Romania,

You just found the perfect item for my Christmas Wish List. I'm just going to email the link to Santa!
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, I'm leaning towards the Emdom USA 4x4 SUV GP Pouch. Seems to be about the right size for what I had in mind...

Ah, so what I call a ditch kit. It is the bag you always have loaded, even if you have to break BOB down for some reason, and if you have to leave BOB behind and are allowed to take ONLY one (1), single, solitary item, it is going to be that bag.

And the SUV is a good one if you have a tall, skinny kit. I can't imagine that you'd be unhappy with it, just with the wait if they are sold out when you place the order. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I keep a forester's vest loaded all the time. Mine is an LJ (I think they're out of business now), but they're all pretty much the same - custom made, hundreds (just kidding) of pockets (foresters carry so many cool pieces of equipment in the field!), including a BIG pocket on the back of the vest that is more like a small knapsack. These vests have proven themselves in thousands of miles of timber cruising and I love mine. It's not my main BOB or anything really, but it's what I reach for most often when I go to"play in the woods!"

I've owned the BFM for a while now and been out for several extended stays with it fully loaded. Did one extended hike fully loaded and let me say - I LOVE IT! It's my main stay BOB and I'm convinced of its complete dependability. Workmanship and materials are top drawer. Many nice features inside (elastic straps on some pouches, for instance). Attachment points are functional and well thought. Initially, I wasn't impressed with the design of the back pads - but I am now! Perfect comfort on a five day, tough hike - and I've always been an external frame man. The water cell is the big plus and it will (supposedly) support 200 oz. in onboard bladders - that's a lot. I would gladly recommend it to anyone.

Well, if anyone is interested I went with the Emdom USA 4x4 SUV GP Pouch. Fits everything just perfectly. Here's a couple pix:





I think I will make a cargo pocked sized kit next. After that will be bug out bag, then a earthquake/disaster sizeed kit for the house.

Looks good- what's in it?

I'll make an inventory of it soon and post it for review..

Ok, here's the inventory of the bag (not in any order). Opinions welcome...


1 Portable Aqua - Bottle of tablets
1 Water proof match holder with REI Storm Proof matches (about a dozen)
6 Safety pins
1 Military style can opener (says US Shelby Co. on it)
1 Carabiner
1 Sliva type 7 NL Compass
1 Leatherman multi tool
1 Colibri lighter
2 SaftyBright 6" chemical lightsticks (1 red, 1 green, sometimes called cyalume sticks)
1 Coghlan's Survival Signal Mirror
1 Mini-Mag Solitare light
20 Antiseptic alcohol swabs
1 Coghlan's Emergency Tinder box (removed and sealed in 35mm film canister)
1 magnesium bar with flint side
1 WindStorm whistle
1 fishing kit (in a plastic water proof match keeper):
-10lb line 20ft
-15 small split shot weights
-15 small hooks
-15 medium hooks
-5 medium swivels
1 Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Medic
1 Adventure Medical Kits Wound Closure Kit
1 20 sq ft aluminum foil
1 small sewing kit
3 Oral Rehydration Salts packages (makes 3 litres)
2 Packages Grabber Mycoal Heat Treat hand warmers (4 individual uses)
1 Stansport Emergency Pancho
1 Wire Emergency Saw
1 MPI Outdoors Space Emergency Blanket

Aside from this I will have at least 2 knives on my person, usually 1 folder and one fixed blade, a 1qt water bottle, at least 1 Bic lighter, a handheld gps unit, local topo map, l.e.d. headlight and be wearing climate (weather) defined clothing. The above kit is intended for day hiking, and anytime I go outdoors (meaning hiking, camping) I have a first aid kit that will go along too.

What do you think?

Looks good. The only thing I might do is think about swapping the Solitaire for a Gerber Infinity, but that being said I EDC an Infinity but keep a Solitaire in my ditch kit just because of the size advantage.