I’m starting to think that a handy trail-pack rig would be a fishing vest with a Camelbak pack over top.
What I really like is access to stuff while on the go. Things like snacks, camera, phone, binocs, map, compass, GPS. Plus water, of course.
I used to rely on my fannypack with bottle holsters, but I get tired of rotating the pack to the front whenever I want something from it. You have to loosen the waist-strap, rotate, use, rotate back, re-adjust. I also notice that a full load of about 10 lbs in the pack makes for a heavy waist-strap — and I pine for suspenders, but that would wreck the rotating benefit.
I often use a bladderpack plus fannypack for longer outings — quicky stuff in fannypack for rotation-access and rare-use stuff in the bladderpack.
But mostly I wish to have the handiest stuff up front. Yet I still want to be able to move freely — specifically, to be able to XC ski.
I recently tried adapting a military FLC Fighting Vest with MOLLE pouches to my custom ideas. It kinda works. It’s kinda overkill, though — super-heavy-duty for hauling ammo and grenades around. Mostly, though, the pouches haven’t been just right. Maybe the whole thing is overbuilt. At any rate, the pouches seem like they’re too bulky and would get in the way of sporting motion. A main thing might be that it’s too much of a chest-rig. (An Assault Vest would be even worse, as it’s strictly a chest-rig.)
I’ve noticed that the Bushcrafter dudes are often similarly adapting FLC vests these days. But they must carry more stuff than me. They carry hatchets and shovels and lots of water and other multi-day hard-use stuff. I don’t mind a bit of the old ultralight myself. Maybe for multi-day action I’ll appreciate mine (if I ever get out there that long again). It’s easy to lash on enough stowage for a tent, sleeping bag, pad, food and clothes. I guess. Actually, I think it’s designed to be worn under a ruck. But the Bushcrafters are relatively light-living and enjoy creating multi-day rigs from the vest alone.
The vests are cheap on the after-market now, as the army guys don’t want them. They’re designed to be worn alone or over armor. But nowadays everyone wears armor and the armor vests all have MOLLE attachment points on them so the FLC vets is moot and they’re being dumped on the market. But apparently not for long. They’re highly desired, high quality and will be gone soon, the word is.
In the end it occurred to me that I was just improvising a super-HEAVY fishing vest.
I have a few old fishing vests in my Stash in the basement. I just got them out to take a look. They look dandy, really. They’d carry all the items I mention up front and accessible — without any bulk to speak of. The vest is thin cotton, very light. They probably make them in mesh would would be even better, it seems.
I look forward to trying the fishing vest and Camelbak combo on my next outing.
