Modular gear packing

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
934
I have been thinking and rethinking this subject over the past few days and wanted to present it here for discussion.

I would like to arrange my my gear in a modular system that would elliviate packing and repacking gear. Here are my thoughts.

PSK.

Small pouch containing NATO mess tin with my 10 essentials(let's think 72 hrs, so no food) . There has been plenty of discussion about this so I don't see a need to revisit it at this time. This would be something that can be used for a casual woods walk, or in my truck just in case. Also can be carried while hunting.

Next step in the system would be to go to my dayhike or ovenight bag (I intend to be out for the full day bushcrafting or overnight stay). At this time it is a maxpedition Devil Dog. I would up the ante here and pack my tarp and titanium solo cookset as well as my axe, saw, or large blade chopper. Also some snacks.

Next wood be a dedicated weekend in the woods or long distance hike and overnight stay. This is where I can't figure it out and I am looking for input. I need to add my sleeping bag some extra clothes and food for the trip. What kind of bag can I use to carry this comfortably without having to repack my other dayhike gear.

I was thinking of getting the strapettes for the DevilDog and finding a bag that can be attached to the straps containing Sleepingbag, food, and some extra clothes. These items although bulky shouldn't weigh that much.

C'mon guys tell me if I can make this work. What are you using. I hope the Wilderness Survival Think Tank can help me with this dilema.

I really want to have my equipment modular so that i know what is in the bag when I grab it and go. Packing and repacking is not fun for me. Any thoughts

Thanks in advance

Paul
 
I have the same issue, if I use my camelbak mule, I have to pull everything out of my buttpack, if I just need my buttpack, I have to transfer everything over to my buttpack.

It's a hassle when you just want to get up and go fishing or something along those lines. Plus, you might forget something and think that you have it.

There are gear bags that you can add attachments to, I'll go dig around and see what the almighty google can find :p
 
Not what you're looking for by my PSK is kept in an Aloksak and my mini trauma kit is kept in another. But having them contained allows me to just grap the bags and toss them in whatever I want.

Usually I keep these together in a small fanny pack that rides up front and never comes off unless I'm sleeping or swimming. It just uses a 1" strap for the waist belt so it's fine under my main packs waist belt.

Again, probably not what you're looking for but I have several sleeping bag stuff sacks that double as day packs. I use these as summit packs when climbing, allowing me to carry my main pack to my advanced base camp and then use the stuff sack for the final assault.

Several companies used to make these, but I don't know if they still do: Montbell, Dana Designs, Lowe Alpine & Granite Gear.

If you're using a larger fanny pack you could just strap it around your main pack with the fanny packs waist strap placed above your lumbar pad on the main pack. This keeps the buckle from digging in to your back. It's worked for me but it'll depend on the fanny pack and the main pack.

Probably not helpful at all, but you get what you pay for.
 
What Kage said. I keep my PSK in a belt pouch and my FAK in a stuff sack. Both of these fit into pockets on my daypack. I wear my gerber gator ax on my belt, along with my buck 110. My SAK huntsman goes in my pocket as does a compass (more for amusement than anything else as I typically hike a well known area). If I am wearing a jacket, my binocs go in a pocket, otherwise they go in my pack. I always stuff a tarp, some rope and paracord in the bottom of the pack. Depending on my mood, there is lots of room left over for a thermos of tea, snacks, a book, a notebook, a cruiser axe, a saw, etc. This stuff is on a bench in my workshop, so it is very easy to pack and unpack. Part of the fun is deciding what to take.
 
I puzzled over the same problem. I put day hike type items in a Max Proteus. Then I discovered that I could wear the Proteus and a Pygmy Falcon II or Camelbak HAWG at the same time. I could pack longer term items in the HAWG and carry the short term items in the Proteus. When in camp, I could continue to wear the Proteus to keep the survival type items with me just in case. A second benefit is that since the HAWG and Falcon sit down on top of the Proteus, it provides sort of a hip belt to transfer some of their weight to the hips.
 
Going modular is a great idea.

Over the years, I've ended up buying additional "basics" to keep in each pack and bag, to eliminate constantly shuffling stuff from place to place. Coming up with a workable modular system would be great.

I was thinking about it yesterday when I was looking at a surplus British M58 web belt kit that was pretty much "modular." It had suspenders, a web belt, two mag pouches (one with an additional tool pocket), a pair of large covered pouches that mounted side-by-side (side-by-each for you Canadian readers ;) ) on the rear to form a butt pack, and a bed roll cover that hung on the back under the pair of large pouches.

I guess you could modularize (new word?) your gear in the different attachments and take what you needed, throwing on a large daypack to round out the system.

The modern Molle system would seem to create an even better ability to go modular... that's the whole idea of it, right?


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
HornyToad,

I actually thought of that concept. Here is the question for you. How high does the Proteus sit? The Devil Dog is a dedicated lumbar pack so it sits quite high.

If there is any way you could opst pictures of you wearing both I would be deeply indebted. You may have just solved this puzzle. Man, I hope you have a digital camera.

Thanks for all the input so far. Keep it coming.

Paul
 
I guess you could modularize (new word?) your gear in the different attachments and take what you needed, throwing on a large daypack to round out the system.

The modern Molle system would seem to create an even better ability to go modular... that's the whole idea of it, right?
Click to expand...


That is knid of my idea. The problem is I have not been able to find a LBE vest or base platform that looks comfortable for hiking. I have a feeling we are getting closer to my perfect combo.

Thanks

Paul
 
I try to do this to make packing easier, too. Things are also easier to find on the trail. I use baggies and create a first aid kit, fire making kit, repair kit (duct tape, garden twistees, etc.), personal hygene kit, gorp, and cooking kit; and stuff sacks for extra clothing. Depending on what I'm doing, this stuff can go in my pockets, fanny pack (personal favorite), or napsack. Some things (whistle, compass, knife, lighter, and flashlight) I store in a baggie, but are always in my pocket connected to my belt by a laniard.
 
I use a 3 leveled gear system...

Primary - pockets and belt items - Firepouch, Hawk, Knife, Neckpouch, some cordage and a few other pocket items.

Secondary - Bushbag - poncho, cordage, headlamp, toolkit, firstaid, water/cooking, food/trapping, navigation.

Tertiary - Rucksack - Stove, tarps, saw, rope, blanket, extra clothes, food.

This is a simple list with little detail but you get the idea. Nothing gets transfered from bag to bag.... each level is complete unto itself.

Rick
 
Here's the picture of the Proteus HAWG combo.

IMG_0335.jpg
 
one word, Kifaru.

Go with thier E&E, and then any of thier other packs to dock and lock onto.

So for what you want I'm thinking if you went with a 2quart/utility pouch for your PSK, the E&E for your dayhike stuff, and a larger pack like the Express, Zulu or pointman you would have just the modular setup you are looking for.
 
I began thinking about modularity after seeing this post:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6365839&postcount=47

About halfway down the poster shows off his "Bull Pacs" pack frame. Seemed to me at the time that it would lend itself quite well to modular loading, just strap on whatever pouch, bag or gear you wanted that day and go. Now, that frame was nice though a little overbuilt for a lot of situations but I was thinking a standard ALICE pack frame with the accessory shelf might be a good, and smaller, substitute. There was no interest in this idea in that thread, but maybe there would be here...
 
An ALICE pack looks like a good idea, but they're really uncomfortable. You'll have to swap out the shoulder straps and waist belt before you can use it for much of a load.
 
Maybe you guys have had better luck, but my problem with creating a modular system is the poor distribution of weight. Ive yet to find a system which a) doesn't lead me to redistributing/repacking gear and b) still feels comfortable on long hikes.

But, I tend to walk ~10 mi a day and I also tend to be anal about repacking my stuff.

Personally, I can see going modular for PSK and day hikes but would argue you consider a separate setup for anything more than an overnighter. I wouldn't feel right not checking over my gear before anything more than an overnighter anyway, but again, this is my opinion and I tend to be anal about such things.
 
Gravydan,

I can see your point. My hope is to be able to have my PSK and my Day hike lumbar bag packed and then add it to a recently packed bag for longer stays outdoors.

I am not even sure if this is feasible, Thats why I am trying to find out what everyone else is using. You might be 100% correct in having to repack everything in a new pack for longer excursions.

Paul
 
I keep things modular to an extent, I have a couple first aid kits for what ever pack, car kit, day pack ect. but like Desmobob I just like to have one of every thing in a pack. Fire-starter, FAKs, shelter needs, navigation, signaling and sustenance are key items to me, and every kit I have has a means for every one of those subjects.

When it comes to what you mean though, I can see some use in having say a dedicated small pack for shelter that you take on longer trips, then have a normal day pack for the light stuff. Something with a FAK, navigation, signaling fire needs and some way of water purification.
Thats what im trying to do any ways. on most hikes Im only gone a few hours, its not totally out of the way, but If I needed to spend the night, It would be uncomfortable but Its doable. then If im planning a overnighter I could take the shelter system. One thing Im in the process of rigging up now is a modular survival kit, something small that I can take on the belt, but can also be attached to another kit should the need arise. (ruined belt?)

Here is my main day kit, it holds the essentials and a few extra's. What I would like to do is add a system to this for Just shelter, then I can take the weight of this kit down some, and spread it out over with the other one. I've been looking at the Maxpedition Proteus and Sabercat for the shelter kit.
P1020126.jpg


Right now I have the two small pouches you see on the bottom left on the belt, they are separated now and hold GPS(which stays on the pack), TK10 and skeleton, but I would like something with a little more room to hold batteries and a pocket survival kit.
 
Last edited:
I have ziplocks I put a lot of my stuff in.

I put the stuff I'd use on the trail in top and the stuff in camp on the bottom.
 
Modular doesn have to mean you have a pack with a bunch of pockets hanging on it.
You can use ziplocks, pouches, Wal-Mart el cheapo dry sacks, etc to make kits in and put them inside your pack. One reason I prefer a pack with one large main cavern, rather than one with a bunch of pockets and subdivisions.

Maxpedition is good for EDC kist because they keep everything organized and you're not carrying much anyway. But for backpacking, a standard ruck is my weapon of choice.
 
DutchV said:
An ALICE pack looks like a good idea, but they're really uncomfortable. You'll have to swap out the shoulder straps and waist belt before you can use it for much of a load.
Click to expand...

ALICE packs, some people love them, some hate them. I find them fairly comfortable, but I know others do not. Right now it's more about the concept though, rather than the actual frame you use.

The Bull Pacs look like some real count-on-it kind of gear, and naturally that's reflected in the price too. The biggest plus of the ALICE frame is that it's pretty common, and it lets you try out the idea for a while before investing in something better. Hopefully this summer I'll be able to do just that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top