Survival Kits, or BOB

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This and the SHTF rifle are my favorite threads. People are endlessly creative about these things, I must say.

I just thought I would remind you that water is you most important thing to worry about. Most places in the US it is contaminated by livestock so you need something that is dead reliable. I use Polar PUR iodine crystals that are by far, for the weight, the best purification available. I have purified water from literally all over the world with it and not caught anything.

The next concerns are shelter/warmth, then food. Much depends on how long you figure to be out there. A quality backpacking tent is good, but I have never been able to get one to last longer than six months, living in it day after day. The UV rays just eat them up. Those canvas safari tents last a lot longer, but you need a truck to carry them.

Food - well, pre-prepared food is good, but how much can you realistically carry? If your fantasy survival scenario is longer than a few days or a week (and you are on foot) then you need to learn how to hunt and butcher. Among firearms, a .22 is the best weight-wise, but a shotgun is a lot more versatile. You can't shoot birds on the wing or kill the undead with a .22.

All that advice about parachute cord and magnesium firestarters and antibiotics is good, but, as you may have read on TFL, the main thing you need is lots of tinfoil.

mpthole: Hiking at night? You ever tried it with a full pack on? Unless you are on a nice smooth trail its a good way to end up with an ankle injury or worse. And if you use a light, why heck, they can see you! Unless you are in the French Resistance, I wouldn't try it. Tinfoil will help in this situation as well.
 
roscoe: These things require a certain amount of "suspension of disbelief".... IIRC, that's the term I've heard regarding movies. Tinfoil is good - its an oxygen barrier. :) So, be sure your survival food is wrapped in it and not just plastic. Of course, if the situation was so friggin bad that it was too dangerous to walk around with a full pack and openly carrying a rifle :uhoh: then one might consider traveling at night. Don't know about where you're from, but with a full moon I can see pretty good out there in farm country where there's hardly a tree to be seen...

Obviously this is all speculation. Frankly, if it gets that bad and an EMP hasn't taken out my car and the road isn't blocked, I'll be driving to my buddy's farm out in the middle of nowhere. :D And yes, I have hiked at night up a mountain with a pack on, but they let me use a flashlight until the sun came up. ;)
 
mpthole: Well if the EMP has disabled your car then likely you will have to deal with mutant zombies from the atomic blast. And they can see in the dark. Surprisingly, however, they cannot bite through tinfoil.
 
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The vest fits in a the pictured Helment Bag. It is not everything I would ever need but I have the luxury of a take home police car and carry everything but the kitchen sink in the truck. In the event of an emergency I would also have access to places to get more things. I wanted to have a vest to throw on if I was working and say a call for an active shooter came out or a woodline search. I have all my SWAT stuff but this is a good hook up. Before I had any say so my team was issued Safariland Cover Six Tac Vests. They are good armor but we could not afford all the pockets. I just "happened" to keep my old Eagle vest. Notice I use a mag pocket for my Glock 23. It is very fast and you don't loose three mag pouches to make room for a holster. Below is my EDC I have on me all the time. Any ideas and opinions would be very appreciated. Oh, and if you notice a lot of knives and flashlights it's because well... I love knives and flashlights.
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Food/Water
Protein Bars (2)
70 Oz Camelbak

First Aid
Trau-Medic Bandages (2)

Signaling
Chem Sticks (4)
Krill Lamp
CMG Infinity LED Light
Butane Lighter

Cordage
Spider Wire (approx 50ft)
550 Cord (approx 25 ft)
Zip Ties (10)
100 MPH Tape (approx 10 ft) *550, Zip Ties, 100 MPH stored in/around toothbrush holder.

Miscellaneous
Carabineer
Garbage Bags (2)


Guns/Ammo
Glock 23 W/ 3 mags loaded with 40 rnds of Winchester Silver Tips
AR-15 Mags (4) 30 rnd mags loaded with 28 rnds each
12 GA Slugs (10)
 
A key factor in deciding how to make my BOB was deciding that it is only for 2 days' survival: enough time to get somewhere I can manage better supplies (such as walk home from work, ~30 miles). A change of cammo clothes, jacket, 2 MREs, water bag, blanket, space blanket, first aid kit, waterproof matches, two ponchos (make tent), knife, boots, and some other misc. stuff. It is NOT intended for long-term survival, only enough to get me somewhere friendly via a night or two in the woods. Living off the land is far less likely than a societal meltdown requiring me to hoof it home (rural). Even more likely use is a spontanious weekend camping trip: have just enough to keep warm and fill the belly a couple times.

Currently it's all crammed into a Camelback pack; not a great choice as it's relatively heavy itself, and when filled with stuff there's not much room to fill the water bladder.
 
Mossberg 590 is always in the trunk. I will take picks of my five survival guns soon.

Bushy M4
Glock 23
Mossberg 590
Ruger MKII
Ruger 10/22
 
Anyone know of a good compact case for an M4 (16" barrel with collapsed stock)? For various reasons I don't want a gun in my BOB, but do want a second bag with guns/ammo. Compact is key.
 
I have heard of people using a baseball bat bag to store their AR and small BOB. Good idea and would not draw unwanted attention during an otherwise calm police contact.
 
One thing not mentioned. If you are really concerned with survival if things go really wrong, one of the best things you can do is to move to an area where it is easier to survive in the first place. I lived in So-Cal and for a number of reasons including the above, I relocated to an area in Idaho where it would be much easier to ride out bad times. I keep a kit in my vehicle, but it is mostly for surviving getting stuck in cold weather (yes, there is a firearm and ammo always with me). Living where I do, not near any large city, I belive that I could ride out almost any problem right at home. I have food, a hand pump for the well, ways of keeping warm, making light and cooking for a long time without power, gas masks, first aid kits, meds, etc etc. I also have great neighbors who have lived here for generations who still remember how to get along without all the modern things we take for granted. People here (with the exception of the tree huggers who won't last long) are the type to band togather in bad times.
Being in the right place at the right time is much easier than trying to get away from a seriously bad situation in some urban jungle. It took some sacrifices to get here, but was worth it. The slower pace of life here agrees with me and hell, I've always been somewhat of a redkneck anyway. :evil:
 
If I may ask a question has anyone here ever actually had to use a BOB in a REAL situation?

What was the sit?
How long?
What worked?
What didn't that you thought would?

I have grabbed a gun and run, for real, a couple of times.

An old Army buddy arrived at my house on a Wednesday afternoon and said:
"Two minutes! We're bugging out!" and stood there looking at his watch.
I was holding two beers and wearing a pair of track pants with no shirt or shoes.
I made it out in 1:40.
We had to steal toilet paper (and beer) from a couple of hunters:D
We spent the next four days in the bush, it rained the whole bloody time. :(

And never forget, with absolutely nothing but your brain and determination you can pretty much get everything else you need to survive.

Regards,
HS/LD
 
I think you need to define what it is you're preparing for. Your use of the term "Bug Out Bag" implies that you're expecting to have to hit the road on short or no notice--the first guy I knew who use the term had been SF in Viet Nam, and had a "small Alice" packed with essentials in case the A Camp got overrun; the next guy who used it was (I found out later) a drug dealer who wanted to be ready to head out the back as the DEA came in the front...:what:
Are you getting ready for a temporary loss of services in case of fire, flood, earthquake, or a horde of anarchists from Eugene? :D The fall of civilization and the End Of The World As We Know It? (TM REM.) Are you just paranoid and hanging out with the wrong people?

What got me wondering was the 200 rounds of Commie Thirty--it's either not enough or far too much; either way if you're bugging out you need to be able HUMP all this stuff. (When I was putting together my own bug out pack in the Army I settled on a butt pack for my web gear. If I couldn't get it in or on there it wasn't essential...)
Consider that if it's simply that you are fleeing a flood you MAY be able to talk your way into the refugee center with an SKS in you hands, but you won't be staying for long...
 
Most BOB's are as Labgrade described, wishful thinking.

However, an "Earthquake" kit or "roadside" kit makes good sense no matter where you live.

Every time I go into the woods I go knowing if I had to spend the night unexpectedlyI could. I might not like it, but I've done it before. (And if you haven't done it since you were a boy scout you likely aren't prepared for it.)

There is a big difference in stuffing dry socks and gorp in a fanny pack and claiming to be ready for the coming global super storm (or catastrophe du jour).

I'm going to start up another thread in hunting about what we carry in the woods. You'd be surprised at how similar, and different the lists are.
 
As an old infantryman who has hiked the Appalachian trail, along with a lot of other excursions, let me add a few items:

1. I notice you don't have a groundsheet, sleeping pad, or a tarp/poncho in your list. Without a groundsheet, your sleeping bag won't last long. Without a sleeping pad, it won't do you much good, anyway -- body heat will leak into the ground. Without some sort of tarp, a wet night can turn life threatening.

2. You carry a compass. You need maps, too. And you should know WHERE you're going if you have to go.

3. Your feet are critical -- a man walking can't afford to go lame. Bandaids, moleskin, disinfectant, adhesive tape, and so on are important.

4. If you need to live off the land, shot cartridges will be the most effective ammo you can have.
 
Some good questions lately here.

I'll give what answers i can, to each poster.

D.W. Don't really see much need for it, but i would rather be somewhat prepared than ever be caught with my pants down. Honestly, i don't expect to ever have to bug out, or head for the hills. So the kit is really just a survival kit for any emergency, with a SKS and a couple hundred rounds thrown in. :D Although the liberals from Eugene do scare me, i am more afraid of their voting and their stench from not taking showers ;) The reason for the ammo is just to keep it handy, "just in case". Including the ammo, the kit weighs in at less than 20lbs, which is still pretty light. If i ever did need to take off, and i didn't want it, the ammo is on one of the outermost pockets, so i can remove it quickly. BTW, not a SF operator, not a drug dealer, and not paranoid.....i just love these preparedness threads. :D Partly the reason i started this thread is that i have heard people mention that the most likely target for an attack is a port city, because it would be the easiest place to sneak a nuke into, but honestly, Portland probably isn't even in the top 20 cities in the US where they would want to attack.

Dr. Rob. Some good points too. Whenever i go hiking with my wife, i take a backpack with the minimum of what i would want incase we got lost, or one of us got hurt. This kit will also be used as a model for what we want to pack in our cars, in case we get lost or stranded or some other emergency. Although, i won't have a rifle in that kit.

Labgrade. Yeah, but you have already shown the character you are made of by apologizing both in public and privatly. Not many people would be willing to do that.

Vern, heres the answers to your question.

1. I do have ground pads and tarps with my camping gear, which is part of a larger Emergency Kit (ie...extra non perishable food, extra water, )
2. I agree. Currently i haven't figured out exactly where we are going, but i am working on that.
3. I agree with this as well. All those items are in my current (upgraded) first aid kit.
4. I know that shot cartridges make sense, but shotgun rounds are very heavy, and i wanted to keep this kit light.
 
We've done some pretty serious backpacking. Have one "kit" that's trimmed down to ultra-light - get sick of carrying a boatload of stuff to go "relax."

I've a Mountain Smith internal frame (no frame at all actually except for a closed-cell pad in the back) = about 2200 cu inches. A Gore-Tex bivy bag, 2 lb down bag (good for 20F) & a 3/4 length pad. Bivys get clautrophobic though, so a k-cote/ripstop homemade "tarp" sometimes makes a very lightweight cover/tent-thing - another 1.5 pounds w/cords. Think about same-same as a Eureka 2- man tent fly.

Backpack stove, lightweight/very minimal cookset, homemade first aid kit, coupla other things & you're at around 20 lbs & good for an extended weekend. Having another person to split up some stuff always a good diea except if you get separated & they've got the stove/you the cookset. Happens, but I don't know that cooking (depending) would be so high on my list at first.

I'd want to just get out/away & remain unseen. 'Course, having some comfort stuff is always nice.

Think Vern was talking about handgun shotshells. If so, I disagree with his assessment unless he's tailored some of his own.
 
Well if the EMP has disabled your car then likely you will have to deal with mutant zombies from the atomic blast.
Click to expand...
Good reason to invest in a Manual Transmission Diesel Automobile w/ Mechanical diesel injection.

Just kickstart it and it's no electricity required transportation.
:D
 
BOB

I use a back pack I bought specially for a survival pack while hunting. Basically a daypack with a hydration bladder that has wide straps, is very sturdy and adjustable. I take short(2 day) trips into the hills to check out my gear. I take water bottles along with the bladder 1) to carry more water, and 2) in case one leaks all its water out. I take matches AND lighters for backup. I carry a small pepsi-can stove that burns alcohol, which doubles as starting fluid if needed. Keep a cheap 9 x 12 plastic drop cloth in your pack. weighs a few ounces, can be used as a ground cloth, a shelter, or to help you get water. I keep a small survival/ first aid kit in my pack with things such as medicine, bandages, candles, etc. Incidentally, I carry 50 assorted rounds of .357, which is probably the heaviest part of my pack. Consider a .22.
Just my opinion.

Any Cal.
 
Do check out Dr. Rob's "possibles bag" post in the hunting section. Some ideas there. Sure, it's a hunting thing, but many serious hunters do carry only that which they need to ply their trade (so to speak). & that will vary, depending upon their climate, terrain, etc. - not mention population & all.

Some of us who have been doing it for 30+ years seem to have narrowed it down some.

I know what I have to have to live on. If I had to, I'd rather have more - that comfort thing.

You can only carry so much & there's plenty places you can't drive to.

Getting there may be the worst of your problems. Others will want to perhaps take it, & yours.

Unless we have a locally threatening forest fire (came close 2 yrs back), I can't envision a bug-out scenario - in fact, there's some that will come here to "bug out."

"Ready enough," but it'll be literally hell on earth before that baloon goes up .....
 
bump, finally got around to taking a picture of my fire 5lb extinguisher behind the driver's seat.

attachment.php
 
As a volunteer soldier in the Massachusetts Military Reserve (State Guard), I have had to provide virtually all of my own gear, save for a few inconsequential cast-offs from the National Guard. I won't be redundant as most points have been well covered already, save for one.

Are you sure of your sleeping bag?

I've had quite an :banghead: -ing time finding one that suits my needs. The first bag was a mummy sack that I bought from a retail store several years ago. I had no idea what temperature it was rated for. After my first cold weather drill in 2000, I discovered it sure as hell wasn't any better than +30F. I had to spend the night in the warming tent.

Soon warmer weather came and I forgot about it. My replacement for the summertime was simply a wool blanket that worked quite well. As fall approached I purchased a USGI cold weather bag from the surplus store. Again I had no idea what the temperature rating was, but it was bulky enough to engender confidence. It worked well when the winter came along, until the zipper broke :mad: . Fortunately the storm flap had buttons on it so I wasn't totally boned. But the bag was still too bulky and it still wasn't warm enough to beat the worst of the cold to come. After the temperature dropped to about +5F during one drill I decided to bite the bullet and buy a better, hopefully less bulky bag.

So I finally picked up a +10F bag which was on sale for $45. It had a draft collar, which I soon learned is a GREAT idea. This February gave me my first need for it, and besides a surprise snowfall that collapsed my hooch, it worked great.

That being said, I suggest that if you haven't tried out your sleeping bag for some reason, make sure it'll actually meet your needs. If not, it's a nasty surprise in the field.
 
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