A good money saver for the white gas is to buy it labled as 'naptha' at the hardware store. It is generaly cheaper than buying it as coleman fuel and is the same stuff. If you have to scrounge for it or buy it where you can get it then while its a LOT more expensive way to buy it, Zippo fluid is also the same stuff and most every convenience store and grocery store sells it.
Be very carful of naphta or coleman fuel. It is very volitile and I have seen the fumes go down a hill 25 or 30 feet to an open camp fire, may have been heavier than air or due to a breeze, than the flame run up the fumes and set fire to the can. It was on a picnic table and other than scaring the heck out of everybody, did no real damage. The cans can rust in you basement and leak also. That could be a bad scene. Don't particularly want my BOB wipe me out in case of a car accident. Carry a survival candle instead. Light, heat and you can scrape it off thin and use it to start a fire if needed.
nice thread sheesh, covered alot of ground, I would add an alcohol heater in the winter A 1# coffee can, Roll of tp and a pint of rubbing alcohol. Take the dar dar out of the tp, the cardboard tube thing shove it in the can, You did save the plastic top and metal one didn't you? Place the metal top in the can, put a bic lighter on top and replace the plastic lid. Buy 2 or 3 pints of alcohol and keep in the trunk. When needed remove plastic lid, remove lighter remove metal lid. Dump in the aoh and wait a couple of minutes for the alcohol (aoh) to soak up into the TP. Light it up and stay nice and toasty. Crack a window for ventalation. Ya gotta breath . I don't put the aoh in until I need the heat 'cuz then I can use the TP. snowbyrd
The only naptha I actualy carry in my BOB is about a dozen of the tobasco bottles from MREs cleaned out and refilled with zippo fluid and lables removed so they are obvious. Each bottle is about right for 1 refill of a zippo. Then I carry a pint of alcohol and a small alcohol stove for cooking on if needed. I mostly mentioned the naptha and its alternate forms for folks who had and wanted, planned or needed to use things that use it for fuel, although I also do buy naptha from the hardware store by the gallon for use in zippos just because its WAY cheaper that way.
Just to add my two cents worth, I keep a couple of those fire starter logs(you can get them for a couple bucks at your local Wal-Mart, or outdoor store if you still have a soul and don't shop at Wal-Mart!) I know how to start a fire from a match and kindling like any outdoorsmen, but in the wind/rain with wet wood and an onset of hypothermia...you really can't beat a firestarter log...and it will continue to burn for a couple hours if you just CANNOT get wet wood to catch. I'd rather spend five bucks for starter logs and a couple lighters than die from overconfidence in my god-like firestarting abilities.
Re: Old BOB -- long time no see Did I mention that I'm in the AF? I've managed to "missplace" and later "find" a few quart jars of jet fuel...and some field first aid kits with items like quick clot, field dressings, electrolyte concentrate etc...and MRE's. D*** my forgetfulness, somehow I never seem to be able to find these things until AFTER they've been written off the inventory!
Magnesium/flint firestarter bar is "permanently" attached in my main swiss army knife. works great, I have started a fire in a light (summer) rain with wet kindling ( okay and some birch bark tinder , I cheated alittle). birch bark rules.
Is the mag/flint bar attatched by a key chain (I have a BSA Hot Spark attatched to my Vic Rucksack) or is it on the body of the knife? If so can you post a pic?
If I might make a couple small suggestions. A GI Style, folding entrenching tool has a varity of uses. Stored in the vehicle, it will not take up hardly any space and is light enough not to add very much to a pack if so inclined. Also a Gardner's shovel or trowel can be handy for a BOB. Small, lightweight and can find dozen of uses such as digging a cat hole for the depositing of human waste. If a firearm is included in any kit, then a simple cleaning kit for it can come in handy. Nothing worse then a firearm that is cruddy or rusty when you need it the most. Just thought I'd try to contribute.
No, Nothing fancy just the "crappy little ball keychain. suppose a key ring could be used and would be more secure...I just don't ever separate them.
Thanks! That was something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. We get on some very lonely roads out here in the Winter and could get stuck for a long time. I'll pass this on to friends! Your Bud,
Bug Out Gear Edit: Anything that has money estimations are items I have not bought yet.I am a poor university student, cant afford much right now... Defense: I am in Canada so these prices reflect that and the laws around gun control ~ 5,000 rounds of ammo for each Canadian Firearms Liscence (both Restricted and non) $200.00 Hunting Rifle + Ammo $3,600.00 Varmint Rifle + Ammo $2,000.00 Shotgun + Ammo $2,000.00 Handgun + Ammo $2,000.00 Compound Bow + Arrows $1,500.00 Safe for Firearms & Ammo $5,000.00 Transportation: 4x4 + Winch system Electric and Hand 2 Front mounts and 2 Rear Tow mounts Tow strapping (~ 30 ft x 2) Big gauge Chain (enough to fill a .50 Ammo Can) Hi-Lift system Big Bush Push Bars on Front with additional mounts for snow plow or cow catcher NATO Jerry Cans (extra 10 Gals) Jumper Cables Mechanical knowledge to Repair & TO DRIVE IT ~ $10,000.00 + Time to make modifications Quad Double Muffler system for silence Game racks on both ends Trailer to haul them in the truck KNOWLEDGE TO REPAIR & TO DRIVE ~$9,000.00 Dirt Bike 250cc bike Four Stroke Storage cases on the tail KNOWLEDGE TO REPAIR & TO RIDE ~ $6,000 Manual Bikes Full suspension Mountain Bike Personal Gear: These are the things that I keep on my body at any time when out in the bush. Pocket Kit Goes into a small weatherproof case Matches Candle Flint & Steel Magnifying Glass Needles & Thread Fish Hooks & Line Compass Button LED Light ~15’ Snare Wire Flexi Saw Mirror / Red Mirror Med Kit: Pain Killers (500mg tabs x 150 ) Immodium (x 50) Antibiotic (Tetracycline 250mg tabs x 40) Antihistamine Water purifier Potassium Permanganate Surgical Blades Butterfly sutures Straight Razor Bandaids Condoms (unlubed and non chemically treated) to hold water…Pervs. Pocket Knife Machete Multi-tool Hatchet Torch Head lamp Hand flashlight Butt pack Survival kit: Things that could go in the ass end of an alice pack or molle butt pack. I use a leg pouch system. It even has spots on the front sides to put your sidearm. Mess Kit Folding solid fuel stove Fuel tabs Penlight Pen Flare Gun Flares Marker Panel (reflective material tape) Butt pack Survival kit continued: Matches Tea Dehydrated food Dehydrated meat salt cheese Chocolate Personal Gear continued: Ranger Bag Perm. marker / Ballpoint pen Survival Log Soap (Biodegradable/unscented) Water Filter Big Pack: This is my monkey on my back. This is on top of everything that I would have on the butt pack. Sleeping bag Tent Hennessy Hammock Tarp 500’ of Para cord Two MRE’s Full Axe Entrenching tool Bigger Med kit (same as above plus extra supplies) Snakebite Kit/Tick Kit! Respirator for CPR Gauze Medical tape Waterproof tape Ankle wraps Band-aids! Neosporin stuff 30’ of 1” tubular webbing Pot for boiling water on White gas stove White Gas extra fuel bottles Water bottles Clothes: Enough for 2 changes over 1 week Adapt to the Climate In North West Winter wear Rain slicks / Winter Parkas In North West Summer Wear quick dry clothes Wool Sweater (If in the NW region get a Cowichan Sweater they’re the best) Extra set of boots Scarf Gators These are all the things that would go on a single person I know it looks like a lot of pieces but they are almost all either small and light or relatively so. Any suggestions on what to add? Also I borrowed heavily from the New edition of the SAS survival handbook. A Great thing to have, just replace the idea of "Be seen to be rescued" with "Stay Quiet and unseen to kill the baddies" Also Up here north of the border, other people are not so much our enemies as the nature and the weather is. If you look at the weather for up here right now you might understand. Thanks Later CBMS
550 and 770 are pretty much the same thing just the different tensil strengths of papachute cord. Cheaperthandirt.com has it fairly reasonable in various quantities.
Unless you are retired or current military though then you generaly cant buy from the PX, around here you cant hardly even go on the base unless you are family, active military or a contractor with business on base.
i think the food saver would be a great idea if you were packing your vehicle especially - for some that have regular cab pickup trucks, you could compress down several things like clothes, towels, etc and hide them behind your seat - in the event you expanded them, you could throw it in a trash bag (also sealed in your kit) for the trip back home or to next destination. speaking of food savers - has anyone got any hints / tips / tricks on how to use a foodsaver to prepare MRE style meals / sides? in the grand scheme of things, MREs are pretty expensive, but while cooking a meal or two, it wouldn't be that hard to make a little extra for your MRE kit - the hard part i'm trying to figure out is how to "preserve" the food so it wouldn't need refrigeration. which also begs another question - anyone have a recipe for "homemade" MRE heaters? that would be a neat thing to have - only if the ingredients were kept in seperate BOB (to avoid accidental heating of your entire pack)
Add water to lime and you get lots of heat, similar to MRE heaters. One thing I have been working on for food for the kits is a modification of a rice dish I eat at home. Basicly the rice, powdered cheese (like from a mac & cheese box), dried jhalapenos, pepper, salt, powdered salsa mix (or a seperate can of rotel), dried minced onions, garlic powder, beef base/bullion and chopped up beef jerky. Toss it in with some water and boil it up untill the rice is done and makes a pretty good meal that will keep as well as an MRE but takes up less space and weight then any stuff you can come up with along the way like extra meat, wild onion, maybe some cattail roots or whatever can be added to it to strech it further or whatever. I know an amount of it that would fill a soup can will make enouph to feed a couple people pretty well.
