or to put it different

It doesn't matter whether you are a hiker or a soldier
you can load yourself down with the best equipment in the world
but when you need it it probably won't be there
knowledge is the key to survival and the beauty is
it doesnt weigh anything

Ray mear
Hearing this gets me motivated to get in the field time and time again

http://www.geocities.com/equipmentshop/typicalwhitewash.htm

Woft,
I am in the US Army and have been on active service for the last 12 years, I am sitting in tent typing this to you now close to the Iraqi kuwait border, I have been in this god awful country for 10 months.

There has been alot of talk on the forums about military gear and load lists, military load lists do not carry over to the civilain side at all. We get specific orders for specific missions and carry the gear that we need for that job. If there is one basic list, it would be very short, here's mine: Benchmade AFCK w/spyderco ceramic stone, fire, usually a couple of bics, FAK of my own, not the armys field medical kit, surefie Z2 with spare batteries, no name, small led light, 550 cord, sewing kit and leatherman wave. This is in addition to the gear that I am required by the army to carry, this is just the junk in my pockets, I also have a camelback hawg that is usually pretty close by that has more gear. Remember with a M4 and a basic load of ammo which is 210 rnds with magazines, load bearing vest, flak vest, kevlar helmet, pro mask, chemical suit and water there isn't much room for anything else if you want to be able to move. Chris

Amen Dave B, you the man.

Equipment is nice but at the end of the day we've got where we are (the moon, Voyager, genetic engineering) on the back of the Mark One Human Brain - look after it regularly (books, manuals, films) and it will look after you....