The folks who were most similar are the same now – large groups of people, usually hunters, who drive pickups and set up a place to stay next to a road. They car-camp, not caring about the weight or volume of their gear.

There aren’t all that many of those. Your basic person who lives like a soldier in the field is interested in light-weight, low volume gear which will also stay dry. They are carrying it on their back, as opposed to the military guy who has it carried for him as he is burdened with a rifle, grenades, ammo and so on.

Little canvas pouches have been replaced by nylon bags with compartments. Metal canteens in a canvas pouch have been replaced with hydration systems which are carried on the back, have a tube running to a chest strap and an opening which screws onto a water filter. More versatile, easier to carry, more available and safer, as well as being lighter per volume of water.

I’ve purchased some of the military gear hoping to make a light, customized backpack out of it and given up on the idea. The commercial stuff designed for civilian backpacking is better. Even the gear designed for the guy headed into the boonies for a week is great for the person carrying 3 Claymoores, 4 grenades, 300 rounds of ammunition, a rifle, shovel, and so on. But it’s no good for traveling light and yelling at the occasional bear or two.