Is "search" broken? I tried searching for "BOB", "B.O.B.", "Bug Out Bag" and other variations of that using Advanced Search, "all forums", "in subject and body", "newer than 3 years". Absolutely nothing came back. I am logged in to ETS. Cookies enabled. Javascript enabled. To see if any search was working, I tried "compass" rather than "BOB" and came back with hits. I just can't believe that nobody has mentioned their BOB in the last three years. My search Kung-Fu must be bad.

Anyway, I am looking to update my bug out gear and put it into a backpack. I know there are tons of threads on this, with many people posting pictures and lists of their BOB contents. I was trying to find that with my searches. But no luck. Help!

As with most forum and general website search functions, the search function here is not that great.

If I need to search the forum, I use Google as it indexes this forum in near real time and offers more flexibility when looking for one or more keywords and for also excluding terms from your search.

In the google search box, the basic syntax is:

keyword(s) site:web address of site

For example:

bob site:forums.equipped.org

I always search ETS using Teslinhiker's method and get great results.

Keyword site:http://forums.equipped.org

Boolean operators and the * are a great help when used with the keyword.

Bob site:http://forums.equipped.org

Bob or GHB site:http://forums.equipped.org

Etc

Thanks everyone. I really like that tip about using the "site:" parameter in a Google search. Fantastic idea!

For some time now, Google has been my primary search tool for this site. My methods haven't been as refined as the ones listed above, which I will certainly try. Judicious use of quotation marks has always done the job so far; but I'm usually searching for a thread I already know exists and can't bloody well seem to find.

Since there is some interest in the google search method for this forum, here are some more examples:

Search for compass but not gps
compass -gps site:http://forums.equipped.org

search only for brunton compass and not gps
"brunton compass" -gps site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for compass or gps
compass or gps site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for and gps as mandatory keywords
compass and gps site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for exact keyword of brunton compass
"brunton compass" site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for psk but not edc and also include Ritter in the results
psk -edc and ritter site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for compass and poster "Haertig"
compass and haertig site:http://forums.equipped.org

search for compass but not brunton but include poster "Haertig"
compass -brunton and haertig site:http://forums.equipped.org

Find all threads that have also posts made by "Haertig"
"Originally Posted By: Haertig" site:http://forums.equipped.org

Wow Teslinhiker, you are the guru! You have achieved search-wizard status.

Thanks so much!