I finally started a BOB for the car

F

Foilist

Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
3,863
I have a stupidly long commute to work at the moment (close to 70 miles :eek:), and I keep finding myself imagining situations where I would have to make it home on foot in some sort of emergency, and this would be a walk of several days. I have always kept some things in a box in the trunk, but today I started putting together a pack.

The pack is a nice LL Bean - larger than a student's day pack, but not as big as a full size backpacking one. So far I've included the following:

Three MREs (I might add more)
USGI Canteen
PUR Hiker water filter
50 ft of jute
strike anywhere matches
Mag block/firesteel
Vaseline cottonballs
Clamshell-type messkit
Helle Futura
55 Gal. drum liner
winter hat
fleece shirt
waterproof windbreaker
Sturdy hiking shoes
Slumberjack bivy shelter
TP

Elsewhere in the car I have a Kershaw Vapor, Inova flashlight, a winter coat, gloves, and a couple of Bics that I'd add to the pack if I used it.


I still need to add a compass, maps, FAK, more food, and another canteen. Of course, I'm open to suggestions since this is my first ever attempt at a BOB.
 
if you're going to have to hoof it anywhere, i think 3 or more MREs are going to just be counterproductive. they're fairly heavy. and as long as you'll be heading home, you can go a while without food. so if it were me, i'd probably split it up and take an entree, a couple of peanut butter or cheese packets and a few of the crackers, maybe supplement in a packet or two of ramen. keep it light.

i'd also throw in a couple of pairs of wool socks in there too.
 
Yeah, the MREs are heavy, but I have a case of them that was given to me by an Air Guardsman acquaintance that I don't know what to do with. I should unpackage them to reduce the bulk.

Good call on the extra socks.
 
I suggest dropping the messkit to reclaim weight and space. I run with a 1L nalgene bottle and a GSI Glacier cup that the nalgene nests into, so the pair doesn't take up any more space the nalgene on its own would.

stainlessbottlecup.jpg


In my own BOB I've skipped the MRE's in favour of three meal replacement bars, over 400 cal each. Good call on the FAK, compass, and maps. I would also recommend adding a silnylon poncho that will do double duty to keep you dry if it's raining, and can be deployed as a tarp to sleep under at night:

cm_poncho_ext.jpg


I always keep this emergency bivvy in my BOB as well. It's small and cheap, around $12.

amk-heatsheet-bivy-L.jpg
 
Unless you normally wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes or boots I would toss a pair of those in the vehicle as well. I know with my luck the day I needed this stuff I would be in a pair of dress shoes and slacks.

Stuff a good pair of socks in the old shoes/boots you dont wear anymore and put them right next to the bag your vehicle. I bet they come in handy before the actual bag does.
 
That's a good start.

I would consider a couple different transportation options. Of course your car is first; make sure you have a few necessities to keep in running...a few extra gallons (stabilized), antifreeze, water (for the radiator), maybe an extra hose, definitely some sealant tape, etc...You get the idea. Keep the main option running.

If anything, if the road is getting close to gridlock or too several wrecks impeding your route home, have a couple alternate routes and a couple options to get it off the road if you have to "ditch" it. No sense in leaving it on the main road to be vandalized.

I'm going to get a hitch-mounted bike rack for my truck and keep my Mountain bike locked during the week when I go to work (at least that's the plan). Even with a small shoulder bag, you can cover three-four times more on a bike than on your feet. Of course, this also means you need to remain on a road or decent trail/side road, etc.

Last option is traveling by foot, which means slower movement and most likely having to hunker down if the weather is too severe to travel.

As to your list, I think you're on track and whatever you end up with, make sure you revisit it a couple times a year to ensure the equipment, food and water remain serviceable and consumable/potable.

Consider a couple of wool blankets during the winter months. I often carry a case or two of water in my truck...I use it for lunch, after my physical training in the AM and the smaller bottles are easier to move around if needed.

For a worse-case scenario, you may want to consider something from a self-defensive perspective. A simple hiking stick wouldn't attract too much attention, but is a very viable defensive tool. Pepper spray is a good deterrent to dogs and most two-legged predators. Of course if possible a pistol that can be concealed would be a good bit of insurance.

You already mentioned getting a good FAK and maps. Make sure you have maps covering in/around your route home. Chances are there are several back roads that you can escape to that won't be as congested as the main highways...these are essential to emergency/contingency planning.

If you're looking at the worse-case of traveling close to 70 miles on foot, plan for about 10-15 miles a day at best...that would be a 5-7 day trek (with several variables affecting your calculations for various scenarios). You'll need plenty of water or pre-determined water sources (where you can use your filter). You can move faster with less water, but you need plenty of access points to procure water. You'll also need a lot of calories and ready-to-eat food is better to keep you mobile and moving. Gorp, nuts, dried fruit and some of the emergency rations (i.e. Mainstay, Datrex, etc) store well in vehicles, are ready-to-eat and can be sectioned off for rationing.

Don't forget a decent amount of cash. I have $20 in quarters in my truck and usually keep about $100 in small bills in my wallet.

ROCK6
 
subneural said:
I suggest dropping the messkit to reclaim weight and space. I run with a 1L nalgene bottle and a GSI Glacier cup that the nalgene nests into, so the pair doesn't take up any more space the nalgene on its own would.

stainlessbottlecup.jpg


In my own BOB I've skipped the MRE's in favour of three meal replacement bars, over 400 cal each. Good call on the FAK, compass, and maps. I would also recommend adding a silnylon poncho that will do double duty to keep you dry if it's raining, and can be deployed as a tarp to sleep under at night:



I do have a nalgene with nesting cup, but I use it regularly. I was trying to fill the BOB with stuff that I don't mind being packed away. I might ditch the mess kit and get the cup that fits the canteen though. The high calorie energy bars are a good idea too. I used MREs because they were on hand.
Click to expand...
 
SGTCap said:
Stuff a good pair of socks in the old shoes/boots you dont wear anymore and put them right next to the bag your vehicle. I bet they come in handy before the actual bag does.
Click to expand...


Yup - already in the car. You only have to push a car out of the snow in loafers once to learn this lesson!
 
A multi day hike... carry the MRE in the trunk, decide to take them from there IF you have to walk, 400 calories is nothing compared to a MRE.

Sure there's a weight difference but for what may be a multi day hike... MRE is good weight, not bad weight.

EDIT:
Rock6 said
"You already mentioned getting a good FAK and maps. Make sure you have maps covering in/around your route home. Chances are there are several back roads that you can escape to that won't be as congested as the main highways...these are essential to emergency/contingency planning."

I'd like to add, if possible do a bit of exploring on possible routes, check for trails, unpaved roads, ice thickness for streams, depth of streams, places to avoid such as property marked no trespassing.

70 miles is very very long on foot. Pack extra socks, new warm soft feet saving socks. You have a basic plan, that's better than most people, and it's easy to stuff your trunk.
 
Last edited:
Got room in the back for a bicycle? You could be home in about 5 hours. ;):p

I'd probably lose the MRE's and replace them with power bars or something similar.

I keep one one of the small crank radios by Eton in my trunk gear. Its the 150. If I have to set out on foot, I want to know what is going on and where.

http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=353085

I found mine on sale for around $20.
 
I second that with Rupestris for a bike.
I carry my Trek in the back of my covered truck.
If you don't have room for a bike, you might consider
some Rollerblades. Even if its cold out, if you've prepared
yourself, you have warm clothing and I'm sure you'd
like to find a quick way to either work or home.

I see you have a canteen and a mess kit. You should keep
your canteen full and upside down if its winter time. That
way you'll have access to some water even if it freezes
since water freezes from the top down.

How about a small stove? I'm talking like a Super Cat
alcohol stove.
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html
Super easy to make, costs almost nothing,
weights next to nothing and heats fast. It will work great
with your mess kit too. You can get a hole punch
at the dollar store and a can of cat food for like $.50

Is see you don't have a 1st aide kit on your list.
Just some bandages, ointment, any necessary medications
and a small sharp swiss army knife. Can't tell you how many times
I've used those small tweezers to pull out a splinter.

Great decision to carry a BOB with you. Never know when there
might be a emergency!
 
Foilist said:
Three MREs (I might add more)
Click to expand...

Consider these: http://www.bestglide.com/Mainstay_3600_Info.html

Each pack has a 3600 calorie brick in them. The ones I have are apple cinimon... sorta taste like cheerios but not as good. But they are very edable and last for around 5 years I think. The 3600 calorie brick has 9 400 calorie blocks to it. Rationed out it can last many days. I keep two in my Emergency kit in my truck. I figure they'd last me over a week. And two folks around 5 to 7 days with smart rationing.
 
I keep a bag in the carry and haven't though much about making a long trek home. Good thought.

That said, I've used the first aid kit in the bag five or six times over the last few years. It is by far the most useful item. I also keep a fire extinguisher in the trunk. Used that once.
 
Good call on the SUper Cat alcohol stove. I have made one that I use regularly, and I will make another for my BOB.

I have been thinking of getting a bicycle. My wife got one in the Fall, and I'd like to do the same. The car I drive is too small to carry one unless I get a rack for it, which would be a great idea.

Rock6 mentioned water sources. There are plenty along my commuting route and the surrounding area.
 
Like you I work nearly 70 miles from where I live.

For what I have in my car, I think of it more along the lines of being stuck where I am. I have a large Sterilite container in my car that holds all sorts of canned foods. Plus by BOB and other items.

Main problem I have right now is I still don't have a full set of clothes in case I need to stay over night near work.
 
Here are some of the items I carry that I consider a must that I haven't seen listed yet:

Duct Tape!
A full size multi-tool.
A medium size poly tarp.
At least 2 liters of drinking water.
A box of cliff bars (instead of the MRE's)
100ft (at least) of 550 cord. (instead of the jute)
Anti-bacterial face\hand wipes.
A small headlamp, in addition to the regular flashlight.
Fatwood, the cotton balls are good for startup, but some fatwood will get you going in wet conditions quickly.
EDIT: Just read the post on the small crank radio. I also have one of those buried in my truck somewhere, definitely another must!

I have a bunch of other stuff that's probably overkill in this discussion, but I decided I wanted to be able to go hiking anytime without having to go home to gear up, so I have a backpack, clothes, GPS, saw, stove, drink\soup mix, ect..

I also have all the basic car\truck stuff everyone should have like a tow strap, jumper cables, a shovel, extra gas\antifreeze\fuses, ect. One thing I also carry is a medium size crow bar. I figure I could use it for defense if really needed or more likely to help someone that's been in a accident.

I like the bike idea :thumbup: I drive a full size truck, so it wouldn't be a problem for me to carry a bike with me all the time. I would just need to keep it covered from the elements and secured. I have a fairly nice bike though, so I should probably try to find a cheap one for this purpose...
 
Last edited:
if you are likley to walk home in any kind of freezing temp with any kind of wind, get some windproof pants at the very least. its amazing how easily frost bite can happen on your legs, and muscle cramps make walking hard. I have a AMK bivy 2.0 in my car bag, a little bigger than the 1.0 (2-3x I guess) but in a winter situation odds are I'd bug in and wait, too many people die trying to walk home in the snow to make it a first choice.
+1 on the socks, great idea.

Granted I plan on the weather causing my problems before everything else
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top