My Get Home/Truck Bag- Full Breakdown

[@tarheelrealist8935]

Great vid, gave me some ideas to update my bag. One thing I have strapped to the side of my Maxpedition is a pair of old flip flops...after a day of humping several miles, nothing better than removing your boots and giving your feet a break at the end of the day.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

I like that! Thanks.

[@wmluna381]

Good idea for the milder weather. If I could wear flip flops every day everywhere, I would. 😊 Also, my feet swell after extensive walks lately. Lots of new things started to happen to my body once I crossed over age 40. It's something to keep in mind if you're operating with standard footwear in general though. Especially if you haven't tried your given footwear out on 5-10-15 mile practice runs. You could be seriously be hating life towards the end of the day's journey and not help your feet help you continue covering good ground the next day (if there is one if you're more far away to your destination than not). Consider a pair a 1/2-1 size up to accommodate swelling or the extra seasonal bulk of wool or doubled up socks. Some protective/water resistant shoe covers like conscientious contractors wear are also quite light and packable. The most I have covered so far with a (too heavy for me) 20# pack in a 7-8 hour period is 15 miles. The last half of that run was horrible. Another thing I would recommend, if you're not exercising or are actively physical on the regular, is once you've gotten to the end of your day to do a 'pre-emptive strike' against pain, swelling, and muscle lock up that may come on during your rest period. For me that was downing some ibuprofen (or other anti-inflammatory of your choice), potassium & magnesium pills. This has made a world of difference in my being able to operate the next day. The 1st time after a 12 miler, I laid down on my couch once I got home. Any movement was All Pain. I could not even get vertical or walk to where I kept the meds that night and was like that well into the next day. Lesson learned. 😅 I have a feeling that many out there who put together these big ol', heavy bags and don't take them out to just simply walk-to-endurance with them are going to be in for a terrible surprise. 😂 I want to be able to cover 20 miles in one day with a 15 lb. more efficiently geared pack. I've already taken out my Stanley cook kit and just left the camp cup it was sitting in. The most I am going to be doing in a purely get home situation is boiling water to add to a super quick just-add-water soup or all-in-one meal (like dehydrated mashed potatoes with some kind of chicken meat pkt thrown in). Building a fire would be another worst case scenario. My very light mini bootleg Esbit portable folding stove with the flat platform accommodates the camp cup perfectly. The platform makes all the difference so that it doesn't tip over. I have the other non platform version and I haaaate it. I can also just use 3 tealights that store right in the stove instead of those stank chemical cubes. I get 2 water boiling/sanitizing uses or 3 hot water meal/drink uses out of 3 regular tealights. The cheap ones don't burn 3-4 hrs, try more like 1.5 hrs. Still line the bottom of the stove with aluminum foil before lighting to contain any wax spillage if you consider trying this route.

[@g.victorpaulson8836]

Part 3 When it comes to hygiene, I carry a couple of Colgate Wisp disposable toothbrushes, and the Wyzi Wipes towel tablets that expand when you wet them; they suffice as TP, too. Also, a pack of paper soap sheets (Fomin makes a good unscented one; see Amazon). That's it...weighs less than 3 oz.! I carry a pre-powdered pair of socks and seal them in a vacuum bag (I use vacuum bags a lot in my kit! Saves space!) I also carry a change of under-shorts and a shirt. Talk about a morale boost! Nothing like a clean change of underwear and socks! For tools I carry a Victorinox Farmer-X, a 6" CRKT minimalist full tang fixed blade, and a Leatherman Squirt PS4, with a two-sided credit-card-sized diamond hone to keep them keen. They get most jobs done. For light I use an Olight i3T EOS and a Petzl headlamp. I only carry 30' of paracord for my ridgeline, and 30' of micro paracord and 50' feet of Kevlar thread (better than floss!) for everything else. Staying found is easier than getting found, so I keep a paper map and compass, some ranger beads, and a pair of binoculars on board. I have topo maps of my entire region on the SD card in my phone, available offline. But just in case, my signaling kit comprises a 30" X 30" orange bandana, a UST StarFlash Micro signal mirror, a Fox 30 Rescue Howler whistle, 3 sheets of 3” X 5” Write In The Rain note paper, a Fisher Space Pen Stowaway, a black mini Sharpie, and a mini pencil. My headlamp also has a wicked bright strobe and SOS function. When it comes to recharging electronics in the field, I have a dedicated pouch with an Anker 10,000 mA/h bank, an AC charging cube (if I get lucky and find a live outlet!), a 1’ cable ( USB-A to USB-C), and four AAA batteries, sealed in large straws (all my lights use AAA). So there you have it! Those are my many thoughts on what a Get Home Bag should be. I’m moving light and fast, and only stopping if it’s necessary. No cooking; no water collection; no hunting or fishing; no chopping or sawing; no sleeping if I can avoid it, and if I have to, a few quick, fitful hours should get me by; no fires unless absolutely necessary to survive the cold; no breaking into places or stealing other people's shit; and no tusslin’ with other people, or fighting off zombies! I’m bee-lining for home and avoiding crowds or conflicts at all costs. Once I’m home safe, I can reconnoiter and decide if I’m bunkering in or gettin’ the hell outta Dodge. My home is prepared for either scenario. It is my hope that even one sentence that I have written here makes any difference to you or anyone else. Good luck to you, Sir! Keep on the sunny side of the street, and keep on keepin’ on!

[@rebeccamiller3248]

Talking about being helpful to those in need along with that sweats and blanket I used to pick up an entire pack of socks and about a dozen pair of wool gloves. If I saw someone truly homeless ( not panhandlers on a corner) I would leave some socks and gloves as well as couple of cheap sweat suits. Why? I came across car accident on icy road one night. I had just been to Walmart picking up some sweat suits socks and gloves for my sister's teen son's and daughter. Instead my nieces sweats, gloves and some socks went to the lady driving in a business suit and stockings with a coat more designer than warmth. My 2 nephews stuff went to 2 homeless guys helping push the ladies care out of a bad ice and snow patch. Yeah I went back to Walmart and replaced everything but I bought extra to keep on hand and I also bought the fleece zip up liners for sleeping bags. Gave them out to homeless in winter socks year round though. I eventually got to know the homeless enough to even get them packets of underwear and t shirts as well as long johns and coats. Things I got in return? Never had to worry about being robbed or threatened. If something bad was going to happen homeless knew it and told me where NOT TO GO. Once and only once was someone stupid enough to try to rob me. Homeless vets are not to be Effed with or someone they care about. Helped some of the homeless be no longer homeless just by helping them with a little bit of care and respect. Reminding people they matter and not judging a book by its cover goes a long way to helping someone including yourself feel valued. I live in Florida now and still keep winter stuff on hand. But not as much as back then. Here I keep socks n Packets of sunblock on hand as well as lots of water. Also think about keeping some non perishable food like some pop top cans of soup or beans or some pop top cans of spam in your car. For homeless those mean difference between starving to death and living especially since 2020 when restaurants were closed dumpster diving for food was hard to come by. It's also good idea for bugging out at moments notice to keep that with you. It's useable long as you have the car.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

I love this. Thank you!

[@wmluna381]

Good story and suggestions. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidhawkins847]

My first thought was "its nice to see someone's bag isn't bulging at the seams because of to small a bag or too much stuff", but once you got into it there are several items missing. The missing items may be in your truck but hard to carry if you haven't made room for them in the pack. Since its in a pack, you've setup for leaving your vehicle. Water, or at least a water container you can fill if you need to leave your vehicle and some food supplies. (you mentioned water after I was typing this) You're setup to stay out overnight but not carrying anything to deal with food other then a bag of candy. I do like your multiple packaging setup. I've been thinking something similar since or weather can be 100+ in the summer and 30 in the winter. Allows you to grab what you need extra for the season, without worrying about whether you adding the seasonal stuff in at the right time of year. Did I miss why you're carrying a scabbard? I assume for carrying your "Truck Gun"? Probably better to lose it and rely on a sling on the weapon instead.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

-Food you are 100% correct about. I have a couple cliff bars as well but nothing like an MRE. Might need to consider something here. -Scabbard is for truck gun…reason being: ever so slightly more “low-vis” than carrying a gun across my chest. I see your point tho! Hey, I appreciate the watch and the sound advice!! Thank you.

[@davidhawkins847]

@@conservingfreedom1776 Constitutionality aside, I'm looking at situation. If you're in a situation where carrying the rifle is necessary it's probably better to have it in a ready position instead of stored away is my thought. Though the scabbard would be good for carrying it long distance if not really expecting to need it. Have you happened to check on how accessible the rifle is from the scabbard while wearing the pack in case of emergency (vs. Coming to a sketchy area that requires the extra firepower) really don't want to have to drop the pack to get it. Additionally let's you drop the pack and run without losing your rifle if the situation calls for it.

[@retro9590]

I carry the Eberlestock gunslinger for that reason, not so out in the open slung up, but it’s there if needed, and if for some reason there isn’t time to pull from the bag, the edc piece is front and center appendix. I like your setup man. Water water water tho. Glad to see It.

[@g.victorpaulson8836]

Part 2 One of my rules is if you carry tools that can put holes in other people, you probably should carry supplies that can fix holes in you. I pack a trauma kit that can handle gunshot wounds, in me or others. It includes a 6" Israeli bandage; two HyFin chest seals (entrance & exit wounds); a chest decompression needle; a CAT tourniquet; and two or three QuikClot gauze bandages. Get some training on how to use each of these items, especially on yourself. In addition, I carry a small IFAK (both the trauma kit and the IFAK are part of my EDC as well as my GHB). The IFAK is taken verbatim from the Urban Prepper's "Mini-Medi" kit, which includes several high tech wound treatments and bandages. I augment it with some OTC meds like Tylenol, Imodium, Benadryl and three doses of some daily prescription meds that I use. Another option I have used before are the BandAid brand medium and large band aids with Neosporin already on the pads, so I don't have to carry a tube. I always have a few in my wallet! Regarding water, I use a 3L bladder and two 1L nalgenes, one stainless steel, with a nesting cup. Yes, that's 11 pounds! But it means I probably don't have to hunt for water or stop to purify it, either; the total weight of my kit is 27 pounds. I carry a silcock key and 10 Aquatab purification tabs. Another aspect of the water issue is to scope out your various routes home and identify where the potable water sources are. I know at least a dozen places along my various routes that I can get clean water from commercial or residential sources without attracting much attention. If I absolutely need to I can boil some water in my steel canteen, or use my tablets, or both. Your clothing is your first element of shelter. Two rules apply: "there is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing", and "dress for the weather, not the trip". So I am always adequately clad. Clothing is actually a microclimate around your body. Choose it carefully and obey the science of staying warm and dry, or cool and hydrated, as needed for the season. Wool or synthetics are the way to go. Your PPE may want to include more than an N95 mask, like goggles, ear plugs, smoke escape hood, and maybe some protection against tear gas or pepper spray, as well, if you think civil unrest may be a factor. If I do need to sleep I should only require minimal additional warmth - a bivy sack, or a small fire against a mylar sheet, a tarp if I get caught out overnight, or have to laager up in bad weather. I recommend the Aqua Quest lightweight Guide 3m tarp (10'X10'). It weighs just over a pound and can be deployed in many configurations depending on your needs. A preconfigured 30' paracord ridgeline and 6 plastic stakes round out that set up. My shelter considerations also include an SOL HD survival blanket and one of their bivy sacks, and two 6 mil contractor bags that I can stuff with leaves or pine boughs to keep me off the ground. If I'm dressed for the weather (and I always am), it's enough to get me a few hours of sleep in all but the coldest weather in my area. Another option is the Arcturus survival blanket. Pitched as a lean-to, it will reflect the heat of a modest fire to great effect. My fire kit comprises a Fresnel lens (1st option in adequate sun); a 7/16" X 6" ferro rod and striker (my go-to!); a large BIC lighter in an ExoTac sleeve; 6 UCO Titan matches w/ strikers; 6 TinderQuik tabs; two WetFire cubes. I can almost always get a flame with either the lens or the ferro, and some natural tinder. The lighter, matches and man-made tinders are insurance for rainy days. As for food, those who say they can hump home in two days with minimal or no food are delusional. Maybe some can, but I would question whether they will really have the required energy to be able to make rational decisions if they have to, operate efficiently on the move, or keep their core body temperature at adequate levels, even in mild weather. Better to ditch any stove or pots and pans, and not screw around with boiling water and rehydrating Mountain House. Pack some lightweight, calorie-dense trail food, like bars (ProBar, Green Belly), nut butters (macadamia, almond, cashew), pemmican (shredded jerky mixed with rendered suet and dried berries), and various others. I pack a rations bag with 6 ProBars, 6 Epic meat bars, and 6 Justin’s peanut butter packets. This weighs just over 2 pounds, and gives me just over 4300 calories with a good carbs/fat/protein balance, at just over 131 calories per ounce. I add in 6 Hammer Nutrition electrolyte tablets, and some instant coffee packets (mixed cold, just for caffeine). For more options, check out KZbinr Gear Skeptic’s amazing analysis of lightweight, high-calorie trail foods.

[@wmluna381]

Lots of good stuff here. Funny how I have been rethinking shelter factors along the same lines you've mentioned. I'm actually trying to lighten my pack and am exploring many combinations to best fit the most possible scenarios. And then the winter vs. summer factor. I prefer to have 2 bags that I can switch out with the seasons to keep at work and/or in the car. I can definitely say that a 30 ft. minimum rapid ridgeline set up is the way to go. I made some that were just 25 ft. and those 5 extra feet would have been the ticket in many of my practice shelter building scenarios. Some trees can be close enough but 'girthy' or skinny and farther apart. I know how to connect it to another piece of extra cordage, but that's just more needless time spent. Especially during deep winter.

[@rockcityprepper9134]

Good stuff. Few notes. Silence or dump you OC pain meds into a small bag. Water container or few bottles. The maxpedition gyrfalcon is a bag that does what you bag set up does but I believe would do better. It’s taller so a waist belt can be used on your hips. When carrying everything plus gun water and whatever you grab from your truck that bag is going to dig into your back and shoulders. Just my opinion. Thanks for sharing. Dig it.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Spot on. Thanks.

[@tedsemonis7905]

If you remember the pictures of what the surrounding streets were like so, goggles and you have glasses if your eyes are scratched, and contacts feel like razorblades. Get home means just that, not battle your way home. As you said 2 is one, so having a fight to get there is a fools earn. Stealth, get one there.

[@hdustin86]

The stuff put in baggies is a great idea. Gonna have to start doing that!

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Probably the best piece of advice given to me! Better tip than any flashy survival toy I’ve been told you NEED.

[@tylertapp131]

Been doin this since highschool with bug out bags, huntin bags and truck bags. All it takes is one time gettin caught in a storm to figure it out lol

[@kaostheory2940]

Your kid looks good indirect to-the-point northing I would add would be 3 heavy-duty trash bags and another Bic lighter in an exotac case

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Thank you!!

[@morgan10152]

Water has already been mentioned. Spare batteries for your flashlight. As cold as it is in your area I would include long underwear (top and bottom) in with your spare jeans and sweatshirt.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Great point!!

[@throbinhood6930]

Pack EVERYTHING in waterproof bags. It keeps everything safe. Most pack already heavy loads. Just think of double the weight after everything gets soaked.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

So true!!

[@throbinhood6930]

Smart on the candies. Immediate source of energy. It really does help on long painful rucks. One thing that i would suggest is getting some drip drop packets for the water you keep in your canteen.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Love it! Thanks for the tip and thanks for watching!

[@richthevegan8611]

Good video. What brand rifle case/scabbard is that?

[@conservingfreedom1776]

I got it at Fleet Farm. I’d have to check.

[@richthevegan8611]

@@conservingfreedom1776 Great, thanks. Good size for a Shockwave

[@marksaint2936]

Don't forget a fork spoon combo, so far it's my #1 go to item in my slingbag.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Yup, great catch. That will be added shortly. Thank you for the advice!

[@johnwolstenholm9102]

Love the video you are very well prepared, but that’s not a wool blanket… You cannot get a wool blanket from Walmart for five or six dollars I’m assuming it’s fleece?

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Shoot! You’re right! My apologies…fleece blanket!

[@haappycat]

Which rabbit fur hat is that? Is it holding up?

[@conservingfreedom1776]

It’s by a company called Mad Bomber. I’ve had this hat since I was like 16. It’s been on my head for over 15 years for snowboard trips, cold work days and everything else. It’s insane how well it’s held up.

[@reedfrench1649]

Kinda hard to save someone or yourself with your "extra" 1staid gear still in plastic. Tourniquet not set up ready to use. Ie. They aren't ready out of the plastic

[@Bruce6001]

14:25 what if you’re house isn’t there, flood, fire, tornado, etc

[@concernedpatriot.2221]

So you are protecting ammunition from a torrential downpour but not protecting anything else in the bag or the bag itself ? Ammo is the thing that’s least affect by water and Why would you carry loose ammo ? Why not another full magazine ?

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Not a bad point.

[@RICHARDMOORE1959]

Great kit but remember cotton kills.Blue jeans are cotton.

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Honest question…is it worth getting Crye Field Pants?

[@joshfisher4802]

ditch the contacts and anything that goes with them and get some glasses

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Sometimes I just need an extra contact lens at work or out with friends. But I see what you’re saying

[@kenbarrett6466]

Sorry dude 6 bucks at Walmart sure isn’t a wool blanket .. maybe a fleece blanket yea .. wool will never be that cheap

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Yea fleece. I misspoke.

[@kenbarrett6466]

@@conservingfreedom1776 understandable. It happens

[@g.victorpaulson8836]

I've got a lot to say on this subject! I had to post it in three different comments! Here are my thoughts while watching your video: Part 1 You guys with your guns all over the outside of your rig! What are you, advertising for trouble? Stash that shit inside! I don't want anyone to know I'm carrying unless they need serious persuasion. The quickest way to get shot is to go waving a gun around. At least you're carrying a rudimentary trauma kit. Just what do you think is going to happen that you're going to need to blast your way home with an AK-47? Or is your plan to kill everyone else so you can have what's left? While you guys play Rambo out in the woods, the rest of us who are planning for long-term survival and rebuilding our homes and communities in the wake of a natural or man-made disaster will be busy putting things back together and getting the lights back on and the toilets to flush. Don't get me wrong, self defense is a key component; it's just not the only, or even necessarily the first priority. I carry a small can of bear spray as a first line of defense; the real stuff that can dissuade a pissed off grizzly. Anything more forceful is back up. The idea behind a GetHomeBag is just that, to simply get me home. A 72HourBag is to enable me to survive for three days until help arrives, if I’m bugging in, or to get to my predetermined bug out location if I have to evacuate. A LongRangeBugoutBag should be designed for long-term back country sustainability and is possibly the least complicated kit; watch some of the series ‘Alone’, and see what survivalists pack into the wild to live off the land. They typically take only ten items! Also, check out Hill People Gear for a great discussion of back-country travel, and their philosophy of tiered gear systems. But that's not what we're here for! The first question is where are you likely to be on any given day? Work? School? Other? How far from your home are you? How long would it take you to walk home from there? You need to make a realistic assessment of how long it will take you, based on a) the terrain, b) the lay of the land, i.e., wilderness, farmland, suburbia, urban streets, and c) your physical fitness level. The average human in relatively decent physical condition can walk at an easy pace of about 3 miles per hour, even with a light to moderate load. So if for example you work 15 miles from home, you can be home in about 5 or 6 hours. The next question is what are the actual threats you might face in your area that would necessitate you walking home? Hurricane? Tornado? Earthquake? Wildfire? Flood? Drought? Dust storm? Natural disasters are much more likely than the more exotic stuff, like electromagnetic pulses, civil unrest, or societal collapse. It’s not that those things can’t happen, because they occasionally do, but natural catastrophes are much more common. So if you’re 15 miles from home, and suddenly there’s a flooded river in your way and you have to walk 10 miles upstream to find a safe crossing point, that 15 mile, 5 hour trip now becomes a 35 mile, 12 hour trip. The next question is what are your alternate routes? Are you familiar with them? Have you walked any of them? Do you know where there are available water sources? Food? Potential campsites if you’re caught out overnight? Safe spaces if you need them? Medical aid? Best advice is to familiarize yourself with at least two or three alternate routes to get home. Also, no matter how well you think you know the area, get a map. Load an offline digital copy on your smartphone, and get a paper hard copy as a backup. Now let’s talk about what I actually carry. Light and fast is the order of the day. My priorities in an urgent get-home scenario are a) medical care, b) water, c) shelter (clothing & sleep), d) food/fuel, e) self defense. I work 40 miles from home, so it is quite likely that it will take me anywhere from 10 to 15 hours to get home on foot, across mostly suburban terrain, and that I am likely to be out overnight. On weekends, it could be further. I need to be sure I am whole and take care of any cuts, scrapes or more serious issues; I need to be well hydrated in order to operate efficiently; I need to be dressed appropriately for the weather and the season, and able to sleep warmly if I need to; I need calories to get me through; and I need to protect myself and my gear.

[@wmluna381]

My realistic walking endurance level is 15 miles in one day right now. I did that recently and it took me btw 7-8 hours. I am solidly middle age and do not work out on the regular. I mentioned in another comment that, while doable at 1st, ended up too heavy in the end 20# backpack. I hope to level up to 20 miles total within that period with a more efficient/lighter pack, for sure.

[@wmluna381]

One way to pre-scout and pre-determine alternate routes is to use the map directions satellite + street view functions. You can further use the elevation and trails overlay features. You can actually get a sense of woods, water, bridges, and all the ground views by 'walking' the routes from your chair/desktop 1st before putting eyes on them and practicing walking the routes in person. You can also pull GPS coordinates (say for planned caches) and use the measure distance feature when and where needed. It's pretty cool and helpful.

[@seanwhitman4365]

People watch too many movies

[@conservingfreedom1776]

Probably right there!