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Rick
07-27-2010, 10:39 AM
I posted elsewhere that I received two Molle backpacks yesterday in the mail. Full packs with sleeping bag compartment and sustainment pouches. I'm going to move my BOB stuff into these packs. I'd appreciate any insight those of you proficient with their use can offer up. Any things I can do to make them carry easier? load balance them, etc. I swear, these things a big enough to pack a bus into them. I don't know how anyone would ever carry one loaded.

http://www.groups.sfahq.com/5th/images_5th/pack_mule.gif

Ken
07-27-2010, 11:53 AM
A lot is personal preference. I try to wear my pack as high as I can. I rather have my shoulders carry the weight instead of my lumbar region.

Balance is important. I prefer to begin by attaching items to the side of the pack rather than on the front. Again, preference. Try distributing any food that you carry in a way that will allow you to keep the weight balanced as the food is consumed. Also, cinch any attached accessory pouches as tightly as you can with the Molle straps. You want to minimize weight shifts as much as possible.

Now the big question: Are you packing a hydration bladder?

finallyME
07-27-2010, 12:17 PM
Rick, you didn't need to show a self portrait of you carrying your new gear.

Rick
07-27-2010, 12:34 PM
@Ken - Not yet. It's something I'm look at, however. Right now water is covered with canteens but I may convert to bladders.

@FinallyMe - Trust me, if I loaded one of those packs full that's what I'd look and feel like.

Ken
07-27-2010, 12:42 PM
@Ken - Not yet. It's something I'm look at, however. Right now water is covered with canteens but I may convert to bladders.

Okay. If you do go that route, you may not be too pleased with the weight shift as your water is consumed. I also found it to be a bit uncomfortable to have the stuff sloshing around up against my back. I solved some of that problem by inserting a thin foam rubber pad between the bladder and the pack itself. I cut it out of an exercise pad that is pretty much identical in composition to a huge computer mouse pad.

Rick
07-27-2010, 12:46 PM
I appreciate that. These are bags of last resort. If I'm grabbing them my assumption is they will go in the truck or car and we are headed out of Dodge. Have to do a little practice with them of course to make certain the plan works.

SARKY
07-27-2010, 12:49 PM
I highly recommend bladders with this system, it keeps the weight close to your center of gravity. Also CamelBak now makes a 6liter as well as the 3liter "water beast" bladders.
You want the weight to be on your hips, these are the big bones and muscles in your body and thus you will fatigue less than if your shoulders/neck muscles are carrying the weight. As to packing, the heavier stuff (more dense) should be lower and close to your back while the lighter stuff can be higher up and away from your back. There will always be exceptions to this rule, ie. items that you will need quick access to.

SARKY
07-27-2010, 12:53 PM
Ken, if you've properly filled your bladder and pack the water shouldn't sloush around at all.
Rick if you would like to use the bladder system, I'll show you how to hook up your water filter to your bladder without removing it from the pack (depending on the filter you have)

Ken
07-27-2010, 12:54 PM
You want the weight to be on your hips, these are the big bones and muscles in your body and thus you will fatigue less than if your shoulders/neck muscles are carrying the weight. As to packing, the heavier stuff (more dense) should be lower and close to your back while the lighter stuff can be higher up and away from your back. There will always be exceptions to this rule, ie. items that you will need quick access to.

Like I said, personal preference. Sarky, I can carry weight on my shoulders far more comfortably and far longer than when it's centered near my hips.

Rick
07-27-2010, 12:55 PM
Thanks. I'm a hip kind of guy (in more ways than one). I was dialing in one of the pack's shoulder straps this morning to get it on my hips as much as possible.

Did I mention that I was impressed with how huge these packs are? Humongous. Gigaticus even.

Ken
07-27-2010, 12:59 PM
Ken, if you've properly filled your bladder and pack the water shouldn't sloush around at all.
Rick if you would like to use the bladder system, I'll show you how to hook up your water filter to your bladder without removing it from the pack (depending on the filter you have)

Sarky, I've never really liked the feel of the bladder. Took me years to give up my canteens and join the modern world. I have a CamelBak 3 liter, and it fits into the pack exactly as intended. I find that the pad is a great addition, and makes a decent seat pad as well.

finallyME
07-27-2010, 01:00 PM
Well Rick, ever since seeing SgtDraino's post on Molle mods, I have been looking at buying at least the suspension system (shoulder straps, hip belt, frame). Show us pics of your rig when done.

Rick
07-27-2010, 01:05 PM
I use an MSR Sweetwater kit:

http://www.getoutsideforless.com/product_photos/MSR_Sweetwater_Hiking_Filter.jpg

I would probably go with the Condor water bladder. I can pick them up wholesale.

http://www.shop.cjlenterprize.com/images/12647106840331557417601.jpeg

Rick
07-27-2010, 01:07 PM
I've converted my ALICE packs to the Molle suspension system. Pics when my wife returns the blasted camera. She took it to work to show pics of the grand baby.

finallyME
08-04-2010, 11:00 AM
I've converted my ALICE packs to the Molle suspension system. Pics when my wife returns the blasted camera. She took it to work to show pics of the grand baby.

Any updates?

Sarge47
08-04-2010, 01:04 PM
I use an MSR Sweetwater kit:

http://www.getoutsideforless.com/product_photos/MSR_Sweetwater_Hiking_Filter.jpg

I would probably go with the Condor water bladder. I can pick them up wholesale.

http://www.shop.cjlenterprize.com/images/12647106840331557417601.jpeg
I also have a Sweetwater kit. BTW what is the name of those packs? :cool2:

Rick
08-04-2010, 04:14 PM
Um....Molle Packs. Here's the write up on it.

http://shop.cjlenterprize.com/2-for-10000-US-Military-Molle-Back-Pack-System-Desert-Camo-Desert-Molle-II2for10000.htm

By the way, if anyone orders from this guy it took 2 @#$# MONTHS to get the packs and about 20 emails.

No update. We were going to change out the packs last week-end but with the new grand baby priorities have shifted a bit.

Sarge47
08-04-2010, 05:33 PM
Um....Molle Packs. Here's the write up on it.

http://shop.cjlenterprize.com/2-for-10000-US-Military-Molle-Back-Pack-System-Desert-Camo-Desert-Molle-II2for10000.htm

By the way, if anyone orders from this guy it took 2 @#$# MONTHS to get the packs and about 20 emails.

No update. We were going to change out the packs last week-end but with the new grand baby priorities have shifted a bit.
They say that the packs are only 3000 cubic inches. Not as big as I thought. However if you're planning on wearing one in front & one in back....:innocent:
(http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp0.blogger.com/_1luLRXKoJM8/SJPNIpIJamI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/QgxlU54iRrU/s400/dean%2Bback.jpg&imgrefurl=http://toyhaven.blogspot.com/2008/08/operation-enduring-freedom-2.html&h=400&w=300&sz=18&tbnid=pRv0XYDY6Do4pM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHuge%2BBackpack&usg=__QKd7-kJCZq9zM2zGruTOUBomPdc=&sa=X&ei=TNpZTKawBcqpsAbEp5CFDA&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAg)

Rick
08-04-2010, 06:25 PM
Well, you can't put the RV inside one but I'm pretty sure you can get a VW in one. I put a sustainment pack on each side as well.

finallyME
08-05-2010, 05:48 PM
Um....Molle Packs. Here's the write up on it.

http://shop.cjlenterprize.com/2-for-10000-US-Military-Molle-Back-Pack-System-Desert-Camo-Desert-Molle-II2for10000.htm

By the way, if anyone orders from this guy it took 2 @#$# MONTHS to get the packs and about 20 emails.

No update. We were going to change out the packs last week-end but with the new grand baby priorities have shifted a bit.


I just got mine yesterday. I ordered it from these guys on ebay.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/280521925140?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&rvr_id=120605757974&crlp=1_263602_263632&UA=W2F%3F&GUID=d84a1d521260a0366511ac71ffa8fcf8&itemid=280521925140&ff4=263602_263632

Here is their online store not on ebay.
http://stores.alleghenywholesale.com/StoreFront.bok

I got it in about 4 days from ordering. I only bought the frame and suspension, not pack. I paid $19 for that, plus $13 for shipping. I plan to make my own bag to strap on the frame. I guess I will post pictures of how it turns out.

Rick
08-05-2010, 06:07 PM
I hope it comes assembled for you. Mine was. That thing is like a Chinese jigsaw puzzle if you had to assemble everything by hand.

"Infidel, you are my prisoner!"
"Can you see I'm trying to put my pack together?"
"But you are my prisoner!"
Hard glare. "You go sit your butt down over there until I figure this thing out or get down here and help me."
"I'll sit over there."

finallyME
08-05-2010, 06:31 PM
It was not pre-assembled. It didn't take too long. Plus I watched a few Youtube videos to help out.

silversam
08-22-2010, 05:33 AM
Something you might want to do for your hydraton system. You can get a radio pouch that fits inside the main pack of the Molle II system. If you look inside the main compartment there are attachment rings where the radio pouch attaches. You can put a bladder in there and then run the tube out either side of the opening at the top.

You can also get sustainment pouches for the sides of the pack for more storage. They work well on Alice Packs to.

Good seeing you Rick. :)

AirborneEagles
09-27-2010, 07:10 AM
Well you must be in great shape Rick. haha. If I was going to go that big I would want some sort of back up plan to get that stuff to where I was going. So if you end up huffing it with that load, I would improvise them to be on wheels (devise your own small golf wheel bag of sorts) and just tie it on the bottom and grab the handle on top and drag it behind you and the wheels (say about 4 inches) will help with the pull over rough trails.

Upon past deer and elk hunts we had to devise some sort of apparatus to help us get the heavy beasts out of the woods. Started out with a smaller wheeled dress bag, then upgraded to a wheeled cart that was simple to take apart and put back together with a few bolts and nuts and easy to store flat in the trunk.
Something like that may be worthwhile in looking into if you end up on your feet if the vehicle breaks down or bridges are out, or what ever happens you end up foot for.

Just some ideas.

Oh, for weight, always put the tent or sleeping bag on top. Some heavy items in the bottom, lighter in the middle, then heavy again at top. Hold it in the top middle with one hand off the ground and if it tilts one way or the other, then adjust the weight accordingly so you have the weight even so you are not walking heavier on one leg and twisting your hip or back to compensate.

Add padding to the shoulder pads already on the pack. Helps make those heavy loads (if you end up having it on your back for a while) a lot easier to carry till you get somewhere to throw it off again.

Also, you can make a Litter, which is a simple no wheeled cart you can drag behind you with two poles, but the rest is like a bed or sorts. Indians used to use them to carry wounded behind horses and soldiers also used them in the good old days. This you can make anywhere with a few small branches and small trees laying around with some parachute cord to tie it all together.
If all else fails, it at least saves your back.

Rick
09-27-2010, 07:33 AM
If I can't pick up a pack I sure won't be toting it. I'm a Bug in guy so carrying it anywhere will be a last resort. Even then my first choice will be in the back of the truck.