Purposeful Gear – Get Home Bag, by Crusoe
With every piece of gear, I recommend you think about what your requirements are. I am a fan of building a gear loadout based upon what the desired end state is. This is helpful because it will save you money in the long run and minimize excess weight. Over the past several years I have spent most of my time on one adventure or another and have accumulated bins of gear that didn’t quite live up to what I was aiming for. Keep it simple.
For my get home bag I detailed my purpose in this AP article, but for a refresher here are my requirements. At the time I worked 34 miles away from home and wanted enough gear to move quickly and efficiently in case I had to walk home. I have a backpacking background and know I can easily average 10-15 miles per day at a 2 miles per hour pace while in the mountains of North Georgia. At this lollygag pace I estimate I would need to prepare to spend at least one night, maybe two, in the woods. With that requirement in mind, I built a “get home bag” based around that. Remember my goals…. quickly and efficiently and hike 34 miles.
In Joe Dolio’s book Tactical Wisdom he states, “The bag you use as a Get Home Bag should be a nondescript backpack type. Nothing too overtly tactical…” I absolutely agree with this and chose a Mystery Ranch Scree 32. It has a frame, only weighs 2.8 pounds and has 1955 cubic inches of volume. This pack can also be emptied and repurposed as a robust day pack or even for a basic overnight backpacking trip if your gear is dialed in. One of the main reasons I like this pack is that it has a three-zipper opening system that allows me to get access to the main compartment as opposed to a top loader where I would have to empty the entire pack to get to the bottom.
This is what I put in my pack for my conditions. Remember, this is to supplement what I am already carrying and here is the link to my EDC article. I can swap things out depending upon the weather and my perception of the threat. This is the loadout I hike the trails with 3-4 times a week.
Additionally, if the situation dictates that I need a larger pack for more “cool guy” stuff I have a Crossfire DG3 that has the same basic zipper system and I would transfer what I need from the “Get Home Bag” to that as the mission/requirements dictate.
Side pouches
- 700 ML Smart water bottle
- Self-Reliance Outfitter single walled water container with canteen
- Deet
Top Pouch (Lid- items I want immediate access to)
- Clif Bars
- Fire Starting Kit
- Mylar Blanket
- Sillcock Key
- Water Filter
- Knife
- Surefire G2 Flashlight
- Snow Peak Canister Stove
- Electrical Tape
- Dust Mask
- Sawyer Squeeze water filter- fits on top of my smart water bottle
Main Pouch
- Kel tec Sub 2000 (9mm)
- 2- 21 Rnd Glock Magazines
- 2- 30 Rnd Glock Magazines
- Fuel Canister
- 2- Mountain House Meals
- Trauma Kit
- Poncho
- Collapsible Drinking Dish for the German Shepherd
- Small Binoculars
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dyneema Roll Top Stuff Sack
- Battery
- Compass
- Signal Mirror
- Pace Beads
- Spare Wool Socks
- Thermal Base layer
- Balaclava
- Gloves
- TP
- Shemagh
- 550 Chord
- Motrin
- Sol Escape Lite
- Camp Soap
- Spork
- Anti-Friction Stick
- Spare Glasses
- 2 Chem Lights
- AFP 36-2246 Aircrew Survival
- Multicam Pack Cover– Medium (in case there is a need to be more tactical)
Crusoe is retired from the Air Force after 30-years of service as a flight crew member. He spends most of his time thinking about the apocalypse and how to mitigate its effects. When not immersed in academic pursuits, he is often on a trail hiking in the mountains of North Georgia or reading with a glass of Irish whiskey and a German Shepherd by his side. Global travel enthusiast, history nerd, Appalachian Trail thru hiker, and recovering ultra-endurance athlete. He can be reached at [email protected]
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My setup is very similar; however, I used a backpack from walmart that is green. My bugout bag is green as well. Almost every backpack comes in a green color. This way you look like an average Joe when you want to, but when you need to go tactical the backpack needs nothing really and you just break out the poncho. Also some of the equipment is in my truck. Hat, gloves, pistol, stuff like that I might use more regularly.
Yes. Much of this stuff would, most likely, just be stored in the pack. And then transferred to coat pockets. Such as the hat, scarf, and gloves.
One thing I forgot. I packed everything into 55 gal drum liner style trash bags to keep stuff dry.
Those are nice. I assume you mean the Contractor Grade Black Plastic Bags? Those are nice. Low Profile, Lightweight, Strong enough for a season or two.
We used trash compactor bags while on the AT.
I bet they work great!
That is exactly what I use. Two of them. Used to use them in my army days and over night hiking now. For the get home bag I just trim them back a little
My get home bag has a folding bicycle with it. As an avid bicyclist I have gone everywhere (aside from climbing a cliff and deep swampy terrain) under or over fences and so on bicycle camping. When bike camping a camo tarp and the bike makes a decent quick shelter.
A Citizen folding bicycle more than triples your effective miles per hour over hiking. Mine has the Muffin (don’t laugh) Airless Tires Upgrade so I can ride over broken glass, nails and what not without a flat. The package of a 6-speed folder with upgraded tires was around 500 dollars.
Well after the getting home stage I can see plenty of useful things having a simple bicycle around. I’ve a bicycle trailer for it that has been useful for hauling large backpack level objects around my place (firewood, feed sacks etc.).
Patrol bicycle anybody?
Bicycles are pretty underrated for when you need to move long distances quickly and you want to remain fairly inconspicuous. They don’t require fuel, they’re pretty much silent, and with the right frame you can carry a sizeable amount of gear on the back. I don’t have a folder, though. I have a mountain bike with a saddle bag frame on the back. I will say that if you plan to use a bike to move any sort of serious distance (>15 miles), you need to get your ass accustomed to the seat by riding regularly.
I have also done short bike rides blacked out under NODs out of curiosity. It is very doable, even on trails.
I think Matt Bracken has discussed patrolling with a bicycle before. The other thing that can be very useful would be a bike trailer. I have one for towing kids, but you can fit alot of stuff in there.
I don’t think that bicycles are good for patrolling. Some see it as a balance between foot patrols and vehicle patrols, but bicycles can accomplish neither well.
The benefits of foot patrolling are stealth, security, and thoroughness. Someone in a moving truck will never get as full a picture as a guy on foot who can see, hear, and smell his surroundings. It is also much easier to hide a couple of guys in the woods than a truck on a road. The benefit of vehicle patrolling is speed, and the ability to cover a larger area. However, a vehicle patrol must make up in firepower what they sacrifice in stealth and security.
Bicycles gain a little bit of mobility, but in my opinion, not enough to justify what you lose in your senses of smell and hearing (as the wind rushes past your ears). And since you cannot mount a gun turret or armor plating on a bicycle, they’re unable to make up for these deficiencies like a vehicle patrol could.
Bicycles are good for getting around covertly, but not patrolling. In a tactical sense, they could provide a way to quickly get to or from an objective if you are able to look inconspicuous on the bike. But trying to conduct a security patrol on a bicycle is not going to work out well.
Mike, Matt Bracken talks about riding a bike around your AO now, not during a SHTF time. It’s good exercise, connects you to your neighbors, makes you familiar to them and many more reasons. I’m with you – patrolling in a time of violence on a bike seems risky.
Gotcha, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks for clarifying.
The European Bicycle Infantry simply use their bikes as one would use a horse. To get one mountain away from the enemy. The rest is done on foot. Same as calvary horses.
The concept of a horse mounted calvary charge is 100% Hollywood fiction.
I would suggest that you replace the Clif bars with some other type of energy bars. Clif bars have a lot of soy. Soy is high in estrogen which is not beneficial for men.
Soy should be avoided for long term consumption by men and women.
I love Clif Bars and have many, many, many adventures fueled by them. They are the most palatable bars (IMHO) on the market. I would agree if that was all I ever ate, but I only do so for sport. No man boobies yet. : )
i use pay day bars myself
A lot is weather dependent, it’s winter in Michigan and some sort of warm sleep system would be a necessity. I also like the idea of a bike and for shorter distances an E-bike for us older types.
There is no reason to stop by the side of the road and sleep unless you are hundreds of miles from home.
A get home bag assumes you are within commuting distance of your house. Which is +/- 20 miles for the average person.
That can be done in a day. Probably less considering someone might offer you a ride. Depending on where you live.
Johnny as someone that worked in Johns Hopkins Baltimore, I can tell you it “Might” be +/- 20 miles between home and work, but there are areas I normally drive though I DON’T want to walk through when things get spicy or even at night. So, your Walk Home *Might* have some trouble areas you need to give wide berth perhaps?
That and when things get stupid the quicker I can safely get home the better. Hoping for a good Samaritan to give you a ride also might not be a good plan?
Johnny, I USED to think folks would mill about for a day or so before acting out. The era of social media and general us against THEM divisions the Media created gives me pause that trouble *might* get lively pretty darn quick.
Odd thing I just noticed, the Get Home Bag has a decent firearm but no Cannister of Bear Spray? I carry one when I ride so if an aggressive dog (or pack) decides to give chase I can give them a blast of Whupp Ass. So far I’ve never had a dog chase me through a Bear Spray cloud.
Bear Spray effective enough and not as loud as gunfire. I’m trying to get home quietly.
You are safe on the main roads. If you are being followed and step off the main roads you will 100% be attacked in my experience.
The main roads in Baltimore are heavily patrolled by police. It’s the side roads and alleys that are dangerous.
With the exception of places like Pulaski Highway and Wilkins Ave.
Johnny, am I posting in German again? When things get “Stupid” is my offhand way of saying SHTF time to GET HOME. My Shift is OVER Now, Bye.
It’s not NORMAL Times friend. Like when you Expect Police to be doing their duty.
I would LIKE to HOPE the Police are Right Out there keeping those “Main Roads” safe, but Hope is NOT A PLAN. They might be AH, BUSY?
Thus, the idea you SHOULD have many pre-scouted routes to GET HOME from your job and other places you frequent. Those routes SHOULD be with the understanding that the Police might not around, OR part of the Problem (Following Orders).
I can go places with my bicycle that my car cannot go. Like around “Quarantine Containment” Roadblocks and such. I’ve ridden several 100 mile rides on my regular bike this summer. Sore butt specials :-)
I’ve ridden several 40+ mile routes with the 20 inch folder bicycle. TESTING my Get Home Plans. Also, sore butt specials.
Dogs have been an issue on a few of those routes thus the Bear Spray.
Sorry if I was unclear before.
I was speaking purely from a criminal psych profile of victim selection.
I am aware that the average reader of AP has street smarts and a lot of experience.
We are speaking the same language.
Very true. I would scale based upon your requirements. The details of my bag are 3 season and based upon my location. Simple but effective. If I lived where there it sub freezing and snow on the ground I would most definitely scale up a bit. I have a very basic sleep system, but like JP said, I would only sleep if I had to. If I had room for a bike in my car I would definitely entertain the idea.
Let the situation dictate your tactics and tailor your gear for that. For years I commuted 75 miles one way in southeast Wyoming. Shelter and warmth are hugely important at neg 25 with a 40 mph wind. My situation has changed and so has my gear. The most important thing is have a plan. Been reading some of the comments from those stuck on 95 in VA. No comments on how they intend to put a emergency kit together just lots of bitching and whining on how no-one came to save me. Wyo hiway patrol were reporting 15 semis overturned in the burrow ditch on I80 near arlington, worst stretch of road in the west, last week.
I’d be interested to know the weight of the bag from the article and the commenters.
2.8 lbs. https://www.mysteryranch.com/scree-pack?quantity=1&color=Del%20Mar
My bag weighs 28 lbs and it is why I advocate for a framed backpack.