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

To add to my original post: In what world is a used ALICE pack good for anything, let alone transporting 100 pounds of your essential gear across a zombie wasteland. I see people recommend this pack more than anything else! I bought one a while back and it was INCREDIBLY uncomfortable and squeeky. It also came with broken parts I had to repair before I could find out how bad a pack it was. They are robust and work great to fill up and leave in a corner, but backpack technology has progressed do far since the 60's. For the $50 they cost, far more suitable packs can be found...

Their constant recommendation proves how few people ever even put their BOB on...
 
michaelmcgo said:
To add to my original post: In what world is a used ALICE pack good for anything, let alone transporting 100 pounds of your essential gear across a zombie wasteland. I see people recommend this pack more than anything else! I bought one a while back and it was INCREDIBLY uncomfortable and squeeky. It also came with broken parts I had to repair before I could find out how bad a pack it was. They are robust and work great to fill up and leave in a corner, but backpack technology has progressed do far since the 60's. For the $50 they cost, far more suitable packs can be found...

Their constant recommendation proves how few people ever even put their BOB on...
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Obviously written by someone who never wore one for any length of time. With the right outfitting, an Alice pack is every bit as comfortable as a modern internal frame pack. People recommend them for a reason. Their inexpensive and get the job done.
As far as your generalized statement about folks who own them and use them... Use what you want, but please don't generalize folks in that manner as its elitist. I have humped an Alice ruck for hundreds of miles if not more. I'm speaking from experience. If you took the time to learn how to set the pack up and got one that wasn't (from your description) totally used up as surplus, you may find its not too bad.

In regards to equipment. If you have the money, go ahead an get whatever gear you want. Your still light years ahead of those who are unprepared.

This topic gets unbelievable at times. While I believe (personally) and prepare for bugging in as a community, that by no means I'm not ready to hit the road if necessary.

Lets just be glad they are doing something to prepare. If they stock up incorrectly, that's just more food for us.

Sorry - just hate seeing this topic get beaten to death. Not attacking.

I do agree that most of the kits being sold today are junk - but buyer beware. That's why most if us take so long to actually build ours up due to all the product and regional research we do to try and get it right.

Just my $.02
 
Well, I've been at this about 3 years now, and I've learned a few things from all the research I've done. Everyone should have some sort of emergency kit. The government recommends it, the red cross recommends it, and the CDC recommends it. it's a sensible idea. what makes a BOB a bug out bag is the idea that you'll be leaving your home. It doesn't even have to be a natural disaster or terrorist attack. The more likely scenario is something like a fire in the neighborhood which could cause the authorities to evacuate you. It then only seems reasonable to have already set aside a few items to make your exit from the comfort of your home more bearable. Later this year I'll be posting my bug out bag on you tube, which has taken years to create. My system is based on mobility. I believe much fewer essentials are needed than what you typically see, and ultimately fewer/different items than what you would take on a weekend backpacking trip. A lot of items you would think to include are readily available - even in the most remote places you can find plastic bottles. Most recently on the TV show Naked Castaway, Ed Stafford had nothing on a deserted island, but inevitably plastic bottles and cordage washed up on the shore. There are billions of plastic bottles lying around everywhere... tents, sleeping bags and pads ~could~ be useful, but ultimately are more of a comfort item... otherwise we'd see tents all over the place from homeless people. in a pinch a cardboard box will do inside an empty container at the train tracks. What's important are a few basic essentials like a good knife (after all, we are on the blade forums) a lighter and a flashlight. It's also not a bad idea to store copies of your pictures, docs, etc. on a durable USB drive. so when my video comes out, you'll see it's probably among the most compact and succinct bags on you tube.
 
Everyone should have some sort of emergency kit. The government recommends it, the red cross recommends it, and the CDC recommends it. it's a sensible idea. what makes a BOB a bug out bag is the idea that you'll be leaving your home. It doesn't even have to be a natural disaster or terrorist attack. The more likely scenario is something like a fire in the neighborhood which could cause the authorities to evacuate you. It then only seems reasonable to have already set aside a few items to make your exit from the comfort of your home more bearable.
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Absolutely. A few family heirlooms, sleeping bags, tent, extra clothes, medications and lists of prescriptions, important papers (account numbers, insurance policies, list of belongings), family and friends phone numbers, valuables like jewelry, food, water...

Funny I don't see any of that stuff in the "Bug Out Bags" that were shown in the original post.

If any of the dormant volcanoes here start spewing lava next week, I'm not going to play GI Joe in the woods; I'm going to a motel or apartment away from the danger and kick back for a few weeks.

------------------------

Here's the actual list from the Red Cross website:

At a minimum, you should have the basic supplies listed below:

Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Flashlight
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit – Anatomy of a First Aid Kit
Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)
Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
Games and activities for children
Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
Two-way radios
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your survival kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:

Whistle
N95 or surgical masks
Matches
Rain gear
Towels
Work gloves
Tools/supplies for securing your home
Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
Plastic sheeting
Duct tape
Scissors
Household liquid bleach
Entertainment items
Blankets or sleeping bags
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Now compare this list to the piles of military gear shown in the "BOB" pictures. :rolleyes:
 
I'm one step ahead. I skipped the traditional slug and buck shot for my shotgun and loaded it with Crisco. Boom.

I made my sleeping rolls out of Bacon. The tent is fruit roll ups, and my sleeping bag is Beef Jerky.

My "bugout" plan involves checking on my folks, and family and staying put.
 
For many that are actually serious, this “hobby” becomes an evolution. However, it’s only productive if you actually use it and the best way is to do a little backpacking or camping.

I’ve done a few “bug-to-Afghanistan” tours and humping 200+pounds of gear sucks…bugging anywhere for any amount of distance sucks unless you really define your requirements and have a reasonable destination.

A 72-hour bag is not a bad idea and can be adapted for any number of situations and locations, but if anybody thinks they’re going to “live in the woods” out of a pack for more than a week or two are delusional.

My bug-out-bag is really my regular backpack. It’s ready at a moment’s notice to quickly take off on a recreational backpacking trip up to a week. We use our backpacking gear regularly and confident we could enjoy a short-term crisis in our local backpacking spots. Reality is more that we would just hunker down, stay home and enjoy a few board or card games. Gear is sexy, reality often sucks. Shelter, water and food will only last for so long on your back. If you leave your home without a real threat (fire, flood, biological/chemical spill), you will be a refugee and your lifespan will be measure in days if you don’t have a realistic destination (cabin, family, etc.).

I do have a bug-home bag that is more specific addressing more serious threats, but even that is minimal and only designed to get me on the road home. As far as I’m concerned, we have already bugged out.

For younger kids in college or living/working in a nearby city it does make sense to have something to sustain you until you can get to a safe, pre-determined location if the potential threat is something you couldn’t sit-out. People are lazy and although we often hear or read fiction books of mass exodus and hundreds of people running from the cities to the hills. Most are complacent, lethargic and more apt to wait for government support. If there was a national catastrophe that shutdown communications and transportation, I would expect over half of the country would not survive past a month…the majority in high-population centers. If you’re not leaving those death traps before the reality of a serious SHFT sets in, you won’t be living long and the longer you stay the less likely you safely evacuate. However, it doesn’t matter if you have no experience moving on foot and living out of a backpack; if you don’t have a pre-planned destination or you’re physically incapable of walking with a backpacking for several miles a day. I can carry enough food to last me 7-10 days without resupply or augmenting via hunting/fishing/gathering; neither are viable options and often take time and increase risks. Without resupply or reaching your destination (that should have supplies), refugees will not make it past a few weeks.

I don’t discourage those that do enjoy the hobby of building a gear-heavy bug out bag. However, without training, reality-planning, thinking beyond the bug-out, taking their health and fitness seriously; and the most important, putting your skill to practice, your bug-out preparation remains a fantasy and false sense of security. Besides, the more untrained people who keep a bug out bag makes it easier to scavenge and resupply in my post-apocalyptic fantasies:D

ROCK6
 
Yorkshire Boy,
"I wonder if the American ideal of "freedom" been linked to the gun has anything to do with this.... "

While I have no intent to fight a running battle with anyone under any circumstance. I think history as well as current events demonstrates that under duress and panic- there are those in ANY population in every country that tend to behave badly. Not all but the few can makes things rather dangerous.

I will not be heavily armed for battle at any time. But I tend to have a minimal amount of self protection at hand at all times.

Bill
 
I agree OP. I backpack and quite honestly the "BOBs" that I see are more like KYB (kill you bags).

Urban environments would be a bit different, as you could get away with less shelter/sleeping options in some locations (weather permitting).

However, if you are planning on going into the wilderness, I'd rather have my backpacking setup to be quite honest. I know I can survive out of that bag. If I need to throw a rifle in there, I can, but what I've seen.....too weapon heavy, not enough food, shelter, rain gear.......E-tool is too heavy, and can be replaced with a plastic spade. Why do you need 2 full size pistols? Why do you need a shotgun AND a rifle? etc. These are just a few examples. With ammo and stuff, my load-out is around 60lb for a week. When I go backpacking, I don't take the rifle or it's ammo. That cuts a good 13lb off.

I use the SLX denatured alcohol from the local hardware store in my Varga alcohol stove, and it works well. It may not be the best, like HEET, but it does what I ask it to.
My preference for alcohol stoves is that they are light, simple (mine has no moving parts), and you don't need a metal container to store it in because you aren't pressurizing it. This stove probably cuts 1lb out of my setup and is a LOT smaller than a white-gas stove.

Another skill that I don't think people really take enough stock in.......is being able to trap, snare, etc. If you can hunt like this, you don't need to expend ammo and it's less intensive than hunting big game. Easier to carry, and doesn't take as much effort to field dress. If you aren't stationary, having 300lb of meat from an elk isn't going to help you more than trapping a bunny (or other small game) or 2 per day......you just can't carry it.

Get a good AR15 ,don't hang a bunch of junk off it, a sidearm, reasonable ammo load-outs and pay more attention to your REAL needs (water --> shelter --> food) more than how many guns you bring.
 
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I'm not going to spend a lot of time making fun of what other folks do, with regards to their BOB. I do feel that it's a good thing that people are becoming aware enough of what is going on in America, that they at least make an effort to be a bit more prepared.
That they don't have the personal advice of some of our experts, is sad, but I am betting they will muddle through anyway.

My modest BOB is a CamelBak HAWG, with a few extra MOLLE pouches attached. It has what I need to get from point A to point B, under the circumstances I feel are likely in my area.
I travel a lot between my two homes. One in Miami, the other in North Florida. Many a time, having food and water, TP and the like, has come in handy when trapped in a long, drawn out traffic incident on the Turnpike.
 
Mannlicher said:
I'm not going to spend a lot of time making fun of what other folks do, with regards to their BOB. I do feel that it's a good thing that people are becoming aware enough of what is going on in America, that they at least make an effort to be a bit more prepared.
That they don't have the personal advice of some of our experts, is sad, but I am betting they will muddle through anyway.

My modest BOB is a CamelBak HAWG, with a few extra MOLLE pouches attached. It has what I need to get from point A to point B, under the circumstances I feel are likely in my area.
I travel a lot between my two homes. One in Miami, the other in North Florida. Many a time, having food and water, TP and the like, has come in handy when trapped in a long, drawn out traffic incident on the Turnpike.
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I live in North Florida and was using a CamelBak HAWG, I have since gone even smaller.
 
For clarity's sake - I don't think that anyone is making fun of the basic idea of thinking through and being prepared for disasters, infrastructure failures, etc.
 
ROCK6 said:
For many that are actually serious, this “hobby” becomes an evolution. However, it’s only productive if you actually use it and the best way is to do a little backpacking or camping.

I’ve done a few “bug-to-Afghanistan” tours and humping 200+pounds of gear sucks…bugging anywhere for any amount of distance sucks unless you really define your requirements and have a reasonable destination.

A 72-hour bag is not a bad idea and can be adapted for any number of situations and locations, but if anybody thinks they’re going to “live in the woods” out of a pack for more than a week or two are delusional.

My bug-out-bag is really my regular backpack. It’s ready at a moment’s notice to quickly take off on a recreational backpacking trip up to a week. We use our backpacking gear regularly and confident we could enjoy a short-term crisis in our local backpacking spots. Reality is more that we would just hunker down, stay home and enjoy a few board or card games. Gear is sexy, reality often sucks. Shelter, water and food will only last for so long on your back. If you leave your home without a real threat (fire, flood, biological/chemical spill), you will be a refugee and your lifespan will be measure in days if you don’t have a realistic destination (cabin, family, etc.).

I do have a bug-home bag that is more specific addressing more serious threats, but even that is minimal and only designed to get me on the road home. As far as I’m concerned, we have already bugged out.

For younger kids in college or living/working in a nearby city it does make sense to have something to sustain you until you can get to a safe, pre-determined location if the potential threat is something you couldn’t sit-out. People are lazy and although we often hear or read fiction books of mass exodus and hundreds of people running from the cities to the hills. Most are complacent, lethargic and more apt to wait for government support. If there was a national catastrophe that shutdown communications and transportation, I would expect over half of the country would not survive past a month…the majority in high-population centers. If you’re not leaving those death traps before the reality of a serious SHFT sets in, you won’t be living long and the longer you stay the less likely you safely evacuate. However, it doesn’t matter if you have no experience moving on foot and living out of a backpack; if you don’t have a pre-planned destination or you’re physically incapable of walking with a backpacking for several miles a day. I can carry enough food to last me 7-10 days without resupply or augmenting via hunting/fishing/gathering; neither are viable options and often take time and increase risks. Without resupply or reaching your destination (that should have supplies), refugees will not make it past a few weeks.

I don’t discourage those that do enjoy the hobby of building a gear-heavy bug out bag. However, without training, reality-planning, thinking beyond the bug-out, taking their health and fitness seriously; and the most important, putting your skill to practice, your bug-out preparation remains a fantasy and false sense of security. Besides, the more untrained people who keep a bug out bag makes it easier to scavenge and resupply in my post-apocalyptic fantasies:D

ROCK6
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Couldn't agree more with Rock6 and you have actually made an incredible point. We all work, shop and go away from our homes. For most of us who practice some level of preparation, we have gear at home, whether camping style or military style. In the event of an emergency, regardless of type, I for one want to get home where the majority of my gear I kept. Bugging home is an excellent term which seems, at least to me, to be the highest priority. Once home, I can gather all of my gear and decide what needs to be ready to go, and what needs to simply be handy at the house. Since I already have a BOB made up, I am going to redefine my EDC plans. Being former military with the shoot, move and communicate philosophy, I am carrying my folder, sig, surefire, small fm radio with emergency channels, some energy bars and water. I'm hoping that will be enough,locally at least) to get me home if I'm no more than 50 miles from home.
 
I'm not making fun of the idea of preparedness at all. I'm trying to make a statement (as it appears many people agree on) of the folly in a lot of people's preparedness: many seem to invest thousands of dollars in a kit that prepares them for war but they will be very surprised that first night of "bugging out" when it's different than their test run and it's 45 degrees with rain. The lack of proper shelter and warmth was substituted for a second long gun in their kit and now it's not the zombies they should be worried about...

As to the need for proper under-cover when sleeping on the ground: even the most expensive zero degree down sleeping bag cannot insulate you from from the world's largest heat sink. I've woken up in my tent in mild temps (40-50°) freezing cold because I had rolled off my pad and was attempting to equalize the ground temperature to my body temp: the ground always wins. In the winter, one thick insulated pad will do, but you feel the cold seeping through by morning. Two pads are better and none will kill you.
 
michaelmcgo said:
I'm not making fun of the idea of preparedness at all. I'm trying to make a statement (as it appears many people agree on) of the folly in a lot of people's preparedness: many seem to invest thousands of dollars in a kit that prepares them for war but they will be very surprised that first night of "bugging out" when it's different than their test run and it's 45 degrees with rain. The lack of proper shelter and warmth was substituted for a second long gun in their kit and now it's not the zombies they should be worried about...

As to the need for proper under-cover when sleeping on the ground: even the most expensive zero degree down sleeping bag cannot insulate you from from the world's largest heat sink. I've woken up in my tent in mild temps (40-50°) freezing cold because I had rolled off my pad and was attempting to equalize the ground temperature to my body temp: the ground always wins. In the winter, one thick insulated pad will do, but you feel the cold seeping through by morning. Two pads are better and none will kill you.
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agree with this 100%.
 
on the topic of people hoarding .22 ammo - it really pisses me off - i want to be a first time gun owner/buyer, looking to get a .22 - and all these jackasses are HOARDING ammo, and not even using it...

whats the point of buying a gun if i can't buy any ammo for it??

as for the people prepping with Bug out bags for end of the world scenarios..... :rolleyes:

Fanglekai said:
Because It's the newest advertising fantasy to sell products to people who dont even go into the wilderness.
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:thumbup: this
 
hoarding? Heck, I have enough .22 LR stored up to last a life time. Most was purchased long before the current politically induced availability crisis. I tend to blame those responsible for creating such a climate of uncertainty, that regular folks feel the need to stock up like this.
 
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