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Discussion: Please be very critical of my BOB
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rmpkatz |
Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 12:21 PM EDT
| Post edited: Aug 15 2012, 6:56 PM EDT
Clothing:-One half skie mask -Two pairs of think wool socks -One pair of tan combat boots -Onelightweighttan pants -One lightweightlong sleeveshirt -One G-Shock multicam watch -One pair of wool gloves -One rain poncho Melee Weapons: -One folding knives -One Fixed Blade -Crowbar Camp Kitchen: -One Butter Knife, Fork and spoon (All Metal) -One Halulite Minimalist -One camp stove with 6 fuel cubes Food & Water: -Three 23.7 FL OZ Poland Spring Water Bottles -One can ofsardines(Expires 9/1/2013) -Eight Clif bars expire (12/14/2012) -One 70 OZ camel pack Fire Starting: -Two unused Bic lighters -One flint Lighter (Just makes sparks really works) -Four things of cotton -Two magnesium fire starters with flint -Over 500 matches Lighting: -Four 9 hour candles (With lantern holder) -Six 24 hour green glow sticks Hunting/fishing: -One roll of fishing wire Personal Hygiene: -One Eye cover -One 1.49 FL OZ scope mouth wash -One .85 OZ unopened tube of toothpaste -One toothbrush -Three quarters Other: -Over 5 black 30 gallon garbage bags -One roll of dog bags Shelter: -Three emergency sleeping bags -Onemanuallyinflatable sleeping mat Carrier or Bag: -Everything weighs 29 pounds Maintenance/Tools: -Two Leatherman Kick multitools -Three Allenwrenches -One length of chain -Two rolls of string -One length of rope -One big roll of duct tape -One folding shovel -Half a small roll of electrical tape -One folding saw -One roll of nylon string First Aid Kit: -One sam arm splint -Ten hospital gloves -Twenty Bandades of different sizes -Three finger splints -Five hospital basic masks -Two ACE bandage 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?
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BOB bug out bag
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x-wolfhunter |
1. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 12:38 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 2 2012, 12:39 PM EDT
Well, before I go into specifics, here's something you need to do. Grab your BOB, put it on nice and tight, and go run a half a mile. How do you feel? Chances are, you'll feel like crap. That's how to do your initial weight tests. Do that every time you make a change to your BOB and then when you're pretty much satisfied, hike for a few hours in it. Maybe do a three-day test of your BOB in the woods. Test it out. Keep it strong.On to recommendations: Clothing: Ya really need two sweatbands? I'd say swap that for some nice heating clothing so you won't get chilly. Melee weapons: Check out Timberrattler's WarHammer (Just do a search. He's got a thread all about it, how to make it etc.) Camp kitchen: Get a nice mess kit and a hobo tool. Invaluable. Fire starting: Add another magnesium starter. They're awesome. And maybe swap the newspaper for some well-defined fire starting substance (Which can be found at any outdoor shop). Hunting/fishing: Strengthen that area. You're gonna be doing a lot of it. Personal hygiene: Familiarize yourself with your local plants that be used for hygiene. That stuff's gonna run out quick. Other: Add balloons and a ziplock bag of Skittles mixed with Swedish Fish. Balloons have about a billion survival-related uses, from markers to emergency water storage to pillows to . . . well, it depends on your imagination, really. Shelter: You should have more than a sleeping bag. With just a sleeping bag, you're not gonna have a very good time. I'll link something here later to a page I wrote about sleeping alone PZD. Maintenance/tools: Too much here. Dilute it. For example, get a tool that combines a few of those on your list and swap the folding saw for some saw wire with handles. Works just as well, but lighter. TBC Do you find this valuable? |
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x-wolfhunter |
2. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 12:41 PM EDT
Repair kit: If you wanna get real minimalist, you can save space by transferring the roll to a pencil, thus eliminating the hollow center of the duct tape.First aid kit: Maybe add a first-aid booklet specific to the wilderness. I've got one on my bookshelf somewhere. Basically just a little handbook with guidelines as to what should be done with certain injuries etc. Also, always add and remove stuff. The first aid kit should be one of the most dynamic parts of your BOB. Do you find this valuable? |
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rmpkatz |
3. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 12:55 PM EDT
Thanks I will definitely take everything you said into consideration! You brought up some excellent points. I am new to making a Bug Out Bag and as you can see can really use the help. I am talking to my dad about finding a place to go and test my bug out bag.
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Zee-Man |
4. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 1:40 PM EDT
Overall you've done a really good job.Newspaper is rather bulky. I would go with dryer lint. It takes up less space. A small pinch of it burns well enough to get dry materials going. I really like the burn qualities. When storing it in your BOB make it as compressed as you can. When using it, fluff it up. I presume the "magnesium firestarter with flint" is a magnesium bar with a ferrocerium rod attached. These are wonderful. When using dryer lint you will not need any magnesium shavings for dry materials. Which lets you save the Mg for wet camps. For minimalist shelter, add a few plastic trash bags. Sleeping bag on wet ground leads to wet sleeping bag and from there to drastic heat loss. I'm betting you intend to build at least a lean to. A couple trash bags over your sleeping bag gives you a quick shelter for times when you get caught without time to build a better shelter. Remember, 3 hours and hypothermia can kill you. I'll disagree with X-Wolf about the folding saw. Keep it. Add the wire saw as he suggests or even a pocket chainsaw. The hammer and nails are items I would dispense with. For expedient shelter the string and rope are you real tools. You FAK needs more in the way of blood stopping. Add some styptic powder, some gauze sponges and a tampon or 3. Yeah, tampons. Not only great for absorbing blood, but also make fine tinder for firesatarting. At your current 14.5 pounds you are doing very well. Depending on your physique you could be able to add quite a bit more stuff. My BOB is 36 liters volume and weighs in at about 50 lbs. I'm rather robust physically and have no trouble hiking with that much weight. For testing purposes, your backyard is quite sufficient if not as fun as going camping. "Hike" with it on a treadmill, if you have to, march back and forth in the yard. Sounds as though your Dad is somewhat supportive, which is great! Do you find this valuable? |
DevilNuts |
5. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 1:46 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 2 2012, 1:47 PM EDT
It would be easier, more water-resistant and probably space-saving to swap out the matches with a 5-pack of disposable lighters. Also, I see no mention of waterproofing in general. Stuff some trash bags, and a bunch of zip-lock bags of different sized. They don't take up much space, hold water in a pinch, and can save you a lifetime of misery from damp clothing and supplies. A bundle of zip-ties might also be a good idea - quicker and sometimes stronger than tying things up with rope/string, plus they save your line for when you really need it. Do you find this valuable? |
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Zee-Man |
6. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 1:48 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 2 2012, 2:00 PM EDT
I am very minimalist with my camp kitchen also. I only have a #10 tin can, fork and spoon. The can has small holes punched near the top to receive a piece of coat hangar to which is attached a length of light chain. Thus the whole thing can be suspended over a cook fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2-GAjOmj4 shows the rig in use. You can adapt your SS bowl to be used in the same way. You will need 3 holes for stability and your hangar will need 3 legs. The hangar can be skipped altogether if you use hooks on the chain instead. Even the chain is a luxury. If you keep the cook fire manageable then string will work fine. Edit: spelling errors Do you find this valuable? |
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Zee-Man |
7. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 2:18 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 2 2012, 2:20 PM EDT
How long do you expect your BOB to serve you?You have about 1 day's worth of water. Perhaps you expect to use your BOB in an area with plentiful water. Perhaps you intend to purify collected water using heat. Now imagine that you are on the run. Suppose the chase only allows you enough time to dip into the stream and collect some water. Some iodine tablets or some chlorine tabs would come in very useful. Food, in my opinion, is a luxury in a BOB since its intent is to get me from point A to my ORP or BOL which is less than 72 hours away. Three days without food would not be happy, but it can be endured. Having some food in the BOB sure makes travel nicer. Decide, then, how well you want to feed while on the run. Sardines are a good choice, the fats and protein are sustaining. The high level of sodium is a detractor. When calculating how much food to have, use 2000 calories per day as a guidepost. Now read the label on your can of sardines. Candies are nice to have for a quick boost to energy, but sugars are very poor calories for the volume and weight. One of the best foods for calories per density (mass/volume) is peanut butter. Best would be a nut butter made using expensive nuts like macadamia. Nuts and legumes give a variety of food types: protein, carbohydrates, and fats (oils). Do you find this valuable? |
TurnAndBurn |
8. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 2 2012, 3:59 PM EDT
A couple of P51 can openers would potentially be very helpful while adding practically no weight nor bulk.
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moonshade13 |
9. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 7 2012, 2:16 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 7 2012, 2:18 PM EDT
"A couple of P51 can openers would potentially be very helpful while adding practically no weight nor bulk."I was just going to say this (or P38s). I would ditch the Sleep Eye Cover unless you really think you will need it. Also, I would swap the Scope for Listerine as it has much better antiseptic properties. Also, maybe grab one of those travel bottles of hand sanitizer as you never know what kind of contamination you may be touching. A good pair of work gloves might come in handy. Spare socks (3 pairs). Wet, cold, blistered feet will take you down quickly & seriously slow your effectiveness. Make sure everything you have that could be damaged if it gets wet is in ziplock or waterproof bags. Matches will do you kno good when wet. Water purification tables would be good to have as well. Depending on the time of year, I would modularize some stuff as well. In the winter/fall, have a hat, gloves, thick socks, a sweat jacket & maybe a set of polypropylene long johns in a bag inside you pack. During the summer/spring, swap this out for warm weather stuff, like a boomy hat, tee shirt, etc. A good set of hiking boots stored with (not in) you BOB to put on or grab for later as time allows. Unroll your TP, collapse it & put in ziplock bags to save some space. Ditch the sweatbands. Med kit: Some form of anticeptic (Neosporin or the like), Iodine, etc. A few tampons (as above) or Maxi-thins (make good compression bandages). Also, some form of eye protection. Shatter proof sunglasses & maybe a pair of clear safety glasses. Food: maybe grab a canned tuna in water as well. You get the protein, fats & though it may not taste the best, you get a little bit of extra water. Canned tuna has an average life of 3 years if kept cool & out of the sun. As above, a small jar of nut butter (peanut, almond, etc.) would be good as well. Good start. Wish mine was that light (roughly 55lbs). Do you find this valuable? |
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DevilNuts |
10. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 7 2012, 2:50 PM EDT
Believe it or not, there are literally hundreds of useful things you can do with condoms in the field. (... try to find the non-lubricated ones in case you end up storing water in them) Do you find this valuable? |
AlphaOneFour |
11. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 7 2012, 4:59 PM EDT
A hand mirror and whistle would be great for communication, and they don't take up much weight/space for what they're worth.550 paracord is always useful. wind-up UV water steriliser can kill all sorts of stuff to make water more potable, and won't run out like tablets. Also, small ziploc bags of honey can do wonders for energy or food taste, and can be stored indefinitely. Similarly, sachets of salt and pepper such as those plastic ones you get from restaurants can be used to replace lost salt or season food. You have a screwdriver and a multi-tool. Does the multi-tool not have the requisite heads? The hammer seems superfluous, and I see little point to the nails. Rope should serve jsut as well. One last thing. Get yourself a timber-hammer. Do you find this valuable? |
CallsignPyro |
12. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Jun 18 2012, 1:18 PM EDT
Windup radio, to keep informed. A single person tent would help you out. Binoculars. Needle & thread, both for stitches & clothing repair. Armor, even if its just a leather jacket, it'll save you from peak a boo zed (& double as winter gear) Do you find this valuable? |
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rmpkatz |
13. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 15 2012, 6:57 PM EDT
I just edited my BOB please read the first post for the edited version.
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Braydonn |
14. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 15 2012, 11:33 PM EDT
Definitely a large improvement there rmpkatz! :)How heavy is it overall though? I think maybe you could cut down on some things, like the folding shovel. (From my experience they break fairly easily.) Also, I think you can leave one of those Leatherman's behind. Every ounce counts if you need to walk with your BOB. The crowbar seems like it could be useful, to an extent though. They can be quite heavy and I couldn't see myself lugging one of those around with my BOB as well. In my opinion, maybe replace the crowbar with a hatchet or a tomahawk? I can see a hatchet or tomahawk coming in handy a lot more for you than a crowbar, plus most of them weigh quite a bit less. Do you find this valuable? |
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rmpkatz |
15. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 15 2012, 11:40 PM EDT
"Definitely a large improvement there rmpkatz! :)Thanks! Just to everybody who comments I will be away for a week so I wont respond until then. Do you find this valuable? |
11ACRBlackhorse |
16. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 16 2012, 3:55 AM EDT
| Post edited: Aug 16 2012, 7:50 AM EDT
"Well, before I go into specifics, here's something you need to do. Grab your BOB, put it on nice and tight, and go run a half a mile. How do you feel? Chances are, you'll feel like crap."This is my only issue and surprised others haven't caught it. While serving I carried a 80lb ruck and could march over a day strait with it. But make me run half a mile with it would of made me feel like sh!t too. So not a realistic test. Especially with older people, out of shape people, and people with bad knees and or injuries. To easy to fall and cause major injuries. I couldn't run it now with my pack. But I can walk all day with it and do. So walk about a half mile briskly for the initial test. Then do a extended test of 6hrs out and 6hrs back. Cover hills if possible, but nothing to difficult. Injuries do nobody any good. If you have to run in a SHTF I hope your smart enough to ditch the pack. Otherwise running isn't warranted. Now everyone covered the rest better than I can. Good luck Do you find this valuable? |
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Bigralph |
17. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 16 2012, 7:23 AM EDT
krazy glue to close small wounds, lock picking tools, can of sterno. Switch the sardines for tuna in oil(can make an oil lamp with it)
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CallsignPyro |
18. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 16 2012, 10:19 AM EDT
"This is my only issue and surprised others haven't caught it.That does make good sense, once I get a new bag the treadmill will being getting used alot more. Do you find this valuable? |
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11ACRBlackhorse |
19. RE: Please be very critical of my BOB
Aug 16 2012, 3:53 PM EDT
"That does make good sense, once I get a new bag the treadmill will being getting used alot more."Now there is the way to do it. We used to have it and the only one in the house that used it was my boxer. He loved it. Otherwise it was just a glorified clothes rack. Do you find this valuable? |
