Pack Weights for the Freedom Fighter, by NCSheepdog

The U.S. Armed Forces have decided that their pack weights may be increasingly too heavy for the typical Warfighter. Granted, there are different packs and equipment for each mission (mission dictates equipment). Some packs get near or over 100 lbs. The Warfighter carrying pretty much everything that they need for sustained operations can be pretty weighed down. A regular armed force, with logistical command, can resupply their forces on (hopefully) a regular basis during a mission. Sometimes on schedule or on demand, but there is a system for re supply, hence the pack weights can be lightened.

With new material, composites take the place of steel, nylon replaces canvas and lightweight metals and proper distribution of weight can make the field equipment a little lighter. We all know ounces equals pounds and pounds equal pain. So let’s jump into how the Freedom Fighter can do with a little less weight on his or her mission.

The goal of the military is to cut the weight of the equipment carried to no more than 55 lbs (depending upon mission). There are items that must be carried like food, water, ammunition, etc. The same applies to your Freedom Fighter. However, your average Freedom Fighter will be operating in a known environment with his supplies close at hand or within an area where friendly populations would be willing to resupply consumables.

It is my hope to bring in the average weight of the Freedom Fighter’s kit to under 35 lbs. We can do this by having access to backpacking equipment that is lighter than the average military gear. Depending upon the mission, I intend to try to get the pack weight of the kit under 35lbs. I will only be talking pack weights and LBE.

There is a video from Dirty Civilian that I like to pick apart. His mission is to respond to an injured neighbor about a mile away and his kit is way too much to carry in my opinion. There are items that are totally unnecessary. I will link it here: https://youtu.be/wRzEi154Uek

We will start out with what I call a ‘Minuteman Loadout’. This will be the basic items to be carried for no more than a 24 hr deployment. You can add or subtract as you like, but this is what I carry.

Minuteman Loadout:

This is the small shoulder bag that I carry with me in my car or when running out the door. It is a US Peacekeeper shoulder bag weighing 9.2 pounds total weight with equipment.

It contains:
4×30 round AR mags
2×17 round Glock 17 mags (they work in all three of my handguns)
1 scissors
2 chemlights
1 tourniquet
1 small IFAK/Bloodstopper kit w/chest seals
1 flashlight
1 emergency bivy bag
1 homemade MRE (supermarket store bought stuff)
1 lifestraw
1 Baofeng UV5R with extended battery (I carry that in a pocket)
I carry 2×1 pint pilot’s flasks in my cargo pockets filled with water
1x CR 123 battery / 2x AA batteries and 1x 2023 battery
1x multi tool
Ear and eye protection and a write in the rain pad with pen

The second pack and LBE is my 24-72 hr bag.

I carry the Brushbeater chest rig with 3 magazines, small fire kit and flashlight with mini binoculars along with 3×30 round AR magazines and an attached IFAK along with an AR152 and pouch and bug screen.

My belt kit is a standard US military belt with 1qt canteen, cup and stove and IFAK on belt along with a Kershaw 6” fixed blade knife. With water, the entire rig, including chest rig, comes in at 12.5 pounds.

My rucksack would carry my basic items such as a poncho, small tarp, food (stripped MREs x2, protein bars x6, high calorie snacks),small solar recharging kit, water purification kit, NVG, Thermal, extra socks x4, 550 cord, scrim, fire kit and flashlight. Also a casualty blanket and personal hygiene kit. I add or subtract to the kit as needed due to the season and conditions. I always have ear and eye protection along with basic firearm maintenance kit.

I don’t have a photo as of yet, because I’m pulling it apart for summer as opposed for the spring and late winter kit that was in it. My ruck is an older EMS 2000 pack. It comes in at 20 lbs for winter and around 15 lbs for summer.

I always carry my first line equipment of a small folding knife, compass with mirror, small flashlight, boo-boo kit and a tourniquet along with my sidearm.

I’ll get into long term sustainment pack in a future article. For now, this should suffice for what a very light Freedom Fighter might carry on a mission. Of course other equipment could be added or subtracted as needed or wanted. The goal of this article was to get a fighting weight for carrying equipment under 35 lbs.

Each individual is different and equipment is an individual choice. This is what I tend to carry. I can switch out the AR 152 for the UV5R, drop the stove kit, change the food to freeze dried or just go with protein bars and electrolyte replacement to save more weight.

Remember folks, mission dictates equipment. If you have a lighter load, you can move faster. I can go down a rabbit hole with the different carry options, rigs, rucks, LBE etc.

This is just an idea on how to get you started. Also, remember bug sprays and permethrin! Keeps the crawlies off!

You may not be comfortable for a few days, but the idea is to be comfortable being uncomfortable! Let’s keep up the training, learning and teaching. Build community, protect your families. Learn and use your equipment. Get familiar with it. Get physically prepared and be ready. No one is coming for us, we are our own protectors.

God Bless You All
NC Sheepdog