Boatman:

Short answer to your question about MOLLE being junk is, yes. And no. The MOLLE pack system is so complicated that it needs a video to show you how to use it. The frames on MOLLE I and MOLLE II were reported to be breaking pretty often in Afghanistan, and the manufacturing quality didn't seem to stand up to the harsh environments and the weights the Leather necks were carrying. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> The major gripes I read about had to do with the pack/frame and, surprisingly, with the Camelbacks that come with MOLLE.

A complicated system may be fine for civilian tasks, but in the military, the K.I.S.S. rule, rules. As much as I hated humping an ALICE ruck while on duty, it was easy to handle and rugged.

This last July, the USMC adopted a militarized internal frame pack made by Arc'tyrex, with a new patrol pack. (Don't hold me to the spelling. I have an excuse - I'm an LSU grad!). But the system still uses the horizontal webbing that MOLLE used for adding additional pockets, so the MOLLE pockets should still work.

Disclaimer: I have a MOLLE II patrol pack and a MOLLE II waist pack. Put together, and with a few add-on pockets, I have my "basis only" weekend camping pack. It works well, and it has supplanted my old ALICE medium ruck/frame in that role.

Hope this helps,

…..CLIFF

Last year, I bought several SureFire lights and was really disappointed with the rechargeable ones (bad B90 batteries).
But I was satisfied with my own 6P, running on lithium batteries. I have worn it daily, with my EDC.
Up to now, I only have used up one set of batteries. I'm running on the second set.
Today, when using it, I drop it from exactly 4 cm, that's less than 2 inches : light bulb is dead !!!!
And this is supposed to be a tough light, that can be mounted on firearms ! I guess you can fire one shot and then you are in the dark...


Alain

Cliff, I heard about the instructional video.IMHO any thing that needs a guide book or video is much to complex. I too also go with the K.I.S.S.(Keep It Simple Stupid) rule.The less you have to worry about your gear the more you can focus on the mission.

The problem many people have with waterproof/breathable jackets is they fit them too tightly. They need to be very loose even over multiple layers of clothes. The other issue is that in very high humidity they do not breathe well. Pit zips and a loose fit will make or break it! Gore-Tex footwear for wilderness travel is the most overrated item I can think of. They DO NOT work, all they do is trap moisture inside the boot and make blisters more likely to occur!! It may work in the city on the sidewalk, never tried it. I do know what happens in the wilderness, they suck, plain and simple!

Pete, I understand and respect you totaly. In our concept of work each individual team member has to be able to work away from the team on his (or her) own to coordinate and lead locals and volunteers. Yes the equipment is there for the rescue and I need it week long not for a single incident but much more.

I expect my fellow man to be ready and equipped personally to work independently in isolated environments for long times. Equipment dicipline is essential.

I always stock and carry extra gear for team members. If they need gear they have to replace it from me not from someone else.

This may seem a little bit like Gestapo to you but I have learnt it the hard way that the road to hell is paved with stones of good intentions. My primary duty is to take my men back home alive and believe me it is really hard when the dead are carried on damper trucks around you.

Burak
Istanbul

yeah that is the one.
You could be right wrong intended temprature use but I slept three weeks in it during the English summer (herefordshire) and it was fine around 24.00 but at around 06.00 I woke up shivering when I wore pyama bottoms and a shirt.
Also in mid summer in Holland at around midnight I was lying in the maggot and very hot but around 04.00 the temprature decreased and again shivering.
Personally I would go for something else - at leat a two season sleeping bag. If I had the choice to would not have bought it. Esspecially considering the price (£60). I've seen better bags for the bang in Holland.


Anyway let me know what you plan to do - just interesting

I have no disagreement with your philosophy and support your position whole-heartedly under the conditions with which you deal with on an ongoing basis. You have obviously have set into motion/policies those things that work for you and your team. Pete

I have had a Princeton Tec Pulsar II for two years that I have loved, but now the on-off switch has stopped working. Any ideas on what could cause this or a possible fix?

mine does the same from time to time, open it up, clean out all the crap that's collected inside, bend the LED leads straight again, reassemble.
works for me.
steve

Princeton Tec has provided excellend customer service for me. I have 4 of their lights, & have needed to send one back for repair. It was replaced pronto.

Their Web site:
http://www.princetontec.com/entry.html

Regards,

David