VANITY ---- Lets talk bug out bags ----

FR: VANITY ^ | 2/2/2019 | Me

[afterhoursarmory]

Yeah, tend to agree. After reading many other posts what I am making is a GHB with contingencies. I am 100% alright with that too. Get my ass home so I can survey and defend (or get to my other locale if needed).

[afterhoursarmory]

It seems reasonable that a poster would be skeptical about a 2018’er who suddenly wants to know who has a bug-out bag.
Just sayin’

bwahahaaa.... This site doesn't use SSL. I'm the least of your worries.

[combat_boots]

Outstanding.

Loved the Roomba fix-it comment.

[kearnyirish2]

The military ponchos have a couple of nice options you don’t see in civilian ones: the option of snapping a few together and connecting the poncho liner for sleeping come to mind (besides the camouflage itself, which may or not serve you well depending on where you live/work - then again, you can always just get the OD colored one).

[kearnyirish2]

I have signal mirrors, but slipped printed Morse code sheets in with them because I don’t know Morse. Also, I hope anyone I’m signaling knows Morse as well...

One thing to add with a signal mirror (because it is roughly the same size/shape) is a “survival lens” - which can be used to start fires if the sun is out (like Piggy’s specs in “Lord of the Flies”) as well as magnifying bug stings etc. for treatment. Very cheap and light; probably worth it.

[kearnyirish2]

Add a whistle; if you’re breathing, it can work if your voice doesn’t.

[kearnyirish2]

The plastic military canteens will swell instead of rupturing like the old metal ones; when we’d camp in the Catskills in the winter we’d bring them in our bags at night so they wouldn’t freeze. The real problem was cleaning the mess kits in partially-frozen streams; scrub quickly, because you start losing feeling below the elbows...

[kearnyirish2]

If you need toilet paper, you need the anti-bacterial hand-wipe singles - you gotta eat with those hands!

[kearnyirish2]

While they are larger and heavier, military bivy bags are incredible; basically a waterproof shell for the sleeping bag system, they function as a “tent that you wear” and will trap heat much better than the “space blankets” (which I include with first aid kits instead of survival gear). In fact, you have to make sure your breath can escape, they work so well that if you trap your breath you’ll be soaked by the condensation.

[Redcitizen]

We’re thinking alike here.

I need another metal canteen cup and a 1 quart plastic canteen cover too. Ive made a lot of my gear from the surplus ALICE material. Still good stuff.

[PAR35]

three 1quart canteens hanging off the bag, 3 quart internal to the bag with "straw"

12 pounds of water? How far are you planning to walk? I'd cut that back and get a filter straw and some purifier tablets if I was any place other than the desert.

Lighten your load and get more suitable footwear.

[Ladysforest]

**my custom AR builds**

Did you mention that you live in NY?

[Eagles6]

Lots of good folks with good ideas here on FR.

[Georgia Girl 2]

😨

[Paal Gulli]

Without knowing where you're running to, you can't possibly make a proper BOB. And without knowing what you're running from, you can't possibly know where you're running to. Unless you you live in an area prone to certain specific natural or man-made disasters, like flooding, hurricanes, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, nukular reactor meltdown or prison riots, you're better off building a survival larder and fortifying your house against the most likely possibilities rather than burning through brain cells creating a BOB so you can earn your Mall Ninja merit badge.

[Garth Tater]

What's this about bugging out? If the shit hits the fan it's time to ride to the sound of the guns. Hunkering down at home isn't going to get the job done.

[rocknotsand]

Travel. Ever notice that large quantities of cars and planes came along in the 50s and 60s right at the time the population was subject to the threat of fission and then fusion bombs — bombs which would create a poisonous zone from which people would need to flee as fast as possible. Luck or providence?

[Blueflag]

True, but they are substantially bulkier. Volume and total weight for a bugout come into play. If all you seek is to get home safely over XX miles and Y days, then you may not need military poncho(s) in your get home kit.

As a test, take a 3 mile hike around your neighborhood wearing your backpack with weights in it equal to your total load out. Wear the shoes you keep in the vehicle.

That may open your eyes. Especially if you try that hike ALSO carrying a couple gallons of water.

[Blueflag]

I wrote GALLONS, I meant QUARTS

[kearnyirish2]

Sorry; I hike a lot, and learn quickly...