All,

I have a good one for you guys. A BOB that is acceptable to be carried aboard a plane, and can get you going where ever the plane flies.

As some of you know I live in the Caymans. When an hurricane comes our way we will get evacuated from the island (via work - charter an evac flight to get us off). So, I'm trying to build something that my wife can grab and she'll be good to go in whatever country she flies into. Typically they will aim for Miami as its the nearest largest International airport. But conditions may dicate that they flight into Toronto, or Mexico or somewhere else.

Here are the restrictions:
-Items have to meet the FAA guidelines (i.e. no knifes, etc)
-Can have only one carry on per person
-Carry on has to meet current FAA rescrictions
-There are others restrictions since some charter flights add their own, but this will account for most restrictions

Currently i'm thinking of this:
-Using a backpack (can squeeze more into it then a typical suitcase - of course all depends on what model) but looking at backpacks that have the wheels and extended handle like most carry on's
-Sleeping bag (something like REI's Travel Sack) - never know how long your going to be in airports and could be in questionable hotels
-packable jacket (flying from here and ending up in Toronto in October will be a cold shock for ya!) (Something like Sierra Designs Microlight Anorak)
-cheap rain poncho
-Stuff sack (with clothes - below) - makeshift pillow
-Two changes of under clothes each change in zip lock bags
-T-shirt (in zip lock bag)
-Long sleeve shirt (in zip lock bag)
-Pants (or converable pants/shorts)
-Possiblity of a sweater/fleece (this is low priority item)
-Pens/Pencils & notepad
-Toilet paper
-Basic toiletries in FAA approvable packaging
-Ultra light towel
-Ultra light face cloth
-Basic First Aid kit (with lots of imodium!)
-1 or 2 litre Platypus bottle for water when through security
-Flashlight
-DR PSK FAA'ized
-Additional PSK items (zip ties, etc)
-Throw away mobile from the states (w/ charger)
-30 pack of Katadyn Micropur
-Maps of three most likely areas where she would land
-document of all phone numbers & addresses she ever need (Canadian consultate in many countries, our parents numbers, friends, etc)
-Copies of important documents
-Wallet in bag (that will be taken out when using) that will contain certified copies (means nothing to some countries) of all documents in her present wallet, cash in three currencies (USD, CDN, Euros), etc.


It will be a challenge getting all of that to fit in the require space.

I need some advice from you guys... What would you add/subtract from the above list? I need to be able to account for a lot of variables and she will have enough funds that once she lands, she can set herself up in a hotel quite easily (or just fly back home if need be).

She will also be carrying her purse that will contain her everyday stuff (cash, credit cards, insurance, etc).

Thanks!
Kris

A big full sleeping bag has always seemed to me like something to have near my BOB, but not in it. It simply takes up too much room. One of the fleece sleepng bag liners might be just fine for sleeping indoors almost anywhere. I've thought about, but never tried, putting a liner inside a heatsheets bivy. Not too durable, but it could really expand where you could spend a night.

My most space efficient jackets are a combination of soemthing like the anorak you mention and a thin fleece. Either alone can be fine at a lot of temperatures, and together, I've feel pretty good even when it is below freezing. So, I would add it, if cold weather might be enountered.

If cold weather is possible, I am big on layering.

With both of these, do you still need the cheap poncho? The anorak should take care of much that the poncho would.

I'd add a P38 or P51 can opener, as it would give you something like a blade. TSA inspectors and officers at courthouses have both let me carry them without saying anything. I've been tempted to sharpen mine, but have not, although it is secured with tape.

Consider a cheap inflatable pool float patches. It would take up little more room than a poncho, but it would give you soemthing that might be serviceable as a mattress for a night. I'd rather have a real sleeping pad, but that takes more room. A patch kit might be good too.

Aspirin, tylenol, etc. Bad or strange sleeping accomodations can lead to sore joints and muscles.

A

Actually, the bag I mentioned packs up to 6x11"... about the same room as a fleece bag. Of course, this probably isn't a priority... but sleeping in an airport over night in Toronto sucks (waiting for that last minute stand by flight to go home...), this would be very helpful.

I like the idea of the anorak and sweater combo... It'll get her through most areas.

Probably won't need the poncho, but I know my wife's luck. She's like me; if she doesn't have it, she'll need it really bad right now. As in, no poncho and it'll probably do nothing but rain and she'll find a way to get totally soaked and miserable. This would be in place of an umbrella. As for taking the place of the anorak... she could end up in Mexico and wearing the anorak there in the summer/fall would be quite interesting! More like a cheap 2 dollar insurance that takes up next to nothing for room.

I like the infatable pool thing... I'll see what I can find that will fit (might even consider a foam sleeping pad... have to play with these ideas).

As for the drugs... strongly agree with you! Her usual EDC is tylenol, 222's, advil, imodium, and sleeping pills. So, i'll just be replicating that (minus the sleeping pills) and add the usual basic first aid stuff.

For 'questionable' items, carry a copy of the TSA guidelines. That will ensure they don't take something away when you are actually allowed to have it.

In all honesty, i've had stuff taken away that was perfectly ok to keep, and in the past i've asked why it was taken away. WRONG MOVE!!! Now, just carry non questionable items.

Perhaps something like this, but the float should be flatter.

For water you could always carry a couple of empty 1L water bottles and refill after the checkpoint. Be easier than taking sips from a collapsable platypus. Of course, things have gotten so out of hand I'm not sure how (in)security would react. I assume empty water bottles would be okay though.

I'd suggest $2,000 in $10's and 20's, a flashlight, towel, toothbrush, water pouch, cell phone, charger, some granola a good book and a satchel of your important papers. Oh and a nylon coat. Pack it all in a vest. That's more than enough to get pretty much anything you need airport to airport.

They won't let you check any baggage for the evac?

-john

Nah, no checked baggage - at least for charter flights that businesses bring in for their employees. I'm assuming if you went off on a regular flight it might be different, but not sure.

Keep in mind its total chaos at the airport, flights coming and going. Only a single runway, the airport can only handle so many flights at once, and they try to get many off asap.

If the past is any indication, she'll be at the airport for 4-6 hours just trying to leave.

Fun stuff!

Consider combining these. My current weather gear is a four way system of a shell with a zip in, reversible liner. Spring & Summer, I use the shell for rain. Fall & Winter, the liner can be used alone or combined with the shell. Pack the liner & wear the shell to cut down on packing space.

Edit: spelling

Thermarest has some self inflating pads that pack down pretty small, you might check them out. The link provided just goes to one part of their website, if you click around you will find more...

I think I'll be the fleece for her... Sold me on it.

As for the thermarest... its been a while since I went shopping for an inflating pad, but last I remember they were heavy and took up alot of room. Looking on the site you can get them down under 2 lbs, and one is 15oz (might have been a foam pad). Wonder if it would be any better then sleeping on the floor?

All good suggestions...

Thanks.

"...Wonder if it would be any better then sleeping on the floor..."

I have never used one of the super light Thermarests, but I have slept on a few hard floors, and I gotta think that one would make a big difference...

I wonder if a combo sleeping pad/trail seat would be a good idea? In an congested airport, usually the seats are the first to go. Having something where your not sitting directly on the floor hunched over would be a big bonus. Then undo it and you have a pad... hummmmm.... wish there was an rei around here!!!!

Good idea on the seating pad. Won't REI ship to you? How 'bout
Campmor???

REI will ship, but would like to play with this stuff in person and find the right one. Buying online without seeing in person only works out 1/2 the time.

True. And Thermarests are not cheap...

Yeah... are there trail seats that are foam based?

Here is just one. Foam. But keep in mind that they only fold in half and you carry them by the built in handle. Probably impossible to get into a pack, or even strap onto one...

Thanks... very good idea... next time in states i'll give it a try and take her along and see if it'll work for her.

Exactly what needs to come out of the DR PSK to make it FAA acceptable. The scalpel blade is the first thing I think of. Fishhooks and needle? Spark-Lite?

I think thats all... maybe safty pins too (though I've taken them on my last few flights through the usa with no hassle). Come to think of it, i've taken a sewing kit (accidently) through security with no issues.

If it wasn't for the pending doom... sounds like it could be quite entertaining to watch the whole process.

Watching a hurricane coming and wreak havoc and destruction... done it. Really don't want to do it again, but since we have pets and commitments - i'm the one staying and DW gets to jet.

Its not fun.

Though at the time I had no idea about hurricanes and the damage done by them. Sure, you see it on the news and in pictures, but to experience one is a totally different matter.

I know it isn't overly helpful, but I break down my airline thinking into groups:

1) in the event of a airline crash.

In this case, I mostly think about this in terms of escape from the plane. Sensible shoes, natural fibers, flashlight (on person, not in bag).

2) being stranded in the airport/airplane.

What items do I want with me if flights are canceled and I'm stuck in the airport security area for a day or two.

In the context you describe, spending a bunch of time in an airport seems semi-likely.

Things that come to mind: A book. Clothing to keep warm (I like an expedition weight Capilene top + a fleece jacket + warm hat). Snacks. Asprin/etc. -- stuff in case you don't feel well (which seems semi-likely). Water bottle. Toothbrush (even if you can't bring toothpaste).

I'd skip the sleeping bag. Seems awful bulky. Just enough clothes that you are warm enough if you have to sleep on the floor or whatever.

Cell phone. Way to charge cell phone both if you do and if you do not have wall power.

Cash, credit card(s), travel papers.

3) what do you need when you reach your destination.

This is probably hard since it sounds like it isn't clear where this will be, nor how long coupled with very limited amount of stuff. Seems like you are going to be somewhat at the mercy of what you can buy when you get there.

Certainly I'd have a lightweight rain shell which can be layered on to of the top + fleece noted above.

It is kind of painful since you need to prepare for both hot and cool, but with limited space.

-john

You have plenty of good suggestions here already plus your own solid knowledge of likely scenarios.

My additions: (1)support your significant other's participation in the selection of whatever stuff she would be happiest carrying, including whatever she thinks is the most stylish, and (2) scout the most likely destinations to develop resources and strategies by inspection, research, and making contacts.

Again, Thanks all.

dweste said it right, "support your significant other's participation in the selection of whatever...". That's probably the only way i can put this together... she'll have to approve it all.

This has been most helpful, thanks!

It seems to me that if you're being evacuated from some disaster situation, that your plane won't be landing at an airport in ANOTHER disaster area. So my BOB for that scenario would be cash, credit cards, a deck of cards, and a book. Pretty much what I carry on a plane every time I get on one. You would probably want to take some personal documents too if the evacuation might turn out to be long duration.

If you're planning on the plane landing in a war zone or crashing in some remote wilderness area or ditching into the sea then things would be different. But most likely you'll be evacuated to some civilized and safe place without incident. And you'd probably be evacuated to some nearby place with climate similar to what you're used to. They're not going to fly you from the Caymans to the Arctic. The clothes on your back would probably suffice, if you carry money to buy more when you arrive at your destination.

Canada is high up on the list of evac places, and Toronto would be the airport. Reason for this would be related to people on the plane and their situations. For example, if someone looses their US waiver (good portion of people here are UK/Irish/Aussy/Kiwi's/etc that would require a waiver to get into the US).

Leaving the caymans in shorts in October (around 28-31c) and landing in Toronto when its 5-10c out is a shock! At least for me. I am climatized to the carib weather that anything under 25c is sweater weather. Family back in Canada laugh at me now - i'm ok with that cause I live here!

Miami would be the perferred choice as they can do two or more runs in the same period as one run to Toronto and back.

Mexico is an option, but not high on the list as the flight situation from Mexico to other locations isn't a great as Miami or Toronto.

Oh. That makes sense. I never thought of the international situation.

No worries... but interesting how it all works out.

While my wife is evac somewhere safe, i'll be at our place on the top floor, with a cold beer in one hand two scared cats clinging to me for dear life (sounds like a 'blast' situation, eh!), and wondering if that'll be the last cold beer for a few weeks. If that happens, scotch neat will be my drink with a cigar (wife hates them)!