I use my BoB for 2 & 3 day backpacking/camping trips.

You're right about getting it to be more practical and useful by exercising it !!

I always plan for the absolute worst case scenario. This means an indefinite length of time. I have some food in my BOB to get me through the first few days, but after that it's all about what I can hunt/trap/forage/scavenge. And I've packed the equipment that will help me do those things more successfully.

I keep TP in my BOB. I also keep at least two rolls in each of my vehicles and ATV. I have/keep hand sanitizer in my BOB and soap in my vehicles. In my truck and Jeep I even keep the gritty-hand soap.

I use my "BOB" and other packs on trips too, not just for emergency.. you really learn what you need.

I've put the small pack of baby wipes in the house BOB (keep a pack in my fatboy for EDC as well).

Something I've been looking at as well is P-Pals (cardboard funnels for women) I've got two of them (women) in the house and they've both frowned at me for suggesting it, but I think when push comes to shove they would thank me for it.

True.

Bugging Out may be just getting to a fallback position rather than roughing it cross country.

We've got a friend staying with us while she gets the tree off her house/ house off her car/ everything rebuilt. And on "Gustav-Day" "Bugging Out" was just getting herself and her dog out of house during the storm and coming a few blocks to stay with us.

There are now ample opportunities to return to get stuff she needs while she's staying with us.

My BOB is used as an all purpose get out now bag, be it the fire in the middle of the night or the SHTF scenerio. I am set up to make it to a destination that has been pre-planned for a few decades. It also serves as a lets go camping / backpacking / entertainment bag. This lets me see how practical and usable the equipment is. It also allows for the food to be used and fresh food replaced.

As far as carrying TP and soap, I carry both. The inner cardboard was removed for space reasons. I also have toothpaste, toothbrush and other comfort / hygeine items. I know from experience that TP and soap go a long way in keeping moral up. And in a crisis situation (be it a personal crisis or a community). My BOB is just that - MY BOB. My wife has her own BOB that is customized to her. And my son's is his. They each have their own idea of what a crisis is and having the bag is like a security blanket that hopefully will not have to be used for anything other then recreational.

Hope that answers you question from my point of view.

I would never carry regular TP since it is not water-proof, but instead would use shop towels or brawny (or similar) paper towels. Many backpackers do this. That way you never have to worry about it getting wet, and they can be used as towels or in a first aid kit (obviously before use as TP).

So, what happens if the SHTF right after you've finished your camping trip, and your BOB is empty of all useful supplies?

Kind of like that Clint Eastwood movie where the bad guys jump him just after he has shot all his pistols empty target practicing.

I keep sufficient supplies on hand to do an immediate turn around.

I leave nothing to chance, by choice anyways!

6P's: Proper Planning Prevents P**s Poor Performance

+1 on baby wipes in my go bag/man-purse. No soap but I do have hand sanitizer. Still haven't gotten around to making a BOB proper. SHTF and I grab my go bag (urban survival kit-maxpedition colosus), my woodland survival kit-in a maxpedition devil dog butt pack, my rifle case and I'm out the door. Things have gotten a mite trickier since I've gotten married and the misses has aquired a zoo. Still need to grab a duffel and make a BOB for the pets, something which I have not managed to do because of finances.

-Bill Liptak