Gear List for surviving indefinitely, 75 Pound limit

[slim9300]

I think anyone who works as a 1st responder and many military people, realize the importance of being prepared. Natural disasters (volcanoes, solar storms, floods, droughts, pandemics, etc.) and man-made disasters (economic collapse, nuclear accidents, etc.) will continue to happen just as they always have. The only thing we have control over is whether or not we prepare at all. Some don't prepare out of a belief that all will always come out fine, some because of limited resources, and some out of laziness.

I have seen a lot of veterans with PTSD. It usually has less to do with what happened to them by the time I see them, and instead more to do with survivor's guilt or guilt about feeling like they could have been better prepared to save their buddy...wishing they would have paid better attention in first aid class, or second guessing tactical decisions, etc.

As a parent and husband, I would prefer not to be the one feeling guilty that my whole family is starving or dead only because I didn't take a few precautions...precautions that are cheap and easy, and which I thought were reasonable, but I was just too lazy to follow through with getting them in place. No different than insurance, easy to ignore until it is needed.

Great post. You have a very logical outlook that anyone should be able to relate to. You are 100% free of abrasiveness too. (a self-admitted personal flaw of mine when challenged)

 

[slim9300]

Franklin, Aron & slim9300 do you all have military exp? I realize Aron does im just curious if that is the root of our seriousness or disconnect? I have never had military exp and wonder if thats the reason I dont get too involved in this topic as a whole. I realize most branches of military really stress preparedness and maybe its just due to different life experiences we have had?

No, I was not in the military but everyone that I know that was (quite a large number) thinks very much the same way as I do. Not to mention I grew up around many of these guys. Many are close friends of my old man and I. Most of them were the tip of the spear however (Rangers, SF, 1 Delta, AWG, and infantry) thus they all had significant combat experience. This is a topic that seems to come up in discussion on a regular basis between us. To me (and to them) it seems that things are deteriorating in this country and in the world in general in many ways that could adversely affect us in the future. Thus we prepare and read about the topic in a small portion of our free time. It by no means 'runs our lives.'

 

[Mike7]

Great post. You have a very logical outlook that anyone should be able to relate to. You are 100% free of abrasiveness too. (a self-admitted personal flaw of mine when challenged)

Thanks Slim, but I am sure my wife would disagree (it may be the man vs. woman perception thing or her dislike of my clearly superior debate skills).

...skills which I will unleash here, as they are not worth sleeping on the couch over however.

 

[slim9300]

Thanks Slim, but I am sure my wife would disagree (it may be the man vs. woman perception thing or her dislike of my clearly superior debate skills).

...skills which I will unleash here, as they are not worth sleeping on the couch over however.

I truly laughed hard at this comment. Thankfully I have been 'working on' my wife since we were 16 (and her the same I'm sure), so she is very much accustomed my 'superior' debate skills. Lol.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Franklin, Aron & slim9300 do you all have military exp? I realize Aron does im just curious if that is the root of our seriousness or disconnect? I have never had military exp and wonder if thats the reason I dont get too involved in this topic as a whole. I realize most branches of military really stress preparedness and maybe its just due to different life experiences we have had?

I have always been a dick. The Marines just concentrated my energies to a point, definition if you will.

Slim made a good point. We don't live preparedness, it is a mindset lurking like a pacing cat in a cage. I had training on anti-terrorism (as a way of acting/vigilance) and I assume the other guy is a SERE graduate. I am super aware of my surroundings including current events as compared to the countries downward spiral. You will never fully be ready.

 

[Rizzy]

So what do you guys think about the bucket food that is being sold at winco? I've never seen this before. Is this an indication of something bigger or just a way of cashing in on the recent Zombie Apocalypse, SHTF movie themes?

 

[slim9300]

So what do you guys think about the bucket food that is being sold at winco? I've never seen this before. Is this an indication of something bigger or just a way of cashing in on the recent Zombie Apocalypse, SHTF movie themes?

Capitalism is about demand as you know. Demand is growing and they don't really care what that means.

These are the perfect kind of items to have (IMHO) if you plan on staying and riding it out. Obviously they will also work for short term emergencies like the time my area lost power for 8 days! That sucked since I still had to go to work. Now I own a generator.

I would say 3-6 months of food and water for your family is sufficient (unless you are wealthy I guess) and not too expensive. Just make sure the stuff tastes decent. Some is good and some is brutal. They should have a 10+ year shelf life. I figure when that approaches one could sell it for $.50 on the dollar and then restock. Another good option are those 30-50 lb. bags of rice from Costco. You can seal them in a bucket and they will last a very long time.

 

[Aron Snyder]

[video=youtube;-o78D7GFFkk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o78D7GFFkk[/video]

 

[shaun]

Haha! Poor fat bastard

 

[tstowater]

I have always been a dick. The Marines just concentrated my energies to a point, definition if you will.

I'm speechless with a comment like that. My wife claims that I don't play well with other children and would rather stir the pot than try to smooth things over. Being a lawyer doesn't help as that gives you a different perspective on things. Always nice to have different opinions at the table that are reasoned and can be respected. Unfortunately, mine are not always thought-out and reasoned as much as they should be.

 

[tstowater]

Haha! Poor fat bastard

Also a reason to take someone slower along when hunting bears in thick cover. Helps to trip them too.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

fire starter kit: birch bark (1 lb stock), steel wool (1/2 lb stock), 2 ea 9-volt bats.

pocket knife, sharp.

bandana for dirty water, shade, and field med kit, etc.

Pot for boiling water

a .22 long rifle with a gallon of rounds

and a porno mag if the wife ain't on the list.

I guess my timberline pack would suffice...if i have to pack shit to the woods...

oh, and 60-lbs of snickers bars, King Size...when i'm out of those, one .22 round to the temple and i'm out

lb

 

[larryschwartz]

So what do you guys think about the bucket food that is being sold at winco? I've never seen this before. Is this an indication of something bigger or just a way of cashing in on the recent Zombie Apocalypse, SHTF movie themes?

IF you are thinking about stockpiling food for riding things out at home, these dehydrated/freeze dried food kits can be a good option, BUT, and even better and easier approach is to just build a stockpile of canned and dried foods which will all last more six months (for grains, etc.) to more than two years (for canned goods). Build up a six month stockpile of the things you normally use at home and then just rotate them out on a regular basis, i.e., use a pack of spaghetti noodles or a couple of cans of green beans from your stockpile and replace it the next time you go to the grocery store.

Many folks forget, or don't think about, these dehydrated meals will need water and water is one of the most valuable and hard to obtain items during a disaster/crisis situation. Canned foods/vegetables/soups already have the water needed to prepare them included, plus some, so they are actually a source of extra water for your diet.

So, if storage space is not an issue then canned foods are normally your best option. If space is an issue then go with the dehydrated/freeze dried stuff but know that you will have to find water during the crisis or store additional water which will take up space anyway. Don't get caught up with their marketing hype, think things through.