Get Home Bag

[gamer_jim]

Trying to keep this super light, any further suggestions?

Get your ham license and get a good radio. Practice and keep it charged.

In any "get home" scenario information is going to be your biggest ally. Have pre-programmed repeaters along your path. Make friends with hams along the way and have a check-in plan. Somehow you have to let your loved ones know your ok and making it back to them safely. You don't want them sending someone to get you if your ok and already headed back.

 

[E.Shell]

...I would add hardcopy topo maps and a half decent compass to your list.

Excellent suggestion.

More valuable than the maps would be your premarked waypoints and bearings from one to the next or from a waypoint to one of the friends you mentioned.

OPSEC: Don't mark your maps. You know where you're going...

 

[Doctor_M]

Since I joined a search and rescue team, I keep my SAR pack in my trunk and have an identical pack in my truck... ditched my former get home packs, since these are a nice condensed pack that will do the job... add a couple of MREs and a Sub2K in a water blader pouch, and I'm feeling pretty well covered. If that won't get me home, I'm probably not going to make it anyway.

 

[K31]

If you're in DC going to Frederick and it's SHTF you might be better off to cycle to the C&O canal and north. Might not take you to Fredneck directly but will certainly be clear of traffic.

You could keep a bike in your truck if it's close by or at work. If space is an issue there are a lot of foldable models.

 

[[Kev308]]

Since I'm in DC pretty often, firearms would NOT be included in my GHB. Just a risk I would have to endure. I'd rather not become a felon for a scenario that is probably not likely to happen.

A couple obvious oversights was a lighter, which I usually have in my pocket, but better to have in the kit, zip ties, and a phone battery pack.

My truck has any tool I need.

 

[Triggerfinger]

A good walking stick. I make mine about 5' long of good oak or ash. Can be used to ward off four or two legged critters. If one wanted to they could slit the top of the walking stick and wrap 550 cord around it. If one had a blade they could drop in the slit, wrap it and have a spear if things got to hairy.

 

[ToolAA]

Since I'm in DC pretty often, firearms would NOT be included in my GHB. Just a risk I would have to endure. I'd rather not become a felon for a scenario that is probably not likely to happen.

A couple obvious oversights was a lighter, which I usually have in my pocket, but better to have in the kit, zip ties, and a phone battery pack.

My truck has any tool I need.

My bag has several knives including a 7” fixed blade. I’ve been searched at NBP, DOD and Capital Police checkpoints. Nobody said anything.

I’ll add don’t hesitate to have more than you will need. I keep two smaller waterproof bags next to my GHB. One spare winter clothes and one with lighter summer clothes. They are also backups if I fall in a muck pit at a jobsite or something. I also have several water containers and a lifestraw. I figure I can determine how much extra water I want to carry depending on where I am in relation to where I need to go.

I agree with Gamer Jim. Get your ham license it’s easy and get an HT.

Few things that others did not yet mention.
I also keep about $600 in cash hidden away too. It’s next to nothing in terms if weight but who knows what you might be able to buy in a pinch if you needed too. I don’t smoke but I also have a pack of cigs. They are wrapped in foil and taped in plastic so they don’t smell up my other stuff. Again who a smoke might be the thing that convinces someone to point you in the right direction instead of telling you to fvck off.

Also I have small soap, toothpaste a few of those milar heat blanket things. A large poncho that could double as a ground cover matt.

Lastly I keep a spare $19 cell phone in there. I keep a small plastic tab blocking the battery contacts. I’ve tested it repeatedly and it retains 90% charge after 3 months.

 

[Blacksmith101]

A good walking stick. I make mine about 5' long of good oak or ash. Can be used to ward off four or two legged critters. If one wanted to they could slit the top of the walking stick and wrap 550 cord around it. If one had a blade they could drop in the slit, wrap it and have a spear if things got to hairy.

Drop one of these into the slit and add a couple of hose clamps to hold it and you have both a spear point and a saw (ugly weapon) that can get you more firewood than you can cut with a knife.

Milwaukee 9 in. 5 TPI AX Carbide Teeth Demolition Nail-Embedded Wood Cutting SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw Blade (1-Pack) 48-00-5226

The Ax with Carbide Teeth, engineered to deliver long life in the toughest applications while being the fastest carbide-tipped reciprocating saw blades on the market. These new blades will deliver 30X

www.homedepot.com

 

[ground chuck]

In addition to your list i have a foldable shovel, roll of tp, life straw. All the tools in my tool box to pick from. I have a 4 foot length of pvc pipe that i would definitely grab. I always have a case of water in the truck under the seat.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

 

[lazarus]

Who cares. You can have duct tape, plastic sheeting and shovels.

If LEO is looking in your trunk, something has gone horribly awry already.

It is only a problem for me when I forget to clean the deer blood off my bumper...

 

[K31]

 

[lazarus]

IMO you are far more likely to get stuck due to a "peace time" mechanical failure than anything, portable compressor, basic tools, leatherman, enough to change a tire or swap a broken belt, maybe some tape and water if you blow a hose. A flashlight, portable USB charger blanket, spare drinking water, maybe an extra pair of comfortable shoes, change of clothes and a couple pairs of socks. First aid kit for whatever you know how to use, hammer and prybar can be handy. The idea being the basics to fix minor issues, reach a tow truck or hang out for a few hours if you are stuck in traffic or snow. That is basically what I figure is the most useful. Can be fun to strategize going all killzozer through zombies, or hiking around invading Spetznaz, but kinda silly to think too hard on that meanwhile running on bald tires with a spare that has been flat for years.

Spot on.

Plan for the most likely and maybe do a bit of covering the worst case.

Most likely is a mechanical breakdown. Worst case is a severe accident. SHTF and needing to hoof it rather than drive is probably about the least likely and also not a bad as a severe accident. But some of the stuff the covers the break down and accident also covers the "walk home".

- I personally keep two LED lights in my car and van. One is a flash light, one is a flashlight/utility light combo (magnetic, so you can slap it on the hood of your car to illuminate what you are doing).

- A leatherman type multitool and a folding knife

- pliers, medium sized monkey wrench, flat head and Philips screw drivers

- Screw jack and lug nut wrench

- Basic first aid kit in the car (larger one in the van) + trauma bandage kit + tourniquet

- A couple snack bars + 2x4oz H2O foil pouch in my car, x2 in the van

- Lighter + matches

- 20ft of paracord

- Leather gloves

- GMRS radio

- a couple trash bags

- reusable grocery bags that have big enough loops they can be used as a shoulder bag

- tire patch kit + spare tire

- bike pump

- 2 "space" blankets in my car, 5 in the van (have a family of 5, rarely more than me or + passenger in my car, whole family in the van often)

- Lithium ion jump start pack in my car. Van has jumper cables and road flares (I'll probably add a jump start pack to the van at some point here and also get a couple of road flares to stick in my car).

- A couple of blankets in my car, including one that is a packable/camping blanket that packs as small as a small sleeping bag

- A roll of TP

 

[lazarus]

It's extremely unlikely a situation like that would arise. I think most scenarios wouldn't involve transit being completely shut down for extended amounts of time where I couldn't even call for a ride. However we are also in unprecedented times.

Somewhat apocalypse cosplay, but can't hurt to be minimally prepared.

It just depends on what your minimally prepared means.

If I was REALLY planning on a "SHTF hike out" situation, I'd keep hiking boots and my go bag in the car/van at all times. And depending on the legality for the place/time, I'd also probably a firearm that was concealable.

But realistically, I don't need to take up the space and weight have carrying my go bag in my car at all times.

I am a lot more likely to be at home already, if I actually needed my go bag (first, because I work from home, second because most situations that would arise leading to needing one, I probably would have headed home and stayed home anyway).

The other stuff packed I've needed at some point in time over 20 years of driving with the exception of the trauma stuff and space blankets. I've yet to need a go bag. And the stuff packed in to the car (with the exception of the jack, spare tire, bike pump, and tire patch kit, can more or less be thrown in to one of those grocery bags and carried with me as a shoulder bag just fine, or rolled up in to a blanket and carried as a bundle tied over my chest.

I would not want to survive for weeks on that, let alone in really horrible weather. But it is more than sufficient stuff in the weather I am likely to encounter near Maryland to survive a 2-3 days of sticking with my car if it came to it. Or a couple of days hiking home or to somewhere I could get help (possibly very thirsty days if it is in the heat of summer). So long as I am not wearing my high heels (*sarcasm*) even the times I head out in just flip flops, they are pretty comfortable ones I could hike a couple dozen miles in. I'll for sure hate myself for it at the end, but it wouldn't leave me disabled. And my regular shoes I can for sure hike dozens of miles without any problems so long as I am not hiking through really rough terrain (then I'll regret not having proper hiking boots).

Unless there is an out of the blue coup or nuclear strike while I am scores or hundreds of miles from home and the car has to suddenly become abandoned/stuck I'd be fine walking home if I ever was in the office (17 miles away) or any of my usual "local" destinations for kids' activities, most errands, etc. which are generally within 15 miles of the house. Any of those I could do in a day or less, even off the road.

 

[alucard0822]

Spot on.

Plan for the most likely and maybe do a bit of covering the worst case.

Most likely is a mechanical breakdown. Worst case is a severe accident. SHTF and needing to hoof it rather than drive is probably about the least likely and also not a bad as a severe accident. But some of the stuff the covers the break down and accident also covers the "walk home".

- I personally keep two LED lights in my car and van. One is a flash light, one is a flashlight/utility light combo (magnetic, so you can slap it on the hood of your car to illuminate what you are doing).

- A leatherman type multitool and a folding knife

- pliers, medium sized monkey wrench, flat head and Philips screw drivers

- Screw jack and lug nut wrench

- Basic first aid kit in the car (larger one in the van) + trauma bandage kit + tourniquet

- A couple snack bars + 2x4oz H2O foil pouch in my car, x2 in the van

- Lighter + matches

- 20ft of paracord

- Leather gloves

- GMRS radio

- a couple trash bags

- reusable grocery bags that have big enough loops they can be used as a shoulder bag

- tire patch kit + spare tire

- bike pump

- 2 "space" blankets in my car, 5 in the van (have a family of 5, rarely more than me or + passenger in my car, whole family in the van often)

- Lithium ion jump start pack in my car. Van has jumper cables and road flares (I'll probably add a jump start pack to the van at some point here and also get a couple of road flares to stick in my car).

- A couple of blankets in my car, including one that is a packable/camping blanket that packs as small as a small sleeping bag

- A roll of TP

Personally a simple first aid kit and good spare/tools and checking the car over frequently is about all I keep in addition to my normal EDC phone/pistol/knife/flashlight/watch stuff. More than adequate for the 99% of the time I am within 10 miles of the house. On vacations and trips I pack some power and hand tools, food/water and blankets where there is a much better chance I might be stuck out somewhere. One big thing that is overlooked is fitness, being able to run a few miles or hike to the nearest town is a pretty useful skill, and pretty much free to develop. I know a couple people big into "prepping" for unlikely crap, but would probably die if they had to run a mile or go without medication for more than a couple days. I get it, much more fun to loadout your "bugout bag" and see how much ammo to bring, they end up with 50 pounds of crap to haul around, despite getting winded after a flight of stairs.

 

[lazarus]

Personally a simple first aid kit and good spare/tools and checking the car over frequently is about all I keep in addition to my normal EDC phone/pistol/knife/flashlight/watch stuff. More than adequate for the 99% of the time I am within 10 miles of the house. On vacations and trips I pack some power and hand tools, food/water and blankets where there is a much better chance I might be stuck out somewhere. One big thing that is overlooked is fitness, being able to run a few miles or hike to the nearest town is a pretty useful skill, and pretty much free to develop. I know a couple people big into "prepping" for unlikely crap, but would probably die if they had to run a mile or go without medication for more than a couple days. I get it, much more fun to loadout your "bugout bag" and see how much ammo to bring, they end up with 50 pounds of crap to haul around, despite getting winded after a flight of stairs.

True. I am in the fitness crowd, but I can kind of appreciate the group that also goes “screw it, I won’t make it a half mile. Why bother preparing at all?”

For me it helps I know what I can manage. Been backpacking enough times I do a crap ton of physical activity (work if you want it call it that. A few cords of firewood for every winter doesn’t cut or split itself along with all of the construction/home renovation I do). I normally take a 2-3 mile walk with my wife after work every day it isn’t pouring or a blizzard. Lift weights a couple times a week.

I am the guy who sometimes skips leg day…but I stay in generally good shape and no my limits. Heck it’s half of why I prefer stalking when I hunt. I’d rather get a few miles of hiking in than sitting in my butt 200yds from the parking lot all day.

 

[ironpony]

Get your ham license and get a good radio. Practice and keep it charged.

In any "get home" scenario information is going to be your biggest ally. Have pre-programmed repeaters along your path. Make friends with hams along the way and have a check-in plan. Somehow you have to let your loved ones know your ok and making it back to them safely. You don't want them sending someone to get you if your ok and already headed back.

This has been the most daunting thing to me for some reason. I have decided to simply replace the survivors handbook in the bag with the ham radio study guide.

 

[omegared24]

Good suggestions here. I would add a pry bar or small crowbar to the list. I have one that is about 18 inches long and fits in my bag. It's pretty solid and can be used to defend myself. Can be used in a bunch of scenarios.

I also need to add a comfortable set of clothes to that bag. Often, I'm wearing a suit and it's just not what I'll want to wear for a couple of days of walking. I've already got good shoes in the car.

I would also suggest using a bag that's not very attractive. The tactical look might attract unwanted attention. My bag is just a crappy Walmart backpack. Just make sure it's comfortable to carry.

 

[[Kev308]]

It just depends on what your minimally prepared means.

If I was REALLY planning on a "SHTF hike out" situation, I'd keep hiking boots and my go bag in the car/van at all times. And depending on the legality for the place/time, I'd also probably a firearm that was concealable.

But realistically, I don't need to take up the space and weight have carrying my go bag in my car at all times.

I am a lot more likely to be at home already, if I actually needed my go bag (first, because I work from home, second because most situations that would arise leading to needing one, I probably would have headed home and stayed home anyway).

The other stuff packed I've needed at some point in time over 20 years of driving with the exception of the trauma stuff and space blankets. I've yet to need a go bag. And the stuff packed in to the car (with the exception of the jack, spare tire, bike pump, and tire patch kit, can more or less be thrown in to one of those grocery bags and carried with me as a shoulder bag just fine, or rolled up in to a blanket and carried as a bundle tied over my chest.

I would not want to survive for weeks on that, let alone in really horrible weather. But it is more than sufficient stuff in the weather I am likely to encounter near Maryland to survive a 2-3 days of sticking with my car if it came to it. Or a couple of days hiking home or to somewhere I could get help (possibly very thirsty days if it is in the heat of summer). So long as I am not wearing my high heels (*sarcasm*) even the times I head out in just flip flops, they are pretty comfortable ones I could hike a couple dozen miles in. I'll for sure hate myself for it at the end, but it wouldn't leave me disabled. And my regular shoes I can for sure hike dozens of miles without any problems so long as I am not hiking through really rough terrain (then I'll regret not having proper hiking boots).

Unless there is an out of the blue coup or nuclear strike while I am scores or hundreds of miles from home and the car has to suddenly become abandoned/stuck I'd be fine walking home if I ever was in the office (17 miles away) or any of my usual "local" destinations for kids' activities, most errands, etc. which are generally within 15 miles of the house. Any of those I could do in a day or less, even off the road.

Minimal as in just enough to walk home 40 miles, which should be able to be done in about 14 hrs.

An attack like 9/11, I would just need to get half way home and call for a ride.

Something like an EMP I imagine I will be walking in a group like a migrant caravan for most of the walk. The danger of that would be getting out of the city, but I think the largeness of the group would keep you safe. Having a bicycle or scooter would probably make you an instant target. People like @teratos won't get hungry for a few days. So if I make it home within a day I shouldn't be eaten.

So: light, fast, gray man, practical

 

[Speed3]

I have one of these also, cheap insurance for city water.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Combo-Wrench/1002633336?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-plb-_-ggl-_-LIA_PLB_208_Plumbing-Repair-_-1002633336-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhqaVBhCxARIsAHK1tiPvzzixCN10VQNPW93IEOK_FzmZ3z_95-DTawYr39ujL7ZW3YfWt30aAmUiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[lyman1903]

I keep telling myself I need to pack a Get Home bag but never seem to get to it,
current commute is 30 miles one way, and across a river, (the James in RVA)

I did pack one a few times during the 'peaceful protests' over the past couple years, but that was simple,
extra mags for the pistol (CCW) and either an AR or a Shotgun in the trunk with a bag of spare rounds / mags

when the wife and I travel (concerts, vacation etc) we do pack a bag of snacks and a 6 pk of bottled water
if hitting DC or MD for a concert, the firearms stay home