Suburbopolan Truck Walk Home Kit

CitizenQ

CitizenQ

Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
1,968
Fellas,

I’d appreciate your recommendations and comments on the junk I’ve been carrying ‘round in my truck since Katrina. Occaisonally, my work takes me into Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. I figure there a remote chance that I’ll be in one of these places when the SHTF and I’ll have to walk home to mid Long Island to get back to Mrs. Q and ‘ol Qjr. The goal is to carry what I might need and only what I might need and to keep it all in a single pack and waist pack into which it is all packed. So here is what I carry...

pack01.jpg

  • A good broken in pair of Redwings are always in the trunk. Here’s the downside. I usually wear Redwings, so if I have to walk I’ll have to carry these extra boots with me ‘cause ther’s no way I’m leaving a good piar of Redwings behind.
pack02.jpg

  • Petzl Tactikka headlamp with extra batteries: Light and highly functional IMHO.
pack03.jpg

  • Toilet paper
  • Water purification tabs
  • Extra plastic bags
  • Space blanket/bag
  • Some clips
  • Couple of ways to start a fire
pack04.jpg

  • Marino wool socks
  • 200 feet of 550 cord
  • Extra boot laces
  • Bag of belts to tie stuff to my pack and body
pack05.jpg

  • Field Manual 21-76
  • Compass
  • Windup flashlight
  • Junkie but light shovel
  • Mil spec survival fishing kit
pack06.jpg

  • Candle lantern in case
  • Extra candles
  • Reflector
  • Light sticks
pack07.jpg

  • 2 high-end space blankets (I can make a shelter out of them
  • Stainless pot with lid
  • Titanium spork ('cause what is survival without a titanium spork?)
  • Coleman fire stating sticks
  • Purel hand cleaners (the unscented ones without perfume)
pack08.jpg

  • Four (4) Mayday 3600 calorie USCG approved survival rations (14,400 total calories)
  • Eton AM/FM/Shortwave radio
  • Kaito windup radio
  • Extra batteries
  • External antenna
pack09.jpg

  • The blades :). Since I procured the A1 Mr. Battle Rat needs to be retired, but I can’t bring myself to so it yet.
 
pack10.jpg


  • Cotton wash cloths
  • Basic first aid
  • Small bag of tools (Small vice grips, 12-in-1 scredriver, small gas pliers, multi tool, razor blade know, extra razors)
pack11.jpg


  • 20-degree rated compact sleeping bag

pack12.jpg


  • Poncho
  • Boonie hat
  • Roll 'o wonder tape
  • Pair of reading glasses

pack13.jpg


  • I pulled the Fiskars small axe out of the pack and I’ll be replacing it with one of my TrailHawks which is lighter, possibly more flexible, and a better SD option IMHO.
This stuff weighs in at 54 pounds, including the backpack and waist pack but not including the boots and the TrailHawk.

Please…comments are welcome and much needed.

Rip it apart if you will.

Help me make it better...more useful...more effective.

Thanks in advance fellas. :thumbup:

Q
 
For you to get back to LI you would need a smaller kit as it will only take you a day tops I would think.

Think, food, water, basic lighting and shelter. Protection like firearm and ammo. Maps, money, compass, GPS and SW radio to listen to news.

If it were me I would cut that kit down to about 15-20 lbs tops and move fast with the basics. Have more in the vehicle but the bug home bag would be less then 20lbs.

Think NYC blackout.

Skam
 
Alot of good stuff in there, as long its in the truck...I would plan on how to transfer only what you might need to walk fast back to the family in a light weight pack. I agree on the Trailhawk and A1. I would loose some of the packaging and downsize a bit, into a smaller faster load. Just my 2 cents, I would tell you what to take, but my opinion is for me, and you know what you might be able to use better than I. Gene

Edit: I feel you on the Redwings man...I love mine.
 
I'd be thinking about chemical coverage in an urban environ, the north hamilton fire (pvc plant) did a lot of damage, part of that being chemical rain from the smoke. I'd replace the poncho with plastic raincoat and pants, or such, it might even be able to be worn under clothing, protecting the plastic from rips and keeping you from looking out of place. A good air mask as well, if forest fire smoke makes it hard to breath, chem fires have to be worse, I live in an area with lots of oil/gas drilling, and if one of those well heads blows....
 
Esav Benyamin said:
A good skateboard would speed the trip ... and save some wear on the boots. :)
Click to expand...

Ha ha. The walk home could be up to 100 miles. At 20 miles a day that could be a 5 day trip. A folding mountain bike has been suggested in the past and it's not a bad idea except for the cost and the space it would take up in the trunk.
 
This is for one person right? Thats a good car kit but thats a lot to carry. How far do you think you might have to walk? Are we talking a day or days? Are you going to adjust this kit according to the different seasons?
If you want to reduce weight/bulk then i'm thinking one less flashlight, one less fixed blade, one less radio, half the amount of lighters/candles. If you need to have a survival manual try to find one of the Lofty Wiseman "SAS Survival Guide" gem editions (4.5 X 3.25 X 0.75 thick).
if you are walking then maybe less tools and just one really good multitool instead.
How light is that hawk? The 14inch Fiskars is pretty light and you can cram some of that gear in the hollow handle.
How big is your vehicle, i mean actual storage space.If you really want to carry all that then maybe you should think about getting a good mountain bike. You can carry the listed gear (plus more if need be) and the bike will get you home faster too.
 
tholiver said:
...i'm thinking one less flashlight, one less fixed blade, one less radio, half the amount of lighters/candles. If you need to have a survival manual try to find one of the Lofty Wiseman "SAS Survival Guide" gem editions (4.5 X 3.25 X 0.75 thick)...if you are walking then maybe less tools and just one really good multitool instead...
Click to expand...

I'm startin' to think this too.
 
Too much stuff. Leave off the lantern and candles, ditch a knife, no axe, fewer lighters, no books, etc. You need some trail food, drinking water, a water bottle, Katadyn micropur tabs, rain/snow gear, extra fleece pull over, one space blanket, AM radio, compass, $, cooking/drinking pot, tp, 1st aid kit, socks, gloves, led headlamp and 1 change of batteries, sleeping bag maybe. You need to move quickly but safely home. Your main need is to be in good physical condition.
 
One tip I remember from Kris Janowski was:To move fast over a long distance, try to limit the total weight of your equipment to about 15% of your bodyweight.

It seems like you`re trying to be prepared for every contingency. It`s a great kit for a vehicle, but too much to carry on your back. Even if you hike all the time and are used to the weight and distance, the added weight will affect your foot speed. The goal is getting back to Mrs.Q and lil` Qjr ASAP. Right?
 
That is a heap of gear!

If like you said it is primarily to get home in the event you have to leave your car Id keep the battle rat, a multi tool, firestarting gear (Bic plus whatever), space blanket, thermals (top and bottom wool blend), wet weather jacket/poncho, hat, 1st aid kit (small - med), compass/gps/both, tactikka and batts, cordage, roll of 110mph tape whistle, steel cup, brew gear (coffee, tea, soup), radio, cyalumes (<10), water purification gear, collapsible bladder (2-3lt camelbak/MSR), 1lt nalgene, A5 notepad and marker pen/biro and CASH ($200 if poss.)

Its safe to assume we would all have at least 1 mid sized utility folder etc and cell phone on us as well.

Ideally have all your gear using the same size batteries of course. And keep it all in a good quality, comfy pack.
 
You should load up your gear and hit the trail. Can you do 20 miles in one day or will it take you three? You may find you can only carry 30-35 lbs.
 
Nice set-up!

I think you could lose some weight quite easily though./


  1. Lose some of the spare batts. They are heavy. A fresh lithium will last a long time. You have a wind-up light as a back-up./
  2. Lose the shoelaces./ You can make shoelaces out of paracord if necessary.
  3. Lose the candles./ The headlamp is cool./
  4. Change the field manual for a Collins Gem Survival Guide.
  5. Forget carrying extra boots - boots weigh a ton. Leave 'em in the car.

I would add extra socks. And Band-aids. Very important item when hiking long distances!

What pack are you using? Most important!

Mark
 
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