What....like this?
So if a pistol belt isn't ideal than what would be the best 24/72 hour kit?
Quote from: NineteenTen on January 08, 2017, 02:28:55 AMSo if a pistol belt isn't ideal than what would be the best 24/72 hour kit?Plenty of people use suspenders and a pistol belt for 24s just fine when they add the butt pack. The 24-hour list really isn't THAT much stuff. As Eclipse says, meals are an issue but you don't have to carry a full size MRE. I like several of the microwave meal pouches that you find in the canned pasta aisle at Wal Mart. They're small, cheap, and you don't actually have to microwave them. They only pack 3-400 calories though so I'd still throw in a couple Clif bars. You can also strip an MRE to save a lot of space.I tell people a lot to use whatever they already have to start. Almost every cadet (and I can't see your sig so if it says what you are in there I can't see) has an extra backpack in the closet. As long as it is conservative in color (no Hello Kitty) I encourage them to use that starting out.I like 5.11's Rush 24, though I don't use it for my 24s any more. I've seen several people that like the "assault 3" Spam mentioned. There's also a Canadian company that makes orange MOLLE but if you were thinking surplus I'm guessing it's over your budget (which is fine - no reason to drop $300 on an equipment carrier alone just starting out).Gear is pretty personal. Use what works for you, but start cheap and work your way into being a geardo as your interest and budget allows later.The only items I do not recommend cheating out on are boots and compasses. In those cases, buy the best your budget allows for (IMHO).
BTW, the other comment on field stripping meals is also on target. Knowledgable active duty guys apparently routinely field strip their MREs to discard the high volume, low utility packets. We've had former cadets (who are infantry, Marine, or SF) return to comment about this, and we push it with our GTMs.The below link is to a useful article on how to "ration strip" your MREs (and, eventually, civilian rations) to maximize your portability and minimize your space/weight: http://www.combatreform.org/declutter.htmWARNING: you'll spend hours reading their stuff... it will lead you far into pondering the vagaries of international military cuisine... V/rSpam
For my meals i just bring a bunch of cliff bars and trail mix.
Quote from: Spam on January 08, 2017, 12:58:53 PMBTW, the other comment on field stripping meals is also on target. Knowledgable active duty guys apparently routinely field strip their MREs to discard the high volume, low utility packets. We've had former cadets (who are infantry, Marine, or SF) return to comment about this, and we push it with our GTMs.The below link is to a useful article on how to "ration strip" your MREs (and, eventually, civilian rations) to maximize your portability and minimize your space/weight: http://www.combatreform.org/declutter.htmWARNING: you'll spend hours reading their stuff... it will lead you far into pondering the vagaries of international military cuisine... V/rSpamI never really got why GTMs pack MREs other than the somewhat tacti-cool aspect of it. For my meals i just bring a bunch of cliff bars and trail mix.
QuoteFor my meals i just bring a bunch of cliff bars and trail mix.Will you eat "a bunch of cliff bars and trail mix" for dinner at home? No, it does not give the same nutrition.An MRE gives more nutrition than "a bunch of cliff bars and trail mix."