Bug Out Bag

**Outlander Systems** · 03-07-09, 11:23

Finally got around to starting my BOB.

I'd originally gone to Dick's and REI to find a good bag, and was sorely disappointed.

I'd been eyeballing a bag I'd seen at Brigade Quartermasters for a while, and was won over with this bag:

The Bug-Out Bag:

The appeal, to me, was the modularity (MOLLE), hydration-system compatibility, immense number of pockets, and the overall size seemed to be a perfect fit for a BOB.

I'll update this in segments. The first one will be personal hygiene. When I was originally deciding to put this pack together, I was going to abandon all the "frills", but I've spent enough time in the woods to know that "feeling human" is a big morale booster. Since this is a BOB, I figured I needed all the morale I could get.

There's still a few items I'd like to stuff in the "hygiene" section, but I feel like I've got a pretty good start for an Apocalypse bathroom.

Loose:

Contents inside the bag:

1) Cottonelle wet wipes
2) 3 Rolls of camping toilet paper
3) Cheap soap case/soap
4) Nail clippers
5) Comb
6) Vaseline
7) Hand lotion
8) Dental floss
9) Chap-Stick
10) Toothbrush/Toothbrush holder
11) Baby Powder
12) Instant hand sanitizer
13) Shampoo
14) Mouthwash
15) Deodorant

Last but certainly not least:

16) Some ****in' Whiskey

Packed:

That's it for my hygiene camp kit. I'm open to suggestions of things I'm missing, or criticism.

Next update will be "fire-makin'" supplies.

**MarshallDodge** · 03-07-09, 11:45

That looks really good. The whiskey cracked me up.

My only suggestion would be to put anything that absorbs water, like the toilet paper, in a ziplock bag just in case you get caught in the rain.

**Impact** · 03-07-09, 12:25

Originally Posted by MarshallDodge

That looks really good. The whiskey cracked me up.

My only suggestion would be to put anything that absorbs water, like the toilet paper, in a ziplock bag just in case you get caught in the rain.

+1..always use plastic bags..plus you can re-use them for other tasks.

**macman37** · 03-07-09, 12:44

Good start. I look forward to updates.

**Outlander Systems** · 03-07-09, 12:44

I'm still in the process of assembling. I believe the last purchase for the pack will be a rain cover of some type...

I definitely need to bag up the TP; wet TP = horrible. Dry leaves = twice as horrible.

The whiskey idea was a totally random one. I stopped what I was doing, and bee-lined it for the nearest liquor store.

Alone, cold, wet, tired, and at a camp site, necessitates some boozin'.

**Decon** · 03-07-09, 14:50

That's a nice set-up. With my hair, or lack of, I can avoid the comb and usually carry a combo body/hair wash. The Purell is a nice touch. After just having a baby, I have learned the importance of having the stuff around. Very effective too

**dave5339** · 03-07-09, 14:52

Here is one I put together a couple of years ago.

I started with a Camelbak Motherload I had snagged off of Ebay for reasonable. It started as just something to throw some stuff into in the event we needed to leave and morphed into a lunchtime walking program that eventually led me to seeing if I really could walk home from work in a day, (just over 18 miles).

Overall I really like this bag! I’ve been able to load it with all the stuff I want to carry in my GHB and I’ve still got room left over. As I was actually hiking with this on an almost daily basis it’s forced me to be conservative in what I am loading into it. Its capacity is 2100 cubic inches which for me as I get older, lazier, and wiser is more than enough.

So far I’ve probably done more than 250+ with this pack on my back in the last couple of years. Let’s just say I am very impressed with it. It is well built, holds more than enough for me, more than comfortable, and rides very nice.

Although I will admit I don’t have a wide variety of experience with other packs. Mostly my main experience with a pack was 20+ years ago in the Marine Corps with a poorly fit ALICE pack. Let’s just say that was a painful memory. My other experience has been with an overly large MountainSmith Revolution, I’ve yet to really spend much time with that bag though.

The bag has essentially four main compartments;

The compartment for the hydration bladder. This is accessible from the back of the pack and is relatively easy to stuff a full bladder in while the pack is loaded. It’s got a secure zipper closure, a hang loop for the bladder, and a port for the drinking tube.
The main compartment has a small zippered mesh pouch for storing some stuff, a large main pouch, and then a waterproof radio pouch with a draw string closure. There are two ASIPS antenna ports that exit this compartment. Both ports are covered with Velcro closures to secure them from the elements when not in use.
The next compartment has dividers for small gear and several pockets. This is mainly a compartment for readily accessible stuff. There are two large pockets, two medium pockets, and 3 pen pockets. In one of the main pockets there is a leash with a plastic snap hook on it for retaining keys or other small items.
The last pocket is on the back of the pack and opens from the side. It’s not divided inside. I’ve found it handy for small flat items such as an amateur radio repeater directory, small notebook, and other small items.

Now for the misses as I see them:

The bag really needs a set of top loader straps to pull it up into the body and keep it from drooping.
The interior radio pouch is too big for most radio needs. It’s sized to fit a PRC 77 or similar radio but is much too big for a standard amateur handi talkie or similar sized radio.
In my opinion, the interior could really use more gear loops and pockets for small items, but then I am more than a bit of an organization freak.

Now for the hits:

Extremely well built and then some. The material that Camelbak used is 100000 denier cordura nylon. You could probably drag this thing behind a truck down a gravel road and all it would get is dusty.
Heavy duty zippers and buckles, again, this is built to last.
Very comfortable and ventilated back panel. I tend to sweat A LOT and this back panel keeps my back reasonably cool and dry.
Very comfortable waist belt. Lots of adjustment available in the waist belt, it even fits me with room to spare.
Lots of Molle attachment points. They are all over this pack and great for hanging extra gear off of.

Now for things I’d change:

I’d add the top loader straps for the adjustment.
I’d add an interior Molle attachment in the radio pouch so I could hang a radio pouch in the pack. That way my HT, (handheld amateur radio) would be protected from the elements and I could use the ASIP antenna port to poke my whip antenna out.
Horizontal Molle straps on the shoulder straps. They would be nice for hanging other gear off of such as radios, GPS, cell phones, and other small gear that needs to be readily accessible.

As to the what I've managed to stuff into or hang off of this bag.

I've tried to lay out the pictures in reasonable order and layout. I've also tried to label items in the pictures that may be a little hard to see what they actually are.

Of course I am by no way finished with what I want to add in to this. These things tend to be continually evolving as situations and environments change.

I also still need to add some type of tarp/shelter in there rather than just the rain poncho that I currently have.

There are also a couple of odds and ends that are not pictured, spare clothes, (socks, underwear, and t-shirt), my 3 liter Camelbak bladder, amateur radio, and a few other items.

This is the stuff I have in the front slash pocket in my bag.

This is what is in the middle pocket of the bag.

And the main pocket in the bag.

This is the PSK kit that I've put together. It's kind of outgrown my original idea of just using the Pelican 1020. The pouch is from Cheaper Than Dirt and was/is a loan from Serious Student.

The current load out with 3 liters/100 oz of water is right around 30 pounds. I've found that this carries fairly well for me.

Overall I am very happy with this bag. I also think that there is enough room left that I could probably add in a Big Agnes camp pad, down sleeping bag, and a small one person tent.

Semper Fi