I like your method Byrd Hunter. If I traveled by vehicle more I would do the same thing. I must travel a great deal by commercial aircraft, so there are severe restrictions on what I can carry. Before trip, I have to ensure that the bags I am carrying are completely empty. I have had leftovers from an outing in a pocket of a bag, which subsequently were confiscated by TSA. My bad.

You seem to have your priorities straight. The regular use enhances your gear selection, proficiency of use, and your own skill.

We should form a club. I have donated to TSA the same way. My excuse was that I was in an exotic, far away land (Minnesota).

LOL! Some states are more culturally different than other countries!

Yah sure, you betcha!

"Alaska is a foreign counry significantly populated with Americans. Its languages extend to English. Its nature is its own."
-John McPhee, from his book "Coming into the Country"

I don't fly often, but I have to sometimes. I flew to Denver for work this month, and I was surprised to learn that my little orange mini-Bics were banned even in checked luggage. I felt unnerved traveling in Denver for a week without my kit. I did have a LED light, ferro rod, Wave, button compass, bandanna, and a few other items of no interest to the TSA in my checked luggage. I also brought my trusty Magellan Roadmate to help me find my way around.

Oh, yeah Hikermor, when they found out I was from Minnesota, they let me help fly the plane and served me fresh lutefisk in the captains chair. . BTW, a perfect 3-point landing!

'Fresh lutefisk'. There's an oxymoron for you.

Butane lighters are okay in the main cabin on your person or in carry-on luggage. They're banned in checked luggage. "Torch" style lighters are banned completely on aircraft.

Re: testing the BOB

I once saw a You Tube video about a bug-out trial. The guy filming the video has gone out with a few friends backpacking for 3 days to test their BOBs. Interesting thing was that his friends didn't want to be filmed. I understand the negative baggage with prepping and such, but I was wondering why they didn't just pretend they were hiking !!!

The question simmered into another question : Is there any difference in the bacpack or gear if you were bugging out or "just hiking" ??

I can certainly see the differnce between hikers and people testing there BOB's.

The longer you are a hiker, the less people seems to carry. ('what can I do without')
The longer you people are building a bob, the bob seems to get bigger. ('what else could be usefull')

As a outdoorsman I find the many bob bags contents on forums and youtube to be rather heavy, bulky and have weird priorities.

I think a plan of just walking to a safe destination with a BOB a bit unpractical. Don't see a lot of scenario's when thats a good idea and you just don't make enough ground fast enough.