Making family BOB's from leftovers.

[Moab]

https://i.imgur.com/0I9ujmX.jpeg


I now have BOB's for everyone in the family. Made from leftover packs and leftover bug out supplies.



I put together BOB's for everyone in the family. And added a fourth for my sons gf. As she lives with us when not in school an hour or so away.


As I was going thru all my bug out/hiking totes - I found so much stuff. Stuff I'd forgotten I had.


Including that green pack. Its a Spec Ops Ultra thats like an Alice pack on steroids. They're normally close to $200. But i got it onsale for $50 years ago. So glad i bought it now. Its for my wife as its the smallest.


The multicam one is mine, its an Arcteryx Khyber 80.


The tan pack is my Gregory 65L I forget which model. This ones for my son.


And the black one is a cheap Large Alice pack knockoff. But well made. It carries alot. But i dont like the snap secured pockets. Id rather have straps and buckles. But i got it for like $20 years ago. It will do.


I want to get frames for both Alice packs. They do not look comfortable without one.


The other bags, besides my own, are not totally complete yet. But I took everything I found. Which was a huge 50 gallon trash bag full and a large tote full. Alot of stuff. I laid all of it out by what it was. And then split it up between all three bags. Everyone got:




1) A cook pot of some sort.
2) Two means of fire - ferro rod, lighter and some form of fuel ie vaseline, hand sanitizer and cotton or dryer lint.
3) One insulation layer usgi fleece and one person got a down jacket.
4) One rain layer. Everyone has a rain coat to use as an outerlayer over their fleece or down.
5) Long underwear. We still need this for 2 people.
6) A sleep system. Everyone got a cold weather sleeping bag except one. I used a better poncho liner and a usgi bivy bag. But i have two more usgi lightweight bags to go in as well.
7) Two knives. One fixed. One folding.
Cordiage.
9) Lots of food - mre and mountain house - so things that don't need heating and things that do. Will supplement this with more snack type food. Some protein bars etc.
10) Insulating hat. Fleece or waterproof stocking cap. Yes. A waterproof stocking cap. Inner lining is goretex. Forgot i bought it a long time ago.
11) Gloves. Fleece or leather. Or both. Also a couple pair of fingerless wool knit gloves to augment.
12) Fishing items (gonna work on a complete fishing kit for each. I have way to much fishing stuff.).
13) Shelter. One 2 man tent, one 10x10 tarp and one usgi poncho between the 4 bags. Eventually I'll probably add a 3 person tent. And ditch the poncho. The poncho is in addition to everyone having a hooded rain jacket.
14) Water container. I carry a metal Nalgene. But every other bag will have a 1L Smartwater bottle for now. We have a regular Nalgene. I may just add a Nalgene to every pack. They are cheap nowadays. And everyones cook pot will nest a Nalgene.
15) Insulated head wrap of one sort or another. 2 fleece balaclavas, one shemagh, 2 usgi cravats in first aid kits, one neck wrap.
16) 20ft(?) of duct tape. I should add some to each bag. Right now its on one roll.
17) A couple small compasses. But this needs improved upon. I have two high quality compasses in my gear. But the rest are tiny chinese button compasses. I need to research mid quality compasses for the other bags. But really its not that high of priority. As none of them know how to use one.
18) First aid kit. Made up of leftovers. I have quite a bit. From sutures to gauze to Israeli bandages. Triple antibiotic. Rubber gloves. Etc.
19) Water filtration. We have a Sawyer squeeze and mini. But i need to add two more filters. Will be the squeeze or mini.
20) Firearms. Each pack will include a handgun. I carry a Glock. But everyone else will have a basic revolver with spare ammo.




The strategy here is twofold.


One, it's what we have. So we might as well organize it and put these bags together now. No sense waiting till everything is perfect. But i already had almost everything we needed. And it was just laying around in tubs not organized. Now all this "stuff" is organized into useful bags. I spent years perfecting my pack. Not knowing i was building out 4 packs in all.


Two, alot of it can be shared between individuals. Hats, gloves, insulating layers etc. And alot of it is to big. As most of it is things I either bought for myself or were free with something else. But I told them you won't care in a disaster. Roll your sleeves up. At least your warm and dry. Lol.




Things we still need to gather:


Alot of this we just need to find peoples personal stuff they don't mind leaving in a bag. And hiking stuff that just needs to be found. But a few things we do need to purchase.


Boots or good running or walking shoes. I call them tennis shoes as a catch all phrase. But i guess I'm old according to my son. Lol.


Socks. We have some.


Long underwear. We have two sets for my son and I. And a top for his hf.


Pants. Jeans or something they can walk and hike in.


Shirts. Long sleeve tshirt or button up. I have pokyester for my son and i.


Insulated jackets if they have a better fitting one to spare.


Gloves need smaller ones but a pair in each pack.


Water. Need smartwater bottles and/or Nalgenes.


Fishing kit. Fishing line. More hooks. Etc.


Flashlight. Need flashlights and headlamps. Need to research cheap but good ones.


Soap containers. I have a small and large bottle of dr bronners. I just need 2 more bottles to spread it out between the 4 packs.


More tinder for starting fires. I think i will mix up some small ziplocks with vaseline and cotton balls. I question all of their abilities to start a fire.


Small saw for each pack. For processing wood and building additional shelter.


Cooking method. I have an alcohol stove and large pot from a Czech mess kit. Bottle of alcohol. And a windscreen. Denating putting the same into other packs. Or just a knock of pocket rocket and a can of fuel.


Lastly, training.


I've been on ZS/UFOZS for maybe 15+ years? And it took the pandemic and the war in Ukraine to finally turn my wife and son to prepping. I mean they've been pretty good. We store stuff for earthquakes and the like. But they were always making fun of me for my inch and bobs.


But now they are fully on my side. And actually appreciative of what I've done with their bobs.


So next step is get them to learn some things. Just basics. That i can teach them. I grew up in the mountains fishing, hunting and foraging. Was a Boy Scout for years. Spent a tour in a specialized platoon in the Marine Corps. And received training in mountain, jungle, desert and ocean environments.


They need to at least learn:


Fire starting.
Water treatment.
How to handle a knife.
Navigation.
How to handle a firearm. My wife and son have basic rifle and handgun firing and safety training. But my sons gf needs some.


What am i missing?

[Crosscut]

What's the situation and logistics at your desired destination/BOL Moab?  IIRC it'll be an urban bugout from a heavily populated area and starting out (at least) by vehicle if possible, but how far or how many days might you have to travel on foot to get there?  And will you have shelter and more gear and supplies at the BOL, or have to live off just what you brought?  Sorry for all the questions, but that would heavily influence my decision on what to bring.

In any case, a two-way radio in each BOB might be worth their weight if you got separated along the way, and for security at the BOL.

[flybynight]

13) Shelter. One 2 man tent, one 10x10 tarp and one usgi poncho between the 4 bags. Eventually I'll probably add a 3 person tent. And ditch the poncho. The poncho is in addition to everyone having a hooded rain jacket.

Everyone should have shelter. The chances of one of you beginning their bug out (get Home) hours from your home base are high for L.A.

You should pick a BOL rendezvous point  and decide how many hours those at home base will wait , before themselves bugging out to that first BOL.


Now would be the time to practice fire starting  before the inevitable campfire bans begin.  Go up to MT. Pacifico on a weekday and maybe you will have the campground to yourself

https://www.roverpass.com/c/mt-pacifico-campground-palmdale-ca/#group-1

[Crosscut]

Everyone should have shelter. The chances of one of you beginning their bug out (get Home) hours from your home base are high for L.A.

You should pick a BOL rendezvous point  and decide how many hours those at home base will wait , before themselves bugging out to that first BOL.

Good points.  On the rendezvous location, maybe an agreed upon message to leave there in case comms are down and part of the group is continuing on.  Small piece of duct tape on a road sign with date, time, and initials of who's with you for example.  Least you'll know who's in front of you and who is straggling behind, and where to start looking for them if that's an option.

[Moab]

What's the situation and logistics at your desired destination/BOL Moab?  IIRC it'll be an urban bugout from a heavily populated area and starting out (at least) by vehicle if possible, but how far or how many days might you have to travel on foot to get there?  And will you have shelter and more gear and supplies at the BOL, or have to live off just what you brought?  Sorry for all the questions, but that would heavily influence my decision on what to bring.

In any case, a two-way radio in each BOB might be worth their weight if you got separated along the way, and for security at the BOL.

Great questions.

Currently we have 2 Motorola gmrs handhelds. With plans to purchase 4 Beofengs. With spare batteries, chargers and headsets/ear buds.

So if we were to be split up right now we'd at least be able to cover two groups. But in the near future be able to split up the four of us with the Beofengs.

Once we have the Beofengs we would have  instructions on how to locate repeaters with preset call times. To be able to connect should we be out of 8w gmrs range. And cellular be shut down.

(I'm not going to discuss licensing. I understand it. And will address it as much as possible. But the kind of disaster I would be running from - it frankly wouldnt matter.

Further, the chances of needing to use a repeater are very slim. And I don't really care if I'm using 8 watts on a GMRS channel. It's never been enforced. I will try to obtain licenses asap. But its not a do or die thing on my agenda. Training everyone in my group to use radios and build a simple fire - is.)

My son graduates UCLA in about 2-3 months. Which frees up my wife and I to move as soon as possible. So hopefully this bug out from LA will not be a strategy for to much longer. Because as a strategy? It sucks. No matter how you slice it.

We used to have friends with a good sized sailboat at a marina anout 15 minutes away. But they recently moved to TX. So thats out. Thats about the only smooth way out of LA in a disaster.

If my wife were more fit I would have entertained street legal dirtbikes. As traffic is going to be the number one concern.

We do have fairly small 4x4 vehicles. Meaning they could navigate the sides of roads or ditches. But I am positive those will be filled in with cars too.

So we have two choices. Either be the first out. Or wait until enough traffic clears. Because our bug out is for sure a vehicle one.

Previously we could have considered a bug out on foot. But since my wifes heart transplant that isn't possible.

In fact, without her heart meds she has a very short life expectancy. Like maybe a month if we had just refilled her meds. But not all of her meds are filled at the same time. So thats a crap shoot. She actually commented that her bug out bag is practically useless considering this.

We also live in probably the most likely to be hit place on the entire west coast. As we are in LA number one. And our town is surrounded on four borders by three of the most important targets in LA - LAX, the Los Angeles Air Force base, the Chevron oil and gas facility and the Los Angeles water treatment plant. My towns police department is funded and planned as the centeral conteol point for a disaster covering any or all of those locations. So were either gonna die fast or need to get out of the area asap.

But in a minor to major, local, disaster our bugout has three levels.

1) Mother in laws townhouse. Across town about 12 miles and 19 minutes - without traffic. On foot my wife might make it in a day or two. But honestly its a bug in unless we can take a vehicle.

2) Brother in laws place. Opposite direction but more north. Which is the direction you'd want to leave LA. This is my number one spot to get too. Its on the secondary freeway route out of LA. And far enough out of LA to not be a target.

43 miles. 43 minutes - without traffic. My wife could not walk this distance. I mean maybe if we had several places to stay along the way. But really all if these options are vehicle only.

3) Traveling out of state to family in the PNW. Washington. Sister in law. Mother. Brother. Two sisters. But only one sister is viable in Western Washington. We would probably end up at sister in laws in a more southern part of WA. Or my mothers north of Seattle. 1173 miles. 18 hours without traffic.

When you break down number three - 18 hours of driving does not seem completely undoable. But its more like 24 hours of complete driving if you did not stop for anything.

But of course there are needed stops for gas, food, bathroom, and shelter for sleeping. Unless you take turns driving and everyone just sleeps in the car while driving. My brother in law when he lived in WA before he died. Used to put his family of 5 into a Chevrolet Suburban. With three legal drivers. And they would drive the entire thing in 2 days. Non stop except for gas and bathroom stops. They ate in the car.

We currently have 4 cars to choose from.

1) A Honda minivan that fits all 4 of us and our gear and supplies. Very good gas mileage.

2) Two Toyota RAV4's. These get 30 mpg. One is 4x4. One is not. Both have alot of cargo space. We could cram us and our gear into one. But it would be tight. We might have to leave one water and one gas can. Of 4 total.

3) A Jeep Wrangler TJ. Classic small Jeep. Soft top. Excellent 4x4. Best of the bunch if getting out of LA meant driving in the ditches. But cargo is extremely limited. We might get the four of us in it but we would all have packs on our laps. And no room for additinal supplies. Gas mileage - terrible. Maybe 15 mpg.

Or a combination of the four. I think the minivan and the 4x4 Rav4. But the 2 wheel drive Rav4 is in better condition. The Jeep is only an option if there are only 2 or 3 of us. And the freeways are filled with parked cars. Or some other aspect of the bug out required top notch actual 4x4.

A few last thoughts...

Any disaster longer than 3 weeks without access to medication - does not include my wife. As she would, frankly, be dead.

Lastly, the BOB's are really for gathering essentials for a vehicle bug out. But moving on foot only if we had too. Short distances. Or beyond my wifes medication needs and if we were without a vehicle. Myself, my son and his gf are highly mobile on foot. We could trek a long ways.

But your only as effective as your slowest or weakest team member. Before she dies that would be my wife. I dont mean to sound callous. But those are the facts.

[Moab]

What's the situation and logistics at your desired destination/BOL Moab?  IIRC it'll be an urban bugout from a heavily populated area and starting out (at least) by vehicle if possible, but how far or how many days might you have to travel on foot to get there?  And will you have shelter and more gear and supplies at the BOL, or have to live off just what you brought?  Sorry for all the questions, but that would heavily influence my decision on what to bring.

In any case, a two-way radio in each BOB might be worth their weight if you got separated along the way, and for security at the BOL.

I think i answered your other questions above. But yes. We would be living out of these bags and whatever supplies fit in the car or cars. My brother in law is not a prepper to my knowledge.

Currently working on ghbs and vehicle bug out totes.

[Moab]

13) Shelter. One 2 man tent, one 10x10 tarp and one usgi poncho between the 4 bags. Eventually I'll probably add a 3 person tent. And ditch the poncho. The poncho is in addition to everyone having a hooded rain jacket.

Everyone should have shelter. The chances of one of you beginning their bug out (get Home) hours from your home base are high for L.A.

You should pick a BOL rendezvous point  and decide how many hours those at home base will wait , before themselves bugging out to that first BOL.


Now would be the time to practice fire starting  before the inevitable campfire bans begin.  Go up to MT. Pacifico on a weekday and maybe you will have the campground to yourself

https://www.roverpass.com/c/mt-pacifico-campground-palmdale-ca/#group-1

Everyone has shelter. The least of which is a full suze poncho if we were completely split up. More likely that it would be two packs of two people or three and one. If its three and one my sons gf would be very close to my brother in laws our second bol.

At this point two of the are sharing a tent. My wife and i are rarely apart. The other two have the 10x10 tarp and the poncho. But i will be adding another 2 or 3 man tent to their two packs soon. Tjere are also two usgi bivies between the two. But i would like to at least have a sleeping bag, bivy and tarp in each bag. Unless the bag has a tent.

[Moab]

Everyone should have shelter. The chances of one of you beginning their bug out (get Home) hours from your home base are high for L.A.

You should pick a BOL rendezvous point  and decide how many hours those at home base will wait , before themselves bugging out to that first BOL.

Good points.  On the rendezvous location, maybe an agreed upon message to leave there in case comms are down and part of the group is continuing on.  Small piece of duct tape on a road sign with date, time, and initials of who's with you for example.  Least you'll know who's in front of you and who is straggling behind, and where to start looking for them if that's an option.

Its why i carry the sharpie. But should be one in each bag. I would leave a note on the door of our number 1 and 2 bol. Something like we've moved on to claires. Or weve moved on to rons. I dont see the need for a secret spy code. No one would know what the above msgs meant anyway. Everyone knows the addresses. But its a great idea. I will store the addresses on everyones phone and in their packs.

But i have not made plans for no comms meeting points outside in of LA. That i need to do.


EDIT - I do habe to agree about the tape thing. If those bols are say damaged and we cant get to the door. We need to locate other places to leave msgs.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I'm pretty much the main prepper in my family and therefore it's up to me to make sure everyone stays safe.

A lack of funds is what keeps me from having a complete set up for each member of my household (myself, my mother and my two sisters).

Bugging out isn't an option since we've got no place to go otherwise, so any preps have to be for a long term bug in. Due to some family issues (I'll spare y'all the details) heading to either of my brother's places is out of the question.

Two live about 30 minutes away and my eldest brother lives 12 hours away. So his house is not a viable bug out spot. He also lives close by some major oil refineries, so that's another reason why heading his way is a no go. Unless it's to grab him and his wife and haul ass back to my AO.

As far as plans go, I really need to sit down with my mother and sisters and come up with a set of plans on how to make sure our household is prepared for whatever may happen. 

[Crosscut]

Been thinking about this thread the past few days, but just keep ending up back at this part:

We do have fairly small 4x4 vehicles. Meaning they could navigate the sides of roads or ditches. But I am positive those will be filled in with cars too.

So we have two choices. Either be the first out. Or wait until enough traffic clears. Because our bug out is for sure a vehicle one.

Previously we could have considered a bug out on foot. But since my wifes heart transplant that isn't possible.

So once you start the bugout you basically have to finish it by vehicle, or be forced to remain with it or within a short walking distance away from where ever it stops (which could be due to any number of reasons), unless you find alternate transportation or can get it moving again.  You've no doubt already considered all the potential bugout problems and options eight ways to Sunday, but considering your wife's situation and the risk of getting trapped midway to the BOL I'd be focused on having alternate transportation options and/or maximizing the odds of being able to obtain transportation.

I don't know anything about the LA area but I'd want to bring two vehicles and at least one 4x4 ORV (trailered) if possible.  Is leaving one 4x4 at your BIL's place an option?  If so, maybe you or your Son could walk there to retrieve it and come back for your wife and the rest of the group. 

Couple gold coins?  Might even be worth paying the markup to get a proof coin with the certificate of authenticity just for this bugout purpose, might convince someone who was on the fence about whether it was real or not.  The morality of it aside, people are generally greedy, and in some cases getting to the front of the line or a seat on a plane, bus, or train might be the difference between surviving and not. 

Old credentials from your military service or a copy of your DD-214, etc.  I have my old military ID card, not sure if I was supposed to turn it in but nobody ever asked for it.  Might make a difference depending on who you might need or want to interact with along the way.

Notebook, electronic notes, or annotated map on what is along the possible bugout routes, might be helpful if the internet is down.  Hard to know in advance what details might be important to include; police/fire stations, clinics, drug stores, auto parts stores or mechanics, large farms, VFW or American Legion halls?  Many rental car companies have gasoline on site for refueling the rental cars as example, if there's no gas or very long lines at gas stations it might be worth the time to discretely find out if they'd be willing to sell some (at maybe double or triple the current price).  Even local residents that know it's there might not think of that immediately, and without google-type online maps available many others might not know it's there at all. 

CB radio, or at least a scanner that receives the CB frequencies.  I installed a mobile in the BOV about 4 years ago, never turn it on except on long trips and usually only when stuck in traffic on the expressway, that seems to be the only time there's much local activity heard anyway.  In those years can honestly say I've only gotten what might be considered valuable information from it twice - once when a road construction crew dropped an overhead power line across the expressway and all lanes were stopped, and another time that a multi-car accident had the two right lanes blocked a couple miles ahead of us.  But if stopped in traffic during a SHTF event even a small of chance of getting some useful information would be worth it, could be the deciding factor on whether to wait it out, try to backtrack, or abandon the BOV.

ETA:  re: "small 4x4 vehicles", guess you may be referring to the 4x4 Jeep and RAV4?  I initially thought you meant a 4-wheeled ORV but maybe not.

[echo83]

I'm pretty much the main prepper in my family and therefore it's up to me to make sure everyone stays safe.

A lack of funds is what keeps me from having a complete set up for each member of my household (myself, my mother and my two sisters).

Bugging out isn't an option since we've got no place to go otherwise, so any preps have to be for a long term bug in. Due to some family issues (I'll spare y'all the details) heading to either of my brother's places is out of the question.

Two live about 30 minutes away and my eldest brother lives 12 hours away. So his house is not a viable bug out spot. He also lives close by some major oil refineries, so that's another reason why heading his way is a no go. Unless it's to grab him and his wife and haul ass back to my AO.

As far as plans go, I really need to sit down with my mother and sisters and come up with a set of plans on how to make sure our household is prepared for whatever may happen. 

I'm very much in the same boat. My BOB began years ago before I was married with kids. Now bugging in seems like a much more viable option. I have a GHB for myself, and my BOB would support 2 adults for a few days, but kids really complicate things.

Recently, Mrs. Echo83 has proposed the use of a few tubs to add to the bugout shelves in the basement. Much easier to stock and throw in a vehicle.

[echo83]

https://i.imgur.com/0I9ujmX.jpeg


I now have BOB's for everyone in the family. Made from leftover packs and leftover bug out supplies.



I put together BOB's for everyone in the family. And added a fourth for my sons gf. As she lives with us when not in school an hour or so away.


As I was going thru all my bug out/hiking totes - I found so much stuff. Stuff I'd forgotten I had.


Including that green pack. Its a Spec Ops Ultra thats like an Alice pack on steroids. They're normally close to $200. But i got it onsale for $50 years ago. So glad i bought it now. Its for my wife as its the smallest.


The multicam one is mine, its an Arcteryx Khyber 80.


The tan pack is my Gregory 65L I forget which model. This ones for my son.


And the black one is a cheap Large Alice pack knockoff. But well made. It carries alot. But i dont like the snap secured pockets. Id rather have straps and buckles. But i got it for like $20 years ago. It will do.


I want to get frames for both Alice packs. They do not look comfortable without one.


The other bags, besides my own, are not totally complete yet. But I took everything I found. Which was a huge 50 gallon trash bag full and a large tote full. Alot of stuff. I laid all of it out by what it was. And then split it up between all three bags. Everyone got:




1) A cook pot of some sort.
2) Two means of fire - ferro rod, lighter and some form of fuel ie vaseline, hand sanitizer and cotton or dryer lint.
3) One insulation layer usgi fleece and one person got a down jacket.
4) One rain layer. Everyone has a rain coat to use as an outerlayer over their fleece or down.
5) Long underwear. We still need this for 2 people.
6) A sleep system. Everyone got a cold weather sleeping bag except one. I used a better poncho liner and a usgi bivy bag. But i have two more usgi lightweight bags to go in as well.
7) Two knives. One fixed. One folding.
Cordiage.
9) Lots of food - mre and mountain house - so things that don't need heating and things that do. Will supplement this with more snack type food. Some protein bars etc.
10) Insulating hat. Fleece or waterproof stocking cap. Yes. A waterproof stocking cap. Inner lining is goretex. Forgot i bought it a long time ago.
11) Gloves. Fleece or leather. Or both. Also a couple pair of fingerless wool knit gloves to augment.
12) Fishing items (gonna work on a complete fishing kit for each. I have way to much fishing stuff.).
13) Shelter. One 2 man tent, one 10x10 tarp and one usgi poncho between the 4 bags. Eventually I'll probably add a 3 person tent. And ditch the poncho. The poncho is in addition to everyone having a hooded rain jacket.
14) Water container. I carry a metal Nalgene. But every other bag will have a 1L Smartwater bottle for now. We have a regular Nalgene. I may just add a Nalgene to every pack. They are cheap nowadays. And everyones cook pot will nest a Nalgene.
15) Insulated head wrap of one sort or another. 2 fleece balaclavas, one shemagh, 2 usgi cravats in first aid kits, one neck wrap.
16) 20ft(?) of duct tape. I should add some to each bag. Right now its on one roll.
17) A couple small compasses. But this needs improved upon. I have two high quality compasses in my gear. But the rest are tiny chinese button compasses. I need to research mid quality compasses for the other bags. But really its not that high of priority. As none of them know how to use one.
18) First aid kit. Made up of leftovers. I have quite a bit. From sutures to gauze to Israeli bandages. Triple antibiotic. Rubber gloves. Etc.
19) Water filtration. We have a Sawyer squeeze and mini. But i need to add two more filters. Will be the squeeze or mini.
20) Firearms. Each pack will include a handgun. I carry a Glock. But everyone else will have a basic revolver with spare ammo.




The strategy here is twofold.


One, it's what we have. So we might as well organize it and put these bags together now. No sense waiting till everything is perfect. But i already had almost everything we needed. And it was just laying around in tubs not organized. Now all this "stuff" is organized into useful bags. I spent years perfecting my pack. Not knowing i was building out 4 packs in all.


Two, alot of it can be shared between individuals. Hats, gloves, insulating layers etc. And alot of it is to big. As most of it is things I either bought for myself or were free with something else. But I told them you won't care in a disaster. Roll your sleeves up. At least your warm and dry. Lol.




Things we still need to gather:


Alot of this we just need to find peoples personal stuff they don't mind leaving in a bag. And hiking stuff that just needs to be found. But a few things we do need to purchase.


Boots or good running or walking shoes. I call them tennis shoes as a catch all phrase. But i guess I'm old according to my son. Lol.


Socks. We have some.


Long underwear. We have two sets for my son and I. And a top for his hf.


Pants. Jeans or something they can walk and hike in.


Shirts. Long sleeve tshirt or button up. I have pokyester for my son and i.


Insulated jackets if they have a better fitting one to spare.


Gloves need smaller ones but a pair in each pack.


Water. Need smartwater bottles and/or Nalgenes.


Fishing kit. Fishing line. More hooks. Etc.


Flashlight. Need flashlights and headlamps. Need to research cheap but good ones.


Soap containers. I have a small and large bottle of dr bronners. I just need 2 more bottles to spread it out between the 4 packs.


More tinder for starting fires. I think i will mix up some small ziplocks with vaseline and cotton balls. I question all of their abilities to start a fire.


Small saw for each pack. For processing wood and building additional shelter.


Cooking method. I have an alcohol stove and large pot from a Czech mess kit. Bottle of alcohol. And a windscreen. Denating putting the same into other packs. Or just a knock of pocket rocket and a can of fuel.


Lastly, training.


I've been on ZS/UFOZS for maybe 15+ years? And it took the pandemic and the war in Ukraine to finally turn my wife and son to prepping. I mean they've been pretty good. We store stuff for earthquakes and the like. But they were always making fun of me for my inch and bobs.


But now they are fully on my side. And actually appreciative of what I've done with their bobs.


So next step is get them to learn some things. Just basics. That i can teach them. I grew up in the mountains fishing, hunting and foraging. Was a Boy Scout for years. Spent a tour in a specialized platoon in the Marine Corps. And received training in mountain, jungle, desert and ocean environments.


They need to at least learn:


Fire starting.
Water treatment.
How to handle a knife.
Navigation.
How to handle a firearm. My wife and son have basic rifle and handgun firing and safety training. But my sons gf needs some.


What am i missing?

Moab, I think this is an awesome project. I especially like the commonality/interchangeability of supplies. Plus, you're not just handing someone a bag you packed for them and hoping they know what to do with it...it sounds like everyone is invested.

I may have missed it, but I think that water filtration and treatment may be missing. Do you have a Sawyer squeeze or something similar? Or are you planning to boil water in cooksets, then store it in Nalgene bottles?