Loadout: Relic Hunter
This facinating loadout from Sorin, a multitasking graphic designer, art director and animator from Romania, features the kit he uses while metal detecting WW1 and WW2 battlefields for relics. He documents everything on his website that is dedicated to his Grandfather, who fought in WW2, and his bother who was a POW in Siberia.
Sorin: In my spare time I’m in love with the great outdoors, be it steep mountains, hilly forests or the sea side. Because I first started with scrambling, my background is based on a hiker’s perspective, but in the meantime I got poisoned by the “military gear bug”.
About 3 years ago I started metal detecting and the gear that I carry kind of mixes these 2 together quite well I think. Since many areas where I dig for WW1 and WW2 relics are in remote areas, I need to be self sufficient and also be always ready to treat potential injuries so I always carry a full IFAK with me. This is the basic loadout I carry on my metal detecting outings, some things are left at home or in the car based on the season, weather, needs, time spent in the field etc. Since I keep my backpack in it’s ready to grab and go configuration in my work room, the load out can be easily used as a bug out bag, if time calls for that.
The main things I carry:
- Mammut Gritstone 25l Backpack + hand sewn pouches on the hip belt
- Gerber Multiplier Multitool
- CRKT M16-10KZ folding knife (tanto + serrated blade)
- Fiskars Utility knife with integrated sharpener in the sheath
- Fiskars Folding saw
- Stanley FatMax 14″ Precision Claw Bar
- Petzl Tactikka+ RGB + spare rechargeable batteries
- 2 sets of spare rechargeable batteries for the metal detector
- Asus ZenPower, 10050 mAh power bank + charging wires
- Helikon Original US Army Magnesium Camping Fire Starter + 2 lighters + round candle
- Hand warmers + survival blanket
- Generic garden gloves since I dig a lot with my hands and they get trashed quite fast so no interest in using cool ones like Mechanix Wear
- Pen with duct tape on it
- Napkins and hand sanitizer
- Medical Rubber gloves
- Paracord
- Small brass wire brush
- 2 Big heavy duty trash can bag
- Yellow rain cover for the backpack
- Spare socks + mosquito net
- Light Buff like balaclava
- Red tape for marking different spots or waypoints
- Zip ties + spare strap webbing for who knows what
Bonus items depending on my needs:
- Condor Watch cap
- Karrimor Boonie hat
- Sunglasses – cheap gas station ones because I trash them a lot
- Helikon-tex rain poncho in Camogrom camo
- Helikon-tex Windrunner in Pencott Wildwood camo
- Silva Ranger Compass
- Garmin 64s GPS
- Casio G-Shock 5540 Watch with dual time – digital and analog – helpful for orienteering if needed
- Baofeng UV5R 2 way-radio
- Surplus rain gloves
- Windstopper gloves
- Opinel Knife
- Generic stainless steel spoon
- Ikea full stainless 1 liter flask – also good for boiling water in it
- Nalgene glow in the dark 1 liter water bottle
- MSR Pocket Rocket stove + canister
- Enamel metal mug + tea + instant coffee + lighter
- Swedish Army Style Folding Cup
- Ramen + power bars + fruit gels
- Small stainless flask
My IFAK:
- SOF® Tourniquet
- Surgical gloves, gauze, elastic phases, compresses, bandages, patches, textile adhesive
- Various pills (aspirin, ibuprofen, nospa, antidiarrheals, laxatives, water purified, etc.)
- Spray with hemostatic effect
- Survival foil, hand warmers
- Sewing kit + thread
- Guedel pipe to keep the airway open, chest seal, the dark tubes contain hydrogen peroxide, disinfectant, effervescent magnesium and calcium
- Scissors
- Signal mirror, lighter, marker, mentholated candies, duct tape
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Editor: We each have our own unique carry journeys and gear preferences, but by sharing your pack and its contents you can help inform and equip others on their adventures too. Why not share a loadout today?