Quoted:
Just some musings, but perhaps some of you all might provide some illumination on the subject.

First, let's do some review.

1/Line gear: Items that never leave your person, unless for extremely brief intervals, and not many of them.  This includes, but is not limited to hydration, personal defense, immediate first-aid, navigation, and small amount of food.

2/Line gear:  This also augments the above, but the main purpose is fighting.  Included, but not limited to mags/carriers, immediate need weapons tools/cleaning kit.

3/Line gear:  Everything else needed to survive/accomplish mission.

Obviously, there can be overlap between the lines, and some reasonable measures can be made to accomplish one's goals/mission.

Here's the problem;  We have 3 lines of gear, but only so much room on the body to fit all this stuff.

The point is that the user, either out of necessity or for personal conveniance, can shed the layers without adverse effect on the layers still retained/worn.  IOW, dumping the backpack should have no negative short-term effects as long as the user still retains his L1/L2 gear.

If the user will never, ever have to wear a backpack with a waistbelt––and this precludes all but the most modest-sized backpacks–– then the user can wear a vest rig above (L2) the (misnamed) "Battle Belt" which is really an L1 carrier.

The wearing of any decent, modern packpack (L3) necessarily requires room on the user's hips for the hip-belt.  This is OK, if the user wears a vest that has enough real estate to accomodate both line L1/L2 items.  This approach would seem to require an extended pistol adapter which was thin enough to be worn beneath the backpack waistbelt, but was still attached to the bottom edge of the L1/L2 vest, which was raised sufficiently to clear the pack waist belt.

In short, you can wear a chest rig, rigged high to accomodate waistbelt of L3 backpack (in which case your chest rig should include L1 items),  OR you can wear chest rig rigged high to accomodate L1 waistbelt.  Can't do both.  And there's the problem.

Note that I exclude leg-mounted platforms.  In my experience, these are problematic for a number of reasons.  For one, any weight attached to one's legs will slow one down in running, as the weight has to be not only carried, but moved back and forth in a reciprocating motion.  Very inefficient, and tiring.  Some other issues include snagging, and construction issues that interfere with L3 gear, such as improperly-placed buckles/inadequate length of extension so as to clear L3 belt.  Small, lightweight leg platforms have their uses, but any significant weight/bulk should be avoided, IMHO.

With all the above said, and with a nod to those users whose needs differ, my thinking at this point, is along the following lines, based on what I possess currently:

Line 3:  Either MOLLE II (updated) backpack, CFP-90 (updated), or Large ALICE Hellcat. (updated).  All of these packs would be capable of carrying a smallish clip-on parasite pack that would be quickly detached, and bridge the gap between L2/L3 for 2-3 days.

Line 2/1:  Molle II vest or ILBE Medic's vest.  This would have enough real-estate to carry fighting/existence load, especially when augmented by parasite pack from main pack.

Side note:  Not a disparagement on other's approaches.  Under certain circumstances, my "take' on things can/would be all wrong, and other's "take" be much better.

This post is made in an attempt to provoke discussion on how the 3 Lines of gear interface with each other, and how best to achieve our goals.

Last word:  As a Long-time collector of milsurp, I have ensembles dating from SpanAm war to present, and have been a RevWar-CivWar re-enactor as well as an occasional camper.  I've used most of this stuff, but not in combat.  In addition, I could probably outfit a rifle Team with most equipment, aside from weapons.  FWIW, I've got so much milsurp gear that my problem is NOT having equipment, but deciding on what to choose.  No brag, just fact.  OTOH, doesn't make me a guru, just a long-term collector with a tactical, utilitarian bent .

Your constructive criticism is most welcome

Quoted:
Something I did with my nalgene bottles that I think you guys may like is wrap them with duck tape. I choose bright orange suitable for a survival situation as opposed to SHTF, but you can pick any color you think suits your needs. I also highly recommend the folding cups for the bottoms of the bottles. they are a little pricey but worth it. they take up no extra room and weigh very little. again, they are more of a survival item then SHTF item, but the two go hand in hand.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/816/nalgenewtap.jpg

And great job on the rig OP. very well though out.