Packs with stuff all over them Why?

JParanee

JParanee

Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
15,036
I have been seeing alot of pics of pacs that are small and have items straped all over them. Wy would anyone want to hang alot of gear on a small pac to clang around get beat up and maybe lost. Plus what do you do when it rains or snows all your stuff gets wet. I can see a knife or flashlight or water bottle but I have been seeing all kinds of stuff straped lashed or tied on. I am not trying to be a wise guy so please no one take this as such I am just curious. I have found it is much better to get a full size well made internal pack and if going lite just use the compression straps to pull it down small and everything stays dry and organized since the pack is meant to carry heavy loads a light load carries great. Most of my expierence has been in the north country where weather can be unexpected and your gear is your life. Again I am not trying to be a wise guy I just do not see the point of taking a small pack and tieing the kitchen sink on it when it was not mean't to carry the weight. Plus you never know when ya might have to uswe the whole pack there ia an entire skinned Bighorn ram in this pack
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Cool! I want a pack with horns!;):D
Seriously though, I agree with the sentiment of putting things in a pack rather than on.
 
The main argument FOR that I have seen is "mission specificity." I guess you can tailor your loadout for what you're doing.

I believe the main drive actually comes from a highly televised war with a lot of really cool gear readily available right now on the internet.


I prefer less snaggy packs. I went with a Karrimor SF pack instead of a Kifaru because I didn't want a pack covered in PALS webbing, among other reasons.

I still have a lot of straps on my bag, I guess...but it's better than having my whole chest rig spread out all over my pack. That would drive me nuts and would be snaggy as hell in the dense stuff.
 
I don't even like untucked strap ends hanging out normally, but...

I don't carry a 'bear bell' but if you want/need one something you're already carrying can probably do that job, but not from inside the pack.
I do keep a knife on the outside of my pack for accessibility.
My bino pouch goes on the outside of my buddy's pack and vice versa - just makes life easier. The same could be said for cameras I guess.

With a lot of folks, it does look like a perfect way to lose something and not know it until later...
 
It doesn't make much sense to me either.

Perhaps instead of using a backpack that fits everything they try to use a pack that is too small and end up strapping gear outside.

The only things I like strapped to my packs are trekking poles, fishing poles, snowshoes, crampons and smelly socks. Everything else needs to stay inside.
 
Ready accessibility is the main reason. Many pack systems are built around a rather small main back pack, with various smaller add-ons which can be attached depending on what is needed.

Military packs are designed this way. It makes it possible to get to things you might need without having to unpack everything, or even take your pack off.

When my wife and I backpack, she often has things attached to the outside of her pack which belong to me, like rain clothes or water bottles, etc., and vice versa.

Andy
 
I have to imagine that the pics with crap hanging off in all directions are some kind of every day pack where accessibility is the main concern.
My daypack has a separate pouch mounted on the outside for binoculars that makes the whole package decidedly unwieldy compared to normal. It's fine since the pack just goes from the house to the truck, in to work, back to truck, house, on and on, over and over again.
I have an oversized pack that I regretted buying because it was much larger than I actually need. The plus side is that everything including tent, bulky Gore-Tex outerwear, and sleeping bag goes inside the pack. Nothing to hang up on brush, or screw you up while climbing over deadfalls or through narrows passes in rock formations-all of which I go through in the only area the pack really gets used in.
 
THings Ill need to get to whke I'm wearing my pack might be positioned in areas that I can access them with out removing the pack, ie canteen, machete, poncho, etc... everything else that can fit inside goes inside
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
Ready accessibility is the main reason. Many pack systems are built around a rather small main back pack, with various smaller add-ons which can be attached depending on what is needed.

Military packs are designed this way. It makes it possible to get to things you might need without having to unpack everything, or even take your pack off.
When my wife and I backpack, she often has things attached to the outside of her pack which belong to me, like rain clothes or water bottles, etc., and vice versa.

Andy
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That depends on the military, in my experience. A lot of units use some pretty simple gear. You should see the Arc'teryx LEAF bags...they are basically a single, 80 liter pocket. They are used by some pretty elite guys...

A lot of the Euro guys use pretty simple packs, too. I am not really up on what you guys are using these days, though.
 
I carry a County Comm Bail Out Bag when I walk in the local woods. It's like an inside-out pack, with pockets all over the outside. Accessiblility is the word.

I've noticed Maxpedition sells the concept, with webbing outside and even the small bags built strongly enough to take extra weight.

Not every environment is a snag problem, and many professionals would need to access special gear frequently, making internal carry a constant exercise in digging around.
 
benchmadebob said:
NICE hunt that must have been a major workout. what weapon was used?
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Custom mountain rifle chambered 300 WBY Mag handloaded 180 grain barnes triple shocks . I can see items like knife , water bottle etc but I have seen all types of stuff.

Here is when I was useing external packs southern yukon broomed old stone sheep
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This is going back a bit, but when I was a grunt it was absolutely verboten to have crap on the outside of your pack or straps flapping around, or modifications (visible ones anyways!:D). A lot of guys would stitch a name tag to their ruck just so they'd know it in a pile.

I'm not up on new kit either, but aren't modular pack systems meant to attach different pouches to give you internal volume ? Everything is still (in theory) contained in a pack with many 'pockets'.

As for the accessibility issue, it seems to me that the most arduous part of getting out a piece of gear is dropping the pack. After that it's two fastex buckles, loosen a drawstring and you're in....it's simple if there isn't crap hanging all over the outside.
 
Looks like a Kifaru in the first picture?
 
Dunno. I've been told that in small unit operations, carrying the next guy's equipment is pretty common. First aid, etc.

When alone, I would only want a few select things readily available such as water, snacks, hiking poles, knife, rain gear.

Andy
 
JParanee: I agree with you. All my gear goes inside. When I need something I take my pack off anyways. My binocs, knife, pistol, etc are all on me and not the pack. I usually hunt and pack into some thick country and cant have things grabbing while moving through the thick stuff.

I understand though why some people attach a few things for easy access.

By the way nice ram and stone. Lets see some more pics.
 
I carry a few items strapped to the outside of my pack and weather does not affect either item,Whistle,Bic in a Kydex lighter & a micro photon LED light. Does not bother me in the least.
 
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