Criticize my EDC/go bag - share/compare yours!

[Cleck]

So, figured I'd share this eventually, just am lazy. I took a CERT class 2 years ago, started carrying a bag w/ medical stuff in it and things to respond to a local emergency (hence the wrench and gloves).

I know I'm missing a few things, but I have them in one way or another, they're just not pictured. I'll try to list what I think I'm missing, you fill in the rest.

What's not pictured:

water tablets (don't own a Lifestraw or Katadyn type pump/filter yet)
Food (If I left from work, I'd have a box of Clif bars to take)
Rope (paracord is in my camping bag)
Bigger knife/hatchet for wood (in a pinch, I'd use the bigger knife and baton it)
Compass (in camping bag)
Maps (in the bag now)
Garbage bag
Gun cleaning rags/oil
Extra batteries
Extra clothes

If I'm near my vehicle, my sleeping bag is already in it bc I didn't unpack it the last time I used it, and my tent isn't far away. That being said, I know we're just doing go bags.

What I don't have:

tourniquet
portable/solar charger of some kind for flashlight or phone
radio/walkie talkie

That's all I can think of. Let me know what you think, let's see yours.

 

[dsdmmat]

is that a metric crescent wrench?


Socks are more important than the rest of your extra clothes. I would dump any extra shirts or pants in favor of socks and a pocket sewing kit. put a windbreaker that you can roll up tight or a poncho in it if you want additional upper body covering.

 

[MilesTeg]

Matches are great but I would include 2 more fire starter, a couple lighters and maybe magnesium and flint stick.

Edit: Maybe a head lamp so you can work in the dark with both hands.

 

[Marine Cpl]

You need 100 mile and hour tape and 550 cord. That fixes everything.

 

[Toecutter]

Whats your go plan, get home? Get to a bugout location? Or holy shit im running off into the mountains and not knowing when im coming back?

 

[Cleck]

Whats your go plan, get home? Get to a bugout location? Or holy shit im running off into the mountains and not knowing when im coming back?

Yes.

In all likelihood since I don't move around much, if shit hits the fan, I'll either be at work, or at home. If I'm at work, the bag is under my desk, and I'm out. I'll drive as far as I can (if I can), then hoof it home. I have sneakers in the car. If I'm at home and have a second, more shit is getting tossed in the camping bag and out we go.

The crescent wrench is for turning off gas mains or anything else. Part of the CERT package.

 

[Cleck]

You need 100 mile and hour tape and 550 cord. That fixes everything.

I got the paracord (not pictured), but not the tape. Good idea. I used to have a roll of duct tape in there, but it wasn't that great, so I tossed it.

Matches are great but I would include 2 more fire starter, a couple lighters and maybe magnesium and flint stick.

Edit: Maybe a head lamp so you can work in the dark with both hands.

Good call. The headlamps are in my camping gear. I'll put the backup in the bag for now.

Camping bag has my bag w/ lighters, flint, and lint in it.

 

[Toecutter]

To get home, i may say get a plain bag, not to draw attention to yourself. A good respirator. Eye protection. Im thinking to get home your going to more then likely run into violence and possibly people wanting help or what you have.

onc e home and if you need to run off somewhere for weeks or months. More survival gear. Ways to trap fish or hunt, mouse and rat traps, snares a colaspseable fishing pole. A way to Build a conceal a shelter.

 

[Cleck]

Yeah, I wrestled w/ that when I was looking for a bag, how to stay grey, but in the end, all the features I wanted were in this bag, (and it was on sale!) so that's why the 3 full mags and 50 more rounds. I'm sure there will be people w/ more rounds, but in the early goings when there is a lot of confusion, probably not. Once you get past the 9 meals, then yeah, I better blend in better, or have gotten home so I can get the big guns.

Yes, a respirator. The wife can get those at the paint store she works at, definitely need one. Good call on that one.

 

[Cleck]

Hell, as far as blending in goes, my sunglasses/beard/hiking boots and posture are enough to give me away

 

[Marine Cpl]

Money. You need money in small bills. If an emp hits, a greedy shop owner will give you his cans of food for your worthless money.

 

[dsdmmat]

Money. You need money in small bills. If an emp hits, a greedy shop owner will give you his cans of food for your worthless money.

replace will with may. You probably want to put some small silver (1-2 ounce bar/coin)/gold (1/10 ounce) coins in your bag

 

[Cleck]

replace will with may. You probably want to put some small silver (1-2 ounce bar/coin)/gold (1/10 ounce) coins in your bag

I've read about silver being a good commodity to have in this situation, might be a good idea to start getting some.

 

[MilesTeg]

If this is a short term get home bag I wouldn't put precious metals in it. Now for longer term survival ya they a valid place. They way I look at it is if you just want to make it home the likely hood that this is a recent event is likely. At the early stages of SHTF then cash is still king.

 

[Criticalt]

Antibiotics, asprin, iodine and Prednisone.
You can cure just about anything with these.

 

[Criticalt]

Money. You need money in small bills. If an emp hits, a greedy shop owner will give you his cans of food for your worthless money.

Isnt this what an AR is for?

 

[Cleck]

Antibiotics, asprin, iodine and Prednisone.
You can cure just about anything with these.

A bunch of that stuff packed in the smaller "Travel Kit", but good stuff to have. Also, sunblock, cuz I'm white as hell.

I'll post a pic of what I have later that wasn't included in this picture.

 

[Marine Cpl]

replace will with may. You probably want to put some small silver (1-2 ounce bar/coin)/gold (1/10 ounce) coins in your bag

It's a get home bag. MOST people don't know better and want cash.

 

[Cleck]

Although, could be just as easy to flip a few pieces of silver at them and take off the other way, or pull out your cc.

Nobody else got a bag?

 

[Frankly]

Water bottle, raincoat, and dry socks will do more to get you home than any of that other stuff.

Then in rough priority off the top of my head:

~ money, at least $100 in mixed bills
~ moderate EDC knife
~ napkins or toilet paper
~ spare eye glasses if you need them
~ bandaids and antiseptic

I'd want all that before my gun or tourniquets, etc.

 

[MilesTeg]

Water bottle, raincoat, and dry socks will do more to get you home than any of that other stuff.

You could add a small bottle of foot powder with that. I use to not believe in it but now think its a life saver.

 

[Marine Cpl]

It all depends on how far you are from home. If it's only 10 miles, you don't need anything but your CCW.

 

[Toecutter]

Good point how far is it from work to home

 

[MilesTeg]

I just realized no toilet paper! Not a must until you need it.

 

[Cleck]

11 miles to home. That's taking the expressway, so I avoid walking through the city.

Good call on the tp. I shit like it's my job. I was just gonna use someone's shirt

My glasses and contact case/solution are in the bag as well.

Sounds like I need to take another picture, haha

 

[Marine Cpl]

11 miles to home. That's taking the expressway, so I avoid walking through the city.

Good call on the tp. I shit like it's my job. I was just gonna use someone's shirt

My glasses and contact case/solution are in the bag as well.

Sounds like I need to take another picture, haha

11 miles should take you no more than 4 hours on foot. Dump all that shit and just carry water.

 

[dsdmmat]

It's a get home bag. MOST people don't know better and want cash.

Most hired help "store clerks" in the grocery stores, I would agree with you. Small business owners (gas station, bakeries, hardware and the general store types) will take PMs at the first sight of a nation wide catastrophe, or they will shut their doors immediately. If a nuke detonates the paper you have will only be useful starting fires. All the small store owners I deal with have radios tuned to the local stations, they will know what you know right off the bat. A few small PM coins on your pocket wouldn't hurt.

 

[MilesTeg]

Most hired help "store clerks" in the grocery stores, I would agree with you. Small business owners (gas station, bakeries, hardware and the general store types) will take PMs at the first sight of a nation wide catastrophe, or they will shut their doors immediately. If a nuke detonates the paper you have will only be useful starting fires. All the small store owners I deal with have radios tuned to the local stations, they will know what you know right off the bat. A few small PM coins on your pocket wouldn't hurt.

I think your giving more faith to the general public than I would. I think even if a nuke was detonated and everyone knew about it, most people would be in denial that it would change their daily life. Most people in this country aren't hardened for disaster and would go on for a period of time on good faith. I personally believe most people would try their normal routine for a week after a disaster 4 days at a minimum.

 

[Cleck]

I personally believe most people would try their normal routine for a week after a disaster 4 days at a minimum.

I think the "rule" as I've read, for most people out there, is 9 meals. 3 days and people will flip.

 

[MilesTeg]

I think the "rule" as I've read, for most people out there, is 9 meals. 3 days and people will flip.

Yes I've heard that too, but they wont be desperate right away either. I still think they will blindly try to go about normal routines for a few more days before getting too crazy.