What do Search and Rescue people talk about when they get together? Well I have only been in SAR for a short time but I can tell you the 24 hour pack and all the gear in it, dominates the conversation. And it makes sense, when you are out searching you have this thing on your back (or front… or both). The weight, the layout, the essentials, what gets used the most… All of these things create hours of conversation.

Normally I would just blog about this kind of thing but seeing as it will be evolving I figured I would put all of my observations all in one place.

Ten Essentials:

OK. If you go out on a hike without these you are just dumb. Don’t be dumb people.

• Map
• Compass: Brunton 54LU FTW
• Flashlight
• Food and Water
• Snacks and More Water
• Change of clothing (layers): Not just a change but all the layers for possible conditions. Is learning to layer more important than starting a fire…?
• Fire Starter: waterproof matches are a great idea, I have not found a lighter I really like.
• Clandle/fuel tablets
• Knife: I tend toward more than one. You have the big one of big things like making shelters and killing zombies, and the smaller ones for finer tasks (and baby zombies)
• First Aid Kit: Obviously, also a good idea to make sure it covers blisters.
• Signaling Device: The president of our group loves to talk about how making noise makes you easy to find, my favorite is a whistle. Signal mirrors not such a bad idea either.

Additional Items On My List

• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Hat
• Rope
• Shelter
• Sunglasses
• Cell Phone
• GPS
• Machete
• Gloves
• Pen and Paper

24 Hour Pack Gen 1: Converted Day Pack

My first exposure to the 24 hour pack was at the Washington State SAR conference. While there I heard two Wind River guys do a talk about how your pack should not really be a pack but a pack and a vest. Fast forward to a day before my first search. Surprise, you are cleared to go, get your pack ready.

I did not have enough time to order up the setup I was thinking about so I converted a day pack for temporary use. It worked out really well. I already had most of the gear needed to put the 24 hour pack together, just needed to actually do it.

From here you can see the two giant Nalgines, the machete, but not much more. Advantage not a lot of loose stuff to get snagged on. Disadvantage. ridged water bottles for the loose.

I zip tied my knife to my shoulder strap. Worked out well enough. Gotta love zip ties. You can’t really see it but I have my compass around my neck and a whistle right below the compass.

Here is a downside of converting a backpack. Sure it had lots of room but (at least mine) lacked organization. This needs to be replaced with an admin pouch.

Machete attached to the side. This worked out well, although once out, its not going back in easy. Gloves were cliped during transit but went on me as soon as we hit the field.

24 Hour Pack Gen 2: Tactical Vest (WORK IN PROGRESS)

This pack I have now taken out on three trainings and one search. I can definitely say I have put it though its paces.

I wanted this to have multi-roles. I wanted it primarily for SAR but I also wanted it quickly configurable for Hunting or other outdoor adventures.

Unlike buying a backpack and putting your gear in it, the tactical vest route requires assembly. Not to mention hunting for all the required bits. Here is a list of what the pack/vest consists of in its current form:

• Camelbak Delta 5 tactical Vest
• MilSpec Monkey Combat Admin Pouch
• Two 5.11 6×6 pouches
• 5.11 large drop pouch
• 5.11 frag pouch
• 5.11 10×6 pouch
• 5.11 med pouch
• Condor Butt Pack
• 5.11 pistol mag pouches
• TAG padded belt
• 5.11 water bottle holder
• Gerber LMF II Knife (which I list because the sheath attaches nicely to the vest.)

Selecting A Vest:
This is probably the hardest part to get right. Its also the most important. If your vest does not feel right the whole setup is going to suck.

Compounding the selection process is the lack of availability. I did a ton of research and was able to get mine right the first time. But I have friends who were not so lucky. In one instance he tried 3 before getting one that worked for him. If you have a store that carries this sort of thing, I highly suggest checking it out.

I went with the Delta 5 because of the internal water bladder. If your bladder is not internal then you will have to molle it to your back or come up with some other solution. Generally this takes up space or creates weirdness. I tried on a 5.11 vest with a bladder in the internal pocket and I though the bladder moved around to much in addition to not sitting squarely in the middle of your back.

One thing that it took me a long training or two to figure out was the need for a belt. I got a padded belt that I easily interfaced with the vest. This is not a belt like you wear on your pants. Think of this the same way you think of a waist strap on a backpack. Basically this belt is going to take some of the pressure off your shoulders. Trust me, your shoulders will thank you.

Advantages Of A Vest:
Firstly you can configure it however you like. Secondly, all your operational gear is up front. This means that if you decide you need something you don’t have to take your pack off to get it.

That second point is worth repeating, all the stuff you need regularly is up front. Think of it this way. Anything you want to be able to reach without removing your pack/vest should be up front. Anything you use infrequently or do not need to be able to reach goes on your back.

Also everything is organized and has a place. A big advantage it the instant reconfigurability.

This weekend I had everything I needed for a 24 hour mission, when we got there we knew it was an in and out grid search. So I dropped the butt pack, saving myself about 10lbs.

Disadvantages Of A Vest:
Seems that space is a tight. Some of the larger items you might have room for in a pack you will have to think twice about with a vest. You also need to get creative with where you stash items. In the future I really want to ditch the butt pack and go with some sort of cavernous 10x10x4 pouch. Think of it like molleing on a backpack sized container.

Other Things To Think About:
Where are you going to put your knife(s)? I have the following problem. When I attach my knife to my belt I cant see it. This makes re-holstering the knife problematic. I could attach the knife to a leg drop, however that is more gear to put on and take off. Additionally I just don’t like the way my 5.11 leg drop feels. The option I settled on (for now) is on my left shoulder. This works ok, although my wife instantly freaked out about having a knife that close to my neck.

Short or long selves? Here is why that is important. The nylon used in this gear is not exactly soft. If your arms brush your sides you might want to think about selves, pouch placement and how any potential rubbing will wear on you.

The drop pouch: So you head out into the field with everything nicely organized. Problem is once you start rummaging though your nicely organized pouches, things magically start to expand. Solution, the drop pouch. The military uses them for spent mags. I use it for all that gear that all of the sudden is displaced. Another useful benefit is a work area. So you can’t always quickly return gear to its proper place. The drop gives you some work area to temporarily store things.

Carabiners: You can never have to many carabiners. They come in infinite handy when you need to attach something or clip something somewhere. Trust me, take the number you have now and add 5.

You say frag I say trail tape: So most of this stuff is made for people in the military. So thinks like frag pouches might seem useless, however it turns out they fit trail tape perfectly. Likewise a double pistol mag pouch does not do much for an unarmed SAR ground pounder, right? Wrong, Leatherman goes in one side, Surefire in the other.

Other Pages Concerning The Tactical Vest
24 Hour Pack Test
Maxpidition Tack-Tie v Blackhawk Speed Clip

Resources:

Wind River SAR (AKA the SAR Studs of SW Washington)