Tales of BOB's and Tools???

JD Mandrell

JD Mandrell

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
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I'm sure that most folks here keep fairly decent tool kits in their vehicles, but what do you have planned for that really bad scenario where you HAVE to abandon your vehicle and go with just the BOB on your back?

Good multi-tool alone, or some essential tools that are not to heavy, and what are they?

i.e. what do you consider essential to a BOB tool kit?

The one thing I have in mind so far is a Gerber/Fiskars hatchet which will also be a hammer.

Tools?
 
Yep, gotta leatherman tool and a SAK. I don't want the added weight of an actual tool kit in my ruck.
 
I have a small backpack.

Matches and mag block.
Leatherman Wave
Compass
Parka, and fleece pullover
Water
Small first aid kit (with some standard meds)
Hatchet
Fiskars Saw
Altoid tin survival kit with odd and end stuff (sewing kit, pencil, duct tape ect)
Small metal pot

All except the axe fits in my backpack but can be strapped to the outside.

I also have a small tool kit as well as a battery jump that I would leave behind.
 
The Last Confederate said:
Speaking of multi-tools, anyone use the Leatherman CORE?
Click to expand...

No, I have one Leatherman. The Wave. However my Cousin in NY email me the other day (knowing I'm a knife knut) and gave me a short review.

Cliff notes:
It's great. I'll go back and try and c&p the vital parts. He isn't a knife knut, but gave me a pretty decent review.
 
IUKE12 said:
Core user here, big heavy multi tool, any specific questions?
Click to expand...

Just overall how well they work, they have them at Dick's Sporting Goods, which opened here Friday and I have a $10.00 coupon!

Otherwise their knife selection pretty much stank!
 
I have a Blast, a wave and a gerber compact. I prefer the blast because it has the tools of the wave, but it light and eaiser on the hands.
 
the leatherman core is a good tool. I used that one before i got my wave, and now have the core in my tool kit at college. I would pick a wave over a core for EDC, but in a survival kit the core would do quite well. The extra length the blades have is nice. The only thing i wish the core had is a pair of scissors.
 
for mybasic essential tool kit, i have an victorinox spartan and a 1.5# collins hatchet (looking at a wetterlings axe) and an opinel #7.

that is essentially my modern nessmuck trio.

for a more complete tool kit, i find a light tool box cross cut saw, a bit brace and a couple of assorted auger bits to be invaluable. although the bit brace is heavy (i never actually weighed it...but i would guess it at about 2.5#) it truly is a great tool for building rough furniture, such as stools, or for putting together really sturdy shelters with nice big pegs. it is also great for building tools, such as mallets or for making replacement handles for tools, like shovels that require pins.

i also would toss in a pair of needle nose pliers.
 
Estwing hatchet, Leatherman Clip, couple of folders, Western 66.

Belt canteen, few cans of food, 2.5 gal. water jug (I'm in the desert), LED lights, military shovel in sheath, rope, raingear, vest, hat, antibiotics, Bics, 1 qt. oil., paper towels. Empty folded pack.

Pliers, Crescents, 6-1 screwdriver, hacksaw, tire plugs, pump, all metric of course:D. ss

BTW- the things I've used the most BY FAR are the tire plug kit and pump. When I've had flats I fixed them without changing the tire and didn't have to turn back because I no longer had a spare. I carry one in the ATV, came across a guy in a Ford SD with super gumbo mudsuckers, Hi Lift, winch, etc. and two flats so he was dead in the water. We plugged both flats in about 20 minutes, pumped, and he was ready to race. "Gotta get me one a them", he said.
 
I have a tool kit that is in an old metal 1st aid case. I painted the case w/ stripes and added reflective tape, like a road triangle. In the case, I have all shallow and deep sockets and wrenches from 5/16 to 3/4 in standard and metric, and every screwdriver bit/hex/torx known to man, small pry bar, test light, vise grips, channel locks, needle nose. The kit is about 12x12x2 and weighs about 6-7lbs. It goes in a ride, and on all car trips. Not much space, but invaluable if you can use the tools.

If I had to leave that, I would probably just take a Leatherman. I have in my head that my kit is the step between a leatherman and a full on shop. If you don't have room for the kit, you are just playing the lottery as to whether or not you are bringing the right tools. Might as well save the weight for something that could be more useful.
 
I EDC a leatherman Charge plus a SAK Outrider...good compact tools.

For the BoB, I added Knipex's 7" adjustable pliers (excellent German quality)...very handy for a lot of projects. I've also consider a small set of Vice grips as well. Another good tool is a small prybar. Mine is only about 8 or 9 inches, but comes in handy and saves the fixed bladed knife from abusive work.

As mentioned a small hacksaw blade is a good idea, and I think there are a couple of saws-all devices out there (I remember a folding version), that has a carbide coated blade that is good for pipes, sheet metal and even smaller locks as well as softer material such as wood and plastic.

I also like a good set of fencing pliers...a weapon, wire cutters, pliers and a hammer/nail puller-prybar. They're a little heavy for the BoB, but would make a good all-round tool.

I know most of our planned adventures take us away from the urban environment, but there's plenty of scrab/garbage even in the most remote of places where you can improvise and use...hence a couple of decent tools would really come in handy.

ROCK6
 
I like the fence pliers idea, think one's goin' in my BOB. It is to get me home from work, mainly, a 40mi trip so tools are not a priority.
 
I have my bag that comes with me everywhere

Its got a mess kit , stove , first aid kit , and some odds and sods that come in handy including a bit of food , rope , string couple extra knives etc ..

I have always planned on a worst case scenario of having to take the car as far as it will go .

My family each has their own kits that are designed for the same kind of eventuality , every now and then we do a practise run of sorts and I get everyone to grab their bags and we go bush for a day or three , holidays are great for this kind of caper .

I have found that if you can make do for a couple days , you can do the same for a couple weeks on the same gear pretty much , Ive pushed it up to 8 weeks on the gear I had in my bag only , plus what I got from the bush / out of the river / caught from the beach .

It was awesome country tho , and fishing was as hard as pinning sand rays with a spear ... easy as .

Id hate to be stuck in farming country tho , agriculture buggars up the place and makes it hard for anyone to live from it .
 
The Last Confederate said:
Just overall how well they work, they have them at Dick's Sporting Goods, which opened here Friday and I have a $10.00 coupon!

Otherwise their knife selection pretty much stank!
Click to expand...
As already stated, it is their biggest, heaviest multi tool. I wear one every day at work and use it dozens of times a day. Compared to the popular Wave, you must open the handle to access the blades, no scissors, but most everything else. For a work tool, it's great, for casual use in a somewhat smaller, lighter package, get the Wave. I do a lot of work on the Coast Guard Cape Cod, MA Air Rescue Base, and the guys here get the Wave issued to them with leather sheath. Either way, you won't be wasting your $$ on the Core, considering the coupon.
 
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