My Ghb (get Home Bag)

I've been doing this for a while (30 + years) so I thought for giggles I'd write down and share what I carry in my GHB and gear.

I fit everything in or on my Karrimor SF Predator 30 Bag.

1. IFAK with Meds
2. Camelback 3Liter
3. Mini Sawyer Water filter kit
4. Lensatic Compass
5. Maps
6. Small E & E kit
7. Poncho
8. Poncho Liner
9. Goretex Bivy Sack
10. Emergency Rope (1/4 inch and 2400 Lbs breaking strength)
11. D-Ring
12. Mini Figure 8 Decender
13. Swiss Seat - 16 ft rappel rope
14. Rite in the Rain Pad
15. Pencil
16. Shemagh
17. Gloves
18. Water Purification tabs
19. 50 Ft Paracord
20. Otis Weapons Cleaning Kit
21. MK18 modified (5.56mm Nato)
22. 6 - 30 round magazines for MK18 loaded
23. Rations for 3 days
24. Fire kit
25. Knife
26. Admin/Tool Kit

My Admin kit includes - (in it's own pouch attached to the outside of my ruck)

1. Ink Pen
2. UV Flashlight
3. UV visible highlighter
4. Tripwire
5. M-80 type ignitors
6. Cloths Pin triggers
7. 9V Batteries x 2
8. Small Sewing Kit

My small E & E Kit includes (stored in a small mint tin)

1. Button Compass
2. Small Knife
3. Fishing line
4. Fishing hooks
5. Wire Saw
6. Snare Wire

If I needed it, I also have a LBE (Battle Belt) that I would use with the GHB for during a SHTF event. (long patrols, long range recon, etc)
It includes:

1. H Harness
2. Battle Belt
3. Magazine Pouch x 4 mags
4. Radio pouch and Radio
5. Compass Pouch (backup compass)
6. General Pouch (extra food & misc.)
7. Large Knife
8. Butt Pack (contents vary)

This is what I carry.
it weights 32 lbs with ammo and the MK18 is a little over 6 more pounds.

Dale

 

Bump

 

I have that same pack, same size. It is surprisingly comfortable for a $90.00 Bag.

And thanks for the thread start.

 

I have been prepping for a much shorter time than Dale (about 5 years) so my GHB in the car is a lot less impressive. I also moved continents last year and had to leave behind or give away an unpleasant amount of preps and start over. So overall I was a bit reluctant to make a detailed list but perhaps a few ideas from the more experienced preppers on what needs the most urgent attention/upgrade is a good idea.

You will probably laugh but I actually have 4 bags in the car. The main and most important is my GHB. Then comes the one I packed for my husband (not that he knows it's his lol). Then there are 2 dog back packs because I often have the dogs with me, and they can carry their own food and water thank you!

So my bag contains the following:

1. 3 days rations
2. Water
3. Water purification tablets and a lifestraw
4. 2 emergency sleeping bags
5. Ponchos
6. Tube tent
7. Duct tape
8. Hand crank light/radio
9. Flashlight and batteries
10. Emergency candle
11. Fire lighting kit
12. First aid kit
13. Dust masks
14. Gloves
15. Paracord
16. Carabiners
17. Tissue and wet wipes
18. Rite in the rain pad with a pencil and pen
19. Compass
20. Maps
21. Knives
22. Extending baton

The bag comes in at about 20 pounds. I also went for a more civilian looking back packs rather than camo in an attempt to blend in with everyone at the beginning.

The second bag contains the less emergency type items. Changes of clothes for us, fancier sleeping bag, a few Mountain House etc. Nothing I'm not ok with loosing if it can't come with.

I also don't have weapons beyond the knives and baton. It's just not worth the problem if the RCMP get upset about finding guns. Here's hoping it takes the Canadian's longer to totally go violent in a SHTF situation.

So in comparison to Dale's its lacking but I think we would still be better off than most people if something happened away from home.

 

Just curious, what's typically in your Level 1 (clothings & pockets) and how heavy are they? I typically have about 2.5Kg / 5.5lbs there

 

I quite agree with the multicam. For the bags in the car though, I have to go into the city every 3 weeks and if I end up having to walk out of the suburbs I want to look as uninteresting and un prepared as the rest of the masses. Hard decision though because after 50 miles the multicam would be the better choice. At least by then there will be less people.

 

Have you train the dogs to carry their own bag + load?

Good point there. Depending on your local environment monotone colour such as olive-drab, coyote-brown, or grey are good enough, still it's depend on your local environment.
However in practice, how you move, body language, gesture also has prominent effect for concealment.

 

Rebecca: Your bag(s) look very complete. I carry very similar type bags in my car. One is small, and would be a true Get Home Bag; just the bare necessities, but I am seldom more than 5-10 miles from home. One is a duffel where I keep heavier tools; blankets; tarps; rain gear, complete change of clothes from the skin out. I have a food bag as well with food, water, and a cooking system. I think I have every item you have mentioned except the tent, and my baton is not collapsible. It is an old school night stick that every beat cop carried.

Do you keep a good sturdy pair of shoes or boots in the car if you have to walk a long distance? Are you in an urban area or a rural area? My travels are almost always urban or suburban, so I keep a silcock key to access water spigots on the outside of buildings, and cash in small bills. Spare eyeglasses or meds if necessary?

I think many of us live in our car, and rely on that to have all the gear we need. Even if it is sitting in the parking lot, and all you have to do is get out of the office or the store, whatever, you will have access to what you need.

 

Yes, to the dogs those bags mean camping, hiking, hunting etc they are much more enthusiastic to put on a back pack then I can ever hope to be!

Yes to the shoes, and in winter heavy jackets and snow boots. We live very rural but I have to go to the airport in the city every few weeks. The eyeglasses are a good tip I shall act on asap, thanks. Definitely don't want to be caught without a back up and break my current ones.

 

One more item which I carry, and I can't believe I overlooked this: A good whistle with a lanyard. If you have to signal three blasts from a whistle will signal an emergency. I highly recommend the Fox 40 Classic. It is plastic, and pealess. Here is a link that goes into detail. You can get them at Wal Mart for about $6.00 - $7.00. They won't break the bank, and you won't even know you have it.

 

If anyone was wondering, I left the contents of my IFAK off on purpose. I'm making it a Thread of it's own.

Dale

 

An idea for those with bags in a vehicle. Maybe put the bag inside an empty large dry "Dog Food" bag. or even inside one of those dog beds. Kind'a like hide in plain sight, but just not high on the thief of car contents lists.

 

I suggest some junk silver coins and about $20 cash in your GHB Just in case.
Also while I like Mil Surp equipment a lot, sometimes it is best to NOT look military.

 

Just because the power went out doesn't mean everyone has figured out that it isn't coming back on for awhile. Electronic cash registers may not be working but some places where you could buy something to make your trip better might still be open for someone with some cash or silver coins. A ride in an emp proof vehicle or animal pulled wagon could be possible as well. In that case those who didn't see a use for having any money in their GHB would be SOL. Have a nice long walk home.

 

Totally agree with this. Its going to take most people a while to figure out cash just become worthless. So if I can buy a bottle of water here and there on the way home rather than filtering, why not? Pay for a ride, or a bribe for something. And if I get to that last mom and pop store on the corner before the final push to reach home, I'm going to buy buy all my unhealthy favorites with what ever money is left. Because yes there is a stock at home but that doesn't last forever. I shall miss chocolate lol.

 

Agreed on keeping cash in the GHB. Preparedness at it's core is making sure you have the things you use everyday, and money (in all it's forms) qualifies. Debit and credit cards may not work, and personal checks are unlikely to be excepted, so cash. I keep two 1oz American gold eagles in my business travel/out-of-town GHB in addition to cash, could be handy when even cash isn't accepted, or for bribes like getting through a checkpoint or getting to the front of the line. Don't discount using bribes to grease the wheels if needed.

 

Crap! 2 one ounce Gold Eagles should get you anywhere in the world... that is about $3000.00

 

Two chances to avoid problems I figure, it's a trade-off on how likely I am to need it and how likely it is to be lost or stolen while traveling. But along with a good story (mostly fictitious) and a little paperwork evidence of my VIP status (very largely exaggerated), maybe it gets me a seat on a plane home when I'd otherwise have gotten bumped off it, or even a couple tanks of gas for the rental car if driving it home. It's a crap shoot, can't know the nature of the SHTF until after it happens, just hoping they might help me get home quicker if "it" hits when I'm 1,000 miles away. A week or two's wages in a single coin could make the difference.

I consider PMs just part of our savings mostly, not any different than any other commodity like pork bellies or oil, but unlike a futures contract or a commodities fund they are under my control with no counter party risk. I can sell them through a gold dealer like Apmex or Kitco to convert them to Federal Reserve Notes in good times, and they might have value in bad times if nobody wants FRNs.

 

bump

 

If a person had an extended-cab, long-bed pickup with bed cap, the following little firearm would come in handy for eliminating those pesky people who violate your 6 o'clock region. Might help to have cousin Ricky riding shotgun to operate this puppy.

https://www.ibtimes.co.in/new-isis-killing-machine-kobani-10-foot-long-giant-sniper-gun-616134

One thing about having your bug-out bag in one's trunk is that you might have to stop your vehicle to retrieve it. If all you have up front is a handgun, then you could have put yourself at a disadvantage.
Here's a training video addressing this topic:

 

Here are the vehicles I use. A King cab Nissan Pickup and a Can Am Commander side by side. The MK18 goes behind the passenger seat in the truck and in it's carrier over my head in the CanAm.



Elk hunting in Colorado a few years ago.

Dale

 

I bumped this because I realized I had left off 2 pieces of gear that are always with me. One is a windproof and water repellent smock/jacket (British style) that stays on top of the pack with a fleece jacket that fits underneath the smock. If need be, I can always sleep in the jacket and smock for an extra layer of warmth. I prefer not too most of the time so that there is no risk of condensation build up on either jacket. The poncho liner, poncho and bivy sack are usually more than enough unless it is bitter cold and snowing.

Dale