Hot weather BOB suggestions...

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
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I have a presentation tomorrow where I am teaching people how to build a BOB for their cars.

Here is my list:

Two Good Freezer Bags.
Tincture of Iodine.
Space Blanket.
Roll of Dental Floss (non waxed – without the case).
Colored Surveyor’s tape.
Pea-less brightly colored whistle.
Wax coated matches.
Disposable butane lighter.
Magnesium block fire-starter
6 or so Cotton Balls soaked in P.J.
A compass and a small back up compass.
Small first aid kit.
Credit Card sized Fresnel lens.
Flashlight with AA batteries and Extra Batteries.
Carbon Steel knife with a lanyard.
Clear Plastic Drinking Tube.
Heavy Duty Space Blanket.
Collapsible one to two gallon water container
Two 55 gallon trash bags – heavier the better.
Wool or synthetic watch cap.
Homemade first aid kit.
100 feet of 550 cord.
Signal Mirror.
7.5 minute topographical map of the area you are going to.
Two Candy or nutrition bars
Medications or eye glasses.
Bandanna or two.


However, it has been nearly 100 degrees in Houston for the last three weeks - anything you would add to this list that can be easily carried to help with the heat?

TF
 
Salt or Emergen-C ! you can't use the tool's if your out of Balance!
Candle Can or candles
Some water in the car Coke bottles 2 Liter
Warm wrap,Fleece or wool Blanket .. more usable for the Ladies and can be used for other use's
Candy [Hard Candy] in a Can... quick sugar rush and will be used more often so can be rotated.
Keep in mind that Car Temps. can do a job on all your stuff
Look at Life Boat Rations as they were made for extreme Temps.{Just need More water}
Lite weight Tarp- Painters Clear or silver 10x10 you use if window broken or to reflect sunlight or get attention.
 
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I feel your pain about the heat...I'm in deep east TX and its cooking us! I would trade the dental floss for braided nylon fishing line (Spiderline from walmart),its a lot stronger,can be used for sewing,snaring ect. Leave out the lighter.they will go empty or explode if stored in a car in this kind of heat. Instead use the magnesium block a small block of lighter pine and a striker strung on paracord. And food needs to be dry type,candy,chewy granola bars just melt right down to the point you have to lick them off the wrapper.(Seven Oceans "lifeboat rations" are "drypak") add a bottle of potable aqua pills and 1 pair clean wool(mil-spec green socks) Just my .02 based on where we are.
 
Before you leave the house drink two LARGE cups of water. A cool bandana in a zip bag. More water then you think you would need.

Sasha
 
The Car
Preventive Maintenance
Change the Heart-Battery -5 Years
Check and Replace the Hoses and Belts –The hotter the clime the quicker they dry out.
Change The Blood-Lubricants 1st of the month at least look at the Dip stick!
Learn how to Change a tire! And use a patch kit or Fix a Flat [should add a a Breaker Bar[Tube] as most shops use power tools ,crack your tire nuts by hand as that would be hard to do in the field without.
A BOV/BOB is cool but if the Car can get you out of Danger you’re ahead of the Game. You have to think of the Weakest / inexperienced one the wife or daughter/Child.
 
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A boonie hat at a minimum. I prefer something with a wider brim. Keeping the sun off your head helps in the heat.

Also something you can drape under the hat to keep the sun off your face and neck. A large bandana (27” X 27”) is good. A Cowboy Silk Wild Rag (35” X 35”) is better. If you’re dealing with dry heat, wet the cloth down and the evaporation will cool you. If it’s high humidity muggy heat, not so much.
 
Thank you all so much for the suggestions.

The gallon jugs are great suggestions.

So is the boonie hat / sun protection.

I love the idea of drinking BEFORE you leave the house.

Great suggestions - THANKS!

TF
 
I grew up in Alaska, main things, even in hot weather (because hot doesn't mean dry) road flares, great signal, get a fire going with green fuel or in wet/damp situations, lets face it, there's a lot of water around Houston, even some swamp land.

I recommend a small bottle of pure DEET, it works, screw cancer, bug bites lower moral and ticks are dangerous!

hard tack is good for food it's light weight and won't go bad for quite a while, I grew up on Sailor Boy Pilot Bread, I'm quite sure there are other brands.

Extra socks and a Bath in a bag, socks because we all know old shoes and boots + new socks make walking bearable.

Bath in a bag is compact and basically over sized baby wipes that will keeps your pits, buttocks and groin from going nasty too quickly.

these are the main things I can think of, but chances are if you're working and have to bug out you won't be wearing hike friendly clothes and shoes, so a spare set of light full length shirt, under shirt, underpants, pants, socks and boots are your best bet.

there may be more, but a vehicle borne bug out bag hardly needs to be ultra light, maybe an extra bag that can hold the "extras" not all situations are gonna call for grabbing your bag as soon as the trunk opens.
 
I would switch the carbon knife to stainless for lower maintenance and probably take out the magnesium block in favor of 2 or three Bic lighters. If this is a kit for the average person, it should be as low maintenance as possible and include things people are familiar with using. I don't know if average joe would be able to make a fire with a magnesium block.
 
TF, another suggestion-instead of a topographical map, for general use they make map books or atlases (sp?) of each state. Not quite as detailed, but they cover most county roads, BLM roads and trails, main geographical features, and they're a lot easier to justify (and more likely to be purchased) as a preventative measure. A topo map is much better for off-road travel, but carrying and keeping organized multiple maps if you cover a lot of area can be a PITA, and not a whole lot more useful for most drivers.
 
Looks good so far along with several of the other suggestions. I've found the Emergen-C electrolyte drink mixes work best for small kits and quite essential is you're spending a lot of time outdoors.

+1 on the tarp...anything to create shade from the sun.

Another lightweight idea is a simple hammock, something to get you up off the ground (creates a good airflow underneath as well).

A good mosquito head net along with that DEET.

I know it's expensive, but upgrade to lithium batteries for any electronics (AAA and AA now come in lithium flavors). Much better storage in extreme temperatures.

Local area roadmaps are a great idea!

ROCK6
 
Just thought of this. I bought map(s) that were plastic coated so they would'nt sog out if my BOB got dunked or had to be carried in the rain but their really useful for collecting/organizing things on. I use mine to collect magneisum shavings or to lay out stuff I'm about to cook or even to funnel rain from the tarp edge to a water bottle. They're durable and can be rinsed or wiped clean.
 
Carbon Steel knife with a lanyard.
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For a knife that is mostly going to be stored, and then used by people that don't necessarily know anything about knife care, I would suggest a stainless knife. Maybe a stainless mora or a sturdy paring knife (many in places like department stores can be had with storage sheaths).

Wax coated matches.
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I've had problems with wax coated matches becoming useless after a relatively short time in storage (maybe 3 months?) in cool, dry conditions. In more extreme conditions, this could be even quicker. I would say skip the matches entirely given the inclusion of a firesteel and lighter.

Two 55 gallon trash bags – heavier the better.
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I would replace these with a cheap 10x12 tarp, since it is quicker to make into a shelter and if you get the kind with a silver side it can be used for signaling too.

I would suggest adding one or two of those gallon jugs with water that come sealed from a grocery store. These will be sterile and won't grow any bacteria sitting in storage. Or a case of bottled water, which will be used and rotated with greater frequency.

Looks like a pretty good kit otherwise, and good on you for giving the presentation.
 
I've had good luck with spray-on shellac. Lay strike-anywhere matches out in rows, on aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Spray the whole match, not just the head. Let dry, spray again. Turn matches over and repeat.
 
quick powder of G2 or regula gatorade to mix with the water.. does vitamin water have powder mixes yet?
 
Just be real careful about storing matches or lighters in a "Car BOB". Its been years ago but I had a Buck Knives "BuckMaster" in my bag in the trunk and the matches INSIDE the handle apparently ignited...Took 2 pairs of vice-grips to open/remove the buttcap and there must have been 150 psi built up in there! Lucky for me and a testament to Buck that the handle did'nt explode like a stick of dynamite! Your average Bic has the explosive power of a hand grenade if it decides to go whoosh. just saying..its awful hot in TX and closed up in a car is like putting your Bic in an oven on broil.
 
Hey, good to hear your getting folks prepared:)

I can't count the times when the cheap golf umbrellas we keep in the trunk for each person have come in handy for hot sun or rain. They're inexpensive and a simple way to temporary shelter. A fair poking stick too. I wrap a good length of duct tape around the handle. We buy the highly visible red or orange ones.

Have a good one
Mark
 
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