Since I mentioned I'd post pics of my chest rig, here they are.
Here is the overall view. The body is a SOTECH mk.3 Hellcat (split front with 2 fastex clips). I went with the mk.3 hellcat because first of all, it can carry 6 rifle mags in the internal pockets before adding on any pouches. Secondly, I like the split front because it makes it very easy to take on or off or to split it when in the prone for a while. Thirdly, it rides high up on my chest, thus there is no interfearence with the waistbelt on my ruck. The stock shoulder straps have been replaced by a custom reccegear yoke in digi-cam, a digital cammo pattern similar in colouration to CADPAT and practically indistinguishable from a few feet away. Attached to the yoke is a pace counter.
Here we have two CADPAT TT zippered utility pouches flanking an Ontario knife company partially serrated RAT-7 in what I believe is 1090 steel. Awesome knife, damn near indestructible. Others on this forum who think a multi-tool and bayonet are good enough for the field are entitled to their opinion. From my experience in the bush I want a blade that I know can step up and take some abuse. I look at this blade as both a tool and a weapon. It's not one or the other. The pouch on the left of the knife carries my 1qt collapsible canteen, canteen cup and stove, and this is the only pouch I've found where it's not a total ***** to remove any of that set from the pouch. I carry some hexi and iodine in the outside pocket. The zippered pouch on the right of the knife is my blowout kit. Carries dressings, tape, gloves, ACS, 1-handed tourniquets, etc. I carry a small ziploc with band-aids and other meds for day to day use, but this kit is only to be used for GSW, massive trauma, etc. I'll be attaching a nice red cross onto it so the medic knows where my crap is. Just to note: I clipped off the metal zipper tails and replaced them gutted paracord. Jingle jangle doesn't go well in the jungle jungle; noise discipline is key.
Here is where I keep the stuff that goes bang. Starting from the left we have 2 CADPAT TT 3 mag pouches. They use shockcord which is adjustable for mag retention, tho I'm thinking of attaching velcro to aid in mag retention instead of just using a fastex clip. Next we have 2 TT small utility pouches, which I use to carry frags. Those two pouches will soon be replaced by another CADPAT TT zippered utility pouch which will carry at the minimum 2 frags and 2 smokes/bangs/WP depending on the mission. Next to that is a Paraclete universal radio pouch. I went with this because it is completely adjustable. Plus I know that it'll hold a 521 set. The reason all this stuff is on my left side is because I'm right handed. You always want the stuff you'll need immediately (which in the warrior's case is ammo and frags) in a place where it's easiest to get to, and you always reload with your weak hand.
Here's a closeup of the back of the yoke. PALS webbing on the back to attach pouches, an idea which I'm not fond of, I don't want anything there interfeering with my ruck. However, if I'm going into a FIBUA situation or a raid where no rucks are being carried, I might attach a few smoke pouches to the back for bangs or smoke for the guy behind me to grab a hold of.
Here's a front shot of the rig.
And here's a shot of how I store some chemlights. Planning on attaching some gutted paracord lanyards to 'em to aid in retrieval.
Here are pics of my knife. I took these pics after I replaced the stock mircarta scales with paracord. But I eventually went back to the normal scales as they were more comfortable.
This is my current perfect rig (well, it will be once I get another zippered utility pouch for my pyro). I say current because I am constantly looking over and analyzing my loadout, as any good warrior should do. The soldier's load is an exact science, and leadership at every level needs to keep a hawklike watch on what the troops are carrying. The soldier's load is an important part of every PCI and PDI, and leaders should do their utmost best to avoid burdening the troops. Unfortunately there are only so many things leaders can do. The realities of the weight of current issue kit and the realities of combat ressuply can at times totally negate the best efforts at making the combat load one more easily borne. For example, the C6 SF kit. With modern manufacturing techniques could be made lighter. Unfortunately the one in system weighs a ***** and a half. Weight of ammo isn't going to change in the future, and water will always remain the same. Probably the biggest problem with our current combat load that I see is the body armour. Plates that weigh 12 pounds each along with a 10 pound soft armour vest is absolutely ridiculous. It's quite expensive but in a few months I'll be buying my own plates which weigh a fraction of the issue plates, because I don't want the only manuever I can do to be advance to ambush. My chest rig carries the absolute minimum the warfighter needs. Ammo, water, meds, comms, pyro, blade. I'll throw in a theater map into the map pocket along with 1 IMP meal in a heat bag and a bag of hot chocolate or gatorade mix. I'll probably be taking off one of the 3 mag pouches, as 10 mags is, I think, enough for light infanteers and that saves a couple of pounds. In any case, I look forward to hearing some comments and thoughts here, both on my rig, and the soldier's load.
Here is the overall view. The body is a SOTECH mk.3 Hellcat (split front with 2 fastex clips). I went with the mk.3 hellcat because first of all, it can carry 6 rifle mags in the internal pockets before adding on any pouches. Secondly, I like the split front because it makes it very easy to take on or off or to split it when in the prone for a while. Thirdly, it rides high up on my chest, thus there is no interfearence with the waistbelt on my ruck. The stock shoulder straps have been replaced by a custom reccegear yoke in digi-cam, a digital cammo pattern similar in colouration to CADPAT and practically indistinguishable from a few feet away. Attached to the yoke is a pace counter.
Here we have two CADPAT TT zippered utility pouches flanking an Ontario knife company partially serrated RAT-7 in what I believe is 1090 steel. Awesome knife, damn near indestructible. Others on this forum who think a multi-tool and bayonet are good enough for the field are entitled to their opinion. From my experience in the bush I want a blade that I know can step up and take some abuse. I look at this blade as both a tool and a weapon. It's not one or the other. The pouch on the left of the knife carries my 1qt collapsible canteen, canteen cup and stove, and this is the only pouch I've found where it's not a total ***** to remove any of that set from the pouch. I carry some hexi and iodine in the outside pocket. The zippered pouch on the right of the knife is my blowout kit. Carries dressings, tape, gloves, ACS, 1-handed tourniquets, etc. I carry a small ziploc with band-aids and other meds for day to day use, but this kit is only to be used for GSW, massive trauma, etc. I'll be attaching a nice red cross onto it so the medic knows where my crap is. Just to note: I clipped off the metal zipper tails and replaced them gutted paracord. Jingle jangle doesn't go well in the jungle jungle; noise discipline is key.
Here is where I keep the stuff that goes bang. Starting from the left we have 2 CADPAT TT 3 mag pouches. They use shockcord which is adjustable for mag retention, tho I'm thinking of attaching velcro to aid in mag retention instead of just using a fastex clip. Next we have 2 TT small utility pouches, which I use to carry frags. Those two pouches will soon be replaced by another CADPAT TT zippered utility pouch which will carry at the minimum 2 frags and 2 smokes/bangs/WP depending on the mission. Next to that is a Paraclete universal radio pouch. I went with this because it is completely adjustable. Plus I know that it'll hold a 521 set. The reason all this stuff is on my left side is because I'm right handed. You always want the stuff you'll need immediately (which in the warrior's case is ammo and frags) in a place where it's easiest to get to, and you always reload with your weak hand.
Here's a closeup of the back of the yoke. PALS webbing on the back to attach pouches, an idea which I'm not fond of, I don't want anything there interfeering with my ruck. However, if I'm going into a FIBUA situation or a raid where no rucks are being carried, I might attach a few smoke pouches to the back for bangs or smoke for the guy behind me to grab a hold of.
Here's a front shot of the rig.
And here's a shot of how I store some chemlights. Planning on attaching some gutted paracord lanyards to 'em to aid in retrieval.
Here are pics of my knife. I took these pics after I replaced the stock mircarta scales with paracord. But I eventually went back to the normal scales as they were more comfortable.
This is my current perfect rig (well, it will be once I get another zippered utility pouch for my pyro). I say current because I am constantly looking over and analyzing my loadout, as any good warrior should do. The soldier's load is an exact science, and leadership at every level needs to keep a hawklike watch on what the troops are carrying. The soldier's load is an important part of every PCI and PDI, and leaders should do their utmost best to avoid burdening the troops. Unfortunately there are only so many things leaders can do. The realities of the weight of current issue kit and the realities of combat ressuply can at times totally negate the best efforts at making the combat load one more easily borne. For example, the C6 SF kit. With modern manufacturing techniques could be made lighter. Unfortunately the one in system weighs a ***** and a half. Weight of ammo isn't going to change in the future, and water will always remain the same. Probably the biggest problem with our current combat load that I see is the body armour. Plates that weigh 12 pounds each along with a 10 pound soft armour vest is absolutely ridiculous. It's quite expensive but in a few months I'll be buying my own plates which weigh a fraction of the issue plates, because I don't want the only manuever I can do to be advance to ambush. My chest rig carries the absolute minimum the warfighter needs. Ammo, water, meds, comms, pyro, blade. I'll throw in a theater map into the map pocket along with 1 IMP meal in a heat bag and a bag of hot chocolate or gatorade mix. I'll probably be taking off one of the 3 mag pouches, as 10 mags is, I think, enough for light infanteers and that saves a couple of pounds. In any case, I look forward to hearing some comments and thoughts here, both on my rig, and the soldier's load.
