"bob philosophy"

Discussion in 'Back to Basics' started by Tango3, Nov 30, 2008.


  1. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    Bob philosophy

    I dump it all out and repack for colder weather around this time .And like most of you. I draw from a pile of outdoor gear acquired over the years. The hardest part is paring it down to a manageable load..Question is what's your philosophy behind "the bob?:
    (can't seem to post a poll)...
    I.E.:
    (1)My kit allows me to hang out comfortably for 72 hours anywhere.
    2)My kit has the bare minimums to struggle through 3 days anywhere.
    3)Mykit is based on the idea of making extended living in the woods easier?
    4)My kit is "urban" based.?/
    vehicle based?
    5)My kit is "weapon-centric"more like something a soldier would carry.With a "home base" to return to
    6) Mykit is along thelines of a generic "camping kit"
    7)My kit is designed for a specific purpose(i.e. make the hike home from work on foot).
    8) My kit is an "I'm not coming home "kit...
     
  2. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    bump because I repaired the screwed up post...
     
  3. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I carry a bag that will get me by for a few days and if it were the end of the world as we know it, would help me acquire what I need to last a little longer. I can make a shelter and a meal from what I carry and stay dry and warm. In the right place, I could do this for quite a while.
     
  4. BuckBall

    BuckBall Woman Hater

    I have 2 BOB's...main one is at home which will handle any 5 or more months in comfort, though my 3 day is in the trunk of the car. Figure I travel 34 minutes to work and back...if the roads are congested or I'm stuck being on foot, will make it home well within 72 hours.
     
  5. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    Here's "Bob"[​IMG] he's got aburst of new found confidence
     
  6. BuckBall

    BuckBall Woman Hater

    LOL oy...here we go again...tango just has to get that humor in there :lol:
     
  7. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    I'm just NOT goin' there!~
    Holy Mackerel!
    Bill
     
  8. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    A 'get home' bag in the car, a few well-equipped pouches on the bike to attach to belt/suspenders. Major 'Bug Out' pack at home - more camping related at this time.
    If an EMP takes out car or bike while at work, the trip home is either ten miles or twenty, depending on whether the 'natives' get restless and I have to divert around the 'bad' part of town.
     
  9. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    Seems it's always something new to contend with....
    Now it's the weather!
    I thought I'd done just about all I could to prep BOB's for the "group"....
    Seems I was mistaken.
    Now, here in the valley of the morons, (Phoenix), We seldom have a really drastic change in weather, althouhg I have been outside in a "t" shirt, when it snowed a couple times! Weird!
    But along came some cold front and helped to remind me that all is not as it seems.
    So, off I went to 'sportsman's guide', and did some fast shopping!
    I bought everyone a parka, and a hooded, weatherproof ( I hope!) jacket.
    All told, it was better than I'd expected, only $310.00 for 10 pcs.
    Now, I am off to get another 10-12 of those "Jon-E" hand warmers than burn a type of lighter fluid. (but, a LOT cheaper!)
    Warmer units: $14.99 ea, fuel: 1 pint $3.50 ea.
    They do work, as I became 'intimately familiar' with them in Germany, when it was -40 degrees!
    A couple of those in the inner pockets of your jacket/coat, and you get warm as toast!
    The drawback: heavy fuel consumption, and the fuel is not light in weight either!
    But I had to take into consideration that my bug-out site is 150 miles north, and right now, the temps there are 28 degrees, and a whopping 76% humidity!
    Winds are about 25-35 mph.
    So, I decided to err on the side of 'what-if'!
    I'd rather be broke, than cold!
    Bill
     
  10. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    I have not been able to find anyone locally here, that can do what I want, make "tankers jackets".
    Wher you take a USGI issue wool blanket and 1 USGI issue rubberized poncho, (1960-1975) Vietnam era, and make a jacket with a hood and pockets!
    We had some made in Germany on the local economy, at a cost of $40.00 per jacket, plus the materials. They went over so well that our 3rd Armored Division commander said, that as long as they had our correct patches, he'd allow them to be worn!
    in fact, many Cpt's ,Lt's, and Sgt's, ordered their own after seeing 4 of us in ours!
    Now, where in the world can you find an REAL tailor?
    Bill
     
  11. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Now, that sounds interesting. Got pix? Am thinking 3/4 or possibly duster length.

    [coffee2]
     
  12. vegasrandall

    vegasrandall Monkey+++

    I've been looking for a bug out cart.some type of big wheeled cart that will carry 150 lbs over any terrain.anyone have any thoughts?
     
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Similar to this, maybe? (Fourth one down the page.) Might need some mods to keep the corners from catching on rocks and stumps. I'd be making a set of shafts so I could harness up like a horse for more than a very short walk.

    http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_1...rts&gobutton.x=23&gobutton.y=13&gobutton=find
     
  14. Tango3

    Tango3 Aimless wanderer

    [​IMG]My neighbor just sold his "deer cart" at his yard sale.They have large wheels and are made for getting a field dressed deer outof the woods,thought about grabbing it but I have enough crap to store.
     
  15. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    I've looked thru all my old Army pics, what I have left.....
    Unable to find a decent photo with the tankers jacket in one!
    I'll keep looking!
    Bill
     
  16. monkeyman

    monkeyman Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    My kit is kind of modular in philosophy. In general terms its purpose for me is to get home but depending on whats going on that could be anywhere from 15 to 1500 miles. As a secondary it may need to get me and as many as 4 other people 100 or so miles to our secondary location. So I keep a pack in the truck that has sort of a generic camping idea behind it with shelter, hatchet, trapping and fishing (trot line/net) gear, first aid, extra ammo for my cary gun, etc in it then I have other stuff in the truck like a foot locker full of food and bottled water, more tools, more trapping stuff and so on so that if Im 20 miles from home and need to get home I can grab the main bag and go but if Im 1500 miles away and going to have to try to hike home then I can load up better shelter options, sleeping bag, more food, snares, nets, ammo, rifle, additional ammo, clothes, etc to supplement the pack that is normaly only half full at most and make it fit the situation if I have to walk away from the truck. The truck over all is a 'fully' equiped BOV that tries to be sure I have everything there I would have to have to be prety comfortable in most any situation for a week or 2 and in a pinch would have everything needed to head into the woods and make a new life even if not particularly comfortable or easy and survive indefinatly through most anything.

    So basicly I have the simple 72 hour+ kit then all the stuf to flesh it out since I figure whatever situation Im NOT prepaired for is the one that will happen, so I try to kep it general and prepaired for anything that may come.
     
  17. Hispeedal2

    Hispeedal2 Nay Sayer

    I pack on the lighter side.

    My biggest beef with most people's BOB is theya re too heavy. I replace all the heavy items that most carry with fewer better designed items and more knowledge.

    For example...

    I can get by with two blades- a 4" or so bushcraft blade and a leatherman. That is all the toolage I need. No choppers, hatchets, or saws. A little common sense on use and it becomes easy to do so.

    I don't prefer more than one fire starter- a ferro rod (LMF Army model to be exact). I have equiped myself with the knowledge using a bow and drill as my back up should the ferro fail (near impossible).

    I don't use stoves- fuel is all around me. Try a dakota hole next time you are out.

    Tents are a waste of weight- learn to build a decent shelter and carry a poncho for a bivy or quick shelter.

    550 cord- for lashing or trapping. Instead of carrying it, use it for all your lanyards, your belt (more comfortable with a pack waistbelt anyways), your boot laces, etc.

    Water filters....ehhh... not really necessary. Carry a single Ti pot and you can purify your water (at 1/5 the weight). I do use a PUR for convenience. If I have it- great. If I don't- no biggie.

    Food- this is initial food. Ditch the heavy MREs and the hard to prepare dehydrated food. Use energy bars. Plenty of calories in a small package. I know, they will taste like sh*t after a week. That means you will end up getting more creative on finding other food sources (better in the long run).

    Foraging gun- .22 LR revolver. It takes small game and can take big game. Best of all, it's easy to conceal and doesn't scream "I'm a maniac, please shoot at me". You can carry a crap load of ammo for nearly no weight. (For the record, I have my [more than] fair share of militaristic weaponry. I don't feel that the majority of scenarios would best be served by toting one becasue a low profile is usually best.) (For the scenarios where armed force is necessary- do what you have to do.)

    I find greater benefit in most BO scenarios to loose the comfort items and move twice as fast. My kit with initial water and enough food to last a couple weeks weighs in at about 25 lbs. At that weight, I can cover over 20 miles a day at 5,000 feet of elevation in mountainous terrain (you will only know by trying it). There are plenty on the net that have 60# rucks and have never tried them past putting them on in the house. I would advise a trip about a week in length to really know how weight wears on you over time. You may make it on a weekend trip but adding five more days and you may just see the light.

    Just my thoughts.
     
  18. vegasrandall

    vegasrandall Monkey+++

    3 days anywhere is my aim.I'm planning on building a kayak soon for a BOV.if I can get to the colorado river I can get to the gulf of california.
     
  19. mtbkski

    mtbkski Monkey++

    Sometimes you just have to suck it up and haul a bit of gear. I'm not saying to go crazy. But to prepare yourself for the minimum that can happen can back fire on you.

    As mentioned. I plan on getting home quickly. But what if I can't. What if things go bad, and I am a couple miles from home. No... what if I'm a couple hundred miles from home. Your now on foot, your trying to get home to your family. Or worse yet, your family is with you and your all on foot and have to make it home. Are you prepared to spend a couple days on foot avoiding everyone due to the kaos that may be happening. How about your family. Are they prepared to "rough it" like you are? The biggest animal you may really encounter is going to be two legged and looking to take what you have. I'll opt for a slightly bigger pistol and at least one reload.

    I believe in keeping it simple. But don't sell yourself short either. Your pack may be a bit heavier than you wish. But if the time ever comes that you truly need to use it. Are you going to be glad that it is light, or are you going to be glad you have the stuff in it you do? Everyone has to decide this for themselves. I for one, plan on keeping me and my family as comfortable as possible while we hike it back to our retreat called home. And that probably means that my B.O.B. is going to have a bit more in it just to make sure we all can do this and not suffer while we do it.
     
  20. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    My bug out bags are of the camping type, with everything I believe we would need to make it a couple of days, with components that can be used indefinitely. They are not that heavy, but I have not weighed them. Fire starters, Mountain House, small tarp, 550 cord, a few meds and small first aid kit, extra clothes, rainsuit, gloves, multi-tool, flashlights, water, etc. do not weigh that much. I have taken my backpack on day long hikes, but nothing like they need to be tested. Usually they end up on the back of a four wheeler, or in the back of one of our 4x4 vehicles where they pretty much live.
     
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