Get home bag input

[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.