My "improvised" Get Home Bag

[B3]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

It is cobbled together from a Camelbak 3 Liter Thermobak and an old medium ALICE pack.



It is currently held together with zip-ties at the top. Soon to be replaced with something better. Maybe 550 cord or heavy-duty velcro or the like. Suggestions are welcome. Here is a poorly photographed close-up:



List and photos of contents to follow.

[TheFreakinBear]

That's really neat. I just hope that the shoulder pads are comfortable should you have to wear it for any period of time and that the alice pack doesn't slide down the camelbak. Fricken cool idea though. I can't wait to see what you've got!

[TheFreakinBear]

That's really neat. I just hope that the shoulder pads are comfortable should you have to wear it for any period of time and that the alice pack doesn't slide down the camelbak. Fricken cool idea though. I can't wait to see what you've got!

[TheFreakinBear]

That's really neat. I just hope that the shoulder pads are comfortable should you have to wear it for any period of time and that the alice pack doesn't slide down the camelbak. Fricken cool idea though. I can't wait to see what you've got!

[goblin]

WOW...Triple dupe!!!!

[Blacksh33p]

TFB, your internet sucks cawk.


Beth, nice stuff!

[Y.T.]

B3,
this sounds clever. though I'm having a "duhhhhh" moment and not quite following how the packs are doubled up. can you explain that, like which one is on bottom and where they're connected?
looking forward to seeing the rest of the details.

[B3]

Here is how I put together this Frankestein's monster of a pack:

This is the Camelbak. The bottom two plastic rings are the attachment points to the ALICE


I unclipped the Camelback shoulder straps


and ran them through the pad at the top of the ALICE


These plastic rings at the top of the Camelbak are where the metal rings on the ALICE get attached


Here are the metal rings in the ALICE (if you can see them)

Still working on how to better attach the two sets of rings. Maybe velcro...I dunno.

Anyway, after the top is connected, run the bottom strap of the ALICE thru the bottom plastic ring on the Camelback


A side view


All put together. List and pics of contents to follow...eventually.

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing a new $70 white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a buzy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing a new $70 white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing a new $70 white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing an expensive new white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing a new $70 white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing a new $70 white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Lurch]

Nice improv.. I can't help but wonder,though. Have you tried it with water in the camelback, and weight in the Alice? Seems to me it might pinch the bladder between you and the pack, causing the water to shoot out your drinking tube.

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing an expensive new white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Dave_M]

I rike it

[Paragon]

Okay--this bag is designed to live in my car as an "Oh, crap! I'm wearing nice clothes and my car has a flat tire, is stuck, etc. and it's snowing/raining/etc. out here."

I had one of those moments last month, and everything that I had in the vehicle kit was as nice as what I was wearing. I took my time, made sure not to lean on anything filthy, and got the car patched up enough to limp home (where I fixed it properly) without getting all sweaty and dirty.

I was pleased that the tools and supplies that I had in the vehicle kit did what they were intended to, but kicked myself for not thinking things through enough to add an old ratty t-shirt to the kit. I was fortunate that it was about 10:00 pm so it wasn't too hot and muggy, and I was able to get the car to a lit shopping center parking lot when I realized that I had a problem.

I was not pleased that I was wearing an expensive new white shirt at the time (first time that I've ever worn it) but was thankful that I didn't have to crawl under the car, or stand out on the side of a busy freeway in the rain working on it.

Jim

[Dak Kovar]

Hi B3,
Interesting set up. I am going to assume that you have tried this and it works well for you. I would either replace or augment the zip ties with para cord.

Poncho: Fold it flat and keep it under the flap. That leaves other 'rolled item' room up top for a jacket or something.

I think it is a good idea you keep some stuff in your car for the reasons you stated. I look forward to seeing the rest of your gear load for these bags.
DK

[Paragon]

Blah, blah, blah...

Jim

So I guess while the system was down yesterday it still managed to que everything in memory.

Hopefully one of the mods will delete all but the last post.

Jim

[cammoguy]

I keep a disposable coverall in my ride in case I need to crawl under it.
I used to work in a hospital and had to wear them to go into sterile rooms. Rather than toss them, I saved them up.

I think you can get them at paint stores though.

Came in very handy when I used to own a VW camper. I was always crawling under that damn van to fix something. ;->

[B3]

Holy Thread Necro, Batman!

This pack has recently been replaced by an actual pack, due to the fact that I need a hydration system for the upcoming Milcopp class.

I realized that I never did post a list and/or pictures of the bag contents, and that it was actually a pretty solid bag from the get-go. The new pack is a Columbia day pack I got from the surplus store for about $50. Stay tuned for pics...

That is all.

[Billdog]

Excellent post. Actually, I had the exact same idea - using some of the same gear (medium ALICE pack and Camelbak water bladder).

I live and work in the LA area, and if the fit hits the shan out here, the first thing that's gonna go south are the freeways. That's why I'm putting together a "Get Home Bag" for the trunk, along with - as soon as I can afford it - a folding bicycle. That way, if the freeways lock up, I can pull over, take out the bike and the ALICE pack, and start peddling my ass home. If I have to stop somewhere for the night, I'll have everything I need in the bag.

Honestly, anyone who thinks they can get OUT OF LA in a major crisis is crazy - unless there's some secret route I haven't discovered yet. As far as I can tell, my best survivability option here is to bug IN.

Just my opinion.

Bill

[glaston]

Regarding the coveralls:
You can find used flightsuits at just about ANY decent gunshow for less than $10 depending on condition. Everytime I go to one I notice a merchant with bins full of them. I bought 5 sets for $4 each. Each set has something missing, like velcro on the cuffs or the sleeve pockets or have repairs made. But I use them the same as was mentioned here, keep them in my trunk for a bad situation so it doesn't matter at all if there's missing velcro or a sewn up rip somewhere.