Okay, to be fair, kd7fqd requested info on pre-made BOBs. I'm pretty sure that most folk on this forum would rather create their own or at the very least heavily modify a retail BOB kit. If you want really high end and are willing to pay, I'm sure you can get a nicely loaded out BOB. The retail kits are certainly better than nothing and it's a definite start.

I would rather see a person buy a retail kit than do nothing. Some of them have at least a few quality components, even though they round out the other necessities with cheaper goods. I have family members who I would help build a kit if they chose. But not everyone is in that situation, or distance/logistics prevents them from helping out. Sure, maybe that BOB has a cheapo $2 D-Cell flashlight, but at least it's a flashlight, and it's less likely to be used in a non-emergency if it's in the kit.

There are a lot of people who want to get it and forget it. That's where the real crime is. I'd like to see them go through the kit, familiarize themselves with it and make additions/subtractions. Also, replacing out of date supplies is important. So how about when a person asks for one of these kits, you ask why, recommend that they create their own if possible based on the miriad lists on this site and others. But also recommend that if one is going to purchase it for oneself or for a distant loved-one or friend, to make sure that the person getting it is aware that it may have some low-end equipment that needs to be swapped out and some dated materials that need to be replensished. If nothing else, it might drive them toward being more prepared in the long run and I see that as a good thing.

Yes, I know that most people here believe that pre-made kits are the bane of survival everwhere, but that's an over-simplification. There are definitely higher end kits (Doug's come immediately to mind), and if folks are willing to spend the money, and save some time or do it conveniently, let them and encourage right-minded consumerism.