Get home bag....

Screwdriver

Screwdriver

Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
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I live in Los Angeles and commute 20 miles each way and I am putting together a Get Home Bag based on a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack.

Being that this is a city, what would you have in your bag? Just trying to get some ideas, since most kits are designed for urban/rural areas.

Thanks in advance!
 
Screwdriver said:
I live in Los Angeles and commute 20 miles each way and I am putting together a Get Home Bag based on a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack.

Being that this is a city, what would you have in your bag? Just trying to get some ideas, since most kits are designed for urban/rural areas.

Thanks in advance!
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I just watched "falling down" with Michael Douglas Theres some good ideas.
 
Develop a mission profile to get home with primary and secondary objectives. Devise a strategy plan to accomplish this mission Then build several tactical plans to accomplish this mission especially if it is a hostile environment. Then don't limit your plan based upon a piece of kit but rather build a kit which supports your mission. Remember let your mission dictate your gear choices and not the other way around. But what the heck do I know?

Heck anyone can recommend stuff to fill a bag with. But only you can determine what is mission critical to support your plan.
 
Screwdriver said:
Get Home Bag.....not a BOB. But thanks for the links.
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I would have thought that many of the same pieces of gear would work for a 'get home bag' just as well as with a BOB - it's probably worth considering each piece of gear in those BOBs and thinking about whether that would be something that you could do with in your 'get home bag'.
 
Brainstorming a little, assuming your Get-home-bag is to get you home during an emergency...

A flashlight, LED with two/three modes; a low power to make sure your batteries last, high power when you need it, and maybe a strobe?

A firearm

some cordage

FAK (bleeding/infection focus?)

a multitool (and don't get cheap here... in an urban situation you'd need all of the tools to be quality, not just the knife blade)

maybe seperate wire cutters/fencers pliers to get through fences to take the "back way" instead of the street

Cash. Not everyone carries cash at all times anymore. It wont be good for anything but wiping your butt in some situations, but it might be just the thing to convince someone to give you a ride or a bottle of water or who knows what. Can't hurt to stash a twenty or two deep in one of your bag's pockets, just in case.

Water purifying tabs. If it's 90+, you might need more than one fill on your bottle. Never know how low you might have to stoop to fill your bottle. I wouldn't waste space with a filter since it's unlikely you wont be able to find a swimming pool or other decent source, but a few tabs weigh nothing and wont take up space.
 
I have a ridiculously long commute, so my get home bag is more like an ultralight weekend hiking bag or a 72 hour bag. It would take me at least that long to walk home if I actually had to.

The bag is a Marmot Aspen backpack with about a 25 liter capacity. In it is warm clothing, a bivy shelter, AMK Heet Sheet, fire making stuff, 1st aid stuff, small pot, alcohol stove & fuel, water filter and purifying drops, water bladder and canteen, knife (Helle Futura), multitool, light, Cliff bars, and a bunch of broken down MREs. There is probably some other stuff in there that I forgot about.

Also in the car are some extra shoes, additional clothing, a sleeping bag, and a flat of water. I drink the waters at a rate of about 1 a day, so they get rotated.
 
I would: Make sure I kept my gas tank as full as reasonably possible. Like others have said, keep a small but good quality LED flashlight, a FAK, multitool, high energy snack, personal protection item or items of your choice, an easily carried water container and purification tablets, sunscreen, light rain poncho, hat, cell phone and charger, and a bandana in a non gang color if that exists out there. A good quality whistle can sometimes gather attention should you have the need. You will need comfortable shoes and good socks if you have to walk. Cash is still king.
No tarps, hatchets, snares and such for this bag. Under your criteria, you will most likely be at work or in your car so whatever is not feasible to have in the bag, (like the shoes), I would keep tucked away in the car.
Over the next few weeks as you are making your commute, go thru scenarios. Pick a place along your drive at random and say its where you had to hoof it home from here. What would you need and what obstacles would you likely have to overcome if there were lots of panic stricken people doing stupid stuff? That will help you with more specific items for your particular region of the city/country.
 
couple of N95 masks, mechanic gloves, EGR additive like powdered GatorAid mix, wool socks, long sleeved nylon shirt, walking staff in additional to other suggestions
 
Skrapmetal said:
Brainstorming a little, assuming your Get-home-bag is to get you home during an emergency...

A flashlight, LED with two/three modes; a low power to make sure your batteries last, high power when you need it, and maybe a strobe?

A firearm

some cordage

FAK (bleeding/infection focus?)

a multitool (and don't get cheap here... in an urban situation you'd need all of the tools to be quality, not just the knife blade)

maybe seperate wire cutters/fencers pliers to get through fences to take the "back way" instead of the street

Cash. Not everyone carries cash at all times anymore. It wont be good for anything but wiping your butt in some situations, but it might be just the thing to convince someone to give you a ride or a bottle of water or who knows what. Can't hurt to stash a twenty or two deep in one of your bag's pockets, just in case.

Water purifying tabs. If it's 90+, you might need more than one fill on your bottle. Never know how low you might have to stoop to fill your bottle. I wouldn't waste space with a filter since it's unlikely you wont be able to find a swimming pool or other decent source, but a few tabs weigh nothing and wont take up space.
Click to expand...

All of what you said I have ether in my bag or in my car. The wire/fence cutter I had not thought of....ideas like that is why I started this thread.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a FAK?
 
Interesting question "get home bag"... This is gonna be long - sorry.

I think in alot of ways, your "get home bag's" contents would be similar to a BOB in that each platform's main (BOB or "get home bag") idea is to help facilitate getting 'somewhere' - whether it's "out" or "get back home". I read you CCW, but it's still good to have an array of important "emergency" types of things with you - especially if you are in a situation you need to escalate to employing deadly force. If you're carrying, ya gotta get used to the idea of all situations and eventualities.

As to your selected platform honestly, it's on the small size for an EDC bag for my tastes - especially if you CCW. That being said, i *really, really* like the Jumbo Versipack and have considered one multiple times, but it's just too small for me and what i typically like to carry.

Going with this platform though, i'll offer what would be on my list. For me, i'd consider emergency things you may need to help keep you moving on your way - whatever your personal preferences for such things are:

1) water purification tabs and a tough container are a good idea
(fits inside a 1-liter Nalgene easily and along with a couple bandana's or better yet 2-3
mililtary cravats)
2) some long-shelf-life food items (couple cliff bars/protein bars/etc)
3) definitely some hard-core pain-killer meds (a friend of mine is a doc so i can get Vicodin easily enough)
4) something to shut off blood loss in the event of a large wound - your choice lotsa of options here
5) big black trash bag (so versatile i can't begin to list all the ways they're essential)


Since i carry a larger "daypack", i also carry my GPS pretty much everywhere in addition to my cutlery selections, multitool, compass, TP, meds, pens/markers, fire kit, signalling device, UDAP Bear Spray, etc.

The next stage is setting seriously hidden waypoints/cache's with things (though i don't live in a big city) to gather on my way out. Silly things like large, heavy-duty plastic construction buckets and lids (in which goes some food, more med stuff, etc).

Since my bag looks like any ordinary book-bag, it never gets a second look except that's it sorta big - but i have a 35mm camera inside so that helps fill out the volume. When i pull it out, people sorta understand and then aren't as curious. Besides, i always look like a tourist so it helps with the whole "look" (i'm american and live in SE Europe).

Sorry to be tangental....
 
Now I'm kinda confused..... Are you meaning something to carry on your person OR something in your car?

In a car there's ton's of room for tools, big med kits, signalling devices of all kinds, fire-making provisions, improvised water containers, etc. the list goes on and on.

Both our cars are pretty well equipped for most get-outta-Dodge situations, but that's a whole different game for me. I'm not living at home in the States - i'm in SE Europe. I have/keep copies of every member of my families passport, birth certificate, my marriage license - ALL important documents - in separate, secure locations. I'm registered with our Embassy's SMS/Text Alert System through the US State Department, etc. There are many, many "Contingency Plan" items i need to maintain.
 
Screwdriver said:
All of what you said I have ether in my bag or in my car. The wire/fence cutter I had not thought of....ideas like that is why I started this thread.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a FAK?
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I've seen people mention bolt cutters on other forums, but those are big and bulky... and often the chain/lock on a gate is the hardest part to get through. A few well-placed snips and a tug (cut one vertical wire at the top and bottom and pull it out of the weave) and you can open chain link up wide. And if it's a wood fence, you can pull/knock boards out.

FAK is "First Aid Kit". Sorry 'bout that. :cool:
 
fmajor007 said:
Now I'm kinda confused..... Are you meaning something to carry on your person OR something in your car?

In a car there's ton's of room for tools, big med kits, signalling devices of all kinds, fire-making provisions, improvised water containers, etc. the list goes on and on.

Both our cars are pretty well equipped for most get-outta-Dodge situations, but that's a whole different game for me. I'm not living at home in the States - i'm in SE Europe. I have/keep copies of every member of my families passport, birth certificate, my marriage license - ALL important documents - in separate, secure locations. I'm registered with our Embassy's SMS/Text Alert System through the US State Department, etc. There are many, many "Contingency Plan" items i need to maintain.
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I lived in Northridge during the 94 Quake here in LA. I was unable to get my car out of the garage for two weeks. The entrance partially collapsed and crushed the gate. Where I work now I have to park in a four story parking garage and I don't trust that I can drive my car out.

My current plan is walk to my parents house, which is two miles from my office and make sure they are ok. Then walk the rest of the way home. In my bag now, I have energy bars, water purification tablets, First Aid Kit, LED flashlight, Leatherman, etc. If I can get to my car, I have a Glock 17 in the truck, if not I have a Kimber PBII in my bag, since CCW in LA is a trip to jail.

Anyhow....Here in LA, we are due for a quake. I just don't want to be the way I was in 94...which was I had lots of beer and a flashlight. :D

The main thing is to get home. Once I get there I could feed my wife and I for six months and fend off a small army.
 
Screwdriver said:
Get Home Bag.....not a BOB. But thanks for the links.
Click to expand...

I can read better than most people Bro

I took the time to search for contents in posts you might like to choose from

ONLY you can decide what you need

I was giving you lists of things to choose from-and still feel you will GREATLY benefit from checking out those lists in the links I attached above.

Good luck in your search

and please post what you decide to include in your bag as I'm sure most of us would like to know what you would put in a Get Home Bag that you would not put in a BOB.

A get home bag IMHO would still need some if not most of the items found in a BOB-except for sleeping gear,fire starting and food perhaps.

A lot would depend on how far you have to travel to get home,etc

Sincerely

Dr.Bill
 
WILLIAM.M said:
I can read better than most people Bro

I took the time to search for contents in posts you might like to choose from

ONLY you can decide what you need

I was giving you lists of things to choose from-and still feel you will GREATLY benefit from checking out those lists in the links I attached above.

Good luck in your search

and please post what you decide to include in your bag as I'm sure most of us would like to know what you would put in a Get Home Bag that you would not put in a BOB.

A get home bag IMHO would still need some if not most of the items found in a BOB-except for sleeping gear,fire starting and food perhaps.

A lot would depend on how far you have to travel to get home,etc

Sincerely

Dr.Bill
Click to expand...


Well I wasn't asking about a BOB, since I found the same posts you did before I started this thread. I was looking for opinions from fellow city dwellers and on what they would carry.

But I will post my final carry options.....Bro.
 
I too like the "mission plan" approach. If you do some contingency planning it will serve you far better prepared than having a ton of gear. A moderate amount of lightweight gear could be indespensable though.

I also keep detailed maps of the area - both USGS topos and a state road atlas. The map and compass is more reliable than a GPS in a grid-down scenario - I am not saying don't use a GPS - but a human mind planning out a safe route on a map is far better than the GPS "computer." This will help you with finding alternate routes. I also recommend you plan & take an alternate route home every once an a while to see the lay of the land - see if it passes through bad neighborhoods, etc. If you do thins you will be able to get home better than 99% of the sheeple in a disaster, grid-down, etc...

It wouldn't work for a lot of situations...but I keep a well-maintained folding bike in my trunk. If the main highways are clogged, I can always ditch my car and take the back county roads on my bike. I got it for free so if I had to ditch the bike if the security situation deteriorated ... no great loss.

So I would have a written A, B & C contingency plan and gear to support the mission. Too much and you will not just grab it out of the trunk & be able to move fast on foot.
 
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