10 Essential Items Every 1930s Hobo Carried: A Survival Guide

Discover the essential items every hobo carried during the 1930s in our latest video, "10 Things a Hobo Always Carried." Learn about the indispensable tools and treasures that were not only crucial for survival but also lightweight and practical for modern backpackers. From homemade gadgets to repurposed finds, these items reveal the resourcefulness and ingenuity of a bygone era.
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[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching! Please leave me a thumbs up and a comment in the section below. Make sure and check out our website at www.waypointsurvival.com where you can sign up for classes and check out the required gear list!

[@clarencesmith2305]

In my personal collection I have one of those blue one dollar silver certificates, and a "red" five dollar bill and I think the reds were replacements for screwed up regular bills.

[@jeffschuler5659]

@@clarencesmith2305 Known as "Silver Certificates" exchangeable for there weight in metal ( Silver ).

[@Michelle-kc8ht]

Alright, honey! Remember, take care of the food and our ugly and average iq kids while I wear my stupid hat and go cosplay like a transient in the woods for my KZbin bros! Mwuuaahh!

[@nomadhgnis9425]

here is a question. how did hobos survive wild animals (bears, wolves etc) when they were camping in the woods? Interesting you mentioned in your winter video of wealthy men that went hoboing for fun. Would like to know some names.

[@joedatuknow]

Great video there 2 thing i know you left out of the kit an idk why bible for reading an a alcohol rubbing or proof but they carried booth for cleaning fire starting an something to do before bed or after you get up widdling gets old fast an theres only so meny branch bears or dogs you could do. im also in southern Ohio well Hamilton 🙏 an good day.

[@ukestudio3002]

My mother often fed the hobos traveling through..mainly beans and tortillas but they were grateful for it. My dad acted angry but was secretly proud of my mom’s generosity. I miss them both.❤ Thank you for your videos !

[@ralphsmith8350]

Good! thanks.

[@PlumasCounty-nq8kk]

Your mom and dad were kind and had good hearts! They helped many men who were desperately poor and hungry. You are -- and should be! -- very proud of them!

[@BreadFred3]

Your mother was a special woman.

[@weekendnomad5038]

My husband seems upset when I give food away too

[@pat4281]

❤️

[@simplesimon755]

Great video. My grandfather was born in 1910. Based on your definition of a hobo I just now realized that grandpa was a hobo for a time. He had been on his own since he was 9 years old and he told me some of the stories of what he went through. Grandpa told me that a man should always carry with him a few of the things on your list although he never tied it into the hobo lifestyle. I recall a time when I was a kid when we camped at a ranch in west Texas. While my cousins and I we were all getting our fishing gear together he wandered down to the river on his own. Before we could get there he had landed a large bass. Apparently he already had the hook, cork, and line and just used a stick he found along the way. Thanks for reminding me of so many great memories. He passed away in his 90's but I think about him just about every day.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@vladtheimpala5532]

Grandparents are wonderful if you get good ones. I hit the jackpot with my maternal grandparents. They would do anything for their grandchildren. They always treated us well but if we were working they would treat us like royalty. They taught us a lot about life and about having integrity. My grandfather was born in 1899 and my grandmother was born in 1903. They were the salt of the earth. I miss them and think about them and the things they taught me all the time.

[@tannerdenny5430]

Yeah man both of my grandfathers and my great grandfather were hobos and horse theifs. My grandfathers great grandfather (i think it is) founded a town called Seattle too, after the Civil war. Great gramps had money too, he just loved the free lifestyle of being a hobo, he loved riding the train, especially the smoking coach, even though he didn't smoke anymore. It brought back memories of his youth the most. I'm a millenial but I've got the same itch to travel free. I used to hitch hike often for long trips. I put on a college shirt in the direction I'm headed so peiple think I'm a college kid. It still works and I'm in my 30s. The people that pick up hitch hikers are all old enough to have hitch hiked, so late 50s or so minimum. If I told em I was 16 they'd believe me lol. On average I wait only 5 minutes. That's down to the college shirts and looking young to some extent. But you gotta have a destination in mind or people are suspicious. Use a sign, hitch to a college town if you can pull it off. Let it be on your bucket list.

[@Airon79]

Vegas or bust !

[@Donathon-f6f]

WOW...my dad was born in 1918 ....take care.. Peace

[@GR-kt4le]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="135">2:15</a> knife <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="150">2:30</a> fishing kit <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="170">2:50</a> match case <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="210">3:30</a> bandana <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="240">4:00</a> roadstake? money <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="390">6:30</a> coffee <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="420">7:00</a> spoon <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="460">7:40</a> cup <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="490">8:10</a> chalk/crayon <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="540">9:00</a> sewing kit

[@outerlimitz67]

Bandaids

[@Kinetic.44]

​@outerlimitz67 you of want to go off scrip, a extra large safety pin.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching.

[@A_Swirl]

@WayPointSurvival Hey I was wondering why it's called a roadstake and why nothing shows up when I search for one. What would I search to find one that is very similar to yours?

[@Kinetic.44]

​@@A_Swirl stake as in a bet, you are staking how much you might get robbed on the road....

[@hanwellfoxfoxy5008]

Here in the UK our grandfather was a 'jobbing' bricklayer who traveled around in the post WW1 era after being discharged from the Army. Not only did he 'bunk' onto freight trains he also hitch hiked, got lifts from lorries (trucks), cars, on canal boats, motorbikes and steam engines. He eventually ended up stowing away on a cross channel ferry to France, where he served for 3 years during 'The war to end all wars' ending up helping to build war memorials to his comrades in arms, turns out the best employer was the C.W.G.C. (Commonwealth war grave commission) and he came back a reasonably wealthy man. Any way long story short, aside from his sturdy whacking walking stick, water bottle, waxed cotton/canvas poncho, army back pack with his basic brick laying tools, pocket knife, tobacco & matches/lighter, eating utensils, tin cup sugar and tea his most important items were. A money belt, decoy purse with a few pennies in it and the most important of all a moral boosting hip flask with a shot or two of whiskey or brandy;-) PS. There were many rumors and tales in the family about his 'adventures' and to this day we are convinced there is a branch of our clan that no one can trace in Northern France and Belgium. Makes you think how far afield these US hobos spread their seed!!!

[@timmynormand8082]

Did he know any Normands

[@dannynye1731]

My Great grandfather Papa Raines headed for Cherbourg post war for their ship. They arrived early but the ship had sailed and they all spent an extra year in France. Ex soldiers were not welcome. A farmer tried to pitch fork them before dawn the first day, they liberated some vegetables from gardens and rode the rails. It was a tough year

[@manoftheroad55]

Interesting.. moving for work.. particularly agrecultire was common into 1960s Hampshire . Living under benders.. canvas spread over bent saplings .. forestry seasonal work.. Victor comic depicted Alf Tupper living in packing crate .. working as engineer... caravans for shifting manual labour .. It's how society ..mankind evolved.. A lifetime of debt buying a house in areas without work totally reliant on cars to support 2 incomes needed to pay for house for 30 years.. childcare.. How sustainable .. Q who wants to work till 70?

[@manoftheroad55]

​@@dannynye1731.. wonderful name ,"Papa".. was this WW1.. This type of life still exists.. casual work .. living in van or boat. Low costs.. part time work .. casual work.. hugely prolific After WW1 in eastern Europe ..grain basket.. Papa had true street cred

[@regalite3]

Nice story

[@terryhill545]

My dad was a hobo in the 30's . He carried a small pistol. Told me it saved his life in a boxcar one night.He went on to be a M/SGT in the Army Airforce WW2

[@r.shanethompson7933]

Always better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

[@donhuber9131]

"Rolling Nowhere" by Ted Conover is an excellent book written in the 1980s as the hobo era was ending as boxcars gave way to piggyback and containers.

[@ScottWConvid19]

I was told that my grandma's backyard was a well known hobo stop in the 1930s. She made bread and soup in a large pot once a week to feed anyone that came up the alleyway in Chicago Heights, IL. Most hobos were peaceable folk that were very appreciative toward alms. It's a completely different world today

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed it is.

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

50 of 74 years a hobo. My grandparents on mom's side of the family always set an extra plate at the table. Grandma said you never knew when an angel would come to visit and leave a blessing. They used to live on a farm and many seasonal workers came off the rails during hard times.

[@ningboy3274]

You can still hop trains out of Chicago Heights to this day, though it's more so known for a place to rob idling freight cars 😆

[@ScottWConvid19]

@@ningboy3274 Haha! Yeah, in the 80s, I used to hitch rides on trains going to and leaving Chicano Heiz 😂

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

@@ningboy3274 50 of 74 years a hobo. At one time it was well known among hobos that you could go almost anywhere in the USA from one of the many freight yards in the Chicago area.

[@melissapinol7279]

My mom told me that my grandmother used to generously give food in the 30's to hobos who knocked on the door. I loved my grandmother dearly, but as she came from a rather snobby upper middle class background it made her generosity more notable.

[@PREPFORIT]

Hobos were not always educated but they had travelling LIGHT down to a science.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed!

[@michellepasc7564]

Educated beyond academics I'm sure.

[@richardbonner2354]

Prep For It, Miss Pasc, Mr Bender, The 'Stream Liners'..., Yep! The 'Hobos' were the original "high-speed, low-drag" Travellers. 🙂 Rick Bonner Pennsyltuck

[@thomasmusso1147]

Agreed. One does not have to be 'educated' in order to be smart.

[@LongWalkerActual]

Don't have to be college educated to be a millionaire.

[@fookyuunsa678]

An actual hobo here; good boots, long coat, 65l back pack, sleeping bag, knife, a few lighters, rope, tarp, headlamp, stainless steel pot. #1 is a large metal drinking container.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching and for your input!

[@paulbrooks2024]

Houses were marked, feed the hobos and they would throw coal off for folks 6:23

[@Alsatiagent-zu1rx]

Did you use those DIY hobo stoves?

[@clintwalker2231]

And a flask.

[@worm_vaquero]

They laughed at my crayon drawing; I laughed at their chalk outline

[@WayPointSurvival]

Right!

[@zakthewarcat3172]

hahahaha

[@franckorphanos2998]

Nice 😂

[@CassandraXI]

Frank Chillura.

[@lawrenceklein3524]

😂

[@dennissilverstein5677]

Love the fact that you pulled out silver coins :) I once pointed to a Hobo and said to my friend "look at that bum" and my friend replied "no that's a Hobo", " you and I are bums"

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@jum5238]

@@WayPointSurvival I appreciate your explaining the difference! Thank you.

[@muchasgracias6976]

Love the way how James not only shows us these items, but sets the scene of a hobo's life by adding lots of relevant context. Thanks buddy!

[@pskarnaq73]

My father-in-law grew up on a farm that had a railroad running through it. They had a picnic table out by the tracks, and his mom would make lunch for the hobos that rode the cars.

[@hugobranca]

I don't know why but this almost made me cry. The world has changed and not for the better.

[@kevinhamilton4056]

My mom said that her grandma in PA would have hobos hop off the train and come to the back porch and knock to ask for some food. They would never come inside, were polite and thankful, and would get a plate brought out by grandma. They would just sit on the porch and eat it and be on their way.

[@boblewkowski3626]

@@kevinhamilton4056 my grandma grew up on a farm in Ohio did the same thing she made scrambled eggs and fried potatoes for the hobos made them sit out on the front porch

[@yakfishin4912]

Another great video. Nobody else covers the hobo that ive seen to you and them we are grateful.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

50 of 74 years a hobo. Really did your research on this. Great job. Some hobos I knew always went 'streamlined" They really knew the rails and what was waiting in almost any town. So minimum carry. Often wore two sets of clothes. Removed the outer layer when they hopped off. You get dirty riding freight trains and you would be fairly clean heading into a town. Plus you had more pockets to hold stuff. Always a pocket knife. Matches were usually in a 35 mm film canister along with part of a match box striker. A sewing kit, couple of needles, a small spool of thread and a thimble also in a 35 mm canister. I was advise the best way to carry money ( bills ) was in a Bull Durham tobacco bag in your skivies. A Prince Albert tobacco tin was a good place to put items also. Like instant coffee, or money, or whatever. A little fishing line with a bottle cork and a fish hook. Spoon always. A bandana with a hotel size soap bar. It was mostly up to the hobo's personal taste. I would get extra condiments packets from fast food joints when I had the money for a dollar meal.

[@brendacooper5729]

My father told me about hopping a freight with his brothers in the 1930s he said there were about 200 hobos hanging on the train and the railway workers were afraid to try and toss them off. When they got to town everyone was pretty dirty from the smoke, he and my uncles headed for the river to clean up before going into town. When they actually hit the streets the railway police and local cops were busy picking off anyone looking grimy enough to have been on the train. They just strolled down to the bar and watched the fun.

[@primesspct2]

I take it you chose to be a hobo? Was it the adventure? One things for sure I would guess you had to be quick witted, and patient.

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

@@primesspct250 of 74 years a hobo. It was the lesser of two evils. Stay at home and get beaten or leave. I grabbed a slow moving freight train at 15. Never looked back. Was lucky that the old time decent hobos looked after a green young kid and showed me the ropes. Got so good at doing it saw no reason to stop. A roller coaster ride with 3 lifetimes worth of adventure. My leg got so bad at 65 I could barely get on a stopped train. So at 66 stayed put and started drawing Social Security else I still would be doing it.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so very much, my friend! I always truly appreciate your input!

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

@@WayPointSurvival Even an old dog like me learns new tricks. So I try to pass on what i have learned.

[@mariescott9853]

Aw, love hobos. My dad rode the rails in the 20th century depression era.

[@alancoe1002]

My grandfather too. Right after WW1. Really fucking dangerous. Made him a bit too hard a man. That's the dark side of the life.

[@horseman528]

I'm 72 and my Grandmother used to give food, and feed hobos off her back porch during the depression of the 30's.

[@pablobartelotte4553]

True Hobos were respectful and remembered those that treated them well. They may not have had the prettiest smile but most would give a smile in a second brightening the day.

[@Seamus3051]

Hobos is a much appreciated series. It contains, not only historical information, but a good bit of philosophy and innovative idea .. 😀😀

[@baneverything5580]

If you want to attract rabbits to an area plant vining peas/beans like Red Ripper, green beans or Asparagus Pole Beans. Red Ripper can`t be beat. They love them and they keep growing back like kudzu. You can boil and eat the shelled beans, the high protein leaves, young pods, and the bunnies they draw in.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds great!

[@andrewflowers6794]

My Canadian Grandparents were a surgeon-nurse couple that ran a practice out of their home, 100 miles from any other town. They kept an unlocked screened porch with a cot in it. There was always a wash basin, wax paper wrapped sandwiches, pickles and a milk bottle in there. Some days the food would just be gone. Some days men would offer to do jobs as repayment. It was the depression, and it was just understood that people needed to keep their pride. And everyone was expected to chip in as they could. Compassion and trust was as common as suspicion and fear is today.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Your grandparents sound like wonderful people!

[@andrewflowers6794]

@@WayPointSurvival They adopted my Mom ❤

[@jastrapper190]

I was just about to say/type a bandana. Yes. It’s truly one of those timeless items that is just so useful for so many things that it’s almost a necessity. Just an appropriate sized section of cloth. I’d carry a safety pin with it. Good for picking out splinters. Love that match safe. I bet it has some stories to tell if it could talk.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed it would!

[@lauriemclean1131]

You are so good at keeping this subject interesting. Thanks for another great video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@johnlynch7834]

Excellent video. My mother grew up in western MD on a small farm.She used to talk about hobos coming to the door and asking if there were any chores they could do.Thanks James

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@user-sg6rs4xp9y]

In the late 40's my mom helped out a Hobo with giving him something to eat and some extra food to take with him. He marked the tree letting others know that she would help you out which she did.

[@tomm2812]

I recall my Great Uncle Bill, a man of much excitement, had such a Coin & Bill snap Dollar folding wallet. Good Man. Thanks for the memory from 68 years ago. Best

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tomm2812]

..er..much experience...

[@01cthompson]

Although not a hobo, my grandfather (born 1892) would have a lot of similar items always close at hand. He'd always be sure to have matches close at hand which I always thought odd since he didn't smoke. But, in his early years any light involved oil or a candle.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@timmynormand8082]

My grandpa born 1899 gave me a small knife almost identical to the one he showed From one hobo to another

[@CeruleanSky1111]

Another great video in the Hobo series! You really do a wonderful job helping us understand that a true Hobo was not a vagrant, but someone who was willing to leave family, work to earn money anywhere it could be found, and do what they needed to do to support family in deeply hard times. Hobos get a bad rap. Thanks to you, lots more empathy and education. Hobo life was difficult. You had to be tough and resilient.

[@erinhellebuyck7527]

I would love to see a ‘streamline’ hobo video. Thank you

[@WayPointSurvival]

It's on the list

[@williamfairchild8119]

Good info. My dad said he was a hobo for a while and road the rails. He said a hobo traveled and worked and was not a freeloader bum. He also later owned a big dairy farm a restaurant salesman painting and contruction ship cook had 6 kids and my dad a great guy

[@KF7UCK]

Dude’s dropping hobo statistics. Love it.

[@user-ow2yr4nu4z]

Was homeless from 2007 and been off hlthe streets for over 6 years now. Those times on the streets were Educational. Learned how to survive when you have absolutely nothing. If your in a urban environment or somewhere with industrially box is a life saver in extreme cold. Been in a situation as to were it was below freezing in wichita ks, I could died but I had a old timer teach me a trick. Dig in the trash and find a box big enough to fit in and look for plastic bags, put the box inside the bag and crawl on in. Don't put the bag inside with the box as when you breath it will condense on the bag and drip on ya.

[@Alsatiagent-zu1rx]

Red Army soldiers survived Nothern winters with a single candle or wicked fat between the feet and a tarp or poncho wrapped around the entire body. Warms up quick and remarkably effective.

[@lockard71]

Please keep doing hobo/ 1920s, 30s,40s videos.

[@Kinetic.44]

It would be useful to have thread already on a needle, much like the fishing kit. Wrapping fishing line around your hat the putting the hook through the hat band is a neat trick as well.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed.

[@miskee11]

My grandpa hoboed his way around Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia in the 1930s. He recounted his travelling kit to me once, decades ago... Here's what I remember: a suitcase with a few clothes, sewing kit, playing cards, cash, knife, gas lighter and a spoon. Interestingly, he said the naphtha in his lighter was excellent for polishing leather, so it was dual purpose. He wore heavy leather boots and a jacket back then. He was a skilled craftsman and gambler and made a good living.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for sharing!

[@busterbiloxi3833]

A hobo in 1930s Muscovy? I don’t think so.

[@peiper454]

You should write a book on the hobo subject....I would buy it

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks! Maybe someday I'll do that

[@moorshound3243]

​@WayPointSurvival yep some sort of hacks book covering the kit of the wandering man in the past 250 years would be good. The fact that you can make good gear or use second hand gear is important, most seem to think you need all modern expensive stuff to even go for a walk in the woods?

[@MoldyBones27]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="305">5:05</a> I was gifted one of these change purses that was handed down to my friend by generations of train hoppers. It still has an original p38 can opener, hand weigh scale, and an incredibly small map of the US.. I hold it dearly to me. It lasted that long, I can too..

[@straykitten4998]

What did they use the hand weigh scale for? And what's a hand weigh scale?

[@straykitten4998]

I saw you have a channel! Could you make a video showing it?

[@WayPointSurvival]

So very cool!

[@Clamper1827]

This was an incredibly well presented topic. Using period accurate items and showcasing them with a brief explanation of their use makes this subject that more interesting. I enjoy the conciseness of the presentation, delivery and editing to keep the topic flowing and engaging without becoming tedious or over explained. I always enjoy how subject material is presented on this channel. There isn’t anyone quite as good at it than this content creator.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Wow, thanks so very much for the compliment!

[@ScarecrowsSwords]

My great grandfather was a hobo who road trains looking for work during the Great Depression and who actually had to kill a man in a knife fight who had attacked my great grandfather for the can of beans he was trying to eat. That’s rough times.

[@Eulogy466]

Well my great grandfather wasa hobo working from farm to farm and during the great depression was killed by a man who had stolen a can of beans from him and had proceeded to start eating them in front of him..

[@ScarecrowsSwords]

@@Eulogy466 well that sucks! sounds like mine actually knew how to fight and yours didn’t. Survival of the fittest. It was a hobo eat hobo world.

[@jonesnbones]

My great grandfather was killed trying to take someone's beans. I'm just kidding; he raised sheep on his farm and passed at 70. Life was hard either way.

[@terryshockley871]

My great grandfather, was the can of beans.

[@r.shanethompson7933]

​@@terryshockley871Was your great grandfather silverish colored, short, cylindricall? Did he have a tatoo that said "BEANS"? I think I knew him.

[@TheMezzomorto]

Ok today I learned the difference between a rucksack (a big two strap backpack with pockets for long term “ruck” into the wilderness) a knapsack (a medium two strap backpack with enough storage for a hobo night under the stars, and a haversack (a one strap messenger-bag style sack traditionally used for carrying oats for a horse and later used as a sack for carrying a day’s rations by colonial era military when a ruck sack was overkill). A hobo with all three could last a week or longer in the rough with that kind of load-out.

[@FishTheJim]

I just love these Hobo videos.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you like them!

[@tenchraven]

Pocket knife (multitool), matches (bic lighter), bandana, wallet with a tiny sewing kit in it, and a sharpie that will write on almost anything. In my bag, there is a small first aid kit with caffeine tablets; I also keep a spoon and cup nested under my nalgene. The more things change, the more they stay the same- the only thing I don't carry is the fish hooks.

[@jelkel25]

It's great that you bring this part of this time alive, there's not many who do, you might have got a funny anecdote or two from that generation but you seldom heard about the hard or outright bad times from them. You heard little snippets like large families all living in two rooms, people having to go away to work, kids waiting outside the kitchens of expensive restaurants/hotels to be given the stale bread and so on. You still got the coin purses in the UK into the 80s for kids but they were rugby ball (US football) shaped, don't know why.

[@sailawaybob]

I really enjoy these Hobo series , my grandfather who passed away a few years before i was born rode the train with a friend from the mountains of North Carolina to California. My aunt said he was about 13 yoa and nor sure he was per si a hobo but i wish i could have met him and no doubt heard aome good stories.

[@timmynormand8082]

My grandfather would ride the train from New Orleans to Reno. To gamble. Early 1900s

[@maxpinson5002]

I've never had the coin purse with the long double compartment, but I have a modern made short version that fit the overall bib pocket pretty good, and I have one that was my great grandpa's ( or great-great) that's over a century old that I don't use. Very practical item that keeps your coins quiet. My folks usually used the common tin plated snuff cans for a supply of matches and sometimes an old vanilla extract bottle with a cork. Whatever was available and free. Lots of snuff cans and Prince Albert cans were repurposed for "survival" containers in their time. My folks didn't do much traveling other than a fishing or hunting trip down to the bottoms when the farm work was caught up. Most of em back then in the region didn't use a stockman pattern. They'd have a jackknife, with the larger clip or spear point main blade, and a small penknife blade on the same end. Many people don't call a jackknife a jackknife anymore, but that's what it is. IIRC I'm thinking that Old Timer/Schrade still had a proper jackknife pattern before they folded up (33?) Thanks for the video ❤

[@maxpinson5002]

Those of my folks that had the money would buy the square brown bottles and refill a can to carry around in a pocket or purse. My daddy showed me when I was young how they would fix 2 of the empty bottles together with twine to make a "train" to push around in the dirt as a a toy when he was a boy. Made whistles, etc. Ate a goodly amount of Garrett myself before I knew better. Lasts way longer than the "smokeless" tobacco that we consume in modern times. None of it's good for you

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@jdraven0890]

My grandfather left me some knives by Schrade/Old Timer. One is a large fixed blade, the other is a large folding two blade. Then there's a much smaller Puma three blade like the ones in the video.

[@ChrstphreCampbell]

Great stuff, I considered myself a very successful street person for many years, but there is always new tips to learn !

[@jenandjim149]

I do truly like the Hobo series! Thank you for all your hard work to bring this series to us!

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're very welcome!

[@adrianmeredith7619]

Thank you once again

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@Patriotgal1]

talking about the paper bills- "It doesn't jingle like money does". So very true, and not often understood by most people. Paper isn't money. Gold/Silver is money.

[@Steve25901]

Dang, every time I see JD Vance in a video thumbnail, I get excited thinking it's a new WayPoint video

[@WayPointSurvival]

Lol!

[@haggis525]

Always great to see another installment of the series! I must say, James, that you're looking awesome with the recent weight loss! It'll stand you in good stead going forward into your later 50's, 60's and beyond. Between the age of 44 and 47 I dropped from my highest weight of 238 lbs to 165 lbs.... diet and beaucoup exercise! At 47 I was in the best shape I'd ever been since my 20's. Those weights, btw, are on a man of only a wee bit more than 5'8"... so nearly 240 was my wake up call. I'm in my 60's now... still rocking a frame of ~ 170 ish... and feeling pretty darn good and energetic! I'm proud of your efforts, James! Keep knocking it outta the park! Your knees, etc, will thank you going forward! Love from Canada to all who read this. Out.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so very much!

[@leearmstrong2743]

Cool stuff!! Love your videos!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@mikelgeren149]

These reports on traveling on the road are fascinating . 👍

[@bkheaney]

Fantastic and very interesting video as always. I love seeing the kit you put together. I am pleased to find out that I have been traveling with all 10/10 of the items you mentioned! In modern version, of course

[@chuckbowen5024]

Very interesting video. My grandpa was a Red River Valley farmer in SE North Dakota. He did custom threshing. He hired a lot of hobos on his threshing crew. Several came back every year in the 20s and 30s. They stayed in a bunk house and ate in the cook car. My mom said at night they would have a campfire. She heard a lot of stories and songs. She would sing the songs to us when we were traveling to keep us from fighting in the back seat. Cowboy Jack, Hobo Bill, Waiting for a train among others. My dad and grandpa were both Railroad men. Dad was a signal maintainer on the Great Northern and Grandpa was a brakeman and oiler.

[@MoldyBones27]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="407">6:47</a> 😅 I really really need to do this.. there are just some days where if only you only had a cup of coffee you felt like the whole world would open up to you.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Small blessings can go a long way in lifting your load!

[@thomasadisciple]

Amen I always travel as light as possible. I don't like carrying things in my hands haha. Right now I don't even own pants. I don't mind owning things my life led me in this direction and I enjoy living with at least as possible. It makes it more exciting when you find something you need instead of buying it. Recently I found a high end multi tool. Thank you God for your providence!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed!

[@moorshound3243]

What you don't wear trousers?

[@ralphsmith8350]

@@moorshound3243 He's a Scot :-)

[@moorshound3243]

@@ralphsmith8350 ah breezy

[@thedriftingspore]

Very sensible and simple kit. I appreciate how the Hobo's were able to sustain themselves with so little. It's a good reminder of just how resilient and resourceful we can be. Thank you for learning and researching all this material James. I appreciate you sharing what you have learned regarding Hobo's and the culture surrounding them.

[@jum5238]

Goes also to the needs vs wants.

[@thedriftingspore]

@@jum5238 when you distill things right down I’ve found my actual needs to be very few.

[@phillipmerritt1428]

I have enjoyed this hobo series. Thanks the time and energy it took.

[@davidlee8551]

Oops! My Dad “rode the rails” or rods one time I believe. He had some good times at CCC- Civilian Conservation Corps- doing cosr

[@hernansasso9444]

Nuevamente muchas gracias por otro video hobo ,son muy interesantes ,los apresio mucho ,saludos desde La Pampa Argentina .

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@hernansasso9444]

@@WayPointSurvival muchas gracias ,que Dios te bendiga.

[@abcstardust]

Another informative video people need to keep in mind. Thank you so much for giving details of these necessities!

[@edieboudreau9637]

All good knowledge. Usually the coffee pot would be hidden near the railroad in a likely spot such as a hollow tree. Many would share it. There was a mark/sign for shared goods. All were expected to return it in good shape for others to share. Thanks.

[@user-by8dr4it8w]

50 of 74 years a hobo. Until the explosion of homeless in the 1980s I would often find a tree near railroad tracks with a fry pan and a small mirror hanging from branches. This was a indicator of a safe place to camp. Please clean up after yourself for the next hobo.

[@cafeqc3793]

Excellent, thanks

[@WayPointSurvival]

You are welcome!

[@kevinogracia1615]

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose." K. Kristofferson

[@mistydawnoliver6717]

Janice Joplin in me and Bobby McGee said that too

[@James-ju3ok]

Janis joll

[@billparker8954]

@@mistydawnoliver6717 She nailed it in her last album. She was excited to hear Kris' reaction to the recording of the song he gave traction, but sadly passed too soon.

[@kevinogracia1615]

@@mistydawnoliver6717 Same song. Kris Kristofferson wrote it.

[@EdwinWilmsen-sp9hx]

I hoboed in the 1970's; my niece hoboed in the early oughts. Yes people still ride the rails. Your description of the kit is correct. Nowadays, however, it tends to be more streamlined due to the widespread availability of social services. That said, some things will always remain: sleeping roll, pocket knife, bandana, sewing kit, matches, or, more likely, butane lighter (l usually also carried flint & steel), and always a jug of water (empty bleach bottles were prized). The art of making hobo signs has lamentably fallen into disuse.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching and for the great input!

[@davidstatz9087]

Pretty cool EDC! Makes me think about the things i carry on myself every day. The hank, the pocket knife. Instead of matches i carry a small flashlight. I keep stick matches in all glove boxes as well as plastic spoons. There's always a small sewing kit in there as well. Being a journeyman you have to be prepared. Coffee is a must as is a travel mug. I can relate to all those items and the least amount of space they take.

[@troglodytehunter]

I think the bag tied to the end of a stick like we used to see in cartoons is called a bindle, iirc

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, and I have used that in other videos.

[@talljohn66]

Hobos, the original ultralight hiker! Thanks for the history lessons.

[@Yonni6502]

That's a very cool hat. Great look for the video! Well done. My grandpa carried a coin purse like the one you showed. When I was in the Boy Scouts we had sewing kits and matches like you shared. Never fished with just a line, but can totally see that working. Nice video!

[@jeanadamsick9854]

LOVE TO HEAR THE HISTORY OF THE HOBOS, THANKS FOR THE SHARE, JAMES!!! Do take care. Fl.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks, you too!

[@braxtonperry1981]

I am a modern hobo Travel around the country Work at bike Week No trains for me But my account has to have minimum Of 3 or more uses I am a light weight streamer Hobology Great coverage ✌️

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent. Thanks for watching and be careful out there!

[@TimJameson-jg8sl]

Sweet!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@plantmanstudios]

1.coin purse 2. Spoon 3. Bandana 4. Water proof match container and matches 5. Drawing chalks 6. Tube with some thread and needle. 7. Bundle of fishing line, hook and sinker 8. Small tin of coffee

[@lightinshiningdarkness6603]

Heres a fun fact I think you'd like! come from a family of gypsies and my grandparents used to say that when they were travelling down a road and turned to the left or the right, one way they would do to signal to other gypsies was to gather a bunch of branches and place them on the shoulder of the road in the direction they turned. Something similar to the signaling that you mentioned in this video

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very cool!

[@sbcinema]

A Hobo maybe also carried a comb and a candle stub

[@WayPointSurvival]

I have mentioned those in other videos.

[@MichaelR58]

Wonderful video James, thanks for sharing YAH bless you brother !

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're very welcome and may God bless you too

[@bobcantstandzyobitz9778]

I like how high quality their metal tins were back then. The coffee container and match stick holder are solid pieces.

[@mikepette4422]

wow great video I'm sure we all had the thought about how we'd handle the situation

[@Coinz8]

I mentioned in a previous post that my dad was a hobo out of Mississippi, it's how he got to california. When I was a kid, I fondly remember him yelling at homeless men at the gas station whenever they'd ask him for change. However, I've recently realized that he would often yell "Get the F away from me you tramp!" " I can't stand you tramps!!! Don't ask me for anything when you see me you tramp! I just thought he was being mean. That is, until I watched your video on hobo signals, and you explained how one set of symbols meant tramps were in the area to be cautious and you explained how tramps and hobos often didn't get along. Now, I understand why my dad has never liked tramps. Chance are, they made life hard for him when he was a hobo and area probably was in that group that attacked him at one point in his life.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, back then those distinctions really made a difference!

[@pasjeihobby]

Sir, you got me really hooked on Hobo culture and history. I'm already like 2 books into it and Good Lord they were hard working people. 💯👍👍👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very true!

[@jennicorbus5304]

One more piece of trivia: the "bundle on a stick" hobos used to carry their belongings in was called a bindle.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, I have mentioned that in numerous other videos on the hoboes.

[@Nonononono_Ohno]

This video is most useful for beginning your career as a hobo!

[@edwardprice140]

Back when being homeless was an art.

[@billg7101]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@57WillysCJ]

Neat little kit. One thing that you don't see as much today that many used and that was a rubber tobaco pouch. Not for tobaco but as a pouch. Although I have read quite a few times that matches were carried in a small glass bottle, much heavier glass than we would se today but they would take a brass 12gau shell and a brass 10 gau to make a match safe. One fit nicely in the other. I have wanted to try it but new brass 10 gau shells are really expensive.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes. There were so many little hacks and tips and tricks that they did back then to get by!

[@aaron2709]

Excellent. I really appreciate the era-correct coins and bills.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@lindacorwin9066]

You need an editor.

[@WayPointSurvival]

I need a lot of things...

[@redeyez444]

Looks good the way it is

[@dennisrocker]

Be positive. You're not loving if you are criticizing. Peace

[@kachiri]

I haven't had any tins to use for things, like coffee, etc, but I do use other containment items, like my empty medication containers. I use them for coffee, sugar, whitener, spare change that I store up at home.

[@peterbailey6930]

Cool video James I have a Stakeholder coin bag just like that, my Grandmother gave it to me yrs ago.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent!

[@oscarhammer9917]

That was great, like a hobo pocket load-out! I’m chuckling over the overlap of my own load-out. 😬

[@bobg.8954]

Very cool video, Thanks James!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you liked it!

[@Chrishf3721]

Fascinating information! Thanks!

[@gregderichsweiler8952]

Really enjoy you posts!! Keep them coming!!

[@clivedunning4317]

A great wee video. Very educational, great information.

[@jordanezell5132]

Brilliant presentation!

[@glennjones6004]

I was surprised to see a hobo sign painted on a tree in front of our city house. I'm happy to say that it said we were good people. There is currently a Justrite match safe case for sale online. It costs $104.50 plus $4.99 shipping. I suppose it would be chic to have one, but I'll continue to carry my matches in a pill bottle.

[@1961MJS]

Everyone loves the kit or haversack collection videos as do I! Keep ‘em comin!

[@ronaldrvvanhook1437]

In my 'kit' I keep a small magnet to hold needles together. Sewing kit is kept in a shotgun shell casing. Another important item is a few yards of cordage. Water is also important, so a canteen or 2. Its amazing what someone can do with so little if you carry items with multiple purposes. A small tarp wrapped in a bedroll as an example.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed.