February 3rd, 2016, 21:01 | #1 |
Pacification Specialist
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A Guide to Operating from a Three Day Pack
[This article is in a final draft stage with small ongoing modifications. Special thanks to my fellow 3Day Packers for their invaluable contributions... Ray, Mike, Matty, Rich]
OPERATING FROM A THREE DAY PACK This article is written for those people who are about to embark on a military simulation that lasts 24-72 hours, where there may be no fixed base of operations, and desire to remain self sufficient without resupply. It won’t apply to every simulation you participate in, nor will it apply to everyone that wishes to participate. However, it will provide a solid foundation for you if you’re looking to load and operate from a Three Day Pack. If you already operate out of a Three Day Pack, then this article should provide you some insight into how others are selecting equipment and organizing their gear. If you are new to the concept, then welcome to the club. There’s a lot to think about. ONE PACK PHILOSOPHY The concepts behind this guide are based upon a philosophy that you will have your pack with you almost all the time, with the exception of stashing it at a rally point prior to an assault. The decision to operate with your ruck requires serious consideration regarding pack weight, size, and contents. Choosing items that serve multiple purposes, sharing specific equipment among your squad, and selecting lightweight versions of equipment can decrease fatigue and increase agility. CONTENTS 1) The Pack 2) Food & Water 3) Shelter 4) Sleeping Equipment 5) Clothing
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February 3rd, 2016, 21:02 | #2 | ||
Pacification Specialist
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The Pack
THE PACK
Your pack is one of the most important items you will select. It is not an easy decision, and the market is filled with great options. Don’t be surprised if your first pack doesn’t quite fit your needs and you identify key features you’re looking for or could do without. Chances are, this won’t be your last pack purchase. Things You Should Consider
Options Below is a list of the packs used by contributors for this article. The recommendations section contains why they chose the pack they use. Recommendations
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February 3rd, 2016, 21:03 | #3 | ||
Pacification Specialist
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Food & Water
FOOD & WATER
How much you need to eat is a personal decision. Weather conditions, physical exertion, and your experience will dictate how much food is necessary for you. You may find that over 48 hours, you only need two large meals plus snacks. Alternatively, you may need a large dose of calories every 6-8 hours to sustain yourself. While bringing less food has obvious benefits, do not short yourself on the energy you’ll need to operate for the duration of the simulation. Some types of events pose some unique challenges when it comes to food choices. In some situations, you may only stop for a few minutes. Perhaps you’ll need to eat on the move. In the cases that you do end up at rest, how long will that be maintained? Can you be sure you have the 20 minutes it takes to boil water and rehydrate a meal? Can you spare 2 cups of water from your drinking supply? Things You Should Consider
Options
Recommendation
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February 3rd, 2016, 21:03 | #4 | ||
Pacification Specialist
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Shelter
SHELTER
Cooking, changing layers, drying out, and warming up are all made easier with some form of shelter. Even simple protection from wind, rain, or snow can help sustain operations. Unfortunately, some compromises must be made in this area. Tents can be heavy and bulky, while tarps won’t offer 100% protection from the elements and pests. Your choice of shelter equipment will be heavily influenced by your personal preferences and by the predicted weather. Remember that you will be forced to carry your choice with you the entire event. If you have never slept in a bivy or under a tarp, this may be something you want to experiment with before committing to a choice. That said, you may surprise yourself at what passes for ‘comfort’ after walking for 10 hours. Things to Consider
Options
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February 3rd, 2016, 21:04 | #5 | ||
Pacification Specialist
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Sleeping Equipment
SLEEPING EQUIPMENT
You will likely be afforded two types of sleep at military simulation: planned, and unplanned. Planned sleep will occur when your unit is rotated out of action for rest. Unplanned sleep is the result of your unit identifying a time when a reduced level of alertness is acceptable or required. These times may include situations where you are placed in a LP/OP overnight, or holding a defensive line in force with good fields of visibility. Your sleeping gear needs to allow you to sleep with a degree of comfort and get real rest. However, it is important to remember that you may need to go from sleep to fighting in seconds. In some cases, you must pack and be mobile in less than a minute. Your choice of sleeping gear will greatly impact your ability meet both the rest and action requirements placed upon you at 24-72 hour simulation. Things to Consider
Options
Recommendations
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February 3rd, 2016, 21:04 | #6 | |
Pacification Specialist
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Clothing
CLOTHING
Your choice of clothing is weather and mission dependent. For our specific packing list, we’re looking at Spring and Fall weather, where temperatures can be challenging to predict and pack for. Before going any further, you should familiarize yourself with the ECWCS or PCU clothing systems used by the military, as some of the language will be used during this section. The other major influence in your choice will be your own personal experience. The ECWCS/PCU clothing systems are extensive and adaptable. The 7 piece system will always be used differently based on how much heat you’re generating, how much moisture you’re producing, and your own tolerance to weather. To add complication to this, what you wear may differ drastically from what your teammates are wearing. While this is primarily a personal decision and requires you to customize your list to your own performance and comfort needs, you’ll be looking to combine three categories of clothing: Base layers, insulating layers, and shells. Things to Consider
Options
Recommendations
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February 4th, 2016, 12:57 | #7 |
This is a "should read" for all players wanting to start into the 24-48 hour game or outdoor adventure scene. Well written, easy to understand and with insight from members of the community that have experienced the pros and cons of running a 3 day pack. well done.
If you plan on doing a follow up, maybe provide an overview of what kind of equipment should be packed by an entire squad sized element, to show the dispersion of equipment among members. Last edited by helljumper02; February 4th, 2016 at 15:41.. |
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February 4th, 2016, 14:27 | #8 |
This is a good write up; thanks for the work put into it guys.
I'm curious though, you mentioned a base chance of being engaged while prepping food or shelter. Does that happen in any kind of frequency during 24-72hr games? From a tactical side I'd like to know - in another thread - how to set up camp defense if you're limited to a recon team or squad sized group and you have to crash in the field. What kind of window do you give you team, how you rotate them out, etc. Most I've ever done is the 30 min tac-nap during zombie games.
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FIAT JVSTITA RVAT CŒLUM |
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February 4th, 2016, 15:08 | #9 |
Mexifaggot
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Excellent read. This HAS to be stickied. I recently picked up a bigger USMC ILBE and I'm excited to start using it with some of the strategies in this post! I wish this post was around for some of the colder and wetter games I've been to in the past.
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Guardians of Asgaard - KF25 - Primaries: LCT AK74MN w/SKTBR, VFC M4 SOPMOD Block 2 Secondary: Latino heat, TM Glock 17 Last edited by Desmodus; February 4th, 2016 at 15:12.. |
February 4th, 2016, 18:51 | #10 |
This ^^^^^
I'm ordering one of the ILBE's with the assault pack this weekend, and I was very happy to read such an in depth guide on stocking a large pack, and how to run with one (I'm usually a very "carry just the essentials leave the rest at the spawn" kind of guy, so this is a big change for me, and I didn't really know where to start.) |
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February 4th, 2016, 21:12 | #11 | ||
Pacification Specialist
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w1lp33, Desmodus I'm excited to hear both of you are moving towards carrying your sustainment gear. Remember a couple of things: First, if there is a place for you to safely ditch your your gear, you should use it. This article really assumes you're away from resupply for 24+ hours, and will be spending the night in a hostile environment. Second, really evaluate why you need a big pack. You may start to question the gear you have inside it. Use it, train with it, and assess how much you really need. This article is just personal experience, and is there to give you things to consider. Ultimately, it's what YOU discover through your personal experiences that will be the best guide of all.
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Solving an imaginary world's contrived and over dramatic problems... 6 millimeters at a time." |
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February 4th, 2016, 21:18 | #12 |
I'll be honest, my original intent was the hope that I'd eventually do a MilSim West event, where it's basically required to have a large ruck and all your sustainment gear. But I know there are other events (like Deadfall) where it would be prudent as well. So it's not something I would run all the time, but I'd like to be prepared and able to fight out of a 3 day pack if the need arises.
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February 4th, 2016, 21:33 | #13 |
Pacification Specialist
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Well then, Will. You're just as messed up as we are.
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Solving an imaginary world's contrived and over dramatic problems... 6 millimeters at a time." |
February 4th, 2016, 22:47 | #14 |
Haha, well there was never any doubt about that, was there? :-)
Also I have a question. The hip strap on these sorts of packs (The ILBE specifically...), do they or can they sit above another belt system? I currently run a few mag pouches, dump pouch, and holster on a belt. Would I have to rearrange my gear to run that stuff off a chest rig, or could my belt system play nice with the pack? (If it matters, it's a Ronin Tactics Warrior's Belt). (Currently I run a Haley D3CR, but if I can't share my load with my belt because I'm running a pack, I'll want to get a larger chest rig to accomodate the stuff that normally I'd wear on my belt...) Last edited by w1lp33; February 4th, 2016 at 23:16.. |
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February 5th, 2016, 00:41 | #15 |
A few additional points to add:
1) Know the game type, style and venue before you even consider packing your bag. Do your homework, ask around if necessary. There is nothing worse that carrying 40lbs. of kit unnecessarily, or 20lbs. of useless items. 2) Plan your pack for the gear you use in-game. Things like night vision, helmet, radio gear, consumables (gas, BBs, batteries, etc.). They may need to be carried in your pack when not in active use, or when you are needing to ditch them for a variety of reasons. 3) Sleep systems are customized for each person. How you sleep (back, side or stomach) will determine what type of pad to buy. And your first time out with it should NOT be game day. A poorly chosen system will leave you with a poor sleep (tired and cranky) at best or virtually crippled (back pain) at worst. It can cut your game short. You may have to try a couple until you find the one that works for you. Never buy the lightest or smallest or best-rated because of those attributes, buy the one that is most comfortable and not going to gank up your back, light and small is a bonus. 4) Money. Lightweight, high-tech gear is expensive. Prices are seemingly unlimited. I could write a book on high-end gear, since 10% of my gear is more than 90% of ASC spends on all their airsoft stuff, I am no stranger to retarded buying. That being said, there are some fabulous deals out there on kit with military-type uses that can be found on the commercial/civillian market. Look for those. But, if/when the time comes, and you need to buy that $200 sleeping pad or $300 sleeping bag or $300 tent, you might just have to suck it up and do it. I absolutely can not overstate the enthusiasm or morale killing effect of having to spend a cold and wet night on the ground, or be hungry, thirsty or delerious on the field, or become a casuality from the elements. These situations can force other players to have to look after your sorry ass because you thought a ponch liner, some granola bars and a 500ml of water would get you through the day. That is unfair to others. 5) Plan, test, revise. The week before the game is NOT the time to start buying, or testing, your setup. A 40lb. pack sounds OK, until you actually have to carry it. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equals pain. Keep it light, as light as possible. Buy good, buy once. You have only two choices, your gear will take it out of your body or your wallet. Wallets recover much, much faster than your body. 6) Know your limits. Not everyone is made to make a long-duration game, and there is absolutely no shame in trying and having the conditions beat you. 7) There are good suggestions listed here. For me, I don't follow 95% of them though, for various reasons. I have built up my own repertoire that I like, at great cost and effort that is not for everyone. Some of my friends have helped me greatly in this regard, being guinea pigs for gear and steering into great gear or away from costly mistakes. I have tried many sleeping pads, many bags, several tents, pillows, etc.. Don't be discouraged, some camping stores like MEC have good return policies. 8) Toilet paper and a shovel. No further explanation needed. 9) When possible, try to have items with multiple functions or uses. For example, if you carry a shovel with hammer option, like the Gerber available for about $28 at WSS, etc., go that route. Or the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk ($375USD list, but much cheaper if you shop around), that has axe, hammer and breaching pry bar and demo hook, all in one low-profile tool. Axe is dull from factory, but sharp is not always needed. 10) Knife. You always need a knife. Where I live, man is nowhere near the top of the food chain, and there are many predators out there that have man on the menu. Perhaps in PEI large bears or cats are not a problem. Often, game rules prohibit knives with blades longer than 4", but like hell I am going out there with just a multi-tool. Know your area. When not airsofting, my go-to gun is a .45-70. For good reason. I heard last Zulu 1 game had a bit of a bear problem. 11) Further to the predator angle, police your food waste, or plan it to have little to no waste, and plan to carry it with you. Keeps the game area clean, and reduces your scent signature to minimize contact with Smokey. Cans of food is kinda retarded.
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Age verifier Northern Alberta Democracy is two wolves and a sheep discussing what's for dinner. Freedom is the wolves limping away while the sheep reloads. Never confuse freedom with democracy. Last edited by mcguyver; February 5th, 2016 at 01:30.. |
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