Is Web Gear Still Relevant?

Do you really need a plate carrier? Are there times when older load bearing equipment like web gear can be superior? Web gear of sorts has been in use since the Oliver Pattern Equipment from the Boer War. The first webbing that most would recognize to be, at least, the distant cousin of British 1908 Pattern Webbing and the American 1910. During the World Wars, 1960-70s counter insurgency, webbing remained in use worldwide. Load Bearing Equipment has obviously evolved and matured with technology, warfare and the soldier’s experience using it. But is it still relevant going forward?

So, we are going to examine the enduring relevance of web gear by exploring its applications in hot weather climates, training 3rd world soldiers, cold weather over parka with armour next to skin, urban warfare, civilian preppers, and a comparison of chest rigs versus webbing. In military load categorization, gear is divided into lines: 1st line for immediate survival items carried on the person (clothing, belt, essentials like knives and compasses); 2nd line for fighting loads (ammunition, water, medical kits via vests or harnesses); and 3rd line for sustainment (backpacks with food, shelter, extended supplies). Webbing typically functions as 2.5 line equipment, bridging 2nd line battle gear for direct combat needs with limited 3rd line sustainment capacity for short-term endurance. This entire article sounds like a throwback Thursday post but hear me out.

Hot weather climates In hot weather climates, plate carriers can retain heat and reduce ventilation due to their padded construction and armor integration. Web gear, with its open weave and minimal material, allows better airflow and reduces weight. Historical use in tropical environments, such as British forces in Burma during World War II or American troops in Vietnam, demonstrated web gear’s suitability for sustained operations without overheating. In jungle and tropical settings, web gear’s breathable design mitigated humidity-induced issues like fungal infections and chafing, unlike plate carriers that trap moisture and exacerbate skin conditions in prolonged exposure. During World War II’s Pacific campaigns, US Marines on Guadalcanal and Bougainville employed M-1940 web gear over lightweight uniforms for patrols in dense, humid rainforests, supporting mobility amid heavy rainfall and vegetation. In the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960), British and Commonwealth troops used 1944 Pattern web equipment in steamy jungles for counterinsurgency operations, its lightweight construction enabling extended pursuits and ambushes. The M-1967 web gear, developed specifically for Vietnam’s tropical climate, featured nylon components for quicker drying and reduced rot, issued to US forces for jungle insertions where plate carriers would hinder ventilation and increase fatigue. In Operations Desert Storm (1991) and Iraqi Freedom (2003 onward), US forces in Iraqi deserts—where temperatures reached 100-120°F—relied on ALICE web gear for load carriage during rapid advances and foot patrols, its breathability supporting mobility and mitigating heat stress/dehydration; even when worn over PASGT vests, web gear permitted a lower-profile prone position by minimizing chest bulk, enabling a stable “perfect prone” with the body flat for better accuracy, recoil control, and lower exposure, unlike plate carriers that force a higher “rifleman’s prone,” increasing sway, fatigue, and visibility on rough ground. In Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan’s arid mountains, web gear enabled lighter dismounted loads, where plate carriers heightened thermal burden and curbed endurance. Special Operations Forces on recce and extended patrols, like in Afghanistan, favored slim web harnesses for essentials, prioritizing stealth/speed over protection to cut sweat and sustain multi-day movement without resupply. The Bravo Two Zero SAS patrol in the 1991 Gulf War exemplifies this: an eight-man team, inserted to hunt SCUD launchers, used belt kits and web harnesses for ammunition/grenades/minimal gear (209 pounds total per man), with modular design aiding efficient weight distribution and evasion in extreme desert swings, ending in four captures, three deaths, and one 190-mile escape. I mean if it worked for Chris Ryan, it might work for you in Nevada.

“I remember C9 Gunners (M249) wearing web gear in OP Medusa ‘06 because the issued TCV would only carry two drums of ammunition. With the 82 Pattern web gear, they could carry four drums with water and grenades.”

Cold weather over parka with armour next to skin In cold weather, plate carriers and soft armour worn over heavy insulation add excessive bulk, compress insulating layers, and drastically reduce their effectiveness while restricting movement. Both hard plates and soft armor must be placed directly next to the skin over a thin base layer to maintain optimal ballistic performance, as air gaps—even as small as 10mm—can degrade protection by increasing backface deformation and the risk of perforation or blunt trauma. This setup allows full loft of insulating garments and the parka to be worn over the armor without compression, preserving maximum warmth. Web gear is then overlaid on the parka, keeping ammunition and equipment readily accessible. Historical examples include Allied forces in the Ardennes during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, where US 83rd Division troops used frozen web gear over wool overcoats in -20°F; the US 10th Mountain Division in the Italian Apennines during WWII’s 1944-45 winter campaigns, employing web gear over mountain uniforms for climbing and combat; UN troops in Korea’s 1950 Chosin Reservoir campaign, utilizing web gear over M-1947 parkas in -35°F amid retreats; and British forces in the 1982 Falklands War, applying 1958 Pattern webbing over layered clothing in sub-zero winds for mobility. Modern applications include Scandinavian militaries in NATO exercises with 1958 Pattern webbing over arctic gear; US 10th Mountain Division training at Fort Drum, using modular chest rigs and belts over ECWCS layers for cold-weather mobility drills; and NATO’s Cold Response exercises in Norway (e.g., 2022), where multinational forces employ web harnesses and sub-belts over parkas for survival and operations in extreme cold, integrating with skis and sleds for mountain traversal.

“Many experienced soldiers don’t understand the importance of wearing armour next-to-skin in arctic conditions.”

Training 3rd world soldiers For training soldiers in developing nations, plate carriers require specialized maintenance, compatible plates, and high costs, which strain limited budgets and supply lines. Web gear is inexpensive, widely available from surplus stocks, and extremely simple to issue and maintain. New and unfit recruits are particularly prone to overheating when training in full kit. Plate carriers significantly increase core body temperature, heart rate, and perceived exertion in hot environments, leading to rapid fatigue and higher risk of heat casualties. Web gear provides maximum cooling through superior airflow and dramatically lower weight, allowing for gradual load progression. This enables trainers to start recruits with minimal loads and slowly add weight as fitness improves — a critical factor in reducing injuries and building sustainable capability. Logistics are greatly simplified, and web gear is highly mission scalable, from basic patrol order to full combat loads. Most importantly, it forces a strong focus on the fundamentals of soldiering: water discipline, proper load management, and marching endurance; additionally, web gear allows a lower-profile prone position during marksmanship drills, enabling flatter stances for better accuracy without bulk interference. During the Cold War, American ALICE webbing was extensively supplied to allied forces across Southeast Asia and Africa precisely for this reason. In post-colonial conflicts in Angola, Mozambique, and throughout Africa in the 1970s-80s, web gear proved ideal for rapidly equipping and training irregular and newly formed forces without overwhelming logistical demands. Modern applications include US aid packages to Ukraine in 2022-2025, where surplus ALICE-style webbing supported quick training of territorial defense units.

“You can literally find ALICE Web Gear in Northern Thailand at Farmer’s Markets.”

Urban warfare In urban warfare, plate carriers provide critical protection from shrapnel, ricochets, and close-range fire in confined spaces, but web gear offers superior mobility, reduced bulk, and quicker access for house-to-house clearing and vehicle-mounted operations. Web gear can be removed without taking off armour, enabling soldiers to crawl through rubble and mouseholes—breaches created in walls for covert movement between buildings to avoid exposed streets. Additionally, web gear’s minimal bulk permits a lower-profile prone position in rubble-strewn environments, enabling a stable “perfect prone” with the body flat for better accuracy, recoil control, and lower exposure amid debris, unlike plate carriers that force a higher stance increasing visibility and instability on uneven ground. Historical use includes German forces in Stalingrad during World War II (1942-1943), where simple leather and web belts carried essentials amid rubble-strewn street fighting, allowing agile movement through destroyed buildings. In the Battle of Ortona in December 1943, Canadian forces of the 1st Infantry Division pioneered the mouseholing technique against Fallschirmjäger, using explosives to blast wall holes, throw grenades, and assault through; web gear’s slim, modular setup permitted easy doffing for squeezing through tight apertures without removing any protective elements, supporting house-to-house advances in the “Little Stalingrad” amid booby-trapped ruins. US Marines in the 1968 Battle of Hue City during the Vietnam War employed M-1956 load-carrying equipment, which facilitated rapid reloads and navigation in narrow alleys without the encumbrance of integrated armor. In modern conflicts, such as the 2004 Battles of Fallujah during Operation Iraqi Freedom, some US units favored lightweight chest harnesses—evolved from ALICE web gear—over heavily loaded plate carriers for close-quarters battle, prioritizing speed and low profile in door-to-door engagements. Special operations forces in urban reconnaissance, like in Baghdad patrols, have continued using slim web rigs to maintain stealth and endurance in multi-story environments.

“Look at the Marawi City Siege in the Philippines. Most of the soldiers and marines are wearing armour and some sort of webbing over top. A modern urban operation in a hot, humid climate”

Civilian preppers or SHTF For prepper groups in SHTF scenarios, plate carriers are expensive, high-maintenance, and dangerously conspicuous when staying unnoticed is essential for survival. Web gear excels with its low cost, simple modularity, and easy field repairs using basic materials. In extreme heat, its open design prevents overheating and supports stable, low-profile shooting positions. When training new or unfit group members after collapse, web gear allows gradual weight progression while building core survival skills like hydration, load management, and effective marksmanship. In freezing conditions, it layers cleanly over insulation without compressing warmth. In urban ruins, its slim, quiet profile is ideal for stealthy foraging runs through abandoned buildings and streets — allowing discreet scavenging of supplies while remaining low-visibility. Its compact form also enables rapid removal for crawling through rubble or mouseholes and stable prone firing when threats appear. Innovations like carbon fiber-reinforced webbing, introduced in 2020s surplus markets, offer up to 40% lighter setups for extended bug-outs without sacrificing strength. Web gear’s proven durability makes it one of the smartest long-term choices for self-reliant groups operating in a resource-scarce world.

“Inexpensive to buy in bulk, durable and scalable to foraging or colony defence.”

Chest rig vs webbing Chest rigs and webbing are both load-bearing systems designed for carrying ammunition, water, and tools without built-in armor, sharing origins in early 20th-century designs like the British 1908 Pattern. Similarities include modularity for attaching pouches, lightweight construction to minimize fatigue, and focus on accessibility for infantry tasks; both can be worn over body armor or clothing, with historical overlap in systems like the American ALICE setup that incorporated chest-mounted elements. Differences lie in configuration: traditional webbing uses belts, suspenders, and harnesses to distribute weight across the hips and shoulders for balanced long-haul marches, as seen in WWII and Vietnam-era kits, while chest rigs concentrate pouches on the torso for faster reloads in dynamic engagements, exemplified by the Chinese Type 56 Chicom rig used in Korea or modern Crye Precision AVS harnesses with MOLLE. Webbing offers better weight distribution for extended patrols but can shift during prone positions, whereas chest rigs provide quicker draw times but may ride up or unbalance during runs; in special forces recce, chest rigs dominate for stealth, while conventional webbing suits line infantry logistics. Tactically, webbing excels in sustained dismounted operations where hip-bearing reduces shoulder strain and allows better core cooling in heat, unlike chest rigs that can trap body heat against the torso; however, chest rigs outperform in vehicle ops or CQB for unobstructed arm movement and rapid access, though they lack the full-body load balance of webbing in rough terrain. Plate carriers integrate armor but add weight and bulk, making webbing or chest rigs preferable for low-threat mobility; in hybrid setups, webbing pairs with plate carriers for layered gear, while chest rigs often stand alone for minimalism. In load line terms, webbing acts as a 2.5 line hybrid, combining essential 2nd line fighting kit with some 3rd line sustainment for brief operations, giving it an edge in flexibility compared to the purely 2nd line emphasis of chest rigs.

“The Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) is MOLLE Loadbearing vest that is a hybrid of webbing and chest though it might not fit over a parka like web gear. But, a good options for a 2.5 line rig for warmer climates.”

In conclusion, gear should drive the mission, not the mission drives the gear—selecting equipment based on operational demands ensures efficiency, rather than forcing tactics around the kit you want because reasons. Web gear’s advantages shine across scenarios: in hot climates, its ventilation and low weight prevent heat casualties while enabling effective prone firing; for training 3rd world soldiers, its affordability and scalability build basics without logistical overload; in cold weather, layering over parkas with armor close to skin maintains warmth and access; urban warfare benefits from its removability for rubble navigation and low-profile stances; civilian preppers gain stealth, modularity, and durability for SHTF foraging and group training; and compared to chest rigs, webbing’s hybrid 2.5 line role adds sustainment versatility. I think we have answered the question is web gear still relevant going forward. Absolutely. But, it must match its role in your employment or TEOTWAWKI plan. This is not a nostalgic throwback article; web gear does have specific advantages. This is not a nostalgic throwback article; web gear does have specific advantages. Remember, it can be pair with a slick plate carrier or soft/hard combination and pack systems easily. A Border Patrol Agent might take advantage of the 2.5 hybrid line by having a set of web gear for that unexpected longer track. A rural prepper can throw a set of webbing their truck with their truck gun for the walk home after the EMP. Rural SWAT deployments, especially snipers, may require movement over difficult terrain and the balance of webbing could assist in stealthy surveillance or approach. I believe any soldier or operator worth their salt should have a set lying around for longe range recce and specific environments.  And no gear nerd, like myself and many others, should be without a set or three either.