When I was growing up the fanny pack was possibly the worst fashion accessory ever only worn by ironic hipsters and my friend’s dad Steve who had an incredible collection of high white socks commonly worn with a fanny pack and sandals on vacation. Then I joined the Marines and noticed members of our STA teams (USMC Surveillance and Target Acquisition) commonly wore them. On one of my deployments, I noted the Reconnaissance Marines attached to us had them so I began looking into their purpose. I discovered not only did it serve as a great E&E pouch (Escape and Evasion) but it also was a welcome addition when patrolling. I began looking around for my very own “nut-ruck”.
I had used a T3 Gear arm board for raids before and was familiar with the durability and quality of their gear. I got a T3 fanny pack and promptly loaded it up as my multipurpose pouch. The first item to fit conveniently in the smaller front pouch was a PVS-14 night vision device. Then in went my marking kit consisting of; a smaller yellow air panel, 3 IR buzzsaws, a SureFire firefly/light, 3 visible buzzsaws, 4 chemlights, the J-arm for my NODs, and some spare batteries. The far back zippered pouch holds an extra CAT (North American Rescue) tourniquet and small Israeli bandage (also by NAR) as well as my compass. The last range day the larger pouch also served to hold ten 12ga shotgun shells for my Remington 870. The larger pouch will also hold the standard smoke grenade or 2 M67 Frags if the need arises.
I was pleased to discover the T3 fanny pack fits through standard belt loops and was very comfortable. The waist strap also held its adjustment well as I put it through some stress shoots and rapid movements. I have friends in my unit who use it as their primary IFAK or blow out bag. Seeing as I just got the T3 fanny pack a week or so ago I can not attest to this specific packs longevity but a friend and mentor of mine has carried his through 2 Afghan and 2 Asia deployments and it’s still kicking for every single op we’ve been on together. I highly recommend the concept of a fanny pack for military applications as well as the outdoorsman who is in search of something to hold smaller items needed for a day of fishing, hunting, or hiking. I can wholeheartedly recommend this piece of kit and plan on getting two more as vehicle carried survival and blowout bags due to their ease of tossing into the truck and rapidly attaching to one’s person.
Author – Tanner Hodges is an Active Duty Marine Infantryman currently serving as a Platoon Sergeant with 3dBn 2d Marines. He holds two infantry MOS’s (0351/0365) and has completed Infantry Small Unit Leader’s Course, and Advanced Infantryman Course. He has trained in Mountain Warfare, Desert Warfare, and Jungle Warfare all around the globe.
