A Comparison of Two Commercial Off the Shelf Backpacks to the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) in Biomechanics, Metabolic Cost and Performance

Abstract

On August 14, 2002, the United States Marines Corps presented a Commercial Area Announcement (CAA) soliciting designs for an Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) system. The Marine Corp System Command (MARCORSYSCOM) determined the top two designs of those submitted from the commercial vendors were Bianchi (Gregory) and Propper International (ArcTeryx). USARIEM was contacted by MARCORSYSCOM to perform a battery of tests aimed at evaluating these two Commercial off the shelf (COTS) and to compare these packs to MOLLE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the COTS ILBE systems on biomechanics, oxygen consumption and performance on militarily relevant tasks. An additional goal is to compare the two COTS ILBE systems to the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system currently fielded and used by the Marines. Twelve subjects (all of whom were Marines) participated in the study. Biomechanics testing included treadmill walking at 3 mph (1.34 ms-1) with each of the COTS ILBE systems and MOLLE in two different configurations that include a Fighting (loaded with 40 pounds, 18.4kg) and Approach (loaded with 70 pounds, 31.75kg) loads. During treadmill walking, kinematic data provided information on the motion of the body segments; kinetic data provided information on the forces exerted on the body; and oxygen consumption data provided information on metabolic cost. Performance measures included a marksmanship task, time to traverse an obstacle course, a 2-mile timed march, and completion of Specific Military Maneuvers (SM Ms); these tests were performed while carrying the Fighting (loaded with 40 pounds, 18.4 kg) and Approach (loaded with 70 pounds, 31.75 kg) loads. SMMs included "Stand to Prone," "Prone to Stand," "Donn the backpack," and "Doff the backpack".

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA416176

Entities

People

  • Everett Harman
  • Hipolito Ramos
  • Michael Lafiandra
  • Peter Frykman
  • Suzanne Lynch

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Backpacks
  • Biomechanics
  • Body Armor
  • Body Weight
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Combat Readiness
  • Data Analysis
  • Heart Rate
  • Joints (Anatomy)
  • Lightweight
  • Materials
  • Military Applications
  • Military Operations
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Training
  • Weight

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Software Engineering