Recently I took some time to rotate a few items in my ‘Get Home Bag’ that I keep in my car. The seasons were changing here, and they require different items to fill the bags purpose. As I was changing, I realized I should take a few pictures to post on here (and satisfy the requests of a few friends wanting to know what I have). With that in mind here’s a basic breakdown of my winter Get Home Bag.
Purpose:
I live a fair distance from my work now (oh how I long to telecommute again!). Around 25 miles one way, around a lake, across a river, through several places that have limited road options. How do I know this? Well, I would say everybody should be very familiar with every alternate route between their home and most common destinations, because you never know when you will need them. I have needed mine. Beyond a natural curiosity and desire to optimize my commute, my neighborhood often requires it because it has a population that overwhelms the local road infrastructure on a good day. Add in an accident, or bad weather and it becomes horrid. Get worse weather, and you can actually shut down access to our town. It’s happened before, it will happen again. Throw in an earthquake, and there will be *no* cars heading home. Whatever your locally preferred disaster, would you be able to get home to your wonderful food storage?
Considerations:
There are several things to consider when creating a Bug Out type kit for your car that you must take care of for your kit to be any good to you. The first point is what are you getting ready for. My kit as I stated is to get me home from work in case I can’t drive. It’s a very likely situation with our current infrastructure. Now I have a different kit in my wife’s vehicle. She doesn’t travel as often, or as far as I do, but she will almost always have our kids with her. During a blizzard last year which shut down all roads into town, she was able to keep our kids fed, entertained, and the youngest in clean diapers, even though they hadn’t planned on being out so many hours. This was all because her kit was ready for that type of situation, sheltering in place until help could come.
Secondly, what space do you have? Do you carpool, or will it stay in a large trunk? Do you ride a bike or drive a truck? All of these change what size your kit can be, and what security it might have. Thirdly, just how far are you from home, and how easily could you travel that distance? Don’t kid yourself with whatever shape you were in a few years ago, think about now. Fourth, weather. Around here it’s likely *really* hot, or *really* cold at the times I’d most likely need my kit. The contents must meet the needs of that weather, which means I have to rotate it. Finally, long-term storability. Some items, especially food items, dont’ last long in a car. That nice MRE you threw in the trunk last summer is probably toast now. The extreme temperature changes combined with the effects of the car make it go bad fast.
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The Bag:
My bag itself is a Maxpedition DevilDog. It’s a larger sized butt-pack, that also has a very comfortable shoulder strap when wanted. It’s large enough to hold what I feel I need for this usage, without being too large, or looking out of place. Plus it’s a Maxpedition, which I can’t say enough good about. Also pictured are some of the first items of the kit.
- Datrex Bars : Emergency Calories. 3600 of them actually. Sealed, long lasting, and can handle the heat. They aren’t a lot, but would give me a minimal calorie count for my expected travel time in worst conditions. They are very compact, and lightweight. There are several types of emergency bars out there, and some local preparedness shops let you taste them before buying. I highly suggest this, as some are nasty (but hey, worst case). These one actually taste quite good, like a coconut macaroon.
- SAS Survival Guide : Excellent smaller version of the full handbook. Get both, read them *before* there is a problem. Then keep the guide in your bug out bag or get home bag
- Advil : Muscle and general pain relief. Not used to walking a lot? You’ll be thinking about this after a day.
- Mini-Mag light : With LED bulb. Great inexpensive light, durable, has a holster too so I can move it to my belt.
- Ka-Bar : One of my favorite fixed blade knives, in the smaller 5″ version. What’s important here is a strong, reliable knife.
- Gerber Strike Force : My favorite flint starter. It doesn’t break, and I have enough practice to know I can start a fire easily with it.
- CountyCom Micro Widgy bar : Utility tool, very handy to have, wrapped in Paracord 550
- Mini sharpie : Ability to leave notes that will last most anywhere.
Fire and food:
Fire starter packet : a stable, lightweight firestarter. This is a redundant item that I just threw in to try sometime- Camp Soap : You want to stay clean, and need to clean up your dishes to not get sick
- Tube of Fire starters : Originally an “airborne” brand vitamin, now perfect for holding several Vaseline soaked cotton balls for starting fires.
- Two MRE snacks : This rotation I have a ‘wheat bread’ and ‘mint chocolate cookie’. Carbs that pack well.
- Swiss Army Knife : my trusty (an old) Victorinox Scout edition, with the lock blade.
- P-51 can opener : Yeah, I have an opener on the knife, but I keep one of these everywhere. Even though I currently don’t have and cans in my kit.
- Gram Weenie Stove : very small alcohol stove, with windshield, and small amount of alcohol in squirt bottle.
- Matches : Strike anywhere, waterproof, and in waterproof case.
- Emergency Mylar blanket : Some warmth, and shelter.
- Vaseline : can make more fire starters, or heal wind/sun chapped lips. Usually just have a chapstick tube here, but didnt’ have an extra handy this rotation, and this was sitting there. (And yes, chapstick is great for making firestarters too, try it!)
- Two emergency candles: light, heat, help with the fire. Wrapped in Aluminum Foil. Keeps them from melting as much, and from getting stuff around them waxy. In emergency the foil can be used to help cook.
- Water filter straw : My route home goes around a large freshwater lake, and crosses a couple streams and rivers. I’ll need the water, but it’s not clean. I dont’ want to pack all the fuel necessary to boil that much water.
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Utility:
Sharpening stone- Mini Prybar : sharpened edge, and good steel. Something you can use to pry out stuff you don’t want to risk a knife blade on
- First Aid Kit : Covers the basics. Store bought basic package with a few extras (moleskin specifically)
- Chemical lightstick : No batteries necessary, help me be seen if that’s what I need.
- Bug Spray + Sunscreen : Blistering Utah sun in the summer, bouncing off the snow in the winter. And did I mention the lake and streams. Lots of mosquitos if I stay by the water.
- Poncho : gotta stay dry
- Toilet Paper : Do I really need to explain this?
- Latex Gloves : Any biological material around? Treating a wound from an accident?
- Wet Wipes : Better than toilet paper when out and about, and can clean self too.
- Rope : Well, cord. 100 feet of paracord.
- Foot powder : It’s a long walk, I will do whatever necessary to prevent blisters from starting
- Micro monacle : just a very small 4x zoom
Bulk:
Two water bottles : Start with some clean water, in bottles I can reuse for this trip.- Water Filter Bottle : Katadyn water filter in a bottle.
- MRE : Specifically a Cold Weather MRE, which is freeze dried, so it can last even in the car heat. Also has a lot more calories. Hard to find, and pricier though, so I don’t have many of these. Only one in the kit.
- More TP
- Two Micro lights : attach to the outside of the bag, redundancy is key here.
- Hotties : Chemical Heat packs for the hands/feet/body. Spending the night out in a blizzard with my ‘work clothes’ isn’t comfy.
- Folding Shovel
- Mini Hatchet : I have the Gerber Back Axe, Small, lightweight, very well made
HEET bottle : Works very well in alcohol stoves. Sealed container that I can then refill my mini-squirt bottle to load the stove. This will fuel that stove for quite a while.- Metal Cup : It is the pot for the stove, and the dish to eat from
- Lighter : While I love flints, and my matches are good, a simple lighter is just easier to start with.
- Extra socks : Long walk, water crossings, snow. Gotta keep those feet dry and comfy. Can be mittens too if needed.
- Two Extra Mags : Not pictured is the extra .22-mag, depending on what I’m “wearing” that day.
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Extra Gear:
I know that winter travels will take quite a bit more out of me, and a lot more time than a summer trip. Also I have a lot more chances of needing my kit when stuck for an extended time, possibly not going home. So i plan accordingly. These extra items don’t fit in my pack, but would help me last longer if sticking around, or could attach to the outside of my pack or be worn (or consumed) for longer travels.
- 4 Extra meals : Higher calories. The civilian MRE shown will only be here in the winter. Includes its own chem heater for a hot meal.
- Wool blanket : Heat, even if wet. Can be windproof by freezing it solid for extra shelter.
- Lightweight towel : Keeping dry is keeping warm, also can wrap to keep face protected from wind-chill.
- More bug spray : Not as many bugs out now, but it was in the box.
- More Wipes
- Another Mylar Blanket
- Extra LED flashlight
- Mini pliers tool
- Full Size Prybar
- “Survival” knife
- Cook Kit : Swedish Surplus, Likely need to boil more water. Larger quantities here. Contains larger alcohol stove, alcohol, and utensils inside.
- Snow Gloves
All of this fits inside a small plastic container in the trunk of my car. Added some velcro to the side so it sticks and doesn’t slide around. Now I know this has some redundancy, which is unecessary given that I’m planning on packing to my home, not leaving my supplies. But I am a bit gadget bound. You can do with less, and it’s fine. I like to go the overkill route though.
One final note: This kit is also planned around the fact that I EDC a lot of items on myself. My pockets are full, and my work backpack is a whole extra upcoming post. They each have extra items that complement what’s in my kit. Altoid survival tins, Concealed Carry Firearm, Extra flashlight, etc.
Please comment on anything you think I might be missing. To start it off, I’ll mention a few things:
- Buillion cubes – small, sodium rich (sweat problems), helps get warmth in you.
- Gatorade single packs – drink mix in single-serving sizes, help get more water down, mask bad flavors, and replenish minerals from sweating.
- Shoes – what if I’m wearing simple sneakers, wouldn’t some hiking boots be nice? yeah I can dream that I can keep extras of nice shoes in my car, ready to be used.
- Chewing Gum or Candy : Quick pick up.
Soap, knife sharpener, stove and fuel, cup, monacle, shovel, hatchet… I can’t fault the inclusion of these, really, but it sounds like more than a get-home bag to me.
Soap, knife sharpener, stove and fuel, cup, monacle, shovel, hatchet… I can’t fault the inclusion of these, really, but it sounds like more than a get-home bag to me.
Great post with great ideas!
One product you might want to add is No-Rinse Bath Wipes. See http://www.internet-grocer.net/no-rinse.htm
Great post with great ideas!
One product you might want to add is No-Rinse Bath Wipes. See http://www.internet-grocer.net/no-rinse.htm
Dave: You are right, I have extra stuff than is totally necessary. I’ll admit it’s the gadgeteer in me mostly.
The alternative reasoning that I failed to mention is that in a bug-out situation, this can attach to my bug-out bag, giving me just a little more resources.
Donald: yeah, the wipes I have work as that, though not quite as nice, I have used them before camping with good results.
Dave: You are right, I have extra stuff than is totally necessary. I’ll admit it’s the gadgeteer in me mostly.
The alternative reasoning that I failed to mention is that in a bug-out situation, this can attach to my bug-out bag, giving me just a little more resources.
Donald: yeah, the wipes I have work as that, though not quite as nice, I have used them before camping with good results.
Thanks for the pictures, it really adds to the text.
Thanks for the pictures, it really adds to the text.
Looks like you have pretty much everything covered, the only thing I might add is a tarp, a mini solar charger and maybe a small 2 meter radio or an extra emergency cell phone.
Great List!! I love seeing what other people carry it always gives me ideas that I never thought of.
Looks like you have pretty much everything covered, the only thing I might add is a tarp, a mini solar charger and maybe a small 2 meter radio or an extra emergency cell phone.
Great List!! I love seeing what other people carry it always gives me ideas that I never thought of.
It sounds like you live in the same area I do. Quite the eye opening storm last year. Thanks for the thoughts and ideas.
It sounds like you live in the same area I do. Quite the eye opening storm last year. Thanks for the thoughts and ideas.
I’m in a similar work situation with similar (enough) geography. For whatever reason my focus never has as much to do with the terain and weather conditions between my location and my home but with the people I will encounter along the way. Am I alone?
I’m in a similar work situation with similar (enough) geography. For whatever reason my focus never has as much to do with the terain and weather conditions between my location and my home but with the people I will encounter along the way. Am I alone?
This was a good post; thank you. If you should happen to read this comment would you mind sharing what you pack in your wife’s kit, since you mentioned it’s different? I’m in the same situation as her – I almost always have our four young children with me when I’m out, and I’m much more likely than my husband to end up across the lake from our house ;)
This was a good post; thank you. If you should happen to read this comment would you mind sharing what you pack in your wife’s kit, since you mentioned it’s different? I’m in the same situation as her – I almost always have our four young children with me when I’m out, and I’m much more likely than my husband to end up across the lake from our house ;)
Have you considered the addition of signaling devices? Shatter proof signal mirror, a Storm whistle, strobe, SOLAS grade aerial flares and smoke, signaling air panel, or even a SPOT PLB?
Have you considered the addition of signaling devices? Shatter proof signal mirror, a Storm whistle, strobe, SOLAS grade aerial flares and smoke, signaling air panel, or even a SPOT PLB?
Actually, yes. I do have a jetscream whistle, and now have my HAM, with a small yaesu vx-6r that I carry. My light has a strobe on it.
Actually, yes. I do have a jetscream whistle, and now have my HAM, with a small yaesu vx-6r that I carry. My light has a strobe on it.
theres alot of stuff there i havent thought of, but fuckin ell, how are you carry that let alone run with it, if it was between your life and carrying that bag lets be honest, your gonna drop your pack and run faster than forest fucking gump
I’m looking for help in creating a Get Home Bag. Here’s my situation… I’m a girl. I don’t own a car. I work downtown and live 10 miles from work. I get to work using a combination of bus, train, and walking. I need a GHB I can have with me at all times because what if the SHTF at 5:05pm and I’m on my way home for the day and have left my GHB under my desk at work, so my GHB also needs to double as my EDC. What does my bag look like? Ready? Go!
Actually sounds like a fun project – but there are lots of questions that I would need answered before deciding what your bag looks like. For example:
What type of footwear do you normally wear during your commute? We may need to include emergency footwear.
What are the weather extremes you need to be prepared for? An EDC-GHB will look very different for Miami vs. Buffalo.
How’s your fitness/health? Is walking the 10 miles a reality if need be?
What type of environment do you work in? For opsec purposes we should try to find a bag that fits, not something that screams “Andreia is a prepper – if the SHTF, she’s the person to steal from.”
I wear very reasonable shoes to commute and leave my “work shoes” under my desk at work. Chicago, so weather extremes are serious. Yes, I’ll be including a hat and gloves in the bag any day now. I’m no runner, and while I’d be sore as hell the next day, 10 miles at a comfortable pace would be a possibility. I work downtown and commute by train where approximately half the people have backpacks of varying types. Since posting this I actually did buy a Condor assault pack which is totally tacticool, but doesn’t look it when I pull out the pink Kindle and the little pink and orange flowered bag where I keep the Tylenol. I’m pretty sure I look more like a wannabe than an actual prepper.
Ok then! Not to be too sexist, I’d still advise decorating the outside of your pack to make it look as “girly” as possible.
Living in Chicago, I expect you are going to be limited in any personal defense weapon choices. Consider investing in a very high quality flashlight…. let’s see if a link to a Fenix LD41 will work:
Why a $70 flashlight? For starters, 520 lumens is easily enough to daze and get someone to shield their eyes, giving you an opportunity to either strike or flee. If you choose to strike the crenelated ring around the lens is designed to do extra damage to flesh. The strobe effect can disorient an attacker, and there’s an SOS mode when signaling for help. It runs on AA batteries, so it’s relatively easy to keep running in an emergency (as opposed to many tactical lights which run on CR123 batteries).
More to come…
(These are posting in reverse order)
All seasons: first-aid kit (with moleskin), extra socks, panty hose bottoms (helps prevent blisters), water bottles (with gatorade packets), shelf-stable calories (energy bars, MRE sandwich pouches, etc), sunglasses, pea-less whistle, radio that can pick up emergency stations (preferably with a crank-power option), extra flashlight batteries, map which includes home and work (preferably laminated), button compass.
Summer: wide-brimmed hat, light weight rain gear, sunscreen & bug repellent (you can get them both in a single handy-wipe – look for “field shield”), light weight long-sleeve shirt.
Spring/Autumn: rain gear, sweater (wool or synthetic – NO COTTON!)
Winter: Hat/Gloves/Scarf/etc – protect exposed skin, pocket hand-warmers, long underwear
For all seasons, if you regularly wear a skirt or dress to work, include appropriate weight non-denim pants.
yeah, I think you’re right about my needing to decorate the outside of the bag, I’m thinking those little plastic doohickeys that hold the small containers of hand sanitizer or chapstick. Would tying a pink handkerchief to the outside help or make me look to prepared?
I have a teeny LED flashlight, but I’ll look into saving up for the nice one. I also have a pink pepper spray. I wanted to add the Spyder Chicago to my Christmas list, but I’m afraid of knives, so I’ll have to think about that.
Have a small first aid kit, no moleskin, a pair of white wool socks, a plastic Nalgene water bottle, no gatorade packets, a couple Clif bars, sunglasses, and the whistle is in the mail from amazon. Do I really need the radio in my bag that I carry daily? Or can I just leave it in my BOB at home? And I don’t have a map or compass, but I do carry a GPS.
I’m not sure how I feel about carrying extra clothes on a daily basis. I guess some of it makes sense, but it also seems like it would make my bag huge.
My thoughts on the radio: If it’s a true SHTF situation, there may be important info on the radio (route closures, etc).
Map & compass won’t run out of batteries, and they will survive an EMP attack.
I don’t know the interior layout of your bag, but the extra clothing should be too much of a problem if rolled or folded.
Radio, map, compass, clothes; we’re talking Every Day Carry. Every Day. Carrying. On my back. I mean, I understand wanting to be prepared for shit to hit the fan, but what about every Other day? At this moment right now, the only extra thing I can fit in my bag daily is my travel coffee mug and the small tupperware I take my breakfast to work in.
As for the radio, if I’m heading home on foot after/during a SHTF situation, I’m not going to be cranking a radio and trying to get reception between all the tall buildings in order to hear about what’s going on. I’m just going to be hoofing it home. And I don’t need a map to get home even if I have to go miles out of my way. Chicago is still on a grid, and I’ll just have to keep walking, watching the numbers on the streets getting bigger.
I’m probably going to take a lot of your advice for all the stuff I’m going to be adding to the boyfriend’s car trunk, but not to the bag that I have to heft everywhere everyday.
Oh, and I actually decided against decorating the outside of my bag. I’ve been paying attention to every other person with a black or gray backpack or messenger bag walking around the city, and not a single person has any type of decoration on the outside of their bag. Well, I saw a small keychain on one, and another had an embroidered Blue Moon emblem, but that guy probably works for Blue Moon.