For the newer memebers of the post, there is a PackRat that I carry that I'd call 90% EDC. There are times I don't have it, but when I don't, I'm not more than 200m from where it is. Not perfect, but I always have a light or two, my Leatherman, a pocket knife, and few other goodies on me unless I'm in the shower or sleeping.

Well, I finally got to spend time with a digitial camera. So, for everyone who has read the ever changing list of stuff that is in my bag of tricks and wondered how it all fit, I can answer you.


Here, you see the Packrat in the stand-alone configuration. It is just as likely to be in another pack, with the sling wrapped around the top grab handle.


These are the items that are carried in the ouside pockets. The thumb drive gets tucked into the velco loop that holds the mesh pocket closed- it fits like it was designed to do that, but I'd say it is just luck. The keys are usually clipped to my jeans, but the might be clipped to the D-ring on the side of the Rat.

As a rule, the pockets on the outside are empty. They catch stuff as I need them to, but about a third of the time, the back pocket has my check book and a pen or three in it.


When you open the Rat, you are greated by this mess. Intimidating, isn't it. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The front of the pack is on the left side of this image, by the way.


These guys are tucked into the bottom of the Rat. The capsule for the Immodium is a piece of cut down paintball tube, with two endcaps. I wrote the contents and directions down on the caps, but they don't show so well here.

The Squirt EL is clipped to the lanyard, with the slack of the lanyard taken up by wrapping it around the bundle of paracord. It isn't much, but it a left over from a project where I needed some corelines. The ones I didn't need are included as well, in one of the ziplocks. The wall putty was included becuase... well, why not?

I didn't have the Tylenol capsule finished when this was taken, nor had I added a bit of thread on a carboard holder and a sewing machine bobbin of Spiderwire.


All the goodies in the front pockets. I no longer have a need for AAA batteries, so I took them out and put in more AAs. Tools and writing impliments. I found a 1/4" socket adaptor from one of my 1/4" tool kits in my car last night, so that has been added as well, so I can use the sockets with the fingertip driver.


Bhind those pockets is a large sleeve pocket. The coin envelopes and the tiny zip locks are for electronics components and bits of stuff that comes my way during the day. The one gallon zipper bag is big enough to hold the Rat when it is in another pack.


The pockets along the back of the Rat. The binder clip keeps the the P-38 from opening up in the pocket, and has been joined by a few more since this picture was taken and the text added.

I use this memory key for emergency stuff, as it can be write protected. The latest removal tools and updates from Norton and Macfee, Adaware, the newest Stinger and ZoneAlarm firewall, Belarc, etc, along with a bunch of windows updates. Also put a bunch of tools that I like to have, like WinAmp, Firefox, and a few others, including the icon I use here.

The TI-89 is what I like to carry, but with one my current courses, it has been forbidden, so I'm going to switch to my older TI-84. If the stuff hits the fan and I have the time, I going to pull out the TI, and replace it with a folded up contractor's bag.

The AOL tin holds items that are more survival oriented. It's shown open below.


The matches are lacured, and slipped into two pieces of corrogated carboard, 12 per piece. Those are then taped together on one side, with the striker taped to one of them, roughside in. Not shown here, a couple of small screw eyes are tossed in the tin. Don't know why I didn't mention them when I added the labels.

I also have a few CDs tucked into the notebook. OpenOffice install, Knoppix and BART bootabal OSes on CD.

This usually tags with a 14oz wide mouth Nalgene bottle. Other than boiling in the aluminum foil, I don't really have a means of water purification, but that is about the only weakness in this.

Congratulations...you finally found SOMETHING useful we all can do with those dadgum AOL 'free trial' things that are everywhere!

...what's the wall sticky for?

Tro

For sticking things to walls and other smooth surfaces. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I had a tiny bit of wall sticky floating about in my desk, and it just got added on a whim. No real mass, very little volume, and it isn't water soluble.

This isn't a survival kit, but it can function as such. It's an EDC.

And the wall sticky has been used on a few occasions over time. Balls of it have been used to to hold PCBs during soldering so it is (a) off the bench and (b) components are supported. Along with the normal mission.

I've actually used them for years for all kinds of things. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The tins are actually pretty good, unlike AOL.

Mostly, they've been used like this, but I've also used them to hold coloured pencils. I've also used them to "kit" components, and then use masking tape to hold the circuit board to them. And a lot of the smaller items that now live in the PackRat once lived in a collection of AOL tins that moved from pack to pack during the day.

I try to make sure I sand off the paint on the outside of any I reuse so I'm not doing any advertising for them and confuse anyone into thinking they are a company I would ever recommend in any way.
One of their companies still owes me $120 when they charged someones shoe order to my credit card number then lied to my bank telling them they had refunded the $ to me already when the bank investigated.

It can also be used in conjunction with a pencil to remove a pick from the inside of an acoustic guitar. Then again, maybe not a lot of people besides me have that problem on a regular basis. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Where did you buy the Bag? Is it called the Pack Rat? I tried to find it under that name and had no luck <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

SpecOps Brand Pack-Rat.

http://specopsbrand.com/assets/product_html/prod_packrat.html

I ordered mine through skdtac.com, but lots of people have them. You aren't going to find much price variation downward, the MSRP from SpecOps is pretty much required. You WON"T find one used, the users just don't let them go.

Size wise, it's bigger than a lot of people realise. It is actually bigger than the main body of the Fatboy.

Use it like you would bubblegum. Just don't chew it, it isn't good for you.

Strangely enough, I use gum for that guitar pick removal thing too! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I used to use an olive drab packrat as my EDC bag (with a shoulder strap made from the removed waist belt off my Maxpedition Falcon). I just found it TOO useful. I used it as a beach bag holding cd player, book, shades, suncream, water, cash, phone etc. Great piece of kit. Ive since changed to a Maxpedition Devildog, but since Im in business suit most of the time, I dont carry it like a fanny pack (WE call em bum bags! Fanny DOESNTmean bum in England!! LOL), so I tuck the belt inside the padded butt section & use the supplied shoulder strap, Looks "a bit" tactical but its trendy enough to not look too out of place. I carry a half-litre Sigg bottle in one of the mesh pouches, a blue glowrig on the top & all sorts of S**T inside it; SAS tin, FAK, Pocket size wash kit, lunch, car stereo face place, ANOTHER flashlight (got one on belt & one on keys!)

Yeah, in England a "Fanny Pack" would stick out. Pun intended. Since I'm a fella, I'll just assume that one would be uncomfortable daily wear. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the Info
I googled pack Rat and old blue eyes and the boys kept coming up. I found and older thread and added specops and that when i found it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Gotta get me one

This isn't as big, but you can split your gear into topic specific loads. It's a great bag IMHO, and at a great price.
http://www.countycomm.com/POCKETORGANIZER.htm

appreciate the pics and the info Ironraven, thanks! Although, I agree with you in another post that the coming soon Neatfreak pouch from Maxpedition may surpass the specops pouch -- I may keep my kit in 'temporary housing' until that baby hits the stores! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

If it's the same one Major's Surplus and Cheaper N Dirt have, I'm hesitant to suggest it to anyone. Looks the same, and the price is the same.

I got one from Major's, and the shiny taffetta of the back pocket tears kinda easy.

I'm waiting to hear back from them on the possibility of preordering.