I have been wrapping my mind around one central component of my military gear and my hiking/backpacking/trail running life...when my ruck was on my back, I could still reach around my LBE for gear. When my ruck was off, I still had my basic infantry EDC on me: water, ammo, compass, knife, etc. Regardless of a pack on or off, regardless if I even need a pack that day, I can grab my web gear and be ready to roll.

With current civilian packs its generally impossible to mate an LBE system to a civilian pack. And I don't want to carry extra gear in my pack, I want it on 24/7. Been trying to make my own with 1 inch webbing with imperfect results. But found some great MOLLE gear like fold up Nalgene holders.

I think my end result will most likely be a MOLLE thigh harness on a padded web belt. Adding a very light home stitched shoulder harness to hold some pieces of gear up high like my SPOT2 & compass.

I think military gear does have its place in civilian applications.