Crow Bar - Too Much?!?

[Deeps]

All I can tell you Jaffab is that I don't have a BOB, each to their own though and in the scenario you describe of a gradual deterioration I could knock a few up, I've got all the makings for the 2 of us with plenty to spare but I really don't feel the need for them right now and some of the stuff I'd be putting in them I use for stuff like hill walking etc. Whatever floats your boat though and if having a couple of BOB's works for you then fair do's, I don't get the connection between financial meltdown and the ability to run to the hills at a moments notice though. Like you I've got no plans to bug out unless its an absolute last resort and having the capability to do it is a comfort although its not high on my prepping list. We all prep for different situations and we all have our own way of doing it though. Good luck with it mate.

[grenfell]

If it were me faced with the decision to choose between the spade and the crowbar I think I'd drop the crowbar for a couple of reasons.
Firstly there's always the problem of leaving home in a low grade emergency such as a flood rather than a full blown apocalypse and being stopped by the police and them finding your crowbar. While a spade could easily class as a camping tool the crowbar falls more into the "going equipped " category.
Secondly if your spade is sturdy it will perform most of the functions of the crowbar . Maybe not really heavy work but it will serve as a lever as well as it's original purpose. Add to that short spades have a certain , how shall we say , defensive capabilities.
To add I normally carry a couple of crowbars in the van along with a spade or two purely for work. I also have in the van an old British army entrenching tool , think ww2 type carried just above your butt. Hopeless for digging an actual trench , hence many photos show British troops with full sized spades shoved in their webbing , but a cracking little tool for small jobs and it's construction allows for a decent amount of leverage to be applied.
At home I have a couple of small spades and an acrow tool which was I believe originally designed for but turned down by the British army. It's a tad on the heavy side but combines a spade , axe , pick , wire cutters and even a bottle opener. It's all metal and strong enough to cope with most things.

[jaffab]

If it were me faced with the decision to choose between the spade and the crowbar I think I'd drop the crowbar for a couple of reasons.
Firstly there's always the problem of leaving home in a low grade emergency such as a flood rather than a full blown apocalypse and being stopped by the police and them finding your crowbar. While a spade could easily class as a camping tool the crowbar falls more into the "going equipped " category.

I hear what you are saying, but I would only be bugging out if Law and Order had given up the ghost (or house was burnt down), and in the extremely unlikely event that the police was still functioning (I am prepping for the possible financial crash where the US$, UK£ and Euro are gone/worthless - so would the police still be working), and the even more remote situation that they happen to be hanging around in the countryside where I am, I think the crowbar would be the least of their worries. The two large knives and crossbows may be of more interest.

But - good thoughts on the spade V crowbar. Coming more and more to the conclusion that the crowbar will be ditched (as will the 2nd hobo stove).

[sethorly]

I'm planning to bug in, but there is no doubt that if SHTF it is almost a case of When, not If, a survivor would need to bug out (due to disease or violence).

Here are some ideas.

You know your own situation best, but I can't see why you'd need a crowbar for bugging out. Perhaps your environment means you need one though. In terms of access tools I've come to believe that a small, sharp bolt cutter is the way to go, because in my environment I don't want to be stopped by barbed/razor wire or fencing upon bugging out.

Water: You have water carriers to carry water from a source to your camp. However, I can't see that you have an easy way of boiling water for purification - saucepans aren't really fit for purpose and your waterbottles look to be plastic. Consider a metal nalgene bottle or similar, one for you and one for your wife, so that you can boil water at camp.

Wood: Your hand axe probably doesn't offer more utility than your pruning saw. I'd ditch it and invest in a decent axe that would give you the ability to process small trees. This will enable you to build heat reflectors, shelters, raised beds, wind blocks, fuel, etc. To go with this, you'll need more cordage. You'll also need proper sharpening pucks/stones for the axe.

Shelter: You could do with a lighter tent! No need for survival shelters or bags if you have sleeping bag and tent; the foil sheets are good though for shelter building (ie. heat reflectors). Good that you have tape for tent repairs etc. Consider mats to raise yourselves off the ground - lack of sleep is not a good thing.

Electronics: Consider a solar/wind-up radio to free-up all your batteries for the walky-talkies. Portable solar panel to recharge phone / rechargeable battery / tablet. Tablet containing survival pdfs including British edibles, fishing and trapping. Headtorch. Consider a monocular or binoculars. Radio and monocular are for ensuring you have as much information as possible; monocular also works as night vision outdoors at night.

Fire: I'd add as many ferro rods as possible, and train yourself how to use them and natural tinder eg. birch bark, feather sticks, fungi.

Just some ideas, feel free to ignore!

[MBJ]

Take a look at the BioLite Camping Stove. It's a small portable camping stove that burns on wood, (no need to worry about carrying gas or your fuel supply running out), which converts thermal heat into electricity which can then charge devices such as your mobile.

You can get them on Amazon for around £115, pricey but extremely useful.

I haven't built a bug out bag but when I do I want 3 ways to charge my electrical devices. The BioLite will be one, portable solar panels and a hand crank charger will be the others.

[ForgeCorvus]

Take a look at the BioLite Camping Stove. It's a small portable camping stove that burns on wood, (no need to worry about carrying gas or your fuel supply running out), which converts thermal heat into electricity which can then charge devices such as your mobile.

You can get them on Amazon for around £115, pricey but extremely useful.

I haven't built a bug out bag but when I do I want 3 ways to charge my electrical devices. The BioLite will be one, portable solar panels and a hand crank charger will be the others.

Not trying to hijack but can I ask you why the need to bug-out with devices plural ? (unless its to a hotel, in which case a standard wall charger will be adequate )


Jaff: Your BoB is going to be doing duty as an INCH (I'm Never Coming Home), now that is a whole different kettle of fish.
However, if you're hanging out in the woods for a few days or traveling refugee-fashion to Cornwall (or WHY) on foot I don't think you're going to be needing more then a trowel.

[MBJ]

Take a look at the BioLite Camping Stove. It's a small portable camping stove that burns on wood, (no need to worry about carrying gas or your fuel supply running out), which converts thermal heat into electricity which can then charge devices such as your mobile.

You can get them on Amazon for around £115, pricey but extremely useful.

I haven't built a bug out bag but when I do I want 3 ways to charge my electrical devices. The BioLite will be one, portable solar panels and a hand crank charger will be the others.

Not trying to hijack but can I ask you why the need to bug-out with devices plural ? (unless its to a hotel, in which case a standard wall charger will be adequate )


Jaff: Your BoB is going to be doing duty as an INCH (I'm Never Coming Home), now that is a whole different kettle of fish.
However, if you're hanging out in the woods for a few days or traveling refugee-fashion to Cornwall (or WHY) on foot I don't think you're going to be needing more then a trowel.

Primarily for Intelligence but also rechargable light sources. For example, I would want my phone to call people and use internet (assuming there is singnal/WIFI), as well as a HAM radio and weather radio etc.

[jaffab]

Right, so I set myself a target to trim 2Kg, and somehow get my tent inside my already full BOB (keeping the weight close to the spine).

I ditched the shovel (751g), the crowbar (498g), the large hobo stove at 377g (keeping the small hobo) and 4 glow sticks (80g). Total saving 1.7Kg

Also, through going through it all, and taking the tent out of the bag, it all somehow fits in my BOB (wife still has all the light bulky stuff in her BOB).

The heaviest thing other than the tent is the water - 2kg in total - if we drink it, the bag gets lighter.

I am relatively happy now that I could cover 10 miles a day (with a few rests) with that on my back.

Thanks all for the advice.

[Deeps]

Right, so I set myself a target to trim 2Kg, and somehow get my tent inside my already full BOB (keeping the weight close to the spine).

I ditched the shovel (751g), the crowbar (498g), the large hobo stove at 377g (keeping the small hobo) and 4 glow sticks (80g). Total saving 1.7Kg

Also, through going through it all, and taking the tent out of the bag, it all somehow fits in my BOB (wife still has all the light bulky stuff in her BOB).

The heaviest thing other than the tent is the water - 2kg in total - if we drink it, the bag gets lighter.

I am relatively happy now that I could cover 10 miles a day (with a few rests) with that on my back.

Thanks all for the advice.

How much masking tape have you got ? If its a whole roll of it then you can probably just take a few metres wrapped round an old bank card if you haven't already, save space and weight. That might help to make the 2KG.

[jaffab]

How much masking tape have you got ? If its a whole roll of it then you can probably just take a few metres wrapped round an old bank card if you haven't already, save space and weight. That might help to make the 2KG.

It looks like a full roll, weighs 96g. On the basis it can fix tents, sleeping bags, etc, not much of a saving. But good idea though.