Help with BOB/kit

Fieldtestornothing · Feb 26, 2012

Hello All,

Please help me with this kit. First I know some of you guys may think some of the choices are over tactical. I made several of these choices primarily based on versatility and cheating. Yes what would give me and my family the best odds should a crisis arrive. I made some of these choices based on what I already own and what me and my family (wife, 2 kids, 3 brothers) have deceided to own and deploy as a group. So feel free to criticise all you want just please give your rationale behind your thoughts.

Field Kit/BOB: Man Carry Capable (By all adults)
Requirements: Under 35lbs dry/base weight
All weather/terrain/Short and Immediate sustainment/Capable of Urban and rural (30 days)

Shelter: Plastic Tarp 7 x 10 (4mil Visqueen), Poncho (OPSEC multicam), Sleeping Bag (mid weight synthetic+Bivy)

Clothing: Boonie cap, watch cap, bandana, work gloves, glove inserts (wool), long undies (Polypro), Med pants (Railrunner Med weight), 2 x socks (wool), Dry bag (6 Quart All clothes and food packed in it.), Jacket (Gortex Shell), Army Fleece

Fire: Magnesium/Ferro, lighter x2 (BIC), Tinder (Cottonball/Pjelly), Fresnel Lens

Water: Iodine 2% 2oz bottle, Collapsable water containers + camelback attachment, 1 x Nalgene

Food: 1lb Penut butter, 1/2lb beans, 1/2lb rice, 1lb Pancake mix, Sugar 8 oz, MRE x 8 (stripped), snacks

Sustainment:
: Stainless 2 quart cook pot, wood Titanium Folding stove, spork
-Fishing: Fishing Kit (minimalist, Hooks, Sinkers, Line (15 and 60lb spiderwire ) ect)
-Trapping: #4 Steel braided wire 50ft, 2 Rat traps

First Aid: Israeli Bandage x 2, CAT, Medication complex (Antibiotic 2 x 10day supply, Ibuprofen, Beanadryl, Anti-diarrhea, Suture material or steri strips, antibiotic ointment, Benedictine 4 oz, bandages 4" x 4

Maintenance: leatherman, para-cord (100ft), maxpidition roly poly, duck tape 1" roll, Folding diamond sharpener

Tools: silky saw, Modded Short Machete or lightweight bowie , working knife (right now an ESEE 4)

Tactical: NODS (PVS-14), Flashlight (Fenix AA), headlamp (Fenix AA), 2 CR123 Batteries (for IR Laser), M24 Binoculars

Communication/Navigation: Rhino, whistle, signal mirror, GI Compass, US Map

Hygiene: Soap, tooth brush, floss, tooth paste

Kit (not included in weight):

Personal Protection: Plate Carrier (Eagle w/Polyethelene Plates/under 9lbs), ACH+ NOD Attachment, Shorty Carbine Noveske 10.5” (All other members have 16") w; (CCO (Aimpoint M68M4), IR Laser, supressor, white light (Fenix Weapon Light AA), 7 mags loaded +210rds, .22 Ceiner kit (glock)+500rds 22lr, Glock 35 +4 mags Loaded, Cleaning Kit for carbine and Pistol,

Some of these items would be distributed to other members if possible: Rappel rope, carabiner, Axe, Shortwave radio, Solar Charger x 2 w/ 12 x AA NICAD, Folding Shovel

All the adults in my family have served in the Army or Marines with almost 11 combat deployments between us including my wife. We are all avid outdoorsman and camp/hunt. I have attended only one official training (Cody Lundin's) as I live in AZ and 2 of us are competitive shooters (Me USPSA and my brother Highpower) so I feel we are more experienced than the norm. I have vehicle kits already built and we have a retreat already picked out with friends. The firearms were chosen for their versatility/reliability/familiarity the members already have. If any of the above doesn't fit the given situation I have no problem throwing it in the garbage.

Objective is to try to keep the total load under 70lbs and know that this kit would only be deployed when all else fails. Any idea's?

JV3 · Feb 27, 2012

1. have you used your opsec poncho as a shelter yet? there are two things that need to be done to it to make it an effective emergency shelter. see my 2-nighter thread for details: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/919674-another-2-nighter-2-types-of-shelter-used

2. i'd switch out the duct tape for gorilla tape. sticks much better, even in the cold (see that thread linked above again).

3. i'd recommend you add a couple of pre-threaded needles with kevlar thread to your maintenance kit. this isn't for first-aid but more like stitching torn clothing/backpack/etc. pre-threaded so you don't have to fuss with it when your hands are cold & in low-light situations.

4. i'm in no way associated with the owner/profiting from the sale in anyway......i highly recommend a small solar charger to recharge your aa batteries/cell phones/provide efficient light at night:

5. i'd recommend that you cut up that 100' paracord into manageable sections (i like 10' sections). you're going to need to cut it up into multiple sections anyway for shelter building so why not do it now while you're at home nice and comfy instead of frozen hands and little/no light.

6. i carry snickers bars in those bite-size pieces for emergency energy (with it you don't even need to bring sugar separately) - if you look at the ingredients it makes sense. i carry packets of salt and electrolyte chews too (can't just keep drinking plain water). clif shot bloks and gels are good - it's popular with us mtb/road bikers for keeping dehydration in check.

Fieldtestornothing · Feb 27, 2012

Good suggestions.

I already have a Solar charger and 2 are carried in the group for AA's. All of the electronics run on AA's except my IR laser. Already have the 550 broken into strips. I carry 10 3 foot lengths. Already used the OPSEC as a shelter. Appreciate the advice thanks.

Aubrey · Feb 28, 2012

Are you carrying any spares for the firearms? Cleaning kits? Lubricant?

A group well versed in military tactics as yours looks to be ......... short range comms ........ small handheld VHF or worst case ...these FFR radio's. Best if they also run AA's.

With all that extra weight and on foot ...you will burn more calories and your food looks a little light unless you are all small guys

Some cash in small denominations?

On the water filtration ..... I would consider the MIOX ..... also uses CR123's so not a train smash and unlike iodine does not affect iodine sensitive people.

Dark tactical shooting glasses or sunglasses?

Starlight1967 · Feb 28, 2012

If you are carrying sutures, are you carrying local, syringe and needle, rats tooth forceps and a haemostat, or similar? Might be better off carrying steristrips. They can do a pretty good job (particularly if you use tincture benzoin compound to anchor them), and you save a lot of extra equipment.
G

Fieldtestornothing · Feb 28, 2012

Great suggestions thx,

We carry Rhino Garmins which have 2 way comms. Obviously not secure. I have considered Motorola MURS band radio's but am having problems finding a solution to the battery sustainability problem.

I have sutured and have all of the above in the kit. But I agree that it seems steri strips seem like a better solution.

I am working on the food problem....Thinking of dehydrating meals and adding them. Something of the sort.

I much prefer Iodine to any other type of water sanitation solution. Boiling obviously could be used as a back up. I have been in the field on nothing but iodine treated water for over 60 days on several occasions. It does have limitations though.

Aubrey · Mar 2, 2012

The dehydrated meals sounds good and are lightweight. Visit a cycle store .....buy a few of those 100% glucose sachets and energy bars (slower release energy) ....... carry them on you ....you may not have the luxury of having a meal and the glucose can be taken on the move and kicks in, in a few minutes.

Something not always considered is that a long time before the reduced sugar levels in your blood causes you too loose physical capability, your brain function has been affected. Yip, brain runs on glucose as well. In a really bad situation, a stupid or wrong decision can kill you.

When I hike or cycle where activity will exceed 2 hours ... I start eating at 20 minutes and every 20 minutes there after ....maybe just a bite or two of an energy bar or a banana ...... you feel much better at the end of the day and recovery is faster.

ROCK6 · Mar 2, 2012

Looks pretty well thought out for a bug-out under crisis. As your name suggests, I would grab the bag and go for a couple of weekend trips to flush it all out. Unless you have an isolated/private area to camp in, you may have to ditch some of the long-arms and armor; nothing will give you better feedback than a few weekends with you kit.

A few Mountain House meals along with a few instant soup packets would go a long way and would keep well when packed also. For on the move, Clif bars have been my prefered energy bar.

You've got iodine or boiling to purify water; both are effective, but I would consider filter. A nice gravity filter (like Sawyer) is a great way to transport and have immediate potable water. I would assume water is going to be you number one priority depending on the time of year.

ROCK6

Brad "the butcher" · Mar 2, 2012

a 2 litre pot for that amount of people will suck. At least add a large coffee can with a waterproof bag(for reuse) of rice and a small container of OXO(taste-and electrolyte's)add a big handful of teabags. Bring a small gatorade bottle(1lb) of sugar as well.
The rejuvenating effect of some caffeine and sugar will be very welcome
Then you can boil in the can and cook in the pot.
All that would be 6 or 7lbs and for me would be more useful than 8lbs of protection plating.

With all that military experience listed......no canteen plus canteen cup per person????????
At the least you should also add a 10 to 16 oz enamelware cup per person and a spoon, eating, drinking will be rough without rudimentery tableware. These cups have a ton of additional uses.

It is really easy to dehydrate meals from home if you have a foodsaver/cryovac'er. Cut food very small before cooking al dente' and you can even use an oven at 160 to 200 if you do not have a dehydrater

ROCK6 · Mar 2, 2012

Brad "the butcher";10577004 said:
a 2 litre pot for that amount of people will suck. At least add a large coffee can with a waterproof bag(for reuse) of rice and a small container of OXO(taste-and electrolyte's)add a big handful of teabags. Bring a small gatorade bottle(1lb) of sugar as well.
The rejuvenating effect of some caffeine and sugar will be very welcome
Then you can boil in the can and cook in the pot.
All that would be 6 or 7lbs and for me would be more useful than 8lbs of protection plating.

With all that military experience listed......no canteen plus canteen cup per person????????
At the least you should also add a 10 to 16 oz enamelware cup per person and a spoon, eating, drinking will be rough without rudimentery tableware. These cups have a ton of additional uses.

It is really easy to dehydrate meals from home if you have a foodsaver/cryovac'er. Cut food very small before cooking al dente' and you can even use an oven at 160 to 200 if you do not have a dehydrater

Good points which I don't know how I missed. A large pot will be needed to cook the rice and beans. Another recommendation are several gallon ziploc bags; you can add the beans/rice and water in the ziploc in the morning and pack it until lunch or dinner and it will slowly hydrate. It will take less fuel and time to the completely cook and heat up.

A canteen cup or steel nesting mug is a must and can be used in lieu of a shovel for minor digging.

ROCK6

Fieldtestornothing · Mar 3, 2012

Good suggestions guys. First let me state a few things. My first intention if anything were to go SERIOUSLY awry is to move by vehicle to a retreat. Our vehicles will be carring a ton of stuff. I will not need worry about carring a plate carrier. I will wear one though because if I take fire inside a vehicle I would rather have one available. Same with my wife and family. Now if I am forced to abandon a vehicle and can only take ONE bag that has been prepacked and may have to do a variety of tasks this is the purpose for this bag. The 2 quart pot is redundant and will be carried by EVERYONE. Our reasoning being that if we are seperated we all have a certain amount of standardized equipment to trouble shoot different senario's. I can't forsee the conditions of our seperation from the vehicle but I have no problem dumping plates if I have a 80 mile movement through the desert.

The cup was overlooked and will be added. I use a sierra cup with a Nalgene. The 2 quart will double as a eating plate or whatever it must. I despise canteens. The water tastes like crap, the caps are prone to leakage, the canteens break, and a majority of the cantee cups are aluminum, not my favorite. I would put my faith in a Sierra and a Nalgene long before that.

Ziplocks are a great suggestion. 2 x 1 gallon added. Tea bags are a great suggestion, added.