In reply to Post #18
I wanted to order some two rod bars, rang them a couple of weeks ago and the guy on the phone said to ping them an email with what I wanted so they could check what they had in stock. The guy that replied to my email said they didn't have any, and wouldn't be making any in the foreseeable. Real shame, and looking for some second hand is going to be a pain.

Sounds like there's problems with all of them to some extent then, as is to be expected I guess. Cheers all.

Hi all,

Has anyone got any user experience of the Miltec ECWCS jackets? I've got a couple of Miltec bits and they are excellent in some ways, but not so excellent in others. I've always thought I'd just buy a proper US army ECWCS but the Miltec one coming with the removable fleece liner has turned my head a bit... Any reviews welcome.

Cheers.

In reply to Post #46
Yes mate as said in the post below. It's not even a trick really, just where you would normally tighten the straps below your armpits/on your chest leave them loose so the bag sits lower down your back. Then on the adjustment points above your shoulders, do them up as much as possible so the top of the bag is brought in towards your back and it sits flat against you. You can then adjust the straps at the lower points to get it sitting wherever's most comfortable

In reply to Post #48
Thats a good shout

In reply to Post #44
Wasn't suggesting you were! the bloke I'm talking about is 5' nothing

In reply to Post #42
Likewise mate. I always carry minimal stuff anyway so the size is perfect for me, and once I worked out that trick with the straps it's fine to carry in most situations. Only thing I wouldn't want to use it for is walking miles and miles. I've also got a mate who is a proper hobbit and he absolutely loves it, reckons it was designed for him

So I'm going to buck the trend here, and say as quite a tall (6'2") and broad bloke I've got the TA rucksack and am pretty happy with it. The first couple of decent walks I did with it on the river made me think I'd made a terrible mistake, as tightening the straps from the bottom as normal made it ride up really high on my back and all the straps started digging in etc etc. What I found though was if I leave the shoulder straps quite loose at the bottom and only tighten them at the top adjustment point, it sits flat on my back much lower down and is much more bearable.

My previous rucksack was an ex-army patrol pack and while it will probably last longer than me, it didn't have a sternum strap and as a result on long walks it was horrendous. Also using it on a barrow or sat in the bivvy I found the lack of structure and small base meant it kept falling/flopping over sort of thing, and the lack of internal dividers was annoying... All problems resolved with the TA rucksack. If all the zips and the stitching last as long as they should do I'll be very happy with it.

I will say though I don't think there's a perfect rucksack for all situations - If I'm out 'on maneuvers' and need to carry the kitchen sink I'll use my proper British army bergen, and for really long walks on the river barbel fishing etc with super minimal kit I think I still need a super comfy bag with sternum straps top and bottom. Was thinking of trying the Mil Tec one

In reply to Post #60
Hi Wandle, long time lurker on the forum and thought I'd finally dip my toe into actually posting. I totally understand your frustration and despair with the otter situation - I myself have been at the sharp end, including finding a very old target fish I had been stalking on and off for two weeks, freshly dragged up the bank that morning with it's throat ripped out. Also as a lifelong thames angler, we now have to contend with otters turning up on areas we have baited, drawn in by the fish we are baiting for...

I would though respectfully like to question your linking of re-wilding and otter and beaver introductions. True re-wilding is simply creating the habitat for native species to return and allowing them to do so in their own time, as in the Knepp project. Releasing apex predators all over the shop with no plan is just bad practice. A lot of people in the conservation world are waking up to this, and beginning to appreciate the importance of making sure local rural communities are consulted and on-board, and can see the benefits that re-wilding projects might bring - but due to things like the otter situation, this is now obviously an uphill struggle...

I feel for you in Kernow - where I am it seems the big wild unfenced pits will have their fish numbers reduced but not totally wiped out, and the thames will always have it's fish. Smaller waters though are not so lucky. As for the beavers, I know they destroy trees, but surely as anglers we could appreciate an animal that creates more wetland habitat? Their dams also act as filters, purifying river water as it passes through them, and if they reduce flooding, even better no? I am not here to argue and would really appreciate to hear why you are against the beavers - is it because they were released privately without consultation? Personally I am an angler first and a conservationist second - we live in a crowded country and our wildflife is our most important asset, and anything that promotes and enhances that is good in my eyes, as long as it's done SENSIBLY. That said, beavers on the Thames around some major population centres might be quite funny

Cheers, Nick