My BOB Thread. (Long but I think worth a read)

[Mags]

I guesstimated it all at around a brazilian dollars......;)

[Mags]

Some requested links......

http://www.narescue.com/

http://www.tacsurv.com/default.aspx

http://www.skdtac.com/default.asp

http://www.bestglide.com/

http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/StoreFront.bok

http://www.tadgear.com/index2.html

http://www.ustacticalsupply.com/

http://www.atstacticalgear.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?display=home

http://www.junglehammock.com/

http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/

http://www.us-elitegear.com/

http://www.equipped.org/

http://www.wildernessdining.com/

http://www.nitro-pak.com/

http://www.minimus.biz/default.aspx

http://www.optactical.com/

http://www.longlifefood.com/

http://www.kifaru.net/militaryhome.html

http://www.theepicenter.com/

http://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/index.html

http://www.supplycaptain.com/

http://www.originalsoegear.com/index.html

http://www.mredepot.com/servlet/StoreFront

http://www.chinookmed.com/

http://hennessyhammock.com/

http://www.integraldesigns.com/

Just a couple to get ya started........................................... .......:D Maybe start with, http://www.equipped.org/ , and http://www.nitro-pak.com/.

[Lostinoz]

Wow Mags, Thanks!! I am gonna be busy....and broke.. ;)

[TAZDEVIL]

Thanks Mags.... alot of useful info here... thanks.

[Mags]

Anytime Taz, and Lost, glad to help. Doesn't seem to be a lot of people posting. Hopefully they are all out in the backcountry practicing with their gear.:D

[unswydd]

Anytime Taz, and Lost, glad to help. Doesn't seem to be a lot of people posting. Hopefully they are all out in the backcountry practicing with their gear.:D

LOL You're a hoot! I wish I was in the backcountry practicing with my gear. I don't have the dollars to purchase these kind of gadgets so I will make do with what I have. I'm a single gal with a car payment and 2 c.c. bills. I keep up with my bills and am less than 15,000 in debt now. I will most likely not be out of debt before TSHTF so I get what i can. my biggest concern for me is making sure my siblings "get it" and are stocking all they can. I cannot take care of everyone. I'm hoping that once we are all together we can go over the gear we have collectively and see what we need. This may or may not happen so I will at least be prepared for myself.
I love looking and drooling over your gear tho Mags. Very Cool stuff. I can only dream!

[Mags]

Baby steps...............

Little things like looking for sales and deals. Picking up an extra $5 or $10 worth of groceries to set aside. Couple here, couple there, pretty soon you have a nice cache of emergency need items. Just make sure to use and rotate them. When you buy clothing every now and then pickup some sturdy earth tone items. Again looking for sales and deals. Wools sweaters end of season winter items Goodwill Stores after people clean out doing "Spring Cleaning" etc. (I'm about to do a post on a bunch of Patigonia Clothing items I bought at great savings! Look for it soon.)

Also just having the knowledge prior to an emergency stuation puts you ahead of the game. You will know what IS needed and what IS NOT. Instead of running around panicing you'll initiate your plan and go about your business. Please don't get spun up on all the gear. Look at the little boy in Georgia. What was is 3 days in the woods. He only had a Tee Shirt, one shoe. His pullup diaper had come off at some point. All he wanted when found was a hotdog. If I relied on my gear only to survive I'd be ass out pretty quick. Knowledge and training are the only gear you really need.

Now sell one of those kidneys and go prep crazy with your credit card!;):D

[Diesel]

Baby steps...............


Now sell one of those kidneys and go prep crazy with your credit card!;):D

Disclaimer: Xcolony does not condone this!
End Disclaimer

LOL :P

[unswydd]

Baby steps...............

Little things like looking for sales and deals. Picking up an extra $5 or $10 worth of groceries to set aside.

Now sell one of those kidneys and go prep crazy with your credit card!;):D

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
What a nut job!
I do spend a little every trip to walmart and I have some pretty good winter clothes but could use the "real deal". I'll be looking for your post on stuff.
I have quite a stock in the basement and well, it's all going in boxes here a little at a time. I want to be able to grab it and roll in case I need to get to the property quick. I don't want to leave it for someone else. In fact.....just thinking about that I may just start taking some of it out there. I will split it down the middle and store some there and some here in case it takes me a minute to get there. It's only about 12 miles out but that is driving. Walking through corn fields and crossing highways might take me longer to get there. Ya think?
Iwas thinking about taking out a new credit card and just go slabber happy at Cabelas or something. LOL Not a bad idea.

[unswydd]

btw, that little boy is a true trooper! He had angels watching over him in the form of four legged animals. This little boy was in no danger I am sure of it! He was protected.
What an amazing story!

[Mags]

To add............ I'm sorry boys and girls but I think my kits are now finished and complete. I share with you a picture of my new "Bottle Bezels" made by Osprey Innovations. I can't think of anything else I could possibly need, ever.

I have to say that after finger ****ing them here at home 'bout the only thing they're good for is marking your attacker for positive ID'ing by Law Enforcement. Funny thing is, they keep selling out at TAD Gear. They do look amazingly like the caps on NOS Energy drinks?!

Oh well, $10 down the drain.............I'll have to give this product a "don't bother." Use a Kubaton Keyring instead. You can get the same positive ID markings on your attacker by swinging your keys plus the use of the mini baton for holds and lockouts.

IMHO.....

(Microbites, Blackberry Storm, and Emerson CQC7 for size.)

[Mags]

The Patagonia clothing company marketed their “MARS” clothing line to the military. (At least the Air Force adopted it, to some extent.) The “MARS” line seems to be Alpha Green and Coyote Brown versions of some of Patagonia’s civilian clothing items. These articles use the “Level System” for layering just like the PCU (Protective Combat Uniform) and APCU (Advanced Protective Combat Uniform.) These articles while keeping with the high quality that Patagonia is known for were pretty pricey items for rough backcountry use. A person could kit out for wet, cold weather with surplus ECWCS for way less money. I don’t think the MARS line sold like Patagonia had hoped. I think the cost per item was a major problem with the MARS line.
I held off on purchasing many of the items simply due to the high price. Well, well, well, patience is a virtue, finally. I kept an eye on their website and when the price was right I struck hard and fast. I am now the proud owner of the following items from the Patagonia MARS clothing line. All in their “Alpha Green” color.

(2) R2 Regulator Fleece Jacket, Level 3. (1) Slingshot Soft shell Jacket, Level 4. (1) Dimension Technical Soft shell Jacket, Level 5. (1) Rain Shadow LW Hard Shell Jacket, Level 6. (1) Stretch Micro Burst Pants, Level 6. (1) DAS Parka, Level 7. (1) Micro Puff Pants, Level 7.




R2 Regulator Fleece Jacket: This is a simple lightweight Polartec Thermal Pro Fleece jacket. It has thinner stretch panels on the sides of the torso. It is not windproof or resistant. This jacket is not as thick or warm as the Mil Issue 300 weight fleece jacket. It is lighter being better suited to a higher level of physical activity. They also pack up smaller than the issued fleece. Has to hand warmer pockets and one zippered chest pocket, and elastic cuffs. No interior pockets. A good lightweight fleece that is not too hot for vigorous outdoor activity. Retail, $139.95, I paid $54.00EH




Slingshot Soft Shell Jacket: This is a simple windbreaker type jacket with a tight plain weave. It has a stand up collar, high mounted hand warmer pockets, bicep mounted pockets on both sleeves, (These close with Velcro but mine seem to be a bit too far forward on the sleeve. When items are carried in them rolls forward a lot and get in the way while working.) and a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish that sheds wind and water somewhat. No interior pockets, no pit zips. A nice light, packable, earthy toned, windbreaker jacket. Retail, $139.95, I paid $70.00




Dimension Technical Soft Shell Jacket: This is a full featured soft shell jacket. It is a thicker “doby weave,” more robust than the Slingshot Jacket. This jacket has a hood that is frikken huge! No matter the helmet or hearing protection your wearing I bet the hood will still come down far enough to cover your eyes. Most “technical” jackets have large hoods that cover climbing helmets worn with hats. You have to use the shock corded hood take-up strings to keep the hood in its place keeping your vision clear. It has a hood roll-up strap, chest mounted hand warmer pockets, one interior pocket, extended rear hem line, and Velcro cuffs. This is a thicker warmer soft shell jacket. It’ll do a good job of keeping you warm without an insulating layer underneath or hard shell overtop. Since this is a warmer jacket a feature I miss, that I use, and have become used to on my jackets is pit zips. Retail, $249.95, I paid $84.25




Rain Shadow Hard Shell Jacket: This is a very lightweight rain jacket. Still a storm level garment with a highly breathable inner barrier and a DWR finish. The Rain Shadow is very packable with minimalist details. It has a huge helmet compatible hood and pit zips to help with thermal control. I hate to be clammy in my rain gear. Hand warmer pockets, extended rear hem line, water resistant zippers, and Velcro cuffs. All in all it’s a great lightweight packable storm proof rain jacket. Retail, $168.95, I paid $90.00




Stretch Micro Burst Pants: Lightweight packable storm proof hard shell rain pants made of the same material as the Rain Shadow Jacket. These come with removable elastic suspenders, twill crampon instep panels, one zippered thigh pocket on the right leg, and reinforced stretch panels on the seat and knees. They also have a partial elastic waist with a two way zipper and full length side leg water resistant zippers covered by a substantial storm flap. Nice lightweight packable storm proof hard shell pants. Retail, $239.95, I paid, $80.00




DAS Parka: This is a heavily insulated parka. It has 6oz Polarguard 3D in the body and 4oz Polarguard 3D insulation in the sleeves. This thing is like wearing a synthetic sleeping bag with sleeve. It has a tightly water resistant, windproof, snag resistant shell with a DWR finish. It has hand warmer pockets, a chest pocket and interior pocket sized for Nalgene Bottle to keep your water from freezing. Of course it has a huge hood with adjustments. This jacket will retain some of its thermal value even when wet. (This is why all of my sleeping bags are synthetic and not down.) I depend on my gear to work wet or dry since natures a mother and I don’t make the weather calls. Elastic cuffs and drawcord waist hem. Retail, $249.95, I paid, $120.00




Micro Puff Pants: Water resistant, windproof synthetic pants that compliment the DAS Parka. These are lightweight, full side zip, DWR finished pants with an elastic and Velcro waist. They have twill reinforced seat and knee patches. Insulation is 2.3oz Polarguard 3D. This is lighter than the parka which is fine for me. My legs never really seem to get cold. My trunk and torso are another story. No suspenders on these though. Kind of wish they had some. Even the minimalist elastic type would be nice. Retail, $149.95, I paid, $60.00




All in all I have been very happy with each article and its performance. Glad I waited and got some great deals!!! Total retail would have been, $1,478.60 My total after waiting and watching patiently, $612.25!!!! I’m no genius but I’d say that’s a pretty good deal!

[unswydd]

Very nice Rags Mags I must say. I'm so glad you got them. Drooling (once again, you seem to have that effect on me) over the beautiful clothing! The price is by far the best part. :D

[Mags]

So I upgraded from a Motorola Razor Phone to a Blackberry Storm. (If I was not "shackled" to Verizon I'd have had an iPhone a couple of years ago!) In order to connect the Storm to the Solio I had to get new tips switching from mini-usb to micro-usb. One of the things I really like about the Solio is that it has an internal battery that holds a charge. It's not just a charger.

I ran a test with the Storm. I fully charged the Solio which is how I keep it stored and use on outings. Then I ran down my Storm. The Solio was able to completely recharge the Storms standard battery from dead twice before the Solio needed to be recharged. A test like this is as essential to me knowing my gear as shake-down hikes.

I can't say enough about the comfort the Solio brings knowing that I can recharge my electronics overnight with the internal battery then recharge the Solio as needed during the day while on the move.

Shown are a OtterBox Case, Solio Solar Charger, Connection Cable, Lighter adapter Cable, Two Micro USB Connectors, and my Blackberry Storm.

[littleone1]

Thanks for the info Mags. I saw the Solio at Sam's Club and was wondering how well it worked. Guess I'll pick one up next time I'm out there. Great thread you have going here!