BOB's/EDC bags -whats in yours and why?

yeah my eldest sister sends me a half dozen or so of those little travel packs of tissue in a holiday pkg every year. so i typically have at least two of those in the bag, along with numerous munchies. but of course that changes from day to day depending on how long im out for the day, if ive been making any money(might treat myself to a sit down meal at a cafe if so). but theres most always at least two luna bars(smores are my fav) and some chocolate covered espresso beans. my grandmother always had a handful of roasted beans in her apron pocket. she nibbled on em throughout the day. she lived on a farm and there was always work to be done and not always time to sit down and enjoy a cuppa. she woulda loved the choc coated ones.
 
My BOB/Survival Kit/EDC/Man purse as some may call it...I call it smart! I have a Maxpedition Falcon II and pouches. Pack contents are: one AA flash light and one AAA flash light, fire starter kit (bic lighter, matches, fire steel and dryer lint). Gerber multi tool...can"t stress a multitool enough, a USN survival knife (the only knife in the bag), I have two EDC knives on me alway's. Water purification pills...used these in Boy Scout Survival class, I know they work. Sewing kit in a altoids can. Fishing kit in altoids can. Two changes of shocks (ever had wet feet?) it's not good. Camo bandana, two survival blankets, one survival pancho. small amount of toilet paper and a pack of wet wipes... in a zip lock bag. 100' of 550 cord, some small string, always pack some kind of cord. leather gloves, 2 30 gal. trash bags and a few zip lock bags. One extra OD T-Shirt, survival whisle with compase on end cap. A Silva Ranger and Pace beads on the pack. Small first aid kit and a small .22 auto with extra clip and ammo in a Maxpedition pouch...why a .22 cal? It's small and light...to take small or medium game if needed. One extra clip for my Glock 36...36 not in my bag. A military canteen for the outside of pack when using BOB while outdoors. Pen and pencil and writing pad, small survival manual. Extra Batteries and an OD boonee hat. 2 small knife sharpeners. My old boy scout metal knife, fork, spoon. and 2 p-38 can openers,1 metal cup. The USN knife will be retired and replaced with an ESEE 4 or 6. Here is some good ADVICE ...Don't just buy a BOB and fill it with stuff and never go into the field. Spend time at the range, in the field practicing your craft and even sharpening your knife. Check your first aid kit every month, some of the items will expire. Check for rust or corrosion on your knives. Read and study about survival techniques, then take them into the field. Take your kid they will enjoy it.
 
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I want to get a Camelbak BFM or a SpecOps Brand T.H.E. Pack or something very similar from Tactical Tailor. I have a medium ALICE right now and when I need a dumpster, that is my go-to ruck. This is not EDC but a really bad situation ruck.

That's the brain exercise. You park the car, you get out and pop the trunk and you grab a ruck and possibly another bag like a Maratac Bail Out Bag and you walk into the woods and you don't come out or back to the car. It's just a way to game your kit.

What would you take in that ruck and other bag?

USGI Poncho, USGI Poncho Liner, USGI Therm-a-Rest Mat or equivalent/better, British Basha and a great sleeping bag - that's the start, at least for North America, anyway. I would love to be able to carry my Eureka USMC Combat Tent but that's getting a bit much for one person with the sleeping gear. If Wifey and Son are with me, then we can take the tent and split that up into three portions and each carry one portion, etc.
 
Don Rearic said:
I want to get a Camelbak BFM or a SpecOps Brand T.H.E. Pack or something very similar from Tactical Tailor. I have a medium ALICE right now and when I need a dumpster, that is my go-to ruck. This is not EDC but a really bad situation ruck.
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I have serveral of my family members setup up woth ALICE packs for BOB's, but honestly they are last resort bags. I just ordered a Camelbak Motherlode to update my ARES/CERT go bag from the Typhoon (I think). Will elt you know how that works out.

One of thee things that makes a lot of sense to me, but no one ever seems to do is to actually TEST OUT your Get home bag, BOB, or whatever you want to call it, by ummm well actually getting home with it. Each time I set up a bag, I have my wife drive me to work and drop me off. And then I make the trek home. About 22 miles the easy route, but I always have her make up a problem, and I have to use a "plan B", such as the lower bridge over the river is out, so i have to go up to the next cross over the river, or something like that.

Do this a couple of times, and over the course of a year, you learn pretty quickly what works and what doesn't. Especially if you have weather like we do in New England, with severly cold winters, and very hot and humid summers.
 
I carry a pretty simple loadout currently in a old Reef Surf backpack, doesn't atract sheeple attention, or my Maxpedition or ULA packs.

Broken Down into Subsections

Water
Katadyn Pro Hiker water filter
Larue Tactical 32oz Nalgene
Platypus x2 2 Liter water bags

Shelter
10x12 Sil-Nylon Tarp OES
Some JRB self tensioning tie outs and MSR stakes

Sleeping System
WM 20degree Down Bag
Thermarest Prolite3
Ground sheet

Cooking System
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove or a zelph stoveworks Alcohol Stove
MSR Titan Kettle Pot
MSR Ti Spork
Mine Salt and Pepper Shaker
Mini Bic
Fuel Canister and stability stand
MSR pocket towel

Clothing
Golite Rain Jacket
Patagonia Down jacket
Smart Wool half zip mid layer
Smart wool bottom layer
Smart Wool socks
Winter Balaclava and gloves and Wool Beanie
Extra Exofficio bottom layer and I'm wearing pants or shorts

Merrell midtop boots
Some SilNylon Gaiters if needed

Mid level FAK
With GSW Trauma kit

Navigation
Sunto Compass
Local Maps Topo and Road maps
Write in the Rain Notebook
Fisher Space Pen
4Sevens Quark Mini

Odds and Ends
Snare Kit
Fire Starting kit
Fishing Kit
EOD breaker Bar and Pry Bar
2 Knives plus my Benchmade Griptilian I carry everyday
USB drive with important docs and pdf files
3 extra batteries for my Casio GzOne phone

I have a seperate SHTF weapons bag that I can transfer items into my BOB if needed.

In it are a GSW Trauma FAK
5 Pistol Mags for my H&K USP45 or My G21SF
5 Rifle Mags for my AR.
Cleaning kit for the two
Binoculars
Extra Batteries for my weapon light and Eotech

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, I was just doing this from memory.

I know theres food, but not sure what, theres some DEET and some other stuff. But that gives a pretty basic view of whats there


My EDC consists of My G19 or G21SF A Benchmade Griptilian Non serrated, Wallet with a emergency cash amount, Nitecore D10 flashlight, 1 extra mag and a benchmade pen.
 
Here are some pics of my kit...it's still a work in progress as I am still figuring out what all I can cram in this bag. Part of me is wishing I had got the next size up, and part of me (the part that knows how carried away I can get) is really glad that I didn't.

This is the bag as it looked before I took it on a walk in the woods this afternoon.

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I've got a lot of bases covered so far but have more to go. I just added some dry socks in a ziplock, a two-pack of bics, and my new skin, I have a light coming and need to add a couple of small rolls of tape (medical and utility) and I need to settle on which multi-tool I am going to leave in it. I also need to add a hunk of fatwood.



I have a few different forms of light: A head lamp, a small led light, and a candle lantern and extra candle which can also be a heat source.I also have another light coming.



I have a start on a first aid kit with band aids, some gauze, a few steri strips, some tweezers, and some pressure bandages. I have some anti inflammatories I need to add some small scissors, some hemostats, triple antibiotic ointment, clotting sponges, some cloth tape, and the liquid skin.



I have a small amount of food and room to add more...more on that later.



I have a couple of different cutting tool options depending on where I am going. There will always be one combination or another of SAK/MT/FB. I have been experimenting with different ways to affix a fixed blade to the pack.

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There are actually two HESTs and an Izula present in this picture.

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and there is an SAK and an Izula here in this one

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I have a few different methods of starting fire. I have a match safe full of REI storm proof matches and a few fatwood slivers, I have the nanostriker, and I just added a two pack of bic lighters. I have tins that I am putting tinder some different tinders in. (I'll be whittling some fatwood as soon as the females get out the door in a few minutes)




What I really want is a ferro rod like the nano made with a firesteel as big as this going gear badger.

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It has a fairly extensive fishing kit because I live near so much water...rivers, lakes, mountain streams.

I can keep an issue poncho in it and still have room for another pair of pants, a shirt, and some thermals. and depending on the nature of the situation I can get other tools in it as well.

As I said there are definitely a few things left to add but it is getting there. As for the why...I am a father and husband who lives in what emergency response teams consider "a target-rich environment".

.
 
Did you go back and get another HEST after the first one or did you get them both at the same time? :D

I was just cutting stew meat this afternoon to make chili and used the HEST. People concerned with the thickness of the blade shouldn't be, it cuts meat like mad.
 
Don Rearic said:
Did you go back and get another HEST after the first one or did you get them both at the same time? :D

I was just cutting stew meat this afternoon to make chili and used the HEST. People concerned with the thickness of the blade shouldn't be, it cuts meat like mad.
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Nah...got one then got another shortly after....then got an Izula...then went for an RC4 that I am now waiting on.

I used mine to slice tomatoes for BLTs yesterday...the tomato was bigger in diameter than the blade is long and it still worked fine. I have no problems at all seeing this knife doing food prep in the field. Hell, I may get to do some of that tomorrow if I'm lucky :)
 
What I really want is a ferro rod like the nano made with a firesteel as big as this going gear badger.


Mistwalker I've talked to the owner of EXOTAC and he told me that the rods he buys for the nanostriker are the same as goinggear. He said they bolth come from thr same plant that make them.
 
glefic said:
What I really want is a ferro rod like the nano made with a firesteel as big as this going gear badger.


Mistwalker I've talked to the owner of EXOTAC and he told me that the rods he buys for the nanostriker are the same as goinggear. He said they bolth come from thr same plant that make them.
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I've talked to Rob a few times, he's a great guy and easy to talk to. I'm trying to talk him into making a larger one. Soooo...now I need to figure out if there is enough of a market for it to make it worth while. Now that I have been working with my nano for a few weeks I am going to post an in depth thread on it soon in the W&SS section I guess. I'll ask to see if more people than me would be interested in a larger one. Maybe if there is enough interest in it he would make a run of them. If he has Solid Works the drawing should be easy to produce. I think it would be great for long term storage in a bob or edc kit. I love the nano but it is not the easiest tool to use wearing gloves.
 
I think what you need to do is start your own website. Posting stuff on a blog, stuff gets buried and when you post in-depth stuff on a forum you have to remember something - you don't own it. You write very well and you take very good pictures, you would have a very good website I think.

And I'll help you do it if you decide to.
 
Don Rearic said:
I think what you need to do is start your own website. Posting stuff on a blog, stuff gets buried and when you post in-depth stuff on a forum you have to remember something - you don't own it. You write very well and you take very good pictures, you would have a very good website I think.

And I'll help you do it if you decide to.
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Thanks, I appreciate the compliments and support. I'm glad you like the writing.

I've been trying to figure which way I wanted to go there for a while. I've been thinking about a website...I don't think I'd want to do a forum...seems like a lot of responsibilities, and very time consuming, but I would like to do a website of my own. I have no idea what I'd call it though... maybe I'll call it Mistwalker's Hollow, or simply The Hollow lol. I spend a lot of time in hollows.
 
do you wear glasses?
do you carry a spare pr in yr bob?
just added two prs to mine

only need em for reading and fine upclose work
but seems id still be up the creek
if i didnt have any
 
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