Actually, Eugene, no ... I understood your response perfectly, which should probably worrry both of us. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ironsraven ... get back to you on a 24-BoB. Working on it. It will probably just be a glorified EDC. Picked up a bigger sling bag and am going to screw around with it as my EDC bag for a while. Think I'll also add a Leatherman Kick to my belt for EDC, even though I wear dress slacks. The Kick is pretty light, and between the recent London events, reading this board and where I live, I'm thinking a little up-click in my preparedness might be a good idea.

In any case, I probably won't be bugging anywhere. Am a newspaper editor in the Chicago 'burbs, and if the doody hits the fan, I'll probably be buggin' straight to work if I'm not already there. No wife or kids, so for me the right thing to do would probably just go and do what I do best.

And i'm beggin' ya, no media jokes, please ... i'm not a high-ranking editor, and i already deal with the rather abusive public 55 or 60 hours a week. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Oh, poop on your postscript! I had two good ones ready to let fly!

Sue

I have two: what most would consider to be a BOB, and a purely outdoor oriented small backback with stove, mess, sleeping and shelter in it, and not much more.

I can turn the pack into a pretty comprehensive kit in about 5 minutes out of the BOB and by grabbing pre-packed water. The pack has a bladder in it that I do not keep filled. There is enough water in my truck to fill it and a lot more, if need be.

I can't keepanything of much value in my truck ('92 ange Rover) due to theft problems. I do keep a very bare-bones equipped GI butt pack in it (HD rescue blanket, small food kit & nesbit, 100' para cord, 9 x 12 2 mil. drop cloth & a competent sheath knife), plus the usual car stuff, plus a decent hatchet & saw, 50' rescue-grade rope & 'biners w/ descender, old ammo can with a few 2nd rate tools, etc. All camo'd with a ratty bath towel or two.

When I moved here, I had been here two nights before the truck was cleaned out. Now, with this set up and a theft-proof radio, I don't even lock it. It has survived two years that way, knock on wood.

Remember Douglas Adams catch phrase from 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy': "Never go anywhere without a towel."

What did you go with for a bag? If it has a 2" sling, and the sling is about two feet long, something I spotted that you might want to look at as an EDC+ carrier that you can leave in your office.

High Speed Gear's waist pack. It has a pair of pouches, each about the size of three stacked m16 magazines (guestimating it at about 7.5 long, 3" wide, 2.5 deep), one square one, and a long tunnel pouch for ropes and the like. It fits onto a 2" wide belt; everthing closes with flaps and fastex buckles except for the zippered square pouch.

bunch of folks have it for the same price (give or take a few cents), but tirad has the best picture. http://www.triadtactical.com/store/item/ujwr/High_Speed_Gear/HSGI_Sniper_Waist_Pack.html

Raven,
I grabbed a sling bag by Champion (actually, InGear but licensed to Champion) at Target for about $20. I'll see how it strikes me carrying too and from work and around town this week as an EDC. If it doesn't cut it for my purposes, I have a newphew who I'm sure will be glad to have it.

Right now it's got:
> Work stuff: binder, file folders, portfolio & pad pad, pens, calculator.
> Cell phone, charger, earpiece.
> Tools: Folder (a Gerber, to be replaced by a Ritter RSK Mk1, soon as it gets here), LM Wave (old style, my preference), Stanley wonder bar.
> Light: Photon II on carabiner on exterior; Brinkman AA in bag.
> Shelter: PVC poncho, space blanket.
> Ritter PSK with following added: repackaged (ala Ritter) Pottable Aqua, 2 Gerber milk bags, 5 Coghlan wind/waterproof matches plus striker.
> AMK Ultralight .5 FAK.
> Misc: Leather work gloves, a neck lanyard, 20' paracord, bandanna, a flatpack of duct tape, 1 N-95 respirator.

Can you fold an N-95 w/o killing it's effectiveness?

We'll see how it goes. If I like the concept, I may upgrade to a better bag. However, I have to avoid a "military" look. All black might be OK, though.

Actually, I find that once it is off my belt, kahki get's less attention. But that could be a local thing.

Greatings Gents and Ladies; My impression is that a BOB/Bug out Bag is just as the name implies; a bag with the supplies necessary to sustain life for up to 24 Hrs. when you need to get out of Dodge NOW. Short duration equipped due to the need for light and fast. If needed to stretch longer then 24 hrs, then contents must be suplimented from external sources. 72 Hr. bag as the name implies, is for the situation where your either forced from home, or are more then 2 days walk from home. Due to increased requirements for tools and supplies, it is not as "fast" as BOB, but to my mind must still be portable over extended distances. A truck/ car bag might be a collection of additional supplies ( extra clothes, food, water) to supliment Bob or 72Hr., or for if you were to be stranded in your truck or have access to your vehicle after an event. Either BOB or 72Hr. or both can live in your car. Bob can be an extension of your EDC, and as such be your constant companion while 72Hr. waits in the truck. Comments? Thanks; Jim

Actually, my primary kit is the 96 hour kit in the back of my truck. I don't have a dedicated BOB simply because I see no situation here where I'd abandon the truck. It's either in the garage, we're on the road or at work.

The events I need to worry about here are wildfires and earthquakes (SOCAL). Wildfires are not a surprise and for me there will be days available for an orderly evacuation. If a serious earthquake strikes, it will most likely hit areas around me but not where I live directly. The major faults are a good distance away and I expect the house to remain intact when San Andreas drops the other foot. LA and SF may take a big hit, but I'm off to the side of the major faults, not directly over them. In the very unlikely situation that I'm at work and the roads became impassable from the earthquake, I should have time to decide whether to wait it out and stay with the truck, or leave it parked and take the kit necessary to walk home. I won't know what BOB I'll need until the situation exists; hence I keep a comprehensive 96 hour kit near me from which to draw.

If your chemical spill forced me to abandon the truck and run, I'd consider the BOB detrimental to my well being -- carrying it would slow me down. Hopefully I'll be wearing my cross-trainers.