Trump and the change of the game...

Why, thank you, Endtime. But I think we are on the same team, if we both want to save the world. More, if we want that world saved without degenerating into dog-eat-dog survivalism, first. More, if we see the world achieving that salvation by the succour of the poor, the eradication of absolute poverty, and the commitment of the whole of humanity to live comfortably within the world's ecological carrying capacity. We all know, really, that this must happen, despite the selfish profligacy of the rich, and the machinations of vested interests, if the world is to survive human depredations as a fitting home for all God's children, and the wealth of life He has furnished it with. But, in case it doesn't happen, that is why I prep. Good Christians must hope for the best (hope is a grace), but they must also prepare for the worst (prudence is a virtue). If anything of this resonates with you, then we are truly working together.

Best wishes, Strivax.

So, just to keep the thread moving on, I thought I'd next discuss general Bug-out-bergen (BOB) contents. As usual your comments and criticisms are more than welcome.

First topic: Hydration. We are looking to provide a minimum of 2 litres clean water per person/day, and more if possible, for a minimum of 72hrs. In general, water is just too heavy to carry in bulk quantities in an on foot bug out scenario, where each kilogram competes with each other kilo for pack space. Perforce, we will depend on the environment.

So I have in my BOB:

3 x British Army 58 pattern 1 litre water bottles.
1 x British Army 58 Pattern 0.5 litre mug (fits on top of the bottle to save space)
5 x strips of 10 Puritabs (each tab treats 1 litre)
5 x strips of 10 Aquatabs (each tab treats 1 litre)
1 x Sawyer Water Filter.

Comments:

The water bottles and mug are black plastic. Some people prefer both in metal, such as the 44 Pattern was, since you can boil your water directly within them. Alternatively again, you could go for a 3 litre hydration pouch, that sits in your pack, and with one of those tubes you can sip from as you travel.

Water treatment seems to fall into three categories: basic, filtering and purifying. Basic treatment involves boiling vigorously for a few minutes, or dropping in a treatment tablet, or both, though that won't remove mud and other extraneous matter. You may need to strain through a cloth as well. Filtering removes mud, debris and bacteria. Purifying does all that and removes viruses as well.

In general, in the current state of the world, filtering is good enough for Europe and North America, purifying a good idea for South America, Africa and Asia. But in a TEOTWAWKI scenario, that might change. If there is a risk of water contamination by human waste or remains (most viruses don't cross species), purifying is the best idea.

The Oasis Puritabs I have are good against bacteria.
The Aquatabs I have are good against bacteria and viruses.

The Sawyer water filter is good against bacteria, very light to carry, and more flexible in operation, and with a longer life capacity, than the also popular LifeStraw, for around the same sort of money (around $25-$40). If you decide a virus purifier more appropriate to your circumstances, you are looking at around $120 and more.

Best wishes, Strivax.

FreeinChrist said:

I would stick to lower cost prepping at this point. Change will not be that quick.

Click to expand...

The idea of the 'tipping point', in the analysis of complex systems, such as a civilisation is, or a human body, suggests that change, when it happens, may be:

1) positively gradual and incremental, as each developing sub-system supports improvements in each other, which is the kind of progress we should all hope for, or
2) negatively sudden and catastrophic as delicate and intricate and mutually dependent supporting sub-systems reach such a stress level that they fail in proceeding concert, which is the kind of disaster scenario prudence suggests we should all prepare for.

Slow depletion may happen, for a short time, but eventually an absence of care will see the whole deteriorating and therefore precariously complex edifice disintegrating, and pretty much instantaneously. The universal scientific law is that, without constant maintenance, entropy (disorder) increases... We will have warning, if we read the daily news runes right, but not direct, and not much.

Best wishes, Strivax.

Next up, in the design of the BOB, is the Bug Out Bergen itself. There is no point in having a load of good and vital gear, if you have nothing to carry it in, and easily, when you need to do so.

In the UK, at any rate, there are two obvious contenders for the pack itself:

The Karrimor Predator (approx $300 + $100 for side pouches + whatever for accessories)
The Dragon Spartan (approx $400 + whatever for accessories)
In addition you may want waterproof liners for the main body of the pack and side pouches. Say, another $150 or so.

Karrimors, in my experience, have always been a comfortable carry, with the bulk of the weight transferred effortlessly off the shoulders and onto the hips. On the other hand, the Pilgrim Spartan, designed in collaboration with the UK parachute regiment, as fine and tough a body of regular troops as exist anywhere in the world, has loads of nice, practical features, such as molle attachments on the waist belt. These allow for the accessible inclusion of:

A molle water bottle pouch (carries a water bottle and mug, field cutlery, puritabs, etc)
A molle admin pouch (for ID, wallet, notepad and pen, mobile phone, etc)
Two other molle small utility pouches (for a camping knife, a torch, a multi-tool, that kind of stuff, configure as you want)

But the Spartan has much more than this, including a molle friendly lid, for organising all those small but vital accessories you want, an outside poncho pouch, for ease of keeping dry, and 3 built in outside utility pouches, for more water, rations, brew kit and so on. And you can even get your name/number embroidered on it!

Both options, of course, come in discreetly camouflaged (MTP) liveries.

Best wishes, Strivax.

Well, I'm away now, to visit nearest and dearest for the festivities. May you all have a very merry preppy Christmas!

Best wishes, Strivax.

So, Trump's inaugurated, and has the richest, most powerful nation on Earth to play with: the ultimate billionaire's boy's toy.

How far have I got with my preps? Not so far as I need to. I now know more or less where I'm headed, in case of a bug-out scenario, but have yet to decide on a specific grid reference. Stores? Maybe 60 days. Equipment? I've got some good basic gear, such as many an individual in a survival situation would envy. Skills? Always brain room for more learning, always eager for no fatality situations that would put it there.

Best wishes, Strivax.

So, the next item on the BOB list is shelter and sleeping kit.

Basically, you can sleep in anything warm and dry. A good idea is to have a day set of clothes, that may get wet and dirty, and a night set of clothes, for wearing around camp and in your sleeping bag. Ideally, both will be unobtrusive in the field; choose drab, dark and camo colours in preference to light and bright.

Here's my manifesto, anyway.

Sleep/Camp Clothing.
1 set of thermal underwear
1 pair socks
1 headover, balaclava, cap comforter, snood or similar.
1 pr lightweight trousers
1 heavy duty jumper
1 pr sandals

Shelter.
1 Sleeping bag
1 Bivvy Bag
1 Karrimat
1 groundsheet/poncho
6 extra tent pegs
6 bungees
2 collapsible tent poles

For the shelter, the idea is that the Bivvy bag is pitched over the Karrimat. On top of that, the poncho is pitched over the bivvy bag, to keep everything as dry as possible. The tent pegs, poles and bungees will come in useful, here.

Your mileage may vary! If you are in a warm, dry climate, (lucky you!) you can, and should, dispense with some of these items. Also, if you find the weight is getting too much to carry comfortably, ditch the bivvy bag, karrimat, etc, and other stuff in descending order of priority.

Best wishes, Strivax.

Well, nothing I've heard about Trump so far in the news, in respect of the recent picking of fights in Syria, Afghanistan and North Korea, persuades me I have been wrong to invest in my preps, or seek to influence others to do the same.

Best wishes, Strivax.