After viewing several YouTube videos (I was bored admittedly) I'm confused over what the purpose of my BOB should be.

I figure if I have to beat feet, I grab my bag. In it I have items that will keep me comfortable for 4 days - if I am in a shelter; outside; moving from place to place; or holed up someplace. The ones I saw demonstrated were lightweight, but also lightweight on survival items or on comfort items. Good, you have a lot of ammo, but no cleaning kit, blanket, insect repellant or tp. Wiping your butt with 5.56 is contraindicated in most cases I would imagine.

I have some food, blanket, FAK, survival items, a cook kit, toilet kit, playing cards, and extra batteries. I can make a hootch with what I have, catch food with snares or fishing kit, start a fire, clean up, cook, purify water and play spades in my copious free time while I listen to what's going on over the small radio I have.

Just wondering what you all have packed, in a general sense.

Thats why these folks will almost exclusively be carrying MREs (Meals refusing to Exit), hence no TP.

A full size down pillow (expensive but lightweight) with a down mattress from Exped ensures a comfy nights sleep. A good nights sleep is always underestimated in a crisis or survival situation simply because a relaxed brain is required to ensure the best decision making processes so as not to ensure that the crisis or survival situation doesn't get worse through poor thought and judgement processes. I've always wondered just how dangerous it would be hanging around these types of folks with their BOBs kitted out with 200 rounds of 5.56 and AR-15s who are constipated and haven't had more than 15 minutes sleep in the past 4 days really are.

I sometimes mentally count up the weight in some of these supposed emergency kits, and 80 to 100 pounds is not unusual.

I am not opposed to having a firearm as part of your bug out equipment, but having 40 or 50 pounds of guns and ammo makes little sense to me.

Its not unusual for these bags to have 10-20 pounds of MREs, and 10 pounds of knives and axes and other tools.

I often wonder if these people even really have such a bag. Who is thinking that carrying 100 pounds of crap on your back makes any sense?

Honestly, as someone who shoots alot, I wouldnt make room for extra bullets, at the expense of ditching other items.
I would offer this advice on carrying firearms; carry what you can COMFORTABLY. Me, I have a chest harness that carries 4 5.56 magazines, 3 pistol magazines, and a couple of small pouches for a flashlight, and notepad/small items. Loaded, this weighs maybe 4 lbs, give or take. IF there is an event that I would need to leave, and would consider my own personal safety, I would grab this & go. I keep them loaded, as I go shooting every weekend, just about. I also have a few additional rifle mags, that I could easily throw in a bag, no worries. But, I wouldnt carry anything more than that-you can get weighed down REAL quick carrying ammo-and, its for DEFENSE ONLY-you arent looking to ambush people, or anything like that. My loadout, when I have a hot mag in both a rifle in a pistol, is 40 rds of pistol, and 150 rds of rifle-that would see me through almost anything I can possible imagine.
MY BOB is scattered among several kits, often with redundancy. Between my normal hiking backpack, my work pack, my jeep, and my dayhiking pack, I have enough to cannibalize & make do at almost any time. None of them contain firearms though-as stated above, thats an entirely separate kit for me. My packs are designed for me to live, short term-be it moving to another, better location, or to survive a night or two without better equipment, or, when kayaking, to make camp wherever I end up in the event I separate from my boat.
Again, I am not against carrying a firearm with your BOB-I just think its a separate issue-I wouldnt dump gear to add ammo, nor would I carry a 75lb pack half filled with it. Firearms are defensive only in these cases-you arent in the military, so you arent expected to be in a prolonged firefight, if at all.

I separate my emergency equipment into two basic categories. One, which would be a bailout bag, ditch bag, or grab and go bag. This bag would contain the essentials that would allow me three days of supplies, first aid, clothing, etc., and allow me to get home or cover me in an emergency of sort term duration. My bugout bag is a full size backpack that would last me from three days until at least seven days. Every item that I would put in a relatively small bailout bag would be found in my bug out bag (a full size extended range backpack), supplemented by items that allow additional flexibility and comfort - a more comprehensive FAK, food gathering equipment, sleeping bag and inflatable sleeping mat, a more permanent shelter (tent as opposed to disposable tube tent or tarp), bigger food supply, tools and cooking equipment, etc.

Both of my bags include firearms. The bailout bag with a single pistol with two additional mags of ammo. The bugout bag will provide a large caliber pistol (9mm, 357Sig or 40 S&W) with five spare mags. It will also carry a red dot type scoped .22 target type pistol with perhaps 200 rounds of ammo and either a larger caliber rifle or shotgun with 50-60 rounds of ammo, depending on where I'm bugging out to or the circumstances of the emergency at hand.

My bailout bag will contain 15-20 lbs of gear, my bugout bag perhaps in the 50-60 lb range, plus the weight of the large caliber rifle or shotgun.

Hey, I am not anti-gun. It's the lack of real tools and supplies that makes me wonder. Do they think to use the guns to take from others? Live off the land starting day 1 - ouch, too much work for me.

Yes, I will be packing weapons. 5 or more in the event I have a vehicle, 3 if we are on foot.

I merely wonder at the lack of intelligent preparedness on the part of some people.

My BOB is just that - a bag. Though admittedly, it's grown like some Hydra and comes with 2-3 other items now. One is a box of MRE's. Then there's some stashed food in the house that I could get if needed (assuming a car bug-out). I also have a plastic bin full of odds and ends (candles, matches, blankets, FAK, tampons, etc), again for a car situation.

But my actual backpack? No gun at all. Probably close to #30, none of that water, and a USGI gas-mask leg bag that's really a ditch kit in disguise (probably 2-3 more lbs).

Would I entertain a gun? I suppose circumstances dictate that. If it's a "every man for himself as aliens or zombies land" type of scenario, then probably a pistol of some sort. If it's a "civilization ending, make it to X, getting food as you go" then probably a rifle or shotgun. But a run of the mill hurricane evacuation or something? Nah...

My BOB is a truck and in the event it's needed and any time I'm on a road trip has a lot of gear.

My Get-Home-Bag is a 15# backpack-- no gun or ammo. Minimal gear to get me home in the local area walking.

IMHO the BOB, Bug-Out-Bag, was intended originally to just get you to a remote site or safe area. Presumably this is just a few days away and there is no need to bring supplies or materials because everything you need is already there.

It is to be assumed that the distance to the remote site is close enough, and/or transportation arranged in such a manner, that the trip will be relatively quick. Traveling in an emergency is always problematic. The amounts and types off supplies and the ability to set up and get rest are limited and problems multiply. The point is to get there in a timely manner not to undertake a pilgrimage.

With this in mind a lot depends on how you travel and what conditions your expecting. Traveling by truck allows you to carry more than humping everything in a pack. IMHO most people who are looking to live out of a pack would benefit from looking into hand-trucks, carts and bicycles.

Also, the sorts and proportions of what you pack is going to change if you are planning to be fleeing a hurricane, plan on two weeks of rain, or shooting your way out through waves of zombies. Rain and zombies would suck. Toss in fallout and an ever-present superbug and your into vast new horizons of suckage. Fortunately fiction often sucks more than reality and limiting yourself realistic scenarios simplifies things.

My strategy is to cover the known and expected. Worse case, graboids with AIDS and super volcanoes, I figure I'll have a leg up on that also.

If I'm home bugging out is a last resort and walking is not an option -- you'll just die thirsty. A wildfire is about the only thing that would make me leave and in that case I'm taking the truck and it will have been packed for the evac.

Bugging out from SD there are limited options if traveling by foot in a mass evacuation. The vast LA metro area to the north; the desert to the east (some would consider the entire SW a desert), Mexico to the south and the Pacific to our west. I'm traveling by truck or not at all. Fuel had best be a reliable commodity, but during a mass evacuation that may very well not be the case.

My GHB is for walking home if I'm at work and a large shaker happens that makes roads impassable for vehicular traffic.

Regarding BOB firearms:

Because we've had a number of lawyers murdered locally, I started carrying a concealed handgun on a regular basis years ago. I'd always been a shooter, but my EDC gun became my BOB personal defense gun by default. Later, I added a Henry "Survival Rifle" .22 for small game harvesting as an option for my BOB. Now, my concept for my BOB is just a pack for getting back home from within my average travels of 100 miles or so, or to hide out/hang out for several days if things temporarily get strange, not for long-term/wilderness survival or fighting zombies.

I can easily imagine wanting to, or needing to, stash, abandon or destroy any firearm I might have, for a variety of reasons. But I can foresee the value of having a weapon when people get stupid crazy in an emergency, or to harvest the occasional rabbit, squirrel or stray dog. I'm not inclined to keep anything more, like a major caliber rifle, in my car where my BOB resides, nor am I willing to carry anything less concealable than a pistol or a tiny take-down .22 like the Henry, with me.

So, there is another interesting option out there, that I am considering for my BOB, that may combine both personal defense and small game collection adequately. Kel-Tec is making a new pistol in .22 mag that weighs only 14 oz and has an impressive 30 round magazine.

For someone like me, unwilling to commit to the expense, weight and size of multiple/heavy firearms, it may be a good compromise option.

Personally I think way to many people get lost in their "bobs" and spend more time planning for the end of the world then for real life emergencies.

While I do have a BOB planned and ready to go for Evacuating from my home for several days. (We live in the city within 1 mile of 2-3 hazmat sites).

I mostly plan for those emergencies in which I need to leave my home right now throwing my bag and anything else I can out the window while making sure the wife is safe. IE: House fire, Gas Leak, Roof Collapse, something where 10 seconds makes the difference between life and death.

On one of the other forums I visit a member wrote a very good account of things for preparing his family. I would highly recommend it to anyone just getting into this.
Listening to Katrina

As for firearms? I EDC a handgun. My handgun goes with me everywhere, do I carry a bazillion rounds for it? No. I carry 2 spare mags on me and 3 spare in my truck.

BOB’s are something different to everyone. Just make sure the basics are covered and make sure your plan and your BOB are both realistic. IE Why are you carrying a ninja outfit in it?

I think when looking at others peoples bob lists and pictures of bobs you have to keep in mine that there are some who fall into a "see who can carry the most gear" category. Everyone respnds because that 75lb bob with a sleeping bag, bottle of water and 12 guns is cool but its not practicle. Your chances of having to bug out due to a smaller localized emergancy is much greater than the world ending. Those situations your going to drive to the next town and rent a hotel room rather than camp out in the woods. My 'bob' tends to lean more to that type of situation.

Not a bad read here. I go through all my preps each year after Christmas when the winter days are dark and cold so we can't get out and do anything else, running late this year so I'm still finishing up this years task.

A couple notes so far http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/p/0006.html

His arrangement of photos into year folders then month folders. Unless you can rely 100% on whatever photo index software you use (for example google's picassa or that adobe program) you better use a different method. Unless you can take the indexing software with you and install on whatever destination system you use (in the case of taking just your backup drive and getting a new desktop/laptop) that structure won't work. You'll find yourself later wanting a specific set of pictures "oldest son's Christmas play" So you'll look in december 2006 and can't find it then try maybe december 2005, or not there, december 2007, still can't find it because it was done at the end of November 2006. I tried that structure and it became unmanageable. I setteled on a format similar to "2006 11 27 Son's Christmas Play" or "2007 07 01 Family Vacation to <wherever>". This seems to have a good compromise by having a little bit of data so I can still find things without needing another program. Notice the ISO date format of YYYY MM DD which sorts best.

Notice his binder similar to what we've talked about with Blasts. I've done similar with a report cover for each person for all their personal info such as birth certificate and SScard. Those slide inside a zipper binder which then has shared info such as marriage license, as well as the backup hard drive. I have a pair of 160G laptop drives inside usb elclosures from where I upgraded the drives in each of our netbooks to 500G. The amount of true data fits with those 160G drives, the rest on the netbooks being for the OS(s) and applications and such. Those are getting a little small though so probably by next year I'll put a bigger drive in the netbooks like a 640 or 720 (just released) and the 500's will go for backups.

A box full of bills http://www.theplacewithnoname.com/blogs/klessons/p/0009.html just setup an e-mail alias and have the utility companies e-mail you the bills and then sign in to your banks web site and pay them. Don't just put bills in a box

Does anyone make a dual use/combo item. Machining the .22LR barrel down to half the thickness then wrapping the result with CRP would only add around 200-400 grams to the hiking pole. .22LR ammo could be stored in the second pole. The .22LR bolt/trigger assembly could conceivably be made to fit inside the handle.

Of course this probably wouldn't do for the folks mentioned earlier in the Youtube BOB videos, they would probably need to Bug Out with the Hollywood film remake weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUKN_YF8tjA

The Original version,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cIyL4qCcig

Ok, this has officially applied to me. Last night, they enacted a water ban in my town, due to the flooding. Apparently, a culvert broke in our neighbor town, flooding our wells (there are 6 that they pull water from the local reservoir from). We are under water restrictions in my town, and they have shut 5 of the 6 wells down due to this. As a result, they ask everyone to conserve water and, if possible, find another place to stay for the next 2 weeks, to reduce the strain on our water system. Additionally, as a precaution, they are asking people to boil water for consumption. It isnt polluted, but they dont want to risk it.
This is the first time I have ever been in a situation where there is a possible evacuation. Even voluntary. Now, when I was in the Guard, we ASSISTED people with evacuating, but I have not been in the situation where I was the one-voluntary or no. I am bringing this up for 2 reasons:
First, I have about 15 gallons of water stashed in my apt-so, I am covered with that. And, I fill up 2 nalgene bottles at work, before heading home. So, I am OK there.
Second, should they shut the town water down, what do I REALLY need? I have places to go to, so, changes of clothing. Thats it. Lesson learned for me-evactuation, at least in my neck of the woods, allows you PLENTY of time to get your stuff gathered. In fact, should I decide to vacate for a couple of days, all I really need to do is pack a suitcase. Granted, I am given plenty of notice-but even the little act of having fresh water available, close at hand, will likely keep me going during this. Its a minor thing to me-barely even an inconvenience; I wasnt flooded out, and its not a mandatory water shut off & evacuation. But, the short story is, I was prepared enough for generalized emergencies, and am thankful for my foresight

As an aside-they are thousands of homes & businesses that are damaged because of these rains. Whole streets have collapsed due to the bedding underneath being washed out. I am fortunate-I live in an apt building, on a hill, nowhere near rivers. All I got was wet going to & from my vehicle every day. Even shutting our wells down is a minor inconvenience in comparison to someone who has lost everything due to flooding. To them, my heart goes out.

Check out Doug's article Don't forget the....

I'm glad to see the many sensible replies to this thread. There are too many forums filled with BOBs full of guns, ammo, and MREs with thoughts of creating a new society. I have had to evacuate due to hurricanes. A realistic bug out situation is when you have to leave your local area for a little while, go to a nearby place that isn't affected, hang out in a hotel (or with friends or family), then go back when the emergency is over.

I am recently married so now that I have a family my priorities are to put together a get home bag, then either bug in or bug out by vehicle.

If you do any backpacking or climbing, you are well on the way to creating a useful, versatile BOB that is light enough to be practical for a walking evacuation. The main difference would be the desirability of carrying medical and financial information in a BOB situation.

If you can use a vehicle, you can add additional items, like family pictures and memorabilia.

Firearms? Maybe, depending on the situation. I would be tempted to take my 22 survival piece, an Armalite AR-7. As much for the sentimental value as its potential utility, my S&W Mod 28, and perhaps the 7mm Nambu my father liberated, would make the grade if driving.

It makes sense to me that your BOB should be tailored to your circumstances. Mine lives in my car, and it's designed for several possible scenarios, so it's on the heavy side. If I'm not moving long distances on foot, having that gear could add materially to comfort and possibly survival. If I do need to hoof it, the idea is to take what the situation seems to call for and ditch or cache the rest.

'Zactly. Options for a variety of different scenarios and versatility for unanticipated circumstances. Don't lock yourself in by over-commitment to a pre-conceived plan, for "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley, an' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain."

Why not use a series of attachable bags/containers to connect your main BOB to a Clod Weather BOB Addition or to a Hot Weather BOB Addition. my idea but i need to find a bag i can connect!

The problem I found with bags that attach to each other was they were floppy and sloppy.
I find it easier to have a larger bag I can put the other gear into if I must.
Most of my stuff for winter is bulk insulation. Stuff like extra clothes, parka, sleeping bag and so on.
Summer is not a huge problem here. The only extra stuff for summer might be a floppy hat, bug repellent and spare water.

My preference has always been to have a large bag to fit everything, and then have smaller module bags inside to hold cold weather gear, hot weather gear, etc. Still cinches down tight and stable, and makes it much easier to get to that one thing I need at the bottom without dumping my pack all over the place.

airballrad, I do that with my hiking equipment. I have everything segregated into different color coded sacks: clothing in red, food in green, sleepgear in blue. Makes it a lot easier to make sure everything is in there when I need it. Applying that logic, you could simply pack a warm weather BOB sack, in red, and a cold one, in blue-color coordinated to the season . It may even become fashionable-who knows!!!

My modular approach is for backpacking; when speaking of my BOB, I just use Transformers instead.

...Meaning that I have a Columbia system jacket that can be a rain/wind shell, a fleece jacket, or a winter coat depending how it is assembled. The nylon pants in my BOB can also be shorts, but in the winter they are the layer that goes over the thermal underwear. I keep all this packed year-round so that I can handle a cool night in the summer as well as the unexpected warm January day (70's, very rarely). So I shift strategy to multi-purpose items rather than swapping modules. This and Space Saver bags (zip them shut then roll the air out the valve) make it work.