About your SHTF Kit....

[BerettaNut92]

Seriuosly, an itemized inventory of our packs and a manifest of our urban assualt vehicles get boring to read. Sure it sounds cool (and is gun related) if we take our FAL, rail car of magazines and 2000 rds of .308 and a back up AK with us, but what good is that going to do if you die from hypothermia on night 1?

What do you have so you can and how do you plan to, and any pending changes in the future on how you:

1. secure shelter
2. procure water
3. procure food?
4. And how much does your pack weigh?

1. Shelter: Some NATO matches and the saw on my Leatherperson for makee fire. Wiggy's 0-degree bag. Wool underwear and rain gear in the pack when I'm not actually wearing them. I plan to add a Spark-Lite firestarter as a redundancy and a lightweight tube tent to the pack for if it gets wet (rare in Socal, but still).

2. Water: I have 3 liters of Aqua-Literz pre-packaged water reinforced by a cut-in-half USPS priority mail cardboard box to fill the Camelbak to capacity during the first few hours. The water filter goes on the Nalgene to filter water and I have some of those tablets for redundancy. Filtered and purified from the Nalgene gets dumped into the Camelbak. Nalgene to be used as redundant water container if Camelbak breaks.

3. Food: Some of those 3600 calorie survival meals. I need to re-think my food as I have no idea how to procure food other than cap bunnies and possum with my 9mm I DO have enough of those rations to keep me going for a week (I'm small and have relatively low food consumption normally but I DO get cranky and demoralized when hungry)--being as most emergencies are under control within 72 hours and one can survive for weeks without food, I'm not as concerned about food though I would like to have a better solution.

4. Pack, with sleeping bag attached, is about 27 lbs. I'm small and weak so I prefer to travel light

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Re shelter:

I have a couple 10x10 tarps in my SHTF kit, along with a supply of paracord. I can rig up a decent shelter with these. Along with the tarps are two space blankets, similar to US military casevac blankets. And some tent stakes.

I keep my kit in a few Rubbermaid containers which can be put into the back of my Expedition. I'm not going anywhere on foot with a pregnant wife and a 1 year old daughter.

 

[Dr.Rob]

On the vecihle side: I don't go anywhere without tire chains, a shovel and a wool blanket. There's usually a field jacket or snomobile suit in there too.

Your results may vary, but here in Colorado, you often find you might need these things now and again, especially if you spend any time in the mountains.

I usually keep a Helly Hanson rain suit with my gear, its much more useful than a poncho and is evenavailable in muted tactical colors.

Any hiker worth his salt has been purifying his water here for years, giardia is a real pain in the gut, altitude sickness doesn't come close to the pain and misery of little bugs doing evil things. Still, there are other ways to purify water, ie iodine tablets, boiling etc. Filters are great but they don't last forever. Iodine tabs take up little room, but they make water taste a little strange and give some folks the runs.

On shelter, even a good bivy bag isn't rated for 4 seasons. The best tent out there needs its seams re-sealed often, or you are going to end up wet and miserable. If you are shopping for 2, get a tent that fits 3, always get a bigger tent than you need, and preferably one you can sit up in, getting dressed while laying on your back is a royal pain. I have a North Face Clip Light Tent I've been using for a number of years, easy set up, low hassle and light wieght. Kelty makes a similar tent that pretty affordable.

On food, don't be afraid of simple solutions. A can of pork and beans will taste like filet mignon if you are hungry enough. Canned stew, like Dinty Moore, has a ton of carbs, fat and protein to keep you going and a long shelf life. Biggest problem is the wieght. Freeze dried food tastes.. well freeze dried and I for one am thouroughly SICK of mountain house entrees. MRE's are now widely available, but no one seems to think they are very good. Still, if you only eat the stuff IN AN EMERGENCY you won't spend a lot, and it lasts a long time. MRE's also have that self-heating feature that's pretty trick, and you don't need to add water.

Take some time, learn to fish/forage/hunt.. you might need to someday.

A good hiking pack set up for a 50 miler, shouldn't weigh more than 40 pounds, 35 is more realistic for most folks.

I realize some of you hard charging GI types have carried more, but with all the high tech stuff available out there, the heaviest thing you will end up carrying is ammunition.

 

[Gary H]

Credit card...

Might need to rethink this one..

Seriously, mostly prepared for earthquake. Dry food/fruit, ten gallons of water, blankets.. alternate meeting sites.. the normal stuff.

 

[dwestfall]

This assumes we're going somewhere, and on foot? I've got a wife, plus two kids under three. I don't see us going anywhere unless we can drive, and if we can drive then things probably aren't so bad. But we could load up the car with all the ammo, sleeping bags, mountain bike, Mountain House food and the 50gal water drum (well moving that might be a problem.) If we had to hoof it it would not be pretty. I guess I would have to put the kids into the bike trailer, strap a bunch of gear to it (mostly food/water), load a backpack onto the wife and pedal off. I would be taking very light weapons -- no .45 or .308!

In the event of a major earthquake, I've got parents, in-laws, and sister-in-law's family all within 15 minutes' drive or a morning's bike ride in different directions. Hopefully ONE of these houses will still be habitable. But if communications were down we would have to get there to find out.

But trust me, they'd be better off coming to MY house.

 

[feedthehogs]

I'm still trying to figure how to put the portable air conditioner in my pack.
Its hot here in the tropics........................

Kidding aside, being in the boat business there would be numerous over 120' trans oceanic yachts with multiple generators, water makers, reefers, freezers, spare parts, nav equiptment, fishing gear at my disposal. Most are always stocked for long trips and parties.

If the well stocked house won't support life, I'm headed to the marina.

The New Madrid Run got me thinkin many years ago on the value of sea survival and transportation.

 

[45R]

Hummm you've got me thinking I'm going to take some pictures tonight

45R

 

[Sportcat]

Skunk,

Where did you get the idea for the tube tent???

I also have some 40 gallon trash bags in my kit. Can be used for ground cover, sleeping bag cover, collecting water, storing stuff, etc...

 

[TechBrute]

I keep my kit in a few Rubbermaid containers which can be put into the back of my Expedition. I'm not going anywhere on foot with a pregnant wife and a 1 year old daughter.

I hear you brother!

The other day it crossed my mind that 4-wheelers might be a good alternative to cover ground quickly if the roads are Fubar. I can't get any info on range or fuel consumption, though. I used to have a few a couple years back, but fuel consumption was not an issue, and I would have gagged if you tried to put a utility rack on them.

 

[Sactown]

don't forget some cash.

 

[clipse]

Shelter- GI type rain poncho and extra tarp with snaps to match the poncho.

Water- PUR water filter, water purifying tablets, and two 1 liters of bottled water.

Food- 22lr revolver, half a dozen med. snares, knowledge to use snares, and quarters for vending machines.

My pack weights in at 30 lbs.

I live in a rural area. The town I live in has less than 5,000 people in it. The purpose of my pack to simply to relocate myself and wife from harms way. I have a car and if that can't get us to her moms then it is an 8 mile hike. My wife has a bag just like mine.


clipse

 

[armoredman]

POS car, near freeway, quiet farming town, no where near any targets of note, think I'll stay here. If absolutely must go, backpack is set with wide variety of wierd supplies, including a bungie cord, food, clothes. Bible, kid supplies/food, canned stuff, trade items, ammo, holsters, etc.
The thing I think about is the ultimate SHTF scenarios are highly unlikely, but medium level ones, like a train derailing nearby carrying chlorine, forcing evacuation, that could happen. Remember local shelters often won't take pets, and definately won't allow firearms. Friends around your area you could camp out with?
As for water, there is a very large swimming pool not 50 feet from me. Some tubing,a couple of pots, the gas grill, and voila! Distilled drinking water.
For you home SHFT people, don't forget the extra propane tanks for your grill - the electric pumps at the main tanks don't work without juice.
Don't forget some entertainment of some kind, deck of cards, books, solar powered radio, anything - you may be wherever you are for a while.

 

[BerettaNut92]

>> The purpose of my pack to simply to relocate myself and wife from harms way. I have a car and if that can't get us to her moms then it is an 8 mile hike. <<

Clipse, well put, that is my plan too, (not my mom's, she's in Hong Kong, but a friend's)....I hope no one thought I had any illusions of going Red Dawn into the hills

>> The thing I think about is the ultimate SHTF scenarios are highly unlikely, but medium level ones, like a train derailing nearby carrying chlorine, forcing evacuation, that could happen. <<

Heh...yeah, add that to my list of possible riots, fires, quakes and mudslides..I live a mile and a half downwind from the tracks...

 

[45R]

This is the one that I have for my car. Everything fits into a Burton Snowboarding bag. This bag aslo has a bag for a water bladder.

Flares
Tent stakes
Parachute Cord
Fixed Blade
2 cans of sterno fuel in side pockets of bag
steelwool and 9 volt battery
E-Tool
Axe and Hammer
Wire Ties
Flashlight
Tool Wrap
Scissors
Pencils
Matches
Etool with can opener
E Poncho, E Blanket and Wipes
MRE heaters
MRE meal junk
compass
ligter logs
mirror
2 pairs of gloves
small bag with radio and batteries
Water purification tablets
Insect repellent
I need to add rice and a canteen.

With this bag full I still have room to carry a small medical kit and 2 handguns with 1 brick of .22s and a couple 1911 or Sig 226 Mags. There is absolutely nothing tactical about this bag. Its purly functional. I also need to add handwarmers and high calorie food bars.

 

[DragonRider]

What is the item below the flares?? Nice set up and list.

John

 

[45R]

Those are plastic tent stakes in case I need to secure things down with the 550 Parachute cord.

The bag is designed so that the axe, hammer and tool rool are expendable if I need to huff it into a tough terrain. The Entrenching tool can hammer and has saw teeth to cut things. The crummy thing is that the teeth are not that sharp. The Soft plastic case also has Alice clips so I can attach it to the back of my pack if needed to so that I can make room for other things in the bag.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Hey titanium boy, you need a set of these titanium tent pegs...

 

[TechBrute]

That looks like the tadgear border on the tent stake...

 

[BerettaNut92]

Techbrute,

That looks like Tadgear on your credit card statement

 

[45R]

That could get expensive fast!

Anything with Ti in it is expensive!

 

[TechBrute]

Techbrute,

That looks like Tadgear on your credit card statement

Dude, don't you know it. And it's all your fault, too...

 

[Billy Sparks]

MRE's are not that bad but before you go buy a case and chuck them in the closet for the SHTF event try some. I would suggest you purchase a case or so and go through them and see which ones you like or don't like. I am a big meat eater but in MRE's I prefer the veggie ones. Also I have started breaking down my MRE's and createing new menu's. Example, a MRE has a entree, a side dish, snack something (candy bar, fruit bar, etc) drink powder, etc. From past experience I know that the rice in a MRE is good for one thing, using as replacement pellets in shotgun shells, and the tea with lemon drink mix is horrible. Therefore I am going to burst my MRE's and make my own. Example I am going to put the peaches, mmm good, and the pound cake, dry, in the same pack.

 

[SapperLeader]

While food is important, I have it rated last on the list of neccesities. I worry more about water, fire, and shelter. You would be surprised how long the human body can go with little or no food. For example, when I went through the armys sapper leadership course, the last week was the test phase. I had maybe 3-4 mre crackers to eat, as much water as I could drink, and 7 hours of sleep in seven days. We had to be planning complicated missions, and running through the woods at full speed. If you have enough water, and enough food to fool your body that your eating, you can thrive for quite a while, during a typical bug out situation.

 

[Sportcat]

Water safety

Question about water...

I keep a Camelbak Blowfish with gear in the "trunk" of my car. Presently I do not carry any water in it.

How long do you think water would be safe if I decided to fill the bladder and leave it in my car?

It will be covered and in darkness. Temps right now in SC range from 20's at night to around 50's during the day.

 

[Obiwan]

There is safe...and there is palatable!

But I would recommend against storing in your camelback.

And having experienced Giardia...some way to purify water is a MUST

How many of us rely on either electricity or the city for our water supply???

I have a creek nearby...but I am not drinking straight out of any water source.

(Well there was that stock tank that one time...but that was an emergency...used my bandanna for a filter)