Stormtrooper Trooping Hacks and Ideas

[evnltr[TK]]

Glen, I once tried rigging my TD back in early 2000's in first troops to put things in, but I did not have a nice set up like yours.  I was always shaking my rump to make sure what I had in there was in there with the rattle.  Yours is way better than what I did.  I got too paranoid about not having eyes on that TD and dropped it as a storage option myself, but to Anthony's point if I did smoke, that's a great idea for placement!  

 

Anthony, yes, the micro kits can be stored in all kinds of places.  I liked them in the wrist for quick access.   But I think I'm going to transition those to a newer idea this year.  I'll show you what I'm doing next on the inside of my ammo belt shortly.    The micro kits remain micro and spread out a little, but I think it looks neat.   Thank you for the video share!  Totally going to check that out.  

[evnltr[TK]]

Ammo Belt - Micro Tin Kits

 

This is a new idea I'm trying for my 2026 troops.  I have not trooped in this yet and I will post when I do for results.  I wanted to try an alternative to my micro med/repair kits and put them in the Ammo belt.  I know some folks have used the ammo belt for some storage before, but I had this idea for how to organize mine and not be visible for any kinds of troops.  I was inspired by the notes in the Star Wars Ultimate Edition book that described what was in a stormtrooper ammo belt.  I wanted to update my tool kit but also add rations and with a tool kit.  I got a set of small 2"x1" tins with lids.   These fit nicely in ammo compartments of the belt. These tins were painted white and then I added the cog sticker along with a theme sticker to identify what was in the tin.  Depending on the troop, I can swap out what I think I will need in the belt.  

 

I have some different items I can swap out here in the belt.  It's almost like a video game.  I choose what I want to equip before I go out.  In this lineup, you'll see I have a vial of water, a flashlight, a medical kit (medicine and band aid), a tape kit (contains a few strips of white duct or white electrical tape), a tool kit, and a tissue tin kit.  (Over the last 20 years of trooping, I have found from time to time that I might need some tissue on a troop for a variety of reasons.  I decided to add a tin kit for this.)  I then added a strip of white duct tape on the back of the tin that was the same width of the tin.  I cut the tape end off so it was about 1" longer than the tin.  At the tip of the tape, I added a small piece of ABS that the tape covered at the top.  The tiny ABS piece gives the tab just a little weight to make it curl forward.  That way when the belt is on, the tape tabs don't stick out and aren't  seen.  And I can reach in and just grab the tab with my fingertips and pull the tin out.   I could always take the belt off and get all the tins easily, but I wanted to be able to access them quick without needing assistance or have to take something off.  I still have to test these tab pull outs on a troop, but I'm hoping they work.  

 

 

Here's the pic of what's inside each one.  (I have a mini utility tool for cutting I am adding in here and working on how it will fit too.)  I moved all the medicine I had in my micro kit to this tin.  I did the same for the tool kit and added mini screw drivers too.  

 

The water is a something I thought would be good to have.  Trust me, it's not for hydration.  That would be laughable.  However, a small thing of water could be helpful if I don't have any water close and need a gulp for taking some Advil.  This small amount of water could also be used on a small armor cut or helping dab some tissue to wipe off a mark on the armor.   I'm sure there's other uses for a small amount of emergency water that I'm not thinking of too.  The water vial is not magnetic but fits fine.  I just used velcro on the bottom of the bottle and a little piece at the bottom of one of the ammo compartments. 

 

I found a brand of flashlights called Olight on Amazon.  They make a standard model in black and a Pro model in other colors like white.  I got both to try them out.   The Olight Pro is nice and has more light modes but is a hair too thick for fitting nicely in our belt compartments.  The standard black Olight fits in fine!   The lights are magnetic and also have a clamp so you could clip it to your armor if you wanted.  The light has 3 levels of light and modes for spot, flood, and red light.  After a troop is over and walking back to the car at night or if you need a little light on a troop, I have found this useful.  The red light is nice if you clip this light on the back of your belt, so you are seen in the dark.   The padded clamp is strong on these lights but not enough to put a dent or mark armor if you clamp it on.  

 

In my belt, I used the same earth magnets I used on my power packs on my back plate (see post above in this thread).  I used the same concept of wrapping the magnets in some white duct tape to reduce the magnetic pull.  I used double sided gorilla tape and put in one magnet in the middle and one at the bottom of the ammo compartments.  This keeps the tins from falling out and keeps them in a balanced vertical position.  

 

I wanted "rations" to be an option on a longer troop.  I found these Kind mini bars fit snug in the compartments but do fit.  They also taste pretty good for an energy bar!  I trimmed a little off of the bottom part of the wrapper so that doesn't stick out, and I can use the top of the wrapper as my tab to pull it out.  If I know I'll have access to a water bottle on a troop from a host, but need a little energy, I'll simply drop out my mini water and put in the ration(s) instead.   Or I might drop out the tissue tin and keep the mini water with the ration.  It's nice to be able to swap out the pieces.  

 

Here's what it looks like installed.  I don't think any of these will be visible to anyone when the belt is on.  I still have to test this to verify.  I also did a weight check on all of these with my food scale.  Total weight on most of the combinations is anywhere from 3.7 - 4.2 ounces.  Even with all ammo compartments filled, it should be light enough to not affect the belt position.  

 

Again, I'll post notes here to verify this works fine on a troop once I use it.  I plan to just leave the tins in the belt since the magnets hold them fine.  I have a pouch in my tub that has the other tin kit options if I want to swap them out.   Hope this works!  I really like this idea.  

[AW2066[TK]]

@evnltr 😯😯😯 !? You took this Lightyears ahead !

Love It !!!

 

an idea to add ...

A Mini Multi Tool (similar to a Leatherman)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Multitool-Birthday-Christmas-Boyfriend-Practical/dp/B0D4DLL6PW/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bfACW2KfrS-HSXjn451g_P0lqE_ec-M-gS6Lyjzf66T2c-Ah_dk9_d70U205qqNwgTVpWidlGXsaLNZz-k2AEL0lFuBClO4psonHql7DTkKi92isU-lE5Xiq2UqHbAwuS6sgoVbdqXXi-CY5ljJwismiu5GpWGRFMZ5QQMO3lXK7OFxR44yI_ZpKgTID-BF7pxX007k8j-7NWEyN6L17I4D62KTz3aqK9AtK53WTl988my8nRRVdiXUYJXHcpnmMtJpNtMIcSs90o0GgovVIwOFhGRinvOEGyBT9sgciz9c.MYC2PLW8MYof-AUl5P-vfmHa5D61FP1cOCyiHL5-Nvw&dib_tag=se&keywords=mini%2Bmultitool&qid=1768270693&sr=8-7&th=1

 

I think I found 1 that the measurement is close ... I think

This piece has a slotted driver, a Phillips driver, a knife that you have as separate pieces Plus other small tools & when folded could double as a hammer (of sorts)

 

 

Edited January 13 by AW2066

[evnltr[TK]]

Thank you for that link on the multi tool! I never considered one or those. I have the larger ones for many of my outdoor hobbies but never thought about a small model for trooping. I think my armor's ammo compartments are about 1.25" width. So that particular model could work at a slight angle but that gave me the idea to look for another one that might be a little more narrow. Appreciate the thought on that one!

 

Happy to share any links on any things I drop in here on ideas if anyone wants them. Just let me know. 

 

Hope to have a couple more new hacks and ideas to drop in this thread next month! 

[AW2066[TK]]

Glad to help !

I'd hoped the mini multi tool I posted would be able to fit in a belt box tho there are Many more choices.

I carry a full sized Leatherman while at my work. They're Very handy !

 

I Hope many other troopers take advantage of these ideas !

Things like these have been stewing in my imagination for years !

[evnltr[TK]]

Articulated Hydration Conduit

 

I still have a few more ideas and addendums to post here over the coming months.  I'll try to drop one in once a month if I can.  Here's one that I can't believe I forgot about.  I used this fun name of Articulated Hydration Conduit for nothing other than your old fashioned reuseable and flexible drinking straw.  I've used one of these in my Scout costume pouch for years.  It occurred to me to have one for my TK.  Many of my ideas and hacks here have been things for fun troops or longer non canon troops.  The straw is a good one for when you are off to the side on a troop where you are keeping the costume pretty pure on the inside too or if you are all in on a B.O.A. Troop as I like to call them (Buckets On Always).   I found at some sporting events; there was nowhere to take my helmet off out of the line of site when I could get a drink from a bottle of water.  I didn't want to get dehydrated, but I also didn't want to ever take the helmet off.  Thus, I carried along a drinking straw.

 

This is a reusable plastic straw.  It is flexible.  I bought a couple of them so I could take the caps off and put the cap on each end of the straw.  That way those were never exposed when not drinking from a water bottle.  I wrapped a little bit of black tape and slapped a cog on there to make it imperial, but also identify the end which I drink from.  The straw is wrapped in a double sided black velcro cable tie.  I used about 11 inches of length.  That's enough to wrap around most water bottle widths.  This is wrapped around the straw.  Then you simply mount a small strip of velcro of the bottom of your chest armor.   A quick easy and well hidden spot to store it until needed.  

 

 

 

It's nice to help mark your water bottle if there's a bunch of them all together.  You'll know which one is yours as the straw is attached to the bottle.   Wrapping the velcro around the bottle can also hold the caps while you drink from the straw.  

 

 

Note:  It's probably best to put the cap on the water bottle if you aren't going to use it.  That would be in case it got knocked over, it wouldn't spill.  You'd still use the velcro wrap to hold the straw with caps on the outside of the water bottle.  You get the idea.

 

 

Unfortunately, the TK has less room to slip the straw right up on the helmet.  At least it is for me.  I could do it no problem on the TB.  For the TK, I just slide the straw up under the helmet, then tilt the helmet to side and have my mouth find the end of the straw.  The helmet doesn't come off and you get your drink.  I currently use a 13" straw length.  I may trim off the end of it some by an inch or two.  I went long at first because I could trim it if I needed to.  I'll see on troops if I need it that long or not.  

 

 

And there you have it.  The Articulated Hydration Conduit for trooping.  

 

Edited February 9 by evnltr

[LoudDragon]

I've yet to have been on a troop, or actually seen a full troop, but I do want to hear your experiences of them, and I do have some questions.

 

How long do most troops last on their scheduled days? and I don't mean with everyone still there, but everyone thats still wearing their armor. 

is marching for troops something garrisons practice with their members? 

 

(so I'm still contributing to trooping ideas here, and not just taking up another's post)

 

I have my abdomen completely detachable for ease of mobility and access if needed.

I used one of those leather bank deposit bags to hold all my personal effects and some candy, and kept it under the abdomen. it worked well enough for me, but due to the lack of mobility it was very difficult to reach for when I needed it.

 

[Morgi[Staff]]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb LoudDragon:

How long do most troops last on their scheduled days? and I don't mean with everyone still there, but everyone thats still wearing their armor. 

 

Honestly, that one depends on the type of troop and Garrison. Some Garrisons average 3 hour troops, others 6 hours. Personally, I've had everything between half an hour in armor to 11 hours in armor. If you do end up with longer times in armor, make sure to prepare by drinking a lot of water the previous day and keeping some accessible snacks and water ready 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

3 hours ago, LoudDragon said:

I've yet to have been on a troop, or actually seen a full troop

A great read for the new to trooping  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1upUlVGpzNtiPiklLV27-dMHezbFIXA-s/view?usp=sharing

[evnltr[TK]]

I agree with @Morgi  My experience has also been from the range of 1 hour all the way up to 11 hours.  The longer troops are rare.  Most of the time you'll have a good idea with the parameters of the troop being established in the announcement of the troop.  However, troops like parades can through you wild cards.  My longest troops while kitted have been parades or sporting events.   These days my longest troops tend to be the 2 hours range.  I've been working on ideas and hacks for surviving the longer troops and noting them with this thread.  And yes, access to water is the key.  I've got emergency water bottles galore in my tub, but it's good to get a lay of the land when you get to a troop to see where you can get water or have water stored.   

[kmwilson343]

I was scrolling through some posts and came across your first aid kits.  Those are really good ideas!

[kmwilson343]

That’s honestly a super clever setup—love how you kept it low-profile but still practical. The way you integrated it into the kit without breaking the look is solid.

[AW2066[TK]]

Bumping Up

 

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