Unusual Item(s) In Your BOB

Post by **coastwatcher42** » Mon May 11, 2015 11:54 pm

What are some of the unusual items you carry in your BOB? Things that most people may never have thought of or things that are to be used for something other than their original purpose.

I guess the most unusal item that Is in my BOB is a frog spear (or gig). It is small and lightweight and could potentialy serve several purposes. The first, of course, would be catching frogs for food. All that I would need to do is find an appropriately sized stick, put the spear on the end, add a screw and I'm ready to go. I left my spear in the original cardbord, shrink-wrapped packaging to potect the other items in my bag from damage from the spear tines. One thing that I did, though, was to duct tape two 3/4 inch wood screws to the package. It originally came with a through-bolt to secure the spear to the handle but, since I don't plan on carrying a drill with me, I needed another option. I can easily start the screw with my multi-tool and tighten it up. I carry two in case one is lost or damaged.

The spear could also coceivably be used to spear fish, small game, snakes, and possibly birds. In a pinch, it could also be used as a defensive weapon.

Post by **dunamis** » Tue May 12, 2015 12:12 am

coastwatcher42 wrote:What are some of the unusual items you carry in your BOB? Things that most people may never have thought of or things that are to be used for something other than their original purpose.

I guess the most unusal item that Is in my BOB is a frog spear (or gig). It is small and lightweight and could potentialy serve several purposes. The first, of course, would be catching frogs for food. All that I would need to do is find an appropriately sized stick, put the spear on the end, add a screw and I'm ready to go. I left my spear in the original cardbord, shrink-wrapped packaging to potect the other items in my bag from damage from the spear tines. One thing that I did, though, was to duct tape two 3/4 inch wood screws to the package. It originally came with a through-bolt to secure the spear to the handle but, since I don't plan on carrying a drill with me, I needed another option. I can easily start the screw with my multi-tool and tighten it up. I carry two in case one is lost or damaged.

The spear could also coceivably be used to spear fish, small game, snakes, and possibly birds. In a pinch, it could also be used as a defensive weapon.

I've never tried to spear a frog and it sounds like a handy tool (could probably even spear fish with it?) but wouldn't it hold better to a stick by simply wrapping it with paracord? Maybe even slide the cord through the screw hole in the spear hilt during some part of the wrapping process?

Post by **zero11010** » Tue May 12, 2015 12:19 am

I carry a photo of Bea Arthur. It's for moral support. No matter what goes wrong, I know she'll be there watching over me.

Post by **Kilo147** » Tue May 12, 2015 12:35 am

Can't top Bea Arthur, but I keep a decent mono-white MTG deck in my BOB. In my neck of the woods, it'll be the only surviving form of entertainment.

Post by **Halfapint** » Tue May 12, 2015 3:21 am

Something I just added to my EDC bag and will probably add to my BOB is light duty lubricating oil. Nearly every damn door at work squeaks, so I hit it with a shot of oil in the hinges, and up top on the arm that makes the door shut on it's own. Now that I carry it, I notice that a lot of the doors I frequent outside of work; places I might be if some sort of SHTF event occurred, and I needed to GTFO quickly and quietly.

I picked it up at a local hardware store for like $2.50. So far I've lubed up probably close to 100 doors.

It also works well as a fire starter extender, a few drops on a cotton ball/pad and no more need for PJ.

Post by **tony d tiger** » Wed May 13, 2015 11:51 pm

Dog treats (duck & lamb and salmon & lamb) works for the pups, and could probably do for bait in a pinch.

Post by **Pr0sper0** » Fri May 15, 2015 3:45 am

A small jar of coconut oil...I'm a great beliver in having a 'multiple use' for everthing I carry. So the coconut oil takes the place of carrying the following:
Energy Bar
Chapstick
Antifungal footcare cream
Lube oil-As Halfapint said, for doors, locks and bike chains.
plus literally 101 other uses for coconut oil
I'm not sure if its a unusuall carry but its one a lot of people seem to neglect.

Post by **Stercutus** » Fri May 15, 2015 6:31 am

Cigarettes. Unusual because I don't smoke. Lots of other people do though and in a situation where people are all freaked out and can't get a square because the stores are closed or whatever people are mostly grateful and happy to get their favorite poison. If it helps people around me relax and be happy that is helpful to me most days. I only keep a couple of packs because they are so expensive and they don't last a long time.

I guess I could use them as a trade good but that seems to involved to me.

Post by **Stercutus** » Fri May 15, 2015 7:09 am

zero11010 wrote:I carry a photo of Bea Arthur. It's for moral support. No matter what goes wrong, I know she'll be there watching over me.

Well, once a Marine, always a Marine.

I'd say Dr. Ruth would be far more comforting though. She says she can still assemble and fire a Sten in under a minute. I'd feel pretty good if she were watching over me with a sniper rifle...

Post by **Toxoph** » Fri May 15, 2015 7:19 am

A full flask, you bring your comfort item, I'll bring mine!

Post by **azoth** » Fri May 15, 2015 8:05 pm

i carry an ear cleaner its small and really helps when you get an ear filled with wax.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUD ... UTF8&psc=1

Post by **Gaston** » Fri May 22, 2015 5:38 pm

Toxoph wrote:A full flask, you bring your comfort item, I'll bring mine!

I instead have a pint plastic vodka bottle refilled with pure grain alcohol which weighs roughly half as much as the equivalent in liquor. It burns great in my soda can stove (which weighs next to nothing including the aluminum foil windscreen) and when diluted it's drinkable if not tasty.

Post by **Halfapint** » Fri May 22, 2015 5:46 pm

Gaston wrote:
Toxoph wrote:A full flask, you bring your comfort item, I'll bring mine!
I instead have a pint plastic vodka bottle refilled with pure grain alcohol which weighs roughly half as much as the equivalent in liquor. It burns great in my soda can stove (which weighs next to nothing including the aluminum foil windscreen) and when diluted it's drinkable if not tasty.

Dilute? You're crazy. Good item though, wish we could get pure grain alcohol here.

Post by **moab** » Sun May 24, 2015 3:23 pm

Prescription meds. Dried squid for eating and as bait. Tobacco for use and trade.

Post by **ForgeCorvus** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:50 pm

Nails

Post by **tedbeau** » Tue May 26, 2015 11:13 am

Not sure if it's "unusual" but it's something a lot of people may have neglected. I keep half a dozen surgical mask in my GHB and BOB.
I read someone's account of having to evac through the debris field from a tornado. They said their daughter was in respiratory distress after a mile or two due to all the dust in the air. Given that a lot of the dust would be insulation and such I can see where it would be nasty. In addition the mask could be used to prevent the spread of airborne disease (Zombie cough?) and can also be used as a pre-filter for your water filtration system to keep your micro filter from getting clogged as fast.

Another item I have that I really like are some HUGE mil surplus bandana's. I know a lot of people carry one, but the standard size isn't as good as most people think when they want to use it as a arm sling or a head bandage. Try using a standard 22 inch square as a sling for an adult's arm, you will have a hard time getting enough material to tie the knot and the arm will be pulled up toward their chin in an uncomfortable position. I found some on The Sportsman's Guide that are 32 inch square.

Post by **ZomCon Sargeant** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 4:22 pm

Kilo147 wrote:Can't top Bea Arthur, but I keep a decent mono-white MTG deck in my BOB. In my neck of the woods, it'll be the only surviving form of entertainment.

For a short period of time I was considering carrying my MTG MUDD Deck in my BOB.

Post by **CrossCut** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 7:27 am

Pr0sper0 wrote:A small jar of coconut oil...I'm a great beliver in having a 'multiple use' for everthing I carry.

I keep a small bottle of povidone iodine in our BOBs under the multiple use reasoning. The one-shot energy drink bottles are the perfect size and are sturdy and leakproof. Antiseptic/disinfectant, water purification, and apply topically for iodine-131 protection in a radiological event.

Post by **Asymetryczna** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 12:29 pm

I have added the picture of Bea Arthur to some of my gear as well. Thanks.

Post by **ssgcmw** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 7:35 pm

CrossCut wrote:
Pr0sper0 wrote: The one-shot energy drink bottles are the perfect size and are sturdy and leakproof.

Great thinking there!

Post by **SuperBanki** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:54 am

I carry a wrist-rocket slingshot, extra bands, and some hunting shot.

Post by **Cephalotus** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 2:21 am

I have some stuff that I rarely see in other BOBs...

- a small geiger counter made in Russia: SOEKS 01M. If society collapses so will the nuclear power plants so how would you know the radioactive hotspots?
- a satellite phone: Thuraya SG2520. During lokal deserters (mobile) phone services are one of the first things to collapse and I want to be able call some friends and relatives outside the desaster zone. A ham radio is useless for that purpose.
- trekking sandals: Teva northridge Have you ever crossed a river with your only pair of boots and than kept waling with that wet boots?
- neopren socks: Multiuse items, can serve as neopren socks (i.e. crossing a half frozen river with sandals during winter), as warm sleeping socks, as an insulation for my water bottles, as thin knee pads in my trousers...
- standard ear plugs and special ear plugs that filter mostly impulse noise.

I also want to buy a packraft boat as an optional item, maybe the MRS adventure X2. Having a lightweight and transportable boat gives you plenty of options, think about using small islands to stay over night, crossing rivers where there are no bridges (and no checkpoints), having something to move in flooded areas, maybe the option to use rivers for transportation (and some fishing)...

Post by **Smcash** » Sun Jun 28, 2015 12:37 pm

Cephalotus wrote:
I also want to buy a packraft boat as an optional item, maybe the MRS adventure X2. Having a lightweight and transportable boat gives you plenty of options, think about using small islands to stay over night, crossing rivers where there are no bridges (and no checkpoints), having something to move in flooded areas, maybe the option to use rivers for transportation (and some fishing)...

I just came across this yesterday
http://www.amazon.com/Klymit-LiteWater- ... s=packraft

Hard to beat the weight and the size that it packs down to. And the price. I'm seriously considering getting one for my pack. From what I've read, most of the reviews are positive, for whatever that's worth.... You're not going to get across a river or lake and stay dry but you're probably not going to do that in any pack raft. Also, this is rated for a 350 pound weight limit (which is probably realistically 280#) which is a huge bonus in my book.

Post by **drop bear** » Sun Jun 28, 2015 5:26 pm

Halfapint wrote:Something I just added to my EDC bag and will probably add to my BOB is light duty lubricating oil. Nearly every damn door at work squeaks, so I hit it with a shot of oil in the hinges, and up top on the arm that makes the door shut on it's own. Now that I carry it, I notice that a lot of the doors I frequent outside of work; places I might be if some sort of SHTF event occurred, and I needed to GTFO quickly and quietly.

I picked it up at a local hardware store for like $2.50. So far I've lubed up probably close to 100 doors.

It also works well as a fire starter extender, a few drops on a cotton ball/pad and no more need for PJ.

Would coconut oil work?

Because you can eat it. And I Think use it for topical treatments.
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

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