Show off your BOBs

[Dazed]

Main pack:
(pic 0)
External:
50 ft 11 mm climbing rope w/carabiners.
Coleman Exponent dual fuel stove (Not shown)
Cooking kit (not shown)
Cold steel “Bushman” knife w/sheath
2 man tent w/stakes and tie downs

[Dazed]

pack contents:

top compartment (detachable, becomes a fanny pack):
(pic7)
top to bottom, left to right
folding diamond knife sharpener
can opener
fishing line and hooks
Katadyn water filter
Mini leatherman tool
Anorak
Siphon line for gas for stove
Fire kit #1
trioxane fuel tabs
Match light carcoal briquettes (individually wrapped)
Lighter
Fire kit #2
Blastmatch striker
Dryer lint w/lighter fluid (in film containers)
Trioxane fuel tabs
Vacuum sealed Mountain House entrée
Wire type chainsaw w/caribiners for handles
Mylar emergency sleeping bag
Plastic poncho
Tanto syle knife w/sheath
Mountain House Entrée
Bag containing compass, deck of cards, and 2 lighters
Small stainless pocket pistol in .380 (no round chambered) w 6 in mag
3 “Power Bars”
xtra batteries for flashlight
3 “AA” led flashlight
gloves

[Dazed]

Center front compartment (not main):
(pic 8)
Fire kit #3
Matchlight charcoal (individually wrapped)
Trioxane fuel
Lighter (sealed in plastic)
First aid kit
Ziplock bag w/1/2 roll TP (center removed)
Magnifying glass (fire starter) in pouch
Ziplock bag w/granola bars
(1 cup measuring cup on bag for rehydrating MH food)
Pill bottle w. Asprin/buffered asprin/Ibuprofen
Linesman type pliers)

Lower center compartment (not main ) (Not shown in photos)

Silverware,
led flashlight,
sewing kit
KI tabs
2 xtra D-cell batteries

Left side Compartment (not shown):

4 Mountain House entrées
1 Streamlight led/incandescent 2 d-cell flashlight
leash for dog
toothbrush
bic lighter
Anti Diarreal plls

[Dazed]

Right side compartment :
(pic 10)

Assorted high sugar snack bars and nutrition bars
Stocking cap (bars go in cap when in pack for protection)
Mountain House entrée
Magnesium fire starter
Can opener
Bag containing soaps
Mountain House Entrée
Bic lighter

[Dazed]

Main pack compartment (top compartment)
(pic 6)

MRE
Fire grate
MRE
Mylar emergency blanket
Mylar emergency bag
Bag containing 2 mountain House Entrée’s
Bag containing tea, dreied chicken soup, granola bars, and hot chocolate
Bag w/2 MH entrée’s
4 2 oz packages of peanut butter
bag w/ 3 MH entrée’s
Bag w/ socks and underwear
2 MH entrée’s
Plastic can w/ Beef Jerky, high sugar snacks, dried fruit, tea, can opener
2 tee shirts
1 jeans
1 quilted flannel shirt
1 flannel shirt
Spare Katadyn water filter

[Dazed]

Main compartment (bottom):
(pic 5)

5 MH entrée’s
1 sleeping bag (0 deg F
1 lb freeze dried beans (just add water)
1 can spam (just for the hell of it!) w/key
hatchet w fiberglass handle (note: handle IS replaceable)


Not shown:

Boots and camo jacket are with the bag at all times so that they can be found and donned quickly.

[Dazed]

Total gear weight is 43 lbs (dry)

add 2 lbs for each canteen, and another 12 for additional guns and ammo.

1st plan is Bug-IN.

2nd is Bug Out (with notice) in the truck, I can load everything on the list in approx 45 minutes and be moving with everything I really need for 3 weeks/1000 miles for 3+ people.



3rd is the BOB.

Suggestions?

Thanks

[Christian for Israel]

my wife keeps talking as i try and read the lists so i probably missed some stuff, but here's what i noticed most. you have a lot of mountain house food. they're great but bulky. you could replace just one with a 3 day lifeboat ration and extend the time you can live out of the bag considerably. also i would strongly suggest replacing the wire saw with a pocket chainsaw. the difference in quality is extreme and i have had wire saws break when i really needed them.

you seem to be a lot like me in keeping multiple copies of important items such as can openers and fire starters. i do have one question though, where did you find the freeze dried beans?

looks like an excellent kit overall...thanks for posting it!

[Dazed]

my wife keeps talking as i try and read the lists so i probably missed some stuff, but here's what i noticed most. you have a lot of mountain house food. they're great but bulky. you could replace just one with a 3 day lifeboat ration and extend the time you can live out of the bag considerably. also i would strongly suggest replacing the wire saw with a pocket chainsaw. the difference in quality is extreme and i have had wire saws break when i really needed them.

you seem to be a lot like me in keeping multiple copies of important items such as can openers and fire starters. i do have one question though, where did you find the freeze dried beans?

looks like an excellent kit overall...thanks for posting it!

I have the lifeboat rations in my preps, and in my BO plans (using a truck). You are right about the MH stuff being bulky, but calorie for calorie, they are nearly the same weight as the ration bars. My issue is weight, not bulk.

I have broken 3 chain saw type saws, never a wire saw. Wonder if it is the wood in our different areas?

Freeze dried beans come from Taco Bell. It's the way that they get them. Just add water and wait for 18 minutes.


I figure if TSHTF, cans will be available for foragers, but non electric can opners will be in short supply. Fire starters....Can you have too many? The matchlight needs a match to start it, but it works well to start damp tinder or even damp wood.

I figure from reading your kit list that I need a decent hat, and a better first aid kit.

At least this gave me reason to go through everything and check it, and repack it all.

[Christian for Israel]

At least this gave me reason to go through everything and check it, and repack it all.

i know the feeling.

i understand your issue with weight...that pack is pretty heavy already. i've tried to keep mine around 35 lbs. i'll be pushing that up to 40 soon though, as i'll be adding a kel-tec sub2000 9mm carbine.

thanks for the info on the beans.

[Dazed]

i know the feeling.


thanks for the info on the beans.

If you can't get them from a local Taco Bell, let me know. I might be able to score some more.....

[Christian for Israel]

thanks, i'll let you know.

[Dazed]

We've shown you ours, Care to share yours?

You DO have BOB's, don't you?

[Christian for Israel]

bump for the stragglers.

[Fleataxi]

Sorry it took so long - I had to wait until CFI could get over here and help me!

FOA: My Everyday carry:



Yes, I really do carry all that on a daily basis - NO, I don't go through Metal Detectors!

This kit is with me all the time - at least in the Truck since it carries all my glasses and wallet:



This is what the back of my truck rarely looks like - CFI cleaned it up for the shot!



There are two boxes covering the wheel wells full of stuff - mostly if I have a breakdown, or get stranded overnight due to a blizzard or road closure, and stuff to dig me out of a snow bank or deep sand including a 5-ton manual come-along w/ straps and stuff, and several gallons of water in 2-liter soda bottles. The right box normally contains the SU-16 in a tennis racket bag plus 600 rounds of 5.56/223 ammo on stripper clips. The front sections (closest to tailgate) contain first aid kit and road flares.

[Fleataxi]

The next picture shows the contents of the Rubbermaid tote in the center of the shell in the previous picture:



Here's my Kel-Tec SU-16 (.223/5.56mm) Assault Carbine with 6 loaded 30-round mags and 600 rounds on stripper clips in bandoleers. Where CFI and I live, this is a normal weapons loadout, and if anything, I'm light on ammo considering I've got a vehicle to haul it around with:



Here's pictures of the contents of the blue daybag that was inside the Rubbermaid container:







Here's two coffee can cookers with homemade dehydrated veggie/instant rice mix (In daybag kit):



I've even got emergency gear on my keychain:



Fleataxi

[Fleataxi]

MORE!

Below, the green cammo print fanny pack is a mutliple-compartment kit I bought at Wally-World on Clearance. The next sequence of pictures shows the contents:

Fanny pack (green cammo pack):













This is a Cold Steel LTC Kukhri with a custom Kydex sheath from Sharp Squirrel. The pouch was my design since the compass pouch was too small. Dave was nice enough to install it N/C. Unfortunately, he became alergic to plastics and was forced to sell the business.



Standard 1qt millitary canteen cup/Stove w/ Hexamine fuel (no odor when burning, and stores indefinitely):



Fleataxi

[LoupGarou]

BoB 1:
3K sq inch pack, with 100oz Camelback built in
On outside of pack:

Streamlight Twintask LED/xenon CR123A powered flashlight
Roll up "Twin Lead" J-pole antenna with 25' RG58 coax and Tygon leader.

Side pocket 1, Medical:

Spare pair of eyeglasses
Gauze
Large Bandaids
Suture kit
Sealon Spray
Military wound filler
Knife
Surgical scissors
Tweezers
Foreceps
Transpore tape
O24 pain spray (best I have found yet)
Tri-biotic ointment
Iodine Tincture
Bleach in dropper bottle
Alcohol wipes
Hand Sanitizer/Fire starter in a spray bottle
Aspirin, aspirin, and more aspirin
Digital Thermometer
Zap a Gap (Pink)
Zap a Gap CA+ (Green)
Trilene 8lb test fishing line
Odd assortment of fishing tackle
Rohto V Ice and Cool eyedrops
Lidocaine 70% gel
Benzicane 40% gel
Nitroglycerine spray (for Father)
Atropa Belladonna 20% tincture
Aconitum Ferox paste
and a few others...

Side pocket 2, Tools:

Streamlight Tasklight Luxeon 3AA flashlight
Pocket Digital multimeter
Multi tip screwdriver and "security bit block"
Blunt nose pliers
Needle nose pliers
Open end adjustable wrenches (X2)
Small torx set
Small Allen set
Small screwdriver
Butane soldering Iron (X2)
Silver Solder small roll
Electrical tape (X3)
Duct tape
Zip wire ties 18"X1/4" (X25)
NiMH AA batteries (X20)
NiMH AA/AAA charger (12-24V in)
Mini 12V LED lights (X2)

In top pouch:

Choate tools' Executive Ice Scraper and letter opener set
Gerber Gator knife
Suunto M-2 Compass
Nukalert (one of many)
MSR MIOX pen and extra rock salt (water purifier)
BNC, SMA, and PL-259 connector and adapters
Russian Monocular
Jumper leads with small alligator clips or "ProbeHooks" (X8, useful in all sorts of situations)
Yaesu Headset for my VX-5 radio
Sony folding headphones
Pez dispenser (X2)
Extra Pez candy packs (X4)

In middle pouch:

Yaesu FT-817
Garmin Rino 120 (loaded with state maps)
Twin reel field dipole antenna
Misc electrical cables
ARRL Repeater directory (2003, ouch!)
5W folding solar panels (Coleman Xponent, X3)

In underside pouch:

Digital Cammo tarp (10'X10')
BlueWater 2MM X50M black line
Pocket hammock (backup to my roll up canvas one)

In main compartment:

Meade Travelview 8-17X25 Light Enhancing Binoculars
MSR Dragonfly stove
MSR fuel bottles (filled) (X2)
MSR stainless steel 9" pan with Aluminum heat disk (best I have found yet)
Small cookware set
48 pack of CR123A batteries for flashlight and MIOX pen
3.5AH AGM battery (for power at night)
Pair of socks (X4)
Undergarments (X3)
Pants (X2)
T-shirts (X2 black/charcoal, X2 light grey)
NEC Mobilepro 880 mini-laptop with cable for RAZR cell phone (TB2K while bugging out, heck yeah!)
PVS-14
Energy bars (X10)
1L Pancake mix (X2)
Mac and Cheese (X2)
1L sugar
Drink mix (X4)

And depending on the season, or what I feel like:

Can of Chicken
Can of Corned Beef (X2)
Sharp Cheddar cheese sealed with vinegar sponge
...

__________

Climbing/Rapelling Pack BoB 2:

Misty Mountain Fudge harness
Canine lifting/rappelling harness with remote release strap (X2)
Digital Camo Tarp (10'X10') (X2)
BlueWater rappelling gloves
183M BlueWater Assault 7/16" Static Kernmantle rope
100M BlueWater DoubleDry Accelerator 10.5mm rope
50M 3M Nightline (4mm) Black/Retroreflective stripe (X2)
Misc carabiners (X30)
Misc Quickdraws (X10)
Webbing loops (20 pack, different lengths)
CMI rescue 8
Petzl Ascension Handheld Ascender set (L&R)
Petzl Croll Chest Ascender (X2)
Petzl Tibloc Ascender/Rope locks (X3)
Petzl Gemini Pulley (X3)
Petzl Pro Traxion Pulley (X2)
Petzl Fixe Pulley (X4)
Petzl Stop Descender (X1)
Petzl Grigri (X2) (Best purchase ever made)
Black Diamond Camalot set
CMG Infinity flashlight
Streamlight Luxeon Jr flashlight
Petzl LED headlamp
Garmin Rino 120 (loaded with state maps)
Motorola T5000 FRS/GMRS radio (X2)

BoB (box, in the car/truck) #3:

Car tools
Car fluids (oil, brake, antifreeze...)
Can of Starter Fluid (Ether, not for car...)
More food
Botled water (X12)
Blankets (X3)
Pringles sour cream potato chips (X2, changed often)
Doritos Cool Ranch (X2, changed often)
Pez dispensers (X3)
Dog collars (X5, different sizes)
Dog leashes (X2)
Second set of Rappelling gear and ropes
Steel Cables (X3)
Quicklinks (X4, 1/2"X5")
Duct tape
Electrical tape
Portable NVIS antenna
Portable Dipole antenna
Spare 2M j-pole antenna with 50' extra coax

Loup

[Christian for Israel]

cool loup...got any pictures to go with the list?

[Grantbo]

CFI: Sewing awl and a sewing kit? I have an idea to save you time and space. First, take the sewing awl out of the kit but remove some of the waxed thread. Add 2-3 different sized 'glovers needles' and some of that waxed thread to your sewing kit. The glovers needles are Gods gift to hand sewing and will easly make up for awl.

[Christian for Israel]

i'll look for glovers needles but i'm keeping the awl as it's designed to make sewing thick rawhide possible. thanks for the suggestion though.

now...where's the pics and list of yours?

[LoupGarou]

cool loup...got any pictures to go with the list?

(Just remember, you asked for them...)

I had to get somewhere I could get some unused floor space, so today I headed out to my place west of here.

Loup

First Pic: Main Bob, closed and ready.
Second Pic: Left side pouch, Medical
Third Pic: Right side pouch, Tools
Fourth Pic: Top pouch, MIOX, compass, digging, cutting, tools.
Fifth Pic: Yaesu FT817, Garmin Rino120, antennas, cords, and old repeater directory.

[LoupGarou]

First Pic: Main BoB, main pouch, electronics
Second Pic: NEC hooked up with panels and internet
Third Pic: Logged into TB2K (dark picture)
Fourth Pic: Main pouch, cookware
Fifth Pic: Main pouch, clothes and maps

Loup

[LoupGarou]

First Pic: Climbing BoB (#1 of 3 Climbing BoBs)
Second Pic: What is in this Climbing BoB
Third Pic: Solar and Power BoBs
Fourth Pic: 100W Solar panel BoB open (5X 20W, wrapped around cardboard tube)
Fifth Pic: 100W (5X 20W) Solar panels laid out

Loup

[LoupGarou]

Medical BoB (Bug out Box, large Rubbermaid tote):
First Pic: Layer one in the tote, UV cure cement (dental), Curcumin, Piperine, Qtips, H2O2, Bandaids, Syringes, Sutures, needles, Wraps, Right Guard...
Second Pic: Layer two in the tote, iodine, mercuroclear, Providone, small UV illuminator, scissors, hemostats, forceps, extra eyeglasses, soap, alcohol prep pads, more aconitum ferox and atropa belladonna (orange bottles), and self limiting tourniquet
Third Pic: Layer three in the tote, Bandaids and meds. Everything from Keflex, to Cipro, Aspirin to Amoxicillin, DCA, Transpore tape, and all sorts of herbal (strong) meds on the bottom right. The large Nalgene bottle next to the Curad Telfa-pads is filled with the Army's wound sealing powder, and the little upside down white mushroom with the blue tip is Intrasite Gel, used for wet dressings and necrotic wound care.

Loup

[LoupGarou]

I will get some more pictures (in the next few days), of the larger medical stock, especially the tools and larger equipment. Here is one that I had out, it is part of my digital VideoEndoscope.

Loup

[Christian for Israel]

HOLY CARP!!!!!

i'm speechless.

that is an absolutely amazing set of prep equipment...truely above and beyond ANYTHING i could have dreamed up.....i want a set just like it! (but i'm gonna need your help building it )

seriously, YOU should be the one building kits for folks here, not me.

wow...so tell me, how long did it take to disassemble, photograph and reassemble all that? and what do you figure the cost of the kit is?

[LoupGarou]

...
so tell me, how long did it take to disassemble, photograph and reassemble all that? and what do you figure the cost of the kit is?

Which pack? And the cost varies greatly depending on two things, can you make some of the items yourself, and do you have to have the high end stuff.

Most of the electrical items, I have made (or modified) myself. And while I do have a lot of "higher end playtoys", a lot of them can be substituted for the "medium end" ones with little or no loss in functionality. For example, while I chose the MSR Dragonfly stove as my cooking flamethrower, I could have easily saved $60 and gone with the Coleman dual fuel model. The only drawbacks are that the MSR will run any liquid fuel except alcohol based ones, and the Coleman is a little heavier.

And as far as the whole "photography session", it was done in less than three hours for all the shots. But the actual packing and unpacking only took around 7 minutes for the main BoB, and a few minutes each for the others. The solar panels are a bit cantankerous to make sure that they roll back up on the roll without going over the sides (and one of the reasons that I like my other (bigger) bag of ten 55 watt folding panels instead). I am very pleased with those bags that I bought and have a few more of them, as well as a few more expensive ones that I don't like as much (much harder to get stuff back into).


_____

Most of the medical equipment was equipment that I used in the lab, including the HV gear, the X-Ray systems, the digital videoendoscopes, microscopes, centrifuge (good thing I don't have 3,000 of them...), O2 tanks, lab chemicals, and all of the other "toys".

A lot of the "stuff" in the BoBs, especially the main one, is based on things that I need or use more than once and a while, and most of that stuff is dual (multiple) use. Doing this actually becomes a cost cutting measure than becoming extra expenses. For example, I do keep a vial of "Nitro" in my main BoB for my Dad, who does have heart problems. But, I also keep a bottle of Digitalis Lanata, Aconitum Ferox, and Atropa Belladonna tinctures. These can be mixed and used for not only heart issues, but also for other medicinal uses, and with different mixtures, for "hunting". The A.F (Indian Aconite) stays in a dropper bottle, while the Belladonna and Digitalis stay in spray bottles. This allows me to put drops on arrowheads, or in bait for animals, and keep the two countermeasures in meter-able spray amounts for quicker action (larger surface area). Likewise, I can take the A.F. tincture, and after it is mixed with water 100:1 (water:tincture), I can use it as a general anesthetic (it works especially good around wounds and for "emergency work" like dentistry). .1-.5ml of the 100:1 used as a directed application to a sore tooth will numb to the point of extract-ability for hours, the same amount of 20:1 dilution will keep it numb for over 24 hours, or numb and entire limb long enough to do repair work. On the other end of the spectrum, 10ml of the straight tincture on the hide (less if ingested), can bring down large animals or end up killing smaller ones, so you have to be careful with the stuff (and keep the other two nearby). Multi purpose items are the way to go...

Loup

[LoupGarou]

As far as prices go on the main BoB:
PVS-14 $2,800
3W 808nM Laser Illuminator $800
Yaesu FT-817 $650
Garmin Rino 120 $290
MSR MIOX $120
MSR Dragonfly stove $108
NEC Mobilepro 880 $100 (eBay)
NukAlert, "cosmetically challenged" version $80 (IIRC)
Extra Yaesu VX-5 battery $60
Yaesu VX-5 headset $55
Gerber Gator $52
Choate Tool Corp. Zytel set ("letter opener" and "ice scraper") $41
StreamLight Twintask $35
Coleman Xponent 5 watt solar panels $32/each
Suunto M-2 compass $30
Meade Travelview binoculars $27
StreamLight Tasklight $26
AGM battery (3.5-7.5AH depending on what I throw in at the moment) $22-$35
Butane Soldering Irons $24/each
U-Dig-it tool $24
RadioShack Pocket DMM $22
Energizer 2,500mAH AA NiMH batteries 8pk $19
Security Bit set $17

All the other pieces and tools probably total $100-$200 max, and that includes the bag. So yes, the main bag might end up costing around $5,700, but most of the above can changed around to quickly lower the packs cost, and still have most of the same features. For example the PVS-14 can be substituted out for a good Gen1+ or even a Gen 2 and save $2,000. Drop the 3W diode laser illuminator, and just use the built in one on the Gen1+/Gen2, and save another $800. Drop the FT-817 if you don't have your Amateur license and replace it with a Sangean super 909 and that drops off $300+. MSR Dragonfly can get traded out for a Coleman Dual Fuel and save $80 there. The rest can be done the same way. Substitute all of that out and you are now looking at something closer to $2,500.

The Climbing gear bags are around $600-$1,000 each, depending on what is in them at the time. All total it is enough gear for six people to get up and down areas that are normally impassable. Most of my friends also have similar packs. And these packs come in handy for all sorts of other needs other than mountain climbing, so they get used often.

The 100 watt solar bag cost around $620 for the five panels and another $220 for everything else (meters, battery charger, charge controller, and cables).

The battery packs run $150-$210 each, including either one or two batteries, one inverter, and other stuff.

Again, the more stuff you can make yourself, the more you can save.

As far a the med kit, and medical equipment, I don't want to even think about those totals.

Loup

[cryhavoc]

LoupG -

Your kit



If I was HALF as prepped as you were.....damn, I'd be set!!

NICE.


cryhavoc

[LoupGarou]

OK, playing around with some figures here:

BoB pack itself $20-$40 (Walmart)

Solar:
Option 1:
Solar Panel $45/7.5W (Vitabon, eBay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZvitabon)
Two diodes from RadioShack $3.49
12V@7.5AH AGM $35-$40 (Batteries Plus)
Option 2:
Solar Panel $265/30W (Vitabon, eBay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZvitabon)
Charge controller $24(Amazon)
12V@12AH AGM $45 (Batteries Plus)

Radios:
Yaesu FT-817ND $500 (eBay)
Sangean ATS-909 $180 (eBay)
Garmin Rino 120 $150 (eBay)
Motorola T7400AA FRS/GMRS radios $44 for 2 radios (eBay)

Flashlights:
Maglight Luxeon 3W, 3AA penlight $24

NVG:
ITT Model 160 NVG (GEN 3) $800 (eBay)
Tasco NV-360 (GEN 1) $168 (eBay)

Binoculars:
Meade Travelview $25-$30 (eBay)
Nikon Action 8X40 $65 (eBay)

Stoves:
MSR Dragonfly $75 (eBay)
Coleman dual fuel stove $39

Others:
MSR MIOX $75 (eBay)
NukAlert (cosmetically challenged one, if still available) $80
AA/AAA NiMH charger 12V input $25 (Walmart)

Pick and choose and then add in stuff that you already have, and you could have similar proformance out of a pack less than $800-$2,000. All depending on what you want and what you think you will need. For example, if you are in the city, or the suburbs, and don't have your Amateur radio license:

BoB pack itself $40 (get the bigger one) (Walmart)
Solar:
Option 1:
Solar Panel $45/7.5W (Vitabon, eBay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZvitabon)
Two diodes from RadioShack $3.49
12V@7.5AH AGM $35-$40 (Batteries Plus)
Radios:
Sangean ATS-909 $180 (eBay)
Motorola T7400AA FRS/GMRS radios $44 for 2 radios (eBay)
Maglight Luxeon 3W, 3AA penlight $24
Tasco NV-360 (GEN 1) $168 (eBay)
Meade Travelview $25-$30 (eBay)
Coleman dual fuel stove $39
MSR MIOX $75 (eBay)
NukAlert (cosmetically challenged one, if still available) $80
AA/AAA NiMH charger 12V input $25 (Walmart)

That totals $793.49 (taking the higher range for all), and you just need to add in the stuff you already have. In the city or the suburbs, you aren't going to need the high end NVG, because there is usually something blocking your view past 100 feet or so, getting the Gen 3 stuff for "in-town" use is a waste, IMHO. If you were in the sticks, where your driveway might be 1/4 to 1/2 a mile, then that might make a difference geting the Gen 3 ones. Getting the ATS909 and the Motorolas will allow you to talk to whoever you need to in your group, and allow you a backup radio, as well as listen to all the shortwave broadcasts and AM/FM radio. The Meade Travelview is the same issue as the NVG, you are not trying to see somebody half a mile or more away, you are trying to see if that is Mr. Watson going into his house across the street, or a perp getting ready to raid Mr. Watson's house, and then possibly yours. The Coleman stove will get your meals cooked and save you $60-$80. The MSR MIOX will guarantee water sources to be free of living things you don't want to drink. NukAlert, well, you DO live near a city, and cities are possible targets for a lot of things...

This way you can scale it up or down as much as you want or need.

Loup

[Christian for Israel]

incredible bro. maybe i should switch to pm's for the detailed questions. i'm really interested in where to get some of that stuff to add to my BOB. in particular, the solar panels and some of the first aid supplies. that Aconitum Ferox has me intrigued...i've been looking for a good anesthetic for use in minor surgery for years yet i've never heard of it. is it easy to get/use?

[LoupGarou]

Before anyone should even contemplate working with the plants, tinctures or other parts/solutions, I would STRONGLY SUGGEST at least reading up as much as you can about the processes and their cautions. I would suggest that you find a local naturalist or homeopath and talk with them as well. Just going off "blindly" into this "field" can get you, or someone you care about, killed. Yes, these are plants, and grow common to a lot of areas, but just as Poison Ivy has bad affects on you, so do these. It can be used in limited amounts for great good, or screw up and really hurt someone/something. For example, one drop of 10:1 dilution of Aconitum Ferox, spread out around (not over) a wound, will numb that limb enough for you to pull an arrow or bullet out. However a crystal of the same tincture, the same size as that drop will kill large game. At the very least, read up as much as you can, and don't "play" with the stuff. Yes, it is natural, so are alligators and sharks.

You can start here with most of the plants out there:
Botanical.com's common name index:
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/comindx.html
Their poisons page:
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/poison.html

For more info on the three that I mentioned above:
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nighde05.html
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/f/foxglo30.html
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aconi007.html

_____

If you want to take the easy way out, and have somebody else make the tinctures, you can just go shopping, several places carry them.
One example, their list:
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/A
Aconitum Ferox:
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Acon-f
Atropa Belladona:
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Bell
Digitalis Purpurea (they don't carry the D. Lanata variety, which is just a little more potent):
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Dig

Try to keep it in tinctures or dilutions (tinctures being preferred). Do not bother with "pills" or "tablets" since you need them to work at a stronger level at a pinpoint area (transdermal), not all over the body to a lesser degree (oral intake).
_____

My suggestion is to actually start growing the plants that you need. Most of them are not hard to get ahold of, and some even grow naturally in the US (Atropa Belladonna and Digitalis Lanata are two of them)

The reason I would suggest growing your own, and then making your own tinctures is that not only can you create your own stocks, but you can make extra tinctures when needed, and at the strengths that you need. If you start with a known percentage of Ethyl Alcohol, then you can find out exactly what strengths your tinctures will be maxed out at (saturation levels). Once this is done, you can then use those tinctures to make other things, such as dilutions, crystallizations, gels, and creams.

Once again, I would suggest as well, that anyone interested in working with this, that they would intensely study all aspects of creating the seed-to-tincture process AND all of the necessary cautions about doing so. A lot of these plant's toxins are transdermal, and while that is a good thing when you need it, you don't want to have your garden where somebody or something could walk through it too often. You also want to wear gloves (nitrile) if you are planning on working with the plants or plant parts for a long period of time (few hours or more).

For example:
From: http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aconi007.html

All the species contain an active poison Aconitine, one of the most formidable poisons which have yet been discovered: it exists in all parts of the plant, but especially in the root. The smallest portion of either root or leaves, when first put into the mouth, occasions burning and tingling, and a sense of numbness immediately follows its continuance. One-fiftieth grain of Aconitine will kill a sparrow in a few seconds; one-tenth grain a rabbit in five minutes. It is more powerful than prussic acid and acts with tremendous rapidity. One hundredth grain will act locally, so as to produce a well-marked sensation in any part of the body for a whole day. So acrid is the poison, that the juice applied to a wounded finger affects the whole system, not only causing pains in the limbs, but a sense of suffocation and syncope.

BTW, one grain=64.79mg, so when they talk about 1/50 of a grain, they are talking about less than 2mg of the substance. Not much at all, and this is why the tinctures and their known strengths are so important. This is serious business, but can be VERY useful in the preps department. Care to go hunting large game with a pellet rifle? Want to make sure that you can "cure what ails ya'"? Ever wonder where the Atropine that is used in the autoinjectors for chemical warfare treatment, comes from?

Loup

[Dazed]

Anyone got a suggestion for a light, small solar/battery shortwave reciever? Say with FM and Am?

I think that I need one for my BOB.

[LoupGarou]

Anyone got a suggestion for a light, small solar/battery shortwave reciever? Say with FM and Am?

I think that I need one for my BOB.

I have always been partial to Sangean, Grundig or Sony for my shortwave radios, but I have also heard that Kaito makes some good ones, fairly inexpensive.

Sangean ATS909, or the Radiolab's modified version, the Super 909 would be my first pick, but it is a fairly high end radio, as far as portable shortwave radios go.

Standard (unmodified) Sangean ATS-909:
http://www.amazon.com/Sangean-ATS-90...&s=electronics

RadioLab's version (modified for more sensitivity, useful if you are trying to listen to the smaller stations, like Amateur radio, with a small antenna):
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/re...s/super909.php

One of Sony's SSB capable shortwave receiver:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-SW760...&s=electronics


Kaito's website:
http://www.kaitousa.com/radios.htm

This one will receive all of the shortwave stations and AM/FM.
Model: KA008
Digital Display AM/FM/SW1-SW4 Dynamo/Solar Power Radio With Super Bright LED Flashlight $55.99
http://www.kaitousa.com/KA007D.htm


This one will receive the SSB HF stations (military and Amateur radio), as well as the regular shortwave stations, NOAA weather, and AM/FM, but does not have the crank or solar.
http://www.kaitousa.com/KA1121.htm

Loup

[LoupGarou]

As far as getting the plants or seeds, here are a few places:

http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi (I have used this one in the past.)
https://home.frognet.net/~complants/...cart/aa-af.htm
http://www.horizonherbs.com/

One more for the pre-made tinctures:
http://www.homeopathyworks.com/index.php
http://www.homeopathyworks.com/section.php?xSec=5
_____

More info to read up on:
http://www.swsbm.com/homepage/
http://www.swsbm.com/SayreMM/SayreMM.html

Loup

[Christian for Israel]

loup, thank you. you're an amazing resource. understand that i have been my own doctor all my life. of course, i've always used pharmaceuticals instead of herbs, but i am well aware of how easy it is to do more harm than good. for this reason i refuse to treat anyone besides myself if there is any possible way to get them to a professional instead.

thank you for the information, looks like i've got a bit of reading to do.

[Fleataxi]

Loup: WOW!!

I just spent the last half hour reading your botanical links!

facinating!!

Fleataxi

[mecoastie]

That is a great set of pics. One question though. What do you sleep in? I see no bag or anything. Definitely going to add some stuff to my BOB based on this.

[LoupGarou]

That is a great set of pics. One question though. What do you sleep in? I see no bag or anything. Definitely going to add some stuff to my BOB based on this.

There is a pocket "ball up" hammock in the bottom of the pack with a rain cover, but I also carry a three season Thinsulate sleeping bag, and a lightweight roll-up canvas hammock with zytel spreaders. I do have a very lightweight two person, "flip and setup" tent that I can also carry, but while setup is in seconds, takedown is still in minutes (quite a few), so I usually don't take it.

Most of my bugout destinations are in 30-50 mile increments, so even doing a walkabout bugout will get me there in a few days. I usually don't worry about the sleeping arrangements as I would rather head as fast as possible to the nearest bugout location, or pitstop. Once there, I can get rest, more supplies, and the much needed shower.

Loup