BOB/PSK philosophy question

K

kl101

Joined
Oct 4, 1999
Messages
119
Ok reading some of the great threads has gotten me motivated to get serious about getting mine together.

So here is the question, what is the goal of the BOB/PSK. This may sound frivolous but I think it is important to think about.

Basic goals are to:

Stay dry
Stay warm
Stay hydrated

To me this means:

Fire starting gear
Basic shelter/blanket
Small qty of water with gear to carry and purify more

What's next?
 
What's next?
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For me.... it would be two, bladed instruments , one large and one small. I would also prefer a firearm but that's me.
Another thing to consider thast doesnt take up much room depending on how much room you have to begin with is , a moral booster of some sort. This can as simple as a pack of Wrigley's gum.
 
Sorry, got distracted part way through and didn't finish

The main question is are you preparing to stay comfy for a little while (many hours to maybe a day and a half) or are you preping to have minimal stuff to give you a better chance of staying alive for many days. Very different prep. The first case is 'stuff' focused, taking some food and water in a compact long shelf life form. (don't want to have to worry about is my food out of date). The second case is more 'gear' focused.

Me personally, I definitley more on the second case side but am curious about other peoples thoughts.
 
This is a good thread as I have been thinking about these same things. In a true bug out situation the way my pack is set up now I think I would be fine for several days. I am now thinking how to create a BOB that will get you through those first several days, but then support you over the long haul. That leads me to think about and consider the environment I will most likely be trying to survive in. Those trying to survive at length in an urban environment might need certain tools, supplies, knowledge etc. that others in remote wilderness environments may not need. It seems to me that what might truly prove to be important is having a BOP (Bug Out Plan). This idea has been discussed on several threads and seems to be critical to long term survival.

Where will we be buging out to? What supplies are there? How will we get there? Or will we be riding things out at home? Who have we networked with prior to bugging out that will know the plan and be ready to help and support?

Anyone who has a BOB will probably do fine for several days. But I'd be willing to bet that many people that did not think about everything following 72 hours might not make it.


The beginnings of my PSK and BOB:
http://www.soupcampbell.net/survival.htm

Soup
 
Nice setup Soup!

Mine is similar only I use no ground pad, too bulky and can be improvised easily enough.

I use a gortex bivi bag and find it more utilitarian than a tent, lighter too.

I would get some better hard core food though. You aren't going far on calorie limited freeze dried food.

Think beef jerky, nuts, hard meats, cheeze, tuna, dried fruit, rice. Will take you much further IMHO.

Do you have a pot of some type can't remember?

Extra socks x 4 will save your feet.

Skam
 
SheepDog said:
I can highly recommend the Equipped to Survive web site they have lots of good information for you to look at there. They also have a very active forum.
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ETS has a lot of good info but I find their idea of survival varies around what you have in a candy tin rather than broader scope of bugging out and survival over time.

Skam
 
Very nice start Soup. I agree about getting more substantial food for your bag. However, if you know you'll be heading into an area with limited drinking water, you may want to stay away from consuming meat, as it takes longer to break down and requires more water to digest, adding to your dehydration.
 
Skam and Longbow,

Thanks for taking a look and passing on the suggestions. I did feel that I needed a better variety of food and now I know some great items to add. I also have a small mess kit that is not pictured but I think I may simply use a coffee can or the like to cut down on weight. I need to get out in the field and see If I can do all the necessary cooking and food prep with the single coffee can. I have a wool cap in the nalgene bottle and there should be plenty of room for atleast a couple pair of socks. I have yet to use the side compartments on the Talon so I have options there as well. The sleeping pad is a luxury item but if it's the dead of winter I know I'll be glad I have it, and being a Prolite 4 it adds very little carry weight. I love the ECOTAT and actually when it is nice weather conditions I use it simply as a bivy bag. Again, it is probably more than I need, but with its many uses I thought it might be valuable in certain situations. Again, thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback! I'll be making adjustments and improvements! :)

Soup
 
Skam: RE: ETS

ETS is not a TEOTWAWKI oriented site, becaue Doug Ritter considers the entire notion misguided, at best, with which I agree.

However, please note his incredibly elaborate and well thought out overboard kits & equipment, aviation oriented kits, and, the best article on the site IMHO, a complete set up prepared for an around the world air race. Ritter's the best in the biz. Nobody else does the kind of equipment testing he does.
 
skammer said:
ETS has a lot of good info but I find their idea of survival varies around what you have in a candy tin rather than broader scope of bugging out and survival over time.

Skam
Click to expand...
It would be best if you looked again if that was all you found! There are some really well thought out articles on numerous kits. Some are directed at the air or marine crowd but that does not distract from their usefulness IMO.
 
randjack said:
Skam: RE: ETS

ETS is not a TEOTWAWKI oriented site, becaue Doug Ritter considers the entire notion misguided, at best, with which I agree.
Click to expand...

Doug Ritters opinion is noted.

One doesn't need to subscribe to the war of the worlds alien mutant theory to understand the importance of a bugout bag.

To not understand this is beyond ignorant.

Like I said Doug does good things but the forum is narrow minded and I have been a member of it from nearly its inception and have read the forum top to bottom and researched his site front to back. I know all about ETS thanks.

Doug also earns his living from this site keep this in mind. ;)

Skam
 
No matter what one may believe or how they may view the concepts of "survival", man's basic needs have not changed since the beginning.
Water, food, shelter, fire.
The game is making sure you can provide the above under any circumstances. Then you can factor in illness, accident and predators.
This is the law of nature and applies rather you're sitting in your living room or lost in the woods.
A BOB/PSK should be able to supply the above needs from point "A" to point "B", with point "B" being a source to restock.
The fun part is always trying to come up with what needs to be in each to supply these needs.
 
"One doesn't need to subscribe to the war of the worlds alien mutant theory to understand the importance of a bugout bag."

---------
(disappointedly)"Damn." :footinmou
 
Substantively: I agree with Terrill entirely. That is all it is about, ultimately: getting from point A to point B, alive and well, or, preferably, living througha short-term civil 'inconvenience' as healthily and comfortably as possible, while, hopefully, being able to assist others.

The gear I put together for myself is directed as much towards every day comfort and convenience as survival. I like to be able to make a nice mug of tea on a cold day and sit down and drink it in It is not to be confused with the 50 m of Bluewater 10mm line I keep in my 10th floor condo, with the bolted-up belay point and the descender 8 with harness, and the Evac-U-8 hood in the closet.

Skam: Last I checked, Ritter makes no money off the ETS forum. And, unless you are using a different screen name, you are not even a member. Finally, and purely incidentally, are you not the same 'Skam' we banned from USN (Usual Suspects forum) ?
 
randjack said:
Skam: Last I checked, Ritter makes no money off the ETS forum. And, unless you are using a different screen name, you are not even a member. Finally, and purely incidentally, are you not the same 'Skam' we banned from USN (Usual Suspects forum) ?
Click to expand...

I do not begrudge any man making a living first off.

Second, there is no such thing as a literal non for profit organization as one can draw a salary through such an organization. One must show no profit on the books year end is all.

Doug sells and promotes products and his professional services through ETS. Some go to support the site etc.....

I "suspect" he takes a cut through his own salary related to ETS.

Either way Doug makes money promoting through ETS or is paid by ETS. His notoriety because of ETS is no mystery.

All this mentioned however I like Doug and his work. The forum and how its managed and its members is another story IMHO.

And for the record I am not the usual suspect you mentioned and I don't or haven't posted at ETS for years.

I do post here and several other foums under different names with better information.

Skam
 
I to, agree with Terrill. I, also, subscribe to the staged resonse and don't place all eggs in a single basket premises. Accordingly my PSK/bugout goodies are spread between those on my person (always, at least with the lights on). Those in my vehicle, and those at home (with some minimal supplies at the office). Since civil/climatic inconviences cannot be depended upon to let me return to my vehicle or home, the staged respone seems to offer the best chance. Especially since things would have to be very bad to keep me from accessing my home, and they would have to be extremely bad to keep me from my vehicle.
I would rate daily footwear very high on the must have constantly list. If all else fails, a healthy, uninjured person can do 20 to 50 miles per day on foot, with or without a pack, if their shoes/boots will let them.
I do not plan to bug out but to bug in at home (assuming that evacuation is not forced), but I also am prepared to bugout if necessary.
Just some thoughts...
Enjoy!
 
Joe: You raise a too-often ignored point -- I have found myself going to more and more 'suitable' footwear all the time. I even found some dress shoes with neoprene traction plugs in the soles - and of course, no sooner did I find them than they went OP. Kind of like driving shoes, but real shoes - much more structured. Look around: they are Sandro Moscolino make somethingorother model.
 
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