What's in your Bag? | PSA

[Sportin' Wood]

For those that have a "Get Home" "EDC" or "Bug Out" Bag, when is the last time you audited it? Don't forget your TSA approved travel bag if your travel for work like we do.

Consider this your reminder to check the expiration dates on your first aid stuff and make sure you have not pirated, or doubled up on items.

Angie and I audited this morning and it was an eye opener. No surprise, Angie was pretty well locked down on her kits, mine was a train wreck. Off to go buy re-supplies this afternoon, already ordered a bunch from online retailers.

Some random notes:
I was able to reorganize three separate bags into a single kit and eliminate my MTB bag altogether. My running/hiking bag was crap.
That is now my Outdoor recreation bag and get home bag.

• Mountain Bike
• Hiking/Running
• "Get Home"

In Montana, I can get away with carrying a day bag in almost any setting so my "Outdoor Recreation" bag will serve multiple functions. Angie ordered me the same thing I have been using for many years made by Teton Sports in unassuming black as the elastic was worn out on the pockets. It is basically a man purse. On the lake, river, backcountry or when I go to town it has everything I need and a few things I hopefully don't.

I built out a Truck Bag to store some items that used to live in various other bags. We end up with a dozen jackets in the back seat because you can't leave home without a jacket. This should solve that. There are no shortage of hats of various types that find home in the back seat as well. Gloves is another thing we have too many of in the truck. I think we could have a whole thread on gloves.

• Med weight Puffy Jacket for both of us
• Rain gear for both of us
• Extra foot wear for both of us
• Spare socks.
• Still need to figure out gloves.

Angie decided to keep her Get Home bag whole, but did re-org her hiking bag. A woman's purse (EDC) is not up for discussion.

We are re-evaluating our bag to get us from AZ to MT if shit goes bad. We have some old backpacking gear that we started building a pile around in my office. That may take us the rest of summer to organize,

Our TSA approved travel bags need some work, That is how I messed up my recreational bag, I was sharing stuff back and forth.

I hope this reminder helps. What's in your Bag?

 

[hallett21]

For those that have a "Get Home" "EDC" or "Bug Out" Bag, when is the last time you audited it? Don't forget your TSA approved travel bag if your travel for work like we do.

Consider this your reminder to check the expiration dates on your first aid stuff and make sure you have not pirated, or doubled up on items.

Angie and I audited this morning and it was an eye opener. No surprise, Angie was pretty well locked down on her kits, mine was a train wreck. Off to go buy re-supplies this afternoon, already ordered a bunch from online retailers.

Some random notes:
I was able to reorganize three separate bags into a single kit and eliminate my MTB bag altogether. My running/hiking bag was crap.
That is now my Outdoor recreation bag and get home bag.

• Mountain Bike
• Hiking/Running
• "Get Home"

In Montana, I can get away with carrying a day bag in almost any setting so my "Outdoor Recreation" bag will serve multiple functions. Angie ordered me the same thing I have been using for many years made by Teton Sports in unassuming black as the elastic was worn out on the pockets. It is basically a man purse. On the lake, river, backcountry or when I go to town it has everything I need and a few things I hopefully don't.

I built out a Truck Bag to store some items that used to live in various other bags. We end up with a dozen jackets in the back seat because you can't leave home without a jacket. This should solve that. There are no shortage of hats of various types that find home in the back seat as well. Gloves is another thing we have too many of in the truck. I think we could have a whole thread on gloves.

• Med weight Puffy Jacket for both of us
• Rain gear for both of us
• Extra foot wear for both of us
• Spare socks.
• Still need to figure out gloves.

Angie decided to keep her Get Home bag whole, but did re-org her hiking bag. A woman's purse (EDC) is not up for discussion.

We are re-evaluating our bag to get us from AZ to MT if shit goes bad. We have some old backpacking gear that we started building a pile around in my office. That may take us the rest of summer to organize,

Our TSA approved travel bags need some work, That is how I messed up my recreational bag, I was sharing stuff back and forth.

I hope this reminder helps. What's in your Bag?

I really need to get on making a bug out bag for us. My question is do you have 1 bag with both of your stuff? Or two separate? If one of you makes it home and the other is out of communication, do you take the bag(s) and meet at a rendezvous point?

Assuming if you took the bags the other person could make do with what’s in the house if you were separated.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Wait...you have 3 sep bags?

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I really need to get on making a bug out bag for us. My question is do you have 1 bag with both of your stuff? Or two separate? If one of you makes it home and the other is out of communication, do you take the bag(s) and meet at a rendezvous point?

Assuming if you took the bags the other person could make do with what’s in the house if you were separated.

Angie and I are together 75%-80% of the time. We both work from home, we share a primary vehicle. Our situation is unique, but we have had emergency plans and supporting material for a decade, half of that time we had a traditional dynamic where we each spent much time at a job. We worked a plan to get here that took 15 years.

We have at least a get home bag with us (each) almost all the time (except TSA travel). "Bug Out" is a different story.

We each have our own bags. There are duplicates in the bags for some items. 2 is 1; 1 is none type stuff. If we are separated, get home is the goal. If Angie or the rest of the family was not here, I know where they would try and go. We have a spot off grid separate from our Montana Home. If anyone goes there shit is bad. Business travel is what jacks up our plans (TSA). We both figure we are screwed if an event happens. Good luck, it would take a miracle to get home like in the book 77 days in September. I try and get out of traveling for business.

The vernacular of what people call these bags is subjective. "Bug Out" implies to me you are planning to leave one spot and go to another as a family. When we lived in Reno, we needed a trailer to haul all the crap we had collected, it was a fantasy. There was IMHO no way we would have been successful making it to our destination in Northern Montana, or Idaho if something popped and we had to run.

Now that we live in Montana, our strategy is different. I'm not totally sure what getting home from AZ looks like in a time of crisis. We are building that plan, it does not happen over night. That example is what I would consider a "Bug Out"type of situation. I would like to think we would not wait until things are bad before we would leave, but you never know what is gonna happen. A bag is not gonna get us 1100 miles at our age. 60 days across Nevada sounds like a death march. Plus you gotta cross the Snake River.

"Get Home" seems a lot less extreme. For us "Get Home" is about the same as a what we would take on a day hike. Keep in mind we hike in an area with 4 leg predators. Our bags are heavy on first aid and protection from elements. My Recreational bags get used. I saw a guy break his collar bone on a MTB 10 feet in front of me in St George, he was not prepared. I've had the weather turn to shit many times. I'm dumb, I bike and hike alone often.

I tend to try and think about what happens if we crash a truck half way between Ely and Pioche in Nevada. No cell service, maybe someone comes, but when?

Bug Out who knows? That goes all kinds of crazy when you let you mind wander. At some point if stuff keeps getting worse, we stop going to Arizona. Paranoid, or prepared, seems a small difference.

Wait...you have 3 sep bags?

I consolidated three bags into one.

(I) we don't have a Bug Out bag right now. I do however have my eyes on a Bug Out Truck

I'm gonna hold out that we get to keep enjoying the lifestyle this country has provided us. Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness sounds much better than hunger fear and chaos.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Angie and I are together 75%-80% of the time. We both work from home, we share a primary vehicle. Our situation is unique, but we have had emergency plans and supporting material for a decade, half of that time we had a traditional dynamic where we each spent much time at a job. We worked a plan to get here that took 15 years.

We have at least a get home bag with us (each) almost all the time (except TSA travel). "Bug Out" is a different story.

We each have our own bags. There are duplicates in the bags for some items. 2 is 1; 1 is none type stuff. If we are separated, get home is the goal. If Angie or the rest of the family was not here, I know where they would try and go. We have a spot off grid separate from our Montana Home. If anyone goes there shit is bad. Business travel is what jacks up our plans (TSA). We both figure we are screwed if an event happens. Good luck, it would take a miracle to get home like in the book 77 days in September. I try and get out of traveling for business.

The vernacular of what people call these bags is subjective. "Bug Out" implies to me you are planning to leave one spot and go to another as a family. When we lived in Reno, we needed a trailer to haul all the crap we had collected, it was a fantasy. There was IMHO no way we would have been successful making it to our destination in Northern Montana, or Idaho if something popped and we had to run.

Now that we live in Montana, our strategy is different. I'm not totally sure what getting home from AZ looks like in a time of crisis. We are building that plan, it does not happen over night. That example is what I would consider a "Bug Out"type of situation. I would like to think we would not wait until things are bad before we would leave, but you never know what is gonna happen. A bag is not gonna get us 1100 miles at our age. 60 days across Nevada sounds like a death march. Plus you gotta cross the Snake River.

"Get Home" seems a lot less extreme. For us "Get Home" is about the same as a what we would take on a day hike. Keep in mind we hike in an area with 4 leg predators. Our bags are heavy on first aid and protection from elements. My Recreational bags get used. I saw a guy break his collar bone on a MTB 10 feet in front of me in St George, he was not prepared. I've had the weather turn to shit many times. I'm dumb, I bike and hike alone often.

I tend to try and think about what happens if we crash a truck half way between Ely and Pioche in Nevada. No cell service, maybe someone comes, but when?

Bug Out who knows? That goes all kinds of crazy when you let you mind wander. At some point if stuff keeps getting worse, we stop going to Arizona. Paranoid, or prepared, seems a small difference.



I consolidated three bags into one.

(I) we don't have a Bug Out bag right now. I do however have my eyes on a Bug Out Truck

I'm gonna hold out that we get to keep enjoying the lifestyle this country has provided us. Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness sounds much better than hunger fear and chaos.

Always good to have some kind of a backup plan no doubt. I know if SHTF it is going to be very difficult for my Grandsons to get out here to Texas from S CA. This is where it would be best for them but.....they have to get here first

 

[Luvnlife]

I have a pretty good gtfo (get the fuck out bag) ready to go. Water, sustainable food, fire source, toilet paper, flash lights, blankets, wash towels water straws to drink water from questionable sources. Grab the guns as we go and figure it out. Pack would be good for at least a week.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Living in wildfire country we have done this for a long time. Now that we have my 93 yr old mom living with us again we have added a bag for her...meds, paperwork, etc..
I think it would be worth considering having secondary BOB's stashed away from you car/home/etc. One close enough for you to get to, but not within arms reach.
Cindy keeps all of our critical paperwork in a plastic tub in an easy place to grab it.
I keep my Dad's 1965 Gibson guitar right on top of that tub.
During fire season the truck is attached to the 5er all the time, if it comes I take the truck and she gets in her car.
We have a couple of GMRS radios for coms in our personal backpacks as the first thing that craps out in fire etc is cellular service.

In fact, alternative communication is something to educate yourself about.

 

[angiebaby]

I have a pretty good gtfo (get the fuck out bag) ready to go. Water, sustainable food, fire source, toilet paper, flash lights, blankets, wash towels water straws to drink water from questionable sources. Grab the guns as we go and figure it out. Pack would be good for at least a week.

When we were in SoCal, I had a list of items to grab and who was responsible for grabbing what. Then when we became empty nesters in Reno, the list was adjusted. Just something to think about so that everyone isn't running around grabbing the same things. It's time to adjust the list again, for both AZ and here. We do have some fire danger here, which would lead to bugging out also.

 

[Romans9]

I live in a bug out house, down a bug out road in a bug out county.

 

[mash on it]

I've got an old back pack. 3 days of provisions. I'm not near a population center. It's in the old Ford diesel.
Another one in the car. I'm too old for this sh!t.
I think I'll be alright

Dan'l

 

[angiebaby]

It's honestly not just about bugging out. It's also about if you are 20-100 miles from home and something catastrophic happens. If you're at work that distance, or. concert, event, shopping, do you have what you need to get home if you are unable to drive due to earthquake, fire, grid down, urban unrest? These are the types of things we plan for in addition to getting home from Havasu. So we have a bag for that, our get home bag, and are working on another bag for bugging out due to fire at home, or trying to get home from the desert (which will be challenging).

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Living in wildfire country we have done this for a long time. Now that we have my 93 yr old mom living with us again we have added a bag for her...meds, paperwork, etc..
I think it would be worth considering having secondary BOB's stashed away from you car/home/etc. One close enough for you to get to, but not within arms reach.
Cindy keeps all of our critical paperwork in a plastic tub in an easy place to grab it.
I keep my Dad's 1965 Gibson guitar right on top of that tub.
During fire season the truck is attached to the 5er all the time, if it comes I take the truck and she gets in her car.
We have a couple of GMRS radios for coms in our personal backpacks as the first thing that craps out in fire etc is cellular service.

In fact, alternative communication is something to educate yourself about.

This is a perfect example of planning for an event.

They are not all zombie attacks. Most events are like this. Having also lived in wildfire country most my life, this was real. When we had flood warnings in Reno we learned the value of a plan. I ended up breaking my ankle during the event and had to go to the hospital while we were trying to prepare. That was a huge lesson that shit going bad can get worse. We make mistakes when under stress.

 

[whiteworks]

A gun, a can opener, $10k cash. Silver or lead your choice

 

[monkeyswrench]

I don't live as remote as I'd like, but more so than most. I routinely work 20-100 miles from home. I try to keep track of fire roads and such that I may have to hoof it down. I carry a compass and a small pack with first aid and a few other things. I can make it about three to four days.

Each car that makes longer drives is relatively prepared to "get home". Essentially, getting home is the main goal. I have managed to procure about a month's worth of required meds for those that need it. Unfortunately, one of those is a fluid situation, and may change. That's a variable I need to work on. The good news, none of them need to be refrigerated. A lot of people tend to worry about a single event, not a prolonged issue.

Everyone's packs and gear needs to be tailored to their own situation. These situations may change, and thus so do the requirements. It's rarely as easy as packing beans, bullets and bandaids.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

A gun, a can opener, $10k cash. Silver or lead your choice

You expecting werewolves, or do your pockets jingle jangle jingle? If that $10K is in silver coins your be carrying an extra 178.5 lbs.

I took Angie on a date once and used all silver coins to pay. Not one of my smarter moments. Payment method, not choice of date companion.

 

[musicFunsun]

We’re city dwellers & only have an earthquake kit that I do keep current. We were stuck in the traffic nightmare on the 40 & it made us think how glad were to have an ice chest full of beer & a couple of waters, snacks, paper towels……..and an almost full tank of gas, we should always be prepared when on the road and at home. Great reminder.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

For those of you thinking about this, plan on not having access to the internet. As I said cellular goes south in major events like fire, flood, etc. In an earthquake prone area one tower going down can screw you. Cellular sites with backup battery power in our area last about 24 hrs when PGE fails, which is regular these days and is only going to get worse.. So...if you only know how to "navigate" with google maps you will be in trouble. By yourself a good atlas for your bag. One that has detailed secondary roads, etc. If I lived in SoCal I would try to find a good trail guide.
Consider the risk in your area, think about where you may want to get to, and plan for it. Mitigate the risks you can.

 

[Romans9]

You expecting werewolves, or do your pockets jingle jangle jingle? If that $10K is in silver coins your be carrying an extra 178.5 lbs.

I took Angie on a date once and used all silver coins to pay. Not one of my smarter moments. Payment method, not choice of date companion.

The last seven words is how you do it boys………good save my man!!

 

[mash on it]

For those of you thinking about this, plan on not having access to the internet. As I said cellular goes south in major events like fire, flood, etc. In an earthquake prone area one tower going down can screw you. Cellular sites with backup battery power in our area last about 24 hrs when PGE fails, which is regular these days and is only going to get worse.. So...if you only know how to "navigate" with google maps you will be in trouble. By yourself a good atlas for your bag. One that has detailed secondary roads, etc. If I lived in SoCal I would try to find a good trail guide.
Consider the risk in your area, think about where you may want to get to, and plan for it. Mitigate the risks you can.

1979 edition of LA/Orange county Thomas Guide. SB/Riv counties too. Much newer, 1986 edition. Surprising amount of off road trails in them.
DeLorme atlas, 2001 edition for all of Arizona. Not as detailed as some, better than nothing.

Dan'l

 

[evantwheeler]

1979 edition of LA/Orange county Thomas Guide. SB/Riv counties too. Much newer, 1986 edition. Surprising amount of off road trails in them.
DeLorme atlas, 2001 edition for all of Arizona. Not as detailed as some, better than nothing.

Dan'l

I just threw away a pile of early 2000's Thomas guides from our office....the stories of dispatching and work travel from before cell phone days make me wonder how anything got done! It obviously did....

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I just threw away a pile of early 2000's Thomas guides from our office....the stories of dispatching and work travel from before cell phone days make me wonder how anything got done! It obviously did....

I was the guy in the fire truck responsible for finding addresses in 1987 with a Thomas guide. When we did station coverage it was exceptionally more challenging. With the massive development in Southwest Riverside County in those days it could sometimes be difficult to find new stuff. Lot's of stuff was going on in the right seat when code 3.