Urban Kit/B.O.B

A utility knife with spare blades will be more useful in an urban environment than some of those knives, and it will not draw attention. Cardboard is a common material in an urban environment, and a utility knife excels at working with cardboard.

If there is a disaster in an urban environment, it is very likely that people will be helping people. Be prepared to help others, and they will help you. In the two riots I have encountered, good people banded together to help each other. The criminals acted up for a night or two, but without the police protecting them, they quickly disappeared as good people dealt with them (in some cases permanently).

You also need a list of contact numbers, doctor's numbers, identification, etc. so you can restart your life. It took three months to get birth certificates for my kids and myself. Wonder how long it will take to get a birth certificates, etc., if the SHTF?

I have also put packs like that together, and it is good fun. Just be sure to spend time creating a real pack for real urban disasters, before making these fun packs.

Spud
 
thanks for posting and thanks for all the additional posts, urban survival is not one of my strong suits- this has definitely shed some light on the matter :)

I can see that pry bar coming in very handy in an urban environ- rescuing someone, self rescue, getting to supplies, etc

the dust masks make great sense as well (visions of recent earth quakes, 9/11, etc)

I agree w/ Rock6- a good filtration system would look like a good addition as well

good stuff
 
You have some great tools and blades but did you include disposable
scalpels ? They are not only good for medical tasks but for detail work,
traps and small weapon tips.
I bought a box of 200 for $5 US on ebay (just blades, long stem).
 
Keep some spray paint nearby incase you have to bug out to the woods. You can camo your pack in 10 minutes and have it touch dry on your shoulders.
 
Great kit!

Just a few comments meant in the spirit of constructiveness. Heed or ignore, no le hace.

I wouldn't carry anything (especially my knife) dangling from those lil cheap carabiners. I've had them self-destruct while carrying just my keys. Lost an edc knife and compass. I'd use paracord, zip tie, duct tape, electrical tape, whatever, to attach it.

I also would carry anything weaved into the molle like that. I HAVE seen people lose things doing that.

I like to keep all my gear (or at least my critical gear) on a paracord lanyard. Learned it while attending JFK Special Forces school. Thought it looked silly at the time but I re-learned the lesson later after losing gear at just the wrong time. :(

I agree that I'd want to be more low profile. Knives and such under your shirt at least. You can tie your machete over your shoulder so that it hangs on your back. Easy to draw if necessary.
 
Scottman said:
It's like a hummer driving down the road, and an old chevy citation. Which one do you think scum would like to get?
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Poor example. Everyone knows that Chevy Citations haven't roamed the earth for nearly two decades so a running version would clearly be a collectors item. :)
 
PayetteRucker said:
Man, if you set up an ambush during extreme civil unrest for a couple of knives, a bag and a cheap machete, and proceed to pull it off, and recover his crap all without someone intervening, you deserve his urban survival kit. I personally won't be picking people off for their gear, but since there are obviously people out there with a similar mindset to you I'll be sure to keep the FAL close.
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Heck, there are people who will do that TODAY! Let alone when they might actually NEED it. NEVER give up the element of surprise; I'd figure out a way to keep as much hidden as possible.
But I wouldn't go to the other extreme either. Look too weak like bum, and you're easy prey. And let's be real. If it is a disaster like Katrina, or worse, something like Haiti, you better melt into your surroundings. Because i think if you're not working with your own "pack," any pack of predators that comes along is going to pop you just for the heck of it if it looks like you've got anything more than the clothes on your back.
 
I agree that the machete hanging off your pack might draw unwanted attention.Do you have a good shoulder holster for the .45 ? If not,I would invest in one.I find the Galco Miami Classic conceals well.
 
I like the crowbar and the hacksaw, really great things in an urban survival case. Maybe ditch the machete and the crow bar and combine them in a tomahawk? Some of the thicker ones will do decent prying.
Gloves make sense too, did not think of that.
What might the dust masks be used for?

Where did you get the energy bars? I dont know where to get good long term shelf stable food for such a kit. I would have to grab my bag and throw in some canned goods.

Have any candles?

I figure I have to have two bags made up though, one for me and one for wife. The wife may get the .22 and the baby clothes though.
 
I have my ghurka sheath behind a shoulder bag attached to the shoulder bag. At waist level, I cover the handle with my flannel shirt if I'm on the trail and don't want to alarm anyone. Blend the lines.
 
I would exchange the Kurkri for the an axe. You can apply more concentrated force on wood, soft metal (think a fireman's axe usage), hammer, crush, break, open, twist.

Cell phone charger, either battery, crank or solar.

Clear or light tint eye protection glasses, could have a lot of debris and glass flying.
 
Also in a stainless steel water bottle you can boil it, cook in it etc...
 
Where did you get the energy bars? I dont know where to get good long term shelf stable food for such a kit. I would have to grab my bag and throw in some canned goods.
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I got them from a local emergency supplies store, I also carry these http://www.mountainhouse.com/ The chicken and rice bag is 400 cal and they only weigh half a pound with a 7 year shelf life, they also make canned food with a 10 year shelf life, I got them at a local sporting goods store for $4.75 each. Just add water.
 
dante said:
I would exchange the Kurkri for the an axe. You can apply more concentrated force on wood, soft metal (think a fireman's axe usage), hammer, crush, break, open, twist.

Cell phone charger, either battery, crank or solar.

Clear or light tint eye protection glasses, could have a lot of debris and glass flying.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of the axe. Or perhaps a hatchet. While I can see the utility of the kuhk, and the romance of it, in all likelihood an axe or hatchet can do as much, and perhaps more. But, if you already have the kuhk, then I'd certainly use it and not go searching for a hatchet.

Regarding the "weaving" that Nemoaz mentions... are you talking about the small prybar? Or are you disliking the molle concept in general?
 
Looks pretty good.

A few things to add maybe

- sewing kit, maybe some Kevlar thread
- signal mirror
- flashlight with crank that way you arent dependent on carrying or finding batteries
- tarp and a good heavy garbage bag for possible shelter.
- maybe a few maps of your surrounding area, laminated.

Are those zip ties about the black rope?
I'd take the extra hacksaw blades outta the package, make a cardboard type sheath to make some room.
Not sure you need the 3 sizes of wire.
Extra batteries?

some rambling thoughts...
 
  1. Might want to keep bolt cutters in the car
  2. Spare ID or copies
  3. Coins
  4. surgical gloves
  5. Spare ATM card in case you get mugged
  6. Cash in small bills
 
I'm not a super light super high speed kind of guy, but certain things I see I'd take out of replace with a smaller (and lighter) item.

The 18" prybar seems like overkill. In an urban setting, finding something to pry with can be done if you have to pry. An alternative would be the smaller, flat prybars countycomm sells. They are about 8" long, 2" wide and tough.

For cutting tools I'd lose the kukri for the fact that it's visible. A 12" Tramontina with a cardboard sheath might fit IN your pack instead of outside. Sure it's smaller...but it's out of sight, lighter, and very capable. A small machete, a medium fixed blade (or even your Izula), and a SAK would packa lot of options while being light. And if you wanted to go even lighter take out the fixed blade and just go with the machete and SAK (and the Leatherman which also has two blades..). As someone else said, a retractable utility blade weighs next to nothing and is very handy for going through cardboard and other light but abrasive things.

The large radio you've got can be replaced by the smaller AM/FM/SW/light Countycomm radio with earbud and external antenna. You'd save space and weight. I've got mine in a ziplock baggie to keep it all together.

With all that weight and space you save, I'd really go through your medical/first aid supplies and make everything easily accessable and identifiable. In my kit I try to cover everything from splinters to fairly big wounds and everything in between like bug bites and burns.

Safety glasses/goggles could be added and weigh nothing. If you've got to wear one of those dust masks, chances are the air is full of crap and it might be blowing around, so those would keep it out of your eyes.

As others have said, being low key and not having stuff (especially knives/tools) dangling from your pack or otherwise in full view is a survival skill. Someone made a Humvee/old car analogy and I agree with that...if both of those cars are in a parking lot, which one would probably have the best goodies inside? Same thing goes for your pack.
 
I think Cynt has a point. I would ask: Is your Urban BOB intended for just that: Bug out of the urban setting to someplace else, a safer place? Or it is intended to help you survive in an urban environment, after all hell breaks loose?
Beacuse I think that in the second case, it's just not big enough. You'll need some like Will Smith's character in "I'm legend".
 
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