When dressing for activities in the out of doors we often use layering so that we can add or remove layers as needed to meet our needs in changing temperatures or climates. This same approach can be used when making our many different “KITS”. Everyone has their EDC (Every Day Carry) items that they have on them at all times, so that one is hopefully a given. On top of those items we usually consider having our “72 hour kit” ready to grab and go in an emergency, but that is where we start to see so many questions regarding what to put in them and the INNUMERABLE lists that are available online. I would like to offer some very Basic Guidelines to help people create a kit that is perfect for THEM, not someone who lives in the Antarctic or the Sahara.
First of all let’s take a look at your EDC. Consider everything you have in your pockets or on your belt at all times. These items would be your Every Day Carry items, and while some duplication can be great, when you have to carry a lot of stuff, weight matters. So write down what your EDC is, and put that aside.
Next look at what you believe would be appropriate and applicable for you to include in your CORE Kit. This kit would be your bug out bag (BOB) / “72 Hour Kit”. It would have things you may need to survive outside of your home for a short period of time. The term “72 Hour Kit” is a bit of a misnomer since even FEMA recommends 4 days of emergency supplies. I always remember that it took FEMA 5 days to get water to the Superdome after Katrina, and they knew it was coming. This kit would be able to be easily carried and would include the basic items you would need to live for 4-5 days. Things like, basic clothes, personal hygiene, a small personal first aid kit, limited tools, and a few days your prescriptions as well as food and water.
Lastly we come to the more extensive layers of our kit. These would be specialty items that each person could have to fill their roll in a family / team setting. These layers would include things like: Cold / Hot weather, Trauma / Medical, Personal Protection, and Extended duration or distance. These layers are things that could be easily added, or attached, to your CORE layer and still allow you to be mobile. They may be due to seasonal requirements, personal / medical needs, or based upon your education / training and things that you are proficient in the use of. I know many people who spend over $1000.00 on a professional Trauma kit from one of the plethora of online stores, but they are neither trained, nor capable of using some of the specialized equipment in them. I have seen people at the counter of the local gun store being sold the latest piece of civilianized military weaponry (sarcasm intended) that they will take home, and put in the safe with its 10rd magazine (that they will call a clip) and have no idea how to operate. These things can make them dangerous. Even someone who has never stayed overnight in a snowy winter environment can be a danger to themselves and others if they don’t know what they don’t know.
So to finish up, I have not supplied another “LIST” for you to read through, because your needs are different from my needs, and you don’t live where I live. If you are not willing to think out and investigate what you will need, then might I suggest that you go check on the latest lineup of arm chairs at the furniture store to be more comfortable watching reality shows.
IF you are willing to do the work then here are the basic layers:
- EDC
- CORE
- SPECIALTY
Thank you,
Brad M
May God bless Alice and all who depend upon her.
PR
Brad M- good post.Thanks. Lightning
Excellent article. Thanks JR.
Alice? Flash back..shoo. Next you’ll be talking about H-Straps. 😉
Lately I’ve been letting distance to travel and time of year dictate KIT changes..
EDC is a given .. lowest level of preparedness… distance and time of year doesn’t change that for me. For me t’s EDC 1 and 2 .. so I can leave “illegal to take in” stuff in the vehicle.. chaps my nether parts . but Work and eating, living indoors is a good thing for now.
I also pre-position some foods at work, since that isn’t illegal. That reduces my daily load out…
Given the political climate I’m upgrading my vehicular load out significantly, to something approaching what I learned this summer from PR. Should be 95% complete within 4 weeks… and the remainder in the next 4 pre-election. time and money ..
Anyway I have a 50 mile ring, 100 mile ring and anything over.. that differentiate not so much what I carry but how much of it with respect to consumables… counting in currency and bartarable (spell checker says that is NOT a word.. we disagree) items in excess of need.
Here is my thinking 100 miles or less the load out is for get back home primarily.
Over 100 miles and really anything over 60 or 70.. it could take a while and given any significant obstacles .. you might need toolsets (knowledge and physical) to gain supplies or food and water from something outside of your self.. other sources..
Indeed the primary point I like about JR’s post is that buying stuff doesn’t make you prepared or safe.. knowing and being able to do stuff does. PR told me once and I’ll summarize since I remember the premise but not word for word. “The greatest weapon you have is your mind”.. or something close. Read and practice depression era skills, and be able to use mechanical tools that are not modern.. be able to create what you don’t have, because we can’t see every eventuality.
anyway.. my thoughts/rambling.
GG58
Try bartErable…
I guess kinda like that ‘A rat’ hiding in sepArate. Got to love the English amalgam of words and their funky weights and measures.
PR
Good reminder article, I concur with PR regards the Alice Ruck, pretty bomb proof, We were issued the large Alice, never failed me. (Capt Micheal’s) and H-straps, I still prefer my LC1 gear, and IMO, the “H” is superior to the “Y” straps. and since I left my sets in Kalifornia I’ll have to put a new one together. The British Bergan with it’s PLCE kit is also good, I ran into some Brits in Central America and that was there counter part to our kit. Above pic looks like a medium ruck.
Agreed….! I hated the “Y”.
For those like me who only dream of Alice, I offer an alternative: The Everest Luggage Canvas Backpack available through Amazon for around $40. We bought several of them about 6 years ago (I liked the review that said they used theirs to haul rocks!), and they’ve been going strong ever since. The picture on the website doesn’t really do it justice, because it’s larger than it seems, and the front pocket opens to reveal several more little pockets. Even packed full, they’ve been comfortable and easy to use by both the lean and overweight members of our family. We’ve used and abused them on a regular basis, and they look as good now as they did when we bought them. They don’t have all the loops and fasteners of an Alice, but it’s still pretty easy to attach various items to the outside using little bungee cords and carabiners. I recommend them for anyone who doesn’t want a full-sized camping backpack.
For those on a budget. Have you tried Craigslist or the local Flea Market? Not in my area, but for example:
https://pensacola.craigslist.org/sgd/5720663787.html
SingleMom, Alice is a cheapie. I’m fairly certain I could locate a small Alice (they come in two sizes) and frame in good to great condition for less than $40.
Alice has let a few down with failed rivets in the frame. I drilled all of the rivets in my Alice frames and replaced with 10×40 flat head bolts and lock nuts.
PR
Thanks, PR! I’ll keep looking. My boy’s college town had an Army-Navy store I wandered through a time or two, but everything I wanted was out of my price range!
Singlemom..
Try here http://www.armynavyusa.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=alice+pack&Submit=
or here
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/11/surplus-alice-packs-for-17-97-at-sportsmans-guide/
Re ArmyNavyUSA.com – beware of Rothco look alikes. I avoid all things Rothco as ersatz cheapos. PR
Good article JR. Enjoy being challenged to keep thinking and getting better equipped.
– Keep Looking UP
Single Mom – medium Alice with frame (see my comment regarding Alice frame rivets above)https://www.armysurplusworld.com/category/field-gear?alice_pack_option=1110 @ $44
eBay – almost brand new: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALICE-PACK-MEDIUM-RUCKSACK-GENUINE-USGI-w-FRAME-STRAPS-BACKPACK-037-/302061075147 @ $40.
Big Alice will hold 80# or more and it’s easy to over load to the point the pack cannot be picked up, which is probably why there are so many bad rivets in Alice frames.
There’s no magic in Alice, just a long haul dependable ruck. The modern Mollie’s are even better and there are some high end commercial that beat anything the military uses. Military packs are generally better for our purposes than commercial as they are built for the long haul and quite rugged.
PR