Away from Basecamp "Gear Roll" (Schemagh)

Discussion in 'Adventure, Hiking, Backpacking and Travel' started by Caleb O, Mar 24, 2018.

  1. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Thought I would share, as this is something I do semi regularly. Especially if I have backpacked into a place and setup a base camp. I use it when leaving the camp for a few hours to explore and scout around; yet still have some items with me. It's really simple, and I'm sure a few of you guys do similar, but here's my "Gear Roll" for a short scout about. In this instance I have a steel water bottle, fire kit, folding knife, and a bar; along with a schemagh or other large piece of cloth. IMG_2858.JPG Place the items in the corner of the cloth (tightly together if possible). It also helps if they are pretty uniform and lined up. Just makes the whole wrap easier (and easier to wear). IMG_2859.JPG Next start wrapping the items with your cloth. Make sure to keep the whole thing tight. (Like rolling up a sleeping bag) IMG_2860.JPG Once you have rolled your items all the way to the opposite end of the fabric, twist/wrap the tag ends. This helps hold the whole thing together when you tie it around your waist. IMG_2861.JPG
    Finally, locate bundle in the small of your back and tie the ends securely in front of you. If done right it will hold your items easily and not unravel. No joke, I have ran with this setup on and I didn't lose items all over the trail. There yah go, minimal and hands free hiking setup. If you do something similar, post up some pics! IMG_2862.JPG
     
  2. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    Great idea. I have a snipers veil I use with paracord in a similar way to gather mushrooms and as a hobo sack
     
  3. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Nice! Yeah, large pieces of cloth and such are really versatile. I pretty much always have something like a schemagh or such with me when outdoors. You got a pic of your hobo sack setup?
     
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  4. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    I’m at work but when I get home I’ll take some.
     
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  5. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Right on!
     
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  6. Stewart

    Stewart Member

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    I like it!
    I used to do something similar by packing in a pillow case and I would make an improvised day pack for scouting.
     
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  7. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    So here is the sniper veil;

    https://www.condoroutdoor.com/sniper-veil.aspx

    Rothco makes them and I’m sure other vendors but mine is a condor. So other than my foraging bag this guy can also be used as a fishing net, shad, camouflage and probably many other things.

    First my current haversack repack for spring;

    22C15228-FD65-466A-B8B6-63E8AB0DBCDD.jpeg

    Next, the veil;

    CCFAD1FB-38E1-4A26-89B5-B019648F6489.jpeg

    Normally the rocks are rolled inside but they fell out, in addition I have an opinel mushroom knife inside;

    E41AF325-5E7E-46F2-9EBE-EE9C168021E2.jpeg

    This guy is a good size and stretches;

    6D3E84C5-116C-4FBE-B030-C8E0691A572B.jpeg

    Anyway fold it in half;

    9F212D03-1972-4610-92B7-98A0F23CC08C.jpeg

    Add rocks

    65B56182-3FD1-4632-94EA-C30D6451A185.jpeg

    Fold the edge over;

    006B14F6-B53D-4D2A-BE4F-1481CE9317BE.jpeg

    Fold ends in;

    E83A14B2-A05E-4B72-89BB-29CDCB8FF54F.jpeg

    Fold it up; B3305499-5C61-448D-A11E-A68BC1B8BD1F.jpeg

    Paracord one end before the now encased rock;

    B3305499-5C61-448D-A11E-A68BC1B8BD1F.jpeg

    Now the other side;

    9A97277E-3D1B-4AF0-8C00-D1B5DD852D29.jpeg

    Now wear it;

    1B70754D-E714-4A72-9AC5-DA7DB6FF225E.jpeg

    2B9DA276-F43D-48DE-A62E-CB09ACF1A4F3.jpeg

    I added 12 XL t shirts and could it more;

    83080089-708C-481C-A207-9E8D1B93D030.jpeg

    Use a blanket pin to close;

    8592E66E-EB40-4EB9-AA3A-29F36A492BD5.jpeg

    This makes a good game and foraging bag. You could tie loops on and use a clip on shoulder strap for heavier loads. Why the veil is so good for foraging is I like mushrooms. Well when people forage with plastic Walmart bags or even the maxpedition roly poly style pouches you are killing off the mushroom population. Mushrooms pollinate by spores and when they are in a bag of tight material all the spores are trapped. A bag like this the spores will spread freely as you walk so you are basically “planting” more mushrooms as you walk. Anyway hope you like my hobo bag. (You could also go classic and tie the 4 corners up an a stick! Lol)
     

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  8. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    digging this.
     
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  9. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Nice roll up. I should pick up a shemagh or two.
     
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  10. Stone

    Stone Member

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    I now own three: olive, desert and sky blue (for downtown -- matches my eyes).

    I bought my first one last fall. Wore it into winter (see my current avatar). Quickly became unable to live without it both at home ("base camp studio") and in the woods. (It got me through several afternoon walks in the singles F; it's large enough to cover neck and head under the hood.)

    Added another, then the third in blue. $11 on Amazon (mine are all from Mato and Hash).

    Don't leave home w/o one or two.
     
  11. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    That's awesome! Thanks for sharing. I'll probably do something similar when harvesting mesquite or palo verdey beans. I also would have never realized that about mushrooms. Good call for sustainable harvesting.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2018
  12. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    You’re welcome, it’s a nice setup. I do have a roly poly bag for gathering tinder while hiking to my camp but for harvesting I like this then when I’m at camp I can hang it on a tree or the ridge line of my tarp. When people uses hand woven baskets mushrooms would spread more, now a days with modern materials mushrooms die out in area because they can spread their seed. Part of Bushcraft/woodcraft/wooods bumming of what ever you want to call it is about nature and preservation. Everything we do has an impact on the forest and we need to do everything we can to lessen it. Just my philosophy.
     
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  13. The Marsh Gorilla

    The Marsh Gorilla Member

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    Excellent post!!!! This has been my philosophy and mindset as far back as I can remember. I tend to spend more time now planting trees, and hinge cutting bedding areas than I do killing game animals.
     
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  14. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Amen Bro. Often an overlooked aspect of what we do.
     
  15. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    True that. I usually have two. It's awesome that just by the way one utilizes and wears it, that a simple large piece of cloth will help in the cold or in the heat. I was on a twenty mile-er out to the Gila River, and even with a broad brimmed hat I still busted out the schemagh and wrapped it loosely around my face to keep off the sun. (Wearable shade and evaporative cooling for the win!) I need to pick up one in a cool color though.
     
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  16. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    Thanks
     
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  17. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    I have a huge multicam shemagh from @Willow , and a military surplus OD snipers veil. The veil has cord drawstring on all 4 corners.....makes a nice hobo bag
     
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  18. BlueDogScout

    BlueDogScout Member

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    You should post some pics of both lol
     
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  19. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Would love to see some pics! Sounds great!
     
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  20. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

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    Went out to gather some yucca leaves for cordage practice later this week. Also did a little scouting about and took the gear roll with me. IMG_2866.JPG I've enjoyed wearing other things on the schemagh as well. Almost turning it into a wilderness tool belt. In these photos I have the ESEE 6HM on one side and a gourd container for foraging on the other side. IMG_2880.JPG
     

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