Ok, first a little about my work. I drive a tractor trailer for a living, but unlike most drivers I get home every day. Now this makes my problem infinately easier than if I stayed out but this also means I have no supplies in the truck other than the days lunch.
At any moment i could be 10 miles from the house or 300 miles from the house, or a 2 hr walk or 7-8 day walk. My worst fear is an EMP which would render my computer driven truck useless.
I am looking for a lite pack that can keep me going for a 8 day walk home. Now the only positive... I deliver meat, produce, dairy, and frozen goods with the occasional canned goods trailer. At the farthest I would be walking from just South of Buffalo, NY to Cumberland, MD
I have scratched my head as to what to put in a bag that would not only get me through a week worth of walking 10 hrs a day but keep it lite enough that I do not tire of carrying it to work every day.
Any great minds wanna give this a shot?
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Diplomacy is saying "Take my wallet" while reaching for the M&P tucked in your belt.
At 27 lb plus a back pack I could probably barter my trailer contents for a bike if necessary, the key is I am in a different truck every day and would have to put it in the truck and out.
But I had not thought of a bike till your post!
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Diplomacy is saying "Take my wallet" while reaching for the M&P tucked in your belt.
Stick with the basics, protection -Gun & knife, fire - lighter,matches, cover -coat, jacket(waterproof), light-good flashlight (extra batteries) granola bars/energy bars, canteen water purification tablets/bleach/filter. at about 2 to 10 days I'd try for 20 day min. and any Meds you might require and some vitamins (even flintstones) as well might not get a good meal for a while.
Okay, having to change trucks would make it a pain! I had been thinking more along the lines of space. I wouldn't count on being able to get a bicycle for love or money if there were an EMP situation that disabled vehicles though.
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You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.--Gospel of John 8:32
NRA Member
Last edited by Brandhard; 06-25-2012 at 10:57 PM.
Reason: add stuff.
Mess kit
A bottle to collect some diesel fuel in
Lighter
Energy bars
Medium size knife (must have a 4 inch or less blade per DOT)
NO GUNS!!! (thanks again DOT)
Do they make small back pack HAM radios?
Basically that is my list, is there other more creative or basic things I am missing?
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Diplomacy is saying "Take my wallet" while reaching for the M&P tucked in your belt.
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"If we ever forget we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
A Man WITH a gun is a CITIZEN, a Man WITHOUT a gun is a SUBJECT
I would say to get a really nice 72 hour pack setup for yourself, with an additional pack, folding wagon, or rolling luggage should the need to include more supplies than your 72 hour pack carries.
I really am not big into OMGWTF situations but I did have instances last winter where i had to stay out w/o food or ways to keep warm because of break downs or bad weather conditions. A 72 hr pack seems like what I want with the option of longer use.
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Diplomacy is saying "Take my wallet" while reaching for the M&P tucked in your belt.
Take a look at my mini survuval pack, posted here somewhere, as a minimum to have on hand if you are more than a stones throw from help/home. Add a canteen, some cliff bars, a pistol, and matching Sub2000 and I think you have a solid 8 day get home pack.
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Get the largest caliber you can fire accurately, rapidly, in the largest gun useful for the purpose.
Mess kit
A bottle to collect some diesel fuel in
Lighter
Energy bars
Medium size knife (must have a 4 inch or less blade per DOT)
NO GUNS!!! (thanks again DOT)
Do they make small back pack HAM radios?
Basically that is my list, is there other more creative or basic things I am missing?
I would add in:
- Medical kit
- Magnesium fire starter (for when that lighter gets wet)
- Water-tight case (I love my medium size Pelican case, but a large ziplock bag also works)
- Waterproof flashlight + extra batteries
- Rain poncho (old mil-surp ones are great 'cause they can be used as shelter too)
- Pair of boots (good walking boots that are broken in before storing in "go bag")
- Pair of socks
- Pair of pants (Not absolutely essential, but there's nothing like sitting around the campfire in your birthday suit while trying to dry your clothes)
- Long sleeved shirt
- Good sun-blocking hat
- Extra 4" blade knife and/or knives (if DOT allows)
- Tire thumper (DOT hasn't outlawed those yet, have they?)
- Canteen
- Emergency thermal blanket
Make sure either your canteen or some part of your mess-kit is metal so you can boil water in it if need be.
Also think about rotating your spare clothes to suit the season.
If you have more room, add in sunscreen, pest-repellent, mosquito net, hammock and tiny cook-stove.
And I'd probably replace those energy bars with MREs.
One thing I never see anyone mention that is essential to me is a roll of tie wire and a pair of linesman pliers. Its uses are unlimited. Better than duct tape in my opinion.
I've never had them before, so this may be answering my own question, but why do people never mention those Datrex 3600 calorie food bars? If you're talking of maybe having to travel for a week to 10 days, that would seem like a pretty good idea!
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Infidel by BlackOps Precision definition!
One thing I never see anyone mention that is essential to me is a roll of tie wire and a pair of linesman pliers. Its uses are unlimited. Better than duct tape in my opinion.
Not at patch'n a boat or repairing shoes or (duckskin) boots.
I would honestly get some dehydrated food you can easily reheat. There are some brands out there that taste great and have nutritional value to them. You can also carry a small camp stove and a small bottle of propane. All of this is only about 5 pounds. It would be very light. Invest in a good backpack and be sure to have lots of water bottles with you. A small water filter might be nice as well.
Think happy thoughts and train your family as well as you can.
I am routinely 6900 miles from my family, and often 1000 miles from the nearest piece of real estate. Only with a flashlight, whatever emer equipment I might have, extra batteries, a Breitling Mechanical watch, my Surefire pen, memories of McGyver episodes, a decent imagination, and a little bit of gold. They won't even let me have my leatherman.
There are a few good threads on here for a pack less than 20 pounds and I'd have a good look at those. Think about your own personal survival kit.
As far as guns go, I'd personally scoff at the rule--DOT or no DOT. Were I to operate my own airplane commercially and not have to go thru metal detectors everywhere I went YOU BET I'd have a gun with me. Rules or no rules. We face a lawless regime who scoffs at our own constitution; I consider now the RKBA so basic no law will keep me from doing what is right.
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