The U.S.K phenomenon and P.O.U discussion

One thing that may help you out is to look at an absolute worst case scenario on your daily travels. Maybe instead of carrying the backpack everywhere you could rent a locker in a public place that's easily accessible and store your emergency stash half-way through your travel destination. Then have an extra one at home, plus carry the BARE essentials on you. Knife, flashlight, keychain prybar?

The other side of the conversation is pure suspicion by other folks, including authority. Were something nefarious to happen where you happened to located, having a backpack full of rope, fire starters, and other survival gear may get you into some uncomfortable situations.
 
May I suggest that Philosophy of Use is dependent on Risk Assesment
So you start planing for probable not possible

Risk Assessment will show you probable senarios
And you can plan for those
You will very soon shed a lot of equipment

My urban survival based on probable is centered around Rocket attacks and Earthquakes
What is yours?
 
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Codger_64 said:
I have never watched a full N-N-F video, so I really don't know what he espouses.
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Jimping and grip tape. Crap loads of jimping and grip tape. He also likes lots of camo and Molle webbing. Even better if it is camo Molle........
 
In 2011, I was involved in a pretty big natural disaster (Earthquake, tsunami, no water and power for 9 days). I was stranded at work (I travelled there by train everyday) and had to walk 4 hours home in the pitch black night through an urban area.
The most useful things I had in my bag were:

-Flashlight and spare battery (No streetlights or any kind of ambient light in an urban area is pretty dangerous. I saw people walk into one another, sign posts and a few fell over).
-Cellphone and spare battery (I had no signal for around 4 hours, but after that I was able to contact my wife and let people know that I was OK).
-Mini pry bar (The only way into my apartment was to use it to jimmy a window open. The front door was totally stuck fast).
-Space blanket (I didn't actually use it, but if I hadn't been able to get home, I would have needed it).
-Cash and spare change (Local convenience stores were selling food and water. They had no power, so big notes were hard for them to change).
-Band Aids (Blisters on my feet).

I had a pen knife, but I didn't need it.

What I wish I had had:

-Comfortable shoes (Walking 4 hours in skateboard sneakers left me with blisters).
-More clothes (I was cold walking home. I needed long johns and a scarf).
 
i carry this backpack loaded full of rope,medical kit,knives,fire kit,water purification and so on, however maybe im taking it a bit far as to be carrying it everyday?
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There's no reason to make a scene of yourself carrying that sort of thing into stores or businesses. In addition to the constant suspicion that you're pinching things in the hardware store, it screams out, "Look at me!"

Getting away from Youtube videos, useless acronyms, and other silliness, consider the specifics of you and your town. What sort of disasters are most likely in your particular city? What gear would make it easier to get home if that emergency were to happen? Do you always keep enough gas in the car to get home? Do you have weather-appropriate clothing, either wearing it or kept in the car? Do you know where the medical supplies at work are? Do you have good shoes available and a bit of walking home cash?

Use recent real-life scenarios as examples: Did the people walking home after the 9/11 attacks need fantasy tactical combat gear complete with jimping and molle, or did they need sturdy shoes and a bottle of water?
 
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if you can carry it then carry it. it's good exercise at least...i've seen a lot of people that carry much more than that in body fat alone every single day :eek:
 
Regardless of how you feel, the famous/infamous youtube reviewer isn't the topic of this thread and will not become the topic. Thanks. :)
 
Bob W said:
There's no reason to make a scene of yourself carrying that sort of thing into stores or businesses. In addition to the constant suspicion that you're pinching things in the hardware store, it screams out, "Look at me!"

Getting away from Youtube videos, useless acronyms, and other silliness, consider the specifics of you and your town. What sort of disasters are most likely in your particular city? What gear would make it easier to get home if that emergency were to happen? Do you always keep enough gas in the car to get home? Do you have weather-appropriate clothing, either wearing it or kept in the car? Do you know where the medical supplies at work are? Do you have good shoes available and a bit of walking home cash?

Use recent real-life scenarios as examples: Did the people walking home after the 9/11 attacks need fantasy tactical combat gear complete with jimping and molle, or did they need sturdy shoes and a bottle of water?
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Heh, that is a fair point. Some of the survival items people carry around are guaranteed to freak out a cashier in the 3 items game. Fair warning, the link directs you to some off color humor.
 
I never leave home without a flashlight. Having one on me saved my life years ago.
 
Chinpo said:
In 2011, I was involved in a pretty big natural disaster (Earthquake, tsunami, no water and power for 9 days). I was stranded at work (I travelled there by train everyday) and had to walk 4 hours home in the pitch black night through an urban area.
The most useful things I had in my bag were:

-Flashlight and spare battery (No streetlights or any kind of ambient light in an urban area is pretty dangerous. I saw people walk into one another, sign posts and a few fell over).
-Cellphone and spare battery (I had no signal for around 4 hours, but after that I was able to contact my wife and let people know that I was OK).
-Mini pry bar (The only way into my apartment was to use it to jimmy a window open. The front door was totally stuck fast).
-Space blanket (I didn't actually use it, but if I hadn't been able to get home, I would have needed it).
-Cash and spare change (Local convenience stores were selling food and water. They had no power, so big notes were hard for them to change).
-Band Aids (Blisters on my feet).

I had a pen knife, but I didn't need it.

What I wish I had had:

-Comfortable shoes (Walking 4 hours in skateboard sneakers left me with blisters).
-More clothes (I was cold walking home. I needed long johns and a scarf).
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Great info.

You were lucky to be so prepared. I have some stuff in my car, but I never thought about using public transport and having to walk home. I'm glad this was manageable for you.
 
I think car breakdowns are among the more expectable incidents. It has happened several times to me.
A new version in Australia is due to authorities investigating after a crash on a motorway( high speed highway, very few access points.)
Multicar pileups lead to investigators being flown in by helicopter. Traffic isn't allowed past for many hours. I'm talking 6+ hrs in 40c heat. If your not prepared, it is hell.
 
My car has stuff in it not so much for metro / urban incident , but more rural / outback stranding .
Spare fuel , oil , coolant , radiator hoses , belt , bars leaks , chewing gum ( it actually does work to block up fuel tank punctures ) basic tools , tents sleeping bags , drinking water . More than once I have had to call on the gear for repairs , to stop overnight or three because of being stuck somehow .. flooded crossing , broken belt , multiple blow outs and only two spares .

I carry a small camera case sized pack when I go away from the car and we are out of town , its got stuff thats just handy , a tarp and cords that fit into a mess tin, a first aid kit , an emberlit and fire lighting stuff , and a lifestraw and of course a knife or two .

Enough for an overnight or so if needed , or anything less that might happen . Its my version of the tobacco tin grand dad carried with his matches , spare trap paper , fishing ling and what have you he found handy to have on him .

When I have to go into the city I kinda hate it ... too many people on top of each other , traffic is just crazy . My concept of urban survival .. go rural .
 
A car survival kit?
Flash lights, safety reflective vests, water to drink or overheating, FAK, a pry bar, and an entrenching tool
In the winter I carry a snowsuit in case I get stranded or brokedown and need to wait several hours

Urban Survival is when your town gets 500 rockets from Hisbolah, and you have to get out of town with your family
Or the long awaited earthquake happens, and you cannot get out of town
But it all revolves round stored water and basic non-cooking foods
Rescue stuff is secondary (as an ex SAR senior sargent)
 
It's hard to say without knowing what's in it. I would say you probably are because of the weight and the fact the guy you refer to isn't all that knowledgeable on a lot of things. I have a bag that I have loaded up for dayhikes that has a tarp, cordage, fak, and other survival odds and ends. I think it weighs about 5 pounds with a fleece jacket in it. Water for the hike adds about 5-10 more pounds depending on the season. However I don't carry it around town with me. I just never need it in the urban jungle. Like others have said though, there's a few things that are essential must haves that I keep on my person. Flashlight, knife, a few bandaids, firestarter, whistle(earthquake zone), wallet, phone, spare keys and a water bottle. Everything but the water fitting into my pockets. To that I'll add a jacket or something for the weather and I'm good to go. Honestly the only reason I've ever felt like carrying a bag is just to have a place to store my jacket and water in. The myriad of survival items are just not needed or can be improvised with whatever junk is lying around. A city has a lot of useful junk. If you're not ready to give it up yet maybe you can reduce the volume and weight by repackaging things. For instance carry a few feet of duct tape rather than the whole roll etc.
 
I think that the OP missed the point of the Nut N Fancy video. His stuff is purely for entertainment purposes ;)
 
The 15 lb backpack kit the OP describes seems excessive to me and may seem excessive to him too as he gains experience in life. But we can all commend him on wanting to step up to the plate and take responsibility for his own well-being & his willingness to acknowledge that the unexpected can happen.

+1 that a good vehicle kit is essential. Sounds like he's on foot. Hence the pack.

I have been in my share of urban disruptions, including the London subway bombings, 9/11 and a handful of hurricanes, earthquakes, blackouts and rioting/looting. What I found more useful than specific gadgets was basic everyday information, especially local geography and emergency info. But a SAK, walking shoes (always) and a decent light (Fenix L0D1 or similar) will always be helpful. A spare phone battery like the $30 LenMar battery case on my iPhone can make a difference. The habit of always having some cash is helpful since ATMs are something you won't find/won't work/won't have time to wait in line for. And all that is EDC for most people's pockets, anyway.
 
Chinpo said:
In 2011, I was involved in a pretty big natural disaster (Earthquake, tsunami, no water and power for 9 days). I was stranded at work (I travelled there by train everyday) and had to walk 4 hours home in the pitch black night through an urban area.
The most useful things I had in my bag were:

-Flashlight and spare battery (No streetlights or any kind of ambient light in an urban area is pretty dangerous. I saw people walk into one another, sign posts and a few fell over).
-Cellphone and spare battery (I had no signal for around 4 hours, but after that I was able to contact my wife and let people know that I was OK).
-Mini pry bar (The only way into my apartment was to use it to jimmy a window open. The front door was totally stuck fast).
-Space blanket (I didn't actually use it, but if I hadn't been able to get home, I would have needed it).
-Cash and spare change (Local convenience stores were selling food and water. They had no power, so big notes were hard for them to change).
-Band Aids (Blisters on my feet).

I had a pen knife, but I didn't need it.

What I wish I had had:

-Comfortable shoes (Walking 4 hours in skateboard sneakers left me with blisters).<END QUOTE>>

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This is about exactly what most New Yorkers who had to hike home from Manhattan on 9/11 will agree on. Good shoes, cash, a cellphone spare battery (charger?), a flashlight for those out after nightfall. A buddy walking home to New Jersey did not get home until 4 AM, wearing leather soled laceup wingtip shoes and a useless dead phone he could not recharge. A working Blackberry would have made a huge difference. He actually had everything he needed waiting for him at his office (running shoes, phone chargers, stash of power bars, etc) but he never made it to his office that day. He was not in those days, a SAK-on-keyring kinda guy. He is now.

OTOH, a 15 pound backpack full of wilderness camping gear would have been worse than useless to him. Starting a campfire and lashing together a lean-to were the last things he needed.

Keeping yourself in some semblance of decent shape is worth remembering, too. My buddy in Jersey was overweight by a good 40 lbs and that was a huge problem for him on his 20+ mile hike home. Per Zombieland, being young but o/wt and unaccustomed to exertion is far more hazardous to survival than being older but reasonably fit.
My .02.
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There's your answer: carry your pack everywhere, add extra weight every couple of months, so you will be slim & fit when the apocalypse falls.
 
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