BLR Project just got real.

[alfsauve]

Okay, I've had some literature on this and finally, with Miss Kitty's insistence, have decided to act.   We visited "Going Gear" (the actual store, goinggear.com) today for ideas.

Besides the long term stay at home stuff we've already been putting aside.  Here's my plan for "Go Kits"

Car Kit:  One in each car. Just to tide us over overnight.    This happens in ATL in the winter.  You get stuck and can't get home.  Spend the evening in a school, gym, store or car.  We have some basics in each car anyway.   As well as our carry guns.   

Get Home Bag:  This one is has added things to help us "get home".  Designed for travel more than an hour or more away from the house.    Hopefully will sustain you for a couple of days.   Added ammo, gun, enough to camp out overnight.

Total Bug Out:  While the other scenarios assume you're headed home, the Bug Out is when staying home is no longer a viable option.   The bag is contains what you need to sustain you for a couple of days and to perhaps be the basis for a long term camp out.  Grab it and go.  Of course if we have more time there are a list of other things we can also load in the car. 

Each Kit supplements the other. I've got a list for the other kits, but first I'm just going to work on the Car Kit.

So with that plan in mind, I did  research and decided to buy the Car Kits commercially.   While we have some things in the car already, some of the items duplicate what's already in the car.  The car stuff is extra and nice, but if you have to leave the car you just grab the bag and go.       Below is what the commercial kits contain.  The second list are the additional items I'm going to add to them.


   Stock Car Kit
1   Rubber Flashlight (D)
2   Light Stick 8 hours
1   AM/FM Radio
2   Mylar Reflecitve Blanket
2   Plastic Pancho
1   Tube Tent
12   Water Pouch 4.2oz
1   Multi-Tool
1   Duct Tape
1   Whistle/Flint/Mirror Combo
1   Utility Rope 50ft
2   N95 Breathing Mask
1   Work Gloves
1   Deck of Cards
1   Gi Can Opener
1   Pencil
   First Aid Kit
15   Bandages 3/8x1.5
15   Bandages 0.65x3
2   Sterile Sponge 2x2
6   Alcohol Pads
2   Antiseptic Towelettes
2   Butterfly Closures
10   Qtips
1   Iodine Pad
   
Add to Kit
1   Toilet Paper
2   Food Bars
2   Sporks
2   Collapsible Cups
4   Coffee/Tea
1   Surgical Tape
1   Tweezers
1   Insect Repellent
1   Sun Screen
1   Quality Folding Knife
1   LED Work Light(AA)
4   AA Batteries
2   D Batteries
1   Blanket
1   Large Towel
2   Hand Towels

[PegLeg45]

On the AM/FM radio, I have one that also has a built-in lantern and the whole thing is powered by a hand crank....no batteries needed. If not using the lantern, you get about 1 hour of radio from two minutes of cranking.

[alfsauve]

It surprised me how much of this I already have at home.   The hand-crank radio/light, and a small folding stove and several cans of Sterno, for example.

I just listed the Car Kits I'm buying and supplementing.  They only support an overnight stay.  Just the basic first aid and comfort stuff.  I'll post my other kit ideas later as I build them out.     
The other kits will contain the longer term items, like the hank crank, real cooking items, meals, etc.  My idea is that each kit is for more serious levels of survival and they supplement each other.

One thing becomes obvious, you have to balance the bulk and weight against the portability.  Not to mention the costs.  We had 20% of coupons at the Going Gear store but still thought a lot of it was too expensive.  Going Gear is more for the serious hiker/camper (a lot of which is the same as survival).   I love the UST Camp Lantern (500+ lumens), though.   Hoping Cabela's will have more reasonably priced alternatives.

I want to minimize the number of types of batteries.  Yeah, a Streamlight tactical would be nice, but do I want to have to stock 123's as well as AA, AAA, D, C, 9V?   I'm trying to have everything run on AA and D cells only.   That way each year I only have to rotate two types of batteries.

http://goinggear.com/flashlights/led-lanterns/ultimate-survival-technologies-glow-in-the-dark-60-day-508-lumen-led-lantern.html

To bring this back to G U N S.  I carry a 9mm with spare mag.  And that's good for every day.   My first choice for the Get Home bag will be my 6" .357.  That and additional 9mm ammo/mags for my carry gun.   A carbine, might be in the third kit, along with a second 9mm hand gun.  I'm leaning towards keeping the carbine in 9mm to minimize the variety of ammo.   I also plan that all the ammo in these kits, as well as my carry ammo, be commercial manufacture.  Not that I don't trust my reloads, but why take a chance.

So many choices, so many options.  You could take the kitchen sink if you had the space.  But I think one should plan for the idea that you may not have a vehicle as well.  That's why I'm doing this in stages.  First got to see what all the things I listed work out to in bulk and weight one kit at a time.

MORE TO COME.

[les snyder]

for your consideration... upgrade your trauma kit over what is in the car kit.. consider a through and through with penetration of thorax...a flat of .5 liter bottled water is easy to rotate (and squeeze for wound irrigation), and the containers can be refilled...wool blankets or sleeping bags ( I know is gets cold in GA) over the mylar blanket... real metal cups not the folding kind...small Sterno type stove to heat water, especially if you throw in a couple of freeze dried, Mountain House, type meals...couple of Bic lighters...if you decide to standardize to AA batteries... I chose the Black Diamond Icon (older version without the red leds), a Gerber Infinity task light, Fenix E21, and Coleman 3AA High tech area light... my selection is specifically directed for hurricane emergency supplies, and Sanyo AA Eneloop rechargeable from a Goal Zero 7w panel or multi source Fujicell SCH808F charger... for a single light, I just upgraded my Solar Force L2M and Surefire 6P with a three intensity version of the LC-XML2 U2 module....

[alfsauve]

Les, all good suggestions.  Everybody's kit will vary.   Remember I'm working out a 3 kit, 3 level system;  local travel, regional travel and true bug-out-of-here.

I'm starting with the car bag and it's a comfort-and-just-see-me-through-the-night-cause-the-interstate's-gridlocked-on-my-2.5-mile-commute-home.   It's an over nighter at worse.  Don't need camp stove, or even meals just for one night.  Not looking to replace the FD EMT staff, just basic, low level first aid.   Most of the stuff you mention will come later in a true Bug Out bag.








No, I don't commute on the interstate!

Yes, I work a very long 2.5 miles from home.  One way!   Two traffic lights to boot.

Yes, I've walked it.  As well as ridden my bicycle.

Oh, btw, it has been impassable due to ice at times a couple of times.   Barely made it through last winter.  It was closed for 2 days right after I got home!

[Sponsor]

[ExurbanKevin]

Love the idea of standardizing battery types: One thing to keep in mind is there are now lithium versions of both 9 volt and AA batteries, giving you the long shelf life and extra mileage of a lithium, but with the ability to find batteries on Tycho Crater if you need to.

[brushmore]

Speaking of hand cranked radios and batteries, make sure you check them on a regular basis.  I have found that many of them don't have a very long shelf life.  After a couple of years you don't get the same charge from the crank as you did when they are new.  I found this out the hard way but since it also took AA's it wasn't a big deal.       

[kmitch200]

We like to focus the guns/ammo/first aid stuff but....Don't forget WATER.
Granted, being in a desert this concern is high for me. If you've ever been stuck on an interstate in AZ due to a fatal crash ahead, having some agua is a REALLY good thing. There is always at least a gallon in my vehicle. Even if you live in a rainforest, you still HAVE to drink clean water.

The Best Defense Survival section has some good stuff in it.
Some more linkage with a lot of other links:
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/Backpacking-Water-Filter-Reviews
 

[alfsauve]

Speaking of hand cranked radios and batteries, make sure you check them on a regular basis.  I have found that many of them don't have a very long shelf life.  After a couple of years you don't get the same charge from the crank as you did when they are new.  I found this out the hard way but since it also took AA's it wasn't a big deal.     

Thanks for the reminder brushmore.   Inside those hand cranks are probably simple ni-cad rechargeables and you're right they don't have infinite shelf life.  Something to think about replacing every few years.

The one already have has a solor panel as well as the crank.  I may set it outside for a day and see how long it will play that night.

[alfsauve]

The FLASHLIGHT Conundrum

One of my objectives is to limit the variety of batteries that need to be stocked and rotated.

I love my Streamlight tactical flashlights.  I was a fan of theirs for numerous years.  However, this project isn't to put together the best tactical equipment, but to assemble gear that will work under a variety of circumstances.  To that end:

[Yes I'm obsessing on this project and it's consuming a lot of my time and attention in the last week or two.  And will for the next couple of weeks.  My trip to the Cabela's grand opening will be first about reloading powder and then about prepardness.   I've got a trip to Jackson, MS coming up for the Southern Regional ICORE and I want to be prepared.]

So after looking at all the UST, NEBO, Streamlight, Surefire, Phonex, Pelican, Nova, Gerber and others, I've decided on Dorcy brand for my bags.  I know, they're not the top end, they're not "tactical" and they're not the "coolest".  But within a budget, I think they fulfill my requirements for a bug out flashlight.   What they are, are "AA", not expensive and each fill a nitch for "bugging out".     I've had a couple of the smaller ones at work and they've lasted a lot better than the Nebo's or the MagLights.  Below are the 4 that I've ordered;  two of each.   

First is the basic light.  Nothing special, just a basic, small flashlight.    3 AAs, 32 Lumens, 20 hours.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/dorcy-3-aa-size-carabineer-led-flashlight-w-batteries.html




Next is a work light.  You know, something to change a tire by!   I really love my Larry's from Nebo.  They even make a Lucy and a Larry 2.  But they're all AAA and I'm trying to limit my battery stock to as few as possible.

Here's the Dorcy work light, equivelent to the Larry.  3 AAs, 72 Lumens, 2.5 hours.  (how long does it take to change a tire?)

http://www.opticsplanet.com/dorcy-72-lumen-3aa-24-led-work-light-flashlight.html



Then there's a "tactical" style light.  Something seriously bright if needed to light the way or to monentarily put an intruder on notice.    4AAs, 180 lumens, 5 hours.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/dorcy-4-aa-size-high-flux-led-cyber-light-flashlight-w-batteries.html



Okay, and then for fun there's this little cutie.   4AAs, 45 Lumens, hours vary.  It can be a wide area work light, a spot light or a night light. 

http://www.opticsplanet.com/dorcy-45-lumens-waterproof-3-way-led-dial-a-light-4aa-size-w-batteries.html




Remember, I'm not trying to outfit a HRT member.  I still have my Streamlight Tacticals at home, but for the road, for all around use, I'm liking this selection.


And when I get to the true, Bug-out-let's-go-camping, I'm still leaning towards the UST 60day lantern.  6 D's, 508 Lumens, 3 days on high, 7 on medium and 30 on low. 

http://www.opticsplanet.com/ust-60-day-lantern.html








Oh, yeah, COST.   $154 for 2ea of the flashlights and 1 of the lantern.  Free shipping and each light comes with one set of batteries.