Bug Out Bag Improvements

[SurvivorTown]

Continuing to work and improve on my bug out bag. Here is a current load out showing the contents. Need to add a small hammock with Mosquito net and always looking for ideas for improvement. I have also added a good pair of hiking socks but they are not shown here. Any suggestions?

 

[Rob Painless]

Looks good. How heavy? And how far have you hiked with it?

 

[celem]

Difficult to recognize all items. Do you have an inventory?

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

 

[SurvivorTown]

Looks good. How heavy? And how far have you hiked with it?

Thanks for reply. With three liters of water weighs in at 27lbs. Just getting back in shape max hike only a little over two hours. Working way up on that. A BOB u cant carry sure isnt worth much.

 

[SurvivorTown]

Difficult to recognize all items. Do you have an inventory?

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

I know its hard to see evrything in the photo. I have a list I will upload tomorrow.

 

[Brent S]

Agreed on the weight thing. My bag is way too heavy. I figure I start bugging out in a vehicle, then if I have to walk that's when I start dropping some of those luxuries. I have two bags packed now. The carry bag could be dropped and lived without in a pinch. Yes I could live without a sleeping mat, cooking pot, and other comforts.

 

[Silent Earth]

Good kit choice, clearly thought has gone into it.

Knife sharpener ( cant see one)
Baby wipes ( better than toilet paper)
Red lens on flashlight for nightime map reading

Oh and the metal cup if you wrap some insulating tape around the top lip you wont burn your mouth when drinking hot foods like soup or coffee

Dont forget that when TSHTF the absolute essentials from your BOB must be transfered to your person incase you become separated from your BOB.
So
PDW + Mags
Knife
Flashlight
Lighter
Compass
Bandana
FAK
Shades
get moved from your bag and into your pockets.

 

[Silent Earth]

Here is my EDC/ GHB hybrid as a comparison to STs superb kit, I dont have to worry about Gators, Pythons, Maleria, Zika or Snakes thank god and being in the UK I am more likely to go mouldy than get sunstroke, and of course your never far from water here

 

[SurvivorTown]

These are all good suggestions. Thanks for you input. A python would actually be good to come across if hungry. Very slow and lost of meat!

 

[Roninsensei]

Gerber machetes are junk replace asap. Try Cold steel, Condor, Ontario, and so on.




Gerber figures most people don't really use what they have so, why not toss a bunch of crap on the market..




https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-S...1603&sr=8-7&keywords=cold+steel+latin+machete
https://www.amazon.com/Condor-18-In...56&sr=8-2&keywords=condor+el+salvador+machete
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...rd_wg=VIGvJ&psc=1&refRID=4WWWQTWZP4H724ZCA58D

 

[Roninsensei]

Also looks like you have a smith and wesson folding knife?! That is Junk as well. Replace with the a Cold steel folder or spyderco or kabar or a million other companies that actually care if you keep your fingers...

 

[Silent Earth]

Not impressed with Gerber Blades, the Multi tools are OK but I had a Gerber Guardian snap.

 

[jimLE]

i always have a 2 blade pocket knife,bic lighter,flashlight,multi tool pliers,toe/finger nail clippers and other items on my person,from the time i get up in the morning,till i go to bed for the night..

 

[Silent Earth]

i always have a 2 blade pocket knife,bic lighter,flashlight,multi tool pliers,toe/finger nail clippers and other items on my person,from the time i get up in the morning,till i go to bed for the night..

Must be a tad uncomfortable, I wear clothes myself

 

[jimLE]

wait till you hear how it feels when the tape is removed..

 

[Silent Earth]

So thats what they mean by a Brazilian Prepper

 

[Silent Earth]

Damn I am going senile, I completely forgot to suggest to ST to get some heatproof paint and spray the outside of that shiny stainless steel canteen mug.

 

[Brent S]

Here is my EDC/ GHB hybrid as a comparison to STs superb kit, I dont have to worry about Gators, Pythons, Maleria, Zika or Snakes thank god and being in the UK I am more likely to go mouldy than get sunstroke, and of course your never far from water here
View attachment 6230

The only thing I didn't see was a personal water filter. Drinking from any water source that your body isn't familiar with is asking for trouble.

 

[SurvivorTown]

Gerber machetes are junk replace asap. Try Cold steel, Condor, Ontario, and so on.




Gerber figures most people don't really use what they have so, why not toss a bunch of crap on the market..




https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-S...1603&sr=8-7&keywords=cold+steel+latin+machete
https://www.amazon.com/Condor-18-In...56&sr=8-2&keywords=condor+el+salvador+machete
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...rd_wg=VIGvJ&psc=1&refRID=4WWWQTWZP4H724ZCA58D

Agreed. The gerber is ok for the price but not the highest quality. Used it to cut down about 1 acre of air potato vine but can use an upgrade. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[SurvivorTown]

Damn I am going senile, I completely forgot to suggest to ST to get some heatproof paint and spray the outside of that shiny stainless steel canteen mug.

Good sugestion. Had not thought of that.

 

[SurvivorTown]

The only thing I didn't see was a personal water filter. Drinking from any water source that your body isn't familiar with is asking for trouble.

I do have a filter straw and water bottle with internal filter but really want to move up to a hand pump filter. The filter straw is just not practicale in the flat and swampy areas around me. You would have to lay in mud to use the straw. Not fun.

 

[SurvivorTown]

Also looks like you have a smith and wesson folding knife?! That is Junk as well. Replace with the a Cold steel folder or spyderco or kabar or a million other companies that actually care if you keep your fingers...

Good call. Thats on the upgrade list. Thanks.

 

[Silent Earth]

The only thing I didn't see was a personal water filter. Drinking from any water source that your body isn't familiar with is asking for trouble.

I use puritabs rather than a water filter primarily because this is a GHB rather than a full on BOB, plus being a maniac TEA drinker 99% of the water I use is boiled

 

[Silent Earth]

Good call. Thats on the upgrade list. Thanks.

I'll second that Cold steel Knives really are heavy duty reliable.

 

[Brent S]

I'll second that Cold steel Knives really are heavy duty reliable.

I don't see cold steel in stores around here. Buck knives were the high end when I was a boy, but I don't see them in stores any more either.

 

[Brent S]

I use puritabs rather than a water filter primarily because this is a GHB rather than a full on BOB, plus being a maniac TEA drinker 99% of the water I use is boiled

I've never drank water purified with a tablet yet, although I do have some. I bet it will taste like crap though.
On the water filter line, I just found out that Burkey water filters stopped making their ceramic filters. They switched over to a plastic/charcoal deal. Really sucks! I wanted a backup for the setup. They say the new ones are lighter and less fragile if dropped. I say the cheap buggars are just saving money...

 

[Silent Earth]

I don't see cold steel in stores around here. Buck knives were the high end when I was a boy, but I don't see them in stores any more either.

The best CS deals always appear to be online. I had a buck 110 and it was a superb American made traditionally made folding lock knife, WHAT A BEAST, like the Harley Davidsons of pocket knives designed to last a lifetime. BUT what a heavy bugger it was and the wooden scales though beautiful were dangerously slippy when wet. THEN I was very reluctantly persuaded to try a Cold Steel Voyager Clip Point Small for a while. Pah I thought this thing has no metal liner and all synthetic grips / scales it wont last five minutes...................... My son now EDCs it and its over 20 years old. I bought a CS Voyager Tanto large to replace it and its still on my desk still used daily. I even bought the XL Voyager Tanto 6 inch blade but that was just too big. The Synthetic grips stay grippy even when covered in rabbit guts or bits of fish, and when wet. They do retain a good edge and they are about half the weight of a trad lock knife. I also like CRKT and Blade - tech knives not as expensive but none have ever failed.

 

[Silent Earth]

I've never drank water purified with a tablet yet, although I do have some. I bet it will taste like crap though.
On the water filter line, I just found out that Burkey water filters stopped making their ceramic filters. They switched over to a plastic/charcoal deal. Really sucks! I wanted a backup for the setup. They say the new ones are lighter and less fragile if dropped. I say the cheap buggars are just saving money...

Yup it tastes odd but if you are a coffeeholic just boil the water thoroughly after running it through a coffee filter to get the gritty bits out.
You could probably buy and use the Super Ceramic candles from a British berkfield in your Berky.

 

[Brent S]

Yup it tastes odd but if you are a coffeeholic just boil the water thoroughly after running it through a coffee filter to get the gritty bits out.
You could probably buy and use the Super Ceramic candles from a British berkfield in your Berky.

Can you still find them? I looked all over online and could only find the replacements.

 

[Silent Earth]

I'm only aware of UK suppliers