Waco’s guide to field sustainment

[The Waco Kid]

   Personally my choice for camping, if there is somewhere to hang them, is a hammock with an under quilt. I have the DD expedition with built in mosi-net. 😉 I had a hammock instead of a bed for years and sleep better in them.

[The Waco Kid]

But keeping it simple there are some options for ground insulation or protection and some reasons to choose a specific one.

 

Sleeping pads often have their insulation valve noted as an R rating. Higher number the better with 5+ being more gear to winter use. Manufacturers have been know to be a bit “optimistic” on this, as with sleeping bags.

 

 

A) Bundeswher ground sheet. Folds up and is lightweight. Moisture barrier only. Pros: low cost, not heavy and keeps you off a wet surface. Simple set up. Cons: Ground sheets can end up being a bucket channeling water onto you if sited wrongly, provides no insulation.

 

B) Thick wide military type roll mat. Pros: Cheap, light, easy set up, pretty good insulation and very robust. Cons:    Can’t be compressed for carriage so it will be on the outside of your kit.

 

C) Military “self inflating” insulated sleeping pad.  In this case a Multimat brand 38 (38mm thick winter pad). Pros: Compressible, usually* very warm, can be better for side sleepers. Cons: Some set up required, potential for puncturing, packing down is a bit more involved than a simple mat. Cost is a bit higher some very expensive options £££’s out there.

 

*There are inflatable/self inflating pads that have very little internal insulation. You then end up with a cold  pocket of air underneath you, this can be useful before very hot weather however.

 

D) Sportsman’s type blanket, foil lined tarp. Similar to ground sheet. Pros: Compact, not especially heavy, minimal set up as a ground sheet. Cons: Moisture barrier only unless something else is used to create and air gap for reflector side to work.

 

E) Bundeswher type military sleeping pad. Pros: Cheap, light, folds up

to fit in a (large) pack, robust. Cons: Not especially thick so more useful for warmer weather.

Edited May 5 by The Waco Kid

[The Waco Kid]

Trapping body heat.

 

 There are several options again with advantages and disadvantages. Some outdoor companies sell “sleeping systems” that use the R-rating for insulation although it is far more common to see season ratings for guidance. Generally a three season is sufficient for most used in the UK.

 

 

A) Insulated clothing. Pros: You probably already have some, as you are wearing it you can just get up and go. Cons: Less efficient, takes time to change in and out of as it will need to be fairly thick to be of much valve and then too warm to run about in.

 

 

 

B) Poncho liner or quilt. Pros: Can be inexpensive, quick to get out of. Some ultralight camping quilts can very warm for weight but are often pricey. Cons: Can take some setting up (see ranger roll above).*

 

*My take on the ranger roll in Grunt’s video is that it is not warm enough used like that on it’s own. Secondly the layers should not all open on the same side. “Your mileage may vary”. 😁
 

 

C) Sleeping bags. Huge variability in quality and functionality. I am going to subdivide these a little. Pros: easy to set up and stow, can be cheap. Cons: can be expensive, winter bags can be very bulky, some designs may be difficult to get out of in a hurry.

 

i) Natural Down filling. I suggest avoiding this for skirmishing events. Down comes in fill powers and quality, generally the more expensive the better. Down is possibly the best for warmth but requires proper care and game conditions will probably lead to it getting damaged.

 

ii) Synthetic filling. Higher quality gets close to the level of down. Synthetic bags are more robust than Down so more suitable for wet and muddy conditions. Three season military bags are probably all you need with two season bags being useful in the summer.

 

 

Sleeping bags verses quilts. If you are lying flat in a sleeping bag the material beneath you is compressed. This provides next to no insulation as a result. Therefore a quilt of the same weight can be warmer when paired with a decent pad or mat. However, a sleeping bag can be used more easily when sitting up or resting in different positions.

Edited May 6 by The Waco Kid

[The Waco Kid]

Means to keep dry (and out of the wind).

 

If you’ve been reading the previous posts I’ve covered setting up a simple basha or tarp. If set up correctly and relatively close to the ground, they are very weather proof. 
 

Further options:

 

 

1) Tent or tarp set up as one. Either usually need some sort of  support such as an internal pole. Most are more time consuming to pitch an strike. Options to see out and exit are limited so I am going to skip over this option (for now at least).

 

 

2) Survival bags. Non-breathable foil blankets and large plastic bags. Pros: Cheap and very compact. Cons: Maybe single use, sometimes fragile, trap moisture so can make you colder in some situations.
 

 

 

3) Bivi bags. Breathable fabric sleeping bag covers. Lots of variations made from Goretex, Pertex and similar materials. There are simple tubes with a closed foot, hooded zip opening, Odesa with built in big netting and designs with integral poles to make a tiny one person tent. Pros: Usually very weather proof, simple to set up (although there are exceptions) and can be used where other systems will not work. Cons: The more features and the lighter the weight the more they tend to cost. Some can be a bit flimsy. Can be awkward to enter and exit.

 

Edited May 6 by The Waco Kid

[The Waco Kid]

Sample setup for Summer overnight events.

 

  Selection criteria are relatively low cost and light weight for warmer weather.

 

 

  This example doesn’t follow the military three line system but does have three elements so items can be dropped off easily if needed.

 

1) Weapon and chest rig holding fighting load of ammo, smoke, bangs, water & radio.

 

2) Belt kit (molle waist pack). This holds shelter system, sit pad, precooked food and perhaps a light weight jacket and socks. As previously discussed.

Can be worn on it’s own strap or attached to the fight load with some extra clips. 

3) 25L pack. To carry sleeping system and some extras.

A) Lid pocket with first aid and admin stuff.

B) Main compartment with fold up mat, light sleeping bag, ground sheet/bivi bag and insulated jacket.

C) Side pocket with cook system.

D) Back pocket with tools and spares for gatt.

E) Side pocket with another canteen.

 

I’ll break down the specific choices and some options next.

Edited May 9 by The Waco Kid

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

On 05/05/2024 at 16:29, The Waco Kid said:

E) Bundeswher type military sleeping pad. Pros: Cheap, light, folds up

to fit in a (large) pack, robust. Cons: Not especially thick so more useful for warmer weather.

I've had one of these for years.  Slept on all sorts of ground and used it as a range mat for HFT.  ALWAYS kept in the van in case of late night breakdown.  Not especially wide.  The lad once forgot his kipmat, and we had to share this one.  It was a bit cosy tbh. 

 

I've had plenty of nights on a half inch inflating mat too, can't remember the brand, but it was bought for daughter's D of E many moons ago.  About £15 on Evil Bay.  Gave up on roll mats a long time ago, too bulky and they get in one's way.

[The Waco Kid]

I do like cheap kit mat for a few things.  Making pads for belt kit, lining my hammock (double skinned base) and as an underlay for real cold or lumpy ground. 😉

  These Chicom ones can be folded to go inside a bag and work pretty well for the money.

 

 

 

  Plus purple is the most tactical of colours. 

 

£6.05 with tax and postage.

Edited May 9 by The Waco Kid

[The Waco Kid]

Reasoning of why I’ve suggested certain items:

 

This is intent as a “starter” set of inexpensive kit for summer use. At an event you will likely be “standing too” or stagging  on and off through the night so something simple to crawl in and out of is ideal.

1) I’ve suggest items that can be be built up from so remain useful if you decide to camp out in colder months.

 

And/or.

 

2) Cheap enough that if I need to temporally ditch stuff I am outgoing to worry about it. Pyro landing on a kip mat or sleeping bag is messy. 🤪

 

 

  Key to get the most out of simple gear it is where you set up. I am assuming somewhere you can put up the basha without poles.

 

Checkist for campsite:

 

• Widowmakers. Check above you for dead trees/branches/roofing slates that might go bump

in the night.

• Not in on or next too and insect nest or animal midden…….

•.Not on boggy ground or a hollow in the ground. We do not need cover from shell splinters so you don’t need a fox hole.

 

 

Tacticalness/field craft:

 

• Somewhere that offers concealment but ideally it not under the only pair of trees in the field.

 

 

• Concealment is good but you need a  to also have good site lines and a route to exit.

 

I am sure others will chime in!

 

Detailed gear list:

 

A) Pack.  In this case a Highlander Proforces 25, this has a reasonably well supported back and waist strap. Retail about £45 but you can often get something similar in a sale for less. A plain black civilian day pack can often be had for less and you can always get it make a cover. Go for something with some back support.

Volume of 20-30L should sufficient but 40L would give room for camo net or rain gear. British Army Surplus NI patrol packs are decent or if you have some money to spend the latest Berghaus Munro uses a system to add side pockets (not PLCE ones).
 

B) Garden waste bags/Rubble sack times two. Pack liner, boot covers multi use items. If you fancy some bushcraft stuff the bags FULL with dry leaf litter and put then under your sleeping system with the open ends rolled closed and facing each other.

 

C) Groundsheet. Any cheap fairly tough but like waterproof fabric. Not strictly needed but even in the summer in the UK the ground gets damp over night. Gives you more room to put stuff down but out of the mud. The one shown is a Bundeswher ground sheet and about twice the width of the sleeping mat. A cheap polyester tarp will do. £10. 

 

D) Sleeping mat. Foldy up Bundeswher one. Thin but packs well and robust. Apparently these were modelled on Michael Schumacher’s jaw line to get the shape. £20-25 new. You can get the Z folding chinesium ones online for £10, they are okay.

 

I tend to avoid roll up kip mats at they are bulky and usually need to go on the outside of your bag which is a pain when going through undergrowth. 

 

E) Sleeping bag. Cheap polyester (I think Highlander brand) zip up envelope type. Supposedly a two season bag but really one season. Cost £10-15. It’s on here as you may already have one, the simple design is easy to whet in and out of and can be used as a blanket if sitting up. I’m sleeping in it with my boots on so cheap is good. For  £20-30 you can get a more capable bag, usually with a hood, which I don’t use.

 

 

Some  alternatives are:

 

• A poncho liner (left hand in the above). Not much more compact, no warmer, no zip and £40 for a copy. They are also shiny slide all over the place.

• Surplus patrol sleeping bag from the US MSS. A bit warmer and can be compressed to the same size. But more expensive, rapid open zip. Boot covers in this one. 😁

 

F) Pillow. This is the sleeping bag stuff sack. Inside is a woolly hat and a cheap puffy jacket the stuffs into it’s own pocket when not in use. These get worn if it’s colder or I want to be head and shoulders out of the bag any way, which is normal for me.

 

Hopefully you are working as part of a team with someone on watch at night. Therefore you can double or share up on some items. Being in the same sleeping bag is optional however. 😘

Edited May 9 by The Waco Kid

[Jaylordofwaargh]

For sleep system I've got a tarp, hammock with netting bulky and old sleeping bag. For that added warmth i use a microfiber towel, sometime in the bag, sometime in the hammock. It works well.

Cook/brew systems is where I am lacking, normally I'm a pot noodle (or similar) with added biltong using the site kettle/hot water however....

 

I keep looking at some sites that are just out of Sunday (public transport) reach and figure an organised/sneaky camp on/near site would open up options for me so,what do you good people actually use? @The Waco Kid are these brew/cook kits personal experience? 

Does anyone have a goto not mentioned? 

It would only need to do one/two meals, the late night and morning as well as tea/coffee for both meals. Light and cheap options would be the preference. 

 

A chafing can with added bits would cover it off? 

[The Waco Kid]

A chaffing tin would do it but they are essentially a heavy(ish) tin. One of the beauties of them and solid fuel burners is that they are very quiet compared to gas. If you need to heat a meal quickly then a simple gas cart stove is not much slower than a jet boil really.

 

I use a mix of military USGI/British 58/Swedish M40 at least once a week.  The M40 is for when I cook spagbol for the family meal. 😉

 

I have two jetboils which get used for brewing up at work. I half a dozen on my team who cannot function without tea and coffee NOW!

 

 

Someone after my ration packs…

 

Do you have an under quilt on your hammock? Even a poncho liner strung under the hammock makes a big difference to warmth.

Extending the LARP factor

 

So perhaps you want to use your kit for a bit more than just airsofting or you are taking part in cadet training or DoE. 
 

What else do you need?

Edited June 18 by The Waco Kid

[The Waco Kid]

Modular system:

 

 

 

1) Single PLCE side pocket with “survival” / day hike kit

2) Second PLCE side pocket with light weight insulation and bivi. Ground mat on outside.

 

3) The bug out bag. 60L bergen will hold all the above, wet weather layer, three season bag, 3 days food and 2-3L of water. More than enough for DoE of trip. Side pockets bump it to 80L and is enough capacity to cope with UK winter overnighting in the Cairngorms.

4) Fucking big bag. 120L this will hold two full sets of artic sleeping gear. Or one set and mortar rounds. If you need to carry all your skirmish kit in it plus camping gear. It will probably still have space.

 

The bags above are the 60L  Dutch Issue Sting and the 120L Saracen. They were both designed by Lowe Alpine and also made by Fesca.
 

The ones above are the “Gen 2” with molle panels and and MMPS so they will take PLCE rocket pockets the right way up. Both models have adjustable back systems and are very robust. They are some of the best carrying military packs ever made and can be picked very cheaply.

 

The Lowe Apline CFP-90 is also excellent but the shoulder suspension is a bit prone to breaking. It’s also quite pricey this side of the pond.

 

Edited June 18 by The Waco Kid

[Cannonfodder]

Another excellent addition to this guide.

 

However I'd like to just make one little caveat. Try to avoid using camouflage kit for DofE or hiking in general. Yes you loose the tacticool look but if things go tits up then it'll be far easier for mountain rescue teams to find you if your rucksack (and other kit/clothing) is a bright colour

[The_Lord_Poncho]

On 17/06/2024 at 19:43, Jaylordofwaargh said:

I keep looking at some sites that are just out of Sunday (public transport) reach and figure an organised/sneaky camp on/near site would open up options for me so,what do you good people actually use?

Just take care - if you are discovered by an irate land owner, bet an Ikea bag full of RIFs could be viewed as a bit of an aggravating factor!

 

11 hours ago, The Waco Kid said:

4) Fucking big bag. 120L this will hold two full sets of artic sleeping gear. Or one set and mortar rounds. If you need to carry all your skirmish kit in it plus camping gear. It will probably still have space.

 

The bags above are the 60L  Dutch Issue Sting and the 120L Saracen. They were both designed by Lowe Alpine and also made by Fesca.

I used an ex-dutch issue Fesca made 120l Saracen in the forces for many years, it served me amazingly well, and always grossly overloaded. Despite years of abuse and rough handling, it looks like it did the day I bought it (second hand).

[Jaylordofwaargh]

2 hours ago, The_Lord_Poncho said:

Just take care - if you are discovered by an irate land owner, bet an Ikea bag full of RIFs could be viewed as a bit of an aggravating factor!

You know it! Nah would mostly be asking sites if they are cool with it or doing the super sneaky late pitch. 

 

14 hours ago, The Waco Kid said:

 

So perhaps you want to use your kit for a bit more than just airsofting or you are taking part in cadet training or DoE. 

Nothing like that, just a spot of occasional wild camping to do max two nights on the trot, predominantly to go airsofting at non local sites. 

14 hours ago, The Waco Kid said:

 

Do you have an under quilt on your hammock?

No, just the (green) microfiber towel, it works and it's light/small enough. 

[The Waco Kid]

17 hours ago, Cannonfodder said:

Another excellent addition to this guide.

 

However I'd like to just make one little caveat. Try to avoid using camouflage kit for DofE or hiking in general. Yes you loose the tacticool look but if things go tits up then it'll be far easier for mountain rescue teams to find you if your rucksack (and other kit/clothing) is a bright colour

It’s okay we got you covered. 😉😘

 

Edited June 19 by The Waco Kid

[gavinkempsell]

Yeah, but it's not got any molle.

[The Waco Kid]

Better?

 

Edited June 19 by The Waco Kid

[gavinkempsell]

Much.

[Jaylordofwaargh]

OK so, that patch and ones like it, a man needs a sauce

[Cannonfodder]

Better add some glitter to be extra safe

[The Waco Kid]

14 hours ago, Jaylordofwaargh said:

OK so, that patch and ones like it, a man needs a sauce

He is the “I don’t fucking care bear”. Amazon seem to be out…..

[Cannonfodder]

18 hours ago, Jaylordofwaargh said:

man needs a sauce

Depending on what it's going on I recommend either brown or chilli mayo

[gavinkempsell]

This seems to be the best place to ask, so... apart from the countries that adopted alice field gear, is the USA the only country that prefers modern rucksacks/backpacks etc to have external frames?

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

4 hours ago, gavinkempsell said:

This seems to be the best place to ask, so... apart from the countries that adopted alice field gear, is the USA the only country that prefers modern rucksacks/backpacks etc to have external frames?

The Swedish LK35 has an external frame and comes with a Molle waistbelt, all in 1000D so pretty modern I'd guess.

[The Waco Kid]

On 20/06/2024 at 21:18, gavinkempsell said:

This seems to be the best place to ask, so... apart from the countries that adopted alice field gear, is the USA the only country that prefers modern rucksacks/backpacks etc to have external frames?

Largely yes. Some of the biggest influences post WW2, Cold War and upto GWOT was the amount of kit the US punted out in assistance. Alice kit was really wide spread.

 

I think in the 1990’s there was a lot of influence from makers like Lowe Alpine bringing in modern mountaineer style packs. * The Eagle 3 day pack and CFP90 are pretty much copies of civilian items for example. US SF liked this sort of kit but not so popular with regular, pretty conservative, procurement which went with the molle 1 pack for fuck sake. 😱

 

Europe had quite a few manufacturers and pretty much went their one way.

 

* Bearing in mind WW2 bergens we’re civilian pack copies and some of the uniform designs were taken from recreational ski and mountain wear. So the cycle continues.