27 October 2009
Just recently I had to prepare for a short trip down south and I was trying to figure out how little I could get away with taking. I've become somewhat infamous for carrying a backpack almost everywhere I go... or my "tactical" briefcase. In this case I was trying to take ONLY the backpack but I just couldn't get what I needed to fit. Then I realized that, thanks to the wonderful world of MOLLE webbing, I had other options - and the modular carry on was born in my office. Certainly others have done this, but the options are incredible.
The backpack I refer to is a HydraStorm Cyclone from BLACKHAWK!. (fully reviewed HERE) Costing little more than $100 if you search around online and offering over 1900 cubic inches of storage space without any add-ons, the Cyclone is an excellent base backpack and a strong foundation to build on if you're going modular. In this situation, I couldn't quite get everything I wanted into JUST the Cyclone. Between my laptop, its power cord, other power cords (camera and phone), the camera, remote control for powerpoint presentations, clothing, toiletries... it was just going to be too much.
So my first reaction was to dismiss the idea and start to pull out my small carry-on suitcase. Then I remember a visit I had enjoyed down to Norfolk where I saw a Cyclone that had been added onto in a modular fashion. Would that work for me I wondered? Maybe...
Into my office closet I went where I pulled out a couple pouches and some speed clips. Two of the pouches and the speed clips are also made by BLACKHAWK!. The last pouch is from Specter Gear. To the right, in this photo, you can see two of the three pouches. On the left is a large utility pouch from BLACKHAWK! often used as a trauma / medical pouch or "blow out kit". The pouch on the right is from Specter Gear and is a slightly smaller design but also meant to be used as a blow out kit. Certainly the necessary materials to be used for a blow out kit fit in either one, but I had different ideas in mind.
The BLACKHAWK! large utility pouch became my ditty bag containing my electric razor, its power cord, my toothbrush and other assorted toiletries. The smaller pouch from Specter Gear easily held all my electronics: camera, cord, cell phone charger, powerpoint remote, etc. In fact, I had room left over in both pouches to put in more if need be.
The third pouch I mounted was also from BLACKHAWK! and was meant to hold a GPS unit. In my case, it's a tad big for my cell phone but holds the assortment of stuff that I like to have quick access to as necessary; things like Motrin, band-aids, etc. If you look to the other side of it you can also see the clip-on keyring that I mounted. In the past I've used that to hook my house keys or Jeep keys to when I'm leaving the pack in a hotel room. I don't like carrying them when I'm on travel for fear of losing them. Of course, I have the concern that someone will duplicate them, but that someone would have to know my home address and/or where to find my Jeep to make any use of them.
The modular addition of these three pouches permitted me to use the entire 1900+ cubic inches of storage space inside the Cyclone (including the two outer pockets) for my clothing, laptop, etc. NOW everything would fit.
Such customization obviously isn't limited by much except your imagination and how many levels of MOLLE webbing are on your pack. As assortment of pouches in both size and color are available (and yes, I know that OD Green mounted on Coyote Tan is pretty ugly - but no one else will try to claim it). Figure out your needs and built the appropriate carry on "luggage" - suited just to YOUR needs and easily reconfigured as your needs change.
Happy Trails!
