"Musher's Pouch" for survival gear

Hikermor's thread ("What Should You Carry And Why?") compelled me to pull out my backpack and admire the "Musher's Pouch" I bought last fall. Which then caused me about an hour ago to order three more of these bags in other colors to better organize gear in my pack and bikes. I could comfortably put two of these on my backpack's hip-belt but so far just leave the one I have inside my backpack.

Below is the link to this "Musher's Pouch" (i.e. belt bag) that I highly recommend for organizing survival gear and, if you like, wearing on your belt or backpack hip-belt.

You can see below the construction details and dimensions. For safety, I also appreciate the reflective tape on the front of the bag.

Since 2003, I've been buying all my bikejoring gear at this place (a small business located near Seattle). Still using towlines and harnesses that I bought from them in 2003. By the way, If you're ever interested in bikejoring or dogscootering, I'm pleased to share my years of experience bikejoring with Gidget and her Samoyed friends. Bikejoring/scootering was my greatest gift to Gidget in her life.

http://www.alpineoutfitters.net/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=216

Musher's Pouch (AC001)

The Alpine Outfitter's Musher's Pouch is made of 300 Denier Cordura for durability. Our handy Musher's Pouch can be worn on your Alpine Outfitter's Musher's Belt or a standard belt and is great for carrying your keys, cell phone, money, etc.

It has a sturdy Nylon zipper and a convenient brass snap inside to secure your keys. Also features a strip of reflective tape for your safety at night!

Approximately 7.5" Wide X 6" High X 3" Deep.

Available in Black, Blue, Green, Orange, and Red.


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Nice pouch, I like the color coding organization. I use a County Comm Handy Zipper Pouch as a kit organizer, but the Zipper Vault Plus (8.5" x 5.0" x 2.5") is similar to the Musher's Pouch. The Zipper Vault Plus has belt loops and serves well carrying small items. Unfortunately, they only come in black.

Thanks, Dagny, for the info. I, too, have been looking for pouches in a color other than black and these seem like a very useful size. It would be nice is they would state how many 30 round magazines and/or hand grenades each could carry. I mean, what else would you use these for?

Ha, ha!

The bag would easily hold a few, perhaps several, handfuls of Milkbones.



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It is very good that you mentioned pepper spray. Very useful in the right situations, and not just for bears....

As a alpinist; those things look heavy!

I find the much maligned "fanny pack" lumbar pack or waist bag a great way to carry items.

Funny, I was looking at them and thought they are light! We'll see, I ordered two....

They are light.




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Alpinist light = sawn down toothbrushes, Trimming that little inch of extra string/strap which is not needed, discussing if you need a second pair of (lightweight microfiber) boxer for a week trip, using a big ziplock bag instead of a map case, etc.

Get serious, who needs a toothbrush? From time to time, I have trimmed off clothing labels, drilled holes in various items, etc. I generally climb and cave in alpine, rather than expedition style, but going lightweight eventually runs into the law of diminishing returns and potential bad outcomes.

The trick is figuring where along the heavy/light spectrum a particular project falls, and equipping appropriately. I expect I will use these as containers for what I call my "core bags," equipment I can carry on fast and light excursions where I am not carrying a back pack, but toting enough that I can get through an unexpected night out.

I'm trying to see where color coded nylon pouches are an advantage over clear freezer weight ziploc bags. Color coding has obvious advantages in organizing opaque pouches that need a level of toughness not available in plastic ziploc bags. OTOH, transparent bags have the advantage of the user just seeing what is in the bag. Weight isn't the issue, I'm only concerned with function.

As for cutting toothbrushes and the like to reduce weight -- not happening. I like a real manly handle on my toothbrush, paracord wrapped so it fills my hand

Sounds like a "tactical toothbrush" Is there a carbide glass breaker on the end? Razor blade strap cutter within the handle?

One attractive feature of the pouch is the straps that will allow belt carry or attachment to the pack exterior, etc. The nylon should protect from brush and rough handling Hopefully I will be well versed on the pouch's contents....

Color coding is useful for when you're trying to find a particular pouch in low light and/or in a hurry. I.e. the FAK is red, the fire/signal pouch is yellow, etc. Heavyweight poly bags are my go-to choice for when I'm staying in a hotel since I can find everything at a glance.

EDIT: Having a "shove it into whatever I'm carrying" mini-kit has proven quite handy over the years. I've found that pouches the size of an A5 sheet of paper, with D-rings and belt loops are quite versatile.

My pouches arrived today and they are good. Seams are double stitched and the fabric, while not all that heavy, should hold up well. It should be easy to modify them, if desired. I could easily fit two of them on a belt. As it turns out, the belt strap spacing is compatible with molle rigs. I'll bet if you attach them to your mil spec gear, your sergeant will get a little grumpy, especially the red color.

I'm a big advocate of belt pouches and fanny packs - keeps gear close without overstuffing your pockets. Mountain Smith makes some nice, high end models