The Half Empty Concept?

Ever since I got my "edc" bag (A walmart hydration pack) I been going back and forth between how empty I should leave it and now how empty I SHould leave other bags for other situations.

My Thought is What if I Needed to throw somthing in it while Im out and about OR add to it for certain situations. Right now its half empty and can prolly fit around a basketball amount of space.

SO whats your opinion? Do you prefer to leave it half empty with mid level preparedness almost empty with bare minimal preparedness or load it up till it bursts?

I fill up my pack with whet I think I'll need and carry a nylon bag folded up inside. If I needed to gather something, I would have the option of ditching something from my pack, or using the nylon bag to carry something.

I try to have the basics covered, and then make seasonal adjustments. Potentially, if it isn't in the bag, you won't have it, but you always have the option of discarding if there is too much. Just how big is your bag?

Frisket... I'm retired, so don't really have an EDC bag...I tried to look at perceptions of threat, and carry probably more than really necessary...

keyring...E01 light, pill fob (aspirin/immodium), p38, brass whistle

wallet..ClO2 tabs, hemostatic gauze 2x2, telfa 2x2, knuckle bandage, 2'duct tape

multitool pouch... LM Squirt S2, Streamlight TacPro 1L, Bic, section of hacksaw blade, ferro rod, needle and safety pins

pockets...bandana, Vic Execuitive, Benchmade Axis lock, Motorola Razr round out with a Ruger LCP for good measure

my GHB is a Blackhawk hydration pack with 1 day of food, 18pack of 1L bottles of water in car, poncho, mosquito netting, AMK kit, FAK, extra socks, nylon shorts/shirt,boonie hat, Sawyer filter bottle and stainless cup, Gatoraid powder,AMK heat sheet and 3mil trash liner, Suunto baseplate compass, Bic, Vic SAK

additionally... I have some of the heavier stuff... machete,Cold Steel SRK, Swiss Ranger stove with Sterno, 3 days food, extra shoes, tarp, e-tool, in the car if I need it as a 3day bag to augment as necessary

I think having the heavier stuff in a separate bag makes a lot of sense... I have a small SUV so space is not really a problem

How do you like that LCP? I haven't tried them yet. My pocket pistol is an old Grendel P-10 with 11 rounds Of slightly modified DRT's. Time to put the old girl to rest and find something new.

My Redwing is fairly decent size and I have a good bit of room left over in it for extra stuff.

I've started to make a habit of carrying an extra bag in my kits that's dedicated for foraging and found treasures along the way. Nothing too elaborate but it let's me be a space hog in the kit.

Snake Doctor...I've had a bunch of pocket pistols over the years... .32 Seecamp, Colt Pocket lite, Beretta .25, and .22, NAA, PPK, Smith 640, 442, Ruger SP101, Wilkinson Sherry....after a P32, settled on a P3AT (early without external extractor spring)... I considered that it was the best platform for a true locked breech pocket pistol... had a problem with the trigger axis pin sliding out, and did not like the way the front recoil spring boss was attached...with the LCP, I like the better extractor and spring boss...accurate enough to run 8" plate rack at 10m with it...carry it in a Sam Andrews pocket holster... though for grins occasionally carry it in a Fobus paddle

I pack what I need. I don't worry about how full/empty the bag is. If a situation pops up where I may want to carry something and space is limited inside my pack I know I have other options available.(Like strapping items to the outside of the pack for example)

You will never be able to predict every situation you may face, but you can always improvise.

I see no problem with having an empty bag in your BOB for carrying something you find along the way. My only problem with that concept would be how well it would carry. A typical lightweight stuff sack that is full of stuff and weighs 20 lbs is not going to be real easy to carry around. But it is better than having nothing to carry the 20 lbs of stuff in.

Agreed. At least as far as the unpredictable. It's another real world limitation. You can't anticipate what you're going to happen upon so you just have to adapt. Take it with you somehow, or stick around so you can take advantage of it. We can't plan for EVERY possibility.

I consider foraging for food and fire supplies part of everyday life at camp or on the trail, nevermind in an emergency or bug-our scenario, so I plan for that. I bring fire and food with me but if I can suppliment that, or avoid using those supplies, I will. In fact, I'm about to upgrade from plastic shopping bag to something more reusable and durable, because this is such an every time activity for me. To your point, I'm talking a few pounds, not much more. (Not trying to be fancier, or hoidie toydie, just better for Mother Earth.)

Im starting to warm up to yall enough to consider posting the contents of my EDC bag. Im still suffering from paranoia since this is still indeed a publicly viewd forum. BUT I guess it wouldnt hurt Ill be back with the postin.

Lotta stuff for a small half empty 10 pound pack. You can pretty much see everything and Identify it.

In the flask is Vodka. In container 1 is floss, eye drops, Cough drops, pepto chewables, Imodium, a digital alarm clock with date and temp. In kit 2 is 2 Lith AAs and 2 Lith AAA's, Nail clippers, The funnel for the flask and 3 foam earplugs. In the battery container is 10 AAs and 6 AAAs.

Frisket, thanks. I'll post my updates soon. Pinky, promise. (it's cold outside - cold, wet, and windy today.)

Not to change the topic but I was thinking of adding 1-3 45 minute steros to the pack. Any thoughts?

Up until now I thought I was the only person in the world who added booze to his crash bag. Nice touch

Personally I think a head lamp and some solid gloves would round that pack out nicely. I couldn't decide between carrying a head lamp or a hand held light so I take both and each is real handy depending on what you need to do. You would be surprised how often good gloves come in handy, and a dry pair of socks is like a gift from heaven when you need them . This mostly depends on where you live and what you do I suppose. I carry a pair of wiley x ballistic sun glasses in my bag as well and find my self glad to have had them along a few times now. They come with interchangeable clear lenses.

A word of warning. I had one of those Buck knives (the non tactical model) I accidently dropped the knife from standing height and it broke in 3 pieces when it hit the floor. I know it's not good business to drop knives in the first place but I was very surprised to see it break like that.

I could have just bought a lemon, as Buck does make some good knives for sure, but I promptly purchased something more rugged for the crash bag anyway.

Oh, And I got 2 sterno like things in my bag as well ( the eco something brand) Same stuff but with the built in pot stand.

You need to seal the lids real good with these or they tend to leak everywhere.

EDC's itself should be fairly small. I think mine is huge at 1lb stuffed in a tin box. That goes into a normal day pack so overall my EDC takes up little space. Just so I can add to it as the day requires. Otherwise maybe just stuff some grocery bags in it in case u need more bags/hands.

I hope you never have to try and survive with that kit..............I don't see any Constant Comment in there.

Good catch, Byrd... That was close

I may have missed these items, but I don't see a Heatsheets or similar blanket (or bivvy). Is there any cordage?