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#161697 - 01/07/09 03:06 AM New member - my SHTF bag
2005RedTJ Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/07/09
Posts: 475
Loc: Birmingham, Alabama
I got my new backpack in today from IMS-PLUS. It's the HSLD 3-Day Combat Pack. The thing is extra beefy and has more pockets than I care to count. And it was only $68. The material is at least as tough as my US Navy seabag was. It appears to be extremely well-made.

http://www.imsplus.com/h-s-l-d-3-day-combat-assault-pack.html

Here's the list of what I have in it right now:

1 - Buck camp axe w/ 50' of paracord wrapped around the handle
2 - fixed blade knives (Cold Steel Recon Tanto and a Gerber Mark I)
1 - folding knife (Gerber Gator Serrator)
1 - knife sharpener
2 - small compasses (one has an LED light and thermometer, one just has a thermometer)
1 - magnesium fire starter
1 - BIC lighter
1 - pack of waterproof matches
100 - water purification tablets
1 - wire saw
3 - space blankets
1 - poncho
1 - fishing kit (several sizes of fish hooks, lead, 100' of 6-pound test line)
1 - first aid kit
20' - duct tape
20' - electrical tape
4 - contractor bags (2 mil thick)
3 - 13-gallon kitchen garage bags
6 - gallon ziplock bags
10 - paper towels
4' - aluminum foil
6 - coffee filters
1 - roll toilet paper
4 - 20 ounce bottles of water
24 - 4.2 ounce emergency water rations
3 - MRE entrees
18 - emergency food ration bars
8 - Quaker chocolate chunk granola bars
1 - big coffee can (boil water in, etc...)
1 - pair gloves
1 - pair long underwear pants
1 - long underwear shirt
2 - pair hiking socks
1 - pair underwear
1 - fleece hat
1 - boonie hat
1 - small travel toiletry kit (razor, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shave cream)
50' - more paracord
1 - Starflash signal mirror
1 - Fox 40 whistle
1 - flexible 1-quart canteen
1 - sewing kit (needles/thread/safety pins)
2 - "AAA" LED penlights
1 - "AAA"x3, 12-LED light
8 - extra "AAA" batteries
1 - pencil
1 - ink pen
1 - Sharpie
1 - pack baby wipes
3 - 9-hour candles
1 - US Army Survival Manual

Carried on person:
1 - Smith & Wesson combat folding knife
1 - Leatherman
1 - another BIC lighter

Need to add:
1 - Thermo-Lite II bivvy sack
1 - fleece sleeping bag
1 - fleece pullover with hood



Any suggestions as to anything that should be added or left out?


Edited by 2005RedTJ (01/07/09 03:08 AM)

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#161702 - 01/07/09 04:05 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: 2005RedTJ]
Blast Offline
INTERCEPTOR
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 3760
Loc: TX
Welcome to the fire, newguy!

Looking at your list I have to ask what are your plans for it? I mean, where will you go with it? It looks like it is set up to spend some time in the woods...

Also, how heavy is it, water and all? How far have you walked with it?

-Blast
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#161706 - 01/07/09 04:29 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: Blast]
2005RedTJ Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/07/09
Posts: 475
Loc: Birmingham, Alabama
The current weight is 32 pounds. I offroad a lot in my Jeep and get a long ways from pavement. My main goal is to be able to survive at least a week in the woods. Our temperatures here rarely get much below freezing in the winter, but I'm trying to have the bag set up to be good for any season.

I will be using this bag just like I was using my old one, keep it in whatever vehicle I am in or in the house if I'm inside. I also drive a company van all over Alabama and a lot of the time I'm in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone coverage. Our vans get no maintenance done on them with the exception of oil changes and flat tires replaced, so I factored that in the situation also.

I haven't tried it out yet as far as walking with it, but I carry a ladder, toolbag, cordless drill and everything else around all day long at work up and down stairs. So I don't think the current weight of the bag will be too much.


Edited by 2005RedTJ (01/07/09 04:31 AM)

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#161708 - 01/07/09 04:41 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: 2005RedTJ]
OldBaldGuy Offline
Geezer

Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 5695
Loc: Former AFB in CA, recouping fr...
Welcome Newguy!!!
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#161714 - 01/07/09 05:11 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: OldBaldGuy]
Rodion Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 04/29/08
Posts: 285
Loc: Israel
What kind of a first aid kit? What kind of Leatherman?

Also, I'd swap the survival manual for a first aid brochure any day. wink
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Whenever you rest, someone, somewhere is training to kick your ass.

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#161715 - 01/07/09 05:23 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: OldBaldGuy]
Lono Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 10/19/06
Posts: 1013
Loc: Pacific NW, USA
Welcome TJ!

Howabout you take it out in the woods for one week and tell us what you want o leave in or leave out? Seriously, the closest reference I have to this is a 1 week backpack for wandering in the woods near home (Pacific Northwest). This looks alot like that.

A few observations:
- put the Fox 40 whistle on your person, on a string of paracord around your neck works fine. You can't signal for help if the Fox 40 is separated from you if you're lost and hurt.
- do the 24x4.2 oz water rations work for you? You drink one, you have a packet left over; you drink 24, are you leavintg the packets behind, or policing your area as you go? Another collapsible Nalgene water container would hold at nearly or as much water to begin with, and be refillable. No mess, no fuss.
- I've never camped out near Alabama, if I camp out near here I need to be ready for cold and wet almost any time of the year. Anything I set up for an intentional week in the woods would include a sleeping bag, shelter (Tarptent Rainbow), water filter, cook stove and fuel, and more food than this. I believe my setup would weigh less than yours, but not by much. I love my comfort. This appears more in the Rough It mode, that's okay if you're okay with it.
- I'm getting lazier the older I get, to stay out of rain I bring an 9x10 foot nylon tarp on most outings and hang it over my living and cooking area, it keeps me dry and out of the sun. You might have the same with the poncho, but it could be fairly confining day in and day out in the rain. YMMV
- speaking of comfort, granola bars, rations and MREs as a treat 3 times a week. Live a little! Pack food you like, it may like you too.
- I would ditch the candles, but I'm used to dark, have flashlights when I need them, and have a fear of setting my tent on fire with open flame.
- are the gloves work gloves, or are they built for warmth?
- I don't see anything to write on with that Sharpie, maybe leave that out (are you labelling corpses and wounded? :-)

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#161722 - 01/07/09 06:11 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: Lono]
leemann Offline
Soylent Green
Addict

Registered: 02/08/04
Posts: 623
Loc: At the soylent green plant.
Welcome to the forums sir glad to have ya. One thing I'd get is heatsheet blankets better than spaceblankets.

Lee
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#161726 - 01/07/09 11:23 AM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: leemann]
Stu Offline
I am not a P.P.o.W.
Old Hand

Registered: 05/16/05
Posts: 1058
Loc: Finger Lakes of NY State
Welcome New Guy,
A interesting list you have there. I'll look at it in more depth as my time permits.
Stu
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#161730 - 01/07/09 12:38 PM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: Stu]
bigreddog Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 07/02/06
Posts: 253
I'd replace one of the smaller compasses with a larger one, and add maps. Getting out is a lot easier that way.

Also bug repellant is a good thing I think

Agree about whistle on person - I think a blade, light, firestarter, whistle and maybe a heatsheet and some cord should be on person at all times out in the woods - easier to lose your base camp than you might think - even a twisted ankle can strand you just out of reach of your gear.

And emergency cash is handy if you do stagger out of the woods.

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#161753 - 01/07/09 04:37 PM Re: New member - my SHTF bag [Re: Lono]
dropout Offline
Newbie

Registered: 01/30/07
Posts: 40
I've always heard you can survive in your car in arctic temps heating yourself w/ nothing but a candle. I keep a box of 10 in my car at all times. This may not work in your tent however. But i swear candles are a life saver if you are stuck in your vehicle.

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