[Trihonda]

Anyone have thoughts on the 18w Thunderbolt solar charger from Harbor Freight? I wantEd one for my GHB, and this panel seems like it would just work for charging up my comms or flashlight in a “get home” scenario. I snagged it with a 25% off coupon, so it came down to a reasonable $65.

 

[NMPRN]

Just MHO but $65 seems kind of priecy for 18w. If you shop at amazon (I try not to but it's hard), search for "folding solar panel". You can get in the 40-50 watt range for $65.

 

[Trihonda]

Just MHO but $65 seems kind of priecy for 18w. If you shop at amazon (I try not to but it's hard), search for "folding solar panel". You can get in the 40-50 watt range for $65.

i hear ya.. but I’ve seen a LOT of junk on Amazon when it comes to solar, but I wouldn’t want a 40-50w folding panel for my GHB. This was the right size and weight. Could I have found a decent 20w panel for less? Maybe.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

My questions would be... do you really need the ability to recharge things to get home? If you're only a day or two out, then it becomes an issue of they'll last long enough for you to get to your destination. If a flashlight can't last 2 or 3 nights, then it's not worth what you paid for it. I use my Zebralight almost daily and the last time I charged it was 5 months ago. It's still at least 75% charged.

I'd compare the size & weight of a solar panel against a small battery bank (like Anker) that doesn't rely on sunlight. Charge it up once a year and you're good to go.

What about a simple emergency AM/FM/NWS radio with a crank generator?

 

[Sourdough]

I have never "Fully" understood the GHB.
BOB "Yes",
INCH Bag "Yes".
GHB I have an unclear idea and bewildered about its workability.

 

[Kauboy]

I have never "Fully" understood the GHB.
BOB "Yes",
INCH Bag "Yes".
GHB I have an unclear idea and bewildered about its workability.

When I worked 35 miles from home, I had a GHB in my truck. I know a few folks who work 2 hours from home, and they had extra stuff in their trunks.
In a situation where roads are impassable (think HEMP or major winter storm), getting home by foot may require some supplies you won't have in your EDC.

 

[Sourdough]

When I worked 35 miles from home, I had a GHB in my truck. I know a few folks who work 2 hours from home, and they had extra stuff in their trunks.
In a situation where roads are impassable (think HEMP or major winter storm), getting home by foot may require some supplies you won't have in your EDC.

That is totally consistent with my understanding of a GHB.

However, there are "often" mitigating factors that are "somewhat assumed to be probable.

 

[Trihonda]

My questions would be... do you really need the ability to recharge things to get home? If you're only a day or two out, then it becomes an issue of they'll last long enough for you to get to your destination. If a flashlight can't last 2 or 3 nights, then it's not worth what you paid for it. I use my Zebralight almost daily and the last time I charged it was 5 months ago. It's still at least 75% charged.

I'd compare the size & weight of a solar panel against a small battery bank (like Anker) that doesn't rely on sunlight. Charge it up once a year and you're good to go.

What about a simple emergency AM/FM/NWS radio with a crank generator?

Yup, if I'm a couple days from home, I'm traveling and operating at night. I have a headlamp or two in my car/GHB, and I likely have between 2-4 nice flashlights in my veh if I needed to hoof it home. I spend a lot of time in the lighting realm, and I have lights that will run for 50+ hours straight, but that's on a super dim seting. Any amount of ultra bright light will burn batt time fast.

Now, my preference is to operate with no lights at night (using ambient), but that's not always possible. And when you hear something go bump in the night, I like to have very bright lights to search large areas if need be, but I also want the flexibility of using a red or super dim setting for camp tasks. I've had some experience operating in a tactical night time environment.

Another factor, is I don't know that I'll only be 2 days from home. I could be further away. Just don't know.

This 18W charger folded up only has the footprint of an ipad, and isn't much thicker than my ipad with it's case.

I love my flashlights...

 

[Back Pack Hack]

I have never "Fully" understood the GHB.
BOB "Yes",
INCH Bag "Yes".
GHB I have an unclear idea and bewildered about its workability.

It's enough to get you where you need to be if you're not at home (where your full-up INCH/BOB is) when SHTF.

 

[Sourdough]

A prepper can with a lot of effort perfect his/her BOB & INCH Bag.

But the GHB at the very-very best is a wildcard. with the odds stacked hugely against it working.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

There is no such thing as a 'perfect' BOB/INCH bag. It's equal to any GHB... it 'may' work.

 

[Sourdough]

It's enough to get you where you need to be if you're not at home (where your full-up INCH/BOB is) when SHTF.

But why is getting home not a SHTF event.....??? You would for sure not want to be walking on any roadway. Railroad tracks "MAYBE".

 

[bigwheel]

Seems plausible. My cheap Harbor Feightt rechargeable drill still works good at age ten or so. Chicoms are pretty smart cookies. They invented gun powder supposedly tying to make fire crackers.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

But why is getting home not a SHTF event.....??? You would for sure not want to be walking on ay roadway. Railroad tracks "MAYBE".

That's why I use this map:

It shows anyone how to get anywhere. Maybe you should study it.

I have actually USED my GHB. But not to 'get home'. I was at work, and got a message there was a potential issue with a nearby train derailment and my neighborhood was being evacuated. So I just called up a member of my MAG, drove to his place, spent some time at the range and by 6PM the issue was resolved. But instead of heading home, we decided I'd stay the night at their place and go out for breakfast the next morning. I helped him plan out a ham radio antenna, and we worked on his truck until dark.

I can see why you don't need a GBH since you only go to town once a year. But that doesn't invalidate the concept for everyone else.

 

[Sourdough]

There is no such thing as a 'perfect' BOB/INCH bag. It's equal to any GHB... it 'may' work.

I totally disagree. The INCH Bag and the BOB both have clear goals. Easy to perfect. Might take twenty or thirty times redoing it. The GHB bag is a total long shot. You have zero knowledge when creating it about "ANY" of the factors. NONE.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

I totally disagree. The INCH Bag and the BOB both have clear goals. Easy to perfect. Might take twenty or thirty times redoing it. The GHB bag is a total long shot. You have zero knowledge when creating it about "ANY" of the factors. NONE.

Clear goals, yes. But perfect? Nope, not buying it. And by your own admission, if it's so easy to 'perfect', why does it need to be 'redone' twenty or thirty times? Huge fail on your part. Your ineptitude is showing.

And stop making assumption about my knowledge. It makes you look stupid.

 

[Sourdough]

It shows anyone how to get anywhere. Maybe you should study it.

The GHB is prepared for nothing.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

The GHB is prepared for nothing.

Apparently you stopped reading once your snarky remark came to mind.

 

[Sourdough]

Apparently you stopped reading once your snarky remark came to mind.

I read your entire post.... TWICE. You're a pretender. You don't even know what you don't know.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

OK. I'm calling you out now.

Provide a list of contents in the PERFECT BOB.

I dare you to.

..... You don't even know what you don't know.

And neither do you. You ain't that smart.