Useless BOB Items

[ninja-elbow]

This is true. 3 days of lifeboat rations is something a lot of us probably DO need

Bug out = yes
normal day to day diet = no

[moab]

I carry Metamucil in pill form. I take it on a daily basis anyway. Just to keep me regular. And I have a physical condition that requires it. I'm sure it would do the same if eating boat rations or mre food over an extended period of time. But I hear your concerns. If I got backed up it would be miserable. But I'm carrying a mix of boat rations and mre food. With the Metamucil I think I'll be fine.

I will point out. I'm carrying the MRE's for that satisfying feeling of (and this is going to sound crazy to other servicemen and women) surprise in whats in your food that day. I think boat rations would get monotonous. But with the MRE's I at least have some different tastes. And some little treats in each bag. I plan to tare them down. But will keep at least one little treat in every meal. I'll still mix it up with the boat rations. Maybe eating those while on foot. And eating the MRE food once I get to a harbor site for the night and morning.

But do I think I could make it on rations alone. Hell yes. No problem. Food is food to me. And in a SHTF situation. I'll be happy to have anything. As many others probably won't.

[Lynn LeFey]

Cu: I'm done arguing this. I've stated my case, and until its tested, I stand firmly on what I've said. I don't think this needs to turn into another 'how much water do you need in a day' fiasco. I'm willing to accept KnightoftheRoc's findings, and assume he'll employ due diligence in his testing. If he's relying on them, his butt is way more on the line than mine, and I'm guessing he'd like to have confidence in his methodology. How about we table any further argument until we get some field test data?

Now, on with the show...

[moab]

Lynn - I think your missing the point of boat rations. Have they been tested? Certainly they have. In many survival situations on land and water. Otherwise they wouldn't exist or be approved by the US Coast Guard. But they aren't meant to be the best means of gathering calories to the point of satisfying your every craving or making your bowels move smoothly. They are simply the smallest form of high calorie food that you can carry with you. That will keep you alive the longest for the least amount of size/weight.

If that's not a concern of yours. And your plan allows canned food to get you through your 3 day walk to your BOL. And you don't foresee any problems along the way or any problems with your BOL once you get there. Then cool. Carry your cans. No one is disagreeing with you that you shouldn't do what your doing.

But everyone should consider lightening their load some. By simply throwing in some form of lighter weight survival food. You'll move faster by having less to carry. Which is a main concern of any hike/travel. Emergency or not. But especially in an emergency. Your not going to want to be humping around a heavy load. And if you can avoid it. Take some of the boat rations. It may be what keeps you alive that extra day or two you need to get where you need to get. I think your thinking you'll only need your BOB in a natural disaster type situation where things will turn to normal in short order. I think the rest of us are not so optimistic. Or are at least planning a little more for the worse. And trying to make sure we get - every bang for our buck - out of what we carry.

Morale is a concern. But what better morale than to know you have enough food - to last you as long - as what you could pack on your back? Instead of "Wow. I only carried X amount of cans. When I could have carried XX amount of boat rations or MRE food or dried food.". "Now I'm hungry as hell. And my morale has completely tanked.". That is the morale issue we are concerned with - staying alive - not so much that we are satisfied with what we are eating.

That being said. I think their is a compromise somewhere in the middle. a lot of light weight dried food tastes great. Certainly some of the things you find in MRE's taste good. There are a lot of options besides the heaviest thing you could carry - cans. It's why just about every military in the world switched from cans to bags. To get the most bang for their buck out of what they have to carry.

You might also consider what other pieces of equipment you might have carried had you dropped the can weight? And what it might mean to your survival. Extra shelter. Extra weapons. Extra water. In a survival situation you can't say well I'm not going to take that because I don't like how it feels or how it tastes or how it makes me look. Being dead makes you feel a lot worse. Or even the threat of death. Because you chose a luxury that could have been exchanged for something that could really save your life.

[Merovech]

More in line with the subject though: I've seen people pack small cast iron pans and skillets.

Hey Now! Dont Get Lippy!

[ninja-elbow]

You? I was thinking of some one else totally not in ZS... really

I was car camping one weekend years ago (pre ZS for me) with just my backpack rig (volunteer trail weekend) and a few other things I threw in the truck. Another dude I was sharing my spot with pulled out his humongous pack from his truck and laid it down and busted out an 8" cast iron skillet. He was one of us survivalists types. He put it aside as dinner was going to be some MH stuff (boiled water) and jicama and coconut stew (real good, try it out). I had an enamel billy pot for the sweet stew and got that going. Later, I asked if he humped that skillet he never used and he told me the quoted line about deer. He was serious too.

Edit: OHHH!! Your sig line link haha

[Merovech]

I keep a very very small 6 inch iron skillet in both my woods bag and my BoB. An 8 inch would just be silly... That stays in the truck.

I may have to sacrifice one or two other things as far as weight is concerned, but you can pry my little mini skillet from my cold dead hands!

The 6 inch ones really dont weigh very much, are pretty small and will last forever.

I really need to do a new writeup for my BoB.

[Lynn LeFey]

Post deleted:

As I've said, I'm done arguing this.

[ninja-elbow]

Some one did it here on ZS a few years ago. Nothing bad nor good happened. It was not enjoyable either. I'll see what I can find on that post.

[proteus]

I think I have my summer experiment, now- thank you! I'll be sure to report back to ZS with details of my bowel movements

Ah... See the great service I do here? I think if you've tested it and it works for you, then cool. Please do post results. I can't find anything anywhere on it.

As for the grooming supplies discussion... interesting point. I keep what amounts to 'overnight bag' stuff in my BOB.

And, as for INCH vs. BOB... I'm still mulling things over. The point of leaving your house even not in SHTF and not being able to return is an undeniable possibility.

As for food 'depression', I was talking about morale. It's easier keeping one foot going in front of another if you've got the prospect of a hot meal at the day's end.

My BOB's not settled by a long shot, so I appreciate the conversation. I've considered Coast Guard Rations before, and will reevaluate when I get some more info. I won't ever remove 'real food' from my plan, but might throw Coast Guard rations in as supplement or as an extender.

I have survived on Datrex ration type emergency food for over 5 days and not had any adverse side-effects from that. It wasnt the most tasty option but it worked and I was very active during the time. YMMV

[ninja-elbow]

Also took a momnet to look into my work BOB:
One block of Datrex
3 Cliff bars (needing rotating BTW.... luckily I keep a box of them in my "personal crap" drawer)
Jerky, still good
MnMs x3
tea x3
coffee x3
veggie soup x3 (Lipton so a ton of sugar and salt)

[Wolfmanjack]

How about silver? I consider that useless. If things become bad enough that paper money becomes worthless the last thing I'm going to want from someone is a pocket full of silver. I want Something I can use or eat.

[Guy Fawkes]

How about silver? I consider that useless. If things become bad enough that paper money becomes worthless the last thing I'm going to want from someone is a pocket full of silver. I want Something I can use or eat.

Agreed. In an INCH bag maybe, but not good for a BOB.

[moab]

How about silver? I consider that useless. If things become bad enough that paper money becomes worthless the last thing I'm going to want from someone is a pocket full of silver. I want Something I can use or eat.

Prescription medicine my friend. Prescription medicine. Gonna be worth more than gold. Antibiotics, painkillers...

[Lynn LeFey]

Anyone care to weigh in on binoculars in a BOB? I know they have use, just not sure how much in a BOB.

[KnightoftheRoc]

I'll play
I have a pair in mine. I feel the opportunity to spot trouble before it spots you is well worth the weight and, in my case, belt space. I have two pairs I have for the BOB, only one of which is still in use. The other one is binocs/digital camera, but the drivers for the camera are no longer supported for any OS after Win98SE I have a hard time finding smaller binocs that open up wide enough for me to use both eyes, and if you can't use both eyes, why bother with binocs? Two eyes is kinda the point. I don't use them a lot, but I DO use them, and that point alone tells me they should stay in the BO line-up.

Which is the criteria for "useful" vs "useless"- do you actually USE the item? If the answer is yes, then it's not, by definition, useless, now is it?

[MacAttack]

Doesn't the UN hand out those Survival blocks to starving villagers to get them through the winter/hard times?

I read a bit back they were dropping in skids of them into Afghanistan mountain villages during a really bad winter. The next year the Taliban was telling everyone they were poisoned or something like that.


I guess if the UN thinks they are ok to give to starving people the world over they are good enough for me for a week.


My only problem with canned goods is the water in them. Unless its something like SPAM which has very little water per can of it compared to soup or vegetables. Which are mostly water.
If your counting on canned goods being part of your water ration then fine, but if you have other sources for water then why carry it in cans?

If all you got is canned goods then run with those. Heck, I would, but since I have a way to buy datrex or the like right now I'll go that rout for now.





And as for useless things in a BOB or GHB. Fishing/trapping kits.

[moab]

And as for useless things in a BOB or GHB. Fishing/trapping kits.

I kind of see your point. If your only traveling for three days. Who needs a fishing kit or a trapping kit? (Especially if you have enough canned goods to last you a week. Just kidding Lynn. Just kidding.)

But then again if your BOL turned south and your BOB turned into an INCH...

That's why I always think people should consider INCH bags. No matter what.

[Lynn LeFey]

Who needs a fishing kit or a trapping kit? (Especially if you have enough canned goods to last you a week. Just kidding Lynn. Just kidding.)

Where's the fist shaking icon? I can't find it!
Well, I'll just have to settle for a good "Why, I oughta..."

[moab]

Who needs a fishing kit or a trapping kit? (Especially if you have enough canned goods to last you a week. Just kidding Lynn. Just kidding.)

Where's the fist shaking icon? I can't find it!
Well, I'll just have to settle for a good "Why, I oughta..."

[Cu Chulainn]

Cu: I'm done arguing this. I've stated my case, and until its tested, I stand firmly on what I've said. I don't think this needs to turn into another 'how much water do you need in a day' fiasco. I'm willing to accept KnightoftheRoc's findings, and assume he'll employ due diligence in his testing. If he's relying on them, his butt is way more on the line than mine, and I'm guessing he'd like to have confidence in his methodology. How about we table any further argument until we get some field test data?

Now, on with the show...

Replying to the bold. . .

I'm not talking out my ass. I've eaten lifeboat rations for 4-5 days in a row before when space and weight for food was at a premium. Results were as I described above: not much pooping because there's nothing to poop. Get back on regular food when it's over and bowels work just fine. To reiterate: I'm not saying that YOU should carry them, but that they are a viable option with no adverse side effects for the duration we are talking about.

Anyone care to weigh in on binoculars in a BOB? I know they have use, just not sure how much in a BOB.

A small pair is good to have to spot trouble, to see if routes are passable or not, etc. I'd not carry anything larger than the fold-up ones that can fit in a pocket or admin pouch, though.

[Red_Snow]

Anyone care to weigh in on binoculars in a BOB? I know they have use, just not sure how much in a BOB.

Binos in my AO are a necessity, with the open expanses of sagebrush where you can see for miles its nice being able to say "Yep, just an antelope" rather then walking into something you would rather avoid. One of those things where if you can see them unaided then you have to assume that they can see you as well.

Or as stated above, seeing if routes are passable, etc.

That and I like looking at things to pass the time, every vehicle of mine has a large pair (10x42 or larger) of binos in em.

[bacpacjac]

One thing I don't carry, except in an inch kit, is a fishing kit. I know they can be made very small and light, and I lke nothing better than fresh trout, but I'd rather not spend my BO time fishing or fiddling with lines.

[Lynn LeFey]

I'd agree that, for me, a fishing kit is useless. And for the same reason as stated above. I'm not going to kick back and wait for fish while bugging out.