[Kur0n]

Hello Everyone,

So I have finally decided to get serious about putting together a BOB. I got a really great deal on a backpack last week and thought it would be cool to chronical everything as I buy and add it to my pack. My wofe and I are both students so I will be trying to keep everything as cost effective as possible. I will be searching for deals and doing as much reaserch as I can as i put it together piece by piece. I will tally each Item in this initial post and keep a running tab on what I have spent. I am hopeing for help from you guys to figure out what is the most important to get next.


This Bag is a Nargear toolbox that i found on clearance at a local sporting good store for 15 bucks. The cool thing about this pack is that it can be opened like a suit case so you have fast access to everything without having to unpack everything on top to get to the stuff at the bottom. It was missing a clip to allow a snowboard to be attached.

I also purchased a few things over the last few days. 100ft of 550 cord for 8 bucks from a local murdoch's, 2 bic lighters from the checkout line for 2 dollars. A flint and magnisium fire starting stick for 5 bucks ( I started a small fire with a cotton ball in my side yard today just to see if I could get it to work.) A spork that I found for a dollar from an REI. I am also adding a couple things I already had like a knife my grandpa gave me when I was 8 a 250 lumen flashlight I got for christmas from my parents last year and some cotton balls as easy tinder. Also 2 alcohol swabs from a Buffalo Wild Wings. Also some ammunition for my Sks 40 rounds of 7.62 x 39 on stripper clips in hollow point was about 13 bucks

Bag:
Nar Gear Toolbox - 15.00

Fire Starters:
x2 Bic lighters - 2.00
Firestarter - 5.00
Cotton Balls - Priceless
Lint- free
watertight tuperware - 1.50

Food/cooking:
Spork - 1.00
x3 cans of sardines - 3.00
x4 Clif Bars - free

Water:
Camelbak Bladder 100oz - 15.00

Lights:
250 Lumen flashlight - Gift
Headlamp 80 lumens - 20.00

Kinves/ Multitool:
Folding Knife - Gift
Throwing knife - 10.00
Small multi tool - gift

Clothes:
2x pairs of wool socks - 10.00
1x pair of coton socks - 2.00
Patigonia Rain coat - 30.00
waterproof pants - Gifts

Misc:
100ft of green 550 cord - 8.00
alchohol swabs - free
TP - 1.00

Ammunition:
40x 7.62x39 HP - 13.00
100x 22lr. Blazer - 5.00

Total: 143.5

 

[Wise Prepper]

Socks!!! Mole skin. Hat, poncho, map, compass, TP, cotton balls covered in vaseline, food, water, lint inside TP tubes makes great fire starters, meds...

 

[Old SF Guy]

Well good start...now focus on those things you need near term...water storage...either a canteen (2 quart) or bottled water. some energy bars. Then maybe something to purify water... something to boil water and also cook any food. Some Iodine drops...that can be used to treat cuts, purify water, and ward off infection. Basic weather gear...warm or cold depending on the season....You can never go wrong with a Water proof poncho or tarp. Think about longer term planning...what if you can't go home...fishing line, hooks, etc. Hygiene items...tooth brush, tooth paste...orajel....Knives...field knife... navigational aids..compass..map of area......Good luck.

 

[Kur0n]

Sweet thanks for the suggestions guys. I have a 100 oz water bladder that is an extra for my camelbak is that enough onhand water for a BOB? Also wise prepper when you say mole skin do you mean like the moleskin bandage or the notebook? Also should I include both wool and cotton socks or one or the other? Its about to get cold here in Montana. Also when including maps should they be specialized maps for the areas I plan on being in (I have very detailed topos of 3 of the nearest national forests) or should they be more of an atlas or both? I think all 4 might be the right choice as they all have thre primary uses.

 

[Wise Prepper]

Mole skin as in a bandage for bad skin areas. If your not used to walking your feet will take a beating. This will help them heal and take that beating. Socks depending on climate. Maps for where you live and will be bugging out to. Also OSFG pointed out water. A life straw would be great if there are some streams you will be passing. Really depends on your area. I dont have a BOB. All I need to do is get home!

 

[Boss Dog]

You'll get lots of good suggestions on content, so all I'll say is consider a different knife for your bob.
If that is a U.S. made Schrade, they're hard to find and expensive.
If you lose your bob or it is stolen, you lose a very nice knife given to you by your Grandpa.
Spend the money or put in a Christmas request for a good knife for you bob.

 

[Kur0n]

Mole skin as in a bandage for bad skin areas. If your not used to walking your feet will take a beating. This will help them heal and take that beating. Socks depending on climate. Maps for where you live and will be bugging out to. Also OSFG pointed out water. A life straw would be great if there are some streams you will be passing. Really depends on your area. I dont have a BOB. All I need to do is get home!

There are many streams in the area as well as many rivers I will look into a life straw for sure.

You'll get lots of good suggestions on content, so all I'll say is consider a different knife for your bob.
If that is a U.S. made Schrade, they're hard to find and expensive.
If you lose your bob or it is stolen, you lose a very nice knife given to you by your Grandpa.
Spend the money or put in a Christmas request for a good knife for you bob.

Thanks for the tip. While it holds alot of sentimental value I didnt realize it was such a hard to find knife. i will look for something else to replace it with on a side note being a stupid kid when I got it I almost immediatly lost the sheath to it, any idea where I can source one?

 

[Wise Prepper]

Great knife with a fire starter Amazon.com: Light My Fire Swedish FireKnife with 9.5 cm (3.75 Inch) Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade and Swedish FireSteel Fire Starter, Red: Sports & Outdoors

 

[pheniox17]

I like the pack and your first steep

First point, set up a "fire kit" a small waterproof container that contains all the important fire making materials

Then a little propane fueled hiking stoves (sometimes you can get one with pots included)

Water, do both filter, chemical, and boil plans (sometimes filter + boil is perfect, sometimes you won't have the chance to boil your water)

Food, carry a few days worth of meals (If you can) gum and high energy snacks

Book, SAS survival guide, study it well

Shelter, tarp, swag, tent, poncho, whatever works

A full change of cloths (in a water proof bag)

A mini first aid kit (and know how to use it)

And what osfg said...

 

[hansonb4]

Someone mentioned cotton balls in vaseline. I wouldn't pre-mix them. Instead of vaseline, take a tube of chapstick. It does the same thing and it much more versatile (less messy).

Also, beware of those Buffalo Wild Wing wipes as I don't think they are alcohol wipes, atleast not the ones by me. Rather, they are just "wetnaps" that don't have the high alcohol content as the ones you would find at a doctor's office, used to wipe the skin before getting an injection. Your BWW varieties may have alcohol, but I believe they are just cleaning wipes, not disinfecting ones.

 

[Salt-N-Pepper]

Well good start...now focus on those things you need near term...water storage...either a canteen (2 quart) or bottled water. some energy bars. Then maybe something to purify water... something to boil water and also cook any food. Some Iodine drops...that can be used to treat cuts, purify water, and ward off infection. Basic weather gear...warm or cold depending on the season....You can never go wrong with a Water proof poncho or tarp. Think about longer term planning...what if you can't go home...fishing line, hooks, etc. Hygiene items...tooth brush, tooth paste...orajel....Knives...field knife... navigational aids..compass..map of area......Good luck.

Remember to rotate out those energy bars, especially if your BOB sits in the hot car. Change em out every month if that's the case.

 

[Kur0n]

So I spent a bit of time going through the house and getting everything I already had that you guys had been talking about.I came up with my extra camelbak bladder filled with 100oz of water. A patigonia rain jacket that I got on clerance a few years ago for 30 bucks, 3 pairs of socks 1 cotton 2 wool as well as a pair of waterproof pants. a roll of tp. An extra enhaler, some sterile Gauze pads, some anti diahretics, some medical tape, and about 10 exhedrin. 100 round of 22lr blazer, a small multi-tool, and a head lamp. To top it off I have some food includeing 4 energy bars and 3 cans of sardines. I also found some temproary replacement knives.

 

[Urinal Cake]

My BOB is actually 4 BOB's for different circumstances. I do not believe you can pack 1 pay to get yourself thru any/all circumstances...

 

[sargedog]

A good tarp makes for getting shelter a lot easier as well. The pack I have is a old military pack that has two straps on the bottom, I rolled up a wool blanket in my tarp to keep the blanket dry and snap it all rolled up and out of the way. I am on a fixed income now so instead of the fancy wise meals I will put a few packs of the Knorr brand rice or noddles, some packs of instant potatoes things that you can just add hot water and have stick to your ribs kind of food. Usually you can get them around a $1 a pack. Glad you got you a B.o.B started. You will find if your not careful you will try to put the whole house in there and it does get a little heavy when you do that (don't ask how I know this to be true).lol After you get to using it you will find things you need and things you don't. You might want to get a first aid kit too.

 

[Zed]

that is a nice start kuron..

 

[thepeartree]

Once you get a stove and something to boil water in, add a dozen packs of ramen noodles to your list. Should cost a couple bucks at most. Get a hat that can block UV exposure. Sunscreen and bug repellent.

 

[AquaHull]

Now to clean my ALICE Pack and start adding stuff found in this thread.

After the Lions game on now from London

After cutting the leaves
After dismantling the furniture for project wood
After covering up the air conditioner
After painting the repair panels on the minivan
After installing the battery in the BOV
etc.

 

[Boss Dog]

Thanks for the tip. While it holds alot of sentimental value I didnt realize it was such a hard to find knife. i will look for something else to replace it with on a side note being a stupid kid when I got it I almost immediatly lost the sheath to it, any idea where I can source one?

Sheath SH208 Knife Sheath 5 Fits Up to 5" Blade Basketweave Leather Black | eBay

I have bought a couple of these on ebay for knives I had with no sheath. They work well for me.

edit: just make sure you get the right size/length for your blade. sometimes the description isn't real clear and it takes some digging or a message to the seller to be sure.