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Let's see your BOBs

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
Felt like a good day for a pack dump. Cleaning out, reorganizing, and restocking. This is my personal bug-out-bag that either rides in my truck or with me. I added my Life Straw, but may add based on what others are packing. This is a 24-hour bag to get me back home. I keep more provisions in my truck to stretch to 72 hours if necessary. For the family BOB, I need to get back to the house and need 1-hour to assemble everyone for whatever is next. I thought we had a thread on this, but I couldn't find and think is mostly scattered throughout a few various threads. So let's see your BOB is your a crazy person like @giles and myself!

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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I need to redo mine. I have a little more food in mine. I also carry a case of water in my vehicles. I have a couple of Gatorade packets stuffed in mine as well. I feel like I’ll need the added electrolytes.

Poncho is also worth the space and weight. It could serve as so much more that a rain jacket. Shelter/sled/help you hide/sling options are pretty endless with a good camo poncho. Use it to collect and carry water/food. Wind block.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
I'm ashamed to admit I still don't have a B.O.B. It's something I really need to quite procrastinating over. One thing though, if/when I choose a bag I will try to keep it as discrete as possible. I watched a video one time of a guy putting a bag together, and he made a good comment (I thought) about choosing a bag that doesn't have a "tactical" appearance to it, so as not to draw unnecessary attention. I thought this made sense. But obviously the bag has to meet certain criteria for functionality, so a middle-schoolish Jansport bookbag isn't going to cut it.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I'm ashamed to admit I still don't have a B.O.B. It's something I really need to quite procrastinating over. One thing though, if/when I choose a bag I will try to keep it as discrete as possible. I watched a video one time of a guy putting a bag together, and he made a good comment (I thought) about choosing a bag that doesn't have a "tactical" appearance to it, so as not to draw unnecessary attention. I thought this made sense. But obviously the bag has to meet certain criteria for functionality, so a middle-schoolish Jansport bookbag isn't going to cut it.
If I need my bag, odds are, I don’t give a crap what it looks like. Things have already gone sideways. My realistic every day goal with my bag is being stuck in a gridlock situation on the commute from work. Another reason you won’t find me with a fuel light on.
 
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jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
If I need my bag, odds are, I don’t give a crap what it looks like. Things have already gone sideways. My realistic every day goal with my bag is being stuck in a gridlock situation on the commute from work. Another reason you won’t find me with a fuel light on.
I get that. I guess the reasoning is if you’re out on foot, a “tactical looking” bag stands out. If you’re in a truck it’s no big deal. But if not, it can make you and your belongings a desirable target. I’m sure we all feel like we would defend our belongings... but I’d much rather go unnoticed and fly under someone’s radar.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I get that. I guess the reasoning is if you’re out on foot, a “tactical looking” bag stands out. If you’re in a truck it’s no big deal. But if not, it can make you and your belongings a desirable target. I’m sure we all feel like we would defend our belongings... but I’d much rather go unnoticed and fly under someone’s radar.
In my eyes, anyone carrying a pack would be an asset or target. A grow ass man with a Dora backpack will be pushed to the front of the list.😂

I get what you’re saying and whatever helps push you into the direction of making that first step, go with it. I couldn’t imagine not being prepared in some way. Like driving around without car insurance. I work 88 miles from my house...and feel the need to build a 72 hour pack.
 

5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,291
212
North Central Ohio
I don't have a dedicated bag and I toil often with the thought. Where I struggle is:

1. As long as I can make it home, I know where everything that I need to load a few bags quickly is between emergency tubs, hunting items and camping items. All easily located by me, wife and oldest 2.

2. I am never far from my truck, which has most of these items already in there between different storage areas. My bag would be in the truck anyways since I couldn't bring it into work.

3. A bag in the truck makes it a target for those window creeping, and I have no way of hiding it. Throw in the entire back seat of the crew cab full size truck is lined with 3 kids/booster seats, it is only getting in the way most days. Only a cover or keeping in the bed of the truck under the tonneau is the best option. Even then, it's just a tonneau, so it's safer inside the cab. Back to needing to cover it.

Problems:
1. My daily work is 40miles away.
2. I don't have enough preserved/sealed food to put in a go bag.
3. Realistically, I feel having enough clean water is the most necessary after a gun and a few other items. With a family of 5, at 1gal/ea. per day, that's an unrealistic amount to have to carry along. So, I'm staying put at home until another camper is in the mix.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
40 miles is a long ways on foot. The idea of this kind of bag is to get you to your family without the use of a vehicle. Throwing a couple of items in the back of your seat could be enough.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Some of you office guys should think about a pair of boots. I couldn’t imagine trying to travel in dress shoes. Slacks would be fine, but boots and socks would be a must for me.

In the end. It’s all up to you. If you want to keep a stack of mcdonald’s napkins in the glovebox in case you need to blow your nose or shit. That’s being prepared and that’s enough for some people.

Some people are fine with every day life and don’t see anything ever happening. I just don’t work like that. I can’t just sit anywhere in a restaurant. I have to have an exit plan and can’t sit with my back to the door or people. I don’t live in fear by any means and I don’t think anyone should. But letting your mind wander a bit is healthy. It could be the difference some day.

Most vehicles don’t even have a spare tire anymore...think about that for a second.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
Some of you office guys should think about a pair of boots. I couldn’t imagine trying to travel in dress shoes. Slacks would be fine, but boots and socks would be a must for me.

In the end. It’s all up to you. If you want to keep a stack of mcdonald’s napkins in the glovebox in case you need to blow your nose or shit. That’s being prepared and that’s enough for some people.

Some people are fine with every day life and don’t see anything ever happening. I just don’t work like that. I can’t just sit anywhere in a restaurant. I have to have an exit plan and can’t sit with my back to the door or people. I don’t live in fear by any means and I don’t think anyone should. But letting your mind wander a bit is healthy. It could be the difference some day.

Most vehicles don’t even have a spare tire anymore...think about that for a second.
Run Flat tires
 

5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,291
212
North Central Ohio
40 miles is a long ways on foot. The idea of this kind of bag is to get you to your family without the use of a vehicle. Throwing a couple of items in the back of your seat could be enough.

A pack back is not going to help me travel 40miles, my truck will or so will another vehicle that I highjack because I have weapon (s). If fit hit the shan that bad that I couldn't get home with my truck, I'm not worried about the legal ramifications of doing whatever is needed to get home to my family.

I wear work boots and jeans to work 99% of the time and I park right outside my office window where I can see it 25yrds. away. If your vehicle is destroyed and we someone survive, what good is a bag in a destroyed truck gonna do lol? 40miles is a long way on foot, so as long as my truck isn't destroyed (think emp) I have a backpack I carry for work, I'm just loading up gear from my truck in it.

Each person's situation is unique, we all get that. This is a good post, I'm just sharing my dilemma with having a dedicated bag that I can't have with me all the time. No doubt, the proof is in the pudding that having one is useful, but given the age of my boys and their size currently, we have no choice but to fortify the castle and settle in. I hate that thought, but I feel the risk to the family unit is much greater if we had to travel.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
A one way trip to work for me is about 265 miles one way/2 week hitch in another state and requires driving across the Ohio river.
I have a BOB, or in my case a BHB. (ya. bug home bag) It changes a little based on seasons of hot or cold weather. I sometimes worry about getting across that river and back home under various situations. The bag has the basic things I believe most would choose. Loosing the truck and having to find alternative transportation would complicate things but the family knows the deal is I will get to them. Stay put.
 
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