poor man's BOB contest? and the winner is . . .

[Veritas]

I don't think there is anyone here who does not know the basics of what should be in a BOB.
Does anyone think we need a list?

Exactly. We aren't having machines judge this contest based solely on price. People from this community are going to judge it. If someone makes the cheapest POS BOB possible, then they are not going to win.

Don't make a required list, that will take some of the fun out of it. Plus, it is not a requirement to participate. I think some people could really get behind this idea, and some are going to be very offended. I am going to be pleased with both reactions.

I am stoked.

[Woods Walker]

Believe it or not I already have a poor man’s BOB setup. This is kinda funny considering how much money I have dumped into gear over the years. The reason for the cheaper system based on a medium USGI Alice pack is theft. I had a BOB taken from my car years ago. I lost my original MSR white gas stove, 5x8 Equinox Siltarp and a bunch of other goodies too. These have been long replaced but swore only to put cheaper but quality stuff behind the truck seat. Also room is at a premium in a truck that has only a bench seat so this kept my more expensive bags off the possibilities list when setting it up. Never posted photos as compared to the rest of my gear it would be a real downer. But cheap in price doesn’t mean junk by a long shot.

For a list there should be some things added to the BOB but wouldn’t really effect the total price. You got to have a hat but like most I have a bunch of them around. Same goes for extra socks. Sure someone will be wearing socks but one pair doesn’t cut it and everyone has a pile of them. Putting a price limitation on stuff is hard. I do pack an old Nalgene canteen that has been beaten up over the years in the cheap truck BOB but do I really want to remove it and post an empty Soda bottle just to lower the price point within a limitation? This would be dishonest as to what I actually pack. The more expensive 72-hour BOB is at the condo. The super expensive INCH bag is at the BOL and the cheaper stuff stays in the truck 24/7.

[ogreboy]

If there are going to be judges, we don't really need any more criteria than $100 worth of stuff in a BOB. If some BOBs don't have enough stuff then they won't score well. If something vital is lacking, it won't score well. If you start telling people exactly what they have to put in it, you're going to end up with a bunch of identical bags.

How about some general guide lines, like(but not necessarily):
Each entry may use common household items at no cost, including but not limited to basic clothing, TP, common kitchen utensils, a normal school backpack, etc.
Each contestant should have every item clearly visible in a picture, state the cost, where it was acquired and the purpose for having it in the BOB.
The price limit will be set at $100.
BOBs will be judged for: there ability to sustain a person for 3 days though a wide range of terrains and circumstances, originality and creativity, and reproducibility.


Just an idea for guidelines. I think if you put too many restrictions people will be hampered in there creativity and if there are too many guidelines then they will be to similar to each other.

I think a good time line would be about 2-4 weeks depending on how impatient you are.

[Blackdog]

Also part of the point is to show what kind of quality you can put together for a set price. How good are you?

I like this viewpoint.[/quote]

I like it.

[thefirebuilds]

and a completion date? jan 1?

[Veritas]

I like 3-4 weeks to submit, and have it judged by Jan. 1. But that kinda puts it near the holidays, it might be hard to get judges that want to spend time on ZS instead of with their families.

How are we going to submit the entries? I guess by PM, and then post in a thread after the submission date? That seems like it could get complicated. I am ok with an honor system, but I know that freaks people out. I figure if you need to cheat at something like this, when nothing is really at stake, I don't need to get in a fuss about it.

BTW, I am at $99.31, but that is if you don't count shipping, and if you can count 1 item from a box of 4 as 1/4th of the total price. Please make this part of the rules, or I am screwed ahahaha.

[thefirebuilds]

I like 3-4 weeks to submit, and have it judged by Jan. 1. But that kinda puts it near the holidays, it might be hard to get judges that want to spend time on ZS instead of with their families.

How are we going to submit the entries? I guess by PM, and then post in a thread after the submission date? That seems like it could get complicated. I am ok with an honor system, but I know that freaks people out. I figure if you need to cheat at something like this, when nothing is really at stake, I don't need to get in a fuss about it.

BTW, I am at $99.31, but that is if you don't count shipping, and if you can count 1 item from a box of 4 as 1/4th of the total price. Please make this part of the rules, or I am screwed ahahaha.

TECHNICALLY speaking we could just make these bobs on paper by taking clips from newspapers or the internet and compiling references that way. We don't actually have to spend the money.

$20/week - 5 weeks puts us at around jan1 for a completion. I think for someone getting started thats pretty reasonable?

[Veritas]

TECHNICALLY speaking we could just make these bobs on paper by taking clips from newspapers or the internet and compiling references that way. We don't actually have to spend the money.

$20/week - 5 weeks puts us at around jan1 for a completion. I think for someone getting started thats pretty reasonable?

I think we are all agreed that you must actually own the stuff. I am sure there will be picture requirements of some sort. Otherwise it isn't a contest to see who can build the best BOB, it is a contest to see who has the best search-fu. That would be boring.

I don't think I am going to buy anything new, but I see your point of $20/week for five weeks. I'm just taking stuff I already own, and doing a Google Shopping search and finding what seems to be a middle of the road price.

[2now]

Yes, you can count one of 4 identical items as 1/4 of the total price.

You cannot buy a 100 piece first aid kit and decide the part you want should only cost 1/100 of the total price. The package you are splitting must all be identical items.

Make sense?

Some people will want to shop around for things, and money is traditionally tight during the holidays.

How about January 15th 11:59 PM New York time?

Yes you must post a picture, and have the items available.
You may be asked to perform some task on/with your PM BOB.

For example walk with it for 1 mile. post a comment.

We want to be able to shake this stuff down a little.

It is not just about google-fu.

[Woods Walker]

If this contest gets off we probably should have 2-3 judges. No expert but would volunteer. Multiple people reviewing anything tends to produce the best results.

[elkhills]

I did a little rough draft last night, and came to the conclusion that $100 is not going to go far if I claim "fair market value".

What I mean is, for instance, I might use my kids old school backpack. That item was saved from the trash and therefore actually cost me $0, however since not everyone will be able to do the same thing, I would assign it a value of $10 since that backpack could be probably be bought at a garage sale for that amount. The little things like that add up real fast, and put my list well over $100 with just the basics .

Maybe I'm way off, but it looks to me like I'm going to have to resort to using literal trash in order to come in under the $100 limit.

Since the spirit, and the point of the contest is to demonstrate that a moderately decent BOB can be built on the cheap, how do we want to handle this?

[Veritas]

I know what you mean elkhills. I just realized last night that I do not have a backpack for my kit. I have some that I got for free as promotions, but I don't know how to handle that, esp because one is really nice. I feel like just about anybody has a backpack, either from high school, college, or just needing a backpack.

Of course, this is meant to be a challenge, so I wasn't expecting it to be easy. I think there are enough ways to approach this dilemma that it will make an interesting contest. Without giving away too much strategy, these are the two main options as I see it:

Option 1: Use less, higher quality, higher priced items.

Option 2: Use more, less quality, lower priced items.

Each kit will have it's limitations, and these limitations (and your explanation of how to deal with them) will be where we get the most benefit from this contest. Of course, there will be somebody with a ridiculous amount of good deals, but remember we are using reproducibility as a judging criteria.

[2now]

I am happy to have any volunteers willing to help judge.

2-3 seems like the right number of judges if possible.

Yes things are expensive. But you should be able to find a usable pack at a thrift store for under $5 if you look. I'm sure lots of things will be one of a kind thrift store / yard sale items. But that is where you will get the biggest bang for your buck.


And not everyone has a decent pack lying around the house not doing anything. If selecting a pack was not so important,there would not be so many threads on the pros and cons of specific packs. Right?

[Browning 35]

Yeah, but the thing is that in order to win wouldn't people just eliminate items from their budget BOB that they might actually need?

I mean I could go....okay, I got this bag ($9.99), a Mora knife ($14), a button compass ($1), a bottle of water ($1.25) and 2 granola bars ($1 for two) and I'm done....I win. Does that mean that's REALLY the bag I'd wanna have with me when I was in a really screwed up situation?

So what actual items HAVE TO be present/covered in the bag in order to qualify???

If you think that is good enough for BOB, more power to you.
I might want to hear how you will keep warm . . .

That's pretty much my point, it wouldn't be good enough (to do much of anything really).

I don't think there is anyone here who does not know the basics of what should be in a BOB.
Does anyone think we need a list?

Well maybe not a list exactly, just some general guidelines of what areas should be covered (shelter, food, water, FAK, cutting tools etc etc).

[Nenyond]

Oh I am so down! I've been putting off rebuilding my minimalist bag for too long now. I am off and running this weekend. I am so stoked!

I'll put up photos of my build each week for the next 5 weeks as I put 20 bucks a week towards a new BOB/GHB. Woot!

[ForgeCorvus]

For those of us over the other side of the Pond
Whats the exchange rate (Sterling to $)

Its probably going to be a piece of crap as a BOB (newbie alert), but I'll do my best.
I would mind a few hints as to contents though

You want it versatile, good value (note I didn't say 'cheap') and repeatable
For 72 hours endurence, one person and $100 (whatever that is in pounds) or less
......Its gonna be fun

[sheddi]

For those of us over the other side of the Pond
Whats the exchange rate (Sterling to $)

I'm working on $100 = £65.

[BullOnParade]

For those of us over the other side of the Pond
Whats the exchange rate (Sterling to $)

I'm working on $100 = £65.

That's a hard one to work out though. As others who have been to both countries can attest, the cost of items in the UK are the same as costs in the US, just different currencies (the backpack sells for 10 units of currency, regardless of dollar or pound).

I'm interested in seeing some results for this. I've had to ease off my preps over the past two months and could use a thrift builder.

[ForgeCorvus]

65 quid ?
Its gonna be tight

I'm assuming that I've got normal clothing I can rob from and that anything made from recycled materials has a value of "Trash" (as long as its made from normal household type recycle using common tools.....so no TIG welding)* , also that I've got to include the value of the bag


One question, If I can fit my own axe handle, then that item costs the value of one axe head and one handle. If I can make my own handle and fit it then that item costs the value of one axe head and one bit of ash......Correct?

Please note, I am a smith, I could make my own knife/axe/machete, but that would break the "Common Tools" rule I mentioned

*Is a sewing machine a Common Tool?

[2now]

65 quid ?
Its gonna be tight

I'm assuming that I've got normal clothing I can rob from and that anything made from recycled materials has a value of "Trash" (as long as its made from normal household type recycle using common tools.....so no TIG welding)* , also that I've got to include the value of the bag


One question, If I can fit my own axe handle, then that item costs the value of one axe head and one handle. If I can make my own handle and fit it then that item costs the value of one axe head and one bit of ash......Correct?

Please note, I am a smith, I could make my own knife/axe/machete, but that would break the "Common Tools" rule I mentioned

*Is a sewing machine a Common Tool?

I agree with your analysis of the axe/hanlde issue, provided the ash is carved into a handle with a knife and file, not a lathe.
Because of the reproduceability criteria, I would also suggest you start a post on "how to rehandle an axe"

a Sewing machine is on the edge, how hard would it be to reproduce your work with a simple needle and thread?

[Veritas]

Are we doing this? Is it on?

As far as the exchange rate, I went to an outdoors store in Cardiff and got a kickass deal on a backpack. 10 quid for a backpack I would have paid 25-30 bucks for here. I wish I knew the name of the store, it might help you guys out if you live in Wales.

[Browning 35]

Okay, how about items (knives and backpacks/messenger bags especially spring to mind) that you've recieved as gifts?

Say the retail cost of a knife is around $140, but you recieved it for Christmas (so you got it for free).

Does it count as $0 since you didn't pay anything for it? Or does it count as $140?

(just trying to establish the rules)

[shrimpwd]

I have been thinking, and I would almost say that everything needs to be valued into the total cost. I think thrift stores and yard sales would be fine, but freebies would just get out of control.
For instance, my 1 large knife and hatchet I have, they were both given to me as gifts many years ago. I would still say I'd need to find an equivalent one on sale or something, and use that value (if I put them in my BOB). Even clothing. Some of you might have some nice clothing just sitting around. At the same time, go to a thrift store and purchase a pair of regular jeans for like $3. They won't be the best ever, but they will still keep your lower half warm.

Ok, that's just my take on things. I look at my planned kit and wonder how I'll keep it under $100 that way, but it's a challenge, not a walk in the park.

[Veritas]

Gifts must be counted as fair market value because we can't all get your wife/mom/uncle to buy us a knife for our combined birthdays. Otherwise I would be rockin' the Tora Bushcraft Kukri I got for Christmas.

Promotions I think could, in certain cases, be counted for $0 if it was feasible that someone else could get in on the promotion. Again, I think this is a judgement call that each person will have to make when trying to create a "replicable" BOB.

See where I am coming from?