I prefer one large to jumbo large duffle for packing...Can add lots and repack later. ( for BOB, gear, campingetc.)

Doesn't that make it harder/heavier to carry? Maybe I'm thinking of a duffle bag that's too big (I'm picturing my old dive bag). No way I'm using something like that for a BOB/GHB. I die of exhaustion just trying to move it from the car. Or maybe I'm thinking I'd put too much stuff. What's you're thoughts with this?

-Jason

In the past, I preferred organization; kelty used to have a pack that was divided horizontally into 4 zippered pockets. Mine suffered zipper failure, and I moved on to a surplus bergen with a main compartment and 3 big outside pockets. But then I started weighing the pack itself, and moved to using single compartment big bags: if the sleeping bag weighs 2 kilos, it's odd to be putting it into a 3 kilo pack. A bigger non-constructed pack with internal organization in ditty bags seems to be the ligtest option. YMMV.

There's big duffles, and then there's modular organization - if your duffle is so big you can't load it into a vehicle you may be in trouble; if its too heavy to carry long distances you might rethink that too. But if the point is to load it into a car at most, all power to you.

Aside from some wheeled totes that are intended for dragging out of the house and deploying in our backyard, I put alot of my gear in $19.99 Eddie Bauer overnight bags with a shoulder strap - comfortable to carry or sluff for a while, but not as comfortable as a backpack. Anything I intend to carry ~more than a mile loaded I put in a Kelty MAP backpack or in a smaller Kelty day pack.

The bags contain things like a FA kit containing bulk supplies for neighborhood triage and treatment; and a sort of BOB for setting up a tent and cooking for family shelter (e.g. if we suddenly had to sleep outside, but not very far from home - backyard or school playfield deployment etc). Over time and shopping for specials I've built redundant FA bags, one for the trunk of my car and one sits at work.

I kept the boots and really wet weather gear I bought for filling sand bags and mucking out houses down on the Chehalis River in 2006-2007, really dirty work - the gear is sturdy but not often used, I washed it off and packed it in a bag in case I go to work at another flood. Its the kind of stuff you like to have if you really have to stand in pouring rain for a long time.

There's a bag with my cold weather clothing and some spares for those who don't think to have a wool cap handy to keep them warm.

The Eddie Bauer bags are inexpensive (bought at their outlet store in North Bend when they go on special for $9.99-19.99) but are good quality and multi-use: we'll occasionally empty out a kit and use it to pack for a vacation or trip. They qualify for airline carryon, and the shoulder strap and handles makes them pretty easy to hump.

I'm trying 3-4 BIG duffles...enough to grab everything and sort out which module I need later...

I have a couple backpacks and a small duffel. I'm thinking of buying one of those surplus military packs to combine the duff;e and smaller backpack into one larger pack. Will be big and heavy enough that I won't carry it hiking or anything but easier to load since its all combined into one.

I use a 4-stage approach:

Each family member has a daypack that can provide their minimum shelter, food, water purification, medical needs and other 10 essentials for 3 days in their vehicle.

Each family member also has a duffel bag in their closet that reproduces the daypack but with additional clothing, shelter/insulation and personal protection/tools. Used with the daypack this would provide 6 days worth of food and meds and is small/light enough to carry with the backpack for brief hikes.

I have a large duffel that contains a tent, basic camping gear, better water purification and cooking gear, and 3 additional days food for 3 people. This would only be employed if we could drive off, so it implies that the prior two bags would also be used for up to 9 days of supplies.

Finally I have my pop-up camper that is always stocked with 15 gallons of water (refreshed monthly), 5 days food, 2 changes of clothing, and plenty of other amenities. Obviously, if the opportunity allowed the use of the camper we would throw all the prior kits into the tow rig for a combined two weeks of supplies and quite comfortable living.

The fly in the ointment is that DD lives about 100 miles away at college. So for her to benefit from options 3 and 4 requires meeting-up at a pre-planned rendezvous location. We have identified and visited several locations, even have staged additional materials at a few. But geography doesn't favor a successful rendezvous, particularly if travel by car and public transportation is restricted. So we've also made arrangements for friends and family to provide assistance if the situation doesn't allow us to link-up.

An important factor is to inspect each kit periodically for replenishment. Kids are likely to "borrow" things from their kits and forget to put them back. An easy fix is to wrap the bags in stretch-film designed for wrapping packages to pallets. This way its easier to determine when a kit has been pilfered without performing a full inventory, and it discourages pilfering in the first place. Put a sheet of paper on top of the bag before wrapping to list expiration dates for any perishables and last minute additions that might be required (such as short-life prescriptions and important papers).

Currently sorting gear into:
1. edc
2. Car kit (winter survival)
3. Work stuff
4. BOB
5. other

Each gets a bag or tub. Bob stays by a door, work kit is at work or in the truck

As a parent, I prefer a backpack. It leaves my hands free for corralling kiddos.

As a preggo, I prefer a backpack because it helps me balance better.

As an overpacker, I prefer a backpack because it helps limit the gear I can carry.

The winter kit (essentially mountain pass/cold weather clothing) I put in my truck for road trips is an Extra-Large Eagle Creek, No Matter What Duffel.

I went with extra large so that I could store a full set of cold weather clothing including parka, sweaters, pants, long underwear, boots and socks -- a mix of wool and synthetic. I threw a wool blanket in there too. I don't carry this bag further than the truck; it's not so much heavy as bulky.

My other duffel bags range from large to small depending on my intention for them. Duffels are good for packing bulky items, but smaller gear can get lost in the bigger bags for smaller items should go into separate bags before going into the duffel.