BOB tips

I thought this might be an interesting topic, not so much what to pack as the little tricks, like I use the tobasco sauce bottles from MREs to fill with lighter fluid to carry in my BOBs, it is just the right amount to refill a zipo once. Instead of putting a roll of duct tape in I wrap it on a piece of oil can so its a lot more compact, I carry a little over 30' of para cord on my boonie hat, I triple it over and then chain stich (like crocheteing) it and it ends up just the right size to tie the ends together in back as about a ½" hat band.
Just the little tips to make it lighter, more compact, more convenient, easier to use or whatever.

 

Makeing sure the T.P. is in a ziplock bag. Nothing worse than useless T.P. when nature calls.

 

I started doing that one since around the farm or at work I was CONSTANTLY needing a piece of cord to tie a load on the truck, hobble a goat to milk, get something tied on to pull up into a tree, etc. and never had it on me since in a pocket or whatever it was alwayse tangled and a nusince but now I just pull it off the hat, undo what I need and use it then put it back when I get the chance. Works great and most folks dont even notice it.

 

Yeah, my emergency kit has around 2,000' of various cordage in it and wish I had room for more. Holds shelters together, makes traps to get meat, use for a bow (fire and hunting types), attach things to pack, replace shoe laces, sew hides, ans sooooo much more.

 

Duct tape, need I say more?

Phishi

 

Redundancey.....never count on just one of anything you have to have to live, lighter and magnesium striker to make fire.

 

Cable ties of various sizes. Whatever duct tape can't fix, cable ties can. I have everything from the small electronic up to the two foot heavy duty ones. I also have a couple of the flex cuff cable ties that cops carry, work great for hand cuffing, but work just as well around both front legs of a deer and some 550 cord to drag that heavy chunk of meat to where I can dress it.

 

Oh ya, almost forgot. I keep a couple of the small propane bottles in my truck with one of those electronic ignition torch heads. Will start a fire with anything! I keep the torch head in a small ammo can to keep the moisture out. Surround it with kindling. Never had a problem with starting a fire anywhere. You can also buy a cheap stove head for the propane bottle. Can't beat it.

 

Its well worth mentioning also that kits should be adjusted with the seasons. Durring the winter you need more in the way of things to stay warm (sleeping bag, hot coco mix or instant coffee can be good, etc.) while in the summer these things arent needed as much as more water and gatorade mix to avoid dehydration.

 

Superglue. It is great on wounds or cuts. They even use it in the emergency room now a days I hear.

 

Super glue works great but burns like a SOB in a deep wound. The Doc was pissed that he had to cut it out of the wound. Only use it to save yourself not as a band-aid.

 

I know they make some stuff very similar now that is specificly designed to take the place of suters, cant remember for sure what it is called but had heard a while back that some ERs are now useing it instead of sutures in many cases.

 

As a woodturner I use the super glue a lot!!! Not on injuries, but as a finish (gawd that's expensive) and for other uses. There are severl different thicknesses of super glue (or rather CA, since it real name is Cyanoacrylate.

One thing for sure, the thinner the CA, the faster it cures and the hotter it gets I've actually received 2nd degree burns from CA, ouch!!!!

Also, once you open CA, it definatly does have a shelf life. CA cures with a little moisture, so if you are in a humid environment, then you should replace the CA on a regular schedule. Bad CA may not solidify and if you are trying to close a wound, that would not be a good thing.

Just my 2 cents that's prolly worth a penny.

Ryan