Posted: 10/26/2009 4:46:52 PM EDT
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Here is what I have setup. I am looking at 3 days out in the field or away from real shelter. Does this look good, poor, or am I just wasting my time?
I am asking for guidance in what I need to change. What I need to add, increase the amount I all ready have, git rid of. I will be looking at the firearms soon, so this is just the other stuff to keep me alive for 3 days or so. Please look over my list and let me know what you think. Thanks. Dru. 5 gallon bucket (2) Fleece sleeping bag Fleece blanket Rain ponchos Micro fuel tablet stove Fuel tablets (72) Mess kit Hand warmers (6) Knife Magnesium fire starter Water proof matches (4 boxes) Plastic utensils (4 sets) Blistex Mouth wash Deodorant Tooth paste Sun screen Gold bond powder Shampoo Razor (2) Leather man tool Can openers John Wayne large and small Butane lighter (2) Floss picks Toilet paper (1roll) Hand sanitizer liquid Chem lights (3) Small first aid kit Small bottle pain reliever (Tylenol) Instant coffee (6 packs) 3 person tent Handy wipes (1 pack) Flash light (shack type) Tooth brush (5) Energy bars (6) Water packs (15, 4 ½ oz) Kerosene lantern with fuel Candle lantern (small) Candles for candle lantern (6) MRE’s 9 meats, 6 sides, 3 desserts |
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I picked bucket because I am in no way shape or form able to carry a pack. I also picked the buckets to keep out the small critters. Bugs and such that always find away in. These have a good seal lid. They are also easy to carry. I can also turn one into a potty with the bags for that use.
The MRE's were suppose to be here today. They will not take up that much more room. I used a sample pack from long life foods as a guide. I can put it all in there without crushing anything. http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r215/blvdbuzzard/bucket1.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r215/blvdbuzzard/bucket2.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r215/blvdbuzzard/buckets.jpg Dru. |
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Tarp. Poncho's are nice but save them for travel. Use tarps for bedding down. Minimal weight and space
More water unless you plan to kick back and read some books the whole time. If you're going solo, I'm assuming you'll have some form of protection that isn't in the bucket. And yea, why not a bag? (reread the thread... heh) These would make great cache's after some fine tuning as well. but a PITA to carry. |
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Socks, change of clothes, more water, a bigger first aid kit, mole skin, spare wick for the lantern, small hatchet, tarps, duck tape, paracord, gloves, water purification tablets, collapsable water containers, large trash bags, a better flashlight, batteries..... I know you said taht having a backpack isn't feasable, but possibly some sort of bag to carry essentials when moving about outside of basecamp.
there is more but need to know what the intention of these buckets are. are these a cache? or something to toss in the truck if you gotta leave? are these buckets going to be dedicated and sealed adn left alone? if caching maybe you should think about sealing these in 5 gallon mylar bucket liners like long term storage food. toss a couple of o2 absorbers in and seal them. will keep out the humidity and most anything else, stop you from having a moldy mess in your buckets. |
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If you are intent to use the buckets to bug out "in the field or away from shelter" you may wish to consider lashing them to a deer cart that you can pull along over the terrain.
Since you mentioned a physical limitation for carrying a pack, I suspect carrying the buckets would get pretty uncomfortable pretty fast. 
It could also double as a stretcher if worse came to worse and would permit you to carry more water. |
DD, at least I am not wearing nail polish I am waiting to order another box of the water packs. I have the first box split between the 3 sets of buckets. Trying to fit in as much as I can.
Phalt, I will be going over my rifle, 12 gauge and hand gun in another thread, but yes I will be loaded for bear. Kolonij2, for the most part they are going to be stored in the closets, one in each bedroom. I hope I do not need them but they will be thrown in the truck and fly. I am lucky that I live in the boonies all ready. I am about 45 miles out side of the the city folks. I do like the tarp, hammer/hatchet ideas. I will add a spare wick for the lantern, duct tape, water tabs, para cord, snake bit kit, spare cloths, better flash light. Looking at first aid kits, most seem to small or they are way to big. Anything in the middle? I have the giant one picked out for the whole house stand off first aid kit. But that is to big for this bucket. What I am trying to do is have something on hand I can grab if I have to get out fast. We had some really big fires a couple years ago and I lived on rice a roni for a week. Driving to get food was out, almost every gas station was low or out of gas, most stores were close to empty. What was not going to the fire fighters was going to the people who lost their houses. I am not trying to prep for everything, but a good all around setup that will cover most things. This is my first step and first attempt to put something like this together. There is so much to think about. Some of what I have come up with was not what you see here. I have written so many lists of what I thought was needed and then re wrote them. I think I will order some descant to drop in the buckets. A lot to think about. But having a good time doing it. Thanks. Dru. |
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Nice set up. I honestly never thought of using a bucket. Thats a damn good idea! As a critique, I would ditch the big shake lite for a smaller AA or AAA lite. I would also lose the mouthwash and add some more tp. I see your in california so unless your in the higher elevations I will guess your lighter blankets are fine instead of a traditional sleeping bag. Add a few more lighters, they're cheap, lite, and dont take up any room. Practice with your magnesium firestarter. We have had a number of threads lately about how they suck. They dont suck, they just require a little finess. And you can get camp soap that can be used as shampoo, body wash, and use it to clean cloths. I used it as toothpaste on a dare. While it works, I dont recomend it  Maybe expand the first aid kit. Moleskin is a godsend to tired feet. Your choice of the S.O.S bars I think are top notch. I love those things How about a water purifier? Sorry the above is kinda choppy, I was going back and forth to your post. I think your kit looks good. Whats more important is that it works for you and you use the gear effectively and efficiantly. |
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The reason I was going for the wind up or shake lash lights is batteries. I have had them die just sitting in the packs. I will add a C or D sized flash lite and batteries to my growing list.
I do live in the higher parts. I am at 4,000. The temps are not to bad, until you hit December through February. This is a sort of work in progress. Trying to keep it light enough to grab and go yet have enough of what I may need. Hard to cover all things possible. Lots of good information here. Thanks. Dru. |
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Quoted:
5 gallon bucket (2) Fleece sleeping bag Fleece blanket Rain ponchos tarp instead Micro fuel tablet stove Fuel tablets (72) Mess kit Hand warmers (6) wool gloves instead Knife Magnesium fire starter Water proof matches (4 boxes) Plastic utensils (4 sets) 1 spork Blistex Mouth wash Deodorant deleat Tooth paste Sun screen Gold bond powder Shampoo deleat Razor (2) deleat- 3 days??? Leather man tool Can openers John Wayne large and small Butane lighter (2) Floss picks Toilet paper (1roll) 2 rolls Hand sanitizer liquid Chem lights (3) Small first aid kit Small bottle pain reliever (Tylenol) Instant coffee (6 packs) 3 person tent Handy wipes (1 pack) 2 packs Flash light (shack type) led with 123 batts for storage Tooth brush (5) Energy bars (6) Water packs (15, 4 ½ oz) Kerosene lantern with fuel deleat get a small pack stove instead Candle lantern (small) more candles for lamp w/ no lantern Candles for candle lantern (6) MRE’s 9 meats, 6 sides, 3 desserts small stuff add a camp towel from rei 550 cord tin foil ziploc bags |
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also think about making copies and backups of your important papers. homeowners ins, title or deed to property, titles and ins for vehicles, passports, marriage license, immunization sheets for kids etc. important phone numbers. cash (coin and paper), health ins cards, (i keep hard copies in a safe deposit at bank, and scans on an encrypted flash drive that goes with me), waterproof pen and paper, marker, folding shovel
another thing i didn't see mentioned was medications if any are taken. at very least tyleonl and ibuprophin. def. some immodium and or pepto. the runs suck...especially with limited tp.
also if you have kids, some sort of entertainment. cards, books, crayons and paper. if batteries are a weak link for you look into rechargables and solar chargers. some of the solar panels are foldable and ultra portable. inverter in your car can be used as a power source too since your driving to your b.o.l. |
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I am going on my only experience in a regional disaster. I was part of the Ceder fires out here. I figured on the shampoo, razors and the stuff like that based on the fact that I had to survive for about 3 days without help then they had shelters open to people who had been burned out. Some stayed there for a couple of days to a couple of weeks. So I am trying to get a setup that will keep me alive and descent shape for 2 to 3 days then see if I can move to where they have food and water setup. I am not so much working towards being chased by the black SUV's and running for cover.
I have added trash bags, zip lok bags, Q-tips, duct tape, electrical tape, I will add some foil and more TP. I will go with the (3) compressed rolls, they have no tube in the middle so they are smaller, I will also add some hand towel, the micro fiber ones. They are cheap and small. This is a good start to my work in progress. I am working on a large stash of freeze dried foods for the time I have to hunker down at home for extended periods. In the home stash I am trying to work up to 6 plus months of food. It is a slow process due to money and time. Thanks. Dru. |
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Blvdbuzzard I take it your close by the Laguna area. I'm down south of you close to the border. Good idea for the buckets. I've saved up several of them from doing construction jobs at work. You may want to add a spool of mason line to lash down items or hold up your tarp for a shelter in the woods. You can also throw in the bucket a 2.5 gallon collapsable water container and a small water filter unit. |
| I know you said you can't use all this in a backpack,, but don't rule it it out completley.. I have a small Coleman brand pack. basicly it's a water bladder with a little storage pocket on back.. when i get home, i'll post a pic of it.. there's room for a few small items I might need for an overnigher. less food.. small FAK, FSK, tarp. AA MagLight. whistle.. whole thing weighs less then 5# (less water) |
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Due to popular suggestions, I have added (2) flash lights. One is the kind you wear as a head band, the other is a small (2) AA battery 6 LED flash light.
Ireload, I am east of Julian in Boulevard. It is close to the wind mills they put up. I was pretty much cut off from San Diego when the fires were burning. The list goes on. I am adding stuff that is recommended. Thanks. Dru. |