Why do BOBs resemble an apocolypse trading bin instead of a backpacking pack?

[ThriftyJoe]

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[ThriftyJoe]

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[Codger_64]

Actually, deer, elk, turkey, ducks, geese, rabbits and other wildlife were drasticly reduced well before the depression by market hunters suppliying the hoards of city slickers, their meat markets and eateries. Us bumpkins settled for possum, coon and squirrels (or snatched up a chicken or pig in our yards). The abundent wildlife we have today is largely thanks to sports hunters from the pre-depression days foreward. Not the non-license-buying, non-taxpaying Metropolis dwellers. Who couldn't outsmart a possum or gator or skin a buck if their life depended on it. (cue Hank Jr.)

 

[SpikeHawk]

People get false comfort in thinking that buying more gear will make them able to survive better. They are trying to be a "portable doomsday prepper". Knowledge and skills cannot be replaced with gear.

 

[Buffalohump]

The fascination with apocalypse is really an interesting phenomenon. I put it down to media over-saturation. People are now so much more aware of the world's problems than ever before. I find I am much calmer when I ignore what is going on in the world and just concentrate on my own little day to day routine. As soon as I switch on the news channels it seems as if the world is about to end. And yet, somehow, it never does.

But I will say assembling a bug out kit is a fun thing to do, but really its just camping at the end of the day. Camping with a major dose of paranoia!

 

[stewey1]

There are too many intelligent comments on this thread for me to thumb up them all, so here's one for everybody. :thumbup: Here's another. :thumbup:

IMHO, best wilderness survival gear that you can actually carry = backpacking gear. There are little old ladies on the AT and PCT right now who know more about what you really need to survive long periods in the wild than a lot of the internet survivalists I've seen. I think a lot of internet survivalists have never been cold and wet for days at a time, or been dehydrated after running out of water. Or how about just being lost in deep woods? Those kits would change fast if they had.

Realistic living off the land after SHTF = poverty. Want to know how to get by for long periods in difficult conditions with limited resources? Ask a poor person. Heck, ask a homeless person. They do it every day.

Listen, I like shopping for and buying outdoor gear as much as the next person. It gets out of control easily though, like smoking or gambling. IMHO, more people should take whatever they were going to spend on survival axes or fire steels this month and put it into their retirement savings instead, so they can punch out before they're too old and sick to do anything. Sitting in an office dreaming about adventures and shopping online is no substitute for actually getting out and using the gear you already have.

I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I try to limit my outdoor gear expenditures to replacing anything that failed on my last trip. Really, the best use of my outdoor money is for gas to get me there, not more gear.

wow, common sense.

I could not agree more with you.

 

[xbxb]

I don't have a specific answer to your question, but by the looks of the pictures it appears they are preparing for war versus camping

 

[Bob W]

Whoever is responsible for the "BOB / survival" hysteria is a marketing genius.

 

[Shotgun]

The fascination with apocalypse is really an interesting phenomenon. I put it down to media over-saturation. People are now so much more aware of the world's problems than ever before. I find I am much calmer when I ignore what is going on in the world and just concentrate on my own little day to day routine. As soon as I switch on the news channels it seems as if the world is about to end. And yet, somehow, it never does.

I agree. This is especially true since the media is about ratings and not about informing people. This is why the negative stories rise to the top. Sensationalism. The positive stories don't usually see any coverage. If they do it's usually a quick blurb at the end of a broadcast.

 

[Hammer67]

The fascination with apocalypse is really an interesting phenomenon. I put it down to media over-saturation. People are now so much more aware of the world's problems than ever before. I find I am much calmer when I ignore what is going on in the world and just concentrate on my own little day to day routine. As soon as I switch on the news channels it seems as if the world is about to end. And yet, somehow, it never does.

Whoever is responsible for the "BOB / survival" hysteria is a marketing genius.

Quoted together because I think that both of these good observations should be considered in tandem.

And it's more than a little ironic that so many in the prepper community think of themselves as being above the "sheeple" when many of them have become exactly that within their own little sub-culture.

 

[darthstrevel]

Some really great comments on this thread. The comments about working with the local community to overcome obstacles & new developing skills are right on point. As many of you stated we are pack animals that have become a "herd."

I think the the "survivalism" paranoia is just one type of reactionary reaction to how "out of control" people feel about the complexity of modern civilization. The modern "prepper" community is way for people to feel they are doing something towards forces outside their control --- and for them to feel some what superior to the "sheeple." This creates an "us vs. Them" air of exclusivity, and comfort. BOBs are just one of the symptoms. For me, I just seems to be another way for people to accumulate crap.

I am all for "being prepared" for limited disasters, wilderness backpacking accidents, etc ... but I agree folks seem to take the BOB/apocalypse concept to the point of absurdity. I have reached the point where I have enough gear to enjoy most outdoor activities, and I like to make or mod my own or repair/replace what actual wears out due to use, with hunting, scouts, etc. The gear is just gear, that I use to get out there and enjoy time with my family & the majesty of god's creation.

 

[darthstrevel]

delete - double tap

 

[Joe Real]

Two things that fascinates me are the bug out thing versus just bugging in, and thew whole apocalyptic phenomenon.

I am sure there are a few scenarios in which bugging out is the right answer but in my particular case 80% of them call for bug in and stay put.

And love the line of ThriftyJoe "Sitting in an office dreaming about adventures and shopping online is no substitute for actually getting out and using the gear you already have". Unfortunately it describes me, however I do my best to do an overnight every other month.

Best Regards

 

[Triton]

Can I just say that this thread has somewhat restored my faith in humanity. Apparently not everyone that believes in preparedness is a blithering idiot!

 

[wildmanh]

IMHO, best wilderness survival gear that you can actually carry = backpacking gear. There are little old ladies on the AT and PCT right now who know more about what you really need to survive long periods in the wild than a lot of the internet survivalists I've seen. I think a lot of internet survivalists have never been cold and wet for days at a time, or been dehydrated after running out of water. Or how about just being lost in deep woods? Those kits would change fast if they had.

I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I try to limit my outdoor gear expenditures to replacing anything that failed on my last trip. Really, the best use of my outdoor money is for gas to get me there, not more gear.

I agree with you! A few years ago, I came to the conclusion that my Backpacking Gear was perfect for my 72 hour kit. For years, I had 2 bags, my 72 hour kit and my backpack kit. I had 2 or 3 sets of everything, they took up tons of space in my closet, and my 72 hour kit stuff never saw the light of day. Then it hit me, Use my backpacking kit as my 72 hour kit, when not out backpacking.

Mom ended up with a spare FAK, Firekit, Mess kit and a few other things. Some stuff went to outfit my niece who's getting into camping and backpacking, some went to my Day kit and others in to storage. For a while, I was setup to outfit my self and two other people with gear. Forget that. I've packed much lighter, have less un-needed stuff and less clutter in my life.

People Rushing out to get ammo, guns and other related items is kind of nuts. If you have to leave your home, how are you going to haul that ton of Gun crap that you have? I sure as heck won't be carrying it for you. A fire arm or two, ammo, Food, Shelter, clothes, First Aid, Fire, sleeping stuff, Food, Water. Cover the basics and maybe a few fun items. If Society collapses and there is no power, we will run out of fuel for our vehicles really really fast. Staying put and working with ones community to rebuild is a way better idea. After a while, travel will be limited to foot, hand carts, wagons and pack teams.
Anyone that can thrive while using 19th Century Tech will do well.

 

[heresthedeal]

Actually, deer, elk, turkey, ducks, geese, rabbits and other wildlife were drasticly reduced well before the depression by market hunters suppliying the hoards of city slickers, their meat markets and eateries. Us bumpkins settled for possum, coon and squirrels (or snatched up a chicken or pig in our yards). The abundent wildlife we have today is largely thanks to sports hunters from the pre-depression days foreward. Not the non-license-buying, non-taxpaying Metropolis dwellers. Who couldn't outsmart a possum or gator or skin a buck if their life depended on it. (cue Hank Jr.)

^^^^^^^^^^^ this, if it wasn't for DNR there wouldn't be any game out there still^^^^^

I can remember the deer weren't even around that much in the 70s, they were there but no where near like now.

you always hear the same thing, "I can hunt and fish, I'll eat what I kill, I'll survive".

the people that say that have never spent an entire day out hunting and never had a shot at anything but a bird or two, or spent all day fishing without a bite.

wouldn't take many of those in a row to starve.

besides, shoot an elk, or a deer, now what, eat for a day or two, now its starting to rot, because you have no electric for your freezer.

I don't have an answer but it dam sure ain't running for the mountains.

 

[lmalterna]

"Prepping" began in earnest in the late 40's and early 50's. One of my Mom's textbooks in school in the early 50's was "What you need to know about Communism and why". The Depression brought about people who "stocked up" when times were good- extra clothes and tools were popular items to have on hand. The threat of nuclear holocaust brought about bunkers and food/water stores. The zombie movies just keep it fresh for the rest of us

The mention of storing food without freezers hits home for me. We had a large dug cellar with walls lined with shelves full of canned goods. How many people know how to can now? Growing up we even had comunity canning days at the coop. While mothers and grandmothers canned, we kids played football and basketball out back. I spent MANY hours on the front porch shelling and breaking beans, we picked apples, pears, cherries and blackberries off the hillside, grew enough spuds to fill an 8' truck bed, veggies, our own spices and robbed the honeybees. We raised cows, chickens, pigs and tobacco. Hunted and canned that meat. Our freezer had ice and ice cream.

I am a part of the problem now though. We raise a few fresh veggies. I stock a months worth of food and 2 weeks worth of water. Life became more comfortable but the economy in the past few years has me looking back now.

Bill

 

[Magnaminous_G]

I have a BOB. It's a 72 hour bag. If the apocalypse comes, I'll die. Simple as that. The people who will survive are the jungle people in the Amazon, or the mountain folk way up in the hills in Kentucky: sparse human population, abundant natural resources, and close family and clan ties of people who will band together and who ALL know how to live off the land. Those of us who live in densely-populated areas full of morons who don't know anything and who will descend into Mad Max carnage the minute authority ends? All dead except the most violent and ruthless criminals... or those with serious skills that will assure that other people take care of them with food and shelter: doctors, distillers, etc. The normal folks who aren't gangsters or doctors who survive will be in complete misery until order is restored. They will not be "bugging out." They will be begging, stealing, and barely getting by.

But in reality? Far more important is your bug-IN kit. Lots of candling (bright lamps with lots of fuel/batteries, candles, lucifer matches, etc.), 3 days of water (1 gallon per day, per person), non-perishable foods, and signaling gear (flare guns, air horns, whistles, glow sticks, day-glo paint, etc.). And the real scenario you should be preparing for is a natural disaster (power grid outage, earthquake, tornado, etc.). Not the Cuban invasion or the second coming. That's silly.

 

[wildmanh]

Back in the Spring of 1983 I believe it was, there was a Huge flood, the whole side of mountains slid down and blocked a few passes in and out of the valley that I live in. High way 89 to the north and Highway 132 to the West were both blocked. Possibly even Faiview canyon to the East. The only highway or major roads in and out of Sanpete county was Highway 89 to the south. One had to go an hour south to I-70 then west to I15 to get to Provo or Salt Lake City for supplies. There is a small Highway outside Gunnison to the south west of here also. Either way, it was a long, long drive around.

This valley was almost isolated from the rest of the world for a week or two. Life continued, stores brought supplies in the long way, took a while and everything went back to normal. There was almost no Bugging out, it was a stay in and live partly off food storage scenario for a few weeks. I was 2 at the time and lived in Southern California. But some neighbors remember it. It was like the 19th century for a while here. Power problems, water was okay in some areas. But still.

I used to fantasize about bugging out. These days though, I prep for natural disasters and staying put for a week or two with little to no power and water. Got plenty of water, hygiene and misc supplies for a week or two, but Need to work on the food supply.

When we were kids, my mom would do a No power exercise. Pretend that we had no power for a day/night. We'd have to cook on camp stoves or our wood stove, use candles, lanterns and flashlights. We'd sing, read, stay out side as long as possible if the weather was nice, take care of the animals and so on. It was a ton of fun. I also learned to make Brush shelters. Some held up to Utah winters.

Practice, practice, practice!

 

[MAURICE]

I have a BOB. It's a 72 hour bag. If the apocalypse comes, I'll die. Simple as that. The people who will survive are the jungle people in the Amazon, or the mountain folk way up in the hills in Kentucky: sparse human population, abundant natural resources, and close family and clan ties of people who will band together and who ALL know how to live off the land. Those of us who live in densely-populated areas full of morons who don't know anything and who will descend into Mad Max carnage the minute authority ends? All dead except the most violent and ruthless criminals... or those with serious skills that will assure that other people take care of them with food and shelter: doctors, distillers, etc. The normal folks who aren't gangsters or doctors who survive will be in complete misery until order is restored. They will not be "bugging out." They will be begging, stealing, and barely getting by.

But in reality? Far more important is your bug-IN kit. Lots of candling (bright lamps with lots of fuel/batteries, candles, lucifer matches, etc.), 3 days of water (1 gallon per day, per person), non-perishable foods, and signaling gear (flare guns, air horns, whistles, glow sticks, day-glo paint, etc.). And the real scenario you should be preparing for is a natural disaster (power grid outage, earthquake, tornado, etc.). Not the Cuban invasion or the second coming. That's silly.

Well put, sir.