What should go in this bag?

Alan2442

Alan2442

Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
608
Working on building a survival kit/BOB...I have a Maxpedition Condor-II backpack to fill up with goodies. I was just wondering what you thought should be included to make a sweet kit.

opplanet-maxpedition-condor-2-backpack.jpg


Thanks,
Alan
 
Well that could be a long list. I'll try to see if I can remember what's in mine off the top of my head. One thing I will say that I like to do is NOT fill up the pack. That way I have space for extra layers and lunches and what not.

Space blanket
2 lawn bags
Pak towel
fish kit
compass
25-50 feet of paracord
Chums eyeglass strap
tp
alcohol wipes x3-9
sunscreen
bug spray (in summer)
pen pencil and right in rain notebook
mini bic
fire straws X 6-10
duct tape
1/2 x 4 inch firesteel w/ striker
saw (taken out when carrying chopper)
20 micropur tabs
stainless cup
water bottles (when hiking, don't store them there)
stocking cap
3'x3' silk bandana
layers depending on weather now would be fleece, scarf, extra set of socks and rain coat
 
Last edited:
thanks shotgun...sounds like a good list to get me started. i think i have allot of that stuff already.
 
Sure thing. My kit's on the light side. Stick around and do some searches and you'll get a pretty good feel for what most people are carrying. Mtwarden had a good list a little while back IIRC.
 
Ammo .................... and beer


You can survive anything with those two necessities :D;)
 
you know what i think is weird. all the time i see people saying what should i put in my new bag, instead of saying i have all my essentials, now what should i get to carry it in
 
nutnfancyfan said:
you know what i think is weird. all the time i see people saying what should i put in my new bag, instead of saying i have all my essentials, now what should i get to carry it in
Click to expand...

Hate to break it to you, but sometimes size matters.
 
mine's built around a
1. GI poncho and mosquito netting+trash can liners ground cloth for shelter
2. Sawyer filter bottle / nested stainless cup+ ClO2 tabs + betadine for water purification
3. Swiss volcano ranger stove and bottle/ Bic lighter/ firesteel
4. Personal hygiene kit, soap, toothbrush/paste/deodorant/paper towels for TP
5. first aid kit, prescription meds, OTC analgesics and immodium
6. AAA LED headlight and small AA LED flashlight with extra batteries
7. Victorinox multitool, Cold Steel SRK, folding pruning saw, extra cordage
8. fishing kit, couple of boxes of.22lr (cast net if vehicle is involved)
9. navigation kit of compass, ranger beads, grease pencil, whistle, small firesteel
10. 3day pre packed tunafish/ramen/cocoa/crystal lite/oatmeal based meals/
11. extra socks, leather gloves, boonie hat, bandana
 
I think you may be approaching this from a difficult direction, Alan. What you need to do is assemble the kit first, then find a bag to carry it in. When you try to fill a bag, you begin to focus on the empty spots rather than the items. There is a tendency to fall victim to over-packing or missing something all together. You just have to be careful. Make sure your first priority is the contents not the manner in which they are carried.

Sweet bag, BTW

Rick
 
Rick,
Thanks for the advice. I have already started to move in that direction. Currently i am still in the process of trying to get all of the items I may be interested in putting in the kit down on one list. At this point in my life I am very comfortable in the woods, but it is my goal to be able to still be comfortable with a kit about the size of your "Bush Kit" seen on your website. Its funny, I remember looking at that kit before I even joined this website and saying to my self, "that's the goal."
My idea for this bag is to drastically reduce the materials available to me in the woods. I typically travel with a large internal frame pack by Gregory. Great pack, but when things get hard I find it much easier to just go to the bag and get what I need rather than learn how to solve the problem with what I have available. While I still want to have the some equipment with me in case something goes wrong, I want to challenge my self and raise the steaks a little when it comes to learning survival, or primitive, skills. Eventually, I want to leave this bag in the car but until i am comfortable I will have it with me.

everyone else...thank you so much for your comments. I have looked at all for the sites recommended and have been getting some great ideas.

Yes, size does matter...even if she says it doesn't

The Ammo and firearms are usually in the car if they are needed, and i typically have a bottle of Jamison in there as well. Beer (while delicious) tends to take up too much room and become a source of to much trash.

thanks for the link to the Hoods Woods website...i spent a few hours on there last night

Alan
 
This might just be a regional thing (it's very cold and wet where I live), but I cringe every time I see a survival bag that lacks some kind of warm sleeping gear.

Being able to create shelter and fire is well and good, but there are days when fire is unfortunately NOT happening, and simple shelter from the elements isn't going to be enough to prevent hypothermia.

I like to bring a wool blanket rolled up with me on day hikes (my day bag is essentially a BOB that gets put to use). Bulkier than a sleeping bag, but you can keep it "compressed" forever and it wont lose its loft. Keeping a compressed sleeping bag permanently in a survival sack wont work. Strapping a wool bed roll under the pack, however... just might save your life when it's been raining for three weeks straight and firewood is non-existent.

If you ever have to legitimately survive out of a backpack, you'll be damn happy to have a warm blanket with you. I'm speaking from experience. That snare wire in my pack? Not so useful. My wool blanket though? Hah. ;)
 
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