When I started getting into Survival skills I built a BOB. That's probably the first step that many people make when they get into "prepping" or "survivalism" (whatever you want to call it), and it's something that everyone should have.
As I've expanded my knowledge and skills (and stores) I've rethought a lot of my original ideas. When I did my practice Bug Out during the last Tsunami warning (post) I decided that I wanted a more modular set up, that way I could pick and choose which 'modules' depending on the situation. That led me to look at different packs, bags, and set ups. I could tailor my pack out depending on the situation without having to dig through one big bag, it also makes it easier to find an individual item.
So, in that thread, here is my current pack out gear.
HPG Kit Bag, chest
I'd never heard of a "chest rig" before getting into survival skills (and Zombie forums). Most chest rigs are for battlefield or tactical scenarios (or paintball), they have pouches for magazines, grenades, etc. Well, I was looking for something that could be worn hiking with or without my main pack, that would keep some supplies handy so I wouldn't have to stop and dig through the main pack for a candy bar or my cell phone. This HPG Kit Bag is perfect for that. It's also neat because it adds flexibility, you could leave your main bag at camp and take this for a short hike. This was also designed with Concealed Carry in mind, the pouch closest to the body has easy pull zippers and loops for carrying a pistol. I didn't get the Kit Bag for that purpose but it's kind of a neat feature. There's a cool quick-draw video on their website. It's an extremely handy kit to have.
Snugpak waist pouch
It's a waist pack and belt. I keep a lot of stuff here; knives, pouches, canteens, gloves, fire starter, first aid, and a poncho/rain jacket. This is basically a mini-BOB, one or two of each item. It keeps things easy to reach, easy to find, and adds versatility. You see the trend here?
Snugpak pack
This is quite a bit smaller than most BOBs. You definitely need a good pack but in a set up like this it can be smaller because you spread the items between the Kit Bag, belt, and waist pouch. I put all the little stuff in those two bags and then just keep the big stuff in the main pack. Food, hydration bladder, sleeping bag, tarp, extra clothing, etc.
Blackhawk thigh holster, magazine pouches, and Drop leg pouch
I put this last because firearms are the lowest priority and Hawaii has very strict laws against carrying firearms unless you're hunting (and licensed). In most emergency situations they won't be necessary and could lead to legal problems. In your State it might not be as big an issue, either way firearms should be a low priority. Contrary to the popular internet-Rambo type, firearms are simply not as important as the rest of your preps. Outside of a Zombie Apocalypse water, food, shelter, fire, and clothing, are all far more critical than firearms to staying alive. By keeping firearms, ammo, mags, and accessories in a configuration like this (drop leg holster and pouch) they can be easily dropped or added to your pack out.
It also means I can grab grab any of these items and go for a hike minimal repacking. I've also really cut down the amount of stuff in my BOB. The BOB, or 72 hour bag, is supposed to have all the supplies for 72 hours. The theory is that 72 hours should get you through the worst of any disaster. When I first packed a BOB it had everything minus the kitchen sink but really, you don't need that much stuff for 72 hours. Maintain your core body temperature, a little water, a first aid kit, maybe some food... and that's about it. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Obviously, there are things that make life better and easier, but if the goal is to survive, you really don't need much. Keeping your pack light means you can travel faster, easier, and be more mobile.
I've rushed this post a little bit, I haven't had time to do the full spread and photos. I'll try and do that soon. And as always, if you have any questions or comments let me know.
Showing posts with label bug out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bug out. Show all posts
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Metabolism of Endurance
When I was really into long distance trail running and hiking I spent a lot of time looking for the best options for food and drink (usually referred to in those circles as "fuel" and "hydration"). Some of those products were really cool, really effective, and a lot of those lessons I learned serve me well every time I head into the woods. In this post I'm going to go over some of the basics, in the next post I'll talk about some of the specific food and drinks that have worked well for me.
Obviously, trail running is a much higher intensity than hiking, but a lot of the techniques can carry over.
When you are moving a lot, sweating a lot, you need to keep in mind fuel and hydration. You need to intake calories, water, and electrolytes if you want to KEEP moving. Too little fuel, food, and you run out of energy. You have to maintain the proper electrolyte balance as well, you get too far either way and you lose your endurance, get sick, and it could eventually kill you. Electrolytes are necessary to relay electrical impulses in the body, they include sodium, potassium (those are the two biggest), magnesium, and calcium.
Too much water (without enough electrolytes) and you can get hyponatremia, a condition that kills a couple long distance runners every year. They run a long race, lose lots of electrolytes, then drink water trying to rehydrate. By just drinking water they essentially dilute the levels of electrolytes in the blood, it throws off your body's balance. Sports drinks are one way to intake electrolytes, but there are quite a few options (I'll go over them in my next post). Hyponatremia outside of athletics is most commonly caused by kidney failure. In other words, it's not the kind of thing you want to happen in the woods, in a survival situation, or during/after a race. That's why you need to take in electrolytes. Also, look at the drinks you are using, many common sports drinks only have sodium, potassium, and not necessarily in the ratios that are best (these are better than nothing but intended for short term activities, sporting events). For extended activities you need to find a better option with Sodium to Potassium is about 3.5-1, calcium and magnesium levels should be lower and in a ratio about 2-1. So, something with 180mg of Sodium, 50mg of Potassium, 10mg of calcium, and 5mg of magnesium should be about right for an hour of high level activity. There are quite a few electrolyte pills available, a simple, easy solution when drinks are not as available.
Hypernatremia, or too much sodium, results in the same symptoms as dehydration; extreme thirst, lethargy, weakness, swelling, and at extreme levels seizures and coma (the same as drinking sea water). Usually, it will start with swelling in the hands and feet. When you get in tune with your body you will notice those symptoms and increase your water to electrolyte intake.
Ok, so those are the reasons that balance is important. Now, how much overall fluid should you be taking in? That depends on your personal physiology (some people sweat more than others, with more or less electrolytes lost), your fitness, the climate, and your current activity level. Essentially, you need to do some testing and find how much you lose so you know how much you need to drink. When I was running a race I would typically take in close to a liter of fluid an hour, that was trail running though; high activity level, extreme heat, lots of sweating. For hiking I could probably make do with half that.
It's also better for your body to take in fluid frequently and in small amounts. That helps maintain a steady balance rather than drinking a full liter once an hour and it's easier to absorb. That's why hydration packs like the Camelbak or hand held bottles are so popular with long distance athletes, easy to take small, frequent sips.
Ok, now what about food or 'fuel'? Again, that depends a lot on you and your activity level, but to maintain a high activity level for multiple hours you should probably try to take in at least 300 calories an hour. Now, this is where it gets a little complicated... when your body is in high activity mode it's diverting blood away from your stomach and generally toward your legs (or skin for cooling), which means you won't be digesting food very well. In fact, you are going to be digesting really poorly, absorbing calories very slowly and inefficiently, which means you need to bring along food which is easily digested or you will just get bloated, cramped, diarrhea, and not many calories. Mostly you will need carbohydrates for energy, but you will also need fats (for long term energy), and protein (for energy and to maintain muscle endurance). Easily digested foods are those like fruits, gels, liquids, and gummies. For low intensity exercise, like easy walking and hiking, foods like trail mix have a pretty good mix of carbs, fats, and protein. Just like the water, you want to eat small amounts frequently, it's easier on the stomach and will help maintain a better overall balance of energy level.
I know, it all sounds complicated, but once you do a little experimenting with what products and balance work for you the benefits are drastic. You can go longer, feel better, and recover faster.
Next post, I'll show you some of the cool products I've found that work well for me.
Obviously, trail running is a much higher intensity than hiking, but a lot of the techniques can carry over.
When you are moving a lot, sweating a lot, you need to keep in mind fuel and hydration. You need to intake calories, water, and electrolytes if you want to KEEP moving. Too little fuel, food, and you run out of energy. You have to maintain the proper electrolyte balance as well, you get too far either way and you lose your endurance, get sick, and it could eventually kill you. Electrolytes are necessary to relay electrical impulses in the body, they include sodium, potassium (those are the two biggest), magnesium, and calcium.
Too much water (without enough electrolytes) and you can get hyponatremia, a condition that kills a couple long distance runners every year. They run a long race, lose lots of electrolytes, then drink water trying to rehydrate. By just drinking water they essentially dilute the levels of electrolytes in the blood, it throws off your body's balance. Sports drinks are one way to intake electrolytes, but there are quite a few options (I'll go over them in my next post). Hyponatremia outside of athletics is most commonly caused by kidney failure. In other words, it's not the kind of thing you want to happen in the woods, in a survival situation, or during/after a race. That's why you need to take in electrolytes. Also, look at the drinks you are using, many common sports drinks only have sodium, potassium, and not necessarily in the ratios that are best (these are better than nothing but intended for short term activities, sporting events). For extended activities you need to find a better option with Sodium to Potassium is about 3.5-1, calcium and magnesium levels should be lower and in a ratio about 2-1. So, something with 180mg of Sodium, 50mg of Potassium, 10mg of calcium, and 5mg of magnesium should be about right for an hour of high level activity. There are quite a few electrolyte pills available, a simple, easy solution when drinks are not as available.
Hypernatremia, or too much sodium, results in the same symptoms as dehydration; extreme thirst, lethargy, weakness, swelling, and at extreme levels seizures and coma (the same as drinking sea water). Usually, it will start with swelling in the hands and feet. When you get in tune with your body you will notice those symptoms and increase your water to electrolyte intake.
Ok, so those are the reasons that balance is important. Now, how much overall fluid should you be taking in? That depends on your personal physiology (some people sweat more than others, with more or less electrolytes lost), your fitness, the climate, and your current activity level. Essentially, you need to do some testing and find how much you lose so you know how much you need to drink. When I was running a race I would typically take in close to a liter of fluid an hour, that was trail running though; high activity level, extreme heat, lots of sweating. For hiking I could probably make do with half that.
It's also better for your body to take in fluid frequently and in small amounts. That helps maintain a steady balance rather than drinking a full liter once an hour and it's easier to absorb. That's why hydration packs like the Camelbak or hand held bottles are so popular with long distance athletes, easy to take small, frequent sips.
Ok, now what about food or 'fuel'? Again, that depends a lot on you and your activity level, but to maintain a high activity level for multiple hours you should probably try to take in at least 300 calories an hour. Now, this is where it gets a little complicated... when your body is in high activity mode it's diverting blood away from your stomach and generally toward your legs (or skin for cooling), which means you won't be digesting food very well. In fact, you are going to be digesting really poorly, absorbing calories very slowly and inefficiently, which means you need to bring along food which is easily digested or you will just get bloated, cramped, diarrhea, and not many calories. Mostly you will need carbohydrates for energy, but you will also need fats (for long term energy), and protein (for energy and to maintain muscle endurance). Easily digested foods are those like fruits, gels, liquids, and gummies. For low intensity exercise, like easy walking and hiking, foods like trail mix have a pretty good mix of carbs, fats, and protein. Just like the water, you want to eat small amounts frequently, it's easier on the stomach and will help maintain a better overall balance of energy level.
I know, it all sounds complicated, but once you do a little experimenting with what products and balance work for you the benefits are drastic. You can go longer, feel better, and recover faster.
Next post, I'll show you some of the cool products I've found that work well for me.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Urban Camouflage
In a lot of survival circles they advocate military surplus gear, chest rigs, Alice packs, BDUs, etc. A lot of that gear is good quality, efficient, and fairly inexpensive. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with military surplus but it isn't always the best option.
I mentioned in the previous post on survival shorts that sometimes there is a benefit to blending in with the crowd. Unless you're facing an invading army, and probably even then, camouflage probably isn't the best option for get-out-of-town clothing.
I mentioned in the previous post on survival shorts that sometimes there is a benefit to blending in with the crowd. Unless you're facing an invading army, and probably even then, camouflage probably isn't the best option for get-out-of-town clothing.
"Urban Camo"
Yes, there is such a thing as "Urban Camo". It's a digital camo in all shades of black and grey, it's supposed to break up your outline in an urban environment. I'm not sure how effective it is in military or law enforcement applications, but for the average person I think there's better options.
Or
Or even better...
You could walk around and ask everyone for empty cans, bottles, change, and you'd still be invisible.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Survival Shorts
In the past, whenever I've thought of clothing for "bugging out" or survival situations I've automatically assumed I would wear pants. Probably some kind of cargo or tactical pants, like some surplus camo or hunting pants. They have obvious benefits, heavier duty pants won't fall apart, they protect your legs from the random scrapes and cuts, protect your legs from the environment, and usually have well placed pockets for carrying the multitude of survival supplies. Overall, pants are a must have in your survival wardrobe.
However, today had me rethinking things a little bit. It was f***ing hot out. I was running some errands after work, wearing some khakis, and sweating my *** off. That made me start thinking about how much "fun" it would be to hike around the island, heavy pack on, in pants and boots (yes, those are sarcastic quotation marks). I'd be losing valuable electrolytes, uncomfortable, and probably developing blisters in all the wrong places.
So, that put a little kink in my mental survival scenarios.
That's what got me thinking about "survival shorts". That doesn't mean abandon all pants, just that warm (HOT!) weather clothes don't seem to be discussed all that often in survival circles and so I thought I would bounce around a few ideas. Wear the shorts, keep the pants in the pack, or vice versa as the situation dictates. Something like swim trunks might be another good option, work in warm weather, work in the water, etc. There are some serious benefits to shorts in a survival situation (in addition to having pants).
First, obviously they will allow your body to cool more efficiently in hot weather. This helps avoid excess sweating (loss of precious fluids and electrolytes), the blistering, and the discomfort. In hot weather, shorts would be a nice, if not essential, addition to preps. In some climates you might hike all the time in pants, so shorts wouldn't be as essential, but in the southern months or warmer climates short could make a huge difference in your ability to cover distance. And I don't know if you've ever tried swimming in pants but it isn't fun.
Secondly, in an emergency situation you probably don't want to be the guy or gal that stands out. When you're "bugging out" of your neighborhood wearing your tactical pants, Alice pack, and chest rig might draw the wrong kind of attention (let alone firearms, but that's a whole other conversation). Someone in shorts, t-shirt, and a hiking pack will raise a lot fewer eyebrows. That might be the difference between a successful bug out and a very abrupt, unsuccessful attempt. Whether it's law enforcement or unfriendly neighbors, you want to get out of town without being stopped, so clothing should be something you keep in mind. Some Suburban Rambo is going to pipe up "Yeah, but I'm so scary when I'm all geared up nobody is going to F with me!" Well, that might be partly true but it seems to me that the better option is to avoid being noticed at all. Either way, you should be thinking about how you look in your chosen survival clothing.
Ok, so having shorts is a good idea, what are some things to look for when picking our your "survival shorts".
Comfort, that might seem obvious, but keep in mind that you might be hiking in them for an extended period of time. You really should test them out before deciding if they're the right ones for you, even a minor discomfort can turn into blisters really quickly, which would certainly hamper your movement (another overlooked piece of clothing is a good pair of compression shorts, good for avoiding those poorly located blisters).
Fabric, you want to find something light weight but durable. I would avoid cotton because it takes a long time to dry (leading to blisters and discomfort), and doesn't wick sweat very well. Blended fabrics, or technical fabrics with polyester and nylon are generally better choices. They also tend to flex better, breath better, and less prone to wear and tear.
Pockets, find shorts with pockets that are a good size and arranged well for your uses. Also, check how the pockets close. Maybe you prefer velcro, or buttons, or zippers, but make sure that the pockets will keep your valuable secure. I have one pair of really comfortable shorts that I love but every time I sit down my keys fall out. In a survival situation you wouldn't want to lose your knife or something after a pit stop.
And finally, you want to consider the short's coverage. I don't know if you're into hot pants or not, but those probably aren't the best choice. I have a pair that cover my knees (thankfully, they are just short enough to not be "capri pants", wouldn't want to lose man points), which would probably be ideal for my situation. If I need to do any kneeling than my knees are protected but they breath well and are cool enough for this Hawaiian heat. I've seen some nice 5.11 shorts but they stop mid-thigh, which doesn't offer as much coverage as I'd like (or want to be seen in).
I've found a couple options online but you would probably have better luck at your local department store. I think 5.11 has a pair of slacks that zip-off into shorts and back again. Something like that might be an interesting option if they fit all the other criteria. If you don't find anything at the store the easiest option would be to buy an extra set of your favorite "tactical pants" or some surplus military pants and cut them off at your desired length. I've done that to a couple of older military issue BDUs and was pleased with the results.
However, today had me rethinking things a little bit. It was f***ing hot out. I was running some errands after work, wearing some khakis, and sweating my *** off. That made me start thinking about how much "fun" it would be to hike around the island, heavy pack on, in pants and boots (yes, those are sarcastic quotation marks). I'd be losing valuable electrolytes, uncomfortable, and probably developing blisters in all the wrong places.
So, that put a little kink in my mental survival scenarios.
That's what got me thinking about "survival shorts". That doesn't mean abandon all pants, just that warm (HOT!) weather clothes don't seem to be discussed all that often in survival circles and so I thought I would bounce around a few ideas. Wear the shorts, keep the pants in the pack, or vice versa as the situation dictates. Something like swim trunks might be another good option, work in warm weather, work in the water, etc. There are some serious benefits to shorts in a survival situation (in addition to having pants).
First, obviously they will allow your body to cool more efficiently in hot weather. This helps avoid excess sweating (loss of precious fluids and electrolytes), the blistering, and the discomfort. In hot weather, shorts would be a nice, if not essential, addition to preps. In some climates you might hike all the time in pants, so shorts wouldn't be as essential, but in the southern months or warmer climates short could make a huge difference in your ability to cover distance. And I don't know if you've ever tried swimming in pants but it isn't fun.
Secondly, in an emergency situation you probably don't want to be the guy or gal that stands out. When you're "bugging out" of your neighborhood wearing your tactical pants, Alice pack, and chest rig might draw the wrong kind of attention (let alone firearms, but that's a whole other conversation). Someone in shorts, t-shirt, and a hiking pack will raise a lot fewer eyebrows. That might be the difference between a successful bug out and a very abrupt, unsuccessful attempt. Whether it's law enforcement or unfriendly neighbors, you want to get out of town without being stopped, so clothing should be something you keep in mind. Some Suburban Rambo is going to pipe up "Yeah, but I'm so scary when I'm all geared up nobody is going to F with me!" Well, that might be partly true but it seems to me that the better option is to avoid being noticed at all. Either way, you should be thinking about how you look in your chosen survival clothing.
Ok, so having shorts is a good idea, what are some things to look for when picking our your "survival shorts".
(Hint: Not these)
Comfort, that might seem obvious, but keep in mind that you might be hiking in them for an extended period of time. You really should test them out before deciding if they're the right ones for you, even a minor discomfort can turn into blisters really quickly, which would certainly hamper your movement (another overlooked piece of clothing is a good pair of compression shorts, good for avoiding those poorly located blisters).
Fabric, you want to find something light weight but durable. I would avoid cotton because it takes a long time to dry (leading to blisters and discomfort), and doesn't wick sweat very well. Blended fabrics, or technical fabrics with polyester and nylon are generally better choices. They also tend to flex better, breath better, and less prone to wear and tear.
Pockets, find shorts with pockets that are a good size and arranged well for your uses. Also, check how the pockets close. Maybe you prefer velcro, or buttons, or zippers, but make sure that the pockets will keep your valuable secure. I have one pair of really comfortable shorts that I love but every time I sit down my keys fall out. In a survival situation you wouldn't want to lose your knife or something after a pit stop.
And finally, you want to consider the short's coverage. I don't know if you're into hot pants or not, but those probably aren't the best choice. I have a pair that cover my knees (thankfully, they are just short enough to not be "capri pants", wouldn't want to lose man points), which would probably be ideal for my situation. If I need to do any kneeling than my knees are protected but they breath well and are cool enough for this Hawaiian heat. I've seen some nice 5.11 shorts but they stop mid-thigh, which doesn't offer as much coverage as I'd like (or want to be seen in).
I've found a couple options online but you would probably have better luck at your local department store. I think 5.11 has a pair of slacks that zip-off into shorts and back again. Something like that might be an interesting option if they fit all the other criteria. If you don't find anything at the store the easiest option would be to buy an extra set of your favorite "tactical pants" or some surplus military pants and cut them off at your desired length. I've done that to a couple of older military issue BDUs and was pleased with the results.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
How Freakin' Cool is the Biolite Stove?
Technology and camping are two topics that don't typically mix that much. Occasionally you'll see some new upgrade to a fabric or tent design, but electrical engineering and the outdoors don't seem particularly compatible. However, I saw a product on a survival forum that blew my mind and I had to share it.
The Biolite Camp Stove, $129
It's small, light weight, and relatively inexpensive.
There are other options out there but they don't appear to be as versatile. There are small solar panels and windup generators you could get, but according to the Biolite website this thing generates more electricity and faster (20 minutes of charging provide 60 minutes of talk time according to the website). Plus, it will work day or night, cloudy skies or not.
It might not be the perfect solution but it certainly seems like an extremely cool. It's definitely going on my wish list.
The Biolite Camp Stove, $129
This is a small stove that uses the heat generated in the stove to power an electric fan and generate electricity to charge electrical devices. The fan pulls air in through the orange portion of the stove and into the main chamber, making the fire more efficient and generating power.
It charges through a standard USB port and will charge almost anything that uses a standard USB, smart phones, Ipads, etc. Obviously, you would need to double check the manuals for the device and for the stove to make sure it's compatible before you plug it in, but it looks incredibly versatile. For example, I have an emergency radio that could be charged with the stove in the field.
There are other options out there but they don't appear to be as versatile. There are small solar panels and windup generators you could get, but according to the Biolite website this thing generates more electricity and faster (20 minutes of charging provide 60 minutes of talk time according to the website). Plus, it will work day or night, cloudy skies or not.
It might not be the perfect solution but it certainly seems like an extremely cool. It's definitely going on my wish list.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Airplane Survival Kit: Pics
After my last trip out of state I spent a lot of time thinking about making a better airline kit. I haven't seen much information on the forums or on the sites about them, so I figured I would work on my own.
Stainless steel bottle cup, extra pack strap, water purification drops, flashlight, extra batteries, Buck folder, Gerber multi-tool, 40ft of cordage, first aid kit (a simple one: neosporin, alcohol wipes, ibuprofin, asprin, antihistamines, gauze, bandages, good tape), duct tape x2 (without the tube they're the size of a AA battery), chapstick x2 (for lips and fire starting), emergency blanket, waterproof matches, Camelbak Tabs (electrolytes), flint and steel. I didn't have a poncho, I need to add one or a small tarp for shelter building. Also not shown, extra socks/underware, other clothes.
One of my discoveries that led to making this kit was the cool folding flint, steel, and magnesium fire starter I found at a local hiking store. It folds and fits into a small pouch, it was fairly expensive ($30), but is very nice quality from a company in Alaska called Kodiak. Folded and in the pouch it's not too big, about the size of my thumb.
The second discovery that led to this kit was a pre-made emergency kit by the same hiking store. It's a simple emergency kit that they fit into a Nalgene bottle. It was a decent but meant only for short term outdoor emergencies (granola bar, emergency blanket, first aid kit, gauze and tape, water purification drops, and 10ft of cord). I thought this was such a cool idea that I picked one up and then modified it.
One of my biggest concerns with the Airline kit was how to package it and keep the different items from being damaged in my checked bags and not taking up too much space. The Nalgene bottle was a really good idea, nearly all of the smaller items fit inside the bottle, with the cup fitting on the bottom. The Camelbak tabs, first aid kit, knives and multi-tool were the only small items that didn't fit inside. Then, I used my neck gator as packing at the top to keep everything from rattling around.
With the 3L bladder collapsed, and with the added bottle, that gives me an easily packed 4 liters of capacity. The clothes, shoes, and jackets I was already packing, so that's nothing extra. I used the Camelbak Mule pack as a carry on along with my laptop bag, so overall this kit added very little to my pack out but added a lot of capability.
For those of you with travel plans, I hope this gives you some ideas. Thoughts or suggestions always welcome, as usual.
This is what the basic kit looks like. The main bag is in my new Camelbak Mule 3L. To the right is a good pair of walking shoes, to the left is a Columbia fleece jacket and a good Camo shell jacket to go over. I also made sure to bring good clothes, not pictured. Clothes will vary a lot depending on what area you're going to, that's why I didn't put much emphasis on them here. Also, one would hope that you bring appropriate clothing to begin with, whether or not you're building a kit.
Hat, gloves, two jackets, neck gator, pack above, Nalgene bottle...
Stainless steel bottle cup, extra pack strap, water purification drops, flashlight, extra batteries, Buck folder, Gerber multi-tool, 40ft of cordage, first aid kit (a simple one: neosporin, alcohol wipes, ibuprofin, asprin, antihistamines, gauze, bandages, good tape), duct tape x2 (without the tube they're the size of a AA battery), chapstick x2 (for lips and fire starting), emergency blanket, waterproof matches, Camelbak Tabs (electrolytes), flint and steel. I didn't have a poncho, I need to add one or a small tarp for shelter building. Also not shown, extra socks/underware, other clothes.
One of my discoveries that led to making this kit was the cool folding flint, steel, and magnesium fire starter I found at a local hiking store. It folds and fits into a small pouch, it was fairly expensive ($30), but is very nice quality from a company in Alaska called Kodiak. Folded and in the pouch it's not too big, about the size of my thumb.
One of my biggest concerns with the Airline kit was how to package it and keep the different items from being damaged in my checked bags and not taking up too much space. The Nalgene bottle was a really good idea, nearly all of the smaller items fit inside the bottle, with the cup fitting on the bottom. The Camelbak tabs, first aid kit, knives and multi-tool were the only small items that didn't fit inside. Then, I used my neck gator as packing at the top to keep everything from rattling around.
With the 3L bladder collapsed, and with the added bottle, that gives me an easily packed 4 liters of capacity. The clothes, shoes, and jackets I was already packing, so that's nothing extra. I used the Camelbak Mule pack as a carry on along with my laptop bag, so overall this kit added very little to my pack out but added a lot of capability.
For those of you with travel plans, I hope this gives you some ideas. Thoughts or suggestions always welcome, as usual.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Tsunami: Epic Bug-out Fail Pt 1
I'm going split this into two posts. This one, the first, is kind of a lessons learned post. The next will be more of an overall bug-out experience.
Alright, this post is going to be a bit more wordy than usual.
Last Saturday night, I was watching a movie and noticed this strange sound. I muted the TV and the sound was still there, almost sounded like one of those old air raid sirens. So I pulled out the laptop and checked the local news. Turns out Hawaii was under a tsunami warning.
I went back to watching the movie. The last three times we had a warning you could have stood in the surf and not noticed the 'tsunami' when it arrived.
Then I thought about it a little more and decided to "bug out" to high ground for two reasons; 1) it would be a good practice run, and 2) I can just see my obituary "Newbie Prepper Dies, Surrounded By His Supplies, Because He Stayed In The Tsunami Zone". With that irony I'd never be able to rest in peace.
Lets just say that this was an eye opening experience for me. Here is a list of the many thoughts, lessons, and issues that I came up with during my two hours "bugging out" in my car.
Alright, this post is going to be a bit more wordy than usual.
Last Saturday night, I was watching a movie and noticed this strange sound. I muted the TV and the sound was still there, almost sounded like one of those old air raid sirens. So I pulled out the laptop and checked the local news. Turns out Hawaii was under a tsunami warning.
I went back to watching the movie. The last three times we had a warning you could have stood in the surf and not noticed the 'tsunami' when it arrived.
Then I thought about it a little more and decided to "bug out" to high ground for two reasons; 1) it would be a good practice run, and 2) I can just see my obituary "Newbie Prepper Dies, Surrounded By His Supplies, Because He Stayed In The Tsunami Zone". With that irony I'd never be able to rest in peace.
Lets just say that this was an eye opening experience for me. Here is a list of the many thoughts, lessons, and issues that I came up with during my two hours "bugging out" in my car.
- I need to have a radio on or something as an early warning system. If they hadn't rung the air siren I wouldn't have known we were in a 'Tsunami warning'.
- I need to keep my bags bug-out ready. I thought they were until I actually went to bug out, that's when I went through a mental checklist of my BOB and started coming up short. I have all of the essential items for my BOB but I'm constantly putting in new things, taking out others, repacking it... and then when I needed my bag I had to run around my apartment piecing it all back together. Things I realized were missing: food, water, an emergency radio (waiting on dehydrated meals, canteens, and radio from Amazon), ax, sheath knife, and a tarp.
- There were a bunch of things in the BOB that I didn't need: a stove without fuel, empty water bottles, and bedding (I could just sleep in my car)
- In this situation, a BOB was kind of over kill. I already have a GHB in the car, which already has most of the essentials, adding the BOB meant I had three or four of everything I might need. I'm now thinking that I might need to put together some kind of 'intermediate' bag, something for short-term natural disaster preparation. It could be a small bag with extra clothes, water, and food. Kind of an add-on to the GHB.
- BOB accessibility is an issue. I have too many smaller bags inside my BOB, makes finding an individual item a pain in the butt. I'll need to figure out a better way of organizing it.
- I realized during this 'emergency' that there were a lot of things that I should have been keeping in my car all along. I mean, I've got a GHB but I don't have a general vehicle emergency kit? Flares, tools, jumper cables, a spare set of clothes, a good jacket, Fix-A-Flat, spare vehicle fluids, a couple gallons of water, hatchet, folding shovel... there are a lot of practical things that I should have been kept in my trunk.
- I was lucky that my car was gassed up. At the first whiff of an emergency the gas stations were packed. I'm not very good about keeping it full, it was purely luck that I filled the tank the day before. I need to be better about that in the future.
- My cellphone, kindle, and laptop were all at half a battery. At the very least, I need to get a car charger for my phone to keep it going in an emergency.
- I need to eat food more regularly. I'm sure that sounds odd, but I usually only eat two big meals a day. When I heard the siren I had just been trying to figure out what to do for dinner. So, I need to eat more often during the day. It's always better to start an emergency with a full belly.
- I had about $20 in my wallet. I don't usually keep much cash on hand (I spend it), I need to pull out some cash and either keep it in my car or in my GHB/BOB for emergencies.
- A motorcycle might be a good idea for an urban Bug Out Vehicle. I saw a lot of people on motorcycles and the flexibility of a motorcycle over a car or truck. In a real emergency they could get through stopped traffic and park pretty much anywhere. It would limit the amount of gear, I can fit a lot in my car, but it would be really nice to have that flexibility if I need it. Food for thought.
- My BOB is pretty big. That didn't seem like an issue when it was sitting in the corner, but walking around my apartment building? I got a lot of funny looks, it was the opposite of subtle. Looking like an idiot on the average day isn't that big of a deal, standing out during an emergency could be. Nothing screams "I have lots of supplies" like an over flowing back pack.
This was a pretty good example of how planning will only get you so far, you need to actually practice. You can only plan for so much, reality always throws us curve balls. I packed my BOB for any Bug out situation, for this mini-disaster scenario a lot of that stuff wasn't really needed. Especially considering that I already had half of the stuff in the Get Home Bag.
Overall, my biggest frustration was that I wasn't set up to step-up or step-down my bug out, it was either take too little or too much. I definitely need to figure out how to add more flexibility to my bug out supplies, that way I can adjust to the situation quicker and easier.
I'm really glad that I decided to run this little practice bug out instead of going back to watching TV. One of the last things I grabbed was a note book and some pens. I took notes through pretty much every step of this bug out and I ended up with over two pages of issues, problems, ideas, and things to think about.
Laugh at my slapstick bug out all you like, I hope my embarrassing mistakes can help some others in their own disaster preparations.
Stay tuned for a follow up post about some more Tsunami adventures and thoughts.
Stay tuned for a follow up post about some more Tsunami adventures and thoughts.
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