tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 13, 2017 17:32:55 GMT 10
When I read about get home bags and the like, descriptions always say you need one per family member in the car with you at all times. That does sound very useful, but our car would be getting pretty full - where would the groceries and beach gear go??
Also, if you have a reasonable number of kids, and you are suppose to carry a GHB each (doubling as a BOB) as well as have an emergency bag near the front door or easily accessible, that's a lot of bags to purchase.
Any thoughts on this?
At the moment I have an emergency stash of stuff in a plastic box in the car, with some of that in a school type backpack (ie not a hiking one), a spare backpack that I carry back and forth to the car that could have things swapped out to make room for essentials, and a shoulder bag with water bottle, mini stove, etc.
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myrrph
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Post by myrrph on Jan 13, 2017 18:11:21 GMT 10
It really depends on how far from home will you be. I'd reckon that you assume you will not be able to drive home. So a fire kit, water filter, cooking pot, some rations would be invaluable. Just remember that its to get you home, not for your to survive long term outside.
shareables would be the fire kit, cooking stuff, filter.
Collapsible water bottles (500ml minimum), altoids survival kit or equivalent, tshirt could be included. For cold weather, mylar blankets are a must.
Rations could be rice or dehydrated food. I watched a youtube video where the dude carried 1 tub of peanut butter as his GHB food. Calorie for Calorie it makes some sense, but to chinese .. its "heaty" so will cause problems like sore throat. Not a good thing to happen whilst getting home. I'd go for Clif Bars, Hard Tack, Rice etc.
my 2 cents. Shiney will no doubt disagree with me ...lol
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 13, 2017 18:24:02 GMT 10
I guess I'm fine with the stuff actually, it's just acquiring that number of backpacks! I think I'll stick with what I currently have but get kids to take daily gear in a backpack.
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Ammo9
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GHB, et al
Jan 13, 2017 18:28:13 GMT 10
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Post by Ammo9 on Jan 13, 2017 18:28:13 GMT 10
I dont think you need a bag per person including children, though it would be handy to help carry water if you often travel far from home.
Personally I don't think a GHB needs food at all, maybe a sports drink, those cycling jizz sachets or some caffeine tablets at most.
I think a GHB does need a pair of socks and runners or walking shoes per person, 1 day of water each minimum dependant on climate and more or purification methods if routinely very far from home.
If you're traveling/holidaying and making a kit to make it back several days travel on foot then that's different and I'd suggest some quite extensive.
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Jan 13, 2017 18:58:39 GMT 10
Getting the usual bases covered in even tiny kits is a start and might take little space. Spaceblanket, cheap shapened steak knife/folding [wrap in foil], matches/lighter/striker, fishing line [and hooks], water container [roll up] and water purification tabs could fit in your pocket. Far better than nothing, though not amazing either. You might have similar age appropriate kits for all of the kids, perhaps increasing in size to match the kid's age/carrying capacity.
Even having water in the back of your car is useful both for car issues to help you limp somewhere or drinking. I carry a back-pack GHB that doubles as a BOB about 20kg, a folding bike, 20W solar panel, 2 weeks of food [considering bumping that up] and 10L of water, 10L fuel, coat, some tools, spare tyre etc. That is I don't have boot space. If need be, I'd take out the mini-kit I mentioned above [redundancy] or strip the pack down to the bare essentials to get home faster, depends on circumstances. Cars make great waterproof secure tents too if required.
Conversely Wifey has a smaller and simpler BOB/GHB that's about 10kg, with a week of food and the usual stuff in a smaller day pack, that doesn't take up much space.
Multiple purposes and roles. We both work at home so leaving might be a more likely scenario and why would I just leave on foot if I had a choice.
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blueshoes
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GHB, et al
Jan 13, 2017 20:55:24 GMT 10
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Post by blueshoes on Jan 13, 2017 20:55:24 GMT 10
I just realised two things: a) 95% of the stuff we do is within an hours walk of home, and b) I take a bag for each of the kids everywhere anyway, even just to the library to return stuff, with a drink and a snack and a change of clothes. That is probably all we need in the kids bags - There's no way we'd be camping out overnight in the city. Even from the other side of town, as a mum with young kids (pram etc) we'd be much safer walking until late in the night and getting home than rugging up and trying to sleep and being sitting ducks for assault or theft. My EDC bag has all the stuff you normally find in a handbag... screwdrivers, hand sanitizer, power bank, water, paper and pen, kitchen sink etc etc...  |
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 13, 2017 21:25:51 GMT 10
We regularly travel about an hour's drive away.
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Jan 13, 2017 21:36:15 GMT 10
Just hazarding a guess using estimated average vehicle speed of 60km/h... Without knowing factors of environment, terrain and personal factors...
I'm estimating you "need" a GHB with three days of water, a pair of socks, blanket, rain poncho, headlamp, small first aid kit, a small snack, bic lighter and a knife.
And a small duffle with a set practical clothes, walking shoes and a pair of socks to change into if your attire is inappropriate for travel.
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Post by Peter on Jan 14, 2017 1:46:50 GMT 10
I prefer a 3 day GHB for myself as I work at least a 2 day walk from home. Mrs Pete & the kids are normally close by, but they have some food in their bags so she doesn't have to put up with the kids throw a tantrum if they decide they're hungry.
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feralemma
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Post by feralemma on Jan 14, 2017 9:45:25 GMT 10
If I get stuck somewhere in a vehicle it's most likely going to be because of machanical failure or accident rather than some dramatic end of the world scenario, so my vehicle has a large toolbox that contains spare belts and hoses, tools, a shovel, oil and coolant, jumper leads, fire starting equipment, knife and steel, glow sticks, hard tack, water, a pot to cook in, thermal blankets, a tarp and rope, and a fire extinguisher. Also in my vehicle I normally have a backpack with stuff for little people as they are almost always with me.
Mine is usually a situation of having to fix it to be able to get home, or stay put until help arrives. Leaving my vehicle is only done if absolutely necessary as that puts us all at risk, but it can be done by packing the basics into the backpack.
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Post by Fractus on Jan 14, 2017 10:34:33 GMT 10
I have a battery pack to start the car. I had to borrow gasman's Once and was so impressed I bought one for me and one for mum and dad. My wife's car has a 5 litre water bottle that is refreshed occasionally and three bags. One with commercial dried fruit and General prepper stuff and one each for us with clothes and runes socks etc. it does take up a bit of room and we do have to take it out sometimes but generally we could get home.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 14, 2017 11:13:53 GMT 10
As we only have school-type backpacks and a couple of huge hiking packs, I think it would help if I got something in between those that has lots of pockets inside if possible so it can be better organised. I am pretty much never alone so I can share the load a bit with smaller backpacks - so it doesn't have to be huge. I also don't want something that stands out - ie is very big or too many outside pockets etc. I did a heap of googling yesterday and found two that I like, but I'd like to find something under $100. I'm also not really sure if the size I've looked at would be too big looking or heavy, but as school backpacks are 15-30 lt, I've just looked for something a little bigger than that. It will need to be comfortable. www.kitbag.com.au/products/RECON-Bravo-Extreme-36ltr-Pack.html - but in black www.legear.com.au/5.11-tactical-rush-24-backpack - again in black Any suggestions? |
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Jan 14, 2017 12:10:51 GMT 10
The rush packs are go-bags with straps, not packs for wearing. They have almost no support and are very uncomfortable to wear if you load them up.
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 14, 2017 12:16:11 GMT 10
The rush packs are go-bags with straps, not packs for wearing. They have almost no support and are very uncomfortable to wear if you load them up. Thanks for that. I'm so glad that I asked. |
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Ammo9
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GHB, et al
Jan 14, 2017 14:40:00 GMT 10
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Post by Ammo9 on Jan 14, 2017 14:40:00 GMT 10
I use a black rush 12 as a travelling carry on luggage bag. Good from the plane to the cab rank and
Can fit casual shoes, jacket, three tshirts/socks/jocks, jeans, shorts, toiletries, non-stabby EDC gear and a book.
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Post by Peter on Jan 14, 2017 21:59:54 GMT 10
If I get stuck somewhere in a vehicle it's most likely going to be because of machanical failure or accident rather than some dramatic end of the world scenario... IMHO that sums up 90% plus of prepping. The everyday things - mechanical failure, short term power outage, loss of job, illness/injury, that type of thing. That's why this forum doesn't follow the "Doomsday Prepper" mentality; the huge scale things don't happen as often. |
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Jan 14, 2017 22:41:20 GMT 10
Well for some it goes like this... "I have a flat, it's DOOOOOOMSDAY!!!"
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Jan 15, 2017 15:12:19 GMT 10
Our most likely problem is a traffic jam caused by an accident - that happens about once a year here and turns it from a one hour drive to about a 6 hour drive. Fortunately we haven't been on the road when that's happened in the past, but it will possibly happen sometime. Even if the drive isn't quite 6 hours, extending any drive when you have kids in the car always presents challenges!
Many many years ago, when I lived about 40 minutes out of Sydney, I was heading home by car when a storm broke and I ended up taking 6-8 hours to get home. When I got closer there were trees across the road, powerlines down, and the power was out for about a week.
So now days when I drive it is more like that sort of thing that I plan for - not leaving the car, but being stuck for a long time. I always have snacks, water and blankets, along with chargers for gadgets and a few little games incase I need to keep kids occupied.
If we did have to leave the car we'd have to spend a night or two out if we set off walking! I've just upped the "snacks" to be enough to last 3 days, and I'll gradually add in other stuff we might need. I have a couple of water filters as well as spare water (a lifestraw and two mini sawyers), and a way to heat water. Let's just hope it is only ever a traffic delay that we are faced with.
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tyburn
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Post by tyburn on Jan 19, 2017 15:00:06 GMT 10
Personally I don't think a GHB needs food at all, maybe a sports drink, those cycling jizz sachets or some caffeine tablets at most. I think a GHB does need a pair of socks and runners or walking shoes per person, 1 day of water each minimum dependant on climate and more or purification methods if routinely very far from home. I have a brew kit (tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate, lollies, wet wipes, matches, lighter, bottle of water) and very very basic first aid kit, as well as a few other bits and pieces stashed in my work bag and the main backpack I usually use outside of work. I usually work within an hour's walk of home (although occasionally at another office 40km away), so don't really need to carry much more for a GHB. Wife's office is ten minutes walk from our place, while the kids' school is five minutes in the other direction, so no need for GHB for them under normal daily use. In the car we don't have a GHB, although usually have at least 6 x 500ml of water, some biscuits and lollies, plus our rubber backed picnic blanket and my hoochie (tarp). Also a bunch of other stuff the kids have dropped around the car, which could come in handy (eg. kids' kite usually lives in the car; while the fabric part mightn't be much use, the 50 metre fishing line kite string could be handy). |
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Jan 19, 2017 17:37:09 GMT 10
Tyburn, seems like you just need a bag for those things in the back of your car [I'd add a knife] and you'd be done  Blanket, tarp, kite poles and fishing line give you a rudimentary tent, luxury! |
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Blanket, tarp, kite poles and fishing line give you a rudimentary tent, luxury!