I've worn LBE's a lot and still do in part for work. You don't want a heavy LBE on day in and day out. They were designed around military need and gear and that gear and need has changed a lot. There's lots of choices out there if you really want to refine your gear and don't mind spending the money. I see gear purchase as a major importance in prep. If you really see the need to prep and understand how much on edge this world stands, that it could crumble at anytime and you need that gear to survive on, don't scrimp where you don't have to. Like firearms and other important tools, buy the best you can afford. You can get yourself started also, and than upgrade as you can afford to, but do upgrade when you can as this kind of gear is important.
I prep gear in a toolbox outlook as no one thing is the best for every job or activity. My LBE gear and vest rigs are for guarding home ground (when shtf) and not for bugging out unless I'm bugging out by vehicle, where I'll take almost everything in tact gear for use at the BOL. On foot though where you're very limited to what you can wear and carry, I see it much better to split gear up for diverse situations. Like my sidearm and spare mags being on my pants belt that I can have with me 24/7 and can wear concealed when other gear is stashed to go into a populated situations and not be as open a threat and target for those looking for armed people. (Like police and military) I prefer to use satchel, active shooter bags for carrying rifle mags as I can throw them on fast and easily take them off fast to rest, relax at camp or take off to take a dump same as leaning my rifle on a bush or tree. When you sleep too, your pack makes a perfectly good pillow.
I don't put a lot of stock in the 72 hour rig either. If something happened that would actually lead you to bugging out and need to survive off your rig, it's much worse than 72 hours. You're not going to bug out on foot if your vehicle is still useable, or it's a simple power outage from a storm or you need to leave town for whatever reason and things like power and fuel stations are up and running. If you're smart, you'll revert to the bugout bag/rig only when your forced to. Unless you simply like hardship. More to ya than.
If you want an LBE rig though, than Tactical Tailor, Eagle, Blackhawk, London Bridge Trading all make quality gear. Take in mind that some things, any company makes is not as good as something else they do. You'll have to choose what may be best for you.
TACTICAL TAILOR Quality Tactical Gear for Military and Law Enforcement
London Bridge Trading Company, Ltd.
Home BLACKHAWK!
Eagle Industries - Home
Fuzzee
Part of my bugout rig,
