Get home bag input

[Tinelement]

So I decide to put together a GHB (get home bag) to carry with me in my vehicle on a daily basis, or to bring if we take my wife's car. This is just the start of the project so I will post as I get it together. Have lots of stuff! I am an avid backpacker so I have plenty of light weight survival pieces I plan to include. Pretty much everything from tp to tents, to backpacking cookware and food, to extra everything. So today I picked up a new pack from Jensen arms. I got a Maxpedition Falcon II Backpack. I also picked up a Surefire G2X Pro flashlight since I didn't really have a good one! I also plan on carrying a HK P2000 with a Streamlight TRL-1s on it with 3 extra mags, plus whatever i am ccw that day. I know I have enough supplies from my backpacking equipment to make it work for myself, but I have a wife, an 18 month old boy, and one in the oven. Most of our travel is from Loveland to Denver and up to Breckenridge. So am I just looking for those real important items I may need if the fam has to abandoned ship and get to safety. I know this is broad but thinking kid wise. I do have a crew cab truck I keep plenty of extras in! So any input would be great! Just want to see what others carry with a young family!! Thanks!!

[Omicron]

Good thinking. You'd want a fully stocked diaper bag (and all Dads know how the women seem to pack everything a baby could need in said diaper bag!) plus selections from Ferfal's lists, here http://ferfal.blogspot.com/search/label/Emergency%20Kit .

Ferfal is BTW a great resource who literally HAS "been there, done that."

Hope this helps!

[Tinelement]

I won't list everything that is in it and take up a whole page. You can get a pretty good idea with the photos! I'm thinking we always have a diaper bag with us stocked up, so I think that would be ok for the wifey to carry if need be. Or should I pack another small backpack with kid specific stuff? Thoughts?

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9340.jpg

Pack has a Camelbac bladder in it.

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9339.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9341.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9342.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9343.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9345.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9346.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9347.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9348.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9349.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9350.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9351.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9352.jpg

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/GHB/IMG_9355.jpg

I just thought this one was cool!!

[StagLefty]

I'm curious as to what your pack weighs with all the gear ? [Beer]

[Tinelement]

minus the the AR, I haven't put it on a scale but I would guesstimate 20 to 30 lbs. As I mentioned this is a vehicle pack and will only be used in a "abandon ship situation", that being said my backpacking pack fully loaded is over 50lbs, so this is a walk in the park!

[StagLefty]

Thanks ! Age is a factor for my pack weight nowadays [ROFL1]

[frozenmud]

Shelter? That was the only thing that I noticed. I need to get a bag(s) together...

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/product.php?product=146&catname=Shelter&prodname=SOL%20Thermal%20Bivvy

[Tinelement]

I did think about the shelter. I have a couple lightweight pack tents which I will probably throw one in the truck. My thought process behind this was more of a ditch the vehicle and find the closest safety with a wife, toddler, and infant. Being we mainly (99%) travel the front range and west I70, I personally feel there is enough possible shelter to be found. Now, the what if factor always come into play. If there is nothing, I would stay in the vehicle for shelter! Same thing with bug out or bug in. In the next few yrs we would need to bug in, so also working on a home supply as well! Not to be to long winded!!!!

[Irving]

Wow, you put that together pretty quickly. My bag is still pretty half-assed at this point. :(

[Tinelement]

Thanks! But as I mentioned I am a hiker/backpacker so 95% of this stuff was just sitting downstairs. Just picked up a new pack, reviewed what I had, and picked up about $50 worth of other stuff! It is a fun project! Looking forward to working on our home supply now!

[chunga]

I keep a few 30 gallon trash bags in my GHB.
In an urban area I don't feel that carrying a tent to be that necessary.
I do have a rain poncho in mine but a few holes in the trash bag for head and arms and that can help keep you dry.
The trash bag could also be used to collect rainwater or to melt snow in.
They could also be used to make a lean-to.
They weigh nothing and take up very little space

[frozenmud]

I keep a few 30 gallon trash bags in my GHB.
In an urban area I don't feel that carrying a tent to be that necessary.
I do have a rain poncho in mine but a few holes in the trash bag for head and arms and that can help keep you dry.
The trash bag could also be used to collect rainwater or to melt snow in.
They could also be used to make a lean-to.
They weigh nothing and take up very little space


I like the trash bag idea. Here is something else that I found while looking around.

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage_na.nsf

[MED]

Getting home is my biggest concern since I work 43 miles away. To get home, I have a 9,000ft elevation climb that is after I make it through downtown and suburbia. If I avoid 285, it is a pretty nasty trip to get home especially in the winter. Once I get home, I can live there for years…that is unless a fire burns it all down.

The key for me is a lightweight pack especially with my disk and knee damage: Power bars, MREs, and water, Fire starter, Knife and hatchet, flashlight, compass, head lamp, small pot, boots, water proof jacket, hat, gloves, tarp, cord, pistol plus ammunition, (working on an AR to keep in the car).

[SA Friday]

Ya, but does it fit in the Porsche? :)

[StagLefty]

The key for me is a lightweight pack especially with my disk and knee damage: Power bars, MREs, and water, Fire starter, Knife and hatchet, flashlight, compass, head lamp, small pot, boots, water proof jacket, hat, gloves, tarp, cord, pistol plus ammunition.

We're on the same page. You can carry the essentials without loading up. [Beer]

[Irving]

For you guys with food in your packs: how often do you rotate it out?

I leave my pack in my car all the time. Fall to Spring is probably fine for some bags of tuna or something, but what do you do in the summer when it gets 100 degrees inside your car for a few hours a day?

[ChunkyMonkey]

You need to tint those window.

[Irving]

Tell me about it. I already contacted Triggerhappy, but have had everything else be more important to get done first so far.

[StagLefty]

but what do you do in the summer when it gets 100 degrees inside your car for a few hours a day?

You buy the MRE's without the heaters [ROFL1]

[Omicron]

Very impressed with what you've got together so far, Tinelement! Another thing to consider is throwing a good crowbar and a pair of bolt cutters into the trunk. You might wind up sheltering in some place that's closed, and need to get in. A basic toolkit in general would be useful too.

[TTWHTD]

My opinion is to pull the trigger early. While everyone stares out the window and wonders "what's going on", i'll be long gone. If you feel that something could be in the works then bail early. Call in sick, leave work sick, whatever. You may just get the jump on things you need. Worst case, you burn a sick day and nothing happened.
However, try not to be "the guy" that's walking down the street with a digital cammo backpack with 9 molle attachments and a sleeping bag strapped to it. TARGET! Maybe blend in with more common looking (from the outside) pack and such.
Imagine how people wouldn't think twice if you were jogging down the street with a Dora The Explorer backpack, a bicycle helmet and yelling, "have you seen my baseball"!

[Omicron]

Yeah I've heard and thought the same thing. Bright colored kids back packs are a lot less noticeable too, and if your car gets broken into, is less apt to be stolen. If you look all tac'd out, you will be a target. Same thing with carrying an obvious rifle. Consider instead a Draco pistol AK or AR pistol or Keltec PLR16 in your pack, and a pistol concealed but fast accessible.

[Tinelement]

Thanks for all the replies! I really like the trash bag and crowbar ideas! Thanks for the input!

[Irving]

We went through our bags tonight (well, started one for her) and they are a little better than they were before, but still could use some work. Now I at least have a fishing kit in each, and went and picked up some decent fishing line to put in there. I need to make some small sewing kits next.

[SA Friday]

For something like this, there isn't going to be delicate sewing happening. Buy some heavy gauge sewing needles and 10 lb Kevlar fishing line. It's thin and tough as hell. I would also throw in a thimble. Sometimes you have to use the thimble to get through tight weaves of heavy material. The thimble will stop from overbending the needle and breaking it in these situations. Just trust an old and no longer qualified rigger on this one.

[Irving]

Yeah, that is actually what has prevented me from putting one together thus far. The only "tough" thread I have at the moment is the orange thread that is used for jeans. That thread is way better than the regular thread, but it's no Kevlar. Plus, my regular sewing kit isn't large enough to cannibalize into smaller ones like my fishing kit.

I was thinking about taking those tiny spools and using them to hold the fishing line in the fishing kits though. Currently I'm using a foam ear plug.

Speaking of the fishing kits, about how much line do people suggest having? I was thinking that just a lead tied to paracord would probably be enough in a pinch, but I'm a pretty bad fisherman, so I don't really know. I think I have about 10 yards in each kit right now.

Two kits in each bag. One very small one with just hooks, weights, those little junction things for leads, and and a weighted jig and a plastic worm inside a plastic fuse box. One store bought Trout Kit with a few large metal lures and all the same other stuff as the small kits. The small kits go in the Altoid tins that can be carried on their own, or in individual packs that may be carried separately. Kind of a one is none, two is one, kind of thing.

EDIT: After handling this 10lb braided fishing line, I think this stuff is pretty dang strong. The $7.50 for 110 yards of this, compared to $20 for 65 yards of Kevlar is pretty appealing. Just noticed that you recommended fishing line, and not the Kevlar thread. Most of the time I've broken needles has been when I'm using a thimble. Sewing jeans is the most tough thing I've done. Usually break a needle when going through the seam where they are most thick. Either break the needle in half bending it too much, OR the eye breaks trying to pull thread through. The best part about learning to sew, is when you find out how insanely easy it is to sew super strong straps onto things. Seat belt + $2.00 sewing kit = super strong straps for whatever you need.