No matter if you are in an airport terminal heading home for leave, or on a convoy into the sands of foreign lands, you are in need of equipment, be it some sort of high tech navigational system, an extra pair of boots or military casual clothing for some down time. Though there are many tactical packs and pouches for the traveling of this equipment, the duffle bag is one of the most notable ways for our military’s personnel to transport things.

Upon entrance into the chosen elite American fighting force, our heroic men and women are issued not only the classic combat fatigues and combat boots, but they too, are issued equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE) (helmets, body armor, eye protection, etc.) and weaponry (depending on chosen military occupational specialty) and a duffle bag, among many other things. These essentials are of the upper most importance and could save the lives of our military loved ones and their comrades. The military issued duffle bag is undoubtedly, as mentioned previously, the most notable way to carry their equipment when either going on a deployment or home for leave.

The classic military duffle bag is adorned with two straps to carry it on your back and is a ‘top loading’ style. The top loading style of duffle bag can be closed with a pad lock or simply by clipping it shut with one of the shoulder straps. If you have ever used this style of duffle bag, you know that it always seems that what you need is on the bottom of the bag. Keeping that in mind, a new style was produced. Now, some duffle bags are adorned with a zipper for easy access to the whole bag, so the days of digging to the bottom of the bag for essential and potentially life saving equipment are over, if you so choose.

If your destination is to the desert, you may put one or two MREs, an empty canteen, first aid kit, flashlight, a mirror, a compass, a global positioning system, a two way radio, change of clothes, etc. into your bag. The idea for some is to put things that would be immediately useful for their survival if stranded or lost in the desert. If the destination is home for a few days, the duffle will more than likely include military casual clothing, shoes and because only some of our nation’s heroes wear their uniforms in public, a uniform for the travel back to the unit or duty station, as well as souvenirs, pictures, etc., from the deployment or stateside duty station to share with the family and friends.

No matter where your destination, what goes into your duffle bag before your journey begins is very important. Be it personal protective gear, equipment for survival in foreign lands, or just odds and ins for a trip home, the duffle bag and it’s durable fabric and secure closure will leave you with the satisfaction of knowing that your equipment will be easily accessed, as well as protected from the elements of Mother Nature. What do you put into your duffle bag?