Interesting. . .my REI mummy bag is in the big storage bag that it came in, inside a very large duffel bag that doesn't compress it, in the back of my truck with other camping gear. It's nice to know that if I get stuck on the road I can be comfortably warm regardless of outside temps.

My walking kit/get-home-bag has a lightweight Thermolite Mummy Bag Liner, rather than the bag itself. If I'm somewhere that the bag liner isn't enough, I'll stay with the truck and all the gear that isn't in my walking kit.

I my first post of this thread, I mentioned the CORE of my BOB as being a kit in a Pelican 1020 case. I just took some pictures to show the revised contents since my earlier post a few months back.



And the contents:


Conatiner: Pelican 1020 (with internal rubber housing removed)
Contents:

• SAK "Supertinker"
• Tweezers
• DR PSK contents (details can be found elsewhere...)
• Mini BIC Lighter
• Full-sized BIC lighter
• Katadyn MicroPur Tabs (two packages containing 2 tablets each)
• NonAspirin (2 pills)
• AntiGas (2 pills)
• Ibuprofen (2 pills)
• Alcohol Prep pad (1 pad)
• Electrolyte Replacement (2 pills)
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment (1 package)
• Bandaid (3 large, 3 small)
• $100 in various smaller bills
• Esbit Tab
• Mag rod with steel
• REI storm matches (one box worth)
• Razorknife blade
• Photon II LED Light

Yes I do probably have too many matches. I will change the quantities around when I get my order of tiny little zip-lock bags in. I do not like the large SAK in this kit, I will most likely trade it out for a Squirt or a Benchmite...
I DESPERATELY need a water container in this kit, like a milkbag.
Overall I think my firestarting area is well covered, maybe too redundant though...

Anyway, enjoy the pics!!

For a water container, think about an oven bag (the kind you just cooked a turkey in). I soon plan to fill mine with varying quantities of water, so I can get volume marking dimensions (1 cup, 250 mL, etc etc).

Once I figure out a "scientific" method of filling, securing the top can easily be done with a length of twine, rubber band, or binder clip.

The bags are very tough, take up less space than breast milk bags (although I love my IV fluid bags...too bulky), hold more.

The matches are fine, they just need a better package. Ziplocks suck.

I would however pull the large Bic, and replace the mini with a fresh one (again, zip tie or something under the plunger). I'd also think about pulling one of the ferro-based systems (says the guy with a Sparklight and a cut-down Doans in his kit). That will free up enough space for you to put a USGI or better match case in there, with the striker taped to the inside (strike surface facing the wall of the container, not the sticky or the matches).

What you don't have in there is tinder. You need tinder, don't count on being able to find any when it is cold and wet and getting dark and your coordination has gone to hell.

This is the kind of thing I think needs to be in a vest. You'll always be wearing the vest; you won't always be wearing the pack.

Sock, this has been explained by myself and others. Please read our comments.

ironraven - what do you suggest other that zip-lock? Is there another type of bag that can hold stuff in a small kit?

I think I will just use the tiny bottles that i just ordered. Like you said, zip-lock bags aren't the best.

I have a bag of 50 quick tinder pieces that will be distributed to all my kits as soon as i have a bottle\bag\container to keep them in inside my kits.

PS - What is "Doans"?

*looks around, making sure no small kids are around as I take things out of my pocket* Jace, you're the youngest- look away.

*taking a length of wire and several pencils, I quickly construct a garrote*

*sneaks up soap, and using the maximum possible violence with the minimum amount of noise, garrotes said bar of soap, nearly decapitating it, finishing it of with a twist*

*hands the "top" half of the soap to Rusty* It needs a couple of ziplocks, or it will make a mess in your bag.

*sneaks off, leaving not even a foot print*

Hi Rusty,

As a small replacement for zip-lock bags I have used many different sizes of "Whirl-pak bags. They are plastic bags that have 2 thin wires (kind of like 2 twist ties) across the opening. You close the bag like you would a large fold-top dry bag. I think somewhere it the past on the ETS site there was a omparison of them with Gerber milk bags.

I have sealed liquid in them many times and they are quite tough.

Mike

I use a small bottle of Camp Suds soap. It's biodegradable and washes everything from pots to my hair. The only down side is that I wouldn't be able to fly with it...but I hate flying so that's a non concern for me.

>The shelter you learn to build at the Boreal institute can keep >you comfy at 40 below or worse with a 20 degree (-7 C) sleeping >bag (and a good fire). They call it a Supershelter.

This sounds fascinatng; can you tell us all how to do this?
The Sock