What's in your backpack?

Pasadena Weekly ^ | 05/14/2009 | Christopher Nyerges

[ansel12]

I admit to coming onto this thread to do a little “baiting”. This was a mistake on my part and I wish you well.

Thanks, I'm cool with that.

[appleseed]

Last time I had to grab the bag and go was last year. We had torrential rain for what seemed like days. You could actually see the water rising. I have 3 ponds on my property, and when I saw the water rising up to my house, which I thought would never happen, I grabbed my bag, my top shelf guns, some ammo, the boys and took off in the truck.

The road leading to my house is gravel. Up the road, my neighbors pond was spilling over the levy and rushing down the road. It was creepy. I saw fish swimming and flopping on the road. When I hit pavement and went for a ways, the water was spilling over a small bridge. We headed for the church and as soon as we got there the rain stopped. When we were finally able go back home the small bridge was washed out and we had to take a 5 mile detour.

I didn’t use much from bag but it was good to have it anyways.

[jongaltsr]

(1) rifle
(2) two pistols
(3) 50 lbs of ammo

[Southack]

Macho, but impractical.

Your bug out bag is there in case you have to flee a plague (e.g. terrorists release Ebola into a nearby community), for example. In that case, you won’t be able to go anywhere *near* any other person, store, or house.

I’m all for packing adequate firearms and ammo, but lugging your proposed 50 pounds of ammo around when you are trying to avoid a flooding river or broken dam (most people have no idea how many dams are holding water back from their own homes mere miles away) is pretty crazy...especially if you end up having to swim for it.

Ditto for a wildfire headed toward your home, or a small/medium-sized meteor. The Russian Tungstra comet circa 1910 wiped out some 200 square miles. Modern sky-watching equipment and communications might...might...give you 4 hours of advance notice to evacuate if an unknown comet came at the Earth from the daylight side (most sky-watching views the night side).

Your bug out bag is there for an earthquake, or tornado, or hurricane. Katrina hits and you are stuck inside your house...your bug out bag gives you the option of evacuating if your Plan A suddenly collapses.

Riots in the street? Headed for your house? Your bug out bag gives you an option besides fighting everyone in sight.

Tsunami? Same thing.

Ethnic genocide ala Rwanda 1994 that wiped out more than 400,000 civilians? Your bug out bag gives you an option in addition to fighting against organized militias or living off UN handouts in some makeshift refugee camp.

Basically, your bug out bag is a “get out of Dodge” option.

50 pounds of ammo...if you’ve ever lugged such into combat...is the opposite of getting out of Dodge. That’s a “stay and fight” option.

Very different beast than a bug out bag.

[TigersEye]

Five compartment fanny pack.

External...

• Pint of water.
• Rain jacket.
• Thermometer on swiveling thumb clip.
• Pepper spray.
• Digital multi-function watch.
• Elastic headstrap for Maglight.
• My keys.

Small outer compartment...

• Wallet.
• Altoids.
• Ballpoint pen.
• Kitchen matches in watertight container.
• Lensatic compass.
• Jeweler's loop w/ 10x and 15x lenses.
• Mini Maglight on a keychain caribiner.
• GPS unit.
• 4 extra AA batteries for maglight and GPS.
• Pen-style diamond hone.
• 1"X3" magnesium block w/striker.

Very small belt strap compartment...

• Extra credit card.
• Phone card w/ lots of minutes.
• Ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Osha root.
• Condoms.
• Postage stamps.
• Two pairs of ear plugs.
• Numerous hair ties.
• Elastic cord and several sizes of split rings.
• Deep Woods Off towelettes.
• Moist towlettes for hands and for glass lenses.
• A Sharpie and a fine point felt tip pen.
• Rolaids and dental floss.

In a cleaned out military chem-kit container kept in the second water bottle pocket...

• Kitchen matches in waterproof container.
• Small magnesium stick.
• Strong waxed thread.
• Fishing line and hooks.
• Small three blade pocket knife wrapped with some tie wire.
• Maglight bulb.
• Pencil.
• Emergency whistle.
• Two film cans filled w/ honey.

Main compartment...

• Ruger .45 w/ extra hi-cap mag.
• Power Bar.
• Titralac antacid.
• Neck wrap filled w/ hydrating gel.

Weight - 8.5 lbs. Cost - way less than $1,500. Carried - daily.
Not really my BOB but it is the core of it and good enough to hit the road or a wilderness trail.

[TigersEye]

I completely forgot to list...

Two Mylar space blankets.

[Richard Kimball]

[pandoraou812]

Good list. I need to make one up. I do have a bag with my extra meds, clothes, knives, crackers, flashlight , Vick's, bug spray, maxi pads, a mirror, & wipes. Maybe you could figure out one for Sassy. I am sure she would like her own. If I tell her you said it ought to have this....then she won't jam it full of toys lol.... Night TE.

[Richard Kimball]

Good list. If I can throw out mine:

Pickup with at least a half tank of gas
flash light and spare bats
Med kit
MREs
comfortable sneakers
toothbrush and razor (that's a holdover from my single days)
spare socks
.45 w/a spare box of ammo
couple of blankets and a poncho
case of diet coke
roll of toilet paper
I keep a lighter and have a few in the truck anyway.

FWIW, I live a half block from a highway that heads straight out into the boondocks. I strongly believe your BOB should be tailored to your area. Also, my truck is my BOB. I've got a wife and two kids with disabilities. The kids aren't walking a long way and I'm not going anyplace without them. Oh, and a ball cap and sunscreen. On the food, make it stuff you don't mind eating, and swap out every so often.

[TigersEye]

Some kind of toy could be very important for a child. What did she used to keep in her bag? I forget but it was pretty funny.

I will give some consideration to a BOB for a nine year old girl. That should stretch my imagination. But Sassy is so ahead of the curve in so many ways she would probably accept and appreciate a lot of ordinary and pragmatic survival kit suggestions. Her inhaler is #1 on the list. A fresh one. Your kit sounds like a very good start.

[pandoraou812]

I forget too but I remember it as being pretty funny. I think she had her bug net & case for insects. Her inhaler & tea tree oil. When we were camping she kept a old CD in her bag to flash if she got lost. I might be able to find it out in the trailer. I hope there isn’t a dead frog or toad in her bag.

[Finny]

I met and spent a long enjoyable afternoon once many years ago talking with Christopher Nyerges in great depth. I was dubious at first, but came to like him very much. I think he's the real deal, and certainly if he's not a FReeper already (probable, IMO), he should be -- he'd fit right in. He was a STRONG advocate of 2nd amendment, among other things.

Chris knows what he's talking about. If you're an urban type, it's smart to listen to him, and stupid to write him off as a kook. I can very easily envision a time of urban craziness when the folks who know him who make fun of him now, will want to be his best friend because where he goes, people will be surviving instead of dying. He's the kind of guy a lot of people may end up owing their lives to someday.

[TigersEye]

My truck has always been a primary survival tool too. It has a full locking utility bed on it. Very handy. Unfortunately it is in need of major work right now.

This thread is a good thing. Lots of good suggestions. For food I have boxes of basics laid away just for economic/emergency preparedness. Just need to toss one in the truck or car. You reminded me that I ought to have a small roll of TP in my fanny pack. I always used to. I have bunches of small rolls smashed flat and put in ziplocks specifically to take hiking, camping and to put in vehicles.

I have a system of bags/packs starting with the aforementioned fanny pack. Then there is a bag that attaches to my back pack that has my major wilderness survival equipment. The main pack has a bag of outdoor clothes, serious knife/axe, hardcore water bottles and other essential items. (kukri is by the door and ready to go for anything and everything) Depending on the reason for bugging out I could put everything but the battle rifle in and on the main pack and leave on foot.

I can and have loaded my truck with almost everything I own in less than two hours. If I wanted to take only the necessaries, food, firearms, ammo, camping gear, clothes, some books, water, I ought to be able to load it in less.

[TigersEye]

When we were camping she kept a old CD in her bag to flash if she got lost.

Good thinking. Very light weight. That reminds me that I have an old glass Air Force survival mirror and a steel one. Both must be in the serious survival bag. I should put the steel one in the fanny pack.

I hope there isn’t a dead frog or toad in her bag.

That's the kind of thing a kid SHOULD have in their kit. LOL

[wtc911]

Spend a few bucks and get Quikclot bandages and a roll of Combat Gauze for stopping heavy bleeding. Spend a few more bucks and get the anti-biotic impregnated versions.

[wtc911]

Tent, sleeping bag, tarp, blanket, food, stove, first aid. What I always carry.

_________________________________________

In a man-purse?

[AppyPappy]

Fo shizzle

No, in a backpack. I prefer that “don’t bother lookin because you won’t find me” approach.

[wtc911]

I live on Long Island, we're not going anywhere, not with two million cars trying to cross only four egress points at the same time.

We are in hunker-down territory, and we are prepared.

[Texas resident]

3 hour tour. Can Maryanne fit in a pack?

[Texas resident]

Howdy fellow third coast resident. Rode out Alicia, Opal, Rita and Ike. Stayed at home. Have generator and lots of gas cans. Wife and kids are well trained in riding storms out and the aftermath. The key to all this is to be a boy scout and be prepared for major disruptions that may last a week or more. A person does a huge favor to the first responders by not being a burden on them. We start making hurricane preps over Memorial Day weekend. Once done, then we relax. Best of luck to you.