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BOB or Bug Out Bags?

9K views 34 replies 19 participants last post by  bltjr1951 
#1 ·
I performed a search and was a little surprised to find that this hasn’t been discussed, or at least not formally referenced in a thread title.

I’m assembling a Bug Out Box/Bag that I should have done a long time ago. I used to live in tornado country, now living in potential hurricane country, not to mention the nuclear power plant down the street or any other disaster you can dream up. So I’m getting my ducks in a row NOW! I’m looking to make this a 72+ hr. kit that is completely self-contained. I don’t want to be sharing much, if anything, with my general camping gear…..at least this is what I’ve seen recommended.

I have a decent handle on constructing survival kits but wanted some feedback from those who may know better about a few items:

Backpack
The kit will be stored inside a dry bag, inside a plastic storage tote. This is to keep everything dry, clean and rodent-free as well as make it easy to grab and slide in the car. However, what if I need to go on foot? I was considering a military backpack like this:



I already have this pack and it has served me well since 1996. I want something large enough so that everything in the tote, plus clothing items, can go on my back but the pack itself can be stowed in the kit. A frame pack can’t do that and I’m not looking to buy a $200 pack. The one I have and is pictured about is about $30. Are there any arguments for or against this style pack?


Radio
Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Eton FR400 Emergency Crank Radio?


Firearm
I own several long guns but no handguns. I have taken quite an interest in the Thompson/Center G2 Contender pistol in stainless steel with the 45ACP/.410 barrel. It has a small following as a survival gun and is known for its accuracy. To me, this would be a nice little firearm for hunting and some defensive uses. If given enough time, I would grab my 12 gauge but as far as something that would live in the kit, would a stainless G2 Contender with composite grips be a decent choice?


Fishing
In a true survival situation, you would employ a passive means of fishing (trot lines, net, traps, etc.) but does anyone have a travel rod/reel in a kit like this? I figure it can offer a means of gathering food as well as offering some enjoyment to regain some sanity. I’ve read that you want to have something in your kit to offer enjoyment to reduce the stress and anxiety of the situation. I enjoy fishing and a 4 piece travel rod shouldn’t take much space. Or is this unnecessary gear?


One knife
I read on another site that if you are only going to have one cutting tool, a majority agreed that a kukri would be the way to go. Is that the general sentiment here?


Thanks for any advise anyone offers!
 
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#6 ·
Are there any arguments for or against this style pack
load and go walk for 10miles,,,, then we wont have to argue with you;)


fwiw a alice frame and pack will fit in a tote-

while the box/duffle bags are good ideas , the severly limit your options if you do have to go it on foot. i know non of us plan to go it on foot , but you know how murphy is and he will find you and that part you over looked:D:
IMHO, dont cut yourself short..plenty of frame packs will fit in totes of all size's along with all the gear - even fully packed!:thumb:
YMMV
 
#9 ·
Do any of you realize how many times "bug", "out" and "bag" have been used on this site?

Such as threads that talk about bugs, ticks and other things?

And we went outside.

My wife and I brought home some bags of groceries.

Think about this just for a second. And you want the site to "magically" only find the threads that have what you are looking for with such common terms?

Here is something you can do to improve the quality of this site. When you post a thread, add tags to to. Tags are more unique then general search items.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/tags.php?tag=bob

http://www.survivalistboards.com/tags.php?tag=bug out bag

Only the starter of the thread can add tags. But moderators can edit tags and add tags after the post has been made.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the responses so far! The search appears to be woking now......I don't know, maybe it was a glitch in the Matrix? :confused:

I've done some cruising with the search and did arrive at acquiring a Med. ALICE pack with frame. This seems to be a pretty popular and economical option.
 
#16 ·
Big Rucks like you picture are great for stowing alot of gear, but they leave alot to be desired as far as organization and comfort. Just because you HAVE gear in a ruck doesn't mean that you can FIND it. The Alice pack you mention is a much better solution as it can expand and contract to fit your needs, and while it is not perfectly comfortable there are alot of old soldiers that can make an alice pack feel much lighter and more comfortale than the rest of us knuckleheads.

As for your other gear selection I think your choices and reasoning is solid.

Prep on!
 
#18 ·
The most important part of the BOB is that it is comfortable, reasonably durable, the contents are truly what you need (no real luxury items), and you can carry everything on foot for at least several miles without exhausting yourself.

While I began with surplus packs, I have slowly been going towards more modern systems, whether it is military or civilian, it doesn’t really matter to me anymore. Most civilian packs are reasonably sturdy enough to handle what most of us will dish out, because many of us will probably not push our bags to their extreme limits. What really does matter is the suspension system and balance of the pack. Trust me, it makes huge difference.

A pack meant to carry large, heavy loads require a hip belt and frame, whether the frame is internal or external, it doesn’t really matter (I prefer internal). This will help to transfer some of the weight to your hips, the strongest area of your body, so your shoulders are not taking the brunt of the abuse. Additionally, try to have risers on your shoulder straps. A riser is a length of strapping, attaching from the top shoulder strap to an area on your pack, just above your shoulders. When these straps are properly adjusted, they pull the shoulder straps up off your shoulders. Effectively, it will remove all of the weight from your shoulders and transfer all weight to your hips. Sternum, or chest straps, are also useful. It is another piece of adjustable webbing which connects your two shoulder straps together (running across your chest). This does two things; prevents your shoulder straps from slipping off your shoulders and makes your two shoulder straps act as one unit, helping to distribute the weight even further. You also need to give consideration to the natural balance of the loaded pack by having everything kept as close to your back as possible. Again, this helps to lessen the load on your body by not having to fight with gravity due to your center of gravity being off centered from what you are used to.

I went with a somewhat high end pack, an Eberlestock J107M Dragonfly, and the difference between this and others I have used (duffel bags, ALICE) is literally night and day. What was uncomfortable, but bearable with surplus systems, now feels like I am carrying nothing at all. Of course, the pack was pricey, at around $400, but there are plenty of other choices for less. I have used Kelty packs before, such as the Redwing 3100 and Durango 5900, which can be found for under $125. If you watch places like Ebay, you can find them for far less. They are reasonably durable (never broke a stitch on mine in 5 years) and far more comfortable than a duffel bag.

Packing a fishing rod in a true emergency is well, IMHO, a bit of wasted space when packing a BOB. You can pack an entire fishing kit inside of something like a 400mL Nalgene bottle, or even something far smaller. A fishing rod can be improvised out branches, if need be. Going back to the Nalgene bottle idea, if you wrap your line around the exterior of the bottle, you can actually cast from it. Attach some weights to your line, hold the end of the line in place with your thumb (or other finger), swing your arm out (holding onto the bottle), and let your finger release the end of the line. The fishing line with the hook and weights will release and head off into the water, with the remaining line unraveling from the bottle. Just make sure the other end of the line is firmly attached to your bottle. Other hooks, lines, and lures can be stored inside the bottle.

How about listing the contents of your BOB for us?
 
#19 · (Edited)
How about listing the contents of your BOB for us?
I'll preface this with that this list is a work in progress. I have always been interested in topics such as backcountry travel, backcountry first aid, survival, etc. but haven't made a serious move until now. I have always made and enjoyed assembling "survival kits" for a few of my hunting buddies for when we are out in the woods. I didn't even know what a "BOB" was until this week. I'll break it down in two parts; stuff I already have and things I plan to acquire.

Items slated for the BOB that I have:
  • ALICE pack, size Med. - auction won on eBay, awaiting delivery
  • Cold Steel 35LTC Kukri - awaiting delivery
  • Para-cord, 50'
  • Victorinox Huntsman swiss army knife
  • Homemade alcohol stove
  • 1 quart can of denatured alcohol (stove fuel) - this is probably too much
  • Sm. BIC lighter
  • 2 books of matches w/ naked women on them
  • Magnesium firestarter w/ customized hack saw blade
  • 3 homemade fire starters (lint/wax/match sticks in cardboard cup)
  • 1 alu. non-stick fry pan - not terribly light, but it's what I have
  • 1 enamel coating camping pot - again, not small or light but what I have for now
  • Deck of playing cards
  • Camp Suds soap - 15 mL tube
  • Toilet paper - 1 roll
  • MSR hydration bladder
  • Bandana - black w/ white "hippie" designs
  • 1 chemical light stick
  • Whistle
  • 1 fl. oz. bottle of insect repellent
  • Compass
  • 1 sterile scalpel
  • $10 roll of quarters - probably too much; quite heavy
  • 10 ChlorFloc tablets - these expired in 6/2008; not sure if they are still good
  • Sierra Designs Orion CD 2 man tent (not sure if this will be with the BOB or not)

Items that still need to be acquired:
  • Food - dry and light; only need water or ready-to-eat
  • Water - distilled, 3 gal. (stored with the BOB, not in it)
  • Better mess kit - I see the German military issue is popular
  • Fork and spoon
  • First aid/hygiene - I have a ton of first aid and travel toiletries items that need to be sorted through
  • Clothing - TBD; Smartwool socks and very little cotton
  • Eton FR400 crank radio
  • Mil-Spec poncho(s) - I've seen some that are advertised as being able to form a shelter; I'm not sure how practical or good this shelter is.
  • Cash - I'm not sure how much to have stashed; $100, $500, $1000???
  • Firearm - Thompson/Center G2 Contender pistol; stainless steel w/ composite grips; .45ACP/.410 barrel, single shot. The hoops one must jump through to buy a pistol in CT is ridiculous.......this will take some time and saving a few more pennies than I have now (both for the gun, all the flippin' permits and gun owners courses they require you to take).
  • Ammo for firearm - assortment; #6 shot for .410
  • Fishing gear - I will most likely abandon the pack rod idea

By no means is my list complete and many items are subject to change, substitution and/or deletion based on what I learn here at this site.

There seems to be a love/hate relationship with the ALICE packs aside from the civilian vs. military look that people discuss. I live in a somewhat rural area and would be bugging out to someplace even more rural. I don't think carrying military surplus is something that will concern me. Plus, if I find out I don't like the ALICE, I'll put it back on eBay or Craigslist and get something different or try modifying it with an AliPad or similar.

So that is along the lines of what I have and what I'm thinking, for better or for worse. :thumb:
 
#23 ·
Someone gave me the idea once of having a bag in a bag. The larger bag would be for situations where I might have a little extra time to bug out. The smaller bag would be designed for extreme, on the run type of emergencies.

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#25 ·
Having really nice and pretty "civilian packs" is appealing....but...

I'd rather spend $35 on a like new ALICE with frame and spend that leftover $65 somewhere else. The ALICE has never failed me, has always been adequately comfortable for me and will certainly hold everything I've found necessary to cram in it.

I like looking at "pack porn" but man....the money some guys spend and what it could buy you outside of a good 'ol ALICE...just seems like a waste for a guy to spend that much money so he's marginally more comfortable in a pack that's meant to be used hopefully only ONCE. If you're using it as a camp pack then you've got a point I guess...but I still vote ALICE to the top of the heap for that as well!
 
#26 ·
I have to disagree with the “marginally more comfortable” comment. The comfort level of the J107M compared to ALICE is not just marginal, but 100% superior in every way. I had even upgraded my large ALICE with an AliPad, and while the comfort improved some, it still does not compare to the J107M. Like I said before, with the padding, suspension system, and layout, the gear I normally carried in a large ALICE feels far MUCH lighter in the other pack. As an added bonus, the J107M, as with most Eberlestock packs, has the ability to carry and conceal a rifle or shotgun in the pack. My AK-47 with a side folding stock simply disappears in this bag, but is still readily accessible even when wearing the pack. If I do have to bug out, it is nice to know I can conceal it if need be. I do use this pack for camping and hiking, as well as a BOB, so it does get used frequently.

This weekend I picked up a black Jansport Big Bear 63 at ****’s Sporting Goods for $80. It is a pretty durable pack for the money and I can’t see it coming apart anytime soon. It holds 3850 cubic inches worth of gear, versus the 3600 cubic inches a large ALICE holds. If spending $35 for a new ALICE and $65 for upgrades, then why not spend the same amount of money on a far more comfortable bag that can blend into a sheeple environment if need be?
 
#29 ·
I use the term "backpack" loosely. Anything with backpack straps is a backpack in my mind. But this does not merit discussion as I have already taken delivery of a Med. ALICE.

Does anyone here read JP Magazine? They have an article in the latest issue about BOBs for when you get stranded off-roading.
 
#33 ·
May I ask a question? This question is personal just so I can understand certain dynamic of people. I'm a question asker, I just don't know everything. The question is why do you have a bug out bag? What are you preparing for and has anything happened to you that would invoke your answer?
 
#34 ·
Just so you realize, this thread is 6 years old. I'm not even sure if Zuren is still posting here.

But for a BoB, it's pretty simple. Nobody knows what the future brings. Emergencies are by nature, unplanned and typically come without much warning. If any warning. It could be something like a hurricane, or maybe a railroad tanker full of toxic chemicals derailed near your town. There are as many possible scenarios as there are people. Some of them may not apply to you, and some of them may be way out there. But the idea is that if you have a bag you can grab and go, you will at least have the basics in the bag to get you to somewhere safe. You may very well never need it, or you may have enough time to gather some stuff together. But just in case, you've got something to cover your butt in the event of an immediate emergency. If it ever happens to you, you'll appreciate having it.

Az
 
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