This was sent to me by Mr. D. Valentin, a Navy vet and a career LE K9 handler. Only thing I'm editing is a few spelling errors because those squiggly red lines are aggravating... Further, I told him I'd throw my feedback in there and I will... You'll see it here in brackets ( [ X content X] ) and if you all have any feedback to it, please by all means shoot us an email or hit us on FB or G+ where this will be posted and get it going.
"Everyone talks about Bug Out Bags,or BOBS, and everyone has a different idea of what they should have in one. A lesser discussed bag is the Get Home Bag, which is what I'm going to detail here.
As a way of introduction, after careful thought my wife and I have decided that our primary strategy is to shelter in place until the last possible moment. I won't go in to details, but we feel we have a pretty defensible position here and unless our home is destroyed or our land is completely overrun this is the best option. Also, not a small factor is the relocation of our animals.
[ I know the feeling... My house is pretty well secured but I have a couple sites that are a better choice... I also have to consider relocating my critters. ]
So, with that settled, I decided to concentrate on the Get Home Bag. In my wife's case she works at a hardened financial site and is within a couple hours walk of our house, even in a bad situation. We've discussed the work site and it's advantages and have decided that in the vast majority of realistic scenarios she will be safe at that location for a couple of days if I can't get her home. To assist her, just in case, I've put together a couple of Shelter In Place bags with the items we both feel she 'might' possibly need to keep her going during that time. Keep in mind, short of an EMP, or massive earthquake, her site will have power, water, and be secure. On the other hand, I find myself up to 100 miles from the house a couple times a month.
[ My EDC bag is a mix of a Get Home Bag and Equipment Bag with stuff to make a slow night on the door go by faster, a few other "goodies" in the event the rough crowd shows up, a few items in case the XTerra craps out and I have to hoof it, some of which are useful if weather or disaster or act of man arises that cause me to have to crash wherever I'm at. ]
So, with that in mind, I developed my Get Home Bag to get me home from one of those locations. The most frequent location is about 61 miles by surface roads and interstate. I decided to use that as my model. The first thing I did was determine how long it would take me to walk back. Basically, walking at a minimum of 3 miles and hour, 10 hours a day, I can make it back here in two days time. Obviously, that's a minimal effort and I think I can do it in a shorter time. Still, two days is my estimate and for a 'just in case' I added another day onto my calculations.
[ I'm on the road a lot myself... so I guess I need to get a look-see at some of my less than frequent travel destinations, but typically I'm less than 75 miles out from the house and can easily keep 3 miles an hour and 10 hours march is a good time... Leaves plenty of time for security halts and all plus ample time to sleep and take care of the feet at the end of the days march. ]
First was the method of packing out supplies. Since money is an issue too, I decided on a USGI surplus pack. Space in my truck is also an issue. That led me to a USMC assault pack versus a main pack. I got one off of eBay in really nice condition for less than 40 bucks. I quickly found out that it wasn't quite large enough for the supplies I gathered and added an Army sustainment pouch for food, two empty IFAK pouches, and two frag pouches. The MOLLE attachment points on the assault pack work well for these extra pouches. Since I'm more interested in cost and effectiveness than style it's not the prettiest thing. The pack is woodland MARPAT, the pouches are Army digital, and the frags are old woodland. But it works. And no one will ever mistake me for someone official. In fact, since I live in the South, if I was wearing a ragged camo Dale Earnhat hat I'd probably just disappear into the landscape. I know that some folks say you're asking for trouble by carrying a substantial military style pack and looking prepared. Personally, I really don't think it matters if you humping a Maxpedition 3 day pack in coyote or this Frankenstein I have. You're going to look a whole hell of a lot more prepared than 90 percent of the population. Let me veer off here for a moment. I'm working on the premise that for about the first 48 hours things are not going to be of a nature that looking prepared is going to cause you a lot of problems. I could be wrong, but I'll get into dealing with that later. One other thing. The chances of me abandoning my transportation are slim to none and slim just left town. Whichever truck I'm using is going to have to be worthless for me to leave it. But since that's the whole premise of this exercise, we'll assume that's exactly what's happened.
[ That's an ILBE Assault Pack if it's MarPat... I have one. My bag is a briefcase I bought at the PX when I graduated Parris Island because they were out of Orders Bags. It holds a hell of a lot more than I expected and since I'm obviously a former military guy the EGA on the flap isn't that out of place. I also don't place much clout in the look prepared appear threatening thing... Could it happen? Sure. Kind of like why I don't like open carry. But if I actually NEED my go-bag, I'm pretty sure my reaction to their aggressive acts will be a hell of a lot quicker since stuff is going VERY SERIOUSLY AWRY!!! Further... I don't plan on leaving the XTerra or whatever I'm riding in until it's dead or I'm where I need to be. ]
When I leave the house, even to go to the grocery store, I ALWAYS carry a Leatherman MUT, a Spyderco lefthanded Endura, an Emerson righthanded CQC7, and either a full size M&P 40 or a Glock 26, both with a 15 round spare mag. Both vehicles also have a small Dark Angel style med kit. So although those items are not in my bag, they are going to be with me.
[ I know my EDC has been covered before... But I'll do it again here.
On Body:
-Glock 17 with XS Sights and SureFire X300 Ultra
-2 or 3 reloads
-Spyderco Waved Endura
-Benchmade Mini Rukus
-Benchmade SOCP Dagger
-16" ASP Baton
-CaneMasters combat cane
-Patriot Performance Materials Self-Applied Tourniquet
-Pocket Survival Kit
-Pocket Multitool (photo to follow... Kept in my wallet)
-SureFire E2D LED Ultra Defender
Off Body kit will follow later. ]
I'll start at the top and just work my way though this, trying to give an explanation of my reasons for each item.
In one frag pouch I have a small ziplock bag of spare batteries. There are a set of alkaline (5 year) for each item that uses batteries, and a spare set of rechargeable batteries. We're not talking about a lot of batteries here, like 4 CR123, and 8 AAA's. I have 2 small DC chargers that connect to my solar panel in the main compartment. The solar panel is flexible and only weighs 1.3 lbs. http://www.amazon.com/Instapark%C2%AE-Portable-Charger-Compatible-Devices/dp/B006ZRYU9O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=SFSWHKRZW7XG&coliid=I3GLGEA918KHKB If for some reason I'm unable to charge batteries with the panel, I have the spare set of alkaline. In the other frag pouch is a small single AAA Fenix handlight and a headlamp with a red and white LED. I also have the original MUT pouch on there and it has a complete kit of 40 bits and extension for the MUT.
[ Solar Panel and rechargables are a great idea! ]
Directly below the frag pouches is a multi cam sustainment pouch. This is jammed with 4 days of stripped out MRE's (minus the pears and accessory packs), several single serve Spam packets and a couple of single serve tuna packets. A basic metal camping utensil kit (like the one you had in Cub Scouts), 4 MRE heaters, a zip lock bag with a boat load of single serve drink mix packs, and about 4 each Luna and Clif energy bars. It might not be pretty if I have to go 3 days, but I won't go hungry.
[ Stripped MRE's are good for this type of work. I like the Clif Bars and all that too... I keep Clif bars in my bag, personally. ]
On one side of the main pack is an IFAK pouch with my own version of a Dark Angel style kit plus a zip lock with some various size band aids, nitrile gloves, and Neosporin. If you're unfamiliar with Dark Angel kits, I have a CAT, Quick Clot, Israeli dressing, chest seal, 4 X 4's, and Kerlix. I don't intend to 'fix' anyone, but I can keep myself alive if necessary with this and even fix a small cut or blistered heel.
[My IFAK is mostly for trauma, but I do keep a couple snivel goodies in there... Namely a triangle bandage, a bottle of Aleve, a bottle of sinus nasal spray, and an Ace Bandage because having arthritic knees at 26 SUCKS a moose cock but such is the hand I've been dealt. Trauma gear listing to follow when I detail the bag. ]
On the other side is another IFAK pouch. In this one I have small items that I don't want to have to root around in the main compartment to find. Included are a larger hand held light, sharpening stone, compass, sunscreen, bug spray, lidocaine spray, small roll of duct tape, zip lock bag with money (cash and quarters), disposable Bic lighter, and a large Sharpie permanent marker.
[ My bag has an admin flap up front for this kind of thing. Further, the Sharpie in my bag is why my boys at the bar won't go to sleep after closing :-) ]
In the secondary compartment of the main pack are a 1 liter plastic bottle of water, Lifestraw, 100 ft of 550 cord, and a stainless wide mouth 24 oz water bottle. Although the ads for Lifestraw have this very compelling picture of a user laying on the bank of a water source and drinking directly from it with the Lifestraw, I figure I can fill the wide mouth stainless bottle with questionable water and drink from it with the Lifestraw without stopping and going prone every time I want a drink. I also have water purification tablets in the main compartment. There's also a couple of chemlights in this compartment.
[ I keep a Stainless bottle in my kit. I can boil in it if I need to. I use Iodine/Ascorbic (I think) Acid tabs in this kit otherwise. I want a gravity fed filter and am considering something like a SteriPen for this kit. I would add tabs to yours... Just in case. If you don't want tabs, a small amount of bleach in a TSA bottle and a dropper goes a long way. ]
Let's talk clothing for a moment. I have 59 year old feet with bad arches. I don't wear flip flops except maybe around my pool. Other than that I wear either damned good running shoes or low cut hiking boots. I can walk the distance necessary in either one. If you're prone to flip flops in the summer, or something else that isn't going to work for the distance you have determined you need to travel, then you NEED to include appropriate footwear. I also pretty much dress weather appropriate. Which in my location means 5.11 shorts and a short sleeve tee or button down about 75 percent of the time. When it's colder I'm in 5.11 long pants and a long sleeve shirt of some sort. I'm pretty much a weather weenie when it's what I consider cold (sub 60 degrees) so if I'm out that will most likely include some sort of long sleeved jacket along for the ride also. You need to assess your own weather and necessary clothing options. Since I'm most frequently in shorts I have a pair of Tru Spec rip stop BDU's in a tight roll at the bottom of the main compartment. Along with that is two pair of clean socks and one pair of underwear. Lastly is a ballcap and a pair of gloves and a poncho.
[ I learned the value of good boots, wool socks, and proper skivvies (shirt and drawers) in the Marine Corps... Anything-Beyond-10-Miles worth of a hump in full battle rattle blows... That same hump blows even more when you're gaulded to hell and back and your crotch area feels like someone set it on fire... I wear either well broke in slip on work boots or 5.11 Speed 6 duty boots every day unless I'm PT'ing or just stepping outside to feed the dog or something. Wool socks are a must for me... My feet got jacked up at Camp Geiger. Trust me when I tell ya... As far as socks are concerned... COTTON IS ROTTEN! I am a cold weather wuss myself... Anything less than 60 is when my temper starts to get short. I either wear stout jeans (not some foo-foo designer shit), 5.11's, or some form of carpenter pants and a button down shirt every day... I keep a grunt roll and spare pair of socks in my bag. For those who don't know, a grunt roll is a pair of socks, a pair for drawers, and a skivvy shirt rolled up to make it all compact. I always have a hat on of some form and keep both a rain jacket and a zip-up thermal lined sweatshirt in the bag as well. ]
Next in the main compartment is a vacuum sealed roll of TP, a good sized package of baby wipes, a small bag with small tube of toothpaste and toothbrush (finally that stuff the dentist sends me home with has a use) a small bottle of Motrin, contact lens case and eye drops, and a zip lock with 3 days of my meds. I figure I could forgo the vitamins, but I had open heart surgery last summer and whatever the doctor has me taking now is probably important enough to not miss a few days. You need to assess your own requirements. The Motrin, Aleve, or whatever is probably going to be a lifesaver if you're not used to humping a pack 10 miles or more a day and sleeping on the ground. I also have a pair of prescription glasses and sunglasses. God help me if I have to take out my contacts or loose them, but at least I'll be able to see if I do. I don't plan on making cooking fires, but I might need a fire for warmth. In that case I have a vacuum sealed tin of vaseline soaked cotton balls, 2 boxes of wooden matches, another Bic lighter, and a couple of commercial bar b que type starters. As I mentioned above, I have the Instapark solar panel with USB charging cables and charging stations for AA/AAA and CR123 batteries. Both of those are pretty small. IF cell service is still working I can also charge my phone with the panel. Last in and easiest to reach are 2 boxes of 40 cal and one box of 9mm ammo, along with 2 12 rd mags for the Glock. I don't have enough spare mags for the 40 to leave a couple in the bag. But I'm over flowing with G26 mags so putting 2 in there was a no brainer. In the hydration carrier portion of the main compartment are a couple of AAA paper maps of my areas and some 4X6 index cards in a zip lock bag. I'd love to think that I might have Google maps to help me find the shortest route from A to B. But if that's so, I probably won't be in this position anyway. When I get close to home I'll be fine, but when I'm way out there those maps might make a difference of several miles. My feet will love me for it. The index cards? Well, if I do have to leave my vehicle, on the off chance someone IS looking for me later, with the Sharpie and the cards I figure I can leave notes as to the day and time I was at a location and my direction of travel.
[ Keeping up with the meds is a good idea... Too many people don't take shit like that serious enough. Same goes for oral hygiene. I use the Oral B Wisps in my bag. Another good use for your fire is boiling off questionable water... It's totally tasteless and bland but it beats having to ruck with your britches around your ankles! I keep a spare mag or three in my admin panel and 2 boxes of 20x Federal 9BP 115gr JHP's in the main compartment of mine. My maps are in the top flap for easy access. I use an old school pocket notebook for writing stuff down on and for leaving notes as well. ]
On the outside of the pack is a Ontario KaBar and a couple more chemlights stuck in the MOLLE webbing.
[ My BFK (Technical term... "Big F**king Knife") is an unknown knife I got off a surplus dealer a few years ago... It's not the best in the world but it feels good, holds and takes an edge real easy, the sheath is pretty solid, and I've cut down some good sized trees with it over the years and it ain't broke... ]
Okay, last thing. When I was getting this pack strapped on and checking out the whole deal I realized that I'm NOT going to be able to carry either handgun inside my waistband when I'm humping the pack. Also, although it might not really matter, my state is NOT an open carry state. Even if it was, or if the situation is such that it really doesn't matter, I don't necessarily want to advertise that I'm armed. I've always liked the idea of keeping that as my own little secret until it's time to reveal it. I recently read a book where a fictional character was making his way home post EMP. He had what must have been a main pack in his truck (considering all the stuff he kept pulling out of it along the way). But he kept referring to his Maxpedition Devil Dog and keeping his handgun (among other things) in there. I had never heard of a Devil Dog and didn't pay much attention to the reference until that day I discovered the problems with carrying IWB and wearing the pack. So I did a little Google image searching and found that the Devil Dog is a pretty useful item. Unfortunately, Maxpedition quit making them several years ago. You CAN find them on eBay, but they are not plentiful or cheap. But, the idea of that oversized fanny pack struck me as a pretty damned good idea. There are a couple of other options from Maxpedition and a few others. I'm still looking and hoping to find a Devil Dog. In the meantime I dug out a 1990's era fanny pack that I carried my off duty gun in. It's not even ideal, but IF I have to deploy this whole thing before I can find a Devil Dog, or something else, it will do. I'm not recommending or even suggesting it's for everyone, just telling you how I came across the notion. I do like the idea of having a few items other than my weapon right there at the appendix location; knife, compass, water bottle, light.
[ My bag is a briefcase type... It works pretty well with my gun AIWB. The back packs I've used before I had a need to take the pack out with me in the public view were all bought because they rode high enough to clear my pistol and reloads. If you find info on this Maxpedition... Send me a link, please. Fanny pack is a good idea and could easily be used with the "hit-and-run bag" principle in mind... Grab it and go. Pistol, reload, light, fire, nav, water, etc. ]"
Anything in Brackets ( "[ xx ]" ) is my feedback.
So y'all know... I like his kit. It's a very good start and items that we all should consider.
Now... For my kit.
First off...
On Body:
SureFire X300 Ultra 500 Lumen Weaponlight
XS Big Dot Sights
Homemade Kydex AIWB holster
BladeTech 2x Mag Pouch
Load is Federal 9BP 115gr JHP
Not Pictured: OOAK Leather Gunbelt (that was holding my pants up)
Spyderco Waved Endura
Benchmade Mini Rukus
SureFire E2D LED Ultra Defender
Benchmade SOCP Dagger
16" Asp Baton (make unknown... Works well enough!)
Cell Phone
Patriot Performance Materials Self Applied Tourniquet
Zippo Lighter
Moustache Comb (yes... I got the old-school gunslinger look going on)
Wallet
(In Wallet)
ATF Bomb Standoff Chart
Cheap One Piece Multitool deal.
Cheap Multitool
Twine Bits (Burn AWESOME!)
Cotton Balls rubbed in Vaseline
Dental Floss
Safety Pins
Compass
Boy Scout Ferrcerium Rod
Fishing Line
Fish Hooks
Snare Wire
Small Bic Lighter
P51 Can Opener
Shemagh
Rain Jacket
Sweatshirt
Concealable Level IIIA Soft Armor
Inova X5 Green LED
40 rounds Federal 9BP 115gr JHP
Spare Magazine for G17
Not Pictured:
2x 33rd G17 mags
Steel Bottle
Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
Big Ass Knife
MS-2000 Strobe
Glint/IFF Flag
50 feet of line
Iodine Tabs
Tealight Candle
8'x8' Drop Cloth
Space Blanket
Pill Bottle full of Matches
Box of matches
Fishing Kit
120' 75lb test Fishing Line
Mini Bic Lighter
Little Victorinox knife
But there they are. Fish hooks, a treble hook, sinkers, and plastic bait.
Gerber MP-600 I ... umm... errrr... "acquired" while in the Marine Corps
ToolLogic folder with whistle and Ferro Rod. (HIGHLY recommended!!!)
Zippo fluid and wick
Sharpening stones
Spare moustache comb
Shoe Polish
Cards
Notepad
Not Pictured:
2 ink pens
Road map
Sharpie
Sure. I keep a pair of S&W M-100 cuffs, a MkIII can of Def Tec 1.3 OC (Stream), and 2 Fox Labs Lock-on OC units in the bag... Those stay in the truck so I don't leave them if I need them at the bar some night.
This kit weighs right at 20 pounds and I can comfortably carry it as long as I need to...
It also blends in just fine out in town.
So, what all do y'all keep in your kits?
Stay Frosty
Stay Safe
1*
Watch your 6
-Kenny Smith
Chief Master Instructor
President, Total Force Training Group