Go-Bag Stuff: High End or Low?

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VorpelSword

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Go-Bag Stuff: High-End or Low?



Re: Go-Bag, Bug-Out Bag or Get Home Kit (or whatever you are calling your emergency response collection)

Not a question about the justification for a Go-Bag or what scenario to prepare it for . . .or even exactly what to put into it.


I am interested in knowing your philosophy of selecting the contents. Do you stock it with premium grade, high-end gear? Do you instead pick out items that are less expensive (cheap even) and possibly disposable or things you wouldn’t mind abandoning if expedient?

Of course, most of us are on a real-world budget that requires trade-offs in most aspects of life but consider that many backpackers who are really into it will have ultra-light, sophisticated and expensive gear. Many prepper videos support the inclusion of some really expensive firearms rather than some non-descript surplus or beater gun.

So, let's make the discussion relevant to this forum. In putting together an emergency response kit (however you want to define it) what type of cutlery would you, or do you put in? Is it some premium Leatherman multitool or a less expensive mid-level brand . . .or some no-name near disposable thing?



Would you include a high-end knife from a premium maker such as CRK or Randall Made in a sheath knife, or a less expensive one from Ka-Bar or Smith and Wesson? I was once invited to hunt Allagsators in Louisiana swamps. I left home any of my “good” knives and took along an “Old Hickory” brand boning or steak knife in a slapped together sheath.

I think it can be justified either way with good arguments but . . .

How do you decide? What do you do?
 
I have enough knives that I have no problem putting a "higher end" knife in my bag. My current bag has a Busse in it. Even if I didn't have enough knives, I would not consider skimping on ANYTHING that may be required in an emergency situation.

I look at it this way - even if I only ever have to use it once, it will probably be under adverse circumstances. I want it to work without fail. The last thing I (or you) need is for a gas station knife to come apart at the seams when you probably NEED a knife the most. And it should be a fixed blade - period. Argue with someone else if you have a problem with my last statement. A folder can be added in addition to, but not in place of - a fixed blade.

I also have a good hatchet, folding saw and multi-tool in the bag as well, along with MANY other things that are not knife related or relevant to this discussion, since we aren't talking about contents in general or SHTF scenarios in specific.
 
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VorpelSword said:
Go-Bag Stuff: High-End or Low?



Re: Go-Bag, Bug-Out Bag or Get Home Kit (or whatever you are calling your emergency response collection)

Not a question about the justification for a Go-Bag or what scenario to prepare it for . . .or even exactly what to put into it.


I am interested in knowing your philosophy of selecting the contents. Do you stock it with premium grade, high-end gear? Do you instead pick out items that are less expensive (cheap even) and possibly disposable or things you wouldn’t mind abandoning if expedient?

Of course, most of us are on a real-world budget that requires trade-offs in most aspects of life but consider that many backpackers who are really into it will have ultra-light, sophisticated and expensive gear. Many prepper videos support the inclusion of some really expensive firearms rather than some non-descript surplus or beater gun.

So, let's make the discussion relevant to this forum. In putting together an emergency response kit (however you want to define it) what type of cutlery would you, or do you put in? Is it some premium Leatherman multitool or a less expensive mid-level brand . . .or some no-name near disposable thing?



Would you include a high-end knife from a premium maker such as CRK or Randall Made in a sheath knife, or a less expensive one from Ka-Bar or Smith and Wesson? I was once invited to hunt Allagsators in Louisiana swamps. I left home any of my “good” knives and took along an “Old Hickory” brand boning or steak knife in a slapped together sheath.

I think it can be justified either way with good arguments but . . .

How do you decide? What do you do?
Click to expand...

I think "high end" is unnecessary. Good quality production-grade tools suffice in every day life and should in emergencies as well.

Low end crap? NO WAY. A go-bag might be your only source of gear and supplies in an emergency. Depending on tools that might fail under even moderate use is a bad idea.
 
I am a get home bag type of guy. A super cheap Hultafors GK would do just fine, it is indestructible, but I carry a 14C28N full tang Ruike Hornet for its slim profile in my backpack.
 
Mecha said:
I'd want the best stuff I could get stuffed in that bag.
Click to expand...
Much titanium!

OxxlIMG.jpg
 
It depends where I am go bagging. So if I assumed I had to walk anywhere I would go with cheap knives. Mostly because moras or bahcos are light. And it keeps the weight down.

But say I want the bag to get me into or out of things. Mabye I have to can open a car or something. Then I would go a premium knife like a heavy use folder. A SR1 or something.

Otherwise it depends on bang for buck pretty much. I would pack a $50 inflatable pillow for example because that makes such a huge difference to my comfort level. But go cheap Chinese cooking gear.
 
Thanks everyone: A lot of good-back and-forth here, some high-end and some low-ball.

From the higher end advocates now: What premium knife maker would you prefer in a folder (not the specific model).

And the same question, what premium makers for a straight knife?
 
I don't have to have the best, but at least have quality gear in my bag. My get-home bag is pretty simple with basic hand tools, change of clothes, 2 way radios with batteries, FAK, spare mags and ammo, etc. It's an emergency bag and knock on wood, I haven't had to "get home" with it yet.
 
When it comes to a grab bag and it is contents my main priorities are reliability and common sense. I would not buy certain high-end items for example water bottle, or a pouch, or a pen it is unnecessary plus I can redirect the money towards things that matter, for example my “black rifle” or scope or ammo I don’t want to cut costs there.
 
I think from reading some of the answers in this and its sibling threads is that there is an expectation to decide when you need to. That's fair, so long as your risk assessment is realistic.
All things being equal, any emergency will dictate the timelines. For me, I've got two set-ups, one is "leaving because the house is on fire" and its my EDC bag, so its as high end as my gear is. The other is the "get home" stuff that lives in my car. That stuff is replaceable, and cheap enough that I won't be worried about it. Past that, any emergency where I'll have to leave home is likely got at least 12 hours and more likely 48hrs to prep.
 
VorpelSword said:
Thanks everyone: A lot of good-back and-forth here, some high-end and some low-ball.

From the higher end advocates now: What premium knife maker would you prefer in a folder (not the specific model).

And the same question, what premium makers for a straight knife?
Click to expand...

Probably a leatherman and a falkniven.

There is a extreme ratio something that is supposed to be the ducks nuts. So mabye that. I mean it is also $700 so I am never getting one.
 
Good stuff from everyone here,]. hanks.

Returning to the second question:

rom the higher end advocates now: What premium knife maker would you prefer in a folder (not the specific model).

And the same question, what premium makers for a straight knife?
 
VorpelSword said:
Good stuff from everyone here,]. hanks.

Returning to the second question:

rom the higher end advocates now: What premium knife maker would you prefer in a folder (not the specific model).

And the same question, what premium makers for a straight knife?
Click to expand...


CRK and BRKT.
 
VorpelSword said:
Thanks everyone: A lot of good-back and-forth here, some high-end and some low-ball.

From the higher end advocates now: What premium knife maker would you prefer in a folder (not the specific model).

And the same question, what premium makers for a straight knife?
Click to expand...

Folder: Spyderco Stovepipe

Fixed: Something from Carothers
 
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