Survival kit. What do you think?

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The idea with the condom canteen is to contain against bursting and and carry it in a sock. Filling a condom with water takes velocity, which is often difficult to obtain in a survival situation, so instead I carry a collapsable bladder and MSR Vario water filter with length of tubing which is useful for drawing water out of a rock crevice, etc.

Gear categories in no particular priority are:

1) water and food preparation,
2) fire and light,
3) clothing and shelter,
4) comms and nav,
5) tools and sharps,
6) first aid and personal meds.

The firearm is not the highest priority with me in the kit, but one is in there in case I don't have my EDC .38 Special with me when I must evacuate. My SR contains a holstered High Standard Model B, two mags and two sleeves or 200 rounds. I have my home state and Utah carry permits, so do most of the time when legal. If you live in a state such as Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan or Wisconsin where handgun carry permits are virtually unobtainable for the average civilian to get, then a takedown .22 rifle such as the Browning or Marlin makes more.
 
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Condoms are what you resort to in a pinch. The point here is that you have time to prepare, so you might as well get a gallon size plastic bladder for water.
 
The alcohol and TP idea was for enclosed spaces where smoke would be an issue. It would take a little doing, but you could fill the condoms from the container you purified your water in. It's not really portable, but allows you more water at camp. I guess if it was that important you could re- purpose a long sleeve shirt or fill when placed in a sock, but water is heavy and would not suggest purifying larger amounts of water until you can rest for a while. So even if you had water jugs, I wouldn't suggest packing water. I keep forgetting, is it 9.8 lbs per gallon or sq. ft?
 
As I said before, the most important thing to have is a plan. Seriously, seriously look at your AO and decide what could happen. Winter storm maybe? What will you do if you don't have power for a few days. You may not need to bug out. Often times it is better to bug in, even if you have a fully stocked BOL (bug out location).

So as I said, have a plan first and foremost, then mold your gear to likely scenarios.
Also condoms are ridiculous, don't bring that. I'd bring a gallon zip-loc bag before I brought condoms for water.

Also skip the magnesium block from Wal-mart and order a Ferro rod, ten times better. For tinder rub vaseline on cotton balls and store them in a film canister. Any other specific questions? I read through the pages quite quickly.
 
Wolverines!


Seriously. It might be fun to plan on the end of the world, but as someone stated earlier, unless you live in a dangerous congested urban area, staying put is going to be your best plan if the world comes to an end. Why leave the relative safety and shelter of your home for a lean to in the woods? :scrutiny: Reality is you stand a much higher chance of facing a natural disaster or man made emergency (gas leak, etc).

So, lets discuss reality.
You live in Wyoming, right? So, first and foremost, is the winter emergency. You should have your home prepared for that with extra blankets and sleeping bags, warm clothing, candles and flashlights. Alternative cooking source. Water and Food stored up. A real good store of firewood if you have a fireplace. Be prepared to spend at least a month snowed in. A real good first aid kit is a must.
Second, is being caught in your car in the snow, either running off the road or getting stuck. Staying with the car is your primary option here. Having a few days of high calorie food with you in the car, some water and some purification tablets, candles and flashlights, emergency signaling devices, extra clothing, sleeping bags, first aid kit, trash bags, and shovel. If you get out of the car to work on getting unstuck, try not to get too sweaty, as this is what will kill you the fastest. Leaving your car and trying to hoof it means likely death.
Next is the forced evacuation. Wildfires, gas leak, etc. When the fire department bangs on your door and tells you that you've got 5 minutes to evacuate ahead of an oncoming chlorine gas cloud, you're not going to don your tactical gear and run out the door with your AR15 and 6 magazines of AP ammo. Thats just plain ignorant.
Couple of days of food, knife, multi tool, sharpener, copies of important information (birth certificates, etc) encrypted on CD, water or water purifier, flashlight and spare batteries, space blanket, and most importantly, MONEY. A hundred bucks + in small bills, and at least one roll of quarters. Ammo for your primary defensive handgun (2-4 spare magazines or speedloaders per defensive handgun per person). Cable gun locks and a cable bicycle lock. Why? Because if you have time to throw your guns in the car, you're going to want to be able to secure them. Lock them together and through something attached to the inside of your car, such as a seat frame. Cover with blanket. Again, are you going to live in the woods or seek shelter where its provided (red cross, etc?). Sleeping in the woods in an emergency sounds romantic, but I'd rather have 3 hots and a cot, and if that means locking my guns in the car and hitting the red cross shelter at the YMCA, so be it. Also, in this kit, you should have the names, addresses, directions to and phone numbers of at least 3 poeople outside your area who would put you up. Make sure you have a road map in your car, as well as a detailed city map for your city and any city you might pass through in an emergency evacuation. Quarters are so you can hit the laundromat to wash clothes, or raid vending machines for snacks and drinks. Cash is a must, because power outages might cause credit card payment systems to go down.
As a general rule of thumb, I don't let my vehicles go below 1/2 tank of gas. In the average vehicle, that will give you at least a 150 mile range of normal driving, or several hours of idling time.

Here's the deal. Be prepared for a likely emergency. Rehearse and have a clear course of action. Having the proper mindset and being prepared to survive the likely means that you will be ahead of the curve for the unlikely. If the zombie hoardes come down the street, you can quickly adapt one of your other plans to meet the new threat.
 
I think you are carrying too much ammo. One thirty round mag is more than enough. If you get into a fight, you will either end up dead before you shoot all thirty rounds, or you will have plenty of ammo to pick up from the people you kill.
 
I'll list what's in my bag. I may add my USGI canteen & a loaded mag for my CCW piece to it. Feel free to suggest additions or subtractions.

Scissors
100 ft paracord
First Aid kit
Matches
(2) Folding knives
Flashlight
Towel
Socks
Duct tape
Compass
Granola bars
Water purification tabs
plastic dinnerware
candles
(2) AA batteries
USMC style knife
Bottled water
Gun oil
Bandolier
Zippo
Insect repellent
Roll of quarters
 
I tend to plan for winter car trouble as my emergency. As such, my bag stays in the trunk. A few things go carefully in the trunk but not in the bag, like the shovel which doesn't fit and the fire extinguisher which is more accessible.

1. tire chains
2. jumper cables
3. fire extinguisher
4. mini air compressor
5. metric and SAE wrenches
6. vise grips
7. flashlights and extra batteries
8. led headlamp
9. Swiss army knife
10. multi-tool
11. EMT shears
12. band-aids and gauze
13. medical tape
14. maxi pads
15. sewing needles and thread
16. work gloves
17. matches
18. bungee cords
19. charger and old cell phone
20. fuses
21. plastic tarp
22. synthetic rope
23. 550 cord
24. trash bag
25. zip ties
26. pencil and paper
27. vinyl gloves 2 pair
28. plastic silverware
29. glow sticks
30. flares
31. electrical tape
32. Cold Steel shovel
33. safety pins
34. tweezers
35. fingernail scissors
36. kleenex
37. baby wipes
38. tire patching kit
39. plastic wrap
40. cash
41. compass
42. hack saw
43. folding saw
44. lip balm or vaseline
45. handgun in lock box
46. signal mirror
47. Instant cold-pack


Winter inside the cabin:

48. emergency (foil) blanket x 2
49. larger 2-person foil blanket x 2
50. fleece blanket x 3
51. handwarmers
52. extra hat and coat
53. rain poncho x 2
54. Nuwick emergency candle
55. stormproof lighter

I also keep an old winter coat rolled the long way against one side of the trunk.

Yes, it's pretty heavy to take that bag out of the trunk.
 
Balrog said:
I think you are carrying too much ammo. One thirty round mag is more than enough. If you get into a fight, you will either end up dead before you shoot all thirty rounds, or you will have plenty of ammo to pick up from the people you kill.
Click to expand...
Assuming, of course, that they have the same calibers as you.
 
I know Rangers over in the sandbox that take less ammo into battle than that.
LRRP = 120 rounds
CQB = 210 rounds

As a civvy I would take 120 rounds absolute MAX, and that would include my sidearm. I think if you need to throw 6 mags into the air you are in way over your head and no amount of ammo will be enough at that point. I'd assume that there are rounds coming the other direction, and I don't like being shot at (but thats just me...).

All you need to know is HERE
It is an incredibly long read, but the thought process is logical and he dispells alot of myths of what you NEED in a survival kit. If you plan on SURVIVING you won't be rushing into gunfights. You will need water, you will need food, you will need clothing and shelter, and you will need some companions. After all, what is there to live for if you are the last person on the planet? Groups are essential: all you carry more and diversify, security (create watch schedules and more targets for the BG's to shoot at), rationality in group decisions, different ideas you may not have thought of, somebody to talk to (more important that many think). A small group will make it much longer than a single guy.

Figure each 30 round mag is atleast 1lb, that is closing in on 10lbs just in ammo.
ammo - 5-7lbs
weapons - 10 lbs
gallon of water + water filtration - 10lb
Food - 10lbs
Sleeping bag and tent - 5-10lbs
Comms - 2-3lbs
Steel + flint
Multi-tool
data wealth
cash/objects for bartering

Total weight = 40-50lbs, and that is only enough for a few days. You first have to survive, anything else is bonus.
 
tmpick said:
Frankly, I don't even include a firearm because the chance of it being used is pretty remote. I've been thinking about getting one of those SPOT locaters, anyone have or used one?
Click to expand...


I have two friends that own them. One uses it solely for geo-tagging digital photo's and the other we use for our camping trips into the mountains of central Idaho.

While we didn't need to use the emergency button, it was nice to see that it did work when we hit the "OK" button and checked out where we were on a digital map once we got back.



Kris
 
Hi JamisJockey,

i see you're from northern VA, too. when i read this:

"Seriously. It might be fun to plan on the end of the world, but as someone stated earlier, unless you live in a dangerous congested urban area, staying put is going to be your best plan if the world comes to an end. Why leave the relative safety and shelter of your home for a lean to in the woods? Reality is you stand a much higher chance of facing a natural disaster or man made emergency (gas leak, etc)..."

i thought, i wish our plans could all include staying put. we're in noVa as well. and we're < 4 miles from the Agency HQ and less than 6 from DC. the only benefit to our family of being in north Fairfax is that the prevailing winds would take any dirty bomb / C/B/N attack on the capital to the East of the city, if that was the target. if it's the Agency, it will be ugly. but part of our family plans, depending of course on the situation, is to get out of dodge if the need arises to family in far away areas, but still drivable in a straight shot with the fuel we have stocked.

my personal challenge, if i'm in DC on the day C/B/N attack occurs, is getting back across "a bridge" to our home to meet up with the family and shelter in place or bug out. each round of ammo packedin a pack like this is an offense in DC, so my trunk bag is purely sans firearms. i've actually considered leaving a bike at a safe client site in the city as a means for me to get back if traffic was snarled and walking would take > 3 hrs @ 3 mph from my most common sites in DC. do your bikes play into your plans in any way?
 
Originally Posted by Balrog View Post
I think you are carrying too much ammo. One thirty round mag is more than enough. If you get into a fight, you will either end up dead before you shoot all thirty rounds, or you will have plenty of ammo to pick up from the people you kill.
Click to expand...
Assuming, of course, that they have the same calibers as you.
Click to expand...

And the same weapon, or at least one with interchangeable magazines. And what are you going to do if your in a bad spot and that one mag misfeeds? It is a mechanical device and it can screw up. Always carry a spare mag hell maybe 2. What makes people think oh you'll be dead by the time you run out of a 30 rd mag? Sure if ya just stand there and spray lead you might, but you have to get cover and concealment or you will be dead, and if you do run out of that 1 mag you were carrying, and your still alive with more enemies left you really are **** outta luck.
 
I would consider splitting the "fighting load" from the "comfort load" by using a LBV or FLC for my defensive materials (and a couple of canteens) and put the food/clothing/shelter items in an assault pack or something similar.

That way if a threat presents itself during the bug-out and you need additional maneuverability, you can shed the pack quickly without leaving behind what you need to win the fight.
 
I love this stuff. I have been testing various survival items and one that stands out and maybe not mentioned yet is a light folding saw. A couple even have different blades. Just a thought.
 
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my personal challenge, if i'm in DC on the day C/B/N attack occurs, is getting back across "a bridge" to our home to meet up with the family and shelter in place or bug out. each round of ammo packedin a pack like this is an offense in DC, so my trunk bag is purely sans firearms. i've actually considered leaving a bike at a safe client site in the city as a means for me to get back if traffic was snarled and walking would take > 3 hrs @ 3 mph from my most common sites in DC. do your bikes play into your plans in any way?
Click to expand...

Excellent plan! Getting back to the family is always high on my priority list. Snarled traffic leaving DC is pretty much a given in your case, so the stashed bike is a great idea. Have you looked at the folding bikes? You could port one in your trunk everywhere, even. After watching the power outages in New York (last year?), I'd certainly never want to be in the city working without a bike. Luckily, I don't work in the city :p

We both work from home, and we actually live about 30+ miles outside of it in Prince William County. My primary plan in most cases is to bug in for pretty much everything from a power outage to an invasion of liberal ted kennedy zombies. Food, first aid, water, guns and ammo is all here. I've got rubber maid tubs set aside just for evacuation and could reasonably expect to have the wife's SUV loaded and on the move in under half an hour.
When I'm not home, I usually have just my carry weapon and at least two reloads for it.

Don't forget to do some routine maintenence on the bike probably at least quarterly. Run some lube on the chain, shifter cables, and keep the tires inflated to avoid dry rot. Inspect the rubber and replace the tubes yearly.
 
Assuming, of course, that they have the same calibers as you.
Click to expand...

If the caliber is different, then take the gun they were trying to use as well. Pretty simple.

And what are you going to do if your in a bad spot and that one mag misfeeds? It is a mechanical device and it can screw up. Always carry a spare mag hell maybe 2. What makes people think oh you'll be dead by the time you run out of a 30 rd mag?
Click to expand...

I have no doubt you can devise a potential scenario where ammo is more important than food and water, but realistically I don't think that scenario has ever played out in say the last 200 years in the US.
 
Balrog said:
If the caliber is different, then take the gun they were trying to use as well. Pretty simple.



I have no doubt you can devise a potential scenario where ammo is more important than food and water, but realistically I don't think that scenario has ever played out in say the last 200 years in the US.
Click to expand...
What if it's a crappy weapon? What if you aren't trained with it as much as your weapon?
That being said, I agree, carrying way too much ammo. I'd say about 4 mags + one in the rifle, and 2 mags + one in the sidearm.
 
I guess it also depends on the type of scenario the person is preparing for.

If it is a zombie invasion, fine, fill your pack with magazines and ammo.

If it is anything else, less ammo and more less glamorous supplies makes sense. There has been no domestic disaster in the US (Civil War excluded) where you would need more than 30 rounds of any ammo. That is not to say that no such scenario is impossible, it is simply improbable. A properly supplied survival bags takes probability into account. Your pack will not be properly supplied if you focus on unlikely events.
 
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