Waco’s guide to field sustainment

[Davet]

For our purposes quick and easy is what we want.
I am not a big fan of bungies however. Mostly because when they go ping they are bound to hit you in the face or nuts. 

But your mileage may vary!

Always been a big fan of jungle knots over bungees - easy to set up and release in a hurry and no risk of taking your eye out at 0300 when the sadistic DS decide you’ve had enough beauty sleep.

JetBoil, or equivalent, definitely the way ahead - there’s a reason British Tactical et al sell so many of their specially sized utility pouches. Back way back when, before JetBoils, I used to carry a Coleman Alpine gas stove and a big canister in my bergen, as it was a nice low profile and stable stove, and hexi with a Crusader mug and a mug cooker stand from Silverman’s ???in my belt kit.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Good mention of jungle knots.

BexBugoutSurivour does some great videos on youtube.

Tarp setup.

I’ve picked up a few things from him.

 

[The Waco Kid]

A quick aside about drinks and cooking. 
 

  At least one on my canteens or bottles is good for hot liquids.

  Not necessarily metal or useable for boiling but so I can keep and excess hot water.

  
  I also carry a plastic or silicon cup to mix any drinks in. I find putting flavourings or powder in your water bottle makes them go “yucky” quicker.

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  Clear bottles, a bottle brush and denture cleaner tabs are your friend for sorting this. ?

 

[Diemaco]

100% agree, on not putting drinks powder etc. in your waterbottle or camelbaks. Only ever had clean water in mine, and never had any problems. 

 

[The Waco Kid]

The military Poncho.

 I’m not sure if it’s a shelter you wear or clothing you can live under.

  But essentially a tarp with a head hole and usually a hood.

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Packed Helikon usgi style poncho (woodland and slightly smaller than the original) verses a silicon coated nylon ultra light tarp. The packed tarp is about the size of two m16 mags.

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 Opened out the tarp (2.5m x 1.4m) is a little longer, they are the same width. Tarp has perimeter loops, poncho has eyelets, press studs to make a tube or join together, waist cord and hood. The hood can be used as a central tie out.

A note on materials:

Nylon tarps are generally stronger than polyester, which are usually cheaper. Pay your money & take your choice.
 

Surplus Bundeswher ponchos are heavy duty and a bit bigger than USGI ones.
 

 

[Cannonfodder]

How do  you seal the head hole on a poncho when using it as a tarp? 

 

[Diemaco]

How do  you seal the head hole on a poncho when using it as a tarp? 

Bungee? Or the hood adjustment cord? 

 

[Cannonfodder]

Bungee? Or the hood adjustment cord? 

I take it the hood is then put over the hole as no matter how tight it's pulled there's still going to be a small hole

 

[The Waco Kid]

 I go with twist the hood from the bottom until about half remains and then fold the resulting “pocket” over the twist. It’s possible to secure it with the draw cord but almost anything else is easier!

  If you use the hood as a tie out as well it tends to avoid it somewhat. 
 

  I’ve linked an old video by PackRat556. I have no stand for the phone to film and a video explains this much better. 
 

I don’t use reflective sheets quite the way he describes. It is a moisture barrier but you need an air gap for it to reflect heat so an air pad is needed.
 

If you have a fire it would be more effective as the back wall.

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My technical support agrees.

Next chunk will be general tarps and a ridgeline you can change easily. Plus a few useful but cheap accessories.

Then maybe something on hygiene!

The cat walked mud in. ?

 

[The Waco Kid]

Tarps vs NV & Thermal

Great work by Bushcraft Buddy

In summary:
 

1) Use one of the thicker quality higher tarps.

2) Don’t expect to hide a heat source like a flame.

3) Don’t “print” through the tarp by touching it.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Tarp accessories:

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• Brew on the go

• A pre-tied separate ridgeline*
• Pegs

• Duct tape (to fix stuff)

• #36 bankline

• 550 cord

• Mini carabiner (to join stuff)

• A stick

• Pre-tied guy lines*

• Cable ties (to fox stuff)

• Soft shackles* (replace carabiners)

• A bit of kip mat to sit of kneel on

* These will be explained but the means of excessive exposition below. 

Sir not appearing in this film:

• Tenacious tape (tm). I am not sure if Jack Black gets a cut but very good for nearly permanent field repairs.

• Tent/seam sealant. If you patch or sew extra loops (flat tape works best) on a tarp paint sealant 50/50 mix with water on the stitches. Diluted it is much neater.

• Half a tennis ball. Goes on the end of the stick to protect the tarp you wedge it under. Mine is holding my tarpstar up at the moment.

These might work at a push:

• Pebble. Got no tie out on your tarp? Take smooth pebble, twist fabric around it and secure with cord to make tie off.

• No tie off? If it’s a PVC tarp make a loop from duct tape or tape gutted paracord as a loop to it. If you do a neat job it will last a while.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Da’ Boyz Supa Dakka Ridgeline:

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Brainboyz has already done most of da knots. It is red coz dat goes fasta.

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1) Loop on end for tree. Sum PRUSSIKs wiv SOFT SHACKLEs(eh?). A bunch more string.

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Loop end goes around tree. Put rest of string through loop and slide prussiks along. Pull loop snug as you skip merrily to the next tree.

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Put the string around the tree and pull tight. Paracord stretches a fair bit. 
 

Tie a supa-boa-weeble-hitch like what I had just invented. See above.

NB: If you can’t tie knots, tie lots.

2) Attach the tarp, basha, cloak of infinite smells etc to the Prussks on the ridgeline.

If you are a talentless hack use mini carabiners.

If you am da bestest use soft shackles*. See after class.

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Pull the prussiks tight.

 

[The Waco Kid]

3) Guylines.

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No not that sort. Maybe later.

Pre-made guyline with all knots tied. I cheat and use line locks. Shhh it’s a secret.

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I have a couple of longer guy lined incase I want to tie around a tree or rock. And a couple not to long (1m).

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I have not tied the stakes on as I have a variety of pegs and also use the guys to tie to other objects. In which case the loop end goes around the tree or post and the line lock end gets attached to the tarp with a soft shackle.

 

[The Waco Kid]

5) Finish off by tightening up all the prussiks and guys.

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  If it’s going to rain add in the stick, plus half tennis ball, this needs to be quite a snug fit.

 
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  Basha poles (I don’t have any) will allow you to get more tension or even rig a free standing tarp. You may need more pegs though.

  The four eyelets on the above tarp are not ideal for getting a good pitch.

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  Six points, or more, is lot better.

  And only one knot tied in situ.

 

[The Waco Kid]

* 6) So what the fuck is a soft shackle? I am glad you asked…. ?

 A bunch of different lengths.

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A better explanation than mine from Blackie Thomas:

I am Commander Shepard and that is my favourite soft shackle on the Citadel.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

A cunning trick to adding more tie off points (e.g. to tie the centre of a tarp up if there isn't a sewn in loop provided, or to repair an eyelet that has torn out), is to use a small pebble, nut, coin or similar on the underside of the trap., then gather the fabric around it, and tie off against the 'neck' of that.

 

[The Waco Kid]

Personal admin/Hygiene

  Going for 48 hours without washing will "probably" not kill you. I mean Jaykay from Jamiroqui last washed in 1983 and is fine.

  There are however a few things that are useful:

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  Insect repellent. In the warmer (game season) months most sites will have flying bugs. If you are out at night or lying up you can end up being a magnet for creepie crawlies.

There are various strengths and products designed to treat clothing and mosquito nets as well as put directly on your skin. DEET is a common ingredient but deet free versions exist for those who don't like it.

   In the UK the main problem are tick which carry various unpleasant diseases. In addition to repellant you can get tick removal tweezers, but not best used mid-game....

  Remember to blouse those combat trousers!

 "Hygine kit" If you are planning on being on the game field for more than a day a small ziploc bag containing, wet wipes, tissues, rubbish, hand gel and a chewable toothbrush will cover a lot. Add a small booboo pouch of plasters and blister pads and it can easily be wedged in the back of a hydration pouch or pocket. Lip balm and sun block (if needed) are better kept in a chest pocket or similar.

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At the FOB:

Some sites are blessed with actual toilets, maybe even a shower bock. For most it's a portaloo who's previous user was Big Dave who staggered in after a bender last night and has just emptied out three king size doner kebabs. This is why it's good to have toilet roll, hand sanitizer and a gas mask at base camp. ?

If you are at an event with no facilities at all building your own "log cabin" in the game field isn't really the done thing. There are simple portable sets ups that use a small pop up tent, Bucket with seat and a bag of absorbent material.

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  The same tent can generally be used to hang up a solar shower. Ideally these should be filled with mains/potable water as water from a stream will still carry bacteria. These will breed like crazy in the shower given a few days of warmth.

  If you are going to the point of having an actual wash kit then a lot of travel soap or trek wash is designed to be used with little or no additional water. Which saves a bit of lugging stuff about. Military products like foot (the groin) powder are fungicides meant for longer deployments so also not necessary for a weekend in most cases.

 

[Davet]

O’Tom tick twister great for removing ticks - there’s always a risk of squeezing too hard with tweezers and leaving the tick’s head under the skin, leading to infection.

Smidge, another top recommendation - made from natural ingredients, kind to skin and plastic toy gnus and smells nice.

The benefits of 30+ years living, working and playing in the outdoors… ?

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[Tactical Pith Helmet]

O’Tom tick twister great for removing ticks - there’s always a risk of squeezing too hard with tweezers and leaving the tick’s head under the skin, leading to infection.

Smidge, another top recommendation - made from natural ingredients, kind to skin and plastic toy gnus and smells nice.

The benefits of 30+ years living, working and playing in the outdoors… ?

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I second this, and use both of them. 

First game we ever played the lad got three ticks.  I once had 14!  The one on the back of my bollox was not funny.  Forget the embarrassment and get someone to check you over.  Use your phone camera if on your own.  FFS delete the vid straight away....   

 

[Tackle]

I second this, and use both of them. 

First game we ever played the lad got three ticks.  I once had 14!  The one on the back of my bollox was not funny.  Forget the embarrassment and get someone to check you over.  Use your phone camera if on your own.  FFS delete the vid straight away....   

Lol, I'd prob press the wrong button & livestream that shit?