Gear for office survival

ras said:
Binford,
Do you get all that in the Mission Wallet? If so, cool. What is the largest size folder that will go in the knife pocket easily, without sticking out the end. TIA
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Yes, I've tried many different set-ups for my mission wallet, but this is what I've settled on. In the main zippered pouch I have five band aids, about 20' of 22 guage wire in a long eliptical spool, the mini-super knife (not used much, but razor sharp if when I need it), the LM Micra lays next to that (mostly just for the scissors capability), a fingernail clipper sits across the top-front of the inside of the pouch, and I found 4 quarters in there too.

In the bigger slot on the outside I've got the Latshaw pocket wrench and the bullet pen clipped to the front of that slot. In the "knife" slot is my BM 556 and in the smaller front slot is the Peak 3 LED AAA light.

I think The Benchmade 556 is about as big as you could get in the knife slot without it poking over the top. Overall closed length of the BM 556 is 3 7/8". I have crammed the LM Crunch into that slot before, but that makes the whole thing pretty thick to fit into a pocket. It might work that way for jacket pocket or cargo pockets though.

I'll try to post a pic of the whole set-up sometime.
 
cardimon said:
Totally cool. I'm gonna have to buy me one of those.
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It actually came in the mail yesterday. It's even smaller than I thought it would be and I hardly notice the addition to my keychain. I haven't really had a chance to try it out much yet and I'm a total novice lock picker, but I got interested as a result of these forums - imagine that! :D :D

This will be something I'll have to practice at home, I'd probably get some strange looks if I was trying to pick locks around the office. :eek:
 
cardimon said:
How often do you get "big calls?" You must work in a fairly relaxed environment. And it must help that you pitch in with extra tasks in the office. I was thinking that I have not known many bosses who would have viewed frequent call-outs kindly, unless the one who was getting called out was especially useful around the office.
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We don't get "big calls" very often and I'm not always able to go, but my schedule is fairly flexible so if I have to run it's not a problem. Plus, we're in kind of a rural area and sometime our ambulance service needs additional help. Every ambulance and fire service in our county is 100% volunteer so basically anyone who responds to day-time calls is probably having to run from their job.
 
For cheap: (20-25.00)
Dorcy 3AAA 1-Watt luxeon.
Brighter and runs longer than the mag (thicker and shorter), and the luxeon LED won't break or need replacement. Can be found at Target. The only caveat is that it is not completely waterproof, but nothing is for that much light at that price.

OR you could use a drop-in mag conversion...
 
Binford said:
It actually came in the mail yesterday. It's even smaller than I thought it would be and I hardly notice the addition to my keychain. I haven't really had a chance to try it out much yet and I'm a total novice lock picker, but I got interested as a result of these forums - imagine that! :D :D

This will be something I'll have to practice at home, I'd probably get some strange looks if I was trying to pick locks around the office. :eek:
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Where are you located at?
From what I understand, lock picks are illeagle to carry in Texas...Does anyone know any better???
 
In regards to Lockpics in Texas:

Texas
Sec. 16.01. Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument.

(a) A person commits an offense if:

(1) he possesses a criminal instrument with intent to use it
in the commission of an offense; or

(2) with knowledge of its character and with intent to use
or aid or permit another to use in the commission of an
offense, he manufactures, adapts, sells, installs, or sets up a
criminal instrument.

(b) For the purpose of this section, "criminal instrument"
means anything, the possession, manufacture, or sale of which is
not otherwise an offense, that is specially designed, made, or
adapted for use in the commission of an offense.

(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is one category lower
than the offense intended. An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is
a state jail felony.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 913, ch. 342, Sec. 7, eff.
Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff.
Sept. 1, 1994.

It would only be an offense if the law enforcement's "perception" was you illegal intent to use the lockpicks in any criminal activity.


I hate working in buildings :D , but I'm currently a military instructor on a training base. A flashlight has come in handy on multiple occasions with power outages. On my person (since I wear BDUs), I of course have my plethora of knives and tools (Leatherman Wave, Mad Dog PATAK, Emerson Commander, Spyderco Military...), I also have the Windmill butane lighter, Inova 5X LED light and Burts beeswax as my daily loadout. I have a Photon on my key chain as well as one of the Covert models on my ID tag chain...which has always come in handy, even in the shower when the lights go out :eek:

I also carry a decent small pack (Lightfighter RAID) to work, with some "essentials", like my lunch :D , small first aid kit, 1qt Nalgene bottle of water (nexted in a Titanium Trek 700 cup/lid and Spork), extra batteries, digital camera, my Surefire tactical light, Nomex gloves, 550 cord and some other small items. Since the heaters only work in the summer and the air conditioners only work in the winter, it does get cold in the buildings, so I usually keep a poly-pro long sleeve shirt and a light weight goretex jacket (military of course) as well. I can also attest to the issue of fire alarm drills when the weather is freezing rain! It takes the company commanders about 30-40 minutes to just get accountability...but I also have my truck with "additional gear" out in the parking lot if needed.

There's still a few items I'd like to add. I had a chance to play with this Paratech Beil Tool and will add this to the pack to assist in the worst-case emergencies...although I have a "personal" protective mask, I wouldn't mind something like Evac-u8 escape smoke hood for a fire in a bigger building or situation.

I've been in a few situations where the post or unit was on lock-down (lost sensative item, severe weather, terrorist-threat), and having to stay in your office for a couple of days sucks as well as having to evacuate. I try to keep close proximity to my pack or my truck.

ROCK6
 
Last day trick I went for a bomb scare at a high school.It was 2 degrees or so outside. It looked like they let them go to their lockers as all had coats.Now my Dept. has arrangements with the city bus company and I can call for busses to the scene to kept folks warm at times like this.I'll bet your local PD/Fd had the same arrangements.

An adult I would advise to simply go to his car and wait it out,or a neighboring building.These things are always a balancing act.If I got many folks outside in bad weather and the board shows an auto alarm on the tenth floor with no back up call I may let them in the lobby.

Personally, if you have a small light,and a SAK some cash and a coat your miles ahead of most. Now if I was a woman and worked on an upper floor the only thing I would take time to do during an evacuation would be to get rid of high heels and put on sneakers (kept at desk) , as you'll make up the lost time on the stairs.

You need to learn your building.People have died in stairways not knowing they lock from the inside and the only unlocked one is on the first floor.They enter find it dark (those with out lights anyway) smokey and are afraid to go down so they go up or stay put.A couple years back we pulled a lady out who was sucking air off the dirty floor outside her office because of this.

You need to know about passages used by the vip's and maintenance people etc.Interior stairs that run between floors of a firm that occupies a few floors.Which stairway has the smoke towers as thats the one you use for exit.

You need to fill your brain as well as your pockets. :)
 
He certainly has most bases covered.

If I was permited to dress like that at work it may work for me too. The whole Batman belt kit idea is too bulky for me and most others EDC.

However for most people in an office environment we can't dress like that so his method of set up will not work.

He seems very heavy in the blade category as well. I didn't see much in the way of water purification , maybe I missed it. I would also include some N95 dust masks and some goggles.

For most office people a small backpack filled with similar items and a small tin like kit on their person will have to do.

Skam
 
mithril said:
This person's kit for urban survival is by far the best I've ever seen. http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=171 Well thought out and well laid out. For this topic I recommend it as a must read!

Mith.
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I read that article. I admire his rig, too. However, dressing like that or gearing up that much would serve only to focus unwanted attention upon me. His urban survival kit is simply too eccentric. I love it, but there you have it.

Most office environments, while fairly lenient these days, don't want to be viewed by visitors/customers as "eccentric." That's the kiss of death in the business world.
 
I always have the following; (these aren't the best but they fit in my pockets and are cheap to replace if lost)
swiss army tinker
1aaa Dorcy LED flashlight ($5 walmart)
magnesium fire starter w/sparking insert (not the easiest thing to start a fire with but it always works and never gets "borrowed" by smokers (It also won't explode if I get a spark in my pocket from welding etc).
a clean handkercheif.
Jeep keys
at least 6 large fabric bandaids (in wallet, can be cut to use as butterflies)
Small pill bottle of aspirin (and some sudafeds)
between 50 and $200 cash and some credit cards.
I always wear light hiking boots, and a leather belt than serves as an expediant strop.

I bring food and water in a lunch box, have powerbars and candy in the desk.
I know the area intemately and can walk home in a couple of hours if necessary.
I have pretty much anything that you would want (except a firearm) in the Jeep parked outside (off roading is a hobby of mine and the vehicle is pretty well set up).
Enjoy!
 
Good point on blending in.

But seriously if I went to work looking like a Swiss Alpine Yodeler I'd be fired.

"No yodelling in the board room"

I think it would be the 6 pound muddy waffle stompers he "wears" to the office that would be a BIG problem for the boss. Ok, the hat too....

One thing that confuses me though, the man has enough gear on his person for a Tibetan trek but only carries enough cash for a meal and a 10 min cab ride. :eek:

I carry a minimum of $500 in small medium bills and some coin. He will probably want a loan as its the only thing he doesn't carry and the only thing one may need to get out of trouble potentially.

Yo Da Lay He Hooo....... :yawn:


Skam
 
My own feeling on the urban survival senerio changed alot after 9-11. I don't think keeping alot of gear in the desk or car is a great idea. If something happens chances are you are going to have to move fast, like right now, like the lady who just abondoned everything to get out. The only things you can count on is just what is in your pants pockets.

I recall reading about the guy who in the first trade tower bombing in '91 made his way down the dark stairwell by the light of an indiglow Timex watch.

I think a sak or multitool is a must have, as well as three large bandanas, some first aid stuff in your wallet, and two small lights like photons on a keychain that is in your pocket. Use the bandanas for dust mask, if you can dampen one to breath through so much the better. If you can breath and see your 90% home.

The bigest thing is to wear funtional shoes. Fashion aint worth a tinkers d--- if you can't walk out. And you will have to walk. Don't have your car in the city, it will just be stuck in the mess with all the other idiots who think they are going to drive out.

Dress for the weather! I see alot of people who in mid winter don't wear a Coat because they make a dash for the car, park in a garage, dash into the office building. If they have to walk out of the city in winter they will freeze.

Leave the weapons and macho stuff home, you won't need it and if the authorities clamp down you could be in deep poop.

I worked in Washington D.C. for years and I always tried to have a way out not using a car. For a long time I used a mountain bike. I got up the street way faster than the trafic.
 
I just read partII :eek:.

This guy is preparred no question.

My only problem is I don't think he could carry anywhere near all this as he looks 80lbs overweight and would drop dead of a corinary if he had to run a mile.

He very well could be the most preparred dead guy ever that tried to escape but because he had a heart attack he couldn't make it.

Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture too.

Instead of all this gear a treadmill might be just as important as a ham radio.

Skam
 
skammer said:
I just read partII :eek:.

This guy is prepared no question.
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Yes, this guy is THE MAN as far as being PREPARED goes. But I'm not going to carry all that crap. I'd get a hernia and I'd get crabby. :)

I may investigate CERT and the HAM radio bit, but as for the rest of it, well.... I'll take what I really like from his kit and try to make it work within my own situation.
 
I agree with Jacknife and Skammer. the first line of defense is the clothes that you have on Shirt shoes (skirt, if you happen to be of the female persuasion).
Fashonable shoes do not have to be incompatable with walking but the shoes worn should not prevent it (when I had to wear the jacket/white shirt/tie of a major corperation I found that Rockport made some great (not terribly ugly) shoes).
I can't believe that our hero in green actually carries all of that stuff all of the time.
In referance to a car kit; this should depend on circumstances, many folks must have a veicle to get to work and at least a minimal kit would be prudent IMO. In my case the Jeep is well equipped as it is, primarily, my work vehicle and I am too lazy to unload it completely after a jaunt off road into the bush.
If one feels the need for a weapon a small can of pepper spray takes no more room than a Bic lighter and (at least in Colorado) it is not counted as a weapon, concieled or otherwise.
Just some thoughts...
Enjoy!
 
My car is parked outside clear of buildings at work and at home it's in the garage. It's a good place for a maxi-kit, so that's where it is. My backpack contains a lot of the stuff in that guy's wearable kit: flashlights, knives (I thought I had a lot of knives :rolleyes: ), food, water -- in my case, water is much more important than knives and I've got a lot more than his six-pack. I like his vest but I wouldn't need so much stuff in it. Every situation is a bit different.
 
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