This part is based around the British Army tactical load carrying ensemble vest (nsn 8415-99-461-4932). Now I'll again be the first to admit that I was very reluctant to buy anything with the word tactical in its name as part of my emergency kit. I don't have weapons nor do I intend to have any with me so the need for something labeled as "tactical" was a bit tough for me to reconcile. And this vest was designed for an entirely different purpose than my own.
But after reading about the vest online and doing some further research, I decided to give it a try. It came brand new in the original packaging, one vest and 13 pouches. The vest is covered in loops of webbing that is known as the pouch attachment ladder system or PALS. This means that pouches can be attached anywhere on the vest and are secured so they will not "flap about."
This vest came with 3 large utility pouches, 1 small utility pouch, 1 flashlight/knife pouch, 1 medical pouch, 1 canteen pouch, 2 ammunition pouches and 4 grenade pouches. I have no use for grenade pouches so I haven't used them. The ammunition pouches are perfect for my thermal drinking mugs so they have been retained for use.
All of the pouches have a rubberized lining and a secure clip to keep them closed. The large utility pouches have a drawstring cover inside the lid to really keep the contents dry. The knife/flashlight pouch uses a simple velcro closure.
The
vest also has two small and two large pockets inside the front of the
vest which are easy to access and even in the cold, with gloves on, were
easy to open and a great place to stuff my gloves when I needed the
dexterity of my bare hands.
With
its wide shoulder straps, this vest has the ability to distribute the
weight of its contents in such a way that it does not cut into your
shoulders, and with the internal mesh construction, does not allow heat
to build up between your body and the vest. The combination of Fastex
clips and Spanish tabs allow all the pouches and the front of the vest
itself to close quickly and easily.
With
the PALS fittings, you can arrange the pouches in any way you wish to
suit your needs, and while the version I bought came with 13 pouches,
some come without pouches and additional pouches are available for
purchase from a variety of sources, so you can customize it as you see fit.
I
decided to set my vest up using the manufacturers suggested layout as a
starting place, omitting the four pouches I mentioned earlier. I've also added a Gerber knife pouch for my utility tool.
Now I've finally decided upon the contents of the pouches and will go over the contents below:
Water Bottle Pouch
Litre Water Bottle
Metal Drinking Mug
Pouch SA80 Ammunition
Thermal Drinking Mug
Pouch SA80 Ammunition
Thermal Drinking Mug
Pouch Medical
Joint Services Dressing First Aid Field
Camouflaged Sterile 20cmx19cm
(4) Adhesive Bandage, 1 inch x 3 inches
(1) Gauze Dressing, 4-1/2 inches x 4-1/10 yard
(2) Anti-Bacterial Towlettes
(1) SPF 30 Sun Protection Towlette
(1) 30% DEET Towelette
(2) Ceralyte 70
Utility Pouch-Small
Magnetic Compass
Signal Mirror
Para Cord in 2 Short Lengths
(2) Red Cylume Lightsticks
Watertight Plastic Match Case
(10) Flat Pack Lifeboat Matches (in Match Case)
Striker Boards (in Match Case)
Mini Compass (in Match Case)
2 Wetfire Fuel Cubes
Utility Pouch
Apricot Jam
Digestive Biscuits
Caramel Cereal Bar
Blackcurrant Fruit Grains
BBQ Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Strawberry Boiled Sweets
Fruity Oatie Biscuit
Beverage Whitener x4
Instant Coffee x2
Teabags x2
Water Purification Tablets x6
Hot Pepper Sauce
Sugar x4
Tissues
Matches 1 x5
Spearmint, Strong Mint and Peppermint Dental Chewing Gum
Wet Wipes x2
Spork
Re-usable Poly Bag
Knife/Torch
Pouch
Gerber Onyx 50 Torch
Utility Pouch
Instant
Porridge
Mexican Tuna
Pasta
Sausage
Casserole
Chocolate
Brownie
Fruit Puree
Strawberry/Banana/Apple
Tuna Lime
& Pepper
Cola Drink
Tooty Fruity
Drink
Utility Pouch
Hexamethylene Tetramine
(Hexamine) Solid Fuel Cooker
Spare Laces
Scotchbrite
Exotic
Fortified Drink
Tropical
Drink
Hot Chocolate
Orange
The vest and all the contents, less the water, weigh about 12 pounds. Considering the contents here are to keep me healthy and fed for 24 hours (the food listed will provide me about 2400 calories), I don't think that is a bad weight and in combination with the other park of my "get home" bag weight a total of 35 pounds, including a complete change of clothes for the 37 mile walk home, I don't think that is a bad arrangement.
After
hiking 2 1/2 hours in temperatures from 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit
this vest was still very comfortable and I was not sweaty underneath,
which could result in a chill in those low temperatures.
I found my vest at Military Uniform Supply.com where they offered the vest and 13 pouches new in the original packaging for $29.99.
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