Comments for CampingGearReview

Comment on MOLLE Sustainment Pouch by Adam

Adam — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:40:53 +0000

if you dont put to much into them, use just the too top connecting straps
that may work

i dont have the pouches, or shoulder straps, so i havent used the pack yet

Comment on CFP-90 Field Pack by "Ripcord", 5 SF GP,(Airborne), Ret.

"Ripcord", 5 SF GP,(Airborne), Ret. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:49:59 +0000

I spent a lifetime in Special Forces starting with the 10th SF GP. We were stationed in Germany when I was first assigned 1n the 50’s. I have worn almost every kind of issued load bearing equipment from that time up through most of the 80’s That includes all climates from tropical to arctic. I have to correct some erroneous asumptions by some contributers here WE were the very first to be issued the CFP-90. We tested them under the most trying conditions and made suggestions on how they could be improved. They were first manufactured by the military division of Lowe (modified from some of Lowe’s civilian designs.

It is still an exellent design, but for a little bit more, one can have the even better UM-21 system which was originally designed by Bianchi in coperation with DARPA. By the way, I think that the CRP-90 Patrol Pack is next to worthless. The UM-21 patrol day pack is far mor user friendly and can be easily attached to the main UM-21 main rucksack. I have two CFP-90s and one UM-21,

Comment on CFP-90 Field Pack by Keith

Keith — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:30:00 +0000

I have an internal frame pack that is similar. It is the LCS-84. It was apparently issued to cold weather troops and was designed by lowe alpine before they designed the cfp90. Anyway, what I like about the LCS84 is that the straps are attached with webbing and are adjustable. Unlike the CFP90’s plastic suspension, this is not nearly as prone to failure. It also has four pockets instead of two short and one long. The drawback is that it doesn’t seem to have an interior divider, although it does have the fartsack access zipper in the bottom. I’m not sure if it never came with one or if the previous owner customized it. It was issued to a cold weather Marine that I knew in the late 90s, so he could have modified it. It also doesn’t have a flap to cover the top of it, not sure why. There are four female buckle ends inside as if something attaches to them, but I’m not sure what. Anyway, it is a big pack for packing a heavy load. I’m a big man, so naturally I get to hump the heavy gear on trips, not to mention that my gear is naturally heavy due to it’s larger size. So it’s a good bag for me. If anyone has any info on these packs, I’d appreciate it. Thanks

Comment on US GI Mess kit by Joe

Joe — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:17:50 +0000

Dmitry,
Many thanks for putting this site together! It’s really comprehensive, and your knowledge of survival gear is impressive. As far as cooking gear goes, I was curious as to your opinion on the Swiss volcano stove. I picked up one from CTD recently along with a fitted Molle pouch, some wet tinder and trioxane tabs, and am looking to augment it with additional mess gear. I’m trying to avoid mixing and matching mess gear, but I’m willing to experiment…any ideas?

[EDIT: From what I have read on various forums the volcano stove works great for boiling water, plus there is usually something to burn around you, no extra fuel required. If you have to cook a meal, the volcano stove would not be my to choice. I think a wider pot would work a lot better for making actual meals. That being said, I carry a JetBoil PCS for all camping trips, and we use it to boil water for tea, soups and re-hydrated meas. When something has to be cooked, we use another stove and a stainless pots set. Both the JetBoil and the stove use IsoButaine fuel canisters, so they are interchangeable.]

Comment on MOLLE Sustainment Pouch by kevin

kevin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:35:48 +0000

One of my main complaints about the large molle pack is that it does not have any external pouches. For years I used a medium alice pack as my main camping pack, and I got used to the 3 large outside pouches – you can fit a rain poncho or a 1 pound bottle of propane in them.

Ever since I got my large molle pack I have been looking at external pouches. Right now I have a small maxpedition clam pouch attached right next to the canteen. But I need something a little larger.

With the sustainment pouches being around 12″ tall x 8″ wide x 6″ deep, that makes them a little larger then the outside pouches of a medium alice pack.

In other words, the sustainment pouches might be just what I’am looking for.

But one thing though – do you “have” to mount the pouches on the side of the pack? Can you mount them on the back side like where the alice pack has its pouches?

Comment on British DPM Camp Rucksack by D3adkl0wn

D3adkl0wn — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:54:59 +0000

i have one of these, I bought it last year, and honestly, i’ve regretted buying it since i did.. no external pockets (unless you count the attachable ones) and when you put on the attachable pockets the pack is just cumbersome..

perhaps one day i may take the time to have some MOLLE attachment points to it and add some compression straps to the sides… till then, it’ll sit in my closet

Comment on MOLLE II Assault Pack by David Stachlewitz

David Stachlewitz — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:16:14 +0000

I have a MOLLE II backpack set, and I’ll be d***ed if I can figure out how a Hydration Pack is supposed to be attached or carried. I have a couple of 3 Litre Hydration (Camelback) sets with carriers, how and where on the full size, (and the patrol pack) are they to be mounted?

Thanks

[EDIT: The camelback goes inside where the plastic framesheet and padding are, against your back.]

Comment on Mosin Nagant M44 by Karl

Karl — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:09:40 +0000

I have refinished numerous surplus rifles and found that across the board the following steps can result in a well finished, very functional rifle at little or no cost to the owner.

Disassemble the entire rifle.

To strip that unsightly Varnish the Russians use on these rifles,use 100 grit sand paper and goto work, the stuff literally flakes right off, or use the oven cleaner as mentioned above, both work very well. Stripping the varnish prior to removing allows the wood to purge the deeply soaked in cosmo and oils.

Place all wood parts in direct sunlight for 30 min intervals and wipe with a clean cotton cloth, repeat until little or no cosmolene seeps from the wood. This process can take awhile, up to a day, but costs nothing, an alternate to this is to place parts in the oven when set at the lowest temp.

Heavy Cosmo on the metal parts can be removed in this way also, simply wipe down after prolonged exposure in the sun, clean as normal with Hoppes or other gun solvent.

Next stain the stock as desired, I use minwax and seal either with a 50%-%50 mix of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits, or with a 50%-%50 mix of Minwax SPAR Urathane, and Mineral Spirits.

Bedding on a Nagant is very easy and numerous web sites on the web covers this, I have seen Hubert Concepts triggers, but can not justify spending $70 on a trigger for a rifle that costs $75, These rifles are what they are and are capable of MOA, but normal is 2″-4″ at 100M. The bent bolts are nice,but again cost almost more than what one pays for the rifle.

Surplus ammo for these rifles is cheap and runs deep here in the US, but better accuracy can be obtained with Winchester White box, or simply reloading surplus brass with modern bullets and powder if one reloads.

Just my 2 cents.

Comment on British IPK (Individual Protection Kit) by Karl

Karl — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:39:17 +0000

I picked up a pack of 10 of these things about 2 years ago for 20$. I have used these as lean-to shelters and ground cloths for smaller tents. They make excellent shelters and are far better with installed grommets than a standard GI poncho as a shelter. This is an excellent item if very minor modifications are made to it.

Comment on MOLLE II Assault Pack by kevin badger

kevin badger — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:33:53 +0000

the biggest difference i have noticed between the molle ii assault pack (the one that is in woodland camo) and the other one that is in desert camo is the padding in the shoulder straps. i have both packs and the woodland one even though it is smaller, it has a hell of a lot more padding in the shoulder straps.

i have the desert camo one that is set up as my search and rescue 24 hour pack and i tell you what, with approx 20# worth of gear in that pack out in the woods and climbing mountains looking for a lost hiker that had gone off the trail over the memorial day weekend, the pack sucked.

there is very little padding in the shoulder straps and after wearing it for 8 hours over a 7 mile course in the woods, i was beat. my shoulders were killing me so bad that i was ready to ditch the pack and gear.

if you are going to get a military issued pack to wear for long time and long distances, make sure there is plenty of padding in the straps because they really bit and dig into your shoulders.

18D US Army Vet