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Posted: 5/24/2026 1:23:21 PM EDT
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate.
Joined:
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Posts:
86982
EE: 100% (6)
ID, USA
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Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms: Yur wife will laugh at first but will then thank you. Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms: Yur wife will laugh at first but will then thank you. We are well versed and experienced at shitting in the woods. Several hundreds of miles on the AT together (many more solo for both of us). We have wet wipes and TP in the trailer we could grab if forced on foot, but a small trowel and some extra Ziploc bags aren't a bad idea. Originally Posted By Bhart89: I recently added a starlink mini to mine. Ha! That's what I using right now. It's part of our travel kit and emergency comms when home...great thinking. Originally Posted By GlockPride: 150 rounds? It’s your funeral, pal!!  Get home, avoid conflict and run from fights and threats. We're on vacation in a national forest and later this week in thr FL Keys...not Mogadishu  The Contingency Box is meant to fill gaps and holes if vacation turns into disaster with the worse case of E&Eing home or to wife's family. We could likely make it several days on foot, but not all the way home. The 4x4 and trailer could get us the majority of the way on back roads. While I'm not packing for the Apocalyptic Civil War 2 over night, it's a small short term hedge to some risks that are very unlikely. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Just had to toss in the "tactical" to make it appropriate  Okay, this is purely for hobby and academic experimentation.  The wife planned a Memorial Day weekend camping trip with her family, and tomorrow, we'll drive down to the FL Keys to camp for a week. Our camping is partially primitive. Our trailer is setup for off-grid camping which we like to do but we are at a powered site this weekend and no power for a week in the keys. We use solar and I have a small generator for those days solar sucks. Anyways, I had this surplus Pelican case and wanted to build a small contingency kit, along with my typical AR15 pistol kit. The trailer: https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/d8971f76-966a-4736-8efa-21b5489c9940.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/d8971f76-966a-4736-8efa-21b5489c9940.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds We have an Ecoflow battery powered/120V AC unit, which keeps the tent quite cool. 12V fridge, propane heated/12V hot water tank, a couple of solar generators, and the small 1500W inverter generator along with three good sizes solar panels and two smaller propane tanks for cooking/heating. As long as we have access to decent water sources and a day or two of sun every other day, we can live comfortably off-grid for a 2-3 weeks. This isn't really a survival rig, it's my wife's fun trailer (yep, her idea and many of the upgrades). Bikes, paddle boards, and sometimes kayaks, having fun in the sun, on/in the water, or hiking/biking to a spring or waterfall. Okay, on to the kit experimentation. The compact AR15 travel kit: https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/ceb41b67-05e6-4d41-a2fa-281ede6b67b3.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/ceb41b67-05e6-4d41-a2fa-281ede6b67b3.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/8926241f-8aa0-463f-90ee-596e41b8efdd.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/8926241f-8aa0-463f-90ee-596e41b8efdd.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds Nothing fancy, AR pistol, compact ACOG, Recce 5k suppressor, sling, about 150 rounds in AR mags. A few pistol mags, my Invert sing rig (with a Glock mag instead of a P365 mag...which are two of the three pistols I'm packing for the trip , couple extra batteries for the WML, and a cleaning kit.The Contingency Case: https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/8031900f-0686-47f3-a149-1c354881b137.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/8031900f-0686-47f3-a149-1c354881b137.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/be6b35de-451b-419e-b433-3473716be855.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/be6b35de-451b-419e-b433-3473716be855.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/df3d2326-afad-4148-b74b-9f1240f98aaf.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds" target="_blank">https://hosting.photobucket.com/3a5ba44e-72a5-4ded-b00a-39a4440c67c0/df3d2326-afad-4148-b74b-9f1240f98aaf.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds I am augmenting some EDC and typical stuff I carry, so it's not really a stand alone, grab and go box. I have a small pack I would grab to properly pack it in needed. Just a little testing to see how it packs, what I can pack in it and what contingency gaps it can fill. I'll post a list later, but what am I missing? There's still a little room in box. I do have a light sof shell hoodie jacket and pair of gloves, but I'm packing a variety of outdoor clothing already. I do have a large poncho tarp for a shelter, and we have hammocks and othe camping gear. What would be in your portable contingency box? Looking to challenge myself as an exercise in preparing for a situation that will likely never happen ROCK6 What's the Finnish M05 thingy at the top left? I usually just have a backpacking pack loaded with a generic backpacking loadout + a few tactical goodies whenever I travel more than a couple hours away from the house. As much as I like belt kits, I carry a small(er) chest rig while traveling. I need to throw a pry bar in the trunk of the car. |
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Originally Posted By GlockPride: 150 rounds? It’s your funeral, pal!! My goal for a similar rig as Rock6's rig is to get back home if something dumb happens while I'm off the mountain. Which probably would end up at some point on foot. Which means I want to get home ASAP, not lugging around huge amounts of gear and ammo. And I'm not out looking for trouble - I'm there to AVOID it. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: What's the Finnish M05 thingy at the top left? It's from Varusteleka, it's their versatile poncho, tarp, and serape. It also has a reflective liner that helps mask your thermal signature. I have a tool bag for the trailer with bigger tools, but the small prybar is always handy. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: It's from Varusteleka, it's their versatile poncho, tarp, and serape. It also has a reflective liner that helps mask your thermal signature. I have a tool bag for the trailer with bigger tools, but the small prybar is always handy. ROCK6 Yup. I figured it was from them and something like that. I almost guessed poncho. I'd throw in a bug net drop-liner to your kit, especially since you'll be in Florida. One of those ultralight ones that hang under a tarp. Sea to summit makes an ultralight one, that's what I have. Turns a tarp / poncho into a mini-tent. It'd SUCK to have to go on foot through Florida / Georgia this time of year, trying to sleep at night without a bug net. I lived in both coastal Georgia and SE Florida (my parents had a travel trailer they kept in the Keys too, on one of the small islands north of Key West). The bugs can eat you up in the summer. EDIT: What's the big knife / machete, the one with the smaller knife piggy backed on it? (I'm a knife nut too, I like knives) |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Yup. I figured it was from them and something like that. I almost guessed poncho. I'd throw in a bug net drop-liner to your kit, especially since you'll be in Florida. One of those ultralight ones that hang under a tarp. Sea to summit makes an ultralight one, that's what I have. Turns a tarp / poncho into a mini-tent. It'd SUCK to have to go on foot through Florida / Georgia this time of year, trying to sleep at night without a bug net. I lived in both coastal Georgia and SE Florida (my parents had a travel trailer they kept in the Keys too, on one of the small islands north of Key West). The bugs can eat you up in the summer. EDIT: What's the big knife / machete, the one with the smaller knife piggy backed on it? (I'm a knife nut too, I like knives) It's surprising cold right now with the thunderstorms hitting us. Hammocks are the only way to sleep comfortably. The big blade is the TOPS Yacare, kind of a thicker 10" blade machete with a custom Kydex sheath with an ESSE 4 piggy backed on it. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By wsix: Looks like you are good to go. The Keys aren't exactly Tampa or Daytona. Yeah, it's less about the Keys as a destination and more about getting off the Keys, though Miami and avoiding 95 or 75 to get back home. Similar to a spare tire, not planning to use it, but thankful you have it when you need it. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Yeah, it's less about the Keys as a destination and more about getting off the Keys, though Miami and avoiding 95 or 75 to get back home. Similar to a spare tire, not planning to use it, but thankful you have it when you need it. ROCK6 Outside of Miami, it's basically all everglades swampland. That's a long, nasty walk back to the west coast, otherwise you're going straight up 95 through that heavily populated strip. A boat would be your best bet, take it up to the panhandle. |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Outside of Miami, it's basically all everglades swampland. That's a long, nasty walk back to the west coast, otherwise you're going straight up 95 through that heavily populated strip. A boat would be your best bet, take it up to the panhandle. We have been on parts of the Florida Trail, but nothing at all like we have with the AT and some of the PCT.  While possible, we really aren't set up for distance backpacking. Taking back roads would be safer and faster if we can get passed Miami...hard enough to do during routine rush hour traffic! ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: My goal for a similar rig as Rock6's rig is to get back home if something dumb happens while I'm off the mountain. Which probably would end up at some point on foot. Which means I want to get home ASAP, not lugging around huge amounts of gear and ammo. And I'm not out looking for trouble - I'm there to AVOID it. Daryll Bolke says there are two types of guns, get into trouble guns, and get out of trouble guns. |
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Originally Posted By bigfugly: Daryll Bolke says there are two types of guns, get into trouble guns, and get out of trouble guns. Yeah, the latter is the goal  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: In my vacation mind, we are chilling in the Keys when the Cuben Communists stealthily boat and ultralight fly over and kill or take dozens of hostages. Yeah, far fetched, but it keeps my prep and contingency planning sharp ROCK6 A man can dream! 
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: We have been on parts of the Florida Trail, but nothing at all like we have with the AT and some of the PCT. https://faroutguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FT_Map_mobile-1024x1024.png While possible, we really aren't set up for distance backpacking. Taking back roads would be safer and faster if we can get passed Miami...hard enough to do during routine rush hour traffic! ROCK6 I have friends and family in Florida, and most of them, their 'apocalypse' plans are to come up here. Most of them have no idea or thought about how to get out of Florida, which is basically a huge deathtrap if things go bad. The one who has her shit together keeps a few duffel bags of stuff up here and is set up to hike out if she can't get out in her truck or on her bike.....on the Florida Trail, up other lesser known trails, up to the AT, then off on a series of other trails that lead to within a few hundred yards of my house. Has maps and such for the whole thing. I tell her that if she isn't at my house by day 3 of the Cuban paratroopers dropping, I expect her to come hobbling up on foot a year or two later. |
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Originally Posted By bigfugly: Daryll Bolke says there are two types of guns, get into trouble guns, and get out of trouble guns. It'd be just my luck that, with everything I've done to prepare for emergencies, that the day the Chinese / Cuban / Canadian paratroopers drop, I'd be off doing something stupid, away from home, without anything but my pocket knife. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: I have friends and family in Florida, and most of them, their 'apocalypse' plans are to come up here. Most of them have no idea or thought about how to get out of Florida, which is basically a huge deathtrap if things go bad. The one who has her shit together keeps a few duffel bags of stuff up here and is set up to hike out if she can't get out in her truck or on her bike.....on the Florida Trail, up other lesser known trails, up to the AT, then off on a series of other trails that lead to within a few hundred yards of my house. Has maps and such for the whole thing. I tell her that if she isn't at my house by day 3 of the Cuban paratroopers dropping, I expect her to come hobbling up on foot a year or two later. We are a little out of shape and my wife is midway through he chemo therapy, so trekking that distance on foot isn't realistic. She has family north of Orlando that is feasible to drive the majority of distance on back roads, but that's a stretch depending on the apocalypse. If we had the backpacking food and setup, our backpacking distance on foot is limited to 135-140 miles. Yeah, you could fish and hunt, but that slows you down. It's been windy, but we paddled the hell out of this mangrove flats area a few hours this morning. Could have been a lot of fishing opportunities. Of course, I forgot my hand reel setup  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: We are a little out of shape and my wife is midway through he chemo therapy, so trekking that distance on foot isn't realistic. She has family north of Orlando that is feasible to drive the majority of distance on back roads, but that's a stretch depending on the apocalypse. If we had the backpacking food and setup, our backpacking distance on foot is limited to 135-140 miles. Yeah, you could fish and hunt, but that slows you down. It's been windy, but we paddled the hell out of this mangrove flats area a few hours this morning. Could have been a lot of fishing opportunities. Of course, I forgot my hand reel setup ROCK6 Acquiring a boat or small airplane is the only realistic option honestly. |
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Originally Posted By toyotaman: @rock6 who makes the zippered mesh pouch with the carry handles? Originally Posted By toyotaman: @rock6 who makes the zippered mesh pouch with the carry handles? I got these to try as a water decon kit pouch. I wanted mesh and grab handles. I have the one from Tuff Possum as it's made extremely well, but more of a minimalist bag. Those other two mesh bags I just wrapped the handles with blue hockey tape. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CFXG6GZT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Acquiring a boat or small airplane is the only realistic option honestly. Yeah, if you can't get well north of Miami, before the traffic surge, those are about the only two options. Our recreational setup is more for getting an early start, or finding a somewhat remote spot with fresh water and waiting it out. But dammit, don't burst mu commie busting contingency kit...the fucking Wolverines didn't need no damn boat or plane! ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: I got these to try as a water decon kit pouch. I wanted mesh and grab handles. I have the one from Tuff Possum as it's made extremely well, but more of a minimalist bag. Those other two mesh bags I just wrapped the handles with blue hockey tape. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CFXG6GZT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title Yeah, if you can't get well north of Miami, before the traffic surge, those are about the only two options. Our recreational setup is more for getting an early start, or finding a somewhat remote spot with fresh water and waiting it out. But dammit, don't burst mu commie busting contingency kit...the fucking Wolverines didn't need no damn boat or plane! ROCK6 I'd say north of Orlando-ish. And WOLVERINES!!! ..... or maybe ALLIGATORS!!! - running through the swamps, eh? |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: It'd be just my luck that, with everything I've done to prepare for emergencies, that the day the Chinese / Cuban / Canadian paratroopers drop, I'd be off doing something stupid, away from home, without anything but my pocket knife. I hate leaving town without a rifle and a few tools; I used to fly out to California once a year for a family reunion and boy would I load up my Pelican. levergun (Cali legal, driving somewhere is one thing but I'm not taking a chance while declaring firearms), carry pistol, .22 pistol, max amount weight ammo, holsters and mag pouches, pocket knife, multitool, tomahawk,...
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Originally Posted By brachiosaur: I hate leaving town without a rifle and a few tools; I used to fly out to California once a year for a family reunion and boy would I load up my Pelican. levergun (Cali legal, driving somewhere is one thing but I'm not taking a chance while declaring firearms), carry pistol, .22 pistol, max amount weight ammo, holsters and mag pouches, pocket knife, multitool, tomahawk,...Good loadout. We were attacked last night. My wife left a bag of chips out and two masked commies tore the shit out of the bag and the fight was mostly on their side...trash panda fratricide. I lit the. Up pretty good with a Cloud Defense light. We E&E'd north of Jacksonville to a camp site only to be ambushed by two armored bastards who thought they could charge me. All I had on hand was a cigar, which was enough of a deterrent The southern red dawn apocalypse comes to an end tomorrow I'll get an inventory done next week and add a couple items I actually could have used... ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate.
Joined:
Dec 2005
Posts:
87024
EE: 100% (6)
ID, USA
Good thing you weren't attacked by an uparmored Possum.
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87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."
I am so tempted to lay down the melancholy burden of sanity...
"...and if you can't wait for dawn you can always light a fire."
I am so tempted to lay down the melancholy burden of sanity...
"...and if you can't wait for dawn you can always light a fire."
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Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms: Good thing you weren't attacked by an uparmored Possum. https://www.nwf.org/-/media/NEW-WEBSITE/Shared-Folder/Wildlife/Mammals/mammal_nine-banded-armadillo_600x300.jpg That's exactly what those two "four-legged technicals" were! I know they have shitty eyesight, but two of those fuckers ran right at me and freaked out a veered away a couple feet away. I used to hunt those bastards for money as they can really tear up one's property.Some observations for a few additions. Granted, this is region/seasonally focused, so think Southeast in the summer, anything from camping near the AT or Cohutta National Forest to paddle boarding around the mangroves in the FL Keys or boondocking in the Ocala National Forest. It would mostly stay in my truck with my traditional get-home bag to augment certain aspects or get added to our camping trailer on trips. It’s a contingency kit, so outside of testing and training with some of the gear, it’s not the main focus for our activities. It’s an academic and mental exercise in contingency preparations. Here’s what I’m considering on adding: •Topo/road map (Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer) for Florida (and updated on for Georgia) •Leather gloves (I have some Mechanix gloves, but would like thicker leather) •Fishing Kit/hand reel, maybe some snares… •Suppressed .22LR (likely my TX22 Compact, mags, and ammo with chest holster) •Dutchwear gear Halfwit hammock (partial bug net) w/ suspension •Add a dedicated rain fly for the hammock •Add my iRay thermal monocular •Add dedicated battery power bank (we have several with our trailer, but I would want to keep one with this box) •If room, add a mechanical water purifier (MSR Guardian). My wife has some type of drinking bottle with capillary filter (knock off of the Katadyn BeFree filter). It works great in clear water but doesn’t do much more than offer drinking from the bottle. My Grayl is excellent for what it is, but the capacity limits it to really one person. I have a capillary filter (can’t remember if it’s the Sawyer Squeeze or Platypus Quickdraw), but they’re not going to handle water around urban areas very well. The MSR Guardian is robust with great output volume, much better for two people in a variety of conditions/water sources. Bring a pair of good trekking shoes. I usually have them, but given the location and activities, I was rocking sandals and one pair of Merrell water shoes. If we had to travel on foot even for a few days, a good pair of shoes would have been sorely missed. Including socks. My feet are pretty solid and I could go some distance in a quality pair of Bedrock sandals over a variety of terrain, but they’re not the best option for sustained traveling or traveling in low light. I’m really kicking myself for not bringing my new hand fishing reel. Not so much to catch fish, but to practice casting; and I had plenty of opportunities on the paddle board. I’ll get it added in as that was its purpose. I may add a few Speedhook fishing snares and of course some more fishing hooks. If there’s room, a small gill net also comes in handy and I was also thinking about a frog gig and some small game snares. I just need to keep it small and compact. I don’t know if I keep the Yacare in there or the custom fixed blade. I may play around with it since I normally have a good, fixed blade with my day pack, I may not need anything that robust. The small Granfors Bruk Outdoor Axe was a last-minute addition, I may or may not keep in this particular kit, but it does come in handy for processing small stove firewood, which brings me to considering adding a small folding stove kit. I have a Vargo BOT pot, 110g isobutane fuel canister and small stove, but keeping a natural fuel stove fed is easier than an open fire and provides a smaller signature. Something to consider. The case is heavy. So, it’s a grab and toss in the car/truck or quickly offload to a pack type of kit, not something you want to run a few miles with carrying it. It’s a concept and experiment to a layered approach for what we do and what I already keep handy. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Bring a pair of good trekking shoes. I usually have them, but given the location and activities, I was rocking sandals and one pair of Merrell water shoes. If we had to travel on foot even for a few days, a good pair of shoes would have been sorely missed. Including socks. My feet are pretty solid and I could go some distance in a quality pair of Bedrock sandals over a variety of terrain, but they’re not the best option for sustained traveling or traveling in low light. Originally Posted By ROCK6: Bring a pair of good trekking shoes. I usually have them, but given the location and activities, I was rocking sandals and one pair of Merrell water shoes. If we had to travel on foot even for a few days, a good pair of shoes would have been sorely missed. Including socks. My feet are pretty solid and I could go some distance in a quality pair of Bedrock sandals over a variety of terrain, but they’re not the best option for sustained traveling or traveling in low light. Brah. Footwear is almost #1 in importance. Originally Posted By ROCK6: I’m really kicking myself for not bringing my new hand fishing reel. Which one did you get? I've considered getting one. I've got a semi-decent homemade one that works, but I don't know how much better a production one would be. If I ever had to try to live off the land long term, a gill net and a dedicated fishing rod would be significantly better. But a lightweight hand casting reel isn't a bad idea. Mine is more a dedicated fishing kit container with line wrapped around it, giving me the opportunity to wind it moreso than cast it.... Originally Posted By ROCK6: ...considering adding a small folding stove kit. ... a natural fuel stove fed is easier than an open fire and provides a smaller signature. Something to consider. ^^ This. A SMALL lightweight titanium folding / collapsing stove is worth it. The extra 4-5 ounces will pay off long term with less wood needed / faster cooking times. |
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I've had these Ironclad leather gloves for almost 5 years, they've held up well and are a nice compromise between a light 'feely' glove and a heavy glove. I've used them mostly for yard work and bicycle trail rides, I don't think I've shot with them but I'm happy with the dexterity in normal use and they offer my size, 3xl. I'd like to add some gromets so I can clip them together. They're the same price they were in November 2021, I should get another pair. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DF29IR6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Brah. Footwear is almost #1 in importance. Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Brah. Footwear is almost #1 in importance. Brah, I'm on freaking vacation in the Keys not backpacking! My Merrell shoes would have worked in a pinch, but yeah, it was a gaping hole for me. We usually pack trekking shoes (I prefer Salomon for backpacking) with us as we're usually doing several dayhikes wherever we go. I had room, just focused on water activities and mojitosOriginally Posted By marnsdorff: Which one did you get? I've considered getting one. I've got a semi-decent homemade one that works, but I don't know how much better a production one would be. If I ever had to try to live off the land long term, a gill net and a dedicated fishing rod would be significantly better. But a lightweight hand casting reel isn't a bad idea. Mine is more a dedicated fishing kit container with line wrapped around it, giving me the opportunity to wind it moreso than cast it.... I got the aluminimum machined version from Crystal Creek: https://crystalcreekgear.com/ Tier-1 hand reel . I'll get some photos of the small fishing/snaring/gigging kit I just put together. I do have a compact (about 4x8 foot) gill net added as well. I've got some good experience with a gill net in fresh water but not so much in salt water. Even if you're catching smaller bait fish you just work your way up the food chain. I've tapered off fishing a whole lot these days, but I've used a few different Emmrod compact fishing rods in the past and they're very compact and effective for their design. Having done some "survival" fishing, I kind of prefer more of the passive methods (Speedhook snares, trot lines, YoYo reels, and gill nets), but when you want to just relax a bit, pole/hand-reel fishing isn't a bad way to actively relax.Originally Posted By marnsdorff: ^^ This. A SMALL lightweight titanium folding / collapsing stove is worth it. The extra 4-5 ounces will pay off long term with less wood needed / faster cooking times. Yeah, I have a few options that are compact, so I'm planning on putting one in. They're handy for what they and allow you to get a decent cooking fire with very little natural fuel. Originally Posted By brachiosaur: I've had these Ironclad leather gloves for almost 5 years, they've held up well and are a nice compromise between a light 'feely' glove and a heavy glove. I've used them mostly for yard work and bicycle trail rides, I don't think I've shot with them but I'm happy with the dexterity in normal use and they offer my size, 3xl. I'd like to add some gromets so I can clip them together. They're the same price they were in November 2021, I should get another pair.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DF29IR6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details Great suggestion and not too badly priced. I do have a pair of Ironclad gloves (not that version) and I've also considered them very well made. That may be a good work glove option! I didn't mean to stray from tactical into survival, but there's some good input and feedback here on my "tactical vaca kit"! ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Brah, I'm on freaking vacation in the Keys not backpacking! My Merrell shoes would have worked in a pinch, but yeah, it was a gaping hole for me. We usually pack trekking shoes (I prefer Salomon for backpacking) with us as we're usually doing several dayhikes wherever we go. I had room, just focused on water activities and mojitosI got the aluminimum machined version from Crystal Creek: https://crystalcreekgear.com/ Tier-1 hand reel . I'll get some photos of the small fishing/snaring/gigging kit I just put together. I do have a compact (about 4x8 foot) gill net added as well. I've got some good experience with a gill net in fresh water but not so much in salt water. Even if you're catching smaller bait fish you just work your way up the food chain. I've tapered off fishing a whole lot these days, but I've used a few different Emmrod compact fishing rods in the past and they're very compact and effective for their design. Having done some "survival" fishing, I kind of prefer more of the passive methods (Speedhook snares, trot lines, YoYo reels, and gill nets), but when you want to just relax a bit, pole/hand-reel fishing isn't a bad way to actively relax.Yeah, I have a few options that are compact, so I'm planning on putting one in. They're handy for what they and allow you to get a decent cooking fire with very little natural fuel. Great suggestion and not too badly priced. I do have a pair of Ironclad gloves (not that version) and I've also considered them very well made. That may be a good work glove option! I didn't mean to stray from tactical into survival, but there's some good input and feedback here on my "tactical vaca kit"! ROCK6 I got one of those Uglystik Dock Runner or whatever they're called fishing rods. ie, I went the cheap route when it came to packable fishing rods. It works fine with a decent spinning reel on it. I've looked at the ones like you have, I'm just cheap in this case |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: 2 water filters? I need to add some serious snares. I just have a few DIY ones I made. Water is life. This is one area where redundancy is acceptable. The issue with most water filters is that they are "personal water filters"; the other issue is that they are just filters. I apply the P.A.C.E. planning when it comes to making water potable (and the containers to carrier it). Primary: Grayl for most situations; the Platypus (or Sawyer Squeeze) if actually trekking on a trail (two is one) Alternate: MSR Guardian Contingency: Chemical treatment and rough filtration Emergency: Boiling The typical backpacking water filters like Katadayn BeFree, Platypus Quickdraw, or the popular Sawyer capillary-based water filters, are simply that, water filters. Granted, the vast majority of water sources in outdoors locations do not have viruses, but viruses and heavy metals, disolved chemcals are where it fails. The Quickdraw is similar in output to the Sawyer Squeeze. For most natural water sources that don't have signs of contamination (beyond your typical bacteria and protozoa), these are great as a personal filters and can be setup to do gravity filtering for more than one. Yes, my Grayl is a purifier and will stop viruses and most heavy-metals (often found in polluted surface water common to urban areas or heavily farmed run-off), but the capacity is limited. Great as a one-person filter, but if filtering for two or tanking up, it's detracts from it's capabilities. I added my (not used often) MSR Guardian purifier as the output is excellent for what it is and it's pretty damn robust for a mechanical purifier. Pre-filtering/treatment and post chemical treatment. Pre-filtering is critical to reducing contaminant survival, reducing larger silt, sand, and detritus that clogs filters, and extends the life and performance of your purifier or filter. A Millbank bag, cloth bandana is a good start (those small compressed toweletts are good too). Before that I often use Purinize, which is a coagulant-flocculant that helps to really eliminate almost all contaminants and then filtration cleans up the rest. If you're really concerned, post filtration treatment (like Chlorine-Dioxide tablets) can add a little comfort. Iodine is dual purpose, but a viable method if your other stuff runs low. Boiling is always my last option unless I'm actually boilding water for food. It just takes too much time, expends fuel and if usuing natrual fuel it becomes signature you want to avoid, you have to wait for it to cool during hot summer months, and the capacity is limited unless you're trekking around a 5-quart pot. Snares are tricky. I have about a dozen small game snares (rabbit, squirrel, etc.). Having done some trapping, most of the small game snares get torn up after a use or two. I've snared beavers and if you don't get to them soon after, they can clear the area around the anchor like a bushwhacker, and all my snares/locks from beavers were pretty much torn to shit. Conibear 220 or 330 are about the best traps for something that size. Trying to pack anything bigger or heavier becomes counterproductive IMHO. If it was my truck instead of my wife's car, I would have a more robust fishing/snaring kit. For this, I have to consider mand-packable and I would rather have Speedhooks, YoYo's, gill net, and the ability to make a trot line for more passive fishing and much better probability. Besides, 99% of my small game would likely be taken at night with a suppressed .22LR...there's a shit ton of meat wondering around most state and national park campgrounds Snares/traps are something to consider, but you also have to be realisitc with your ability and time available to use them. How much time do you have if you've been trekking most of the day, you have to set up a camp/hide, scout the area for signs, active game trails or burrows, etc., put the snares out and then check them at least once at night and again early in the morning as you retrieve them. That sounds simple, but it's time consuming with a low probability of success. That said, scent lures are magic on some critters. Traps are much more effective, robust, and faster to emplace and I have had great success with Conibears and RGB round body small game traps, but anything more than a couple and you'll really notice the weight penalty unless you're working from home and running a trap line that's only a few miles. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Water is life. This is one area where redundancy is acceptable. The issue with most water filters is that they are "personal water filters"; the other issue is that they are just filters. I apply the P.A.C.E. planning when it comes to making water potable (and the containers to carrier it). Primary: Grayl for most situations; the Platypus (or Sawyer Squeeze) if actually trekking on a trail (two is one) Alternate: MSR Guardian Contingency: Chemical treatment and rough filtration Emergency: Boiling The typical backpacking water filters like Katadayn BeFree, Platypus Quickdraw, or the popular Sawyer capillary-based water filters, are simply that, water filters. Granted, the vast majority of water sources in outdoors locations do not have viruses, but viruses and heavy metals, disolved chemcals are where it fails. The Quickdraw is similar in output to the Sawyer Squeeze. For most natural water sources that don't have signs of contamination (beyond your typical bacteria and protozoa), these are great as a personal filters and can be setup to do gravity filtering for more than one. Yes, my Grayl is a purifier and will stop viruses and most heavy-metals (often found in polluted surface water common to urban areas or heavily farmed run-off), but the capacity is limited. Great as a one-person filter, but if filtering for two or tanking up, it's detracts from it's capabilities. I added my (not used often) MSR Guardian purifier as the output is excellent for what it is and it's pretty damn robust for a mechanical purifier. Originally Posted By ROCK6: Water is life. This is one area where redundancy is acceptable. The issue with most water filters is that they are "personal water filters"; the other issue is that they are just filters. I apply the P.A.C.E. planning when it comes to making water potable (and the containers to carrier it). Primary: Grayl for most situations; the Platypus (or Sawyer Squeeze) if actually trekking on a trail (two is one) Alternate: MSR Guardian Contingency: Chemical treatment and rough filtration Emergency: Boiling The typical backpacking water filters like Katadayn BeFree, Platypus Quickdraw, or the popular Sawyer capillary-based water filters, are simply that, water filters. Granted, the vast majority of water sources in outdoors locations do not have viruses, but viruses and heavy metals, disolved chemcals are where it fails. The Quickdraw is similar in output to the Sawyer Squeeze. For most natural water sources that don't have signs of contamination (beyond your typical bacteria and protozoa), these are great as a personal filters and can be setup to do gravity filtering for more than one. Yes, my Grayl is a purifier and will stop viruses and most heavy-metals (often found in polluted surface water common to urban areas or heavily farmed run-off), but the capacity is limited. Great as a one-person filter, but if filtering for two or tanking up, it's detracts from it's capabilities. I added my (not used often) MSR Guardian purifier as the output is excellent for what it is and it's pretty damn robust for a mechanical purifier. I have a few other systems - MIOX pen for instance - but my main setups are based off of the Sawyer filters in gravity setups. I AM in the mountains, so I usually have decent water sources. I also have one of the older Sawyer filters that they don't make anymore that DOES filter out viruses and has a lifespan of a million gallons of water. I wish the still made them. I have the one left that I haven't used, that's my 'zombie apocalypse' filter. I've been thinking about getting one of the pump MSR Guardian filters too. But that's way down on my list. Originally Posted By ROCK6:Pre-filtering/treatment and post chemical treatment. Pre-filtering is critical to reducing contaminant survival, reducing larger silt, sand, and detritus that clogs filters, and extends the life and performance of your purifier or filter. A Millbank bag, cloth bandana is a good start (those small compressed toweletts are good too). Before that I often use Purinize, which is a coagulant-flocculant that helps to really eliminate almost all contaminants and then filtration cleans up the rest. If you're really concerned, post filtration treatment (like Chlorine-Dioxide tablets) can add a little comfort. Iodine is dual purpose, but a viable method if your other stuff runs low. Agreed. Pre-filtering is vital. I've got a couple millbank bag setups (I keep threatening to sew myself up some more too, lol, now that I have canvas and sew for a living) I also made some ultralightweight ones out of ultra fine mesh sythetic filter fabric. The kind they use for re-usable tea bags and such. I need to make an attachable cover with a rubber band or something to put over the intakes / dirty water bag openings to help filter stuff out even more too. I keep chemical water purification tablets on hand for true emergencies (especially in my 'tactical gear' - for instance, I keep a couple dozen in my buttpack on my belt kit, so I can refill my water bottles in an emergency without a filter) I also keep a tincature of iodine in each of my packs. Like you said, super multi-purpose. This is probably one of the best cheap upgrades you can make to an emergency kit setup. Helps you clean wounds and purify water, and it's cheap. Originally Posted By ROCK6:Snares are tricky. I have about a dozen small game snares (rabbit, squirrel, etc.). Having done some trapping, most of the small game snares get torn up after a use or two. I've snared beavers and if you don't get to them soon after, they can clear the area around the anchor like a bushwhacker, and all my snares/locks from beavers were pretty much torn to shit. Conibear 220 or 330 are about the best traps for something that size. Trying to pack anything bigger or heavier becomes counterproductive IMHO. If it was my truck instead of my wife's car, I would have a more robust fishing/snaring kit. For this, I have to consider mand-packable and I would rather have Speedhooks, YoYo's, gill net, and the ability to make a trot line for more passive fishing and much better probability. Besides, 99% of my small game would likely be taken at night with a suppressed .22LR...there's a shit ton of meat wondering around most state and national park campgrounds Snares/traps are something to consider, but you also have to be realisitc with your ability and time available to use them. How much time do you have if you've been trekking most of the day, you have to set up a camp/hide, scout the area for signs, active game trails or burrows, etc., put the snares out and then check them at least once at night and again early in the morning as you retrieve them. That sounds simple, but it's time consuming with a low probability of success. That said, scent lures are magic on some critters. Traps are much more effective, robust, and faster to emplace and I have had great success with Conibears and RGB round body small game traps, but anything more than a couple and you'll really notice the weight penalty unless you're working from home and running a trap line that's only a few miles. For the weight, a few basic snares are worth having. You can also cannibalize the parts and use the wire for stuff, etc. I'm not truly expecting to get alot of food from the snares, if any at all, especially since I rarely do any trapping anymore. It's more 'multi-purpose' than anything at all. My fishing kits are far more robust and I have alot more experience fishing than trapping. I DO want to get a dozen conibear traps for running from the house in an emergency though. TONS of raccoons and possums and other smaller stuff around. Also at least one pack of coyotes runs through the valley on a regular basis. |
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My go bag backpack has sun tan lotion, lidocaine burn spray, beer can cozies for a large party, basic first aid, back up pistol and ammo, charge/start pack, phone charging cords, knife, meat thermometer, Febreeze, and a few other items. It is mostly for river trips, road trips, and weekends. I did save a holiday party with that meat thermometer, the prime rib would have been a cinder if I didn't check my friend's work early. I keep one in my truck too, two is one.........  We have a separate backpack kit with a full bottle of vodka, full bottle of bourbon, Clamato, bloody mary fixin's, stirring spoon, stainless steel shot glasses, straws for the chicks, clear keg cups (red ones are too obvious), insulated tumblers for deep cover covert drinking, and a few other things. You never know when a party will break out, and you should always be prepared.   |
Preferred pronoun: MARINE
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Originally Posted By wildearp: My go bag backpack has sun tan lotion, lidocaine burn spray, beer can cozies for a large party, basic first aid, back up pistol and ammo, charge/start pack, phone charging cords, knife, meat thermometer, Febreeze, and a few other items. It is mostly for river trips, road trips, and weekends. I did save a holiday party with that meat thermometer, the prime rib would have been a cinder if I didn't check my friend's work early. I keep one in my truck too, two is one......... We have a separate backpack kit with a full bottle of vodka, full bottle of bourbon, Clamato, bloody mary fixin's, stirring spoon, stainless steel shot glasses, straws for the chicks, clear keg cups (red ones are too obvious), insulated tumblers for deep cover covert drinking, and a few other things. You never know when a party will break out, and you should always be prepared. Based. Fabreze is a great prep item to keep at home btw. It's bad enough not being able to take showers if the power goes out for more than a day or so. Fabreze lets you stretch out cleaning your clothes as often as you had to. During Helene, everyone in the house was happy I kept a couple bottles sitting around after a few days. |
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Originally Posted By bkssniper: Conibear would be my first choice as a bugout trap. A 160 or a 220 would be prefect. You can actually use them laying on the ground as a foot hold,(Belisle). A proper snare is an awesome tool but are mostly a one and done. Yup. Though I'd be getting them mostly to use around here if things go bad. I live pretty rural in the Appalachian mountains. If I have to 'bug out' of here, well........ |
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You may of mentioned it and I just didn't catch it. Can you tell me what pack the AR is in and what size is the AR ? Looking for something to carry my 10.5" in and unless I find something better it'll be a Eberlstock pack. I may have to put a folder on to make it fit but would prefer not to . Thanks |
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Originally Posted By bkssniper: Conibear would be my first choice as a bugout trap. A 160 or a 220 would be prefect. You can actually use them laying on the ground as a foot hold,(Belisle). A proper snare is an awesome tool but are mostly a one and done. Originally Posted By bkssniper: Conibear would be my first choice as a bugout trap. A 160 or a 220 would be prefect. You can actually use them laying on the ground as a foot hold,(Belisle). A proper snare is an awesome tool but are mostly a one and done. I have several conibears and some RGB round traps. Best aspect is their robustness. They can be used hundreds of times and are much more effective than cable snares. The only downside is weight, but I have considered a few traps just to up the odds and outlast the cable snares. Originally Posted By 1fromtx: You may of mentioned it and I just didn't catch it. Can you tell me what pack the AR is in and what size is the AR ? Looking for something to carry my 10.5" in and unless I find something better it'll be a Eberlstock pack. I may have to put a folder on to make it fit but would prefer not to . Thanks Sadly, no longer made, but it's a Haley Strategic bag. There are other options out there, but my AR pistol (without suppressor and brace fully collapsed) is 26". ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By wildearp: My go bag backpack has sun tan lotion, lidocaine burn spray, beer can cozies for a large party, basic first aid, back up pistol and ammo, charge/start pack, phone charging cords, knife, meat thermometer, Febreeze, and a few other items. It is mostly for river trips, road trips, and weekends. I did save a holiday party with that meat thermometer, the prime rib would have been a cinder if I didn't check my friend's work early. I keep one in my truck too, two is one......... We have a separate backpack kit with a full bottle of vodka, full bottle of bourbon, Clamato, bloody mary fixin's, stirring spoon, stainless steel shot glasses, straws for the chicks, clear keg cups (red ones are too obvious), insulated tumblers for deep cover covert drinking, and a few other things. You never know when a party will break out, and you should always be prepared.  We have that stuff covered as part of the "vacation loadplan" ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
Joined:
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CA, USA
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Originally Posted By Ropium: Unless you're going to a.known.criminal hotspot that much equipment is overkill. Practicing to make do with less will be hugely beneficial for any contingencies It's kinda his hobby. Besides. You never know when the chinese paratroops starts dropping. |
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Originally Posted By Ropium: Unless you're going to a.known.criminal hotspot that much equipment is overkill. Practicing to make do with less will be hugely beneficial for any contingencies Dude, we are camping this weekend in NW GA, Atlanta is the big, sprawling turd between us and home. Even bypassing puts us in heavily populated areas. Contingency preparations. Just in case hobby Besides, having NV and thermal even in a campground is very entertaining  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Dude, we are camping this weekend in NW GA, Atlanta is the big, sprawling turd between us and home. Even bypassing puts us in heavily populated areas. Contingency preparations. Just in case hobby Besides, having NV and thermal even in a campground is very entertaining ROCK6 Atlanta is bad enough even during the best of times. |
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