Items needed: 2x shoulder straps from an LC2 Ruck, 1x buttpack, 1x canteen w/cover, & 24" of 550 paracord.
Attach the shoulder straps to the top and lower portion of the buttpack by the D rings, velcro and/or with some 550 paracord, so you can wear it on your back like a mini backpack. Grab the canteen cover & clips and attach it to the handle of the buttpack which is located on the flap. Take about 12 inches of paracord, tie a big ol' knot in the middle of it and run these loose ends through the bottom of the canteen cover inside-out. Then take these 2 loose ends and attach them to the top rings of the buttpack to prevent the canteen from flipping around and over.
Another item you can attach to the butt pack handle is the E-Tool, but make sure you can run some 550 paracord through the bottom of the E-Tool case to prevent it (also) from flipping around and
over.
Ir get a Glock folding shovel instead, you can modify the issue E-Tool cover to take the Glock
Shovel, however. The Swiss and some surplus German shovels don't fold, but are also adequate little shovels. The Cold Steel shovel is satisfactory also.)
If you have 2 extra canteens, and/or one extra canteen and an E-Tool, try attaching them along the sides of the butt pack. If you are only going to carry one of these items, then attach it to the handle of the pack handle so it won't be uncomfortably off balance.
If you attach a small loop to the lanyard of the military issue compass, you'll be able to open and close the compass pouch a bit more easily in a cold weather environment while wearing gloves. The loop is a piece of paracord tied to the end of the lanyard, about 4" long, forming a circle.
A good place to keep 550 paracord is around the metal frame of the rucksack. Just wrap it carefully around it and it will always be there when you need it, plus it will absorb and dampen any clanging sounds should your weapon or other gear come in contact with it.
These are all good tips for improvising and making do with the equipment you have available. With a little more effort, and a good tailor (you can do this yourself, BTW), you can modify the Y or H suspenders of the LBE by adding a couple of discarded harness clips to the webbing on the back to carry a small buttpack like a backpack. I've often wondered why they never added those clips to the upper back portion of the LBE harnesses.)
