Critique my Get Home Bag

[Cybrludite]

I tend to sweat like any number of offensive similes, so I really need to get something like that in there, or even Oral Rehydration Salts, which apparently taste terrible, but that's what you'll be given by a corpsman if you drop as a heat casualty.

The rehydration salts do taste bloody awful. On a related note, they do seem to help prevent hangovers.

[Netpackrat]

Dry socks and a roll of TP.

[Lokidude]

Dry socks and a roll of TP.

The little things can make a HUGE difference.

[Termite]

Dry socks and a roll of TP.

What he said.

Half a roll of TP will easily squeeze flat and fit in a 1 pint Ziplock freezer bag. I don't go hunting without it.
Also, don't bother with the puffy soft-as-a-pillow types of TP. Use the 2-ply stronger smoother type. Trust me on this.

As for the socks, they are not a place to cut costs. Buy some really good boot socks(like hiker socks) from Cabela's, Bass Pro, Academy, etc.

For your medical, add a few aspirin or ibuprofen, not Tylenol.

Don't forget extra batteries for the Surefire; it will exhaust them at a fast rate.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Wool, no question. Merino wool beats the "prickly" or "itchy" sensation for the sensitive.

I also have learned that a "balaclava" is much better than a boonie hat. Keeping the neck warm is very important -- what with those huge arteries and veins so close to the surface. The converse works as well - a cool, wet rag (or a cold can/bottle) on the neck will work wonders for cooling me off when overheated... Also, with the Balaclava you can pull your whole face out of it to mount a respirator or if you just don't like it over your face... You can also cover your face with it if you choose or just flip it up like a regular "cap" if you don't need the extra warmth.

I didn't see anything like a respirator or mask on your list - personally I'd go for one that covered mouth and nose with cartridge filters - assuming a full-on gas-mask is out of the question.

Also, eye protection. I've found some swim goggles with clear lenses that seal well to my eyes and don't distort my vision. I keep them treated with some "anti-fog" junk whenever I think of it... Every time I see pics of folks covered in 9-11 dust I think how much better it would have been for them if they'd had some decent goggles and a dust-mask, at minimum... I went "swim goggles" for cost and for full protection - I like the "seal" thing - but even some MC goggles or surplus "Desert" goggles would be good - I just didn't want the holes to let in fine dust or G*d knows what else might be in the air in a bad situation...

A couple of bandannas add little weight and an incredible amount of utility.

A "head-lamp" - preferably one with a red-led option for night-vision preservation - and spare batteries - a hand-light is nice, but nothing beats a hands-free light-where-you-look option...

Duct tape

550 cord

DEET, Sunscreen and Hand-sanitizer - all can be found in small bottles sufficient to a couple of days with little size/weight added.

A washcloth-sized piece of a "sham-wow" can do the work of a full-sized towel. Great for drying off or mopping up dew if necessary for emergency water. It's amazing how much those things can soak up, easy to wring out and use again. We took them when backpacking instead of a towel - I've dried off after a rain or a shower, does just as well as a towel with VERY little weight or bulk!

Hope this helps.....

DD

[Dedicated_Dad]

Oh... I'd also add a small (druggie) zip-bag of vaselined/cotton balls. The vaseline can be used to protect your skin/face/lips/eyelids/etc without hurting their fire-starting utility. I've also found that one soaked cotton-ball and a little foil makes an expedient lamp that will burn for a surprisingly long time... Wrap the ball in foil to make a little lamp, pulling out and winding a little cotton wick - light and... viola! Ugly but functional...

I bought a big box of mini-bic lighters at Sam's and tuck them into darn near everything wherever there's a little space. All the sparky-bars and magnesium and such are cool, but the little bics just WORK, and give lots of lights for very little space/weight. I can't see playing cave-man if I don't have to...

On that note, even if you don't smoke I recommend carrying a mini-bic all the time. That, a good AAA-LED light and a pocket knife should be on every man's "don't leave home without it" list IMHO.

I'd also add another mylar survival-blanket or 2 if there's room -- 2 of them with some duct-tape makes an expedient sleeping bag, a spare could be rigged for shelter or used to waterproof/help insulate a debris-hut...

Radio Shack sells a little 2-AA gadget that uses their "iTips" to charge your cell. About 1/2 the size of a pack of cigs, weight with batteries only a couple of ounces, will add days to "Standby" and several hours of "talk" time. Get a new phone, just buy the new "tip" -- the gadget works on all of them. You know darn well the day you REALLY need it your cell will be dead...

HTH...

DD

[cu74]

+1 on the mini-BIC lighters. I'm a smoker, (50+ years) and have lighters in every jacket pocket plus lighters scattered about all over The Project. In my experience, the BIC lighters are the only ones that can stand "the test of time". The cheaper ones often stop working with the reservoir still half full, but the BICs light every time until the fuel is exhausted.

[Combat Controller]

ipod shuffle with talking heads "life during wartime" on it.

Xerox your maps and reduce the size to 25% then take a razor and cut them into playing card sizes. Laminate the pieces and then laminate the whole thing so it folds up to playing card deck size. You can use a grease pencil on it and it won't get wet and tear when you need it most. Get a topo map of important routes and do the same thing.

LED keychain lights, really bright and second on the compact headlamp.

Monocular

Credit card magnifier, will let you read your map and can start fires.

Leatherman or similar

Pens and small moleskin notebook, the one the size of a business card.

P-38 can opener

Dry socks

This is precluding any weapons or reloads.

I am building a super mini bag with a NAA Pug .22 mag with bird and hollowpoint ammo, a mini leatherman, mag stick etc...

[Denis]

ipod shuffle with talking heads "life during wartime" on it.

Xerox your maps and reduce the size to 25% then take a razor...

I question the sanity of handling razors while listening to Talking Heads.

[Combat Controller]

ipod shuffle with talking heads "life during wartime" on it.

Xerox your maps and reduce the size to 25% then take a razor...

I question the sanity of handling razors while listening to Talking Heads.

That would be listening to old Cure albums like Three Imaginary Boys, which is a post punk pre goth early release. Good stuff.