EricinMaryland's BOB, formerly "Yet Another BOB by a Noobie"

[Y.T.]

How the heck does a compass help you with figuring out the prevailing wind? The only way I've found is to sit down for a couple minutes and observe the wind direction, and which way the clouds are moving.

it doesn't. but once you know it you then need the compass to be able to find that direction. In the past I've read up on the area first, noted the prevailing winds for that time of year, then used the compass to set up camp accordingly. This has been important in some areas due to the severe windstorms and duststorms. In addition to setting up the tent to take the least amount of stress I can also try to position the vehicle as a wind block. Or to provide some shade for the coolor and other items.

[bioboy]

The rings or spots around the suns are called sun Dogs the ones around the Moon are called Moon dogs. I found they tend to happen in cold weather. But haven't found any help in predicting weather with them. Just knew that during winter if you saw them it was bloody cold. It could be bloody cold if you didn't see them but if they were there it was cold.

According to a couple of sites sun dogs and moon dogs are formed from ice crystal in the clouds. Some sites say they can also be caused from lower level ice crystals in cold air.
http://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/parhelia.htm

Don't forget if your lost and have not done orientation a lot. Stop grab a hot drink and a meal. The act of cooking and eating will calm you down. If it's late and your just realized your lost set up camp and get set for the night. For the first little while bring stuff for an overnight, or the three day kit to test it out. Personally

I don't hit the woods without water, Some food, knife, Camp Axe, tarp, Hot Drink Kit, button compass, cordage and a lighter. Even areas I have known for along time.

[EricinVirginia]

So, upgraded the BOB based on your feedback from this thread:
- Removed the fishing poles, replaced the side space with a Max FR-1 first aid pouch.
- Removed Blackhawk IFAK from inside as too bulky and replaced with the Max FR-1 first aid pouch mounted outside bag. We were using the STOMP Accessory pouch to hold our IFAK and loaded up, it was about 6 lbs and at 8" x 3.5" x 4" (or so) it was taking up too much space.
- Removed the monocular since in my own personal idion I either have a rifle or shotgun with a scope and can use the scope as a monocular.
- Strapped bungie cords to space formerly holding monocular. If you click that link you'll see a new bungee cord product that replaces those damn annoying hooks that snap everything with connector snaps. There's a 22 piece kit on sale at Home Depot for $9. I got them to allow me to replace the hook clips with the caribiner clips. It allowed me to link up 6x 48" bungee sections into a single line that I then tied up and strapped to my pack. It's quite handy and gives you some flexibility to accomodate length and connection points off the old school style bungee cords.
- Added 4x Main Stay 3,600 calorie kits.
- Added 1 silk bottom/top layer and 2 additional hiking socks and 1 set of silk boxers... mrawwwww...
- Added 1 set of leather work gloves.
- Committed to Wiley-X on the goggle layout and used extra space to hold a head light.
- Walking stick didn't do anything for me, but kids enjoyed it, and as I was typing this wife added, "I enjoyed the walking stick too."



Zombies beware - fall hike this morning...


New BOB weighs in at about 42 lbs sans ammunition.



The IFAK has been toned down. The original IFAK will have a place in our eventual INCH packs and willl stay at the BIL. I suppose we also had a bit of a focus on field surgery... overly so, but based on the notion that uber-medicalman will probably not want to use their own supplies to help strangers and that these things have barter value in PAW; better to have and not need than vice versa. So, the new IFAK weighs just barely 1.5 lbs and has:
- Hemostat, Industrial Shears, Disposable Scalpel, 1x Suture Kit, Nail Clippers, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, 100m of floss
- Celox 6 g applicator and Antibiotic
- 6" Izzy, Quickclot Sport Silver, 4x burn jel, 6x wipes, Athletic Tape, Misc Lrg Bandaids, Loctite Superglue, Knee/Arm brace, 8x 11" zip ties, 4x 11" velcro "zip" ties - for reusability
- 5 days worth of foil wrapped DayQuill, Immodium, Tums, No Doz
- 2 pair nitrile gloves, iodine wipes, and BIC lighter
- 100% DEET, Bendryl Pen, Hand Santizer, Chapstick
- A better way to carry dry meds in a PAW/BOB... see below.

IFAK v 2:



...So, I was at Walmart and they have this body building supplement called Super Whey Protein Shot... which rougly translated means "disgusting gag-like beverage". However, it comes in these oversized tubes that make awesome IFAK tubes to store things in your IFAK. If you buy the 5 dram waterproof vials from United Nuclear, these also fit perfectly inside these tubes. So, after choking one down this past week, I cleaned it out, and put my epilepsy meds into a vial, 2 cycles of amoxicillin into a vial, and topped off the extra space with extra strength Advil. These tubes, after you break the seal, are not water proof, but I wrapped their threads with teflon tape and after submerging for 2 hrs in sink, they were dry. I'd call them water resistant.

[Woods Walker]

The walking stick would come into play when the weather changes or going over harsh terrain. My advice is to keep it. Great family and thanks for sharing.

[Y.T.]

Eric, what I want to know is how is your wife such a tiny thing eating all that canned chili and Easy Cheese?
oh, and your daughter is adorable.

These tubes, after you break the seal, are not water proof, but I wrapped their threads with teflon tape and after submerging for 2 hrs in sink, they were dry. I'd call them water resistant.

very clever. I've never heard about that before. good tip.

- Walking stick didn't do anything for me, but kids enjoyed it, and as I was typing this wife added, "I enjoyed the walking stick too."

plus you can go all Friar Tuck on zombie ass.

[EricinVirginia]

Like you, the thought of Easy Cheese makes the wife vomit in her mouth a little bit. She's blessed with skinny genetics. When she gets around to packing her BOB, it'll have dark chocolate, Red Vine licorice (that's been turned into sugar jerky), junior mints, astronaut ice cream, and other things that make me gag. We complement each other well on the whole gagging on each other's food selections. I think our worst nightmares might involve being chased by zombies when we accidentally grabbed the other person's BOB.

[EricinVirginia]

Okay, so a few hikes later... and BOB v2 is out. My wife took the Max Falcon II backpack adding the Tactical Tailor duty belt pad... and we picked up a Max Vulture II for me..

Loaded it up with all the stuff you guys recommended on this thread (well almost) plus the stuff that used to be in the Falcon II... and then added some ammo: 15 shotgun shells, 40 AK rounds, and 100 9 mm rounds. 1 empty mag for these firearms was also added for space/volume considerations. Then, I added a 10 lb weight to simulate the actual firearms as the AK and Saiga (empty and no accessories) weigh just over 10 lbs. There's plenty of room left for an extra change of clothes and other gear I might need, and I would only realistically have one long arm, not two. The whole setup weighed in at 49 lbs. And, off I went with the dog for a hike. It was a gorgeous early morning here... 73 deg and a bit humid for late October. I also put the dog's BOB on... and REI saddle pack; he seemed to like having it which is good because I do no want to have carry food and water for him... red eye correction doesn't work on Loki when his eyes are yellow like this so enjoy the hound of hell pic.





Thanks for modeling this Elle... she's 7; my BOB is definitely too much for her.



I take back everything I ever said about walking sticks. After 0.5 miles, I grabbed a handy stick and make an improvised one. The heavier pack had me slipping almost every other step depending on the ground... and with the leaf cover and rain, it was easy to slip on tree roots and fallen rocks/sticks. The walking stick helped immeasurably. It was also handy for knocking spider webs out of my way that otherwise would have ended up in my face. After 1.5 miles, I had to turn around and head home to start my Saturday, but even by the then the walking stick was helping.

We also got religion on the Figure 9 Nitize Carabiners... These things are amazing. If you're Knot-fu is weak or non-existant, these allow you to do things that would have required 20 square knots, glue/tape, and then cutting the rope when done. Ratcheting knots were always a weakness for me and these allow you to easily adjust cord tension.

We have official ZS patches coming but for fun we picked up the Zombie Hunter patch from Tactical Tailor. Halloween is coming up soon and we're waffling between going as Zombie Apocalypse Survivors or as Zombies. Is Zombie Hunter a different group than ZS?




Do any of you keep gloves in your BOBs? I've got 3 different ones that I'm waffling between:
- Blackhawk SOLAG Kevlar with hardened knuckle protectors. These are very comfortable, very durable, and give you basically everything you might need to keep your hands safe while S is HTF. The kevlar isn't for bulletproofing, but scrape protection from debris. They're also flame flash resistant which is nice as you don't burn your fingers. They retain excellent touch and grip, even when wet. BUT, when wet and cold, they blow. They soak up water like a freaking sponge and seem to hasten evaporation - it's like having your hands in chill water IF it's cold and wet at the same time.
- Blackhawk Special Ops Half Finger SOLAG Gloves... are nothing special besides palm protectors. No special fabrics, they're really just there for shock and misc hand protection. They don't refrigerate your hands and keep your fingers clear for whatever might come. I like them.
- Belay/Rappel Gloves... in this case from REI. These gloves are amazing. They're $30, half the price of the Blackhawk gloves, and do a good job keeping your hands safe and functioning on cold wet days. They have a downside though... they completely block any tactile sensation. The Blackhawk gloves, it's like they're not even there. These are like wearing ski gloves.

I only need 1 set of gloves in my BOB. I'm inclined to grab the Belay Gloves as the BOB mainstay. I searched and found a bunch of threads on ZS about gloves, but seasonality aside, I can see the PAW having an awful lot of broken, burning, and toxic debris. At this point, I'm not really interested in buying yet more gloves but it's obvious I don't need 3 in my BOB.

[EricinVirginia]

The rappelling gloves have softened up enough that I'm getting a better feel for them. They're definitely becoming my favorite gloves. The Blackhawk ones have a purpose, but it's very specific to shooting and fighting.

[Merovech]

I held off for long enough... now I have to comment, I just cant help it.

So many jokes here, which to pick... hrm...

How about:

"Good to have items that pull Double Duty when needed eh?"

LOL

[EricinVirginia]

Mero... I reviewed your BOB and sadly did not find much that would serve as double-duty from your pics. My wife also wondered how long the innocence of the thread would last.

We have the same Max bags. I took the Falcon II hiking and found it was too small for me, but then you're really going compact and lightweight. I recently picked up the Vulture II and it's workign really well. If you're in Alaska, I'm surprised you don't have more fire-based items, clothing, and you're lucky that you don't have to pack meds for chronic medical conditions. Did you braid the paracord yourself or was that a pre-bought product?

[Merovech]

Mero... I reviewed your BOB and sadly did not find much that would serve as double-duty from your pics. My wife also wondered how long the innocence of the thread would last.

We have the same Max bags. I took the Falcon II hiking and found it was too small for me, but then you're really going compact and lightweight. I recently picked up the Vulture II and it's working really well. If you're in Alaska, I'm surprised you don't have more fire-based items, clothing, and you're lucky that you don't have to pack meds for chronic medical conditions. Did you braid the paracord yourself or was that a pre-bought product?

I really need to update my thread, I've picked up a few things 'extra' since I updated last. Im very thankful for my health

I did braid the paracord myself, I know something like 4 or 5 types of braids... its the initial 3 knots or so that are the hard part.

In my kit my BoB is 'supplemented' by the winter kit in my vehicle, and a large tupperware of MREs, Clothes and such things, and there are times of the year where 'bugging out' is simply not an option no matter what is going on. I do not include the 'alaska' stuff in my BoB thread because for most people the information is totally irrelevant.

Sorry for the derail

[EricinVirginia]

Not a derail at all. While Maryland doesn't get Alaska cold, dark, and wintery... we have our fair share of biting insects and it can get bitterly cold here... no where near Alaska level but cold enough that it certainly plays a factor. I'm going to try the braiding thing tonight... for some reason I have this fantasy that my daughters will jump all over it and braid 100s of feet of paracord for me.

One thing you left out of your own thread was that most people in Alaska probably have good basic survival skills, or at the very least some awareness of survival principles. You also had a governor that would waive her moosegun at the Ruskies... that tells me that as long as you all stear clear of polar bear meat, that you'll do much better than Marylanders... any disruption here and within 2 days everything basically stops and I'd imagine that rioting and looting would commence pretty quickly. It becomes a factor in planning... a bit like how you might think "I might run into a bear..." the #9 cause of death in the wild.

[bltjr1951]

We also got religion on the Figure 9 Nitize Carabiners...
Do any of you keep gloves in your BOBs?

So you got rid of the "S binders" ???
On another site, people that used them had to rename their stuff to "lost or misplaced".

I carry fingerless, working and liner gloves.

[EricinVirginia]

Wife and kids like the S-biners and relocated them all to the wife's BOB and the kids have since appropriated them for SHTF scenario planning using Barbies and their animal toys. Last night, Barbie modeled a fashionable black S-biner necklace to fight of the attack of the kitty cats.

Seriously, the Figure 9 carabiners do a great job with knots if your knot-challenged.

[EricinVirginia]

More fun stuff... so I've continued to modify my BOB and continue understand why so many of you have gone modular for season-specific gear and size/weight considerations. My BOB now weighs about 38 lbs when fully loaded with water and other fun stuff. I also put a cover on it - that annoyingly bright blue bag - so that if it rains, I can cover the bag. I'm an attachment freak. I keep trying to simplify, but there's just too much stuff I like being able to grab. This was a nice 5 mile hike and I carried a weight bar with me to simulate a long arm. Weight bars do not make good walking sticks, but I figured that since I wasn't wearing ankle weights, it would be okay.


Loki GSD is training with 2.5 lb weights in his carry pack. 2 miles and he's ready to lay down in the creek. 5 miles and I'm probably carrying him on my shoulders. He needs to bulk up!



Speaking of which, we ran into a guy with his lab mix and after letting the dogs chase each other around, he starts looking at my BOB and says, "So, um, is this something that you do? Is that a knife??"

[Stormrider]

Nice pack, I plan on getting one just like it...except in a color pattern that doesn't SUCK!!!

[Woods Walker]

Cool photos. Sure beats BOBs in the house....

The heavier pack had me slipping almost every other step depending on the ground... and with the leaf cover and rain, it was easy to slip on tree roots and fallen rocks/sticks. The walking stick helped immeasurably. It was also handy for knocking spider webs out of my way that otherwise would have ended up in my face. After 1.5 miles, I had to turn around and head home to start my Saturday, but even by the then the walking stick was helping.

wet leaves + roots = bad news.

I have slipped on this combo more than anything else, guessing without my hiking poles something would have broken by now. If you like one stick two poles will be even better.

[EricinVirginia]

I like the color pattern. My wife and I share similar preferences in equipment so we're splitting things out where she gets solid colors and I get the camo stuff. I've got an intense hatred of all things brightly colored when it comes to apocalyptic scenarios.

[exile27]

These are the types of threads that give me a warm, fuzzy feeling...

Sure, it's great to post pics of your BOB and to ask for some input from others about its contents, but to actually apply that advice and show it being implimented (out in the field no less) is what it's really all about.

Great job, and I'm looking forward to following this thread as your BOB continues to evolve.

[doctor patches]

also, bring your fishing pole. don't worry about making one when you're there.

because, now a fishing pole is a weapon. that's right!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwjE2FX6l6w

[lunchboxTBC]

Man, that looks like a great setup. Even the dog has a pack, fantastic!

7 seems old enough to carry her own food, water and sleeping bag to me...



Just wanted to drop the Kudos, and subscribe for updates.

[friday]

but what's the ZS obsession with socks and underwear? It's not like you're starting the bug out scenario naked... If I'm able to access my BOB, I'm also able to access anything I might feel I need for the specific purpose of my 3 day trek.

A non-trival amount of my prep counts on the fact, that at least one of the following will be true when its time to bug out.

1) I won't be home, to get anything - I may be calling my wife and saying, get the bags and meet me at the pick up location. I would not want to have to say 'get my bag, and 3 pairs of underwear and some socks'
2) I will be bugging out with a 3 1/2 year old asleep on my shoulder. Picking up things with a 45 lbs kid that your trying not to wake up is enough fun.
3) I will be helping others get out the door (the above 3 1/2 year old). Its hard to forget things that are packed in the bag.
4) I might not be totally calm and collected, and thus forgetful.

As for #4, my bug out bag serves double duty as a hospital bag, spending a week in the ICU sucks enough without trying to do it on one suit of clothing.

Friday

[EricinVirginia]

These are all good points and I've added extra socks and some underwear, both by Under Armor with the X-Metal antimicrobial feature. This stuff is freaking awesome! And by awesome, I mean that in the case of the socks, I do hikes on the weekends and have gone 5 weeks before I could smell anything. As disgusting as it might sound, neither could wife and kids till after that last one and I think then only because we walked through a creek. UA underwear went for those same hikes and then because it was cold, I wore them for 2 days straight from DC to NYC and back. Incidentally, I bought these Silver Wipes... don't let the pics fool you, these arrive in a giant bottle about the size of a milk carton BUT they do a very good job of removing odors and freshening things up. Wiped down the inside of some leather gear that was starting to have a smell and smell is gone. Same with some work gloves that were getting out of control dirty.

I also understand the points about not knowing where you are when SHTF. In almost any case I can think of, if I can't get to my BOB, then I've got bigger problems... like my house/BIL burned down. I've got a smaller/lighter bag in my car, but those are to get from wherever I am to my home. We're working on a secondary BOL as a meeting spot within walking distance, but don't feel good about likely spots yet. As such, if you're at work and it's, "Wife grab the bag and get out!" time not only are you forgetting stuff (inevitable) but you're probably also wishing you had an INCH type setup. My car bag is basically enough stuff to just barely get by and get away, buying time to figure out how to survive and hopefully find my way home. My BOB has way too much gear ($$$) in it to keep in my car or office and it's based on the notion that I'm at home and going out to find help, forage, or do something needful and I might be away for a bit. In a pinch, it gets us to our primary BOL. Right now, I'm lucky in that I work a 20 minute walk from my home, but I regularly travel all over the country. Were I in South Carolina or NYC and SHTF, well... my family would probably be looking at going on without me for a long time if I even survived. TSA has issues with most BOB stuff anyways.



...and 1 week later it's snowing...




If the kid has a comfortable place to sit and rest her head, she might even fall asleep up there!

[Stormrider]

Cool updates.

I like the color pattern. My wife and I share similar preferences in equipment so we're splitting things out where she gets solid colors and I get the camo stuff. I've got an intense hatred of all things brightly colored when it comes to apocalyptic scenarios.

I'm not a fan of ACU pattern. For one because it works good in so few environments. Second of all because gear companies are ceasing to make stuff in the "old" but good patterns because of it. It's getting hard to find anything in woodland camo, even moreso in the old 3 color and "chocolate chip" desert patters. Both of which work pretty good in thier target environment, as opposed to ACU which is mediocre in most all places, too green in the desert and too light in the woodlands or jungle. I do really like the MARPAT series however...I just wish more companies made gear in those patterns. The woodland marpat is good because it has plenty of brown, which woodland was lacking. Same with flecktarn, which I have also been impressed with.

I did see some pictures from out of the mountain regions of Afghanistan where ACU seemed to be blending very well though, so whatever. However it sucks for where I live so my Vulture-II will be in either OD or Tan. End of rant.