BOB/Survival kit paks: Fanny? Back? Vest? Briefcase?

R

Rovert

Joined
Apr 22, 2000
Messages
94
Based on recent events, and some excellent threads here on survival kit contents, I have decided to begin assembling a BOB, or 'Bug-Out-Bag. Can you guys help me make a decision on what type of bag is best for keeping the emergency and survival stuff that has been recommended in other threads?

So far, I have considered the following form factors, but I would appreciate any feedback you can offer based on experience or insight that would help me make the right decision. Also, if you can make any specific recommendations on brands/models that you prefer, and why, that would be helpful.

At this time, I am inclining toward a large-sized fanny pack, but will take seriously any of your recommendations otherwise. What do you use, and why? If you had it to do all over again, what would you chose?

Fanny:
* Pros - Small and easily carried, easy access (can spin around the waist if need be), easy to detach to pass along to someone in need, or for safe keeping.
* Cons: limited storage capacity, not as highly compartmentalized as other options, most are lighter weight fabric, so they might not be as durable in the long run.

Backpack (daypack):
* Upside - Fairly large capacity for storage, lots of compartments to seperate gear, some really quality construction, many have built-in hydration units (camelback-style)
* Downside - Hard to gain access to equipment in a crisis, or if movement is restricted. Requires movement of both arms to remove the bag or to reach equipment.

Vest:
* Upside - Nicely compartmentalized, completely portable, extremely easy access to gear, since almost everything is in external pockets, also helps retain body temperature in colder climates.
* Downside - Limited storage, no room for larger items like first aid kits. Cumbersome and awkward to transport from one location to another, carry and store, obvious that you have survival gear available, possibly making you a target, and you might look a little 'dorky' toting it around in the office. :D

Brifecase style:
* Upside - Highly compartmentalized, fairly large storage capacity
* Downside - Not as easy to carry in a flight (as in 'GTFO') situation, does not leave hands free for movement.

Duffle:
* Upside - Massive storage capacity, lots of internal compartments for organization
* Downside - Not even close to being practical to carry to/from office, or car, even more restrictive than a briefcase.
 
Originally posted by Rovert
Wow. I feel like I just farted at a cocktail party.:eek: Did I ask a stupid question?
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:D LOL It's so anti-PC, I love it!
Gotta give us time to respond to such a detailed post.;) :cool:
 
OK, the question becomes, Was that fart loud and obnoxious or SBD? LMAO

The choice here is a very personal choice dependent on your lifestyle and needs. In my case, carrying a full backpack or a briefcase would attract undo attention. I opt for a smallish bookbag type backpack and a fanny pack, along with carefully selected clothing with sufficient pockets to accomodate my daily carry items. A duffle is too restrictive in carry modes. To each his/her own.

Mike
 
WOW, I had to do another post just to get off that 666 number just before going out to work.

Mike
 
LOL! The fart from hell. :D I guess this makes the case for one of those Evacu-U8 hoods.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm thinking that it would be great if there were some kind of backpack that had a detachable 'excursion' fanny pack on it of some sort. Kind of a 'modular' backpacking kit, where you could pack for a big trip, but detach a wiastpack-sized bag large enough to take a mini-jaunt.

So far, I've seen a very nice daypack by Deuter, but I'm not sure that's the way I want to go, because it's an 'over-the-shoulder' type of kit. I think I'd prefer something that has easier access. Conceivably, I could do both a waist pack, and a day pack, but the problem is that the larger waist packs might bump into a day pack. It seems that it's either one or the other.

That said, of the waist packs, I would like something that has some sort of hydration kit in it (if I had to carry water any distance) as well as being fairly large, and comfortable.

Any ideas on that?
 
You can get packs and attach them to vests or belt kit. Check into that modular system. Here's a few examples of what you could do:

Have LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) or what is known as a Belt Kit. A pistol belt, suspenders/harness, and various pouches for the gear you want. SAW pouches are supposed to be great for utility. Combien that with a day pack, and you're good to go. Put water and essential egar on your belt kit and th eother stuff in your pack.

Have a pack and a vest. Put essential gear in the vest and other stuff in the pack. Eagle has gear that is all compatible like that. Blackhawk should too. SOE makes the best gear, though it is more pricey. I'd recommend contacting Lightfighter at www.lightfighter.com or our very own Javahead (well, his wife actually) at Go Get 'Em Gear for more info. Javahead's wife sells Blackhawk. Lightfighter carries Blackhawk, Eagle, SOE, and other brands. Talk to those guys and tell them what your thoughts are and they'll set you straight!

Byt he way, it will help if you know first what you want to put into a BOB. if you want to have a sidearm with your Bug Out Gear, then a fannypack isn't going to serve you well, for example.
 
Crayola, that's a great point. I guess I should finalize my list of things that I need, then look into what size bag will be necessary. That should make the decision for me either way.
 
Originally posted by Rovert

<snipped>


Vest:
* Upside - Nicely compartmentalized, completely portable, extremely easy access to gear, since almost everything is in external pockets, also helps retain body temperature in colder climates.
* Downside - Limited storage, no room for larger items like first aid kits. Cumbersome and awkward to transport from one location to another, carry and store, obvious that you have survival gear available, possibly making you a target, and you might look a little 'dorky' toting it around in the office. :D
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Good assessment of the pros/cons of the various alternatives. As others have noted, your choice should suit your environment. A backpack might be out of place in an accounting office, likewise a breifcase on a construction site.

That being said, don't count vests out entirely. I wear a vest for my field work (I'm a wetland ecologist), and there are some that can carry larger items. I typically carry in my vest: compass, lifeboat type whistle, litre bottle of water, three reference books (8x10, 1" thick), magnifying lens, leather work gloves, three or four rolls or surveying tape, 12' tape measure, 4" engineers scale, 3 oz bottle of water for soil tests, boonie style hat, first aid kit, sun screen, several 4x6 write in the rain notebooks, half a dozen assorted pens, pencils and markers, and a cell phone. This still leaves the backpack and large pocket along the back mostly empty.

Here's a link to one similar to mine:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jhtml?id=0009406&navAction=jump

Ben Meadows and Forestry Suppliers also carry vests with a backpack built in. These are the ones I wear, but neither site has a photo. They also have more pockets than the one shown, and are available in tan and green as well as safety orange. Just for the record, I have no connection to any of the above companies :D Some photography vests and upland hunting vests also have pockets that extend across the entire back, allowing you to store larger items.

Patrick
 
Whatever you do end up going with, modularity is the key. Assuming you let "modularity" be a word for this discussion, of course. :~}

Try to carry the barest essentials in your pockets at all times. A good folder and a tool-type knife would be a practical start, if your workplace allows them. Then have some hard candy, some money and change (money would be better in a city than a compass, for instance), cell phone if you believe in them. Other "stuff" as your poeckets allow.

Then you could have your main kit broken up into essentials and comfort items. The essentials could go into a fanny pack that lives in your ruck while at the office, and the ruck also contains "comfort" items such as a casualty blanket, MRE's and the like, while the fanny pack (which goes on when the balloon goes up) holds fire-making gear, emergency rations, a half quart canteen, etc. That way you have the basics with you at all times, while the bigger pack holds stuff that can re-supply your pockets and fanny pack. If you have to ditch your ruck, you still have MOST of what you need.
 
Originally posted by V Shrake
Whatever you do end up going with, modularity is the key.
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Right on target there!

I think about my at home kit the same as how I gear up at work (Especially with Mount Rainier just 50 miles away and thinking about "popping"). I have basics on me, and as I get further away from the body more and more is added, ending with some very large BOBs in the car trunks.

Crayola, thanks a bunch for the kind words :D

If you need any more advice (although there should be tons here)drop me an e-mail with your phone #, I talk better than I type ;)

Click here for a post with more info, with some pics of the bags I use (about 5 posts down from the top.

Dan
 
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