GORUCK EDC No3 - Modularity Reboot - The X3 Carry Ideology


In an ideal world we’d have one bag and that would suit all our needs but the world isn’t perfect and we have to adapted our gear and carry to fit the circumstances of the day. The gear we need everyday, will be different to the gear we need for a commute or business trip. In turn that will be different to the bag we need for an extended weekend hike or one bag world travel.


THE SOLUTION? THE X3 CARRY IDEOLOGY
I work on this solution all the time and different configurations come and go but the one that seems to be sticking, therefor working, is based on 3 excellent bags from GORUCK. Why this works so well is that, by hook or by crook GORUCK have designed equipment that complements each other perfectly. Given they are from the same company you could assume that you would would be able to use bags from the same company in a modular fashion but this is often and frustratingly not the case.

THE X3 BAG FAMILY

THE 3 GORUCK AMIGOS
OK so the bags I currently use (6/26/2018) are as follows:

GORUCK GR1 3L Field Pocket
GORUCK GR1 21L Rucksack
GORUCK GR2 34L Rucksack

And for me, they work so well together it brings a tear to ones eye : )

OVERVIEW
It won’t be of much surprise that I use these bags with reference to size but in all cases, I will team up with the GORUCK GR1 Field Pocket, this is my EDC Grab Bag and houses the essentials, such as; a phone, wallet, glasses, keys and other come and go items. The point is familiarity of use, I.E. the same bags, same gear used in the same way, whether I'm down the pup with mates, a city commute or on holiday, the Grab Bag is always there, always the same, always familiar therefor efficient in use. In essence the Grab Bag is the core. When I need more capacity for; laptops, files a thermos of coffee or spare clothes I drop it into my GORUCK GR1 rucksack. When I’m looking at a few days to a week away on holiday a business trip I drop the Grab Bag into my GORUCK GR2, there is even a pocket in the GR2 that is thoughtfully designed big enough to fit the Field Picket!!! : ) can’t tell you how happy that makes me. : )

THE CATEGORIES

EDC Grab bag [The essentials]
EDC Extended [Laptop / files/ etc]
HIKE & Travel [Self explanatory]

EDC Grab Bag - GORUCK GR1 Field Pocket
As mentioned earlier this is based around the GORUCK GR1 Field pocket. A very well made piece of kit and has worked perfectly in all my environments. Smart enough to be thumped on a meeting table, rugged enough for damp, November, British countryside. In this I carry my 4 essentials;

EDC GRAB BAG, THE ESSENTIALS LOAD-OUT

GEAR LIST - ESSENTIALS:

• Apple iPhone 6
• Ettinger Mini Wallet
• Glasses
• Keys

Also peripherals;

• Kingston Digital 128GB memory stick
• Field Notes Note Book
• Fisher Space Bullet Pen
• Co Business cards
• Apple EarPods

With enough room left over;

• Caseti Windsor Lighter
• Punch Cigars
• Tatuaje Cigar Cutter

EDC GRAB BAG READY TO TRAVEL

I first came to the conclusion of an EDC Grab Bag, when I started wearing glasses, the extra bulk tipped me over the edge, from being able to easily carry all in my pockets, to not at all. This inconvenience was really hammered home when I left all my gear, including wallet and phone etc on a table in a pub and walked out! I was appalled at myself this could not happen again. I’ve tried all sorts of solutions for this carry but for me this works best.


GRAB BAG CARRY
Most of the time the Grab Bag is MOLLED inside my GORUCK GR1 ( I’ll come to that later) when I need it as a stand alone, it can be carried very comfortably by it’s own handle but if I need a hands free option, I use a Maxpedition shoulder strap. This is very useful nearly all the time, ranging from paying for something in a shop to airport check-ins. From time to time I have also attached the GR1 Field Pocket to my rucksack, front shoulder straps, chest-rig, kit bag style, this is weird to most onlookers but super useful to use. Obviously the Field Pocket can be attached to the front GORUCK MOLLE which is also useful.

HANDS FREE, SHOULDER STRAP VARIANT

SHOULDER STRAP VARIANT MOUNTING DETAIL

GRAB BAG, WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Grab Bag (Escape & Evasion kit) is the name given notably by SFs to a pouch, probably mounted on belt order, that contains equipment to survival and carry on as a war-fighter should one become separated from main body of gear. This would be something a bit more than a Personal Survival Kit usually all contained in a mess tin and with-in a 58 PAT utility pouch.

THE INSPIRATION - SAS / SF GRAB BAG, ESCAPE & EVASION KIT. BASED AROUND A 58 PAT UTILITY POUCH


EDC EXTENDED inc GRAB BAG etc

EDC Extended [Laptop / files/ etc]
EDC Extended is the config I use almost everyday. It's based around the GORUCK GR1 rucksack and as it’s made by the same company as the Field Pocket, they work very well together. How the Field Pocket can be attached and integrated has been covered above but doing so gives me a very useful, larger capacity to carry Laptops, files, food water even a soft shell if necessary.
I discuss the GORUCK GR1 in more detail here But today I will discuss the internal config for this practical EDC variant and It's a Tail of Two MOLLES.

MOLLE ATTACHMENT

MOLLE ATTACHMENT AND CUSTOM RIP-(M) DETAIL

The GR1 has 3 x 6 columns of integrated, internal MOLLE then below this is a bellows pocket I think intended for RUCKING plates. Once I have mounted the Field Pocket to the integral MOLLE panel there isn’t any more MOLLE for organising so I have swung the a RIP (M) from the last row of MOLLE  this means I can lift the panel to access the pocket behind. The Field Pocket is mounted via x2 ITW side lock buckles making it quick release with one hand. The Field Pocket can also be lifted up revealing the internal MOLLE beneath. It struck me that could also organise gear here but as I write this I haven fully explored that idea. You will need a 10.75x7in RIP-(M) available from Greyman Tactical if you would like to replicate the above.

EDC GRAB BAG QUICK RELEASE DETAIL

ONCE THE GRAB BAG IS ATTACHED IT CAN BE LIFTED TO REVEAL THE MOLLE UNDERNEATH. THIS COULD BE USED FOR SMALL ITEMS

MORE MODULARITY
With this config ease of modularity is at its core so it doesn’t stop at the Field Pocket. A full loaded Extended EDC for me might also include a 32oz Nalgene bottle, RAVpower power pack and a Vanquest PPM Husky organiser. With the exception of the battery pack this gear is swung from the MOLLE panel with carabiners. This is great for two reasons;

1. Pouches, bottles and organiser can also be lifted out of the way making them easier to access
2. This makes them easier to remove. I don’t need these items all of the time so when not necessary I can just un-clipped

SWINGING EDC GEAR FROM MOLLE MAKES IT MUCH EASY TO ACCESS

For me this flexibility works really well as a concept. As it’s inside the rucksack and for the most part gear is in its own pouch, items don't clang around inside the bag.


TEAMING-UP THE GR1 FIELD POCKET WITH THE GR2 RUCKSACK, THE EXTENDED TRAVEL CONFIG

GORUCK GR2 34L - HIKE/TRAVEL
This is based around GORUCK GR2 34L rucksack and I discuss the bag, it’s basics and my first impressions here. In this post I talk about how this bag fits so well into my X3 bags for life theory. The GR2 is a new piece of kit for me and I’ve not used as much as I’d like. However in resent weeks I went to Spain, on holiday with the family and took the GR2 as my carry-on, cabin sized luggage for the first time. It was a joy to use. I packed it with clothes and gear for 7 days easily and left the second front compartment of the bag empty. The question on me mind as I board the plane is... I hope I can get it in the overhead locker easily! This was not a problem, indeed I had about 7ins to spare in bag depth, once it was laying on its back.

THE GR2 INTEGRATED POCKET IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR THE FIELD POCKET AND AT THE TOP OF THE RUCK FOR VERY EASY ACCESS




I’ve already said the the GR2 has an integral pocket, to the front of the rucksack that is just the right size for the Field Pocket. I loved this and it really helped to streamline my load when jumping from taxi to bus, to taxi, to plane and all the time, still able to access my EDC and retrieve my Grab Bag and have it with me at my seat.

NOT FULLY EXPLORED YET, GREYMAN TACTICAL 12.25 X 19 RIP-(M) SIZED FOR THE GR2 34L

FUTURE UPGRADES
It’s true, if I had my time again I would change three pieces of gear. The Field Pocket I would swap out for a GR2 4L version. This is larger and would allow me to carry a Nalgene 16oz water bottle. I think this would make a great day bag, super useful on holiday.
Secondly I would buy the GR1 26L version. More room for the larger Field Pocket and I think would blur the line between EDC, Hiking and short trips away. Recently I’ve been looking at the GORUCK Bullet 10L. This looks like it would make a great day bag, especially on holiday and trips but we shall see, for now the GORUCK Bullet is something to think about while I’m having a bath : ) or hope someone get me for Christmas.

If you'd like to build a X3 bag for life system, a GEAR LIST with links to purchase can be found below, do let me know how you get-on.

GEAR LIST:

• GORUCK GR1 3L Field Pocket
• GORUCK GR1 21L Rucksack
• GORUCK GR2 34L Rucksack

• GREYMAN TACTICAL RIP-(M) 10.75X9in
• GREYMAN TACTICAL RIP-(M) 12.25X19in

• MAXPEDITION 1.5in shoulder strap
• VANQUEST PPM Husky Organiser
• VANQUEST Hydro Bottel pouch
• TRIPPLE AUGHT DESIGN S2 pouch
• NALGENE 32oz bottle

• MOLLE Backpack Accessory Straps
• ITW Nexus Side Release Buckles

EDC No3 GEAR LIST, THE DECOMPILE

ABOUT THE LINKS WITH-IN THIS POST.

I've included links to GEAR featured so you can find out more or even purchase. In some cases items have been upgraded or discontinued so I have linked to equivalents, I hope that's OK.

RELATED POSTS:

GORUCK GR1 Rucksack, EDC No1.
GORUCK GR2 - #1 - Introduction
Condor Elite Frontier Rucksack EDC



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Comments

  1. What are the clips you are using to hang the Greyman Tactical RIP-(M) from the mole webbing?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great article and some cool setup ideas. My tipping point was also the need to start wearing glasses :)

    My holy trinity, based around the same ideas, ending up being a Bullet ruck, the small GR1 and the big GR2. A set of the three Field Pockets (for mix and match flexibility) rounded it all out and I agree, the brand family resemblance is a great help in transitioning between setups.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Would you consider an upgrade for the GR2 34L to a larger pack - GR2 40L or GR3? Or does the 34L fits your travel needs perfectly?
    Great post by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am very impressed with the articles that you serve. Give adequate knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful material. chest rig Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Neil, this config would impossible nowadays since GMT no longer offers a four-row, six-column RMP. Paul does sell a three-row model in the same width that should work, plus there's a 20-percent discount on greymantactical.com until Friday, Jan. 21. The code is SHOT22.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear TXCOMT - Thanks very much for pointing this out and for promoting the SHOT22 code, Excellent community spirit.

      Delete

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