Here in the wintery North, we wear jackets about 50% of the year.
So I'm thinking about a jacket based system as an alternative to a pack or bag.

The requiremets are a jacket with at least three med to large pockets. ( I often carry water.)

The nice thing is that you needs grab just your jacket and everything in in there, ready to go.

TReacher

ECWCS parka. It's Gortex so you can wear it layered or not. Quite lightweight on it's own, and waterproof. There are many different variations, at a wide range of prices. I bought mine a couple years ago, for around $100. It has two slash pockets, a sleeve pocket and two huge internal "map" pockets.

hey man. i have a tactical assault vest , which has lots of componets in it. its a kit in itself. it works well and i dont even feel the weight either. so yea i would say try and give it a shot.

the first time i tried to make a jacket vest kit on a old vest, it was horrible but im pleased how my new one handles.

Or, if you don't want the tactical look(being a teacher and all), you may want to try one of the Scott E Vests. They have fleece, leather, and other types of jackets with up to 52 pockets depending on the style.

http://www.scottevest.com/

Over on outdoors magazine there's an excellent article about building an on-body urban survival kit that appears to be workplace friendly:

http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=171

He's based it on a Filson wool vest, not exactly a jacket, but less likely to be taken off while indoors and not with you when you really need it.

I understand that this article (and his setup) might appeal to some people, but I hope that it serves as inspiration to most of the readers more than a goal to achieve.

As much as I love preparedness, wilderness and urban survival, I think this setup is waaaaaaaaaaay overkill. Too much of a burden to carry and manage (batteries, tons of small items) on a daily basis.

Am I the only one thinking this?

Does anyone still have the website of the guy who carries something like 50 lbs of 'stuff' in his coat? It was mentioned on this forum, maybe a year ago. Now THAT'S overkill! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Is Schwert still around? I looked, and his last post here was about two months ago.

I agree it looks like a lot of stuff, but it is destributed well enough that it isn't off balance, and most of it is pretty light. And since it lives in the vest, you don't loose anything becuase it is always IN the vest. Things get lost when moved from garmet to garmet, but if they always live in the vest, they are there when needed. The down side of this is, if you get it unbalanced, it can do some interesting stuff to your neck- I wore a vest like this for about 8 years on a daily basis and I can feel snow coming right between C1 and C2 becuase it wasn't properly balanced.

Now, I think Schwert might have a little more redundancy in some areas than I might carry, but I also carry more tools than most people think is needed- my bag of tricks, and before that my vest of holding, even has a small selection of sockets! It's what makes you comfortable. I never pick on a man's choice of comfort item so long as it is within sane limits. Anyone needs a backpack nuke to sleep at night.... Well, I might move if he sits next to me on the bus.

Probably the best jacket for that kind of stuff is:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choic...p;feature_id=17

Orvis' Ranger Jacket... They have few versions like a microfiber or increased waterproofness... I played with this jacket in the store and it is nice, soft and warm and very very very packable with gear. Good stuff

ANother jacket that comes to my mind is the one I acctually own and it is a 5.11 3in1 jacket. A lot of pockets and pretty easy on the wallet. Little strange fitting because it was designed with person wearing a bullet proof vest underneath but pretty cool in terms of capacity.

NO! I think that's a touch into the airy vapour of paranoia, but to each his own. One thing is for sure, he's prepared. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If I was building a similar rig, I would work to make sure everything was as light as possible, and maybe cut out a few of the redundancies. But then, I admire his absolute comittment to the cause. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I bet you would get a few stares in more urban centers like L.A., Chicago, or New York.

Still around and still wearing the vest. I work in urban Seattle and find this vest much more normal in appearance than most mulitpocketed models. Of course, this is the home to Filson which adds a bit to the acceptance. However, because it is not a cargo pocket monster I do not think I get any looks based on its appearance of an overloaded kit.

The article point is exactly to get people to evaluate their likely scenarios and bits that would assist. I know I am redundant in many areas (like sharps). The vest weighs in at 5 pounds and, because of the back pocket, balances well on my shoulders with no strain to my neck.

I have never tried any other vest that so fits my needs. All the photovests and jackets, fishing vests and others just have way too many pockets and just would never fit into my daily wear.

The article is meant to be an inspiration rather than a guide. Unfortunately it reads more as a list of must haves...

Anyway, the point is to look at your situation and evaluate your likely scenarios...then set up a few kits to assist. A desk kit with warm clothes and water, a car kit with battery cables, a body kit in case you need to evacuate your worksite....whatever fits your specific requirements.

One thing I always recommend to people is to start small....carry some money and your car and home keys at all times rather than leaving these items in a bag at work and wear some decent shoes that you can walk in. Adding a hat, gloves, radio, repair kit, FAK etc can come as you see fit or if you see fit.

Hey Schwert !

I'm right there with you. It's a matter of adjusting to everyone's daily requirements.

My understanding is that you always wear this green vest over your clothes while at work. Can you tell me what happens with the vest when you return from work and enter your home? Do you hang it up near the front door? Or maybe you keep it next to your bed?

Just wondering ! :-)

The green vest is daily wear at work all day, every day. If I take it off, I get comments <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Once home I hang it in the closet. Weekends I wear it about 25% of the time. I set it up primarily for work so I would have the basics if I should have to leave the building.

If it's loose, that means you can add more layers under it as needed. Wool is warmer than kevlar.

Bee, if you lived where Schwert lives, and considered the disaster possibilities there, you would probably consider him somewhat underdressed:

Seattle's elevation is mostly near sea level.
It has 8 earthquake fault zones in the immediate area.
It's 60 miles as the crow flies from the most dangerously unstable volcano in the U.S, 14,410' Mt. Rainier which, if it erupted, the debris flows would probably close off one or both Interstates for a goodly period of time. Mt. Rainier is said to be five times the size of Mt. St. Helens.

When Mt. Pinatubo in the Philappines blew in 1991, if all the ash and debris that it blasted into the atmosphere had landed on Manhattan Island, it would have buried it...1,000 feet deep. I believe it was considered a smallish volcano.

Ash is tiny shards of glass. It damages the lungs and eyes, is so light that it can't be swept, it clogs auto air filters in minutes, and sifts through the tiniest of cracks into your home. If it rains on the ash, the ash turns to a material with the texture and weight of wet concrete, and collapses buildings.

I live about 65 miles south of Seattle. All I would have to deal with is the ash, which could be considerable, and would probably paralyze a goodly part of western WA.

As far as I'm concerned, Schwert is just carrying the bare necessities. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Susan:

Here is the link for "Crazy Eric" as he calls himself.
Eric

Stargazer

I wasn't aware he was in Seattle... you have a good point!

And I thought I had too much stuff in my CamelBak!

I read the article through very carefully. Then went on to read part's 2 & 3. Very interesting.
First thing that I did was order myself a K&M matchcase. Second thing I did was go green with envy over his little fixed blade knives.
Obviously you have to make your own kit list decisions, but if TSHTF then what is on your body is very likely all that you get. The trick with these kits is to be discreet about what you carry, and about how you carry it. His vest doesn't merit a second glance from his colleges.
One thing that I would do is exchange the Mauser pocket knife for a Swiss Army Locking knife. I used to own a Mauser. Excellent knife but the SAK is that little bit better.

Don't feel too bad Bee. I carry most of my "extras" gear in a shoulder bag or similar, but I carry a fair amount on me. But nothing like Schwert. I used his article to show a friend who thinks I'm crazy half the time for being prepared... as in, "you think *I* am crazy? Take a look at this..."

Anyway, the article is very well written, gives some tasty insight into the thought process of preparing oneself, and it definitely is some nice kit. I was semi-joking about the paranoia stuff, but when I'm in California, I always think about the danger increase. Seattle is another story entirely, so my "to each his own" comment is dead on. What is overkill in central Illinois is probably only the bare necessity in earthquake/volcano/tsunami country. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Like I said, I would probably drop some weight that builds up from redundancies (sharps in particular) and perhaps add back a few lighter weight/less bulky replacements like FAK items, etc. But nobody is going to fault him on thoughtfulness or completeness (especially when you take into account his planning!)

THAT'S THE GUY! Thanks!

I was wrong: not 50 lbs of stuff, only 26.4.

I wonder if he knows where to find particular items, or if he has to fumble through everything? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sue

people tend to forget ebay for survival gear and stuff.
go check out ebay and see what they have . i bought my gear and vest on it.

But wool doesnt stop bullets unless you carry a sheep in front of you... but I know what you meant...

Even the sheep won't do much good for many bullets, depending on distance and power, etc. Unless it hits a big bone in the sheep, that bullet will go through the sheep, through you, and the horse you rode in on. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

But you're more likely to need warmth than projectile protection. Usually. Maybe. Or, you could wear your kevlar vest over your wool vest. Layers, you know. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue