Operating from a Three Day Pack (Part 1/3)
As military simulations continue to evolve, more challenging mission profiles are beginning to appear. These may include reconnaissance taskings that take days to complete, or operations establishing remote camps with austere conditions. With more events including these types of missions, they provide the opportunity for participants to experience the excitement that comes with them. They also present new challenges that must be addressed to ensure participants both operate effectively, and enjoy their experience.
What food to carry, what shelter to use, and where to sleep are just some of the questions that may have new answers in these advanced scenarios. While the internet is full of packing lists, they typically illustrate one persons answers to these questions. Instead, our goal is to help you understand the problems you'll face, and what options exist so that you can select and experiment to find the items that work best for you.
THE THREE DAY PACK PHILOSOPHY
This article is written for individuals about to embark on a military simulation event that lasts 24 to 72 hours, where there may be no fixed based of operations and where they desire to remain self sufficient without resupply. It will not apply to every simulation event you participate in, nor will it apply to everyone that wishes to participate. However, it will provide a solid foundation of options and considerations to help you select the right equipment for you.
If you already operate out of a Three Day Pack, then this article should provide you some insight into how others are selecting equipment and organizing their gear. If you are new to the concept, then welcome to the club. There’s a lot to think about.
This guide breaks down into three blog posts:
Part 1 (This Post)
Pack Selection
Food and Water
Part 2 (Link TBA)
Shelter
Sleeping
Clothing
Part 3 (Link TBA)
Support
Mission Equipment
PACK SELECTION
Your pack is one of the most important items you will select and it is not an easy decision. The market is filled with new and used packs from military surplus or commercial companies. It's likely that your first pack won't perfectly fit your needs, and with experience you'll identify new features or functions that you'll look for in your next purchase. However, paying attention to the considerations below should help you get closer to what you're looking for at the beginning.
Pack Considerations
Volume
This is the internal capacity of your pack in liters or cubic inches. Typically, three day packs are marketed in the 30-50 liter (1830-3050 ci) size. You'll want something that can effectively hold all the equipment you'll be carrying. This will include your food, shelter, sleeping, and clothing equipment. It also has to carry any of the equipment you'll need to sustain your operations, and any mission equipment you're assigned by your team.
Two very important notes about capacity here. The first is that mission equipment can have a wide range of size requirements. If you're asked to carry a breaching kit and night vision, your extra space requirements are likely to be low. However if you're expected to take on a hide building operation, you may be asked to carry large and bulky items like camouflage nets and shovels. Focus on the types of roles you're most likely to do, and recognize that your choice of pack may not work well for both equipment requirements.
The second key note is that weather can dramatically impact your volume requirements. Operations in warm weather where you can sleep outside unaided may mean you need a bare minimum of packed sleeping/shelter gear. Operations in shoulder seasons or cold weather may require bulkier insulation and more robust shelter options packed inside your ruck. Once again, your pack choice may not work ideally for both options.
While it seems logical to choose a larger pack, note that a larger sized pack may not function well without a larger load. You may discover straps that can't cinch any tighter, or attachments that flop around. The extra volume also encourages over packing, which is it's own challenge. Conversely, select a pack that is too small and you may not have room for the mission essentials.
Empty Weight
This is the weight of your pack all by itself. If you're trying to keep your total load carried under 30% of your body weight, a heavier pack will eat up valuable mass that could be used for other equipment. Don't be surprised to find between 1.5 to 2.5 kgs (~3-5 lbs) taken up by your pack choice alone.
Load Transfer System
The design of a pack will always include shoulder straps, but it may also include a rigid frame and hip belt to help transfer the weight off your shoulders and onto your hips. If you're new to packs, this is a game changer for heavier loads. It's important to evaluate the padding on shoulder straps, and to determine if the mass you expect to carry would benefit from frames or belts. These features will make loads more comfortable to carry, but they can add weight or get in the way if you don't need them. Consider what mass you'll be carrying, and whether these features are important. Some packs feature belts that are removable or stow away when not in use. Others have removable frame systems for lighter loads.
External Features
PALS webbing is a common feature on modern military packs, but is absent on many commercial/civilian models or older surplus. The ability to attach external pouches can add modular capacity or easy access to key items, but it can also result in a pack becoming unbalanced or larger than originally planned. Other external features to look for include pockets for rifle butts or water bottles, and straps that can be used to attach larger items such as tarps or sleeping pads. These features are very useful, but do add weight and snag points if not managed well. It's worth noting that you'll want to find a pack in a colour way or camouflage that suits your needs.
Internal Features
Packs can contain internal organization pockets, as well as separators/attachment points for radios or water bladders. It's important to consider how much organization or separation you'll be likely to need. Do you need smaller pockets for batteries and electronics, or will you use your own packing bags within the pack? How will your water bladder be separated or hang within the pack, or is that not critical to you?
Design of Openings
The method by which you access items in your pack will be a set of features you deal with almost more than any other. A number of styles exist, including clam shell, trizip, and top loading. Some packs also include secondary access methods with front, size, or bottom zips. Take some time to visualize how you'll pack the items in your ruck, and how much work will be required to access them. Are you ok with pulling out most of your items to get to your sleeping equipment on the bottom? Or would you prefer the ability to access that directly? Smart packing can mitigate a lot of the challenges that come with single access point or top loading packs, but extra access points or packs that open fully may make the job easier. Other opening features you may want to look for include ports for routing antennas, cables, or hydration tubes out from the inside of the pack.
Pack Options
There is no end to the packs available to you, however there are a few brands and styles that come up frequently. Mystery Ranch is a favourite for durability, comfort, and function. Eberlestock and Kifaru are another pair of commercial producers making solid packs. In the surplus realm, the USMC ILBE is popular, and some even continue to use the old ALICE packs for their removable frame and style.
List of packs being used by article contributors
Mystery Ranch 3DAP
Mystery Ranch SATL
Mystery Ranch Overload
Mystery Ranch Komodo Dragon
Mystery Ranch Pintler
High Ground Gear Three Day Pack
Arcteryx Khyber 60
USMC ILBE II
Pack Recommendations
O.C-G - USMC ILBE II
Tons of room for literally anything you could possibly bring. Lots of MOLLE real estate to attach extra pouches. Fairly adjustable for most frames and has a thick waist pad. The not so great: Weighs more than other bags, zipper system sometimes makes it a pain to get to things. Having used it for backpacking and bbwarz multiple times... I love it and don't really see myself replacing it anytime soon.
SA - Mystery Ranch SATL
I've used maybe eight or nine packs over the years. They all work well but I continue to refine what I'm looking for. Currently I'm using the Mystery Ranch SATL. It's a bit larger (60L) than a standard 3 day pack, and this can be a little unappealing in warm weather as it never gets filled full. However, I find that for cooler weather, it's capable of carrying my shelter, sleep gear, clothing, and food very well. It's tough to find a pack that works well for both winter and summer, but I'm hoping to apply packing discipline to ensure I can use just the one. A modification I made was to grab a Mystery Ranch day pack lid and used it instead of the stock lid on the pack. The day pack creates a quick and accessible go bag to use. I've also been experimenting with lashing my First Spear ECP to the front instead of using the day pack lid. Regarding access and organization, I really value the ability to access the contents of the pack without unloading it. The vertical front zip allows me to do that well. I've previously used an MR Pintler and I find the Trizip is comparable to the front zip for me. Internally, the pack has a pair of light nylon tube pockets running down the inside. I often use one for a UK Basha shelter, and load my cooking/filtration gear into the other. There are also a pair of 'torpedo' pockets on the front of the bag, which have a bit more capacity than the internal tubes. Externally, there are enough lashing points on the bottom and sides for extra netting/tarps if I'm building hides, and I often load my sleeping pad under the lid. Just the right amount of PALS webbing to attach a few accessories including my first aid kit and a small food pouch.
RS - Mystery Ranch 3DAP
For me the Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault Pack comes at the end of a fairly long line of different packs. Some of the first packs I used were from offshore tactical companies like Condor or civilian companies like Osprey. While those packs served their purpose, they never served it well when it came to Milsim applications. In my search for the right pack I tried out packs from LBT, Tactical Tailor, Eberlestock and more. While they were certainly an improvement, none of them quite met my needs in a pack. Enter the Mystery Ranch 3DAP. Mystery Ranch builds their packs based on the combined knowledge from years of mountaineering and pack construction with direct input from tactical real world users. That means they aren’t cutting corners when it comes to features or materials in their product. The end result is something comfortable and highly functional. The primary features I was looking for in a pack were as follows: Scalable: As a tall guy, many ‘one size fits all’ packs were simply too small for me. I needed a pack with an adjustable yoke and a sized waist belt. Compressible: I wanted a pack could easily carry a full loadout, while not looking like a bag of dicks when only partially filled. This meant it needed compression straps to cinch down the load. Comfortable: Many packs I’d tried failed to strike the balance between padding, weight, and proper distribution of the load. Practical: Many packs I’d tried had features that simply weren’t needed, or poorly implemented. I wanted something simple and user friendly. Clocking in at just shy of 33L the 3DAP is one of the smaller packs I’ve used for 24-48 OPs. Surprisingly, I’ve never run out of room to the point something important was left behind. The downfall of many packs in this category in my opinion is too many compartments of 500-1000D cordura. These compartments are useful for organization, but are rarely filled all the way and they add a good deal of weight to the pack. This results in a heavier pack with wasted space inside it. All the compartments in the MR 3DAP are contained within the main body of the pack, and separated by mesh or light nylon. This means partially filled pockets don’t waste space. Additionally, the Tri Zip design allows for the pack to be loaded (and more importantly unloaded) in a very efficient manner. Finally the numerous compression straps allow many bulkier items to attach the the exterior of the pack, saving room inside for the essentials.
AS - Arc'teryx Khyber 60
I run the Arcteryx Khyber 50. Sometimes with the included lid and a MR daypack lid. It is too much for 24 hour operations, as a daypack would suffice but it fits the role quite well for 24+ up to 72 hours if I had it with all the bells and whistles. Here are my observations, in point form for brevity and clarity: 1. It is a top loader with no external pockets. This means that there are no water bottle holders, zippers or storage beyond the main compartment or lid. Extra care and thought in advance is required or else i may have to remove most items from my pack to get to the goodies at the bottom. 2. Being a top loader requires me to be disciplined in what I pack and and be mindful of what is packed at the top. In addition I would need to consider the basic rucksack packing principles of having heavy and awkward items higher and closer to the spine. One advantage is that because it is just one big bag, it is able to hold awkward sized items although it may be at the cost of being slightly imbalanced. I will mentally go through what I think will happen when we step off and what I will need first. If it is a dusk / evening step off, I usually would put an insulating layer or a shelter system near the top in anticipation of establishing a laying up area as a likely first major task. All the way at the bottom would be sleeping gear, change of clothes. Somewhere in the middle is usually food supply that is used strictly for resupplying smaller food items located on person or in the lids. Would also fit in the middle awkward items like canteen cups. closest to back outside of the liner would be my hydration bladder. 3. The pack is lined with a waterproof rucksack liner and individual compartments have their own ditty bags. 4. Because the bag is a top loader, I find myself needing to use all external storage options available to me. They include: -Two beaver tails. One at the lower 1/3 of the ruck and one above the main compartment that the lids rest on. These are designed for helmets and short antitank weapons think M72 LAW. The top one would be more secure for things like a LAW or maybe even another rifle. Disadvantage for the top one is that the lid needs to be flipped to access the beavertail. Advantage would be that it is more secure. The bottom one is better suited for a helmet. -Shock cord daisy chains running the length of the front of the pack. This is useful for sticking a basha or level 6 for easy access. It is fairly secure here and have had good success with it. -Daypack lid and included lid (sometimes one or sometimes two). Circumstances rarely warrant the use of both together but generally the day pack lid would have the bare essentials to sustain me: At least 1L of water, poop bags, TP and hand sanitizer spare magazines, sweater, NOD case, snacks, batteries, change of socks and fire kit. I am in the process of trying to up the 1L to two L using antibottles as I find 1L is too little for patrols. A challenge that I am facing here would be that my insistence on having my nod case and bringing an compression sack with sweater in the daypack leaves me with little room for additional water I want to carrry. I am considering removing the sweater in the day pack for all but the coldest events and bringing more water. -I added shock cord to the bottom of my ruck to attach a sleeping mat. It works well, is secure and can deploy and attach the mat very quickly. 5. Some advantages include that the pack is meant to be a mountaineering pack so the manner in which it synches allow for a lower profile in the unlikely event the ruck less than 50% loaded. The synch straps have also been used to carry hide building material but relies on the pack being almost full capacity out to secure properly. 6. Overall I think the type of pack has contributed positively a good kit management mindset in the field for me despite not being as easy access compared to tri zips. For example it forces me to think in advance and pack things away deliberately and I am usually packed and squared away very quickly. It forces me to be organized and in turn I am organized
REVIEW - Carryology Khyber 60
FOOD
Food is one of the items you will be required to carry over the course of your event, and your choices will have a serious impact on how you perform. Too little food brought may leave you tired and weak, while too much is mass that could be allocated in better ways. Your needs will also change with environmental and exertion factors.
The amount needed varies by person. In some cases, you may find that regular large meals keeps your at your best. In other cases, you may find that small snacks every hour or two works better. Determining your best operating state will help you select the types and amounts of food to bring. Experience is the best teacher here, so long hikes or overnight trips with various weather and exertion levels will help provide the knowledge you need. However, there are some operational considerations you may not have considered.
Will your unit be stopping for meal breaks, or will they be constantly on the move? Will the breaks be long enough to prepare a dehydrated meal, or will they only be five minutes at a time? Can you spare the water from your drinking supply to add to dehydrated food? Will your position be secure enough to use a stove with the associated noise and light, or will you be required to maintain disciplines that make this impossible? These factors must be assessed by you and your unit before you make a decision of what to carry.
Food Considerations
Weight/Volume
The more space and weight that your food occupies, the less room you have to haul other gear. The weight requirements of hydrated food can add up quickly, and should be factored into your pack weight. However, food is consumable. As you eat, you’ll gain that extra room in your ruck. Don’t forget that you’ll need to pack out all your trash. Keep this in mind if you’re considering food options with lots of packaging.
Personal Needs
Your experience will always dictate how much and what type of food you personally need to keep up your energy. Consider previous events you’ve attended and how you coped with the activity requirements and the food you ate. If in doubt, packing extra snacks and ready-to-eat (RTE) items is a small space investment but can pay off if you run low on meals.