The GHB. Comments?

[Jeffcee]

Hi Folks,
Here is my Get-Home-Bag. It has been built mostly out of stuff I got for free and lives in the trunk of my car.
Stuff not pictured, but I would have if needed are:
A SAK, Doan bar and mini flashlight (always in my pocket)
a wool blanket, a coffee can, a sleeping pad, umbrella, 3 more 8 oz bottles of water.

so here is the bag itself:

Cost: free

In the flap pocket:

Maps of AO: free at AAA
2 cliff bars: $2
Gatorade mix: $.30
Sunscreen: $3

In the WB pouch and back pouch:

1 Liter Steel Bottle: Free
Emergency flashlight/Lantern/ Radio-Weather band/ clock: Free (gift)

First Aid Fit

Container: free

Contents

Some was free, some not: lets say $2

Front interior pocket

Lil' Folder (I filed the serration off, as I do not plan to slice bread with it): Free (gift)
2 12 hour light sticks: free
2 zip-ties: $.10
pack of tissue: Free
Ulu knife: free (gift)
Handkerchief: $1

Rear interior pocket

Notepad and pen: Free
Reading material: Free (gift)

Shelter

Cordage: Free( left over from moving a couch)
Poncho: Free (gift)
Emergency Blanket: Free

Handy stuff

Bag of tissues: free
Zippo:free
Coffee filters all in plastic bags:free

Brew Kit

in bag

steel cup: free
lint: free
home made fuel tabs: Free
Home Made candle:free
Tin a: B-day beeswax candles and matches: $.50
Tin b: tea and honey: $.50
Tin c: nothin' yet (suggestions?)

Extra Clothes

beanie: free
tshirt: Free
undies: $1
socks: $1
big scarf: $4

Protection from the elements

Hat: Free
Anorak:$20

In case I cant find any

2 Bottles of water:$.90

There you go. What should I add? what do you like? Thanks for looking.

[Defeater]

Man, this is like the complete antithesis of tactical, aesthetically at least. But it looks like for the most part the price was right, and you've got the essentials, so I couldn't fault you that.

Just out of curiosity, what's the farthest distance you've got to go to get home under normal circumstances?

[Jeffcee]

Defeater: Maybe 20-30 Miles. I want to look as un-tacticool as possible, so thanks!

[Arch]

Les Stroud's book is a good read, but I wouldn't hump it around. If I were going to carry a survival manual with me, it would be the mini-version of Wiseman's SAS guide.

[colorsafe]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

[Shaper]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

My thinking exactly...just get a good hiking pole, or continue on with your "free" tread and get a good sturdy tree branch for use as a walking stick/animal thumper.

[Power Fail]

Another word on that baton, what brand is it? Because based on the price, the look of the holster, and the look of the baton itself, I had (/maybe somewhere still have) the exact same one, and I assure you that the one I have is garbage. It was something I picked up at a surplus store for 20 -30 bucks.

In short order, almost every time I went to snap/extend it, the end that extends would just disconnect, fly out, and hit the ground in the direction I whipped my arm, leaving me standing there with half a baton like a jackass. Maybe yours is better and you just got an awesome deal on it, maybe you've tested the bejesus out of it and it works like a charm, but if not, you might want to examine/test it a bit.

[Shaper]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

My thinking exactly...just get a good hiking pole, or continue on with your "free" tread and get a good sturdy tree branch for use as a walking stick/animal thumper.

Oh, and I would beef up your FAK everywhere (but more specifically with some trauma items), get a reliable compass (or two), add more food as previously suggested, and add a firesteel rod for good measure.

I would also replace that Ulu knife with a traditional fixed blade knife. It would save you a lot of headache if you plan on having to do any real bush-craft or utility work.

ETA: Due to the wonderful laws of both CA and Los Angeles...I honestly could not tell you if a certain blade is legal to carry or not. I just tried to look over their blade laws just out of curiosity, and apparently they have been through a lot of changes over the past few years. I am coming up with so many different answers as to what would be acceptable for you to have in your GHB. You might want to do some research yourself before making the decision to carry any blade. God bless Commiefornia. lol.

[mantis]

Man, this is like the complete antithesis of tactical, aesthetically at least. But it looks like for the most part the price was right, and you've got the essentials, so I couldn't fault you that.

Just out of curiosity, what's the farthest distance you've got to go to get home under normal circumstances?

I'd think that being the "complete antithesis of tactical" would be a very strong virtue in most disaster scenarios.

[Defeater]

Man, this is like the complete antithesis of tactical, aesthetically at least. But it looks like for the most part the price was right, and you've got the essentials, so I couldn't fault you that.

Just out of curiosity, what's the farthest distance you've got to go to get home under normal circumstances?

I'd think that being the "complete antithesis of tactical" would be a very strong virtue in most disaster scenarios.

I know, but the fad of decked-out MOLLE packs and what-have-you nowadays is overwhelming. This is actually kind of refreshing.

[Jeffcee]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

Thanks for the tip on the baton. It's coming out.
I've taken a bunch of Christopher Nyerges' survival classes in LA and see food everywhere now. I also am usually able to find water. Even so a pack of ration bars and a extra liter would be easy to shove in there. I'm doing it. Thanks.

[Arch]

I've taken a bunch of Christopher Nyerges' survival classes in LA and see food everywhere now.

I use to really enjoy his articles in American Survival Guide. Anyone else remember that magazine ?

[Jeffcee]

Another word on that baton, what brand is it? Because based on the price, the look of the holster, and the look of the baton itself, I had (/maybe somewhere still have) the exact same one, and I assure you that the one I have is garbage. It was something I picked up at a surplus store for 20 -30 bucks.

In short order, almost every time I went to snap/extend it, the end that extends would just disconnect, fly out, and hit the ground in the direction I whipped my arm, leaving me standing there with half a baton like a jackass. Maybe yours is better and you just got an awesome deal on it, maybe you've tested the bejesus out of it and it works like a charm, but if not, you might want to examine/test it a bit.

Its a Schrade. I got it on sale at lapg. I've yet to wail on anything with it, but it seems to extend and collapse when I want it to. Its going into the night stand to crack skulls of home invaders.
Seem like such a silly thing to be illegal.

[Jeffcee]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

My thinking exactly...just get a good hiking pole, or continue on with your "free" tread and get a good sturdy tree branch for use as a walking stick/animal thumper.

Oh, and I would beef up your FAK everywhere (but more specifically with some trauma items), get a reliable compass (or two), add more food as previously suggested, and add a firesteel rod for good measure.

I would also replace that Ulu knife with a traditional fixed blade knife. It would save you a lot of headache if you plan on having to do any real bush-craft or utility work.

ETA: Due to the wonderful laws of both CA and Los Angeles...I honestly could not tell you if a certain blade is legal to carry or not. I just tried to look over their blade laws just out of curiosity, and apparently they have been through a lot of changes over the past few years. I am coming up with so many different answers as to what would be acceptable for you to have in your GHB. You might want to do some research yourself before making the decision to carry any blade. God bless Commiefornia. lol.

If used it a few times for little chores like shaving kindling or whatnot. Works pretty well, but thats a good point about the blade laws. I love my home state. Really.

Mantis and Defeater: Thanks!

[Jeffcee]

I've taken a bunch of Christopher Nyerges' survival classes in LA and see food everywhere now.

I use to really enjoy his articles in American Survival Guide. Anyone else remember that magazine ?

Here is a link to his current magazine http://www.wwmag.net/
and one of his sites http://www.dirttime.com/index.html

Both worth a stop.

[EricinVirginia]

I like batons. Go for it. For a get home bag that will pass muster everywhere however, replace the baton with a small crowbar. I like the idea of being un-tacticool... but honestly, I think your bag stands out too much. Anyone you pass who sees you is going to remember you and your bag. Unless that's part of the plan, you're calling lots of attention to yourself. The other thought I had was you should grab some cash and a spare house key. It'd suck to finally get home and be locked out. You could spare up space by dumping the t-shirt, unless it's there for layering. I mean, logically, you didn't leave home naked so you must have some form of clothing on. Dump the t-shirt, add some socks, if you're worried about layering grab something thermal rather than a cotton T-shirt.

[Shaper]

great "bargain GHB" .

you should add some more free food and water though when you can.

watch out for the collapsible baton in california (i saw your maps of los angeles, etc), they are a felony if found on your person or belongings .

My thinking exactly...just get a good hiking pole, or continue on with your "free" tread and get a good sturdy tree branch for use as a walking stick/animal thumper.

Oh, and I would beef up your FAK everywhere (but more specifically with some trauma items), get a reliable compass (or two), add more food as previously suggested, and add a firesteel rod for good measure.

I would also replace that Ulu knife with a traditional fixed blade knife. It would save you a lot of headache if you plan on having to do any real bush-craft or utility work.

ETA: Due to the wonderful laws of both CA and Los Angeles...I honestly could not tell you if a certain blade is legal to carry or not. I just tried to look over their blade laws just out of curiosity, and apparently they have been through a lot of changes over the past few years. I am coming up with so many different answers as to what would be acceptable for you to have in your GHB. You might want to do some research yourself before making the decision to carry any blade. God bless Commiefornia. lol.

If used it a few times for little chores like shaving kindling or whatnot. Works pretty well, but thats a good point about the blade laws. I love my home state. Really.

Mantis and Defeater: Thanks!

BTW...I didn't mean to belittle your home turf or anything. I lived there for almost 6 years. I suppose since I grew up in the south that I never took to the mind set of most of the folks in and around LA. My apologies if there was any offense. You have a good start on your GHB. Take care.

[Power Fail]

Its a Schrade. I got it on sale at lapg. I've yet to wail on anything with it, but it seems to extend and collapse when I want it to. Its going into the night stand to crack skulls of home invaders.
Seem like such a silly thing to be illegal.

I've seen and thought about picking up that exact one on LAPG. If you do ever test it out, let me know how it holds up. If it passes muster, I'd definitely consider picking one up. And glad to see you didn't get the POS that I did

[Jeffcee]

Shaper: No offense taken. My response was a little tongue in cheek.

[WhoShotJR]

Some of this has been stated above, but if I were you I would:

Add more food, even if it's Cliff bars. For the size/weight of the Stroud book you could have like 6-8 more bars.

Beef up the first aid. My brother had a freak accident where I was very happy to have some gauze and pads to stop the bleeding. Worth the (negligible) weight.

I think anything would be better than the Ulu for general use. A $12 Mora would be much more useful.

Swap the cordage out for some 500 cord. $5 and a HUGE improvement.

I would at the very least double the water.

[1200RT-P]

Thanks for the tip on the baton. It's coming out.

Smart.

[SixStringRazor]

I'm really diggin the Madagascar bag.

[ninja-elbow]

I'd trade the baton for a small fixed blade ... unless you can't have them in LA also. A small pry-bar is a good idea too.

You FAK items are the same as mine - because maybe our respective work places get FAK supplies from the same company? (hence "free"). Some gauze pads and some duct tape or roll of gauze added? Of course, you have other items that could be used for that kind of cut/injury too.

Keys and cash are also good ideas.

Good work!

[Aceman]

I dig it! Very low-key. I don't care about tacticool looks at the point where I need to use a bag - ergo trumps stealth for me.

Overall I really like the contents except a few things mentioned before:

#1 Smaller survival manual
#2 More water
#3 More first aid

Otherwise - gonna be tough to do much more on zero budget. Kudos - excellent work!

I need to try this...the for free version.

By the way - how does it carry?