Lumbar Pack BOB?

[K Williams]

What items would you put into a NorthFace Day Hiker lumbar pack that would be used as an urban BOB?

 

[longbow50]

Would you be going through any security check points? What would your primary intended use be for the kit?

 

[ACMarina]

I have a Marmot lumbar that I use for hasty searching, but I've got some good stuff in there that would work in an urban setting too. Enough food & water for a couple days, a minimag, a headlamp, extra batteries, bandana, safety goggles, whistle, first-aid kit, fixed-blade dive knife, webbing, a couple carabiners, a huit, and enough cord to get me down from a reasonable height. I think my GPS might be in there too someplace. .

 

[K Williams]

It would be used for general & disaster survival in NYC and the surrounding areas. So it should be able to deal with city disasters, and woods survival in northeastern outdoors. Which means it can't contain anything that would be considered illegal to carry in the city.

 

[Moine]

What items would you put into a NorthFace Day Hiker lumbar pack that would be used as an urban BOB?

- Candy Bars
- Teddy Bear
- Picture of my mommy and daddy wrapped in plastic to waterproof it
- Ka-Bar
- Surefire + spare batts
- Glock + Ammo
- More ammo

David

 

[RokJok]

It would be used for general & disaster survival in NYC and the surrounding areas. So it should be able to deal with city disasters, and woods survival in northeastern outdoors. Which means it can't contain anything that would be considered illegal to carry in the city.

Not sure if that NF pack is as big as my Mountainsmith lumbar pack, but IMHO we're looking at the usual considerations for a larger PSK: knife , food, shelter, clothing, bodily safety and function, sanitation, and comm.

KNIFE:
- a small sturdy fixed blade if legal in city, otherwise the sturdiest folder you can find.
- For small sturdy fixed blade, I like the Swamp Rat Howling Rat.
- For folders, I like the Blade-Tech Wegner Pro Hunter & am interested in seeing the Swamp Rat folder when it comes out. I suspect the Strider folders are the strongest currently on the market, but they are a bit rich for my pocketbook.
- Swiss Army Knife or multi-tool for the other tools
- if you don't mind the weight, a 14" Gorilla Bar wrecking bar lashed to the bottom of the pack for window breaking or door breaching on your way out of a building

FOOD:
- as much bottled water as you can make room for in/on the pack (drinking, sanitation, soaking bandana for dust mask, eye wash, etc)
- handful of power/clif/nutrition bars
- honey packets from fast-food joint (instant sugar & mild disinfectant for wounds)
- peanut butter packets if you can find them (protein)

SHELTER:
- Sportsman's Space Blanket with taped edge and grommets (not the flimsy lightweight 2-ounce one that fits in your pocket). They are available for about $10 from Cabela's in red or OD green. If that won't fit your pack, a heavyweight large plastic contractor's trash bag.
- lightweight strong cord. I like mason's line. Although it can be pretty stiff, it's insanely strong & quite compact. Found in home centers & hardware stores.
- 550 paracord (more versatile than mason's line, but also more bulky)

CLOTHING:
- wear layered system day-to-day so you won't have to dedicate pack space to clothing
- comfortable, sturdy shoes or boots in which you can comfortably hike all day
- large bandana or two (big enough to fold into a triangular arm sling)
- compact rain/wind layer. I like the Red Ledge Thunderlight jacket & pants available from Campmor.com.

BODILY SAFETY AND FUNCTION:
- first aid kit (FAK) materials like EMT scissors, bandaids, large bandage pads, hi-tack athletic or duct tape, anti-histamines for stings/allergies, anti-diarreha pills, aspirin, anti-bacterial cream
- mini swim goggles to protect your eyes from dust in city
- painters particulate masks for dust (available at home centers or hardware stores)
- sturdy leather gloves for handling debris in city or campfire pots
- any prescription meds you need
- eyeglass or eyecare items you use
- dental care items like toothbrush, small tube toothpaste, floss

SANITATION:
- hotel mini-bar of soap, mini-bottle of shampoo, etc
- baby wipes packet, unscented
- toilet paper or kleenex travel packs, put in ziplock freezer bag to protect from water
- a few plastic grocery bags for catching & disposing solid body waste in city

COMM:
- whistles for locating you in building collapse or if lost in the bush (one in pack, another on your body at all times), Storm or Windstorm whistles if you have the pocket room, otherwise the Fox 40 or flat whistle in descending order of preference
- cell phone
- CB radio or other two-way radio
- flourescent pink/yellow/green surveyors tape

 

[K Williams]

RokJok,

Thanks for the detailed list! I don't think all of those items would be able to fit in my NorthFace pack, but the essentials should be able to.

 

[longbow50]

You've started by ordering the NRA survival tool kit. Mirror, whistle, fire w/tinder are always a good place to start. Because the items in the case don't need to be protected from water, I removed the contents from the box and will place items that I don't want to get wet, like any papers/IDs, medical gear, etc. I placed the starflash into a credit card wallet and it fits perfectly. It was added to my day to day carry items and the small wallet will help to protect the reflective finish.

To your initial toolkit, I'd add a poncho, couple of HD industrial type drum liners, space blanket, work gloves, couple of masks, large scarf, chemical water purification method (Iodine, bleach, etc.), hat, water container or two filled, a 1 gallon HD freezer ziploc bag for additional water storage, SAK, if legal a fixed blade knife, First Aid Kit (FAK), compact goggles, personal medications, vitamins, Imodium, benedryl, pain and anti-inflamatory, extra glasses if you were them, sunglasses, ear protection/plugs, condensed fishing/sewing kit w/trapping capabilities.

If room add some kind of high energy food like honey, granola, power bars, trail mix, etc., but limit your protein intake because it takes more water to digest protein and in a survival situation, water is your key to survival. Instead, use fats, as they break down faster and burn cleaner than protein and carbs for quick energy and the body will automatically start burning fat once the carbs are used up.

Again, if room, add a light lined nylon jacket that rolls up relatively small, it will add to your warmth factor, a pair of good hiking socks and a warm watchcap.

Never have liked putting all my eggs into one basket, so I would also carry some essentials on your person too. A lighter/ferro rod, small LED light, small compass, leatherman tool, etc., just in case you and your BOB get seperated.