My cross-country GHB (Page 9 of 14)
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Originally Posted By conman:
Kudos to Ragnar for posting, and I didn't read all 16 pages but: *SNIP* I respect the OP for posting but the bag is a FAIL. So not to start a pissing match or anything, but since this post is such FAIL, why don't you invest the time and energy you couldn't spend reading through the thread to create a thread outlining your idea of the perfect cross country bag? Then we could learn from your viewpoint as well as _RAGNAR_'s ? |
www.reclaimingtheconstitution.org
"A well regulated militia..."
"A well regulated militia..."
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I think the thing that is good about this whole post is that you can pick and chose what might work for your situation and offer other things. I don't always agree with what Ragnar does or uses since I am in a different situation than he. His suggestions however have always given me food for thought. On the other hand I have tried to offer things or alternatives that work for me or that might be worth considering ofr others.
The point is that this post is a good reference whether you agree with the OP or not. |
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I'm with Ragner on the weight thing. I've spent a lot of time going fast and light. mark twights book is awesome. Climbed and skied Mt McKinnley etc. I always go super fast and light in the mountain.
Get crazy about getting rid of weight folks. When I get something the first thing I do is cut everything I can off of it. If it's metal, drill it full of holes if it won't affect functioning etc. I cut all the tags off my gear. I figure out what straps I don't need and cut those off as well. .5 oz DOES matter when you can get rid of that 50 times in different areas. Mark Twights formula for going light is get all your stuff, get rid of half then weigh that. Then take half of that number and that is the amount of stuff you can take. Mt. Raineer is a 3-4 day climb and me and my bro do it as a day hike all the time. Guys on the Mt look at us like "look at the guys with the day packs, we are going to have to save their ass" as they sweat under 60-70 lb packs and plod along. We blitz by them and get up and down the Mt before storms roll in etc. Less time exposed to hazards etc. We have the skills, (snow caves etc) to survive is SHTF. The point is, people always think they need crap they don't. Does it make like nice, yes. But where do you draw the line? I would love to pack my lazy boy chair along to sit in when I am done hiking but get real. Same thing with all the rest of the stuff people carry. When I go to REI i look at what is in people's carts and can immediatly tell if they have their crap wired tight. I did 4 months with a knife, canteen wool blanket and poncho in SE Utah and only saw 6 people the whole time so just realize you don't need all the stuff people say you do. Ragnar says that you don't have to eat for 3 weeks. Believe him. The first 3-4 days suck, you feel the hunger. After that you have other things on your mind and your stomach leaves you alone for the most part. In survival the best thing to pack is a set of balls and bunch of knowledge packed into your head. |
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Been doing a lot more international travel in sub-standard countries the last two years so I've changed my gear a bit.
Carrying less gear and more money. Trying to discretely carry a few ounces of gold in 1/10 and ¼ ounce coins. Clothing and gear needs to look even more non-military and I'm even trying to get away from green, which sucks because its my favorite color! I need to look like more of a hippy hiker which also sucks as I hate hippies! Carrying a bootable OS thumb drive for secure internet coms and an encrypted micro sd with important docs I still want to do up a smart phone without a sim that I just use apps and GPS on but haven't got around to it. There was a thread on it but I lost track of it. I'll think of more later. |
Hey RAGNAR you don't need to look like a hippy, just smell like one and they'll leave you alone.
Travel safe and watch your six. |
[url=http://militarysignatures.com] http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member3159.png [/url]
Support our troops. Don't fuck their cheating wives. Demordrah
Support our troops. Don't fuck their cheating wives. Demordrah
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Yep, what an epic thread! And yes, we are one or two generations (read that: two years max.) away from smartphones
that are just as versatile as a swiss army knife. I upgraded to an iphone 4 because its battery beats everything out there but it still needs a recharge every 2 days. Had a Samsung Galaxy S Android phone and it was even worse. But its ability (contrary to the iphone) to take spare batteries and microSD cards were big advantages. But as far as OS stability, apps availability, data protection and overall usability, the iphone rules (at the moment; haven't tested Android 2.2, but I guess it still communicates too much personal info home). Moreover, I love its "flight mode" where the cell phone function is simply switched off by the flick of the thumb. I just wish it had a seperate radio like the Nokia phones. For SHTF prep a smartphone is the way to go- just imagine having all your survival pdfs, backup data and movies handy all the time! Not even to mention all those apps - my iphone works as a: -GPS, navigation and tracking device (Google maps onboard and you really have to try the augmented reailty browser Layar- it gets you oriented in every major city real fast) -topographic map reader -shot timer (Surefire) -ballistic calculator (Knights) -LED light -sound recorder -e-book reader -compass .... |
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I've been switching over to all Icebreaker wool, very nice stuff and fashionable. I think the socks may be better made than smartwool but only time will tell for sure.
The 150 weight bodyfit t shirts and boxers are awesome. I've been trying to get rid of my clothes that will catch on fire especially my base layer. With the 150 weight t's and boxers I've found my answer. I also got their 150 weight long sleeves and long underwear. I won't get to wear those this winter as I'll be back in a hot place in a few weeks and will spend most the winter there. Hopefully I'll get back before winter is over and I'll get to go out snowshoeing and overnight (I love the winter mountains) Also just got a Osprey Atmos 65 pack, very comfortable and super lightweight a 4200ci/68l pack at 3lbs 12oz Its not a carry on pack unfortunately. But for travel on military helos and for bumming around countries in cabs and such its nice. It will probably be a perfect pack for week long summer trips of 2-3 night winter trips. Been traveling lighter without the ham radio, been using an Iphone for two years, love it in general. I still need to rig up a windows smartphone without a sim for other stuff but for general use the Iphone works great. Been wearing Keen lightweight hikers a lot instead of my Asolos, just haven't needed a gortex lined boot in a while given the terrain and weather I have been in. The Keens are very comfortable for my wide feet and breath great. |
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Originally Posted By _RAGNAR_:
Been wearing Keen lightweight hikers a lot instead of my Asolos, just haven't needed a gortex lined boot in a while given the terrain and weather I have been in. The Keens are very comfortable for my wide feet and breath great. I also love the Keen's. I can't believe how comfortable they are. I just wish I got a little more use out of them before they started looking crummy. |
| I have some Keen boots as well, although they are the "waterproof" Targhee II hikers mid. I have summitted 7 14ers in them so far, so good. Also done some moderate trail running and hiked in a couple inches of snow. :) |
[quote]Originally Posted By GomerPyle:
Is that factory? Taurus is trying to be the industry leader in pistol-whipping hoes.[/quote]
Is that factory? Taurus is trying to be the industry leader in pistol-whipping hoes.[/quote]
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Originally Posted By _RAGNAR_:
I've been switching over to all Icebreaker wool, very nice stuff and fashionable. I think the socks may be better made than smartwool but only time will tell for sure. The 150 weight bodyfit t shirts and boxers are awesome. I've been trying to get rid of my clothes that will catch on fire especially my base layer. With the 150 weight t's and boxers I've found my answer. I also got their 150 weight long sleeves and long underwear. I won't get to wear those this winter as I'll be back in a hot place in a few weeks and will spend most the winter there. Hopefully I'll get back before winter is over and I'll get to go out snowshoeing and overnight (I love the winter mountains) Also just got a Osprey Atmos 65 pack, very comfortable and super lightweight a 4200ci/68l pack at 3lbs 12oz Its not a carry on pack unfortunately. But for travel on military helos and for bumming around countries in cabs and such its nice. It will probably be a perfect pack for week long summer trips of 2-3 night winter trips. Been traveling lighter without the ham radio, been using an Iphone for two years, love it in general. I still need to rig up a windows smartphone without a sim for other stuff but for general use the Iphone works great. Been wearing Keen lightweight hikers a lot instead of my Asolos, just haven't needed a gortex lined boot in a while given the terrain and weather I have been in. The Keens are very comfortable for my wide feet and breath great. Thanks for this thread. Personal recommendation, don't waste time on a Windows smart phone, I'm an "IT Guy" and own one, and the OS sucks tremendous ass. I'm going to a Droid phone shortly. |
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Bump. And one thing I've added to my kit: A cheapo pre-paid phone from my carrier. Not to use as a pre-paid, but to use as a 'phone-only' backup to my battery-sucking smartphone. I've gotten stuck a couple times w/o somewhere to plug in a charger, including sitting on a plane on tarmac. Having that $20 phone gives me like 5 days of standby and/or many hours of calls - all as simple as throwing my Sim card in. Very very nice to have and adds only a couple ounces. |
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Originally Posted By BayEagle:
Bump. And one thing I've added to my kit: A cheapo pre-paid phone from my carrier. Not to use as a pre-paid, but to use as a 'phone-only' backup to my battery-sucking smartphone. I've gotten stuck a couple times w/o somewhere to plug in a charger, including sitting on a plane on tarmac. Having that $20 phone gives me like 5 days of standby and/or many hours of calls - all as simple as throwing my Sim card in. Very very nice to have and adds only a couple ounces. Just remember to keep your battery up. |
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Originally Posted By akconvert:
Ragnar says that you don't have to eat for 3 weeks. Believe him. The first 3-4 days suck, you feel the hunger. After that you have other things on your mind and your stomach leaves you alone for the most part. In survival the best thing to pack is a set of balls and bunch of knowledge packed into your head. Word |
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There are some great ideas in this thread. Keep 'em coming!
I have some experience using a hammock and poncho/tarp... slept in mine many times. But it is for summer only. It is a lot cooler swinging in the breeze. But it's terrific in the summer; no problems with crawlers, comfy, easy to stay dry, lightweight... I tried a jungle hammock a few times. I could never get it to work. One of the biggest problems is that the fly leaked along all the seams, even after sealing. So I ended up pitching a seperate tarp, and it all ended up weighing as much as a tent. I also did not like sleeping in it; although you have to remain fairly still in any hammock, the jungle hammock was even more restrictive and difficult to get in and out of. One tip I can add is in the first aid supplies. I've gotten some pretty nasty gastro out in the wilds a couple times, and it's very important to take care of this, especially if you're alone. Pepto Bismol tabs are great for minor stuff, but if you're in really bad shape, lomotil will help. It's hard on the system, so it's a last resort. It's also prescription only, but I've never had doc refuse them when it was explained why. Another item that's potentially really useful in a ghb is some sort of stimulant. I carry a few Adderal in 20 and 10 mg strengths. This allows me to mix and match to provide a dose anywhere from 10 to 40 mg depending on conditions. Aderral is prescribed for ADD, but it is just an amphetamine cocktail. It does however, help with focus and fight hunger, as well as prevent fatigue. It is not recommended for folks with high blood pressure, and you will need a scrip for it as well. Get the xr version as it lasts for 10-12 hours. For me (6'+ 200 lbs) 20 mg has about the same effect as two strong cups of coffee, but it lasts evenly all day. Excellent for those times when you need to be moving and/or awake when circumstances are not ideal. Az |
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Bump for best thread ever. Picked this up for $20 at Ace hardware...  (not me in pic) I've started packing this in my travel bag. I was carrying a silk sleep sack for sleeping in hotel rooms, but I've replaced it with this. Gives a little potential dual use if I ever have the need for a hammock. Can also be used for a general all-purpose bag for carrying bulk things if rigged correctly. It packs down very tiny and very light. I've been experimenting with various chocks, biners, and rigging methods to hang it inside a bldg if needed. I've been using hammocks more and more when camping and have become a big fan. |
"Al-taqiyya" means that no non-Muslim can believe anything told to them by any Muslim.
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
| I have scanned this thread dozens of times in the years I have been here and just now took the time to actually read everything. There are some really great concepts and gear to think about. In an effort to be more of a grey man I think I may put together a similar bag using the standard l.l. Bean backpack in black. They are so run of the mill that people wont think military or even hiker which = nice stuff inside. They come in a bunch of colors that are subdued but not tactical and the garantee means it can be replaced for free whenever it gets damaged. |
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I just spent the last five or six hours reading this thread and I now have it bookmarked so I can return frequently.
Thank you Ragnar for the knowledge. The bit about olive oil being so calorie-dense and having a warming effect on extremities I had no idea about. |
"The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty and persistence of example when you know no light is coming."
- Admiral James B. Stockdale
- Admiral James B. Stockdale
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Trash bags can be picked up anywhere. Different sizes, colors, and even clear see through. I put everthing in a clear bag and put that inside my pack. That way I can pull the bag out and see where most everything is for easy access. With duck tape they can be customized for many uses.
Great for stuffing with leaves/vegatation for insulation. A black one with cold mountain water, left in the sun, makes a pretty good warm water shower. They can even be used for packing stuff or twisted into an extra container to be used as a hasty pack. Anyone know if you can get trash bags in red to be used for getting attention? Mel over at Kifaru has come out with some great super lightweight packs made from his paracloth that he uses in his Tepees. He makes great tarps with it, but they are expensive. He says he tested the packs for abuse for a long time before he put them on the market. Very expensive. Semper Fidelis, Tipy |
O'er the land of the free & the home of the brave!
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I will have to finish reading later but I am tagging it for now! 
BigDozer66 |
"...One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
“War, like most other things, is a science to be acquired and perfected by diligence, by perseverance, by time, and by practice.” Alexa
“War, like most other things, is a science to be acquired and perfected by diligence, by perseverance, by time, and by practice.” Alexa
Tag for updates and subscription. This thread had informed me and made made me look at all my bags in a different light. I gotta put something like this together. The last time I few, I was stuck in the airport for 15 hours waiting on a flight due to a maintenance problem. Thanks Ragnar!!! Now I've got to spend more money. (bummer)
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"Paying for the sins of my past by returning all the shit I "aquired" along with a 2062."
- "God I Trust, Everyone Else Signs" -
- "God I Trust, Everyone Else Signs" -
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Originally Posted By someonelse4325: Tag for updates and subscription. This thread had informed me and made made me look at all my bags in a different light. I gotta put something like this together. The last time I few, I was stuck in the airport for 15 hours waiting on a flight due to a maintenance problem. Thanks Ragnar!!! Now I've got to spend more money. (bummer) Last time that happened to me (at JFK, ugh), I made myself some couscous with smoked salmon, cranberries and almonds, washed down with some decaf Earl Grey and took a nice nap wrapped up in my jungle bag on the terminal floor. Then I got up and did my hygiene routine in the bathroom (Shiznit, Sink bath and Shave) with my kit and cooked a nice breakfast of oatmeal with rehydrated apples and fresh brewed french roast coffee. Rested, fed, hydrated and fresh as a daisy. This GHB is really the ultimate travel bag if you rig it right.
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"Al-taqiyya" means that no non-Muslim can believe anything told to them by any Muslim.
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
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Originally Posted By BayEagle:
Originally Posted By someonelse4325:
Tag for updates and subscription. This thread had informed me and made made me look at all my bags in a different light. I gotta put something like this together. The last time I few, I was stuck in the airport for 15 hours waiting on a flight due to a maintenance problem. Thanks Ragnar!!! Now I've got to spend more money. (bummer) Last time that happened to me (at JFK, ugh), I made myself some couscous with smoked salmon, cranberries and almonds, washed down with some decaf Earl Grey and took a nice nap wrapped up in my jungle bag on the terminal floor. Then I got up and did my hygiene routine in the bathroom (Shiznit, Sink bath and Shave) with my kit and cooked a nice breakfast of oatmeal with rehydrated apples and fresh brewed french roast coffee. Rested, fed, hydrated and fresh as a daisy. This GHB is really the ultimate travel bag if you rig it right. Very nice. I was completely unprepared for my stay. I had a half of a bag of trail mix and a laptop and a water bottle...that's it. Soon after I discover this thread and wammo...it all comes to me and slaps me in the back of the head. I've decided either I'll never fly again or if I must then I'm packing stuff to assist in the luxuries of airport terminal living. |
"Paying for the sins of my past by returning all the shit I "aquired" along with a 2062."
- "God I Trust, Everyone Else Signs" -
- "God I Trust, Everyone Else Signs" -
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Originally Posted By _RAGNAR_:
sorry no real updates. I've been in Iraq a lot the last three years and haven't spent much time on the bag. When I am in the States I go even more civilian than I used to. Thank you again so much for your Service. Hope you are having a great time with the kids when you are home. 
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[url=http://militarysignatures.com] http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member3159.png [/url]
Support our troops. Don't fuck their cheating wives. Demordrah
Support our troops. Don't fuck their cheating wives. Demordrah
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Originally Posted By someonelse4325: Originally Posted By BayEagle: Originally Posted By someonelse4325: Tag for updates and subscription. This thread had informed me and made made me look at all my bags in a different light. I gotta put something like this together. The last time I few, I was stuck in the airport for 15 hours waiting on a flight due to a maintenance problem. Thanks Ragnar!!! Now I've got to spend more money. (bummer) Last time that happened to me (at JFK, ugh), I made myself some couscous with smoked salmon, cranberries and almonds, washed down with some decaf Earl Grey and took a nice nap wrapped up in my jungle bag on the terminal floor. Then I got up and did my hygiene routine in the bathroom (Shiznit, Sink bath and Shave) with my kit and cooked a nice breakfast of oatmeal with rehydrated apples and fresh brewed french roast coffee. Rested, fed, hydrated and fresh as a daisy. This GHB is really the ultimate travel bag if you rig it right. Very nice. I was completely unprepared for my stay. I had a half of a bag of trail mix and a laptop and a water bottle...that's it. Soon after I discover this thread and wammo...it all comes to me and slaps me in the back of the head. I've decided either I'll never fly again or if I must then I'm packing stuff to assist in the luxuries of airport terminal living. I can business travel 5-7 days with multiple suits and such using a carryon and a camelbak motherlode. Short trips (<3days) I just carry a 5.11 tac briefcase. You can travel in comfort and security without a lot of weight and bulk. |
"Al-taqiyya" means that no non-Muslim can believe anything told to them by any Muslim.
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
'The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.' Plutarch
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I really liked _RAGNAR_'s idea of the cigarette lighter socket with cables and battery terminal clamps for recharging batteries and such.
I purchased an Enercell model 23-787 from Radio Shack charging unit that recharges AA and AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries as well as any device (such as a cellphone) that uses a USB2-based cable. The advantage of the Enercell 23-787 is that it can plug into any 110-volt AC-current household plug, as well as an automotive 12-volt DC-current automotive cigarette-lighter socket. I simply couldn't find anything resembling _RAGNAR_'s simple and compact set-up, so I decided I had to make my own. The cigarette-lighter socket is a basic unit that came from NAPA auto parts supply, along with an inline 10-amp fuse holder for circuit overload protection. The problem with the NAPA cigarette-lighter socket is that is designed to bolt into the dashboard of a vehicle. As such, the outer casing is bare metal and is the negative side of the electrical circuit...so the metal casing is electrically hot. I designed and machined my own electrically insulated housing from a machineable plastic known as Delrin: 
Components: Heat-shrink tubing, wires, 10-amp inline fuse housing, cord-grip, cigarette-lighter socket and insulated housing, battery clamps. Everything but the insulated housing can be found at any Radioshack or NAPA autoparts store: 
Closer view: 
View showing the complete 12-volt recharging insulated housing with cigarette-lighter socket, charging station, and cellphone: 
View of charging station hooked-up to an automotive battery while charging NiMH AAA batteries and cellphone via the USB cable: 
In addition, the closest thing that I could find resembling _RAGNAR_'s perimeter-alert system was these keychain-alarms. They're manufactured by GE security and are available at any Home Depot, Lowe's hardware, or RadioShack for around $5 a piece: 
A few zipties and some tripwire is all you need to modify these into the trip-wire alarms. These units have a 120-decibel alarm claxon...so they're very loud! They also have a small piece of plastic that is inserted into the battery compartment that prevents the battery voltage from draining over time, once the plastic piece is removed from the unit, it is effectively "armed". I am painting mine green and am using a piece of red electrical tape attached to the plastic "arming switch" to make it easier to find if I accidentally drop the clear plastic piece: 
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"Traveling while unarmed is like boating without a life-jacket" - Lieutenant Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper, USMC, 1920 - 2006.
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Originally Posted By EXPY37:
I also love to make things but here's a cig lighter recep with clip leads from R-S for $9.99 http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1-6882105w345.jpg And a cig plug with banana post terminals... http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1-6856238w345.jpg The item in the first pic looks terrific! Nice and compact. Where can one purchase it? Radioshack? Does it have circuit-protection? The one I made was specifically sized (conductor gauge, circuit protection considerations, etc) for the future purpose of providing input voltage to a Yaesu FTM-350AR with a field-erected NVIS antenna throwing a max of 50 watts without having to lug a battery around. |
"Traveling while unarmed is like boating without a life-jacket" - Lieutenant Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper, USMC, 1920 - 2006.