Ultimate Hill-Stalking Bumbag

[brown dog]

This won’t be to everyone’s taste I know, but I’ve spent the last few years on the lookout for the perfect hillstalking bumbag.

 

I’ve never found one and have, as a consequence, always gone to the hill with a daysack (because I’m brainwashed and can’t cope with the idea of not having a few mountain kit odds and sods with me!).

 

Nevertheless, I’ve long been wanting something neater and comfier that I can wear when crawling, but that’ll carry a spare fleece, a small flask, my ‘piece’ (that’s lunch to the unitiated – not a pistol! ) etc

 

 

Anyway…got chatting to a Hairford kit maker [well, ‘Hairford’ is how Robert de Niro said it ] and sketched out my ‘want’:

 

Bespoke bumbag,

Bespoke Swaro LRF holder,

Bespoke AW mag pouches (bespoke because AW mags are a bit ‘last year’!).

 

Well, after an inordinately long wait, it’s all turned up. And I’m delighted!

 

All based on a clever cone shaped belt that grips your pelvis and doesn’t slip. The pouches are all positioned quite well to the rear, and don't interfere when walking or crawling).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[by the way, I got a bunch of the AW double mag pouches for people; I have two left (NB Molle & AW not AICS) if anyone wants one drop me a line ].

[ds1]

Hi BD, I can see a lot of thought went into it. A question - is there any reason not to use a tactical vest instead of the bumbag? I ask as I could more or less duplicate the bumbag from an Eberlestock Terminator pack - removable waist band and pockets, however I have been using a tactical vest of late, my gut feeling is the vest would be more friendly on back strain.

 

wheres your rifle?

 

David.

[TonyH]

That's a very professional looking piece of kit. I dare say the ergonomics have been worked out in very great detail? That's where these things can fall down. I too prefer to carry the field essentials bum-bag style, and I use a camo-fleece Winchester-branded item i bought from a branch of Gander Mountain in Detroit years ago, very cheaply. It is tough, comfortable, holds just enough kit in five separate zipped pouches. I have difficulty sometimes in accessing one or other pouch especially when prone, and sliding these things around the waist (especially when wearing several layers in winter) involves the sort of contortions that can lead to cramp or at the very least lots of cursing. But it was ridiculously cheap! I bet yours wasn't...

TonyH

[Scotch_egg]

I like the idea but for me my camel back works a treat.

 

 

I like to spread the weight between my waist and shoulders.

[brown dog]

David,

 

This sits entirely on the pelvis and puts zero strain on the back - you'll find that a vest does the opposite - all the weight in a vest is, ultimately, borne by the lower back...ask anyone who's had to wear heavy ballistic body armour day in day out...and anyway, I had this made for stalking! (I know some people will have a knicker twist because it isn't a weird civvy camo, but to me it's just a purpose built bumbag!). The rifle? that's my ongoing creation of my middle-aged-blokes-lightweight-tacticalish-mountain-stalking-rifle [new acronym: MAB-LT-MSR (said: mabult-messer) ] and it's lefthanded - should be getting an EGW rail for it in the next 2 weeks then I'll get a 3-12 on it - haven't fired it yet!

 

Tony,

 

Wasn't wildly expensive; about the same as a top-end alpine summit pack -which is pretty good value considering all the pouches are bespoke.

[Deserttech Europe]

Why no photos with a nice soft shell

.......??????.

 

 

DTA Europe

[brown dog]

Why no photos with a nice soft shell

.......??????.

DTA Europe

 

Prat!

[whoowhoop]

Brown dog, so what colour is the boathouse?

[brown dog]

Brown dog, so what colour is the boathouse?

 

 

I don't know, de Niro didn't say

 

[Gandy]

Looks quite a nice piece of kit mate, hope it does what you need it to do.

[lancslad]

BD im with you mate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but instead of the waist rig, im on a chest rig.

 

I just find it that easy to use, but I guess thats us ex military types for you. will have to send some images of mine. Only problem is getting shop bought stuff, you need to adapt it. I need to get my rig to a saddle maker to do some alterations.

[lancslad]

 

I don't know, de Niro didn't say

 

 

 

 

SAND...........................there can be only 1 colour...lol

[Ronin]

Matt

 

ingenious, bum bag looks to me a little bulky - but it would aid a seated shooting position....

 

 

Like the concept, but I have to say I personally prefer a 2 ltr hydration pack with the storage space that provides gives me enough "space" for storage of carry items (mag, first aid, signal, phone etc)

 

Although none are as accessible as your idea and I accept my back is carrying the weight of the hyd pack.

 

 

Certainly worth thinking about though

[1967spud]

matt , are these avaialble for purchase please as i have been looking for something like this for years

[Barrelsniffer]

I have had one of these now for about past 4-5 yrs..very handy piece of kit has shoulder strap/harness to which helps in a big way.

 

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Hunting-Accessories/Hunting-Bags-Packs%7C/pc/104791680/c/104734980/sc/104392080/Badlands-Monster-Fanny-Pack/746581.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhunting-hunting-accessories-hunting-bags-packs%2F_%2FN-1100127%2FNo-0%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104392080%3FWTz_stype%3DGNP

 

Mick

[brown dog]

Mick, that's exactly the model I was pondering before I went with this solution.

Looks to be a great piece of kit; pretty big though from what I could gather.

The key thing that pushed me towards 'bespoke' was that I didn't want lots of little pouches and zips put there by a designer -but for which I have no actual use/nothing that'll fit.

The other key thing that my pics don't really show is that the belt is such a clever design that you don't need a yoke; it takes some believing -until you try it! When it's done up it creates a cone shape that just sits on your pelvis; really effective.

 

Spud, yes, I could get more.....but this has taken soo long to get that I'm not sure I would want to recommend it; the fellow gets distracted by operational requirements and 'niff naff' keeps going to the bottom of the list. Fair enough, but it means you might wait 6 months, or might wait a year; which is a bit frustrating.

 

You could put something similar together somewhere like here: http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/military/index.asp

Go into the 'military catalogue' and search for

"battle belt". Then, for a main pouch a search for "MOLLE Claymore mine grab bag" will put you pretty close; for other pouches just search "molle" and see what looks like it'll fit the stuff you want to carry. Downside-it isn't the super-duper clever belt, and the pouches aren't bespoke; Upside: you'll get it before Christmas 2012 -Hope that helps, but if the indeterminate wait doesn't bother you; I'm happy to ask

[Barrelsniffer]

Yeh understand what you mean i have a belt rig out here without the yoke and works ok..

 

Spud there are plenty of tactical shops now in uk that specialise in MOLLE kit esp for military and PSD what i do..

 

http://www.uktactical.com/

 

http://www.sasskit.co.uk/

 

http://www.zahal.org/ Israeli kit.

 

http://www.johnbullclothing.com/camouflage.asp

 

http://www.trojangroupuk.com/home.php

 

http://britishtactical.com/

 

http://www.qmstores.co.uk/gbu0-display/splash.html

 

http://www.tactical-kit.co.uk/index.asp

 

Just to name a few..lots out there.

 

Mick

[huntsman]

That looks like a great bit of kit.

 

I started using a a bumbag this year and am very impressed. I have an O'Neills (wetsuit makers) it has the conventional waist straps but also has an optional single crossing shoulder strap.

I carry only essentials, knives,ear plugs,torch, drag hook and strap, rangefinder, ammo pouch, latex gloves, mobile and lightweight coat.I hate having all this stuff in my pockets esspecially shooting prone.

 

It can be released in an instant.

I use it sometimes as a back rest when shooting prone,simply unclip the waist buckle then pull the shoulder strap around all positioned without too much fuss or movement and still attached should you need to change position quickly.

 

The other change I have made this season is to forget the heavy coats etc, Get a good base layer one with merino wool more expensive but worth it.