Need help with BOB(vest)

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Sep 22, 2005
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I want to get some type of a load bearing vest to set up as a all around survival kit to go with my BOB which is my Gregory backpacking pack. So that in the event I get seperated from my pack I will have the vest. But, I want it to be comfortable when I have the backpack on. I also dont want a 'tactical' vest so no AR mag pouches please. Any Ideas???
Wade
 
Thanks mewolf1, I was actually looking at some this weekend at a fishing shop and that is where I got the idea. But the fishing vests dont seem to be built for much of a load. They also look/feel like they would rip easly if caught on something. I have been looking at the Blackhawk Vests, but all of them seem to have mag pouches that I dont want. Know of any other vests that would fit the criteria?
Wade
 
What you want a cruiser vest, or foresty/surveys vest. They have awsome carrying capacity. That is what us geologists wear out the field, and for good reason. what part of the world are you in, maybe I can suggest an online dealer?

Will
 
wade said:
Thanks mewolf1, I was actually looking at some this weekend at a fishing shop and that is where I got the idea. But the fishing vests dont seem to be built for much of a load. They also look/feel like they would rip easly if caught on something. I have been looking at the Blackhawk Vests, but all of them seem to have mag pouches that I dont want. Know of any other vests that would fit the criteria?
Wade

Blackhawk have a medics vest with huge pockets and no mag poutches. They don't have the two big backpack pockets the cruiser vests I suggested higher up have though.

Will
 
Have you thought of Military LBE? GI's (prior to the molle system) carried a ruck and lbe at the same time for a long time. It's comfortable, and I think it would do exactly what you want it to if you set it up right. I have a Kelty redwing 3100 that I carry while wearing my lbe, and the combo works great...reminds me of all the slogging I did that way in the service, except the Kelty is nicer than the military ruck.
 
N. Cal, Up in the Sierras near Tahoe. But I go to school in Fresno. My bug out plan is get the hell out of the city and attempt the three hundred miles home?? Wow, never thought of it like that, But I do a lot of backpacking and easily cover 100miles in a weekend. Anyway I will look into these vests. Do you know who makes them or what key words to search for?
Wade
 
Idealy I will be in my truck leaving town when TSHTF but if I have to abandon the truck then I will put the pack on. But I need the vest to not get in the way of the hip belt on my pack.
 
wade said:
N. Cal, Up in the Sierras near Tahoe. But I go to school in Fresno. My bug out plan is get the hell out of the city and attempt the three hundred miles home?? Wow, never thought of it like that, But I do a lot of backpacking and easily cover 100miles in a weekend. Anyway I will look into these vests. Do you know who makes them or what key words to search for?
Wade


These are Canadian links, but give you an idea what sort of thing I am talking about. They are available in less "visible" colors, and without the reflective stripes.


http://www.deakin.com/index.cfm?act...ct_group_id=68&CFID=17722642&CFTOKEN=52760134
http://www.bapequipment.com/f_gear/page2.html
http://www.irl.bc.ca/Forestry Supplies/vests.htm
http://www.irl.bc.ca/Forestry Supplies/vests-2.htm

Will
 
My local forestry store has some in green without the reflective tape. Sorry, but I don't remember the brand.

Personally I like the mesh surveyor vests. I would end up drenched in sweat wrapping something around my torso and trying to do 30 miles a day.

Scott
 
Will, thanks that is what I am looking for, but does anyone make them in a color like OD green? That would be great.
Wade
 
Deakin have a nylon one in woodland, and I have seen other ones in tan and khaki, but not OD. (that doesn't mean it doesn't exist though, I just havn't seen one). There is lots of mining in northern NV, and there are probably places in Reno/Carson that sell geological/surveying supplies.

Will
 
I opted for a HD cotton travelers vest in OD from Woolrich. Lots of pockets and a little different layout and pockets than on a fishing vest. It's held up well over the last several years.

I only carry the essentials in the vest for quick access. Gear with any weight, such as water, gets belt duty.

The vest is an excellent way to carry gear. Hard to lose something that's wrapped around you.
 
bigbcustom said:
Have you thought of Military LBE? GI's (prior to the molle system) carried a ruck and lbe at the same time for a long time. It's comfortable, and I think it would do exactly what you want it to if you set it up right. I have a Kelty redwing 3100 that I carry while wearing my lbe, and the combo works great...reminds me of all the slogging I did that way in the service, except the Kelty is nicer than the military ruck.

Can you elaborate a bit on this set up? I am always looking for a way to carry gear while carrying a backpack. I want a way to access things without taking off the pack. Is this set up comfortable under the shoulderstraps of a heavy pack? Because of the hipstrap on my backpack, carrying things around the waist doesn't work, and the shoulder straps get in the of almost everything else.

Will
 
It is a military web belt with suspenders. Your ruck/pack suspenders ride on top of the lbe suspenders. It doesn't sound comfortable, but I have gone 20+ miles with 60 or so pounds in my ruck and 10-15lbs on my lbe with no problems (of course that is when I was in shape and spent a goodly amt of time in the stuff).. go to an army surplus store and check it out.
 
bigbcustom said:
It is a military web belt with suspenders. Your ruck/pack suspenders ride on top of the lbe suspenders. It doesn't sound comfortable, but I have gone 20+ miles with 60 or so pounds in my ruck and 10-15lbs on my lbe with no problems (of course that is when I was in shape and spent a goodly amt of time in the stuff).. go to an army surplus store and check it out.

Ya, that is what I thought you were takling about, I have seen that sort of thing in catalogues and it doens't look too comfortable under a pack, but I will take your word for it that it is. But how do you carry gear? I assume with poutches clipped to the belt? Do you wear the belt so it rides higher than the pack hip strap? Even so, I am not sure how much room would be left. Right now I have poutchs clipped to my pack shoulder straps and hip belt, which works ok, but when the pack comes off, I am seperated from all my gear which I don't like.

Will
 
The old military ruck didn't have a hip belt (ya I know I am dating myself) with my redwing 3100, the pack hip belt kinda rides right on top of the upper part of the web belt. By the time I am all cinched in, nothing moves. It takes a little while to get used to things at first, but then its all good. It feels better with a load then it does empty. My lbe has two canteens sandwiching a folded up and folded over the belt poncho secured by blousing rubbers in the small of my back, several odd pouches clipped around the belt, and two 30rd m16 mag pouches with the seperators clipped out and an expander sewn in so they can hold a pelican 1030 case in each one. When I am only going out for a day or so (sometimes a few if I am feeling spry) I ditch the main pack entirely, and attach a mil surplus butt pack to the lbe and go like that. What I suggest you do is find a willing army surplus store to let you set up a set of lbe, bring in your pack, and try everything on with a little bit of load (sandbags or free weights will give you an idea even if they aren't as comfortable as the properly loaded bags will be). I have set up a couple friends this way, and they love the flexability, a couple of other friends have tried my stuff on and say "how the hell do you walk in that crap"
Try before you buy. If you are in the denver colorado, or the spokane washington area, I could give you some idea as to where to go otherwise, I am of no help in that department. Hope this helps a little.
 
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