Weight that matters

So, how do you all weigh in?

With a good pair of scales! :wink: But on the rest I'll have to get back to ya on that.

 

Well to be blunt.. I am 5'11" and just over 200lbs... My "Get Home Gear" (linked in sig), minus rifle weighs in at about 35 lbs... This can go up quite a bit as I add more water than my acceptable standard.

I keep my gear in my truck, or a partial version (the panel pack) with me if I must leave the whole kit somewhere...

I think this depends on how long you really intend to Bug Out... what your true expectation of the situation will be... This will be different for most everyone... Some just want to get home.. Others want to hide out till everything calms down.. And yet others want to have everything on hand to settle and repopulate "New Markistanland"

What are your Goals?

 

bugging out on foot with a backpack is crazy.

 

I'm a Bug in Guy with a get home bag that weighs about 25-30 pounds. This includes water, pistol and lots of hope.

 

Actually "bugging out" on foot might be the BEST thing to do depending on where you live.

Ever been to New York City? Ever try to get around on a GOOD day?

When it hits the fan, you are NOT getting out of there any other way than with your Nikes. Same with places like Chicago or San Fransisco. Large cities depend on smooth infastructure. Disrupt that and the entire system becomes a hinderance instead of a help.

When I lived in Belfast, most of my friends and their families never owned a car. Didn't need one. With a compact population that depends on a rail system, the infastructure aspect changes. Other cities, such as Phoenix, New Orleans, or Dallas you DO need a car, since they are so far spread out and progression needs a car.

But if I'm in the Bronx and need to get out of dodge, I'm going to foot it. Stand a far better chance to get OUT of a city so I could then make ;]bugging out on foot with a backpack is crazy.[/quote]

Actually "bugging out" on foot might be the BEST thing to do depending on where you live.

Ever been to New York City? Ever try to get around on a GOOD day?

When it hits the fan, you are NOT getting out of there any other way than with your Nikes. Same with places like Chicago or San Fransisco. Large cities depend on smooth infastructure. Disrupt that and the entire system becomes a hinderance instead of a help.

When I lived in Belfast, most of my friends and their families never owned a car. Didn't need one. With a compact population that depends on a rail system, the infastructure aspect changes. Other cities, such as Phoenix, New Orleans, or Dallas you DO need a car, since they are so far spread out and progression needs a car.

But if I'm in the Bronx and need to get out of dodge, I'm going to foot it. Stand a far better chance to get OUT of a city so I could then make my next move.

 

You can also invest in a pedal bike.

HMM, I wonder if I can still even ride one of those???

 

Good points...

 

My get home bag is on the heavy side, I havent weighed it, but I am thinking in the 50 - 60 pound range without weapons ( I tip the scales at 250). My emphasis has been on fire, renewable water (filter and treatment tabs), some food plus food gathering (guns and ammo mostly) shelter and basic first aid. My needs are a little different in that I live in a very rural area, I work at a mobile job site that varies from 20 to 120 miles from the house. My bags sole purpose is to get me home. (the only scenerio that would put me walking home would be a EMP that took out most of the auto's. Anything else, I would drive or be able to catch a ride.) I need to be able to live out of this bag for 2 days - 2 weeks in all seasons. (100+ in the summer and as low as -30 in the winter). I am glad you brought up the subject, as it reminds me that I need to catalogue everything in my bag.

 

No one here is going to keel over from malnutrition if they miss a meal or two. You really do not need to worry about food, except as a luxury item, for 7 days. You might not like it, but you would live. so you lose 20 pounds in two weeks, people pay big money for that!

Most studied observers have declared the "Bug out" principle useless unless it is done well before the crisis. If one looks back on real emergency evacuations in real disasters you will find that the only ones that work are those put into operation well in advance.

You will be turned away by armed military force at the bridge, just like in Katrina and the friendly rural farmers will shoot you for "gathering" as you pass through their land. Don't kid yourself, most rural types are better armed than you might think and they do more shooting than the average urbanite. Those rocks along the driveway are range markers.

 

Yes Neo- right on. I lived in NYC during 9/11 and the blackout of '02.
No freakin' way you could move except by foot. No guns in the city either (legally). Cars? No way. Subways were shut down. All surface traffic stopped.
Bridges and tunnels closed. People became animals.
It was very weird. Your have to survive with your wits.

the biggest thing that hit home was - Water is priority. The stuff of life.


Well, anyway- I'm far from the city now!

 

I used to live off of fordham rd in the bronx(extended visit).I think if shtf is a serious priority your first move should be get out of the bigger cities.My threat assesment has shifted recently from crime to shtf.The house in the country was to lower the threat of urban crime and transitions well to a bug in shtf scenario but Im not ready for long term chaos.I saw all those people walking in N.Y. on 9/11 and when the levies broke in N.O. those people had it rough.I just dont think walking gives you good odds.Having said that a major part of my winter fitness program is humping my 35lbs ruck over the local mountans so if I had to walk I could but the wife and mother couldnt so its bug in or overland in the blazer.

 

Link?

And that is why I have topo maps, GPS fully programmed with way points in order I have chosen in preference. A compass and a normal street map.
If you think you can seal off a mid sized American city completely you are very mistaken. Will they seal the main points depending on the situation yes they may. Will they be able to seal every goat path backwoods shortcut and watch every inch of river? Not in a million years. If you know the area you can find out where the holes are. And how you can move through them.

Who said anything about stealing from farmers? I will have food in my pack when and if I have to stop to eat. Given my preference no one would even know I was there at all. I am not going to be trapped in a Katrina type situation. If you are not threatening someone a guardsman is very unlikely to shoot you. So the worst thing that is going to happen is you get turned around. No correction the worst thing that could happen is that you get detained and placed in a shelter. But I don’t think that they are going to spend a lot of time or energy trying to chase someone that is not threatening anyone down. The only real advantages they have is mobility. And in the case of helicopters and UAVs elevation. So stay small don’t threaten people and your odds are very good indeed of being able to get home or to your bug out point. No one is likely to bother someone that is in travel mode unless they are criminals. (Badge or not, not withstanding)
Katrina is indeed a perfect example. All the chaos and attention was focused on the north exits from town. Yet if you went south you can find over land routes out of the area. The thing is that everyone is thinking north and east. Not south and west. Do this in a city that is land locked and you are going to need 10s of thousands of troops and your own dang satellite to stop motivated and prepared individuals from bugging out. As for it not being possible to go out on foot. I would refer you to almost every modern war. Millions of people have fled wars on foot. Sometimes it is the only choice. It can be done and it has been done in every disaster and war in modern history. But preparing for it can mean the difference between an arduous trek home and a decent into Hades.
The option is yours.
I would put forward that where you are headed to is more important then where you are coming from. You need to not be “Just getting away.†You need to have someplace that you are heading to. Again the people that live out in the sticks or have family that does is better then just getting out of the war zone. And having a stocked retreat or home is the best yet.