A vagabond gear list

S

sideways

Joined
Feb 19, 2013
Messages
3,216
I found this gear list online and thought others might also find it interesting. This is what a hobo settled on after 10+ years on the road.

http://imgur.com/a/aZ9fq#0

Vagabonding long term on foot is not something I would voluntarily do but I find the idea fascinating on an academic level. This is the stuff a guy found useful enough to carry around on his back in his 10+ years of travel.

There is the usual stuff a backpacker might carry and then there are other heavy pieces of seemingly low value kit that somehow make the cut. There are bolt cutters in there that he states were only used twice but presumably those two times were critical enough to justify their weight.

The light socket to usb adapter is especially ingenious. I always travel with both a 12V to USB and universal mains to USB adapter but this takes it a step further. I can see as how as an outsider it could come in handy. Wall sockets and cigarette sockets are inside locket/secure spaces whereas light sockets are accessible from outside.

Additionally he has a few battery packs, a solar charger, a multi-plug mains to mains adapter, and a multi plug mains to usb adapter. It drives home just how important powering your tech is.

He is also carrying a few specialized wrenches and keys to access water posts and spigots.

Some of the techniques are not things I would condone under normal rule of law conditions, stealing water and power for example is still stealing, but could be very useful in an emergency.

Thoughts, comments, questions?
 
I imagine that would apply doubly so in the event you actually needed it. :)

I guess that applies for a lot of the stuff he has there. It is an accumulation over time of useful odds and bits that would be very difficult to replicate in a hurry. Even if you knew what you were shopping for.
 
sideways said:
I imagine that would apply doubly so in the event you actually needed it. :)

I guess that applies for a lot of the stuff he has there. It is an accumulation over time of useful odds and bits that would be very difficult to replicate in a hurry. Even if you knew what you were shopping for.
Click to expand...
I have been a plumber for close to 30 years. I have seen less than a dozen of those type hose caps and half of those are in use or in our supply room at work . We only use them water hot enough to burn you on contact . I have a on my work keys.
I can't see them being common enough to carry one in the real world .
Roy
 
Water is available in a lot of public places, just not to the public. As far as, is it stealing to open a city tap to get some water if there is not water-filling tap available, I'd say go for it.

Interesting bunch of stuff, I'm guessing he fished for most of his food, considering the amount and type of tackle, possibly stealthily.

As far as the bolt cutters, I can imagine falling asleep somewhere and finding you are locked in. Granted, on foot, not often you need to go through a gate, happened to me at work once, got locked into a secured area because no one thought to check what was up with the guy setting up the sound system for a festival. you would have thought they would have heard me? so that may be the case. Or in the case of a major storm, I can see having to get into shelter by any means necessary.
 
plumberroy said:
I have been a plumber for close to 30 years. I have seen less than a dozen of those type hose caps and half of those are in use or in our supply room at work . We only use them water hot enough to burn you on contact . I have a on my work keys.
I can't see them being common enough to carry one in the real world .
Roy
Click to expand...

Interesting. Is there regional variation in plumbing fixtures?
Is there another kind of key you would recommend that is more common?
 
gadgetgeek said:
Water is available in a lot of public places, just not to the public. As far as, is it stealing to open a city tap to get some water if there is not water-filling tap available, I'd say go for it.

Interesting bunch of stuff, I'm guessing he fished for most of his food, considering the amount and type of tackle, possibly stealthily.

As far as the bolt cutters, I can imagine falling asleep somewhere and finding you are locked in. Granted, on foot, not often you need to go through a gate, happened to me at work once, got locked into a secured area because no one thought to check what was up with the guy setting up the sound system for a festival. you would have thought they would have heard me? so that may be the case. Or in the case of a major storm, I can see having to get into shelter by any means necessary.
Click to expand...

I think a large part if his diet probably came from supermarkets paid for by odd jobs along the way. :) but he did go heavy of the fishing gear so who knows.

Yeah there are situations where bolt cutters could save you a bunch of time and stress. Maybe even your life. Stealing a bit of water doesnt cause permanent damage but using bolt cutters certainly does so the need would have to be great. I also don't know how law enforcement would react if they picked you up for vagrancy with a set of bolt cutters on your person. Would it be like rambo and his hunting knife? :eek:
 
sideways said:
Interesting. Is there regional variation in plumbing fixtures?
Is there another kind of key you would recommend that is more common?
Click to expand...

The 4-way key he has will cover 90%+ of hydrants on commercial buildings. I have one in my vehicles and carry one on longer bicycle rides
Roy
 
Heck, in a lot of places they would just consider it burglary tools and lock you up, so there is probably more risk from the bolt cutters than there is from the small knives he was carrying.
 
I love threads like this because if I am going to carry gear then I want the vast majority of it to be long term items, not disposables.

Every item needs to go through the weight vs usefulness filter.

Typical list though were you see multiple knives but no sharpening tool. Long term, the sharpening tool is more important than the knife itself. Why do I say this? Because I've bought and seen a ton of knives in stores, pawn shops, flea markets, etc., but only about 3% of those places had any sharpening tools.
 
Last edited:
sharpening not being a terribly common skill, he may have made the choice to buy cheap, and replace, where you or I might use even a cheap carborundum stone to keep a much better knife in better condition.
 
Interesting that there are several electrical power type cords, etc., but the only things on the list with batteries are a couple lights. He also mentions phone.
 
You can also sharpen a knife on a curb or step (or variety of other items)
 
gadgetgeek said:
Heck, in a lot of places they would just consider it burglary tools and lock you up, so there is probably more risk from the bolt cutters than there is from the small knives he was carrying.
Click to expand...

As a former LEO, my first reaction to the bolt cutters was.....those will get you arrested ( at least detained) quicker than anything else in that gear pack. ;')
 
ichor said:
As a former LEO, my first reaction to the bolt cutters was.....those will get you arrested ( at least detained) quicker than anything else in that gear pack. ;')
Click to expand...
In my jurisdiction the only mention of bolt cutters in the state code is in the title covering mines and mining under the chapter for requirements applicable to underground coal mines.
 
leghog said:
In my jurisdiction the only mention of bolt cutters in the state code is in the title covering mines and mining under the chapter for requirements applicable to underground coal mines.
Click to expand...

If someone in possession of bolt cutters is standing near a closed business, protected by chain-link fencing, the state code is irrelevant. ;')
 
ichor said:
If someone in possession of bolt cutters is standing near a closed business, protected by chain-link fencing, the state code is irrelevant. ;')
Click to expand...

Perhaps if the fence or the gate's lock were cut. Otherwise I'd file a complaint and consult a lawyer buddy.

I used to carry bolt cutters and a shovel in the back of a hatchback then in a pickup for years. In all my side of the road encounters with police it never once caused a problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top