NFA's M.E.S.A (aka Mini-BOB)

[Jamie]

I had a great time researching and assembling my Go Bag, thanks for all of the help and input people, and it should work for it's purpose...but...

It weighs a lot...if I have to run with it on, I will be slowed down and have a shorter range...

To that end, I put together a MESA - Minimalist Escape and Survive Assortment...

It's light, quiet, forms to my back, fits under my jacket, and has enough stuff in it to give me an edge if I have to grab it and go more quickly than my Go Bag would allow or support...


Contents


balaclava
polypro socks
polypro gloves
mayday 2400 calorie ration bar
20 oz. bottle water
packet gatorade
packet wint-o-green lifesavers
lighter
waterproof matches
candle
trioxane packs X2
dropper with clorox for water purification or sanitizer
compass
LED flashlight
leatherman
nylon cord (20 feet)
bandaids X20
wound wipes X5
antibacterial ointment X2
suture strips
bloodstopper wound management bandage
wet one X4
advil X8
tylenol X8
aspirin X8
benedryl X8
actifed X4
immodium X4
coughdrops X4
gorilla tape (5 yards)
camp towel
heat reflective tarp


The Packed MESA


It weighs less than 5 pounds, sits in close on my spine (it measures about 8"X18"X3"...432 cubic inches {ish}), and cinches tight using a waist belt and chest strap...when it's on me I can barely feel it, have unrestricted movement, and can even wear my coat over it if need (or the situation) warrants it.

This thing is small/unobtrusive enough that it can stay in the pocket behind the passenger seat in my car, and I can reach it from behind the wheel.

Early on in my thinking about the MESA, I thought about going lighter, but to leave out any of the stuff that is in the thing now, I'd be better off just grabbing a leatherman and a lighter on the way out the door, and taking my chances...

I would appreciate any comments, suggestions, or questions that you might have about the MESA or it's contents.

nfa

[Famine]

Swap out that nylon for some para cord, and throw in a few more cough drops. You'll hate yourself once your done with the 4th, .


Kevin

[2now]

Good looking basic kit:

I like to try and include some sort of pot in most of my kits.

Once you can boil water, you can do so much more.

I also like to include 3-4 feet of surgical tubing. Lets you us it to get or move water and is the basis for a sling shot or other similar tool.

A painters drop cloth is cheap light and provides lots of water resistance.

Other light weight things to consider:

A hacksaw blade or two with a bolt and wingnut. You can always make a handle.

Sewing kit.

Fishing kit.

More string [dental floss?].

Plastic bags, ziplock, trash, they are all good.

Empty canteen [soda bottle].

Empty bag to carry more stuff once your MESA is deployed



The only other things I see is a lack of self defense considerations. I am not saying that a MESA should be combat ready, but protecting yourself is a consideration.

[Ricky Romero]

nice work! assuming you carry a weapon of some sort at all times, it looks like you've got enough to get you through a day or two of TSHTF until you reach your BOB. that looks like one of those hydration bags (camelback etc.). did you have to remove the bladder? if not, is there enough room in the bag (while packed) to have the bladder filled? even partially?

[evolvesurvive]

Boo-yah on the name choice.

Changes I would make [based on my personal situaion/location/etc.]:

Toss in some heavy-duty aluminum foil (weighs next to nothing, takes up very little space if packed correctly, allows you to boil water)

Switch 50-100 ft. of paracord instead of the nylon, as suggested by Famine.

2now suggested a hacksaw blade, I'd go for the "commando" wire saws myself (though a perfect material would be livestock horn-cutting wire found at vet suppliers, etc.).

Instead of both the bottle of water and the Gatorade, I'd pack 2 or 3 Capri-Sun (or similar) juice packs or H2O survival packets. The packets, not the boxes. It lasts a decent amount of time, may be frozen and thawed without damaging the packaging, delivers H2O and mentioned vitamins with a decent taste, and they're cheap as hell. Though I always put mine in a ziplock just in case the packaging does develop a leak.

I'd toss in about 3 tea lights instead of the 1 larger candle. They're easier to ration that way, they'll hold together better because of the metal cups, and if you do need a surge of more heat you can light more than one at a time.

To save space I'd use WetFire tinder rather than the trioxane packets, but that's pure personal preference (and in my case ease of procurement).

I'd go with Potable Aqua pills rather than the dropper with clorox bleach for simple simplicity and to cut down as much as possible on juicy kit parts.

Fishing kit is only going to help if you're heading to a place that has fish... honestly, this actually isn't usually the case. While I have a fishing kit in my BOB, I don't bother with my survival tin and wouldn't in a MESA.

Sewing kit, I actually would add, if feasible. Regardless of where you're going, you'll most likely be wearing clothes, and clothing has a tendency to wear or rip in unfortunate places. A sewing kit also allows you to make alterations to clothing that may help your situation.

[Jamie]

The bag was a gimme from a Nalgene booth at an outdoor stuff convention...it did not come with a bladder in it, nor is there room for one with all of the stuff inside...everything inside the MESA is packed in ziplocs to keep it dry if I dunk, and for use as storage later...the leatherman is the only thing that could be used in self-defense in this pack...if this is all that I have, I hope to hide/run...

nfa

[Givens]

Good looking basic kit:

I like to try and include some sort of pot in most of my kits.

disclaimer: quote taken selectively, but it's 2now's fault for pointless line spacing.

[Gunny]

Well done

I could see obvious areas for improvement, but with the space you have, don't worry with it. Nice job and kudos on the pics.

[Jamie]

Well done

I could see obvious areas for improvement, but with the space you have, don't worry with it. Nice job and kudos on the pics.

C'mon...gimme...even if I don't change things, it'd be nice to know what you'd change...

Thanks,

nfa

[2now]

Evolve Survive:
That’s not just water; that is a pre-filled canteen.
Much better than a non refillable box.

Where do you go that you can’t fish?

NFA:
Good score on the pack!

[ghostface]

Agree about the paracord.

I would add:

Nitrile gloves.
Ditch the chlorine and get some Katadyn micropur tabs:

The chlorine won't kill crypto.

To replace the sanitizing agent you've lost with the chlorine, drop in a bottle of Purell or some other alcohol based sanitizer- it doubles as an accelerant to start fires.

[IrideLLAMAS]

When you first posted about this I thought that it was going to be part of your go-bag that you would pull out and run with. Is this setup going with your go-bag if you bug out? Or is it going to stay separate if you have to run from the beginning?

Good pack for its purpose.

[Glockmeister]

Yep I agree,..you need to add some paracord. Strong as hell, and has uses that you haven't even thought of yet.

[Jamie]

switching out nylon cord for paracord...check...

Thanks for all of the feedback people, nice to know about the katadyn micropur...

nfa

[evolvesurvive]

Evolve Survive:
That’s not just water; that is a pre-filled canteen.
Much better than a non refillable box.

I'm not recommending a box; boxes are the sucks. For space reasons I recommended Capri-Sun (or similar) drink packets rather than having a bottle of water and Gatorade. I'll conceed to the canteen idea, but if you're going that way just stick with a Nalgene bottle then. They're more durable than commercial water bottles.

Where do you go that you can’t fish?

I don't go anywhere I can't fish (at least in a survival situation), but I think many people would be absolutely amazed at how few bodies of water contain fish. It's like they think that fish spontaneously manifest from H2O molocules or something. Endgame: if you're planning on adding fishing equipment to a kit, make sure there are fish to catch in your BOL area.

...unless you plan to use the fishing equipment in less conventional ways...

[crypto]

I support the chlorine. I dont believe cryptosporidium to be that prevelant, and I'm not made of money. Katadyn crap is too #@%#@% expensive for me to buy a dozen kits.

[Haji]

I'd add one or more of those survival space blankets. They're small and can really save yer bacon in a bad spot.

[crypto]

I'd ask myself what the trioxane tabs are for. Without a stove, or pan, or pot, would I just plan on using them to assist in starting a fire? If so, I'd consider an altoids tin full of vaseline cotton balls. Cheaper, and many more uses for a given carrying volume.

[Jamie]

Trioxane switched out in favor of vaseline-soaked cotton balls...paracord in, nylon rope out...the blue thing is one of those slightly tougher space blankets...

nfa

[Funkenstein]

Definately need an inflatable sheep to "keep you company" at night. Plus it could double as a pillow.

[evolvesurvive]

Definately need an inflatable sheep to "keep you company" at night. Plus it could double as a pillow.

If you deflate it, you could use it like a tarp to provide shelter from rain. You could also use it to collect water.

The possibilities of its use as a floatation device goes without saying, and it could be clutched or tied to one's person if crossing rivers.

If the inflatable sheep has patches of "fur" glued or otherwise attached to it, these fibers could be cut off to provide tinder for firestarting.

If it's a 25 orifice party sheep you could charge a fee and profit off others who want "company" at night. You could do this with just one orifice as well, but the profit might be less - fewer would want to deal with sloppy seconds.

With an inflatable sheep you're not going to have to resort to bloody coconuts for necessary friendship so you don't go completely insane on your deserted island. Talk to your inflatable sheep, it's therapeutic.

[RadioShooter]

How about femenine protection items? Nobody taking wifes or girlfriends with them?

RS

[TDelta]

The "pads" make excellent battle dressings.

Randy

[Jamie]

How about femenine protection items? Nobody taking wifes or girlfriends with them?

RS

This is the MESA that lives in my car...I''ve got a similar one in my wife's car, it has a couple of pads as a part of the 1st aid kit...

nfa