Many of us already know the phrase you take care of the ounces, they will take care of the pounds.
The principle being that it's easy to add a feature, or capability, so hard to loose pounds in your rig, ruck or rifle. But if you make good small choices, they add up. Carry that sensitive item in a small plastic box, not a big metal one. Or a small padded nylon case. A couple ounces, but you make a few more of those choices and you have lost a pound.
And nothing makes you appreciate loosing a few pounds like carrying it up a mountainside, or having to carry it for two weeks straight. Done both, and it's still a hard lesson to retain. Many joes and boots and probbies don't get a chance to test themselves enough, or consider the occasional ruck run a rare, training-only occurrence so it's hard to drive the point home.
Well today while walking I found this on the ground:
A one ounce weight from... something. And you know what? It's heavy. We rarely get to see an ounce as a single hunk of steel. It's hard to tell the difference between 22 and 23 oz, or to get the impression that an oz of fabric weighs anything. But an oz of steel in your hand is a lot. Who wants that?
So, I think this is a good object lesson. I still carry my P38 on my keychain, not so much to open cans as to remind myself I can always open a can, and don't have to starve.
Now I think I am going to carry this around as well. I encourage you to think about the same, or make your friends and co-workers (if relevant) try this. Get an ounce (a fishing weight, whatever) and take care of it. Carry it in your pocket for a week, and see how much more you think about the weight of items when you next pack your bag, or put stuff on your belt, pack or LBE before work.
I have had this thought a lot when I was putting together my FILBE pack. Right now it's on the trusty ALICE frame but have wondered if I should go to the lighter Tactical Tailor MALICE frame or the Down East 1606AC that the FILBE is supposed to be on.
ReplyDeleteDunno. What is the weight difference? The ALICE frame isn't that heavy really, so that might be more about comfort, as the plastic ones are curved and flex a bit.
ReplyDeleteWell the ALICE frame is 2 lbs.
ReplyDeleteThe Malice frame is 30% lighter than the ALICE frame so less than 1.5 lbs.
The Down East is 1.75 lbs so not a huge savings.
I do hate me some ALICE packs, and most external frames, but if you like it, this is damned cool: http://www.tacticaltailor.com/tacticaltailormalicepackframestrillscompatible.aspx
ReplyDeleteSame geometry so no weirdness there, just fixed the weight and pokeyness. If not $80, it would be very advisable.
Yeah and that's what I was looking at. Cutting more than a half pound from your pack without losing any gear would make a difference. However some will only see the price tag difference between an ALICE and a MALICE frame.
ReplyDeleteEven I am being a cheapskate. My Kifaru was over $300, then I had to order a waist belt. And some other bits. I don't want to talk about it anymore.
ReplyDelete$80 is not bad in this context is it?
TT has that frame on sale. Maybe ending today so hurry. Now $52 http://www.tacticaltailor.com/tacticaltailormalicepackframestrillscompatible.aspx
ReplyDeleteWith nearly a decade of airsoft and milsim behind me, the one thing I was always thankful for was the weight of the ammo, and magazines. Its basically a freebie when you get a full set of magazines for 1 pound of weight.
ReplyDeleteWith that said I look forward to the MILES blank fire event. The blanks will be a good shake up from my normal coziness of my gear. I will be thinking of this.
With nearly a decade of airsoft and milsim behind me, the one thing I was always thankful for was the weight of the ammo, and magazines. Its basically a freebie when you get a full set of magazines for 1 pound of weight.
ReplyDeleteWith that said I look forward to the MILES blank fire event. The blanks will be a good shake up from my normal coziness of my gear. I will be thinking of this.