Help improve my BOB

5611 Views 39 Replies 14 Participants Last post by StarPD45, Aug 29, 2013

NotableDeath

Discussion Starter · Aug 28, 2013 (Edited)

Okay, this list is currently of what I have, I KNOW it's not much, but it's what i have been able to scrap together so far paying for college out of pocket and working at a deli :-|

Sewing Kit
Splint
Basic Medical Supplies (Bandages, Large Bandages, Tape, etc.)
250 Box Matches
Military Scissors (Tough sonsabitches)
Insect Repellant
Thermal Gloves
Weather Radio
Weather Proof Matches
Fingerless Wool Gloves
100 ft. Paracord
Hand Warmer x 4
Snare Wire
Pair Of Socks x 3
Compass
Washcloth
Stainless Steel Coffee Can
Flashlight (Not LED, to me those would give a position away to easily, this one is just bright enough to vaguely light up a map or compass.)
Small Wool Blanket
Small Soap Bar

To Get
-------
Portable Water Purifier
UTG Sportsman Tactical Scenario Vest (Still browsing, may choose another vest)
More Spare Ammo
Mil-spec Waterproof 50L pack (Already ordered, but won't arrive for a good 2 weeks)
Nicon P-223 AR-15 Scope (It is a ACOG (I think) specifically designed for the AR-15 and 5.56 NATO rounds)
Backpack Tarp

Weapons
---------
AR-15 w/ Adjustable Butt stock / 3-Point Sling / Quad Rail / Fore grip / Bi-pod / Mounted Laser Sight (For close quarters) / 8 Magazines fully loaded
Glock Handgun w/ 3 extra mags fully loaded.
SOG Survival Knife

Again, this is a very basic list. I know you guys know what your talking about so I would value your input over anyone i currently know. As far as what i'm prepping for ? Anything in general.

NOTICE** - Removed the obviously stupid stuff, so now im down to these.

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Fuzzee

· #2 · Aug 28, 2013 (Edited)

This is just a quick reply. I don't understand a few of the things your carrying and why they'd be that important for the weight like the screwdriver set, duct tape, dish soap, manual hair cutter, etc., but I'm not the one using them. Toss the 250 matches and get yourself a good fire steel and carry a spare BIC lighter or two. The weather proof matches are enough, though I have never found matches to light enough fires for there weight and space. I use lighters and fire steels. A good fire steel can light thousands fires if you're efficient. I notice a large lack of food too for starters. And no work gloves mentioned. They can also supplement as warmers too. I like Mechanix originals. The most important things are food, fire, water, shelter, security and the tools to get them. Sometimes knowledge is the best tool too. Things to look at.

Amazon.com: Light My Fire Original Swedish FireSteel Army 12,000 Strike Fire Starter - Black: Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com: Mechanix Wear MG-55-009 Original Glove, Covert Medium: Home Improvement

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Fuzzee

· #4 · Aug 28, 2013 (Edited)

Don't carry anything you can't absolutely live without and know how to use it. A good book to start off with a better understanding of bushcraft and survival is the SAS Handbook. Most of us pack various food items, but either MRE's or freeze dried as main meals. They can be bought online or in local stores. You just need to find out who has them. Most sports outdoor stores do. One of the best other food items to me is a plastic jar of peanut butter. You just can imagine how much you can get from it in calories and using it to mask other food you find along the way (bugs) that don't taste as good. There is a lot of BOB threads here. You'll learn a lot by them.

http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377652679&sr=8-1&keywords=sas

Amazon.com: mre

Amazon.com: mountainhouse

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Fuzzee

· #27 · Aug 28, 2013

A sleeping mat does add comfort, but it's a bulky item. As a guy who's sleep on the ground more than I can count it's nice to have but the reality is you can only carry and strap so much on. I used mine a lot in the army, but I didn't have the need to base my survival long term on what I carried and had support to fall back on. Long term outdoor living in the army meant camps and supplies being flown or trucked in. Now I simply carry a woobie (poncho liner), poncho (for tarp use and rain cover) and a sleeping bag. Down in the south you've got lots of snakes who like to cuddle up to warm things in the night. You do not want to be in the woods sleeping on the ground with the mat. You want to get the knife/ax/machete out and make a raised platform to sleep on about a foot off the ground. I cover mine with palm leaves after and put my sleeping bag down. That sleeping bag is essential too in colder weather.

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Fuzzee

· #33 · Aug 29, 2013 (Edited)

ApexPredator said:
Youve got a point with the snakes and bugs Fuz but in survival/evasion mode I ask two questions
First do you want to be heard chopping near nightfall especially if your just moving through
Second do you want to burn those calories every night/its still more efficient to sleep on a insulated pad especially on a raised platform for calories.

But you do have good points for consideration I always take the bivy sack with me and sleep inside it aint nothing getting in then. My recommendation since he mentioned getting a half shelter anyways those 1 man hoop tents are awesome for keeping out critters and rain.

You've got to access your situation at all times. If you're evading someone and/or need to move fast and/or making a raised platform would be a bad choice in the noise made or trail left than you don't make one. But the snakes and bugs will still be there. Tents do help with that, but I don't like sleeping in a tent unless I'm in a secure, protected area where there's little chance of trouble before I can get out of it. Because a person in a tent makes an easy target. I know if I wanted to take out someone in a tent, I could be on them before they'd know it and ever get out of their tent while I could beat them with a club, knife them, pound them with a rock, shoot them or tie them up for later. It's no different than someone throwing a net on you technically. I normally sleep under my tarp, on my sleeping bag, fully dressed (except for my boots, sometimes), covered with my poncho liner and firearm by my leg, covered. I prefer a raised platform, but have sleep many times without. It's just more dangerous.

Snake Reptile Organism Scaled reptile Terrestrial animal

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Fuzzee

· #36 · Aug 29, 2013

Prepadoodle said:
I like a tarp over a tent too. IF set up so you can still see around you while you're laying down, you can gain the advantage of being able to see someone (at least their legs) while they can't see you. Besides, they are lighter, easier to carry, and more versatile.

I've had a snake climb into my sleeping bag before, and it's not fun. Actually, it's kind of a funny story, so...

I was in the desert near Ft Bliss Texas in my tank on some training thing. It was raining, which is very rare for the area, and my gunner's position leaked. I was getting this drip, drip, drip right on my head, which was driving me nuts, so I broke one of the cardinal rules of armor and decided to sleep on the ground. I grabbed our driver and told him I was gonna sleep under the tank... another big no no.

Anyway, sometime after that I was under there dry and warm in my Army bag and was awakened by something crawling around near my feet. My tired brain processed this as a snake, so I sat up quickly, smacking my skull on the underside of the tank, BONG! This dazed me a bit and kinda knocked me back down. When I had gathered what little wits I have, I tried to sit up again... BONG. After the second time, it finally dawned on me that I was under a tank and couldn't sit up, so I rolled over and set the world speed record for a low crawl. I distinctly remember passing the road runner and Wiley E Coyote as I crawled across the desert at like 300 miles per hour.

I went back later and shook out my bag. The snake slithered away fast so I didn't see what kid it was, but it was probably a rattler. I never slept on the ground in the desert again!

I just ordered a Catoma Adventure Shelters IBNS mesh bivy! No more sleeping with the snakes for me.

Lol, that's like a classic cartoon moment. :mrgreen:

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Fuzzee

· #37 · Aug 29, 2013 (Edited)

roy said:
The first rule of survival is to survive. I you are sleepin' layin' out on a rock you ain't gonnna survive in many climates. Tents ain't 'xactly tactical, bivy is probably much better but if you have a one man tent that ain't bright orange, set up late and knock down early you aren't likely to be discovered. A tent will keep you dry, keep the bugs off and add some warmth. A good one man tent can weigh under 2lbs. A good sleeping bag can weigh a pound. The Thermarest Neoair weighs about 8 ounces.

I can have the exact same thing without a tent. But be able to hear someone coming better and deal with them, hopefully before they deal with me. With my tarp spread between some trees or bushes, tied off with 550, inside my sleeping bag if it's that cold, arms out, rifle in my hands or at my side, covered by my poncho liner. In a second I can throw off the poncho liner and put a bullet into them or shoot right through it (though I wouldn't want to). In the tent, I'd probably never even hear them if they were more careful and right on me, and I'm stuck trying to get out of the tent if I even can before they kill me. I predict a lot of dead tent goers when shtf and people are getting violent to survive. tents are nice when you've got a camp and people taking turns standing guard. Otherwise, your in a cocoon.

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