I live in the Phoenix metro area. I have a 22 mile commute to my job where I work as a programmer/network admin. My goal was to build myself a kit that would allow me to get from wherever I am to home as well as provide for some more mundane emergencies and inconveniences. I have a change of clothes, walking/hiking shoes, and several gallons of drinking water at my office. I have the same plus more in my car, but I am planning to the lowest level here, so that means I start with what I have on me always, plus what I have at my office, and what I carry in my GHB.

First, my EDC for any time I am outside my house:

Left Back Pocket: Bandana and PFAK
Right Back Pocket: Wallet
Right Front Pocket: Car Keys and CRKT Peck money clip
Left Front Pocket: Bullet Space Pen, Fenix E01, Leatherman Juice
Belt: Palm Treo PDA, Small Pouch and Surefire E1B

PFAK:

Various Band-aids, Advil, Benedryl, Tums

Small Pouch:

Nail Clippers, Chap Stick, P38, Peanut Lighter, small Prybar, Fox 40 Whistle
Office Key, House Key, 2GB USB Drive, Tweezers, Pill fob with 2 days meds+allergy pills, Photo II light

My GHB I keep in my office when I am at work, and in my car when I am doing errands, and with me if I will be away from the car for an extended period. I do take this into casinos with me when I go to play cards.

Condor II - Back View (I have fixed the strapping on the MOLLE pouches since I took these photos)


Condor II - Side View


Stuff I have hanging from straps:

Fenix LD10, Surefire E2DL, Arc AAA, Marble Compass
(The E2DL is in a holster now).

Exterior Add-on Pouch-Common use items

Baby wipes
MSR camp towel
Recharge Bag: Battery powered rechargers for Palm and ipod, plus USB recharger for batteries
IPod bag: Ipod nano with earbuds
IT Bag: 16GB USB memory stick, 160GB USB powered hard driver, USB SD Card Reader

Internal Lower-Back Pouch - Less common use items

Bandana
Rite in the Rain notepad
Compass
Boker folder
Firesteel, Spare car key, Whistle, and larger mini-prybar
Plastic tube with precision screwdriver set
Crock stick sharpening rods
Space Pen
EMT Shears
Sharpie
Loaner Flashlight (Element K2)
FAK - AMK's Ultralight .5 with several 4x4's and some OTC meds
Small Nalgene bottle with Cotton/Vaseline

Bottle Holder

<Main compartment>
Stainless Steel Nalgene Bottle
Cup
Electrical tape container with wire, firestarter, lighter, 4 water purification tablets
<side pouch>
Cheap space blanket
Lighter
Spork (Since replaced with a Lexan Spoon/Fork combo)
Crystal Light

Hydration Pouch

MSR 100oz hydration bladder
2 1qt Aquapouches

(Continued)

Upper Pouch - Consumables

Cough drops
tums
lip balm
eyeglass cleaner
$8 in quarters
Beef Sticks and food bars

Main Pouch

Spare Dry bag (blue)
Hat and N95 mask
Personal Bivy sack
Dry bag with hooded sweatshirt, watch cap, gloves, wind breaker, and smart wool hiking socks.
Small Lock n lock (see below)
Bible
Rain Poncho
Pocket Ref
Large Lock n lock (see below)
Med Lock n Lock (see below)
Red Food container (see below)
AMK Heatsheet
Phoenix Street Atlas and AZ state map (not shown)

Small Lock n Lock

Compass
Signal Mirror
Esbit Stove with fuel
Fresnel lens
Duct Tape
Water Purification Tablets
Bic Lighter
2.5 gallon Ziploc
Stainless Steel Wire
Electrical Tape
Zip Ties
Various Nite Ize Figure 9's

Large Lock n Lock

Ziplock with REI Storm matches in match safe + tinder
Sewing Kit
Heavy Duty Aluminum foil
Western US Edible plants cards
Measuring tape
Fishing knots
Spare Glasses
Playing cards
Knot cards
Water Purification Tablets
Safety Pins
50' 550 Paracord
Headlamp
Spare Batteries (AA, AAA, and CR123)
EMT Shears

Medium Lock n Lock

DEET
Sunscreen
Advil
Kleenix
Tums
Lip Balm
Ear Plugs
Nail Clippers
Sharpie
Pill Fob with 5 days Meds + allergy pills

Red Food Container

2 1200 calorie Mainstay bars
Cliff and Power Bars
Slim Jims


This whole thing weighs just at 21 pounds without water. I have the capacity to carry about 6 liters which would add another 12 pounds. I know I have a lot of lights. I know I don't need that many - my wife tells me so on a regular basis. I loan out a flashlight at least once a week, so I carry the K2 element so I don't have to give up one of my good ones. The stuff in the outer back pouch is just there because I no longer carry a laptop and I use that stuff on a regular basis. The jacket/gloves I ditch in the summer. The side pouch I didn't mention holds my camera + several eneloop rechargeable batteries.

I don't currently have a CCW (next week), thus no handgun. I have plenty of fixed blades I could carry, but I honestly don't see a reasonable need for one in my current situation.

As usual, I look forward to any comments or suggestions.

Regards
Lee

Great GHB. I have pretty much the same kind of setup but did some leaning down recently to par off weight. I unloaded the stove, an extra flashlight and the fixed blade as well as the LandShark Bag to get the weight to about 15 lbs without water. I'd love to carry everything but it was getting difficult to manage the bag. How long do you expect it to take you to get home? Do you find the weight to be an issue when dragging the bag around with you all the time? I am sure that if the time comes you will feel that it was all worth it but every time I grab mine it leaves me wishing for a better solution, that does not seem to exist.

Questions:
1. What sort of terrain will you be travelling through?
2. Have you scouted out possible shortcuts other than the route you drive?
3. What resources are available to you as you walk home (water, shelter, food).
4. Where is your hat?
5. Where is your radio?
6. While I LOVE my copy of Pocket Ref, why carry it with you?
7. Toilet paper? I see/agree with the wet wipes, but didn't see TP.
8. Maps?

-Blast

Phoenix, AZ -- 22 miles, 6 liters of water

Where will you resupply the water for the last 16 miles?

Basically it flat as a board between where I work and live. City the entire way. Not the greatest neighborhoods near work, but after 2-3 miles it is all basic middle class area. I'd expect to be following the canal path for a good portion of the trip. I have traveled the path on bike. The entire city is pretty much a grid of N/S and E/W streets. The as the crow flies distance between work and home is only 2.5 miles less than actual driving distance.


As far as resources go, its a city. We do have a few canals that I could use to refill water with and I would be following one for most of the last half of the trip. There are several 'lakes' in housing developments along the way as well, but I'd be hesitant to drink from them without a good filter at the least (I have one in the car, but I don't lug it around).

I have a hat in the main pack. I have TP in the car and some here at the office that I could grab if I was walking, but I figure I can get by with the wipes for the time it takes me to get home. I don't have a radio - need to fix that. I have a streets guide and an az map in main pack (not shown), but they are really not needed. There really isn't much for surprises terrain wise and I know the area very well.

The Pocket Ref, well, I actually use it as my 'book of last resort' for reading material. That plus its handy. I'd not be carrying it home with me in an emergency (nor some of the other stuff for that matter).

Lee,

Nice kit. How do you like those Mainstay bars? I have seen them, but, haven't tried them. I think they have 3 chunks in them, and are basically a candy bar sized version of their lifeboat rations, if I'm thinking of the right ones. I usually have Millenium bars, which are similar, but, have a few flavor choices. The Mainstay lifeboat rations aren't bad for a little while, but, once you open the outer foil, the inner bars are just in a very thin "Saran Wrap"-like packaging. I like the idea of the foil wrapped bars, like the Millenium product.

I must be mis-reading this...

22 mile commute that is 2.5 miles as the crow flies??

I don't understand that one.

All in all, That is a lot more than what I keep for myself on a daily basis. I assume you also have plans on it covering other needs/environments?

Do the security folks at the Casinos give you any issues?

Looks good

What the OP means is the actual commute distance is 22 miles. As the crow flies, the distance is 19.5 miles.

Okay, that way makes much more sense. I was trying to figure the road network out on this one. Now when I was first learning the use of a map and compass a 2.5 mile trip often could encompass 22 miles, but that was operator error. LLAMF AGAIN!

I really like your GHB. Well done. My personal preference would be to remove some of material you are carrying to reduce weight. Overall, my thinking would be to get home quicker (by carrying less weight) than to travel those 20 miles prepared for just about anything.

I see that above you said some of this wouldn't be making a trip with you but I can't help myself and so I'll make some suggestions. If this were my kit designed (only) for me to walk 20 miles, I would drop many things to save weight (and possibly carry more water).
For example:
- 2nd pair of EMT shears
- Playing and plant cards, Ref Guide, Bible (I am no doubt cursed for this thought)
- many of the food items like the jerky which would give me heartburn and make me carry extra Tums (have you considered a blister pack of Prilosec or similar medication instead?).
- extra lights and mostly reduce the spare batteries.
- most of the quarters (use a credit card to make a phone call or call collect)
- sharpening rods and the base (maybe keep one rod?)
- the small pry bars and Nite-ize 9s

Consider adding something like Moleskin or other blister products. I see you have extra glasses. Are they sun glasses? One other thought would be several feet of clear tubing to use as a siphon or that might allow you to suck up canal or lake water without risking a tumble down a steep concrete embankment.

The most bizarre thing I could suggest would be some sort of sun umbrella or other shade that you could rig to your pack to give your entire body shade. This could make a huge difference in Phoenix. As an added bonus, people might think you're nuts and stay away.

Finally, perhaps some goggles for any sandstorm you may have to walk through.

I have a very similar profession, LeeG
And, no wonder, - a very similar bag!

However, mine is smaller and more casual looking. Thus it's always with me. That's because I'm wearing the Socttevest vest loaded with about 6 pounds of similar stuff in addition to the bag.

What I don't see in your great kit is a good heavy duty multitool (I EDC Juice too, but that's not enough quite often). The duct tape can be more versatile in signaling colors (red/orange). And for every IT pro I'd recommend to carry not simply a steel wire but an insulated one. Also I've found that all of the USB battery chargers are ridiculously underpowered (slow charging). A regular AC or car charger is much better. Maybe for your environment you should look at some good EDC water filters too. I like the really compact, and lightweight one from here: http://aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-frontier-filter

Also I agree with Yuccahead - consider replacing Tums with a bit more expensive but much more compact, durable, faster acting, and longer lasting acid reducer (like Prilosec, Ranitidine, etc). Regarding the goggles. I'm carrying a pair of good swimming goggles (again - much more compact and versatile then anything else like that, plus added bonus of nutsness - as usual ).

By the way, is that Stainless Steel Nalgene Bottle fits inside the Cup?

Nice, well thought out kit. Since you mentioned the route is mostly flat why not pack a cheap luggage dolly or filecrate carrier? That way you could pack lots of water and take all that weight off the shoulders. Milwaukee sells a folding hand truck at Home Depot that's supposed to haul 150lbs. So far the most I've loaded mine moving furniture was about 85lbs. but it worked great.

Just on the tums vs. prilosec commentary - prilosec and it's generic equivalents are not fast-acting. They are preventative for acid reflux. For an acute heartburn/indigestion attack, tums would be better.

I actually find the inclusion of the Bible as very interesting.

For a "get-me-home" type of bag, maybe a bit out of place. For a BOB where you are planning on surviving off of, definitely a good idea. Sometimes, when times are tough, you just need a little uplifting...

I picked up a "sportsmans Bible" one time, its small and has several pages dealing with things like first aid and outdoor survival. I keep it in the pockt of my truck and my GHB is under the seat. I figure in a simple get home situation some of those extras in that Bible could be handy too.

I live in Mesa. Its a good kit.

Thanks for sharing LeeG,

I agree with some of the other comments here regarding weight saving and the focus on the goal for the kit. A GHB usually implies a more short-term scenario than a traditional BOB. The easiest way to reduce weight typically is to evaluate the multi-use nature of each item. Redundancy in your priorities like fire is important however redundancy in all areas (e.g. lights) can get very heavy.

An example of the multi-use strategy could be illustrated in the metal storage containers of your kit. If your nalgene bottle is single walled steel and you can boil water in it do you really need the additional metal cup?

If you could make the time on say on a weekend or holiday you might try a practice run. By walking that distance with your GHB you could take notes on your observations regarding what you used from your kit, what you needed, the time, etc.

Great pics and a wonderful conversation starter . I've been trying to cut the weight of my DW's kit and I'll have to post pics here to get some comments and ideas.

Cheers,
L

Great set-up, but it reads more like an actual 'Bug Out Bag' rather than a 'Get Me Home Bag'. Way too heavy for a 22 mile walk.

Focus on what exactly you'll need to Getcha Home. Blasphemy, for sure, but you don't need much beyond: water, energy (food), and a good pair of hiking shoes/boots.

The first aid supplies you carry in your pocket are more than sufficient, but look out for blisters. How would you deal with a sprained ankle?

Flashlights: drop everything except the Surefire you carry and leave the Arc in the backpack. Throw in a couple of spare CR123's and AAA's and you're set on the lights. I love flashlights, but you have some serious overkill in that department.

Leave the electronic goodies out - look how much spare stuff (recharging equipment, USB extras, camera, spare rechargables) you have to carry for it all. That stuff isn't going to Getcha Home any faster.

All those plastic compartments add up (in weight) when you have as many as you do. Redundancy is good, but 2 EMT shears? 3 compasses? I know this stuff doesn't take up much room, but when you're doubling up on a lot of items, the weight kinda creeps up on you.

You have a lot of excellent, quality gear: take that pack for a 2 mile hike and see what you can let go of and what needs to stay.

Thanks for all the comments so far.

One thing to keep in mind is that while I plan on using some of the items in here to get me home in an emergency, that is really not the entire purpose.

All the electronic gear in the outer pouch - almost everything in there gets used on a very regular basis. The snacks and stuff in the upper pouch get used up almost every poker tourney I play in. This bag inherited several of the items that used to belong in a laptop bag, but I don't need to carry the laptop anymore so some of that stuff ended up in here.

The FAK also has some moleskin and some of that AMK blister shield stuff in it as well as some more duct tape.

The stuff that I have in there as basically 'at work conveniences' weighs out at 7.5lbs, bringing the pack weight to 14 without water. I'm sure there are a few more pounds of stuff that can go or be combined.

I've been doing a few half mile walks with it, and wear it during parts of my workouts. In a couple weeks, I plan on bumping my walks to 1-2 miles as I start getting ready to get back into hiking after a 4 year hiatus.

Hi Lee,

I also thought of one other thing on the way home from work this evening. I was thinking about advice from Cody Lundin where you should always include some cordage (550 parachute cord) in a survival kit because "its a drag to make."

Have you heard of Cody? He resides north of you outside of Prescott, AZ, I believe. I've really enjoyed his books where he takes an unconventional approach to survival and home preparedness. For your interests in kit building, I would recommend his book "98.6 degrees the art of keeping your ass alive" where he outlines the very basics of a survival kit weighing in at about 4 pounds total I think.

I haven't taken one of his courses yet but I'd like to one day soon. He offers everything from a home preparedness seminar to an aborigine style 9 day primitive skills survival course.

The usual caveat applies, I'm not affiliated with the guy...I just like his style.

Good luck with the building and training.

Cheers,
L