Greatings Ladies and Gents; What are your favorite bags or backpacks for BOB duty and why? How big? I'm torn between a Camelback Hawg and someones version of a three day pack with hydration capabillity. I kind of like the Hawg because it's small and that limits how much I'm able to stuff it with. On the otherhand, the very thing I like about it limits its flexabillity re adjustments for season ect. What are your thoughts/choices? Thanks for your time and kind considerations. Jim

Greatings Ladies and Gents; This is an honest question. How big is your primary BOB bag? Do you use it as an adjunct to simply carry what won't fit in your pockets/on your person (small 1000 CI+/-), or is it a full sized (2000-3000CI) 3 day bag as the next step up from your EDC? Do you use Mill spec, either issue or stuff from for example Eagle or London Bridge, or do you use civi manufacturers (Gregory,Dana, Osprey)? Just interested in the collective wisdom of your choices so as not to increase my collection of mistakes and to learn from others that have gone before. Thanks in advance. Jim

I have a pair of these for "his" & "hers" BOBs. My cost was about $15-20 per. Though I've upgraded several of the items in the bags and have a few hundred bucks worth of gear in them, the bags themselves haven't been changed. I may upgrade to something larger eventually, but they work just fine for the time being.

I have several BOBs. I prefer duffel bags with several side pockets . Something like this one but different colors.



Why a duffel and not a backpack?

Well. I have not had an emergency so far that I had to carry the BOB for a long distance, so out of practicality I thought a duffel bag is better for me. One is in the car trunk . One is in the house.

I also beleive in the "cache" concept, but not including any digging or burrying. One BOB is pre-positioned in my fathers house. Another one is pre-positioned somewhere else. So if I lose my BOB, I think I can reach another one.

Just an idea.
Some folks are addicted to buying "stuff" , so when a knife or flashlight is not your "favourite" anymore and you feel the urge to buy another, the one you are "done with" can very well be used for a cache. Collect you less desireable items in a BOB/cache and store it in your brother/sister house in a different state. You never know when you might need something.

Aligator; I think you might get a few more folks to chime in with their opinions if you could elaborate about the type of BO you are planning for.

Is this BOB meant to get you off the island, home from the office or is this a 72 hour BOB for a family of four? Do you live/work in a rural area or urban area, etc?

Good luck!

7point82, Thanks for the response. Re. BOB. Looking for recomendations on three day pack for use as BOB. I have a Camelback HAWG that I use to supliment my EDC ( stuff that won't fit on me) and also for its water carring capacity. I have a long term pack (AKA 72 Hr.+++). I'm looking for somthing in between that would sustain for "three days"+/-. Figured you folks probably did somthing along these lines so I wanted to know your favorite packs for this purpose and why you chose that perticular bag. Thanks; Jim

Thanks all for your responses. Jim

I like having the extra room, ( for fleece or rain gear) so I use some version of a large book pack.

Teacher

I'm new here, but I wanted to add my two cents worth to this post. I use both backpacks and duffels. My backpacks (2 - one for my wife) hold gear for 3-14 days for lightweight moving out (on foot if necessary), while the duffel is strictly a 3-7 day kit with canned goods, etc., that I can throw in the truck and go.

My back packs came from Walmart sporting goods dept. Camo with extra pockets and padded straps and waist band. Nothing to snag and they have a tightening system depending on how much you have in them. Much better quality than you'd nomally expect from Walmart. $16.99 each.

If you look around you can find quality back packs (and duffels) for a lot cheaper than many of the brand names.

I am just now assembling my bags and am planning on using a smaller backpack (1020 ci) inside of a larger duffle.
I want to look just like everybody else that threw some underwear and Aunt Glady's pictures into a bag before fleeing whatever we're fleeing.
A guy who looks well prepared is going to get picked apart like a grasshopper attacked by ants.
I want my outer bag to look like nothing out of the ordinary so as not to attract attention.
Just another schlub wandering out of town, nothing to see here.

Coleman and Jansport are both starting to but serious entry-level packs on the market. I've been happily surprised by what I've heard about them. Coleman is going through Walmart, and I've heard that Jansport may be retailing thiers through Target (I don't have one around to me, so I'm not sure). I know Jansport is in the Campor catalog.

Personally, I mouted a medium ALICE on a civilian external frame pack, and use that when I feel that the situation is such that I may have to bug out. I have space for my ditch kit on the frame above the pack, space for my sleeping bag below the bag and on the frame, and a bunch of paracord wrapped around the frame to make it more comfortable (3x35', 3x50'). Plans are to put an inexpensive hydration blader between the pack and my spine, as the frame curves.

Maxpedition gear is my favorite because I haven't been able to destoy it yet (and sometimes I do try). It's all equally tough so you have only to decide which piece suits your needs based on the size and how you prefer to carry it. My BOB is in a Vulture 3 (soon to be dicontinued) day pack. I would prefer it was lighter, but since I'm not willing to give up any durability... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My maxpedition is loaded up.