Upon reading dbeesci ?s tread on vacuum sealing I thought about using the supplies in my BOB. I don?t think I would care to have my supplies vacuumed sealed , having to cut open the bags each time something is needed. I didn?t want to hijack his thread, so here goes.

I began thinking about how often I use pieces of gear or supplies. At today?s Little League tryout?s we used the duct tape from my bag to fix the pitching machine (don?t ask ). These thoughts then extrapolated into ?How often do others use gear or supplies from their bags??

I really LIKE using my stuff ! I don?t mind if others use my stuff. I don?t mind teasing when I say I?ve got such and such in ?the Bug out bag?.

Two things - 1)Using stuff from my bags or kits allows me to examine the contents when I replace the supply. I do try to promptly resupply.
2)I like being the ?go-to guy? when people need something. I guess it validates my preparedness.

So in closing, what?s your preference, ? To use or not to use. That is the question!? <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Scott

I'm constantly using, rotating and replacing items, as well as moving them between and among differnt kits. That's part of the fun.

I use some of the stuff in my BOB from time to time. Most of the equipment can go right back in, perhaps after a cleaning, or a checkup. For the items with expiration dates it ensures that I actually get to use some of it instead of it going into the garbage when it's time to rotate stock or even provides a reason to check out everything in the BOB. I figure if I'm restocking, I might as well check everything out while I'm in there.

I must admit that sometimes I'm a bit apprehensive about usign the stuff though. For example, in November I took a pretty nasty spill, and did a lot of damage to my knees. For a moment I actually wondered if I should break out the first aid kit packed in my BOB. I mean that's what it's there for, right? LOL

I understand this line of thought, however, the BOBs I'm putting together are for my kids and their families; I'm afraid if items in the kit are easily available for use, then the kit will be incomplete at a very inconvenient time. It's a tough call. I have enough duplicate materials in my autos and house, not to have to ever get into my BOB. It's totally independent of everyday use stuff. It will always be available as designed, complete and ready.

The fine line between BOB and EDC... Why do you think I don't have a BOB in the purest sense of the word?

I use my gear all the time. It helps to gain experience with it and sometimes I find out that the "wonderful" item has a real big failing that I had not considered. I would rather find that out on a day hike than when I really need it.

Practice, practice, practice.

some of my gear i use, while some if it is not to be touched. if i "need" to use something, i won't hesitate in using it. it might not be an emergency, but it's there for a reason, and i'll be damned if i'm not going to use something at my disposal when i need it!

I agree that there is a fine line between EDC and BOB. I guess what I'm working towards is a bigger EDC bag with some BOB type gear to use if needed and a family sized BOB that can be grab and go at home as well as BOB type gear in cars. The most ideal situation in a bug out would be to take all of the prepared gear with each being a bit more robust (like Schwert's concentric rings approach). My bare minimum would be my Pack Rat, which can be shoulder carried or fits inside my backpack sized EDC bag. And the rings expand from there.

I don't know which items were being vacuum packed in the other thread, but I am planning on putting different gear in ditty bags to add to organization and help improve water shedding capability. Of course that doesn't keep perishable supplies fresh like vacuum packing would, but what I foresee adding to my kit now would not require such measures.

I also understand reluctance to use things, which is absurd (to the point I take it). If one of my kid's gets a small cut, I've caught myself thinking, "Is the cut REALLY that bad? What if we need that bandaid even MORE later, before I can restock?" Then again, it's like the time I heard my favorite guitar salesman play a $20K Martin guitar. I wasn't allowed to play it because it had been sold already...the person was a collecter and going to put it in a display case and never play it, and the sound was incredible. Something so wonderful that was never going to be heard <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

The lesson I took from that, that applies to my EDC gear is, if the child wants/needs a band aid, give it to 'em, because why else is the band aid there if not to be used? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I couldn't agree with you more, use means practice, and practice means use, besides, what better way to rotate your gear, no waste, just don't forget to replace the stuff that you use up <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

I have to be honset and say that I'm very reluctant to use any of "MY GEAR" that has been packed and re-packed , cleaned and sorted and carefuly placed in its exact place only to be used in an emergency. IT"S MY GEAR AND YOU CAN"T PLAY TOO!
unless there is bleeding involved then we'll break out the FAK and see if a band aid can be spared. if one is used, we must run right out and re place it with a brand new box of the same size.
All kidding aside, I use my gear all the time but i replace anything that gets use as soon as i can usualy that day .
There is a rule that you can't just go into the gear and take anything you might need. It is "MY GEAR" <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Okay, I'll elaborate on this thread about my practical philosophy on packaging for edc/bob.

I really like the idea of packaging consumables, especially perishable ones. Things like pills, matches, tinders, foodstuffs; these items lend themselves well to making them dose ready individually packaged items. Vacuum sealing tends to reduce the profile and add to their durability somewhat, as well as further protect them from the elements. Maybe 30% of my edc and bob are packaged thus. I do not concern myself with repackaging items so used, as the point is to make them independently consumable without compromising more than one serving/dose/application at a time as needed. So the point of taking something out of a sealed bag that will be so used it practical and efficient. That's why the market went to blister packs on otc meds for the added convenience.

However, for items such as my sewing kit, my flashlight, my leatherman, it is not practical to vacuum seal them into plastic. For one thing, they don't spoil or deteriorate from being exposed to the environment or to physical stress much. For another, they get re-used, unlike meds, or bandaids, or matches. Keeping them handy and easy to access is more important than affording them environmental protection that they don't need.

Now for the in-between stuff, like my duct tape/dacron fishing line/electrical tape spools. They will wear out in the pack over time, and they don't get used often, but are quite a necessity in both cases. Fortunately, their rate of consumption/deterioration is such that I can make a full spool and stow it unprotected within the pack for 6 months to a year and not worry about the funcitonality, so long as I put a little thought into how I pack my gear. With both the edc and the bob, I pack these type items in a manner that will keep them fairly well protected from abrasion and/or contamination, but still accessible. Would it benefit further from vacuum packaging? I think so, and it's not a big deal to repackage after incidental use. Just be aware that after opening the package, you may want to re-stow this type of material in a more secure and protected fashion.

There is definitely a place for vacuum sealed packaging in any survival pack. I think just about anyone's pack would benefit from such effort.

The way I figure it...my kit has gear for a variety of crises, some severe and some minor. Using a little gear early on can help a minor emergency NOT BECOME a major one. Ignoring a problem because your gear is for 'real' emergencies can be penny-wise, pound-foolish.

Silly extreme example - would you use ducttape from your BOB to patch a nick you noticed in your car's brakeline, or would you feel better waiting to using all of your gear to stay alive in a ditch waiting for someone to find your wreck? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In our house, Rule 1 is 'Don't do anything you'd feel like an idiot explaining in the emergency room later'.

I like the concept of single use packets and have been doing that with OTC meds for some time now. I use Glad 'Press and Seal" for one dose packs.
Think I'll reexamine my supplies with "single use" in mind and see what else can benefit from that concept.

My teen daughter has always viewed the cash in her truck BoB as "single use" ! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Scott