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

I don't go for the BOB as much as the get me home bag. I know home I am safer at home until that changes home is where I want to be.
 
1. I just carry twinkies. I figure I can trade them for everything else. I saw Zombieland.

2. The B.O.B./Zombie apockcolisp is one of the greatest marketing ploys ever.

3. I certainly am not in the best of shape but I like to laugh at the some of the fatsos on utube who show off their 75 lb packs who would struggle to hike 200 yards with it. Then again fitness isn't a prereq for ordering gear off the internet.

4. I do carry a small backpack in my truck. Like LG&M above me, I consider it a "get home bag".
 
stabman said:
People pretty much summed it up already it seems.
Fantasy packs made in the living room by city-folks who have never seen more wilderness than a city park.

And an excuse to buy more gear. ;)
Click to expand...


You're right to a degree, but wouldn't the gear required to survive in a city be different than the gear required to survive in a more rural environment.
 
To reply to the OP
If I need a BOB, it means I am NOT backpacking

The last time I used my BOB, I was car based and needed to get my kids out of rocket range within 3 hours

So, either my town has been rocketed by Hisbolah, or there has been an earthquake
This put me into a hostile 72 hour survival situation
My needs are very different from backpacking
 
Last edited:
I have my camping gear always packed and ready in the closet, just need to add water and go. But I'm not planning on going anywhere if all does go to hell then I will ride it out at home as long as I can. I'm well stocked and well armed. However, with my luck this will all happen while I'm at work 20 miles from home....so I do have a small Get Home Bag with a good pair of broken in boots in case I do have to walk a ways.
 
Its been just the way things are done in my family for two generations ... to have a bag of essentials within easy reach , ready to grab and go .

My dads mum during WWII used a pillow case for each of her kids .. had each pillow case stuffed with what each kid needed and could carry .. just outside their house door , then the russians took over their land , they picked up their bags and walked away . They were not allowed to enter their house .

As far back as I can remember , as a kid we had a washing basket .. it had the family essentials in it , first time we evaced from bushfire , dad threw the basket , and the dog in the car , got mum and my brother and we left . Came back in a few days to find the house was OK but the neighbours place was sheets of iron and charred timber .

By time Cyclone Tracy came thru , tho it was just a rain bearing depression by time it hit us , we stayed put , dad was out with some neighbours roping and tarping roofs . we got the basket out , we had no power but we had the camp stove , torch etc all there it was fun and adventure for us kids .

as a teenager I had my bag .. it was just my bag not a bob , or a go bag , or emergency bag , just my bag , I took it with me when I hitchiked around australia , went walkabout and learned tribal law , just my bag , it held everything I used and needed , when I settled down and got married , I got a bigger bag added gear for my wife .. my inlaws thought I was nuts , but when we had to get outa way of bushfire a time or two and I was able to put the bag , the dogs and the mrs in the truck and get outa the way .. they stopped their teasing .

Nowdays tho I have the main bag and my personal bag

My bag has everything in it for me and maybe 4 others , minus bulk water and food .. I dont plan on zombies , I do plan on heading to set destination and not being a load on anyone when I get there but to be self sufficient as far as possible .

My personal bag tho .. its just a little pack with basics for an extended overnighter or three .. made it up when I was working remote mine maintenance in the West Au outback . I didnt want to have to be splitting gear out of the bag at home s I threw together a specific purpose kit for me if I had to spend a few days in remote area .

my gear looks like sort of used regular travel gear tho .. nothing tacticool or flashy about it .

I personally prefer to not draw attention to myself or my gear . Its easier to just not be noticed than to be noticed for me .
 
Myal said:
Its been just the way things are done in my family for two generations ... to have a bag of essentials within easy reach , ready to grab and go .

My dads mum during WWII used a pillow case for each of her kids .. had each pillow case stuffed with what each kid needed and could carry .. just outside their house door , then the russians took over their land , they picked up their bags and walked away . They were not allowed to enter their house .

As far back as I can remember , as a kid we had a washing basket .. it had the family essentials in it , first time we evaced from bushfire , dad threw the basket , and the dog in the car , got mum and my brother and we left . Came back in a few days to find the house was OK but the neighbours place was sheets of iron and charred timber .

By time Cyclone Tracy came thru , tho it was just a rain bearing depression by time it hit us , we stayed put , dad was out with some neighbours roping and tarping roofs . we got the basket out , we had no power but we had the camp stove , torch etc all there it was fun and adventure for us kids .

as a teenager I had my bag .. it was just my bag not a bob , or a go bag , or emergency bag , just my bag , I took it with me when I hitchiked around australia , went walkabout and learned tribal law , just my bag , it held everything I used and needed , when I settled down and got married , I got a bigger bag added gear for my wife .. my inlaws thought I was nuts , but when we had to get outa way of bushfire a time or two and I was able to put the bag , the dogs and the mrs in the truck and get outa the way .. they stopped their teasing .

Nowdays tho I have the main bag and my personal bag

My bag has everything in it for me and maybe 4 others , minus bulk water and food .. I dont plan on zombies , I do plan on heading to set destination and not being a load on anyone when I get there but to be self sufficient as far as possible .

My personal bag tho .. its just a little pack with basics for an extended overnighter or three .. made it up when I was working remote mine maintenance in the West Au outback . I didnt want to have to be splitting gear out of the bag at home s I threw together a specific purpose kit for me if I had to spend a few days in remote area .

my gear looks like sort of used regular travel gear tho .. nothing tacticool or flashy about it .

I personally prefer to not draw attention to myself or my gear . Its easier to just not be noticed than to be noticed for me .
Click to expand...

Your view and the way you go about preparing is pretty much the same as mine. I keep a small bag in my truck with enough stuff to survive a day or two if for some reason I cant get home. I also keep a large duffel bag packed with enough supplies to last myself, my wife and daughter a week in the event we had to quickly leave home.

To the OP, I cant even fathom some of the utter ridiculous BOB crap that gets posted online, I just shake my head and ignore it. this thread has restored my faith in humanity, great discussion .
 
stewey1 said:
To the OP, I cant even fathom some of the utter ridiculous BOB crap that gets posted online, I just shake my head and ignore it.
Click to expand...
If it helps, some of them relate directly to various movies and fiction books/series.
 
Myal,

When I was younger, I remember seeing a suitcase near the front doors at a friend's houses whose parents were Holocaust survivors
It was traumatic to see
 
I'm almost done reading a book I recently discovered as part of my research entitled, "Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why," the author is Laurence Gonzales. The book is essentially about the mental aspects of survival and how what you need to survive is inside your head and heart and not what is in a bag or kit. Those who survive the worst odds are able to put themselves "in the now" and not succumb to panic. It's been a great quick thoughtful read and I highly recommend it to those interested in the subject.
 
whiskeyfox said:
I'm almost done reading a book I recently discovered as part of my research entitled, "Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why," the author is Laurence Gonzales. The book is essentially about the mental aspects of survival and how what you need to survive is inside your head and heart and not what is in a bag or kit. Those who survive the worst odds are able to put themselves "in the now" and not succumb to panic. It's been a great quick thoughtful read and I highly recommend it to those interested in the subject.
Click to expand...

I would highly recommend that book to anyone interested in the subject.
 
Neeman/Myal,
Incite from people who REALLY have to be concerned over "bugging out" is cirtical to those of us who try to plan without ever having experienced.

My Inlaws live in the Phillippines and suffer flashflooding in their home almost annually. The drill when the typhoons hit- preperation,vigil during and clean up after is a routine, everyone knows their bit. We were able to have a small room of a second level built last Fall and they rely on that now as safe ground, no longer needing to bug out so much as "up".

As your examples show- bugging out does not always mean long term survival in the mountains. Threat assessment is individual.

Bill
 
whiskeyfox said:
I'm almost done reading a book I recently discovered as part of my research entitled, "Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why," the author is Laurence Gonzales. The book is essentially about the mental aspects of survival and how what you need to survive is inside your head and heart and not what is in a bag or kit. Those who survive the worst odds are able to put themselves "in the now" and not succumb to panic. It's been a great quick thoughtful read and I highly recommend it to those interested in the subject.
Click to expand...

one of the best books I've ever read about survival, and one of my favorites in general.

I've given away three copies to different people that needed to read it and I knew would never do it on their own.

It's writer spent a lot of time doing research to make this book what it is, a mental survival guide.

hell of a book.

Wanted to add something on original question too.
I carried/used one a few times, (Afghanistan) mostly extra magazines, energy bars, water, med kit, GPS, and extra batterys. that's it.

no fishing line or snare wire, just the essentials for the area. I did start out with more but got rid of things for water and ammo.:eek:
 
Last edited:
BOBs are emergency-specific bags. Backpacking bags....mine is a Gregory Palisades as well.....Love it.....are trip-specific bags. I think people use BOBs as catch all for any emergency and never have the chance to determine if they can even haul such a load! I know my car BOB is geared for gettin' home from as far away as 65 miles....I travel for work....and I know I have to maintain a certain level of fitness to even hump that bag.
 
Maybe I should get my self a big, empty rucksack and just follow around some of those overloaded "survivalists" picking up the gear they discard.



Seriously though, the bag I keep in my car trunk is an inconspicuous Marmot Aspen 35 loaded with the typical stuff for a three or four day backpacking trip. That is how long I estimate it would take me to get home from work on foot, if I had to (long commute).
 
ADDICTEDD said:
You're right to a degree, but wouldn't the gear required to survive in a city be different than the gear required to survive in a more rural environment.
Click to expand...

In some aspects yes.
You'll still want a way to purify water.
Something that can pry is good no matter where you end up.
Certain things would be more city specific though, yes.
 
neeman said:
To reply to the OP
If I need a BOB, it means I am NOT backpacking

The last time I used my BOB, I was car based and needed to get my kids out of rocket range within 3 hours

So, either my town has been rocketed by Hisbolah, or there has been an earthquake
This put me into a hostile 72 hour survival situation
My needs are very different from backpacking
Click to expand...


Neeman,

Thanks for this.

The US has been largely spared by this sort of thing as a regular, on-going reality. Yes, 9/11 happened and yes it was really bad. But, as the head of the US joint chiefs said recently, it's hard to argue that this created a direct existential threat to the nation.

My sense is that the idea of a BOB or a survival in general in the US is a result of a growing awareness that our infrastructure system isn't sustainable and that we don't have any good solutions for making it that way. SHTF and the zombie apocalypse are visions of infrastructure collapse.

We might do better to think about 1870s technology and why and how that stuff worked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top