Wow sounds like you have everything but the kitchen sink in there. My only concern would be the weight, how heavy is that baby when she's full? Can you effectively hike for miles and miles with it strapped to your back? I would only suggest you do try it, go for a day hike and see if the weight is an issue for you. A sore back might really be detrimental in a situation so bad that you had to leave your home.

remember there are different types of bags for different situations
GO bag, quick back in office/locker/car to get out of situations
BOB large
BOB medium
Full on moving Get out of Dodge bag, DODGE

the small GO bag, might only have a map, flashlight, running shoes, gym outfit, ltr of water, couple of energy bars and a pocket knife and leatherman tool
(as an example)

@gc_mountainman
Don't worry, very little cash has been spent, I've only got a knife, a mess kit, and a canteen w/ web belt and harness. Plenty of time for changes. Could've sworn I had a sleeping bag listed. I have one now that is only rate 4 Celsius. Alright, except when winter comes. Knowing my luck, that'll be when I need it.

RachelM,

A minus 4 sleeping bag is okay for summer. To improve your situation you may want to consider getting even an entry level down sleeping bag from Mountain Equipment Co-op +/- $100, and put the down bag inside your -4C bag. That way you should be okay to about -20, colder if you put both of the bags inside a bivy bag. Don't forget a good sleeping pad to insulate yourself from the ground. Without proper insulation, the ground can literally suck the life right out of you.

Keep us posted on your progress with your BOB, okay??

Cheers,

Mountainman.

@rachelm you need a heavy duty knife and an axe, or a batoning knife and a bushcraft knife. a pocket knife wont do out in the wild, you need something with some weight behind it that can cut a log. i sugest a ka-bar or a becker bk-9.

Hey, Rachel;

You're definitely on the right track - and the feedback you've received is also spot-on for the most part (IMHO) - so I don't have much to add/offer... except this:

When considering items for your BOB, keep things simple, and always look for the lightest, most compact and versatile gear available. Wear the pack on long walks - in urban and wilderness settings - and even "bug out" for a night or weekend, to evaluate your preps, and "inoculate" yourself against the stress of leaving behind the comforts, conveniences and security of home. These test runs invariably help you identify items that you need-but-don't-have and/or have-but-don't-need, and assess the overall weight, weight distribution, functionality and accessibility of your pack and its contents.

Just my two cents, based on the experience I gained while developing my own EDC and BOB system. Hope it helps.

Cheers!

P2P

Ah the perpetual BOB discussion. After doing some reading, watching a hundred YT videos and based on my own experience I think you need to concentrate on the four most important things; food, fire,shelter,and water. Everything is a bonus after that. You need a dependable fire kit and the knowledge on how to make a fire if you and your pack took an unexpected swim. You need at least 2-3 days worth of rations for yourself to get settled and be ready to search for more. You need to have the ability and knowledge to build a reliable shelter that can be heated by a campfire. I would ditch the shovel and get a Laplander saw and a good survival knife. Most importantly you need water. Filter systems are great but if they break or malfunction, so will you. Carry some bleach andor purification tablets as well have a container for boiling and carrying water.

Knowledge is key. A highly knowledgable person could survive for an extended period of time with much less. I suggest once you get your kit to where you think you are good, spend a night in the woods with only your BOB and see what happens. You will quickly discover its shortfalls as I did with mine a few times.

RachelM,

How are things going?? Making any progress on your BOB??

Do you have any tales to tell??

Hope all is well,

Mountainman.

Haha 800 bucks for a buckout bag isn't a lot of money, I'm spending like $2000 on mine, and that's excluding the basics. By the way whats the deal with posting about your bugout bag for a critique? Should you start another thread? At some point I want to review and compare the thing, if i'm spending 2000 grand on it, I want to see if I've done it right, ya know?

I have a 82 pattern I keep at home. Currently not packed. In my van I have a mec 60L bag I use as my GHB. I work about 75km from home and figure a civy bag in case I had to every hiker across the gta would draw less attention. I bought a most of it all on kijiji cheap maybe under 300 and lightly used. 800 for a bob is crazy. But if you needed it right away and didnt wantnto shop around. I guess lol.

Surplus shop prices are nuts some times. Dont forget go gear your bag towards your BOP.

Haha 800 bucks for a buckout bag isn't a lot of money, I'm spending like $2000 on mine, and that's excluding the basics. By the way whats the deal with posting about your bugout bag fotique? Should you start another thread? At some point I want to review and compare the thing, if i'm spending 2000 grand on it, I want to see if I've done it right, ya know?

You'd be better off going backing packing for 4 days and testing your gear instead of asking us. What works for me might not for you.