Anyone else Preping for SHTF?

[Royal-1]

OK, here is what I just had done. I went ahead and had Carpal Tunnel Surgery done on both of my hands. I figure no better time to have elective surgery done than now. I have had CT for about 10 years, but no time to take off to get it fixed and heal, more of a pain to not use my hands for a week than the constant tingle in my fingers, and the tiring out of my hands. After all I could always just take a break and rest my hands till I could work again. Well might not be a time in the near future to get them fixed, and I might not have the option to rest. So I thought, I'll get it done now. Might be something for some of you to think about?

[SilentWarrior1]

Please remember the rule of threes

You can only live without air for 3 minutes
You can ony live without water for 3 days
You can't only live without food for 3 weeks.

That being said, It's important that a B.O.B. include the following:

A 100 oz. supply of water for immediate use and some form of water purification system. This is lighter and more efficient.

Originally Posted by karlsgunbunker

Water is the hardest due to it's shear bulk.

I tend to think water as information. It's not as important to have it all, as to know WHERE TO FIND IT.

The trick to making a B.O.B. is getting everything you percieve you'll need into a light, neat package. A lot of people percieve you need to carry EVERYTHING that you would normally use in a 3 day period. That would include clothing, food, water, shelter, defense, first aid, necessary medications,and morale items.

The key to make things lighter is to get rid of necessary bulk. This includes Air. So, a normal BOB woud look like this.

1 backpack with built in hydration carrier
1-3L Hydration Bladder
3 pairs of pants
3 shirts
3 undershirts
3 pairs of underwear
3 pairs of socks
1 pk Baby wipes
1 set of lightweight thermal wear (weather dependent)
3 days worth of MRE's
3-5 pouches of Gatorade dry mix
1 Nalgene Bottle
100' of Para cord
1 fixed blade knife
1 Flint and tinder kit/Fire-making means
1 25'x25' Tarpaulin
1 Water Filtration System
1 Entrenching tool
1 Strip Saw
1 Hatchet
1- First Aid kit to include:
-Bandages
-Gauze
-Pain Medications
-Some form of Super Coagulant (Quick-clot)
-Means of stitching open wounds(would require training)
1 short-wave radio or means of communication
1 power source for communication
1 means of charging power source
1 tac load of rifle and pistol ammo

This is a normal B.O.B. for me. Please keep in mind, that I have been trained to use all of the items here, sans the suture kit... which I hope to get some training soon. Some of these items aren't needed... this is just what you might find in a normal bag. These are the subtractions I would personally make to save space and weight.

1 backpack with built in hydration carrier
1-3L Hydration Bladder
3 pairs of pants
3 shirts
3 undershirts
3 pairs of underwear
3 pairs of socks
1 pk baby wipes
1 set of lightweight thermal wear (weather dependent)
3 days worth of MRE's- Remove from bag, only what you'll eat
3-5 pouches of Gatorade dry mix
1 Nalgene Bottle
100' of Para cord
1 fixed blade knife
1 Flint and tinder kit/Fire-making means
1 25'x25' Tarpaulin
1 Water Filtration System
1 Entrenching tool
1 Strip Saw
1 Hatchet- Use the E-Tool

1 short-wave radio or means of communication
1 power source for communication
1 means of charging power source
1 tac load of rifle and pistol ammo

Now, you're probably wondering why I told you to drop the FAK from the bag. This is something that should be on your person. If I was bleeding profusely, I wouldn't want to be sifting through all of my stuff, bleeding over all of it trying to find my FAK. That's for line 2 gear... which a WHOLE other thread.

Dropping the extra outer clothing adds more room into your bag to put more essentials needed for 72 hours.

I'm sure there's stuff I'm missing, since I'm doing all of this from Memory. Hope it helps.

[Annie Oakley]

Originally Posted by NEOCON

I have been quite prepared for some time at least I like to think so. I live in a very rural area so it does make a difference. We have lots of canned goods fresh that we can and rotate every year. Also have our own livestock that we can get milk or meat from. A water purification system so we do not have to rely on stored drinking water even though we have quite a bit of that too. Diesel generator with a decent supply of fuel 100+ gallons. House has wood heat if it happens to be winter and yes a large supply of firewood. First aid kits and supplies of needed medications. House is a very defendable position if need be also have the needed guns and ammo to defend it. My family are all familiar with and practices with various firearms should they need to use them. The neighbors as scarce as they may be are somewhat like minded and trustworthy too. I feel confident as long as we can stay at the house. If we would need to leave quickly for an extended period of time it will be a different story.

Ditto for me. Aren't we lucky!

[baldmax]

For those of you that can not find MREs, any "outdoor" store will have food in bags that are reconstituted with water and heated. I know, not ideal, but will work in a pinch.

[ryanmercer]

Originally Posted by baldmax

For those of you that can not find MREs, any "outdoor" store will have food in bags that are reconstituted with water and heated. I know, not ideal, but will work in a pinch.

One of my favorite merchants is MRE, colloidal silver, water filter, survival gear

They've got foot tablets with a 10+ year shelf life that are small and easy. 180 food Tabs. 15 day food supply, under 1 pound.
Survival Food Tablets

[karlsgunbunker]

Originally Posted by baldmax

For those of you that can not find MREs, any "outdoor" store will have food in bags that are reconstituted with water and heated. I know, not ideal, but will work in a pinch.

Plenty of MRE's and at a good price.

Armygear.net -- MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) - TWO Cases

They also have a good deal on Ammo Cans.

[flagtag]

Originally Posted by karlsgunbunker

Plenty of MRE's and at a good price.

Armygear.net -- MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) - TWO Cases

They also have a good deal on Ammo Cans.

Another good place to get emergency supplies is at:
Emergency Essentials - Be Prepared Emergency Preparedness Food Storage
Emergency Essentials

They have MRE's, dried, etc. You can get a whole year's supply at once. Plus they have information sites and a recipe site.
They sell just about everything.

[Mr. Mysterious]

I'd have to include a .22 in the mix. The lowly .22 can kill all the game we have in Indiana. Plus, 500 rounds take up about the space of about two AR/AK magazines.

[Shay VanVlymen]

I always enjoy seeing people take responsibility for their futures.

There are some very stocked-up members on this forum. Preps are good. Having guns, ammo, gas, rice, water, med supplies, BOBs, knives, blankets.... All good.

BUT how many of you have stockpiled training? How many of you have invested in the most important item for SHTF......YOURSELF?

My second point is to get in shape. Healthy people survive stressful situations better. They are able to endure more physical and mental hardship and resist or recover from disease more easily. There are plenty of benefits from daily exercise and a good diet that will be noticeable even if shit never does hit the fan.

Get as much training as possible (medical, guns, wilderness survival, automotive repair, etc) and then practice. Reset your priorities and make yourself the survival machine rather than thinking your gear will do the work for you.

[Shay VanVlymen]

Man, I'm a preachy bastard.