleen Kanteen bottle to your belt, or you could just use a small waist pack to carry a bottle of water.

There are a lot of options out there, you just need to figure out what fits your activities best.

The RIBZ Front Pack is a great concept; more of a vest that can be worn with a backpack. It's been a little to hot for hiking with this summer, but it carries well with a pack. I actually carry a Nalgene Flask, one quart Platypus bottle (empty) and Aqua Mira's Frontier Pro water filter...both the flask and Platypus will fit the threads on the water filter.

ROCK6
 
s12.aaxtell said:
WHat do you guys use?
Click to expand...

My belt. I have a loop connecting the cap of my water vessel to it's body. I run my belt through that, along with my knife and I keep a flashlight in my pocket and even hanging upside down from a tree I've never lost it.

I also have a firesteel readily available in case I lose my flashlight, with my knife I can make a torch(the original self-defense flashlight).
 
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