Load Carriage

This post continues our look at load carriage by focusing on more traditional load bearing equipment. Before we get into my personal setups, I want to talk a little bit about how load carrying gear evolved over time.

This post continues what I started in my introduction to load carriage. In that article, I talked about the ongoing battle between weight and capability. It turns out that up until very recently, the average weight carried by soldiers remained shockingly stable. When it comes time to fight, the recommendation is to stay less than 30% of your lean body mass or about 50 lbs for the average person.

It’s time to start talking about how we carry our stuff. This series of articles is not focused on competition or marksmanship. Instead, we’re going to talk about showing up for a fight.

Today we’re talking about the chest rig. Whether it’s standalone or a plate carrier, putting stuff on your torso has become the de-facto “cool guy” way to do things. So what do you need to know about doing it?

Today we continue our discussion of load carriage options by talking about the tactical belt. You might also know it as a duty belt, and it’s a great method for carrying gear when you do it right.

Today we’re continuing our discussion on load carriage. But now we’re moving towards the discreet end of the spectrum. I didn’t think all that much about my belt when I first received my CCW permit. It was all about the pistol and associated holster. But the truth is that a good concealed carry belt is part of a system that includes the pistol, holster, belt, and you.

During our series on load carriage, we’ve gone over all of the most common methods available. Now it’s time to talk about where to put all that extra stuff: the assault pack.

The battle belt is a sort of modern iteration of the classic ALICE gear that served the US military from the 70s through late 90s. But there are some significant differences, particularly in the type and amount of load that the belt handles.