Posted: 1/23/2008 2:32:49 PM EDT
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What is the difference in what you put in a 3 to 5 day backpacking trip load out and what you put in your BOB? RS |
If it ever got bad enough to bug out, there would be no important docs IMO. The only thing I would add would be ammo and all weather clothing. |
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Both should be constantly changing to fit current needs. I notice that most BOB's/GHB's are full of brand new gadgets and are far heavier than most people could carry for a day. I like to see backpacking/survival gear that's pared to a minimum and well-worn. Use your BOB until it wears out. Camp and hike. Have fun. Learn. The more you know, the less you carry. |
I can see plenty of cases for bugging out that would only be temporary. Threat of flood, fire, toxic spill, Homer Simpson spilled his coffee on the control panel of the local nuke plant , ect. But you're right about the documents and such. |
I MUST BE THE EXCEPTION
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I meant, it's possible that you can return, but you are prepared that everything you have left behind will be gone. |
Birth Certs, Soc Security cards. Stuff you ordinarily don't carry, but may need if you need to start over somewhere else. You may want to rethink not taking any documents along. |
| i don't think the OP was asking what the difference in definition or contents of the bag are. I think they were asking whats the difference between the styles of backpacks. As in if that $300 cool tactical ruck sack is any different than the $200 hiking backpack at EMS/REI/MEC ect |
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scan them. you can keep your entire life story with you on a 1GB flash drive. you can keep a copy in your BOB. you can keep another in your BOV. and another at your BOL. we are not even up to $30 yet. thread of knowledge: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=608288 ar-jedi |
Oh. The tactical backpack (1) costs a lot more (2) has less room (3) weighs more (4) has MOLLE loops (5) probably isn't in dayglo circus colors (like most non-tactical packs) |
Also, the tactical backpack: 1 is extremely durable -- you can beat the snot out of it without it breaking, tearing, or ripping 2 allows for increased storage capacity with attachable pouches -- these include pouches for the side, back, top, bottom, E&E & more. I can almost double my backpack's capacity with add-on pouches 3 usually comes in black, OD green, woodland, desert tan, coyote brown, ACU, ect 4 allows for the use of multiple camel back water storage bladders. Most have at least one pouch for a camel back in the interior of the pack with the ability to add more bladders on the exterior. 5 usually provides a more comfortable internal frame for carrying increased loads 6 has thicker padding for the shoulders and waist belt The ones I have found usually have these features. |
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I like the Eagle 3 for a bug out bag...and with the zip on side pockets you can go a long time...4-5 days in the woods...(also has MOLLE loops)any longer than that, and I prefer a LARGE ALICE pack...just can't beat it for sheer roominess, and I carry a 50 plus pound load on a 10 day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, in summer. Off the back, it's shape is conducive to the bottom of a Wenonah 18 foot canoe. Old as it is, the ALICE is still extremely versatile, and with a little work, you can make it comfortable to carry too. An ALICE has three large outer pockets, perfect for often used gear like flashlights, H20 Filter, stove, head net, towel and so on. |
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Documents are already mentioned. Depending on where I am going hiking/backpacking I may or may not be allowed to have a firearm with me so that can vary. If bugging out I have a destination with some stuff already there so there might be some variations on things based on exactly what I have already placed at my final destination. An example might be if I am taking my 1911 and I have a couple cases of ammo at the bug out place I might pack more spare parts for the 1911 if I don't already have them at the bug out place. If you have night vision and plan to travel at night you might have some major changes in what you are taking vs. day hiking and enjoying the scenery during the day and sleeping at night. The overall basics are similar but some people plan things differently. Just my opinion and I suck at getting out and doing stuff for the past several months. |
All that being said I use a Kifaru Express!!! I'm such a hypocrite  Rata |
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BOB is your home on your back - you may never be coming back, the house might be gone when you do, MZBs stole everything that wasn't nailed down, etc. etc. GHB is just enough warm clothing, bivy, pistol and enough food and water to get your ass home in an emergency, and doubles as a 'comfort pack' in a situation where you're stuck in your car in a blizzard overnight (for example - just happened in CA.) Backpacking is somewhere between the two. Just enough food for the time you'll be out, plus a safety margin, cool toys like cameras and frisbees are a plus, generally I try and pack some booze. I rarely carry a gun, but more and more I carry a pistol. There's a lot of freaks out there, like that psycho killer in GA who recently killed and dismembered several folks. Another reason I wanted a P225 or something similiar (Keltech would be lighter) just in case. Most western states you just carry it on your waist in view. In Grizzly country you'd want a magnum, but in a BOB you'd also carry more ammo and a longarm, whereas backpacking you want light weight. So, as far as pistols go, the BOB would have my favorite auto, plus my 2nd favorite auto or revolver and lots of ammo, plus longarm & ammo. In my GHB I'd prefer something serious and quality like the SIG, with 4 mags. In my backpacking pack I'd take the lightest 9mm I could get, thus the Keltec choice. DAO would be okay for such a weapon. Finally, backpacking in deep wilderness I'd want a minimum .357 magnum, bigger if I were in grizzly country. Anyway, that's just my .02 - I'm starting to run on... |
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1 is extremely durable -- you can beat the snot out of it without it breaking, tearing, or ripping They are generally made out of the same materials. If you can do the PCT in spectra, I think that makes it durable -- I don't know if the civilian packs are made out of the same kind of heavy duty nylon as the mil-spec stuff. I have had packs from Spec-ops gear, SOE, Eagle industries, and Kifaru. From the civilian packs that I have seen in REI, I would take the mil-spec stuff over the civis any day of the week. In my opinion, the civilian packs are no where near the quality; however, I may have never seen the nice civvy packs yet.. ----------------------------------------- 2 allows for increased storage capacity with attachable pouches -- these include pouches for the side, back, top, bottom, E&E & more. I can almost double my backpack's capacity with add-on pouchesExcept for organization I would say this is a down side. Did you ever notice that the bigger your house gets the more crap you put in it? --I have had multiple Kifaru packs with all kinds of attachments, and I go hiking regularly with 2 long pockets and 2 or 3 PODs attached -- having the ability to add the pouches and pockets is a GODSEND and make mil-spec packs a league of their own. I guess we just differ in necessity. ------------------------------------------------- 4 allows for the use of multiple camel back water storage bladders. Most have at least one pouch for a camel back in the interior of the pack with the ability to add more bladders on the exterior.Awesome for desert ops, but any where near any water source this is not really needed --The trails that I go hiking at in the tri-state GA / NC / TN area typically don't have frequent water sources. It is not uncommon to hike 6-8 hours in some areas without any access to water. Many of these mountain trails don't have easy access to streams except at the camp sites which are like 8 miles apart at times. I've found some trails with water every few miles and others where you won't see water all day, practically. I've also had the unfortunate event of running out of water (multiple times, actually) and had to spend the following two or three hours climbing & descending mountains to finally get to a refill point. In total, I carry about 170-190 ounces in camel back bladders so I can basically hike for at least 5-6 hours without running out of water on the trail. ------------------------------------------ 5 usually provides a more comfortable internal frame for carrying increased loadsWith the exception of Kifaru, I would totally disagree here, civilian stuff is way more user friendly and comfy I have Kifaru as my main backpacking equip, so it's obviously very comfortable; In my experience, the standard, mil-spec backpacks usually do better in this regard than the junk at REI. I am biased though -- different strokes for different folks. -------------------------------------------------- 6 has thicker padding for the shoulders and waist beltHaven't really seen any examples of this other than Kifaru which really doesn't rely on padding for comfort as much as ergonomics....oh and no military unit issues Kifaru. I would argue that it is more Gucci Flage than anything. I used Kifaru in the Mil, but I was the exception When you get into the EMR and MMR, the padding gets much better :D The Eagle packs, Tactical Taylor packs, and others have better padding than the standard civvy stuff that I've seen in stores -- again, personal preference. |
Civilian contractors like Gregory and Lowe have been adopted by the military lately for a reason. They are well-made, carry a lot of weight well, and are comfortable. Does that make them mil-spec?  Generally military gear is heavier duty, but frankly, when it comes to packs, it just isn't true. A Gregory or North Face pack is not the same as a Jansport BTW. Gregory, Lowe and North Face all have something in common - they were designed by climbers, whose end-use closely resembles the military's. They carry a lot of gear, some of it heavy and sharp, in miserable conditions, across rugged terrain, for extended periods. If it fails, you fail. Sound familiar? |
I have a mountainsmith approach II pack that is my everyday BOB. It has a little bit of everything in it to prepare for most contingencies. I take it with me when we are out of town or out for the day, sometimes I take it to work. I am always using stuff in it. THe other day I needed some aleve and it looked like we were out but I knew I had some in my bag. It's heavier than you would think and doesn't have comfy backpacking stuff in it, but does have stuff that would get you by, like emergency bivy. If the shtf I would take the contents of that bag and put in in my emergecy bob which would have food stove guns and ammo. My backpacking stuff is lighter and leaves out stuff that I am unlikely to encounter on a backpacking trip. It's not practical to carry everything all the time so one must use one's judgement. I do take a lightwt 38 spcl with me but just replaced my older heavier stuff with lighter wt stuff. My knees are wearing out so if I want to continue to walk I must adhere to certain limitations of comfort I have set for myself. |
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I have almost the same kit in each pack with my BO having financial/insurance/medical information and items. And a bit more ammo. I wish ARFCOM had a hiking/backpacking forum to go in the 'outdoors' arena. It is so relevant to many outdoor activities (fishing, hunting, survival, photography, astronomy, health/fitness....) that just having the subject pop up occasionally in a thread doesn't allow enough sharing of great ideas and experiences. |
I searched around for a while and settled on the Camelbak/Mystery Ranch Scorpius pack. I consider it to be an ideal BOB. It is 500D nylon instead of the usual 250D. Its huge at 7000+ cu.in. It holds 2 Camelbak bladders, had MOLLE attachments and detactable day pack. Plus I got it in Foilage Green color, so it will blend in to the the wooded surounding. One of the big selling points is that you don't need to get sized for the pack before you buy it. It is fully adjustable and very comfortable. I have even been running with it fully loaded. |