Hi folks. As summer rolls in, I've taken the opportunity to shuffle some clothes out of my BOB. It occured to me as I heaved this thing out of the basement, that it has kind of gotten away from me, size-wise. So, I present to you, kind readers, my BOB, with this request:

What can I get rid of to help bring the weight down!

First my "ditch kit." I got this idea from one of the other ETS members, basically a larger version of an EDC. Something to keep in case I lose the main pack. It contains:
1 military fanny pack
4 foil water packets
2 FirstStrike Ration milkshake pouches (325 Calories/ea)
2 Platypus collapsable 1-qt bottles
a few handfuls of TP
A small FAK (bandaids, motrin, tylenol, Neosporin ointment)
1 River Rock AA flashlight
1 Proton AA flashlight
4 AA batteries
1 match case with REI storm matches
1 Byrd knife
1 double head screwdriver, with duct tape along handle
1 lightstick
20 ft paracord, 20 ft of mason's line, some zipties
Coffee filters, 6 aqua-pur tabs (the non-iodine type), a plastic knife and spoon
1 "fire kit" - tinder, matches, cotton balls



Here's the main BOB. The black pouch on back is a FAK, the small black pouch on the waist belt is some quick-access snacks. It's a CheaperThanDirt Molle bag.



Opening the main pouch, there are 2 "sides" (the back, and the rest of the pack). This is what's in the pouch directly behind the shoulder straps:
2 wool blankets, wrapped in trash bags (clean and dry)
2 civilian MRE meals
2 Mainstay 1-day rations
Pocket size SAS manual
1 small nalgene bottle with photocopies of ID, 20 aqua-pur tabs
Pouch with military poncho
EDIT: Removed 1 shotgun round belt, with: 5 rounds of slug, 5 of 00 buck, 15 of #4 birdshot
1 REI 2-gallon (?) water pouch



The facing side of the pack:
2 dehydrated meals
1 6-pack KoolAid mix
2 Gatorade mix pouches
12 Trioxane tabs
box of 12 Esbit tabs
100ft paracord
coffee filters
1 pack of wetwipes
4 45-gal trashbags



The FAK has gauze, gloves, a few ace wraps and gauze wraps. No big suprise. The food pack has a powerbark, 1 pack of Cliff-shots, and some sesame crackers from REI. There are 2 small pouches on the sides of the bag. One side has a 1-gal USGI canteen and canteen cup. The other has a 1-gal USGI canteen with duct tape around it.

On the back of the pack are 2 pockets, on top of each other. The larger carries:
1 RiverRock LED lantern (3AA), with 3 spare AA batteries
2 rolls of TP
1 gal. bag with: 1 pr wool socks, 1 pr cotton socks, 1 pr wool glove liners, 1 fleece hat, 1 pr. boxers
1 P-38
3 lightsticks
1 Albuterol inhaler
3 packs of plastic eating utensils
Some tin foil
2 1-gal ziplock bags
50 rounds of .22 ammo
1 pack wetwipes



The small pouch outside of this pocket is fairly snug. It contains:
1pr leather work gloves
1 small hatchet
1 headlamp (not AA, but such is life)



The bottom outside pouch is rather packed. It has:
1 Paraframe knife
1 SOG multiplier
1 sharpening stone
1 Esbit stove with 6-pack inside it
10 back AA batteries
6 pack of KoolAid
1 chapstick, 1 hotel-size mouthwash, 1 hotel-size shampoo, 1 hotel-size soap bar
4 oz contact lens solution, 1 contacts case
1 firesteel
5 9-hour candles
1 altoid tin of drier lint
5 paper matchbooks in ziplock bag



So that's it. As I write this, I realize that I might have a bit much in terms of fire, and probably toilet paper (though, if I end up with diarrhea, I'll be happy then!). If you see things I can trim, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.