This page covers my personal BugOutBag or B.O.B.

First, there is nothing special or new about this bag when compared to others, but I am going to spend a little more time explaining WHY I carry what I do.

Second, this page will attempt to get you thinking about the weight of your BOB. It's a crucial component that many leave out when making their selections.

Maybe this will help others evaluate their own BOB's.


WEIGHT RATIO!

I am using two figures based on MY INDIVIDUAL BODY WEIGHT to determine the weight of my BOB:

1) 10% of MY Body Wt. as a GOAL WEIGHT.

2) 20% of MY Body Wt. as a MAXIMUM WEIGHT.

These are two figures that seems to hold a realistic value to calculating what a person can carry. These values are INDIVIDUAL based values that YOU have to determine.

Why is this important?

It's about what you can REALISTICALLY carry and run with or hike over a long distance with this additional weight.

For example:

An average person of 180 lbs in good physical condition could run with an additional 18 lbs of gear if they had to. There is also issues with balance and dodging with this addition weight that become a problem as well. Try jumping a ditch with additional weight.

Next, push the weight up to 36 lbs, then they would have to be in excellent physical condition to run with that or hike for a long period of time. Jumping and dodging would be severely limited, even for those in excellent shape.

Each INDIVIDUAL needs to REALISTICALLY evaluate their condition BEFORE they try to create a BOB to carry.

Challenge:

Here's a challenge for you: Try a long jump first with NOTHING; then with 10% added; then again with 20% weight added. Next, try pushups!


My Weight Ratio Calculations:

I am 6'2"; 215 lbs and in good physical condition for my age of 43.

Weight (GOAL): 21.5 lbs (10%)

Weight (MAX): 43 lbs (20%)

After figuring this out, I decide I want my BOB to be no heavier than 21.5 lbs to start with and my overall load-out to be no more than 43 lbs WITH weapons and ammo.


My BugOutBag:

Weight (ACTUAL): 32 lbs (as listed below includes weapons and ammo)

At 32 lbs, I know I can carry this and hike of 5-7 miles without a problem. I am designing this to be a combination of "Fighting Load" (Weapons & Ammo only) & "Existence Load" (Short Term Field Pack). It's not perfect, but it's the best I can do for the weight restriction. Yes, there are things I would like to add, but keeping the weight down is important.


The Pack:

I use a older US Army Med A.L.I.C.E. Pack* with Aluminum Pack Frame & Cargo Shelf (both shown above). It weights 5.0 lbs empty. I also use bungee cords to wrap around the outside it to keep things tight together. This is important when you run or move to minimize the "sway" of the pack.

* A.L.I.C.E. means All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment

Here's what I carry:

Range Weapons: 9mm Beretta 92FS Pistol - 10x clips (15) - 200 rds ammo - Holster	Clothing: Socks, Hiking Gloves (Leather) Safety Glasses (Sport) T-Shirt, Camo Cap, Baseball	Personal Hygiene: Razor Scissors (6" SS) Toothbrush & Toothpaste 2" Mirror Nail Clippers TP (1/2 Roll) Washrag/Towel
Melee Weapons: 7" Buck Nighthawk Knife 12" Cold Steel Paranga Machete	Camp Kitchen: 2x Tin Cans (1 lb Coffee) P-51 Can Opener Utensils-SS Fork & Spoon Mora Army Knife 4x Clothes Pins (Wooden)	Maintenance: MultiTool, SOG S60 Gun Cleaning Kit (Basic) Knife Sharpener WD40 (Cleaner/Oil)
Food & Water: 2lts x Water Coffee (.5 lb) 4 Ramen Noodle Packs	Fire Starting: Lighter, Bic Swedish FireSteel Matches (25)	Entertainment: MP3 Player Playing Cards (1 deck) SAS Survival Manual
Shelter: Tarp, 6' x 8' Twine (18#, 300') 6x Tent Stakes (Alum.)	Lighting: Flashlight (AA Maglite) 2x Candles (Tea Lights)	Information: Map (Local State) AM/FM Radio (2xAAA)
Hunting/Fishing: 100 yds. 12# fishing line 12x #8 Fish Hooks 2x Bobbers 6x Sinkers 1x Frog Gig Spearhead 12' Fish Stringer 2x Rat Traps 30' Snare/Trip Wire	Repair ("Murphy's Kit"): Duct Tape (1 roll) 12x Zip Ties Sewing Kit 4x Wire Ties 1x Super Glue 4x Paperclips Murphy's Law - "If it can break, it will!"	First Aid Kit: Soap, Antibacterial (1 Bar) Bandaids (60) Tylenol (100) Burn Gel (Bottle) ) Sunblock (Spray Bottle) Benedryl (12) Rolaids (12) Imodium (4)
	Survival (Misc): 5-1 Tool (Compass, Whistle, Match Case, Mirror, Flint)

Why I Carry This Gear:

Again, this is only as an example and the reasoning below is my own personal opinion. I recite it here ONLY as a LEARNING TOOL for my readers to see what I have done, why I have done it and to work on their own BOB as they see fit. The value in this is to get YOU thinking.

These are in NO particular order of importance, but are classified (by me) into general categories of use.


Range Weapons:

9mm Beretta 92FS Pistol - Is the US Army's issue sidearm and a well made pistol. The 9mm has plenty of power to dispatch Zeds and is not overpowered so it can be used for small game hunting. Ammo is easy to find. Mine is actually a variation called the Border Marshall that has the heavier Brigadier slide and glow in the dark Nightsights.

Yes, if given the time and option of a rifle, I will take a rifle over a pistol, but for storage of my BOB - I want it to be "grab and go" with SOME weapon packed, because it may come down to carrying one of my family members, climbing down a ladder to escape OR the rifle.

10x clips (15) - Seems like alot, but there are lots of things that can go wrong with mags in a high stress environment. Number one thing is to drop one. Number two is accidentally step on it. If you only have a couple, then you're screwed. I also prefer to carry my ammo in loaded mags instead of loose rounds.

200 rds ammo - 150 rounds will load into the mags above, so that gives me a 50 round reserve.

Holster - I prefer holsters that completely cover the pistol or have "flaps" over the top of the pistol in "fluid situations" that may or may not involve gun fire like jumping, grappling or CQC melee. Holsters like the Bianchi UM84 or Blackhawk Special Ops Holster (shown) have better retention of the pistol during physical movements. Since the likelihood of me losing my pistol during a fall, jump, swim or dodge is a higher probability than needing a "quick draw", these are better than the average holster at keeping the gun with me. The actual holster I use is a homemade version of what is basically Blackhawk holster in the picture. It's pretty much the same thing, just not as pretty. UPDATE (5/15/2010): I bought one of the Blackhawk Spec Ops Universal holsters like the one in the picture and I love it! It'll carry everything from a 2" revolver to a full size .45 1911 with a quick adjustment. It's a solid holster!

Melee Weapons:

7" Buck Nighthawk Knife - Best general purpose fighting/survival knife I know. see Best Production Fixed Blade Knives for more details.

12" Cold Steel Paranga Machete - Easier to pack verses a full-size, will handle most chopping jobs and good CQC "big" blade knife. I normally would carry a Gurka knife, but the weight was just too much and the Paranga was "next best". Also, the Paranga's sheath was easier to attach to my pack than the Gurka's, so it allowed better retention while running or falling.

Food/Water:

2x 1 liter Bottles of Water - Gives me a 4 day supply (rationed) of water and 2 good sized bottles to refill when I find some. It's the most I can carry without become too cumbersome with water "sloshing" around. A Camelback is another good way to carry water, but I prefer bottles that I can keep clean or swap out in a hurry if I need to. The other advantage of two bottles is that IF you're in a hurry, you can use one as "dirty water" that you fill from a creek or pond on the run and the other as "clean water" that you've already boiled and purified for drinking water.

Coffee (.5 lb) - merely a vanity item, but I just find a hot cup in the morning gets me going. Since it doesn't take up much space and is light, I allow myself this little bit of comfort.

4 Ramen Noodle Packs - I hate these, but I like them better than M.R.E'.s. I can make 4 days (rationed) of food with these four packs. Since my primary concern is hydration, these make it easy to get a little warm food to satisfy my stomach and water too. There's lots of things I could carry, but since food is a perishable, I don't loose too much sleep when I have to replace them when they expire. I pack them on top of the bag to make it easy to change out.

Clothing:

General Note On Clothing: I did not have the physical room to pack a full set of clothes, so I focused on the things that would give me "complete" coverage given that I was wearing normal clothing - i.e. pants, shirt & boots. This is definitely a risk on my part, but one I think I can overcome by knowing this. Now when I do the 1 Minute Run, I focus on basic dress first and then grab my BOB (already packed). You may decide differently.

Socks, Hiking - These are heavy wool hiking socks. Socks are so important because they protect your feet and your feet keep you alive on the run. These are #1 to have in your BOB as you never know what shoes you'll be wearing and a good pair of thick sock can make all the difference. They can also cover you hands if you need to. I carry them around my tin cans to muffle the rattle.

Gloves (Leather) - #2 most important item on this list and covers the most important survival tool I have - my hands. I like leather work gloves for protection of my hands in a harsh environment like handling rope, glass, wood and manual labor tasks. They don't take up much space and are so important.

Safety Glasses (Sport) - May seem frivolous, but protection your eyes is so important and really overlooked by many people. I use sport type Safety Glasses with a light tint to them. These are good protection for my eyes against flying objects like broken glass, wood splinters (yes, image bullets through wood), concrete chips, dust, gravel and such. These are more of a necessity then you may think.

T-Shirt, Camo - This is a basic old style woodland camo XXL t-shirt that I use for an "over shirt" over my clothes. It's a quick and easy way to make you're clothing more color concealable without spending time getting dressed. Also, I traditionally don't wear a t-shirt much, so that's usually the first thing I need to add, so this one does both.

Cap, Baseball - This certainly isn't as good at shading my face and neck from the sun as a brimmed hat, but it's more about having something to wear to cover your head that is more important. A cap is easy to stuff into the pack and leave there to have when I need it.

Personal Hygiene:

General Note: I pack all of my Hygiene gear in a empty large plastic Peanut Butter jar. It's close to "water proof" and keeps everything together if I have to walk to the "facilities".

Razor - Basic disposable type of razor. Sometimes after a week of not shaving, it's a blessing to shave - even with cold water. If you're a woman, there's other things that make life - nice. It isn't a lot to pack one, just to remember to do so. Also, if you get into some serious wounds that need stitching, you might have to shave the area first.

Scissors (6" SS) - Another one of those items you may want to have to cut your hair (or someone else's). It's not about fashion, it's about not getting to take a bath for a week at a time and having short hair is easier to keep clean and doesn't get in your way. They are also useful in first aid, sewing repair and general crafting.

Toothbrush & Toothpaste - Every go 3 days without brushing your teeth? You know why this is in here. Also, toothpaste can be used as a pasty abrasive-type cleaner if you use a rag and water.

2" Mirror - For basic self grooming, it's good to have something to look at yourself in. It is also the #2 best signal device (next to the whistle) to use for rescue or long distance signals. It is also a silent signal! I glue the mirror to the top of the PB jar with epoxy.

Nail Clippers - Same as the razor, go a week without a nail trim (even as a man) and you'll wish you had pack these little babies. These are also handy for clipping fishing line when you're setting up your tackle.

TP (1/2 Roll) - Toilet Paper. If you've ever used a leaf, I don't have to explain this - you KNOW why this is in your kit. Ration it as long as you can and put it in a Ziploc just in case your PB jar leaks. Soggy TP is useless!

Washrag/Towel - Just a small washrag to clean up with, as a hot pad for handling your tin cans or use for bandage or cleaning materials. I use a 10" x 6" piece of an old towel. It also helps around the back of the neck when it's hot and you can use to make "snow blinders" if you have nothing else.

Camp Kitchen:

2x Tin Cans (1 lb Coffee) - Primary use is to boil water to purify for drinking and to cook in. They are light weight and I store them with my water bottles in them for protection. Nothing fancy, but they work and are cheap.

P-51 Can Opener - Big brother to the Army P-38 (about twice the size) and works even better. Having this little can opener can make your life SO much better when you have to open a can verses a knife or multi-tool type of can opener. It's just too small not to have one (or two). You can use it for miscellaneous things like a screwdriver and others as you can with a P-38.

Utensils-SS Fork & Spoon - Simple - I don't eat with my hands and unless you can eat soup with chopsticks, you better have something else.

Mora Army Knife - Light weight, all plastic sheath and handle with a stainless steel , good utility knife for game prep and eating. More about this under Best Production Fixed Blade Knives.

4x Clothes Pins (Wooden) - Easy to setup things to dry out and keeps them from getting blown off the line. Also helps to setup shade by holding material in place under light wind. One other little trick is to make a neat little "trip wire alarm". You do that by tacking the clothes pin in place near a doorway. Next use a pistol brass or wooden peg to tied to a trip wire or line. Open the clothes pin as wide as possible and insert brass (or peg). Run line across area you want. When trip wire is triggered, the brass is yanked from the clothes pin and the clothes pin "snaps loudly" shut. It's not a big alarm, but can give you a warning if you're listening for the very distinctive snap of a clothes pin.

Maintenance:

General Notes: If you have spent ANY time with weapons in the field or hunting, you know that SOME maintenance is required to keep them operational when they are needed. Spending a few minutes each night will do it (for the most part), but if you've been firing, clean up is paramount to keeping your weapon going - reliability.

MultiTool, SOG S60 - I think the SOG S60 Powerlok is the best multi-tool on the market. Well made and durable, it's a toolbox and a compact package.

Gun Cleaning Kit (Basic) - This is really basic - .22 cal rifle rod with tips and .22 & .38 cal brass brushes. This is basic, but enough to do the job of cleaning your weapon. A few patches from a t-shirt, a shot of oil and you can clean things up enough till you can stop and strip everything down.

Knife Sharpener - yes, knives need maintenance too. I prefer stick ceramic rod sharpeners, but the little cheapo ones work too - UNLESS your knife is to thick to fit it. The Buck Nighthawk is too thick for those, so I use a rod type.

WD40 (Cleaner/Oil) - I wrestled with this deciding on a solvent, gun oil or WD40 for general purpose cleaning and oiling. Although WD40 isn't my first choice, it does come in a handy small 3 ounce bottle that packs better than others. I also like being able to give a gun a "quick shot" of lubricate sometimes when I'm on the run, so the WD40 works better for this. Once I get a chance to stop, I prefer some Breakfree oil and Hoppe's solvent, but neither of these travel well in a rough environment. The Breakfree bleeds into everything and the Hoppe's Glass bottles break and get into everything. The WD40 just works better in this situation.

Firestarting:

General Notes: One of the most basic things you need to do in ANY survival situation is to start a fire. It's for warmth, boiling your water to drink, cooking and general "good" mental health. Carry more than one firestarter just in case.

Lighter, Bic - The simplest and cheapest to buy, the Bic disposable light was a good invention. These are great and work well for, I dunno, a hundred strikes(?) with fuel. Even without fuel, you can still use the striker to light fires.

Swedish FireSteel - This is the BEST metal match in the world! If you don't have one, get one! It should be in EVERY kit. I like the $12 scout model (red) and it's promo'd at 3,000 strikes of usage. I believe it.

Matches (25) - I use Lifeboat matches in my kit. They are similar to the common "Wind and Rain" match that is more common. The are made to burn hot, burn long and life your fire even in the wind. These are really superior to regular matches and worth the extra cost to buy them. You wouldn't want them to light cigarettes with, but they are fantastic for lighting fires. Since I don't carry many of them, I carry the best match I can find.

Shelter:

General Note: I really had a hard time deciding on this part of my kit. I really felt that a poncho would be a better choice for mobility and size to pack verses the tarp, but in the end - I decided on the tarp.

Tarp, 6' x 8' Plastic - A tarp is really the only way to make a durable and quick shelter. Why is quick important? You want something that's easy to put up and take down so you don't have to spend alot of energy on or focus your attention to it when you need to be watching for threats. A tarp is easy up with a tree, one string and 4 stakes. Other designs are out there, but the point is - easy and quick. You can also make a ground shelter by just laying it doubled on the ground and crawling in between the layers like a sleeping bag. I definitely give up the mobility advantage of a poncho, but I think the extra space is worth it for a better shelter when I need it.

Twine (18#, 300') - You're going to need twine to tie things, so having a spool will make it easier on you. It doesn't take much to hold up a your tarp for a shelter and you can use it for a trip wire or supplement your fishing line. You may need it to fix your clothes as thread, etc. Twine is lighter than rope and most of the time, you really don't need the rope.

6x Tent Stakes (Aluminum) - I hate these and much prefer the steel tent stakes, but weight is an issue and the aluminum ones work to get a shelter up and down quick. So I have them instead of the steel ones.

Lighting:

General Note: If you're going to scrounge in a building or house without power, you need a good (and portable) light source that won't catch the place on fire!

Flashlight (AA Maglite) - seems small compared to other options today, but post Z-day, it's be compared to using candles. Small and durable, but Maglite has a good rep for taking abuse and keep working. AA batteries don't take up much room, so if I get extras I won't weight myself down too much.

2x Candles (Tea Lights) - this is more as a portable, small heat source than for lighting, but I grouped it in with the Flashlight because it could be a light source too. As a heat source, the little candle under your tarp will really warm things up and not be too large an open flame to be dangerous to your tarp. Also, sometimes it's easier to light a candle and use it to start a fire than use your matches or lighter.

Information:

Map (Local State) - A compass can tell you which way is which, but without a map - you don't know WHERE you want to go. Depending on your travel needs, you need a road map or even better - a Topographical map of your state. Topo's are the best because they show small roads in addition to the main roads.

AM/FM Radio (2xAAA) - This may not be important as post Z-day goes on, but in the beginning you'll need to listen to the newscasts and make notes of things in your area that they discuss - i.e. safe zones, Red Cross supply depots or quarantine camps. Later, it may be good to scan the channels for any survivor broadcasts.

Hunting/Fishing:

100 yds. 12# fishing line - The roll is 3" in diameter and 1/2" thick. Having lots of fishing line gives you lots of options while fishing. It lets you put out several lines at once or even a trout line. Fishing line can be used for lashing your shelter if you need it too.

12x #8 Fish Hooks (Brass) - Making a GOOD fish hook is hard and having a few is so easy. A good hook leads to successful fishing and a bad hook is a waste of time. They don't take up much room to carry so carry several - more than one or two, because even good hooks can break. Make sure they are shiny brass hooks as fish will hit at something shiny even without bait.

2x Bobbers (1" Plastic) - These seem like they are not signification, but bobbers help you time the setting of the hook. Their another .05 nickle item you need to have.

6x Sinkers (Split Shot) - Split shot can be used over and over again.

1x Frog Gig Spearhead - This little 3-prong spearhead works on fish, snakes and amphibians. The barbs on each prong help retain your catch and work alot better than a sharpened stick or other fishing head you have to create from scratch.

12' Fish Stringer - These are made to retain your fish after you catch them. I could use something else, but it's a $1 item that just makes keeping your fish fresh easier and secure.

30' Snare/Trip Wire - Snare wire is useful, even if you don't use it for snares. I suck and snares and have never been able to catch a damn thing, but having the wire is handy. You can use it for trip wires, repairs for your gear (especially a cracked rifle stock) and other things.

2x Rat Traps - I had a wise hunter suggest these for small game instead of using a snare. I haven't had a chance to try this, but the source and idea are sound enough for me to carry them for that purpose. They can also be used for "proximity alarm".

Repair "Murphy's" Kit: Murphy's Law - "If it can break, it will!"

General Notes: Your gear WILL break. Sorry, but that's a fact. So having repair items is paramount to your survival. The items listed below are just some common items that can be used to make these repairs. I will add in some ADDITIONAL suggestions for the items, but their primary function is repair.

Duct Tape (1 roll) - Works for repairing tears in plastic (like your tarp) or even cloth if applied to both sides of the garment.

12x Zip Ties - Can be used to make handcuffs or quick attach a flashlight to your weapon.

Sewing Kit - Needle can used to remove splinters.

4x Wire Ties - Can be used to replace lost screws in eyeglasses and wrapped around the frame to repair them.

1x Super Glue - Can be used over a cut instead of a bandage to seal it closed, especially useful on places that flex - like on your fingers. It's waterproof too. WARNING: You must get the wound clean BEFORE you apply the glue to the cut.

4x Paperclips - Are a good replacement for buttons.


First Aid:

Soap, Antibacterial (1 Bar) - #1 in First Aid is to get the wound clean with simple clean water and soap.

Bandaids (60) - To keep the wounds clean.

Tylenol (100) - General painkiller and fever reducer.

Sunblock (Spray Bottle) - If you are fair skinned this is an important item often overlooked. I like the easy to apply spray bottle as its quick and non-messy. I use Banana Boat Sport Spray (30 SPF) and it's waterproof/sweatproof and not greasy. You may think that the 30 SPF is high, but I'm not after I tan - this is protection from being exposed to hours in the sun and specifically from Sun Poisoning. I've HAD it and if you have, you KNOW why I carry Sunblock in my BOB. Check out the link if you want to know more.

Burn Gel (Bottle) - Treats burns, including Sunburn.

Benedryl (12) - General purpose antihistamine for allergic reactions for allergies or insect bites.

Rolaids (12) - I get heartburn from just thinking about MRE's. You won't die from it, but it sure is more comfortable if you have some to take. They don't take up much room and I carry them in a pill vial so they don't get crushed.

Imodium (4) - Almost left this out, but it's an important drug to keep you for dehydrating if you get diarrhea. Yes, that sounds funny, but you'd be surprised at how many times you eat something that doesn't agree with you and you get it. Normally, not a big deal, but in a survival situation, it can be dangerous.

Survival (Misc):

5-1 Tool (Compass, Whistle, Match Case, Mirror, Flint) - This is one of those simple $3.00 tool made by Coghlan's and several other manufactures. They are blaze orange and are very handy for the price and size.

I actually count 6 things on this:

1. a liquid filled compass
2. a waterproof match box (plastic with rubber o-ring)
3. a signal whistle (ball type)
4. a fire starting flint striker (3/4" long)- USELESS!!!
   
5. a nylon lanyard (approx. 42" in length)
6. a small 1" signal mirror! (inside the match box cap)

Entertainment:


General Notes: Entertainment is certainly not a priority for survival, but good mental health is. Having something "fun" to occupy you on those long periods of time like when you're holed up or rain days will make life more pleasant.

MP3 Player - These are very efficient little gadgets that hold a ton of music and use little power and last a very long time on a charge. Most can be recharged with a car charger, so post Z-day - these would be easy to charge in your vehicle when you are moving. Other devices are not as efficient as these, so I think they'll be around alot longer than other music players.

Playing Cards (1 deck) - There are very few things that are this small and provide so much versatility for entertainment than a deck of cards. Playing solitaire or games with 4 or more people, it's just one of the better options to carry.

SAS Survival Manual (By John "Lofty" Wiseman) - This is the best wilderness survival book you can buy. I include it because Wiseman spends time explaining long term survival ideas. You may say that you should read this BEFORE you need it and I very much agree with you. The reason I carry it is this: Sometimes in a situation we tend to see things from only one perspective (ours); having this with you not only gives you something to read for entertainment, but it also provides a review of survival from someone else's perspective.

What happens under stress is that we tend to forget those simple things that can help us. Having a good source of "reflection" from Wiseman's 25+ years of experience can help us remember to do those things that can (or could) help us. So I carry this book to remind me of things - kind of like a survival notebook.



I hope this helps : )

Ironhand