MilSim, which stands for “Military Simulation,” often takes the form of paintball or airsoft events that are designed to closely mimic combat situations.
It can be stressful and grueling, exposing you to the elements and testing your mettle, but it can also be a great way to challenge yourself, too.
Aside from your airsoft gun and what you carry in your vest, you need to know how to pack, especially if the event takes place over multiple days and you will be outdoors.
Here’s what you need to know.
At the Bottom of the Pack
At the bottom of the pack is where you will want to place the items that you will not need to access frequently. You’ll also want to reserve the bottom of the pack for larger, bulkier, or heavier items that can withstand having other gear on top of them.
These include:
- Your sleeping pad
- Sleeping back
- Tent
- Most of your spare clothes
An alternate configuration, since tents and ground pads tend to be too bulky for some packs, is to lash them either to the top or bottom of the pack, outside of it.
Middle of the Pack
The middle of the pack is where you’ll pack most of the gear you’re carrying that you won’t need to access much more than once per day.
This includes:
- Cooking gear
- Camp lanterns
- Utensils/stoves
- Spare water
As well as anything else you need to carry but don’t expect to have to access much more than once per day – if not less.
Just Above That
Above this mid-layer, you need to pack two separate top layers, nestled one under the other.
In the lower of the two top layers, you’ll want to pack outerwear that you might need to access quickly, such as:
- Jackets
- Ponchos
- Gloves
- Sunglasses (which can also be strapped to a case on the outside of the pack)
The Top Layer
The top layer is where you will want to keep most of your gear that you’ll need within easy reach:
- First aid equipment/medication
- Phone/Radio
- Keys
- ID
- Cash
- Sunscreen/bug spray
- Lights/batteries
- notepads/pens
- Tape
- Water
- Compass/nav aids
- Maps
Keep in mind that while this list is the longest, it will, in general, take up the least room by far.
In the Pockets/Attached to the MOLLE System
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are wearing a tactical vest, a chest rig, or if your pack has a bunch of exterior pockets or MOLLE slots, you can pack some of the lighter essentials in the pockets or strap them to the MOLLE slots on the exterior.
This will keep more of them accessible at a moment’s notice.
Gear Up for MilSim: Visit MiR Tactical
Getting ready for a MilSim event in the near future, and need to prepare the right tactical airsoft gear?
Visit MiR Tactical via the previous link and gear up for your next event. They offer a price match guarantee that will get you the best prices on tactical gear, no coupon code required.
