Okay, so I combined an earlier post in another thread with the photos for this one.
Before I go into an extremely lengthy discourse, I do want to make a few caveats and explanations.
Wow. Five years ago, I posted the above list of my BOB/PERK. I just happened to run across it this morning and thought that, since I have a bit of extra time, I'd go ahead and do an update.
For those who are curious, here's the link to my original post with all the original lists:
http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=1508.msg56520#msg56520Very little has changed to the mission statement of our PERK's. Mainly what has changed is the equipment and supplies. In it's current form, it presupposes a Permissive/non-Hostile Environment. We have additional modules that can be included for such things as Hostile Environments (aka, bullets are already flying), extended Support (7 additional days of food), Enhanced Medical, etc.
But, for this post, I'll concentrate on the Basic Kit.
As you can see, the basic layout from the original kit has changed only slightly. The original pack was an early version of the air-droppable Camelbak Big Jump. The side pockets were older Eagle Industries pockets originally meant to augment their AIII pack. While the original system worked, there were a number of problems with it.
First, the CamelBak was heavy for it's size. That's because it was jumpable and well over-built for it's intended use (well, technically, MY intended use. . . I can't foresee a situation where I would have to egress an airplane with my gear).
The side pouches were difficult to organize and open as well as extract equipment. One of the pouches was a full medical kit, including Blow-Out Kit, while the other was essentially a minimalist Ditch Kit (i.e., if your situation suddenly necessitated speed and I had to drop my heavier kit, I could sling this over a shoulder and have the bare minimum equipment to survive).
Again, due to the design, it wasn't as user-friendly as I wanted.
This was found out after several actual bug-out drills. We have a primary retreat location within 45 miles of our home and have made several trips on foot, an via bicycle, to shake down our gear. Additionally, we have used several other opportunities to better maximize and simplify the use of our gear.
So, the changes are as follow:
First, we swapped the main packs out for Kifaru Navigators. They're a little lighter than the CamelBaks and much simpler. The lower section has a divided sleeping bag compartment and a 3/4 length double zipper, making it easier to access things in the lower section. The back of the pack has similar 3/4 length zipper that opens a large flap allowing access to the interior. The flap, itself, is covered in MOLLE both inside and out as is the entire pack. The flap is also a zippered "sleeve" that allows you to store items. Inside the pack is a hydration pocket that will hold a large bladder.
While the Camelbak allowed me to sort things, sometimes it was more than difficult, especially in low-light conditions, to find things. Worse yet, if I couldn't find something, I'd have to sort through several compartments. Under extreme stress, this may slow me down or even result in lost supplies/equipment if I forget to rezip a compartment
Additionally, I feel the Kifaru is a more robust pack than the Camelbak. I have no problems with tossing the full pack over a fence or out a 2nd story window. I know it wont' spill open. With one exception, I know that my equipment will still be functional (the one item that may break is the Katadyn Filter, for which I have several alternate water purfication options).
In the Main Pack (#1) is the following:
1 100oz Water bladder
1 Katadyn Expedition Water Filter w/ cleaning kit
1 Set of Clothing, to include:
1 Pair Pants
1 Long Sleeve Shirt
2 T-Shirts, Sweat Wicking, Non-Flammable
3 Pair UnderArmour 9" light compression Shorts
4 Pair Thorlo Socks
1 Pair Elk-skin Gloves
1 Pair Nomex Gloves
1 Neckerchief/Shemagh
1 Patrol Cap
4 Complete MRES (stripped of cardboard and repackaged in ziploc bags)
10 Millenium Bars
8 Pouches 3oz Weight Gainer Powder Mix
1 Hygiene Kit to include:
1 Microfiber Towel, Large
1 Washcloth
1 Bar, Anti-scent soap (Not unscented)
1 Razor w/ 2 Extra Heads
1 Toothbrush
1 Tube Toothpaste
1 Roll Floss
1 Unbreakable Mirror
1 Gerber Omnivore Flashlight
1 100' 550 Cord
3 Large, Contractor-grade Trashbags
2 45-gallon standard trashbags.
2 Rolls Toilet Paper
1 Sleeping System consisting of :
1 Goretex Bivvy Bag
1 Seasonally-Appropriate Sleeping Bag
1 Big Agnes Inflatable Ground Pad
1 Personal Data Kit (Small, zippered notebook with personal data, insurance, etc.)
1 Set of Waterproofed Maps
1 Suunto Compass
1 Repair Kit
16 AA Lithium Batteries
8 CR123 Batteries
1 Large Tube Sunblock
1 Large Bottle Bug Repellent
On the waist best of the kit (and unseen in the photo) are two Maxpedition Nalgene water bottle carriers. Each carrier has a zippered pouch which holds 20 coffee filters in a ziploc bag, a Sham-wow in a ziploc bag and two bottles of Aqua Mira water purification system. Instead of the heavier Nalgene bottles, however, I use one Gatorade bottle and one mixer bottle as used by weightlifters for protein shakes, etc.
I swapped out both of the side-pouches for better options. The first is a SatCom bag (Bag #2 in picture) originally intended to hold a Trivec AV2040 Satellite Communications Antenna. This, I turned into a Ditch Kit:
On the upper outside left of the closed bag there is a Tomahawk Flashlight. When attached properly to the main kit, this can be used as a white or red light to shine on the path, ahead. It can also be removed for hand-held use. On the right, you can see a Cold Steel Frontier Hawk. From my experiences, I don't need a full-sized axe. Previously, I carried a Gransfors Brux Small Forest Axe. This saves at least a pound but still gives me the ability to chop and hammer.
The design of the Satcom bag allows it to be opened much more easily and provide greater access than the previous side pouches. It's also a bit larger. You can't see it in the pictures, but there's also a small water-bladder-type pouch on the back of the pack as well as zippered pockets on each side and it's easier to throw over the shoulder. MOLLE on two sides allows attachments of other pouches or, in my case, the carrier for the tomahawk and flashlight.
Inside is the following:
1 Minimag Flashlight
1 AM/FM/SW Portable Radio.
100' 550 Cord
1 Gerber Strikeforce
1 Firemaking kit
100 Waterproof matches
1 8-hour Candle
1 Silnylon Shelter
1 Heavy Duty Solar Blanket
1 Cook Kit w/ Esbit Stove and cleaning kit
1 Hammock
1/2 roll Toilet paper
12 Millennium Bars
16 AA Lithium Batteries
4 CR123 Batteries
1 Small Bottle Sunblock
1 Small Bottle Bug Repellent
On the other side I replaced one side pouch with an Eagle Sustainment Pouch (Pouch #3 in picture) and a removable Blow-Out Kit (Pouch #4)
The Sustainment pouch is more of a convenience pouch. I put most of the First Aid Kit in there as well as footcare items and a 1 of the Bag's MRE's and a couple food bars. Mainly, it's there so I dont' have to open the main kit every time I stop. Most of the first aid Kit is in a Tupperware container that fills 2/3rds of the pouch. These are regular supplies for non-trauma issues. Cuts, intestinal distress, blisters, etc.
Pouch #4 is a standard Blow Out Kit intended for traumatic injuries. This is one of those pouches that has a panel covered on the front in Velcro and attached on the back via MOLLE to the Main Bag. The back of the pouch also has Velcro which holds it to the panel and is further held in place by a simple strap and Fastex buckle. If you need it, just pop a Fastex Buckle and rip the pouch off the velcro panel. You then have a three-tiered Blow-Out Kit that can be easily carried or accessed.
Since this has gone on too long, already, I'll abbreviate the last two items in my kit: The first is the Clothing Bag. I have a bag in each of the vehicles that holds a full set of "bug-out" clothing in case something happens and I'm not wearing sturdy enough clothes. This way, if the apocalypse happens while I'm at the gym swimming or out doing a Nekkid 5k, I have a bag of clothing appropriate to the task.
1 Clothing Bag Consisting of:
1 Pair Pants
1 Shirt, Long Sleeve
1 T-Shirt, Sweat-wicking, Fire Resistant
1 Pair, Compression Shorts
1 Pair, Thorlo Socks
1 Pair, Nomex Gloves
1 Shemagh
1 Hat, Boonie-Style
1 Pair, Boots
Finally, I have taken some items that are universal to various kits and put them together that ride along with the Clothing Bag. While most of the time I wear good clothing and have my EDC items that will help, I can't always assume that I'll have them with me. So, I've made a smaller kit filled with "EDC"-type items that can augment what I have with me.
I just call this an EDC Kit:
Basically, it's a Condor T&T Pouch (A copy of Tactical Tailor's Admin Pouch) which contains:
1 Leatherman Wave
1 Fenix LD15 AA Flashlight
1 Sunglasses Carrier with tinted and clear Safety glasses inside
1 Bucklite folding knife
1 Millenium Bar
1 Mini Mag Lite (it's sort of a good luck charm)
1 Scrapyard knives Scrapivore Neck Knife
1 Pair Mini Binoculars
1 Zippo Lighter
1 LifeStraw
2 1-pt, Platypus bladders (in pocket)
1 Spray Bottle Bug Spray
1 Spray Bottle Sun Block
2 Carbon-impregnated facemasks
1 Bottle, Iodine Tabs
1 Space Pen
1 Notepad
4 AA Lithium Batteries
This last kit pretty much stays in the car. If something bad happens, I can take what I need and leave the rest.
Anyway, I just thought it might be interesting to see how someone's kit has evolved over time.
The Professor
