What would you put in your Bug out Bag?

[ak70g2]

To put the thread back on this track I present you my BOB. Actually, is not a BOB, is just my always-ready 3-seasons backpack, on the winter one I'm still working.

So, meet my stuff. First, the backpack itself, an british made Snugpak Sleeka Force 35 l capacity:

Contents of the backpack:

From left to right, upper row: spare t-shirts (2), dehydrated food, 4 l water bag (MSR Dromadery Bag, very good, can be used as a pillow) and Snugpak Jungle Bag sleeping bag.

Lower row: camo pouch with mess kit (stainless steel, courtesy of our friend Cracker), my first aid kit, an army poncho and Snugpak bivvibag.

Left side pocket of the backpack contain an stainless steel "kidney" mug and an NBC canteen, both dutch.

Right side pocket keep an shemagh (arabian headdress/scarf).

Lid pocket keep an bandanna, an plastic tube with a lightstick inside, an Dutch army sewing kit and my home made survival kit.

Survival kit contents:

Upper row: white envelope with safety pins, survival saw, life jacket whistle, british army ration matches and some fishing kit in the white/blue tube

Lower row: Recta/Victorinox basseplate compass, swedish firesteel, pencil with duct tape, a handwarmer, moist towelette, water purify tablets, salt, scalpel blade, an "disposable star" Esbit stove and a pack of military Esbit fuel (6 tabs).

On the bottom of the survival kit box is an survival/space blanket.

PS. Regarding bayonets, romanian soldiers keep them always sharpened, the regulations say nothing so they preffer to have an useable knife.

[dirtbag]

ak70g2,
Pretty complete, but I noticed that there is no stove, or pots to heat water/rations.
Even If you plan on building a fire, you will still need a pot.

[Ruleryak]

He mentioned a stainless steel mess kit. The pot in that, albeit tiny, should be able to hold enough water for the dehydrated rations and should be fire-friendly. I assume that's the plan.

[dirtbag]

I've been carrying stuff in my truck,for years.
Last week, I decided to try using it, as If I were in an emergency.
I have several stoves, with pot kits, but no cup!
No spoon either!

I thought I was prepared until I tried to actually use it!
I did manage to make some coffee, and hot water for rehydrating a ration.

[ak70g2]

ak70g2,
Pretty complete, but I noticed that there is no stove, or pots to heat water/rations.
Even If you plan on building a fire, you will still need a pot.

"Left side pocket of the backpack contain an stainless steel "kidney" mug and an NBC canteen, both dutch." It' s a stainless steel canteen cup. It comes very handy when I use an disposable Esbit stove to heat some water, or, much more often, over a wood fire.

The dehydrated food is all I have left for now, regularly I use some cans, I should gather some rations to make a test, volume and weight over nutritional content. By now, I think that the new german EPa's, australian CR1M and Treesuit's rations are the winner in this chapter, most compact and nutritional rations. But I have to make some tests, next year.

[Treesuit]

Well I'm glad this post is taking off, there are some really good entries in here.

First off, the talk about bayonets. While I don't really need one or forsee the use of one, I'd say a good hatchet or folding saw would be nice alternative in anyone's kit. Also does having a multi tool sound like a good idea? I have several I've acquired over the years and the best one I've had is the GERBER SOG multi tool. I had it issued to me in Iraq in 2004, literally beat the hell out of it, and when I got back to the states the Army didn't want it back so I kept it. It's been rather dependable since then.

Dirtbag, how did you testing come out? Any conclusions besides no cup and spoon?

[dirtbag]

Treesuit-
Well, the coffee (instant) was caked up, but ok.
I did have some artificial sweetner (Type 2 Diabetic)
No coffee creamer tho...

I had some pilot crackers, from REI, that are maybe 10 yars old, in a paper bag.
Amazingly, quite bland, but edible!
Survival food, not great, but adequite.
I keep a case of MRE's in the truck too, but I left them sealed up.

[Treesuit]

Dirtbag,

I forgot to ask. What kind of pack do you have for carrying most of your items? I know you said that you pack everything into the truck but did you mention what kind of daypack/knapsack or carry-all you have. I finally broke down and last week I bought a camelback BFM for my BOB upgrade, the motherlode was fine but the more I thought about something (i.e. firestarting, cooking, tarp, etc) the more I put in. Right now I have to pare down some things and re-tool the packing plan but for the price I paid for a used BFM in near perfect condition, I think it was a good call.

As for pot/cups cooking stuff, I've found a USGI canteen cup works pretty damn well and is sturdy and cheap. It can hold a main MRE pouch and boil enough water for some coffee/tea or water for rations. If you can find a early T-handle cup instead of the later wire handle ones. You can't burn your hands with a T-handle version.

Also do you strip down you rations/MRE's? I normally do just for space in my BOB, but not so with my freeze dried.

[dirtbag]

Treesuit,
No bag, I have a 3/4 ton pickup with a service body (similar to this,) and keep most of the stuff in the side panel.
MRE's still in the box, and chucked in the back...
Water too.
I don't plan on getting seperated from my vehicle, no matter what.

[ak70g2]

Some new pictures, with my kit. First, the contents of the camo pouch:

Next, my canteen and canteen cup:

Also, very useful (to me, at least) is a 5 m (15 ft) of mountaineering rope and a screw gate carabineer, that allow me to make a swiss seat (I think the mountain warfare and airbourne personnel know this) and raise the security level when I'm doing some hairy things :

What I'll put in, is some paracord (to make shelter, general use, so on) and some more food.

Regarding bayonets, again, I'm very fond bout the multipurpose AK bayonet, you can use as general purpose knife, wire cutter and the saw is not too bad on woord. I'd like to make a test with US M9 bayonet against the AK one...