Kit/B.O.B. camping

wildmanh

wildmanh

Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
Joined
Jul 9, 2000
Messages
7,764
I almost have two day packs setup the way I want them and it's almost camping season here in Central Utah. So I've been thinking of going on a little campout with a friends soon to test out my gear and skills.

Earlier this year I asked about gear for my day packs. Here's the list of gear I came up with based on everyones help for my medium day pack:

Food
Small Fixed blade
Folder
Poncho
Water (2 quarts): Military Canteens
Flashlight
Head lamp
Fire Kit
First Aid kit
Hand Sanitizer
Para Cord (50 feet)
Washcloth
Metal Cup (going to replace with canteen cup)
Compass
Glow sticks
Space blanket
Signaling mirror
Pain Killers
Esbit Folding Stove
Tablets for stove
Sun Screen
Canteen Cup
Bug repellent
AAA batteries

Edited to add:

Spork/utensils
Liquid soap
Camera with spare batteries

- It's hard to believe I forgot those two Items. - End Edit.

For the campout my thought is to go into the national forest with some friends, bring my kit and extra stuff and practice using just the stuff from the Kit. I'd have the extra stuff just incase I am not good with the gear or incase something fails. And if there are problems with gear, replace said items and do it over again.

When I was in scouts as a scout and as a leader, I practiced with my kits a bunch on each campout and day hike. But thats been so long ago that I know I'm rusty. Figure a campout or two using just my gear would be a good way to hone my skills. Building a brush shelter and fire are two skills I'm probably lacking in so I'd be practicing them the most.

What other skills do you think I should practice? Or other things I might want to add to my gear? Thanks,

Heber
 
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If you'll be using your poncho as your shelter, then trying out different ways of setting that up would be good. Also making fire and placing it so it helps keep your shelter warm. Going in a group like that is a great way to practice that stuff so if you get too cold/hungry/thirsty you can fall back on your buddies.
 
Seems like you have it all covered, maybe a small hatchet say anything with an overall length less then 16in.. Otherwise... I'll go with tony's advice.. Pictures or it never happened. ha :)
 
Just added a few things to my list that I forgot to add. The Camera and batteries are a must, plus a note pad and pencil or pen. Got to keep things documented for my W&SS friends and so I know what worked for me and what didn't.

Will try to do this campout/test in a few weeks or sometime in May. A friend has been talking to me about going camping so if we have the same days off I'll take him up on his offer and practice the skills.

Edible plant gathering and preparing is another skill I will work on. My mom has a good book about that, I think I'll ask her to bring it up the next time she comes this way. Anyone else ever practice that skill? I'm not looking at the plants to live off of, but more as a way to help prolong the food I bring with me.

Heber
 
I agree with the pencil on that.

Edible plants is one of the best skills to have, as you can than sustain yourself better. I am not an expert, as I need to learn this much more, however, I believe you should attempt to ID plants, than see if you were right a few times. I've done that, and so far I have gotten better each time!
 
How about some Aquamira or other type of water purifier? Chances are you'll have access to fresh water, but you should prepare as if you might not. Of course you could always boil water, aquamira takes up so little space it seems like its worth bringing it anyway.
 
Racerx2oo3 said:
How about some Aquamira or other type of water purifier? Chances are you'll have access to fresh water, but you should prepare as if you might not. Of course you could always boil water, aquamira takes up so little space it seems like its worth bringing it anyway.
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Or a small water filter/purifier. One of the first things on my list. I can go without food a heck of a lot longer than water.
 
A water purifier is on the list for my other day pack. Though you guys are correct, I probably should have at least something in my medium pack. Thanks for the idea. :) Used to carry those little iodine tablets and drops. Used them once or twice and didn't like the taiste after a few hours. Is there a way to get rid of the flavor?

Heber
 
wildmanh said:
A water purifier is on the list for my other day pack. Though you guys are correct, I probably should have at least something in my medium pack. Thanks for the idea. :) Used to carry those little iodine tablets and drops. Used them once or twice and didn't like the taiste after a few hours. Is there a way to get rid of the flavor?

Heber
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If you are using Iodine you can use ascorbic acid (vitamin C) AFTER the water has had the required exposure time to get rid of the taste.

KR
 
wildmanh said:
A water purifier is on the list for my other day pack. Though you guys are correct, I probably should have at least something in my medium pack. Thanks for the idea. :) Used to carry those little iodine tablets and drops. Used them once or twice and didn't like the taiste after a few hours. Is there a way to get rid of the flavor?

Heber
Click to expand...

I've used Polar Pure for most of my backup water purification. I've recently used MSR MIOX, but another device I'm tyring out is Aquamira's Frontier Pro filter system. I pack it with a small 1Liter Platypus collapsable water bottle; so far I'm pretty impressed...

Pocket Filter

Pro Filter Review

Little Field Test

ROCK6
 
I'm with the above guy. Maybe a Poncho Liner. Can go a long way towards comfort when the weather goes south. Also I like to have Leather gloves with liner and a lightweight fleece cap.
 
Macclint said:
A wool blanket or ultra-light quilt?
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Fieldtestornothing said:
I'm with the above guy. Maybe a Poncho Liner. Can go a long way towards comfort when the weather goes south. Also I like to have Leather gloves with liner and a lightweight fleece cap.
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A wool blanket/poncho liner is on my list of things to get for my other kit. But I'm considering adding one to this one also.

I always have leave gloves on my when I go out so I always forget to add them to the list. Same with a cap and jacket.

How the heck did I forget to add Toilet paper to me list? :confused::o that was the first thing I packed. LOL!!
 
I keep a wool watchcap in my bags. Preventing heat loss through your melon can help make you a lot warmer.

+1 on the Polar Pure. A little drink mix or a vitamin C tab will cancel out the iodine taste if you find it overly objectionable. Considering it's for emergency use, I wouldn't be all that worried about taste. Polar Pure works well, even kills viruses, and one bottle will treat a couple of thousand litres of water, IIRC.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
I keep a wool watchcap in my bags. Preventing heat loss through your melon can help make you a lot warmer.

+1 on the Polar Pure. A little drink mix or a vitamin C tab will cancel out the iodine taste if you find it overly objectionable. Considering it's for emergency use, I wouldn't be all that worried about taste. Polar Pure works well, even kills viruses, and one bottle will treat a couple of thousand litres of water, IIRC.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
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Vitamin C eh? I might have to try that. Thanks! :thumbup:

In the next few weeks a friend and I will be heading to a big Army/Navy Surplus and Camping store. Here's my shopping list:

Canteen cup
Compass
Bic Lighter
Poncho Liner
Glow sticks
Space blanket
Signaling mirror
Pain Killers
Esbit Folding Stove
Tablets for stove
Note pad/pencil
Dried food
Water Purification tablets

Heber
 
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