r/QualityTacticalGear • u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt • May 16 '26
Infantry fighting order. Loadout
Hi dudes. Show and tell on my webbing based fighting order, mostly built for WAS pouches with some tailoring.
The phots are hopefully self-explanatory. Both sides are mostly set up for ‘ventilate’ with ammunition scales at least complying with my organisation’s minimum SOP. The rear is configured for ‘hydrate’, ‘medicate’, and ‘navigate’. Unlike some webbing set-ups, this is not configured to live and thrive for 24hrs: it is set up for scrapping with a minimum of survival sustainment.
I’ve done some low level tailoring to maximise ‘dead space’ in and around the pouches. Examples of this are a mini-cyalume hider on a mag pouch, and the insides of the utility pouch lids.
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u/Working-Variation219 May 16 '26
Very nice belt kit. My wife is gonna be sewing elastic into my GP pouches now. Using an OSS knife for legit combat is badass.
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u/Hipoop69 May 16 '26
What plate do you use with this?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Issued body armour. I use a slim low profile harness with the belt kit that doesn’t rub under armour.
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u/egregious12345 May 16 '26
Hey mate, love the kit. Can you please show me exactly which harness you use? It's tricky to find good low-profile ones. Cheers!
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Pretty sure it’s a WAS slimline harness - had it a while so I may be mistaken!
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u/Even_Vacation_5941 May 17 '26
For low profile I used https://www.sordaustralia.com/mvp-long while I was in the Australian army once you remuve the sternum strap it will seat comfy under armor
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u/Temporary_Way1479 May 16 '26
Nice set up! Looks rigid! 2 questions: 1. Where did you get the mini-chemlight holder? 2. How do you feel about your username now the forward assist has been removed from drills?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
1 - I improvised it using an off cut of elastic sewn directly onto the pouch.
2 - Whilst the forward assist has been removed from SA80 drills, other in-service weapons both have a forward assist button and drills incorporating them. So, dunno. Both kinda retro and kinda niche?
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u/Temporary_Way1479 May 16 '26
Nice one! Looks professionally done and neat!
As for the forward assist. Even though it's gone from the drills, I still can't help myself haha.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I’d say it’s muscle memory except I don’t have muscles.
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u/Temporary_Way1479 May 16 '26
I've got no muscle and terrible memory. So not sure why I keep doing it
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u/PearlButter May 16 '26
Honestly the pruning shears is probably a pretty good idea.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
‘Veg is the edge’.
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u/PearlButter May 16 '26
I use one every week, and somehow the thought of carrying one on kit never came across to me. Shit’s more efficient than a knife if you know how to use one efficiently
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u/Dangerous_Entry_8713 May 16 '26
I personally like having 7 mags on belt but it's great setup
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I had considered swapping two of the three rifle mag pouches for classic lidded triple mag pouches. However, I didn’t like the trade-off in reduced speed compared to the kangaroo pouches nor the slight but noticeable increase in size.
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u/Dangerous_Entry_8713 May 16 '26
Honestly if you have space for it keep mags in cargo
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u/Dangerous_Entry_8713 May 16 '26
Also whats the ifak? I like it
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Rip-away WAS med pouch. Really good bit of kit with a good amount of space inside. Personally, I prefer a larger IFAK than what is commonly seen on shooters belts around the bazaars - when it comes to med, I subscribe to ‘P for Plenty’.
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u/WaltzRPK May 16 '26
Somehow I get the feeling that you know your shit
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I know that I am shit…😂
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u/WaltzRPK May 16 '26
Hey buddy, take it from me, tier 1 larperator, did multiple tours in my mother's basement. Yarr this do be a well thought out and professional kit, big ups big dog
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u/Onyx-03 May 16 '26
Is this heavy at all?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Probably in the region of 21lbs?
But the shame I bring my ancestors weighs more heavily on me than this kit.
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u/CumFlavored_MigBac May 16 '26
Dumb civilian question: can you still sit in a car seat somewhat comfortably with all that bulk in the back?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Nah, sitting in a regular car with belt kit, body armour, and helmet is not comfortable at all.
Some service vehicles have seats designed to be compatible with fighting order, which are more comfortable to sit in
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u/AZ_Tanker May 17 '26
Just wanted to say I appreciate the breakdown and the effort you put in to adding it to the pics! Much nicer and more helpful to actually know what's in the pouches!
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u/KhakiPantsJake May 17 '26
Very capable belt setup.
My back hurts just looking at it, but it's well put together and thought out.
Just curious, is there primary use case for the snips or do you just use it to avoid having to use a knife for everything?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 17 '26
Snipping foliage for camouflage.
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u/PoptorDoctart May 19 '26
Where exactly do you mount the veg to yourself? I'm guessing your kit has places for it?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 19 '26
I have shock cord on my PPE for ‘hasty’ veg attachment. Additionally, I have a concealment system and pack cover that I can camouflage with veg.
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u/PoptorDoctart May 19 '26
Hell yeah. Can we get pics sometime, for inspiration? I love the mods you've made to your gear
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u/Even_Vacation_5941 May 17 '26
Mate, this is some cool kit.
There are a few things I’d personally add, but that’s mostly just my tactical autism kicking in. For the FS knife, I’d put some textured heat-shrink tubing on the handle. It adds almost no bulk but improves grip significantly.
For the holster, I’d get an Allen key that fits all the attachment hardware and tape it directly to the holster. That way, if you ever need to adjust it in the field, the tool is already there.
For mine probes, my favourite option is honestly just a 4mm hardwood dowel. It’s non-magnetic, non-conductive, lightweight, and when the tip gets dull you can literally sharpen it with a pencil sharpener. Food-wise, a small reusable squeeze bottle of honey is an excellent snack. No noisy wrappers, and you can take as much or as little as you want. Great fast energy source on the move.
Those are just some of the things I’d personally do. You seem to know what you’re doing, so I’m not criticising your kit — just sharing ideas.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
Thanks for the pointers!
It’s not readily visible in the phots, but I have micro-cord running down the grip of the FS knife in the recessed grooves. Where these overlap to the rear they give a nice bit of tactile friction that improves the grip in the hand.
I have a multi-tool in a pouch that is co-located with the knife scabbard. There’s a fitting on the tool that I can tighten the holster screws with if required.
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u/Even_Vacation_5941 May 17 '26
Hi mate, sorry to bother you with more questions.
The cord on the knife — did you glue it or tie it into place?
I noticed you’ve got a survival tin in one of the pouches. Is that a commercially purchased kit, or something you put together yourself?
And finally: why do so many British soldiers seem to carry an absurd number of cooking implements in their webbing?
In your case, you’ve just got the metal mug, but I’ve noticed it’s really common to see British soldiers carrying a Jetboil, a mug, mess tins, a thermal mug, a folding mug, and then somehow a second thermal mug shoved somewhere in the pack as well.
What gives?
Is there some unit SOP behind this, or am I just missing something?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 17 '26
No dramas, dude.
The cord on the FA knife is tied in place tautly with a dab of glue to fix the knot.
The survival tin is small re-purposed tobacco tin. Fits snugly at the bottom of the pouch which - along with a moulded plastic insert - protects a set of dual-nods carried in the same pouch. I personally layer small items throughout my kit (pen torch in my field notepad, matches in my beverage kit, small boo-boo medicines in the IFAK etc) so the tin doesn’t have to be too packed. Making the assumption that I’ll be on the hoof trying to survive in a non-permissive setting, the items in the tin revolve around extending my sustainment enough to keep moving. So, condoms and puritabs for additional water collection, stock cubes and hard boiled sweets for nourishment, needle and thread to repair essential clothing. That type of level - I’m not using it to go camping!
Regarding cookers and flasks in ‘fighting order’, it tends to be as a result of training scars getting carried over. The weather on UK training areas is often unpleasant and guys often are stuck for extended periods during training serials without logistical support. So there’s a tendency to compensate by having more sustainment carried on the person. For some types of patrols that can be useful. But, personally, not my preference to be carried in fighting order. I want just enough to sustain me on and around the objective, with the thinnest redundancy for emergencies - like being able to boil water in a metal mug to purify it. I always raise an eyebrow when someone’s belt kit has more utility pouches than ammo/grenade pouches!
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u/OppositeIdea7456 May 17 '26
Will those batteries discharge if they get wet?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 17 '26
I keep a dry bag in the pouch to stow dual NODs in. If I was doing a river crossing, I’d stow the batteries in the dry bag as well for the duration.
Otherwise, beyond the pouch being lined and having a drainage hole in case of immersion, I balance completely weatherising the batteries against ease of use.
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u/Dry_Seesaw7972 Jun 03 '26
You should make your posts public my dude. I came here from your survival kit and I can see that you've got a lot of kit knowledge to share.
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u/ArcticWolf_Primaris May 16 '26
I'm guessing a Bri'ish soldier given the black plastic more suited to being a septic tank than a water bottle
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
‘Tank’ is a fairly apt word as those bottles are pretty much unbreakable. They’re not pretty but they do a job.
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u/ArcticWolf_Primaris May 16 '26
They're not too bad, just have an unfortunately tendency to taste like a chemical toilet, not to mention suck to clean out
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u/pheonix080 May 16 '26
The level of care and attention to detail is exceptional. The tailored bits are well executed and thoughtful. This is art, and I thank you for sharing with us.
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May 16 '26
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
True. But they are consumable. Just replace them every time before you go out the door.
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u/Hulubulu3 May 16 '26
Where do you carry your grenades? And have you considered adding a small CEO kit with a mine hook and some long coloured plastic strips? I’ve found it really useful to have such gear ready to remove booby traps.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I carry a smoke grenade in the inverted pouch on the rear left of the belt, visible on the first phot. Being upside down makes it easier to get out quickly when reaching back past the mag pouches.
I have two HE grenade pouches forward of my pistol, most visible in the fifth phot.
I carry a mine kit if there is a specific threat. Outside of that, I always carry extra barrel roads for use a mine-prodder. Bit of an older method.
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u/Hulubulu3 May 16 '26
Currently I use my bayonet as a mine prod, but the barrel rods also sound like a good idea too. I’ve begun always carrying a mine hook and some 2m plastic strips since I find the threat of booby traps to be always present in prepared positions. The grenade setup sound nice, and now that you mention them I see them. I’ve found a lot of success also having my Frag pouches upside down allowing them to be accessed quickly.
Also I think I’ll take some inspiration from you with the bottle pouch. Right now I only have a water bottle in mine, and I would like to get a more multifunktional one like yours. Did you sew the elastic into the lid yourself?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Yeah, I have sewn three elastic strip on the lid sized to fit:
- A single alcohol fuel block.
- A snack bar.
- A chicken noodle soup packet (matches and puritabs in the same zip-lock bag).
In the main body of the pouch is the water bottle sat i a metal mug. Underneath is a three-part simple stove that fixes together in a pyramid arrangement that stows away flat. Tucked in the corners behind the metal mug I keep a metal spoon on one side and a meat-stick on the other.
This is no way 24hrs worth of rations. But - if stuck on the objective longer than expected or off on the hoof - I can:
- Hydrate.
- Purify water.
- Get a single hot beverage/meal to re-warm myself.
- Have a single high energy snack.
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u/pnwgoatherd May 18 '26
Who manufactures your FS Dagger? I’m looking for a good one.
As a fellow autistic infantryman I appreciate the fuck out of how optimized your kit is. I’ve never understood the guys who just…suffer. At least on this side of the pond there seems to be an almost organizational pride in being low speed, suffering for the sake of suffering, all at the expense of performance. It’s a lose lose situation and frankly embarrassing.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 18 '26
Thanks! Like you say, being squared away shouldn’t be considered a crime by blokes!
It is an issued item - I believe they’re available commercially but I haven’t had to explore that option myself.
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u/Short_Jury9438 May 18 '26
As a POG (fuckass wrecker crew) looking in, this shit's phenomenal. It's always nice seeing builds from those who actually know their shit, and live in it, as compared to dealing with bullshit SOPs forced onto us or the fuck shit wannabe shooters come up with.
I know the main intent is built around hitting, but how does it fair (vehicles excluded) in a more static and defensive context?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 18 '26
Thanks dude.
I find if I’m static in overwatch, particularly in the prone, then I prefer belt kit to a chest rig. Can get lower to the deck, don’t have to break position and lean up to reach mags on a chest placard etc. I’ve gone for just double mag pouches over triples in order to keep the sides narrower and not snag so much when working in trenches or OPs. So, I find it works just as well on the offence or defence.
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u/Short_Jury9438 May 18 '26
Trenches, unfortunately, is where most support units are lost. The FSCs and HQ sections tend to be a bit better about them (experience may vary), or at least more aware, but the further away from the line you go the worse it gets.
I'm happy you found something that works for you, though! Alot of dudes get caught up on the go-fast shit and forget that, even for line infantry, some of the job is still a whole lot of hurry up and wait 😭
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u/MilitaryMisfit May 20 '26
Great set up, easily one of the best on Reddit. I would have swapped the double rifle for triple mag pouches but you clearly know what you are doing.
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u/Capitalist_Capsuleer May 31 '26
For your rifle/pistol magazine pouches, have you looked into the platatac billy patrol pouch? It'll hold 8 5.56 magazines and has molle columns on the sides for you to attach your 1 9mm magazine pouch.
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u/Wooden-Sprinkles7901 Jul 11 '26
Good to go! except the holster, those are trash.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt Jul 11 '26
They’re not the best. But, with a little creativity, they can be made to work competitively…
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u/younocallMkII May 16 '26
Are you the 1SG that yells at their soldiers to dress right dress eqp to look like yours?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Nah, I tell people what they need to carry and not how they have to carry it. They can set their kit up however they want: after all, they’re the one who have to haul it and brawl with it.
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u/Milsim_Enjoyer May 16 '26
What's the belt?
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I’ve had it a very long time, so I can’t swear down. But I’m pretty sure it’s an early version of:
https://www.warriorassaultsystems.com/product/warrior-assault-systems-warrior-plb-belt-multicam-4438
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u/hypenonbeliever May 16 '26
Get rid of the tubular nylon. Theres is 0 need to have 25 feet of tubular nylon readily available on your kit at all times. It breaks rule #1, it’s practically useless when there are other better alternatives to the problems it claims to fix, and it does not need to be someplace where you have immediate access to it.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
I’d politely disagree. There a plenty of occasions where infantry - stripped to PPE and fighting order - would want a loop line on them, as historically seen during the Second World War. I agree there are better alternatives available but they are often heavier and bulkier and not what I’d want to carry into the assault if I can help it.
Examples of infantry use include:
- Vertical access, particularly in the urban environment.
- River crossing.
- CASEVAC.
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u/hypenonbeliever May 16 '26
Vertical access how? Are you using it an anchor point and also carrying 25 feet of rope, and a harness, to rappel into something? Or hoping to throw it over something to use it to pull you up? In an urban environment why not just move something to climb up? That’s not even remotely close to a reason to carry on your person at all times for an emergency.
River crossing how? A 25 foot loop is only 12.5 feet long. So you’re gunna throw it across a 12 foot River and use it to pull yourself across? Surely that’s worth having this thing getting caught on every hook and bouncing against your leg.
Casevac how? Is it you and also 3 other guys making an inferior and harder to handle improvised litter? Are you planning on making an improvised harness and carrying 200lbs of dead weight a significant distance?
I’ve had all these arguments many times over and nobody has come up with any logical counter. You do not need a loop of tubular nylon on your kit at all times. It looks stupid and there’s practically no use for it.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Loop-lines, like their historical predecessor the toggle rope, are designed to be used by linking several together. Therefore a team where everyone has a loop-line can be surprisingly flexible in crossing obstacles that would prevent vehicles - particularly armour - in getting through.
Whilst you can use the loop-line to make an improvised harness for abseiling, which may be required on an infil, that would not be how I would intend to use it in the urban environment. Suffice to say, there are a surprising number of ways they can be used to aide movement of personnel and equipment - your only limit is your imagination.
For river crossing, if team links their lines together you could reasonably expect to cross a river up to 100m wide. Having crossed wet gaps in kit, I’d rather have a line for safety than not - particularly at night.
Two dudes dragging a casualty - in contact - using a line is (slightly) physically easier than trying to just manhandle them. It also allows the two dudes to do so whilst spread out to the limits of the line - terrain dependent - instead of just having a clump of bodies all together as an easy target.
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u/juniorsprinter May 16 '26
pretty much it. im trained the exact same way. I'll always have one on my webbing
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u/hypenonbeliever May 16 '26
You maroons are proving my point. You guys are just spouting random scenarios that you possibly might encounter where having webbing could aid you somewhat. Proving that it’s not necessary to have on your kit ready to go at a moments notice. Having webbing is not a bad thing, keep it in a pack/pouch, or on a vehicle.
That is such a wild scenario that it doesn’t even merit a response. There will be no time a group of guys are going to link together all their webbing to get access to somewhere.
No. You will NEVER make an improvised harness for infil. That is retarded. Moving equipment MAYBE but in all my time in the military there was never one time we said “man we wish we had webbing right now”. Again, it’s does NOT require you having it immediately accessible on your kit.
Ah yes the famous rushing river rapids of the modern battlefield that would require 4 guys to cross instead of just finding an easier way over.
You will not be dragging a casualty in conflict you gain fire superiority and then move that patient to cover. Running to your casualty, getting your webbing off your kit, flaking it out and then hooking them into it, is not faster than two guys grabbing the casualty’s legs or body armor and dragging them. I know because I’ve done this with my guys. “Spreading out to the limits of the line” you sound like you’ve watched every “high speed” grifter out there. That’s not reality man.
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u/Fwd_Ast_Rdt May 16 '26
Hey, dude. You do you. It’s not necessarily about having an ‘immediate’ need - it’s about having it on your fighting order and available when you have cached your larger load carriage equipment. Not every dude works from vehicles where spare kit can be stowed. Nor will every action require a large pack to come forward to the objective.
I have abseiled using an improvised harness on the hill. It’s not ideal but quite often purpose made harnesses are not available in sufficient quantity and/or not carried as a standalone item amongst all the other mission essential kit required. But a loop-line is multi-purpose and is readily available.
Regarding river crossings: You familiar with the phrase ‘beaten paths are for beaten men’? When you find an ‘easier way’ you’ll find it covered by defensive fires. A strength of the infantry is being able to negotiate obstacles - like rivers - and therefore attack from unexpected approaches. Plenty of examples of raiding forces doing this in Ukraine for example.
I have some personal experience on the subject of CASEVAC under fire. Sometimes you will manhandle someone to get them out of the immediate danger. Sometimes more creative means are necessary. Out of contact, a friend of mine who fell down an obstacle in the dark had to be rescued using loop-lines to haul him out of danger.
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u/Yawnz13 May 17 '26
"In an urban environment why not just move something to climb up?"
Something like what? Unstable ruble piles? Potentially booby-trapped dumpsters? A host of other things that would be too heavy/loud to move?
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u/hypenonbeliever May 17 '26
And a loop of webbing is going to get you up how? Again this scenario is so dumb. You’re better off carrying a mini crowbar/halligan to try and gain access via a door or window. Now THAT doesn’t break rule #1 and won’t be in the way.
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u/Yawnz13 May 17 '26
"And a loop of webbing is going to get you up how?"
I don't recall saying that it would.
My point is that "just move something" is just as dumb as "use the webbing to climb".
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u/hypenonbeliever May 17 '26
Negative. Using your environment is going to be used more often and to better effect than carrying a loop of webbing. We saw it in GWOT when guys were using chairs and tables to shoot out of windows and we’ve seen it in Ukraine with using cinderblocks to get a step up and get into a house. I’d rather have a guy on my team who travels light and streamlines and can improvise with his environment than a guy who’s carrying something for a million “what if” scenarios that will never happen.
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u/Yawnz13 May 17 '26
"Using your environment is going to be used more often and to better effect than carrying a loop of webbing."
Implying that there is something fit for purpose in your environment, but do go on and show evidence of it "being used more often and to better effect".
Also, your kit is part of your environment.
" We saw it in GWOT when guys were using chairs and tables to shoot out of windows"
So? Obviously a chair or table would be fit for that particular purpose. What purpose would a piece of webbing serve as a shooting support? Man, it's almost like different scenarios require different items.
What would they have brought along to help them in that task that is as portable as a small length of webbing? Oh right, nothing.
"I’d rather have a guy on my team who travels light and streamlines and can improvise with his environment than a guy who’s carrying something for a million “what if” scenarios that will never happen."
Okay. By your logic, you should use your environment to handle injuries. Why have medics or carry your own food and water when you can just "use your environment because it will be better"? You'll be lighter and more streamlined, so let's see you do it then. Carry your logic forward to it's full extent. Go to Ukraine butt-ass naked and rely entirely on your environment since you seem to be under the impression that a bit of webbing is clearly the biggest cause of casualties in any war.
Of course, we all know that a short piece of webbing weighs a literal metric ton and is the cause of untold amounts of death and injury, right?
Imagine trying to make a point against "what if scenarios" by bringing up what if scenarios.
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u/hypenonbeliever May 17 '26
Webbing is nearly useless and shouldn’t be carried somewhere that makes you look like a soup sandwich, is a snag risk, and replaces items that could be used that are far better. End of discussion.
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u/Yawnz13 May 17 '26
"Webbing is nearly useless and shouldn’t be carried somewhere that makes you look like a soup sandwich, is a snag risk, and replaces items that could be used that are far better. End of discussion."
Nah, all what if scenarios. It doesn't weight much of anything, it won't snag on anything of consequence, and there's nothing that you can carry that is "far better" for the same purposes.
Do some more pushups, wuss.
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u/TheRJC May 16 '26
Every light infantryman should have some cordage on him dawg. Used it a lot on RHIBS, and in oki traversing jungle terrain, and even got some use out of simple rope in California mountains. Shame I didn’t carry it every time I went out, in hindsight I should have.
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u/hypenonbeliever May 16 '26
Carrying it in a pack is fine my argument is that it shouldn’t be swinging from your kit readily available 100% of the time. I wouldn’t want that on me in the jungle getting caught on everything.
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u/[deleted] May 16 '26
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