survival bag
survival bag
Last year I got stranded in the middle of a river on a sand bar in my boat with my two sons. The cops showed up 12 hours later but we were frozen and hungry by the time they showed up. It was a fluke warm February day and while it was 65 degrees or so when we left it got damned cold once the sun went down and we had no food , blankets, warm clothing etc. It sucked and I want to put a bag together with a few things that will keep us going for a night or two if needed that I can carry around when needed. Ive picked up a few items and Ive got a good backpack to put it all in. I hesitate to call it a bug out bag as its more like a on the water or in the car survival bag but I suppose a lot of the same rules apply.
Heres what I have so far.
A dozen snickers bars
6 Mountain house freeze dried meals. My company is one of their suppliers and I get cases of the stuff. Better than MRE's
4 space blankets
a small pan for boiling water
a butane camp stove
2 cans of butane
a pair of socks
pants
a shirt
a blanket
some fishing gear
a few water bottles
100 foot of rope and some caribiners and webbing
a .22 pistol
a knife
a good flashlight and spare batteries
A charged GPS and a old charged cell phone for 911 use
waterproof matches and a lighter
What would you put in your bag that I don't have in there already.
Heres what I have so far.
A dozen snickers bars
6 Mountain house freeze dried meals. My company is one of their suppliers and I get cases of the stuff. Better than MRE's
4 space blankets
a small pan for boiling water
a butane camp stove
2 cans of butane
a pair of socks
pants
a shirt
a blanket
some fishing gear
a few water bottles
100 foot of rope and some caribiners and webbing
a .22 pistol
a knife
a good flashlight and spare batteries
A charged GPS and a old charged cell phone for 911 use
waterproof matches and a lighter
What would you put in your bag that I don't have in there already.
Putting the laughter in manslaughter
Re: survival bag
Just a few simple items...
1. (3) Bic Lighters (can never have enough)
2. US Navy Storm All Weather Whistle
3. 2x3 Signal Mirror
4. Suunto A-10 Compass
5. US Navy MK79 Pen Flare Kit (don't forget to secure it w/550)
6. Mustang Survival 35 Manual Inflatable PFD (bright red) - eBay
7. ALOKSAK bag for the old cell phone.
8. Hot Hands (lots)
#6 beats walking around in a cumbersome PFD. Not as buoyant, but you can always have it on and be more mobile. It also leaves room for more gear. I wear mine with a non-flotation fly vest because I barely know its there. Also easier to CCW in the backcountry, access wise and reflective.
* lots of snare wire, 550, & duct tape.
1. (3) Bic Lighters (can never have enough)
2. US Navy Storm All Weather Whistle
3. 2x3 Signal Mirror
4. Suunto A-10 Compass
5. US Navy MK79 Pen Flare Kit (don't forget to secure it w/550)
6. Mustang Survival 35 Manual Inflatable PFD (bright red) - eBay
7. ALOKSAK bag for the old cell phone.
8. Hot Hands (lots)
#6 beats walking around in a cumbersome PFD. Not as buoyant, but you can always have it on and be more mobile. It also leaves room for more gear. I wear mine with a non-flotation fly vest because I barely know its there. Also easier to CCW in the backcountry, access wise and reflective.
* lots of snare wire, 550, & duct tape.
"And remember, the most dangerous thing in the world is still ignorance." - RYP
Re: survival bag
First aid, sun screen, good quality fixed blade knife. Other than that it goes by your planed activity and environment.
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- GoJohnnyGo
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Re: survival bag
Sunscreen is good advice. If you get stuck somewhere without easy shade it will make it much more bearable. Also, I have to wonder how well the snickers are going to hold up if they go through the melt and reconsolidate cycle a few times before you end up eating them.
Re: survival bag
Powerbars are much better than Snickers.
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Re: survival bag
I was going to say Cliff Bars because they don't melt into the wrapper like Powerbars or candy, but didn't want to be a snob.bakerjw wrote:Powerbars are much better than Snickers.
"And remember, the most dangerous thing in the world is still ignorance." - RYP
- Libertarian_Geek
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Re: survival bag
One thing that's often overlooked. In potentially cool or cold weather (especially if it's wet), cotton is not your friend. Your spare layers should be synthetic fleece and poly-pro (with backup clothes) and an outer layer to shed water.
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Re: survival bag
Superglue gel to seal minor cuts to prevent infection. The s--t works!
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Re: survival bag
I'm going to have to show this to my wife. She thinks I'm crazy,but I swear by it.jreinke wrote:Superglue gel to seal minor cuts to prevent infection. The s--t works!
"And remember, the most dangerous thing in the world is still ignorance." - RYP
Re: survival bag
I've used it a few times myself. Some say you have to get the super sanitary medical blend but the stuff at the grocery hasn't hurt me yet.snapshot wrote:I'm going to have to show this to my wife. She thinks I'm crazy,but I swear by it.jreinke wrote:Superglue gel to seal minor cuts to prevent infection. The s--t works!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI This is Water DavidW
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Re: survival bag
Eh, it's good for the immune system.doubloon wrote:I've used it a few times myself. Some say you have to get the super sanitary medical blend but the stuff at the grocery hasn't hurt me yet.snapshot wrote:I'm going to have to show this to my wife. She thinks I'm crazy,but I swear by it.jreinke wrote:Superglue gel to seal minor cuts to prevent infection. The s--t works!
"And remember, the most dangerous thing in the world is still ignorance." - RYP
Re: survival bag
This brought back memories.GoJohnnyGo wrote: I have to wonder how well the snickers are going to hold up if they go through the melt and reconsolidate cycle a few times before you end up eating them.
Never mistake my silence for submission
Re: survival bag
SER wrote:This brought back memories.GoJohnnyGo wrote: I have to wonder how well the snickers are going to hold up if they go through the melt and reconsolidate cycle a few times before you end up eating them.
I have a pretty good idea they'd get recycled once a year at least if not more often. I have a hard time choking down cliff bars.
Putting the laughter in manslaughter
Re: survival bag
IIRC, super glue was invented as a medical/surgical material from the beginning, and made its way into everyday life after the scientists found out how well it worked.
ANY bag should consider the standard needs for survival first, then comfort.
1) hydration - bottles of water can go bad, so don't be refilling old coke bottles out of the tap. Purification systems are great.
2) protection from the elements - works both ways, hot and cold, although cold is generally more lethal
3) Fire
4) signalling
Then transition to the comfort items. Food is good, but you can go days and days without it unless doing some extreme exertion.
ANY bag should consider the standard needs for survival first, then comfort.
1) hydration - bottles of water can go bad, so don't be refilling old coke bottles out of the tap. Purification systems are great.
2) protection from the elements - works both ways, hot and cold, although cold is generally more lethal
3) Fire
4) signalling
Then transition to the comfort items. Food is good, but you can go days and days without it unless doing some extreme exertion.
Re: survival bag
Water I'm not terribly concerned about. After all this is something that is going to be carried while boating or up in the mountains where there is always some form of water around. Protection from the cold and supplies to hunker down for a few days and wait for rescue or hike out is my goal. Water can easily be sterilized. Ive got 20 ways to start a fire. Heat isnt much of an issue. It gets hot here but in the summer people are out and about. You can go days without seeing anyone even on popular rivers in the winter especially a few miles up river where sane people don't go when its cold.
Putting the laughter in manslaughter
Re: survival bag
Seems you're around water a lot. I would reconsider the backpack or at least put your items in a sea bag(by that I mean one of the sealable water proof bags) most come with backpack straps or use one as a liner for your backpack.
Re: survival bag
I's a good somewhat waterproof bag I picked up a few years ago when a local sporting goods store went bankrupt and I got it their clearance sale for about 1/6 of its normal retail. Great backpack with lots of storage room and pockets. I will be keeping it sealed up drum tight in one of those heavy duty construction bags when I carry it in the boat up under the bow with a rope tied to the bag and a bouy just in case. I know I'm planning for my last disaster but I go up in the woods a lot in the winter and the woods here are rugged, high altitude places where even seasoned backwoods guys sometimes get lost and die in snow drifts.dtom29 wrote:Seems you're around water a lot. I would reconsider the backpack or at least put your items in a sea bag(by that I mean one of the sealable water proof bags) most come with backpack straps or use one as a liner for your backpack.
Putting the laughter in manslaughter
Re: survival bag
Your gonna love this one I keep 6 tampons in my bag, Why you ask? Tampons come in a water proof package. Take one open it it is compacted fiber, Spread it into a cup shaped and light. Will supprise you as to how well it ignites and burns to start a fire..Oh and make sure they are new and not used!!!
Re: survival bag
Never thought about it as a fire starting material. There's always someone at the range willing to tell you a tampon is a good field dressing for a wound but I'm sceptical and it's not something I want to test.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtd2jNIwAU MUSAFAR!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI This is Water DavidW
Complete Form 1s http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=79895
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CrOL-ydFMI This is Water DavidW
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Re: survival bag
Powerbars now come in gel packets so you don't have to worry as much about it melting.
TASTE them first, some of the flavers blow. Chocolate still tastes like dog food to me.
TASTE them first, some of the flavers blow. Chocolate still tastes like dog food to me.
Re: survival bag
Best fire starting material hands down are Fritos. 35% oil and they wick up like candles. Dump a half a handful under some wet twigs and one match will get it up and going quick. Taste better than tampons too.doubloon wrote:Never thought about it as a fire starting material. There's always someone at the range willing to tell you a tampon is a good field dressing for a wound but I'm sceptical and it's not something I want to test.
Putting the laughter in manslaughter
Re: survival bag
Tampons and pads are designed to absorb blood. They are much cheaper than sterile drawings, and available at any service station, convenience store or grocery. Throw a selection from under the wife's vanity into a Ziploc with a small roll of duct tape, and you can handle most leakage issues in the short term.doubloon wrote:Never thought about it as a fire starting material. There's always someone at the range willing to tell you a tampon is a good field dressing for a wound but I'm sceptical and it's not something I want to test.
Keep in mind we are talking first aid. The goal is to stop blood loss and get to medical assistance. Let the hospital handle infection and fancy needlework.
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- Libertarian_Geek
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Re: survival bag
FYI.. don't use alkaline batteries for your electronic items. Cold weather kills them fast. (Found out while whitewater kayaking in the winter. Camera batteries went dead after my first roll.) Lithium is the way to go.
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Re: survival bag
Speaking of batteries, it would not be hard at all to buy or make a small 12V solar panel and have a portable battery trickle charger setup. You'd need some sort of module that adjusts the voltage for a given set of batteries.
This would be important for something like a Motorola radio set so as to keep in touch with family/allies.
If one had a sort of "base camp", a 12V battery from a car or ATV could be left on continuous trickle and then itself used to charge other batteries.
This would be important for something like a Motorola radio set so as to keep in touch with family/allies.
If one had a sort of "base camp", a 12V battery from a car or ATV could be left on continuous trickle and then itself used to charge other batteries.