Hello,

I've listened to many or your podcasts and have been anticipating the episode about your thoughts on Fast Packs.

I think one of the main things that should be discussed is the customization each one should have for their specific use.

My fast pack is set up to help me walk out on a established 4wd trail down in Florida.

My friend has his set up for when he goes hunting in northern Georgia.

While there are similarities in some of the basics, we definitely have some different supplies in our chosen from our areas, objectives, and most importantly, our abilities.

I have no illusions about my camp pack being the end all be all in an emergency, but it would help in a pinch.

So how many fast packs do you have and what are they set up for?

I have an every day carry, all the guys at work call it a "Murse". Knife, Phone, Emergency Cell charger,emergency radio, flashlight, multi-tool; just stuff i always have on me. I take it everywhere I go. I don't have a CCL or a concealed carry, so I leave my firearm at home. The bag is one that was given to us from our company. It has absolutly no tactical look to it (has our company logo on it even), and I can carry it without anyone noticing anything. lately I have added some antibacterial hand sanitizer.

In my car I have a 72 hour Kit. It has Food, Maps, some light gear (firestarting, cookware, etc), a change of cloths, some duct tape, etc. The bag itself is a green hiking backpak, that has a florescent orange lining.
I also have an emergency field medical kit in my car. It only has enough supplys to care for family members until we get to a hospital or emergency center.

In each of my kids closet is a backpak with three changes of cloths, some toys, and some light tolietries. I check them at the begining of each season to make sure they are packed properly and the clothing selection is approprate for the weather. The back packs are sized for the children and they are packed approriately for how much each child can carry comfortably.

Near the exit closest to the cars, I keep two dry boxes with about 100 12GA rounds, and 2000 22 rounds. I have a 22 revolver, a 12 ga, and a 10/22. They are stored near the exit but hidden from anyone, who would not know they are there.

I also keep some rubbermaids paked with drygoods, rice, and canned foods. They are heavy but both my wife and I can move them. If I think we are going to be gone for a long time, I can grab those as well.

On the way out, i keep 2 10 gallon gas cans in the garage. I use them for the lawn mower, weedwacker, chainsaw, etc. I am always rotating it so the gas is always fresh.

One bag I have that is specific to my family is a specialized backpack that my kids can sit in. It has a zipper down the front and leg holes. I don't plan on hiking in a bug out if I don't have to, but you never know. The kids can't walk far on their own.

I can grab them and go in under 15 minutes, with wife kids, and myself. All the bags, boxes and gear can easily fit in my car. I have set the alarm to go off in the middle of the night on a weekend, and drilled myslef to see how fast we can get moving.

Wow!

Sound like you got all the bases covered. Very cool!

Heh, the Fast Pack and Bugging Out should be an interesting series of shows. Right now, I'm still trying to wrap my head around how to present all the info so it seems somewhat organized. Probably looking at 6-8 hours of material here, so I want it to be outlined pretty well.

Rob is the Fast-Pack King!

Has anyone used any of thier fastpacks? I would love to hear your stories about when you used them, what you used, what just took up space.

Oooo, good question. For a time, I was using my Fast Pack a lot. Not on a "survival test" but because it had stuff that I needed. First aid, OTC meds, TP, knives/tool, etc. I don't look at a Fast Pack (or BOB, GOOD bag, BBB) as a bag that's going to keep me alive or make me survive an event. I look at it as a bag of opportunity; as something that will make surviving easier.

For example, I can go out to the woods right now and easily "survive" for 1 day. I don't need anything other than me - I could be naked and I would still survive. I probably wouldn't be comfortable, but I would be alive the next day. If I had the normal stuff I have with me everyday (clothes, shoes, knife, mini-Leathermans, flashlight, chapstick, bandanna), I would be much better off because I have some warmth and some tools. If I had to survive for 3 days, I could do it much easier with that small amount of gear, than if I were naked.

So, extrapolate that and fast forward to my Fast Pack. What it really is is a collection of items and tools that will allow me to have greater opportunity for survival. Instead of having to make a bowl out of wood, I have a canteen cup. Instead of flint knapping a rock, I have a knife (several, actually). If it turns cold, I don't have to spend time huddling in a debris hut, I can put on some more clothing items. If I come across a lake or stream, I don't have to waste time finding a fibrous plant, beat it to death and make cordage out of it, and find or make a hook - I simply pull out my fishing kit, find a stick and start fishing.

Have I gone out and used my Fast Pack during a survival test? No, not really. But, my Fast Pack does contain items that I've used before in one situation or another and I know that it works and what the value of having that item is. Any survival test that I've been through, I had decidedly less gear, as that was what the survival test was about.

So to me, having a bag doesn't decide whether I survive or not. That's up to me and what's in my head. But, having a bag of the *right* stuff will surely make it easier and, hopefully, more comfortable.

Hopefully, that made sense.

As a rule, I try to keep a little notepad and pencil, etc in each pack/bag/container and use it to keep a list of things I use as I use them. Otherwise I forget.

I just had a thought. What would you put into a "fanny pack" to help you get home from work if you lived in an urban area, like NYC. (This would be for the people who commute to work by bus, train, or subway instead of a car) I remembered all the news videos a few years back showing all those people in NYC having to walk home for a reason that escapes me now. I'm estimating a distance between 10 and 20 miles.

My thoughts would be:
Bottle of water
Granola bar
Gum
Pepper spray
Tiny $5.00 ear bud FM radio with battery
Small bottle of asprin
Bandana or face cloth
Chap stick
Small flashlight
Filter mask?

What are your thoughts?

In my main Fast Pack, I have a waist pack with the below contents. The idea is that if you need the Fast Pack, you would take out on put on the waist pack. That way, you would always have some survival gear with you. Keep in mind that some of the items are of sub-standard quality because of the size limitation. For example, I'm not a big fan of space blankets and emergency ponchos (the really small thin ones), but, they pack small and add somewhat to the list of material on hand - I'd rather have them instead of nothing.

Shelter, Fire, Warmth, Clothing
Emergency poncho
Space blanket
Metal match case containing:
* Spark-lite sparker device
* Candle, birthday type
* Matches, strike anywhere
Tinder, chemical tabs
Lighter, butane (with child-safety)

Water
Iodine tablets (Potable Aqua w/ PA Plus)
Water bag (stuff sack w/ several large zip-lock bags)

First Aid and Medical
First-aid kit, pocket sized (Pocket Medic), containing:
* Safety Pins
* Motrin
* After Bite Sting Relief
* Butterfly Closure Strips
* 2x2 Sterile Dressing
* Adhesive Bandages
* Antibiotic Ointment
* Moleskin (7x4)
* Antiseptic Towelettes
Actifed
Lip balm, resealable tube
Sun block, SPF 30
Insect repellent

Food and Cooking
Granola bars (front pocket)

Navigation and Signaling
Whistle, plastic, on lanyard
Compass, map type
Mirror, small, Star Flash, 2" x 3", with lanyard
Map of area, laminated

Light
Flashlight, LED, amber, 1 AA, battery removed
Flashlight, LED, red, 2 AAA batteries removed
LED pen, (pen w/ red LED light) batteries removed

Personal Care and Sanitation
Toilet paper, 50 sheets
Tissues, facial

Tools, Repair, Utility & Misc Equipment
Swiss Army Knife, containing:
* knife blade, 1 large, 1 small
* saw
* scissors
* can opener / bottle opener
* screwdriver, flat head, 1 large, 1 small
* awl, with sewing eye
* corksrew
* tweezers
* toothpick

Leatherman tool, containing:
* needle-nose pliers
* knife blade
* file, metal / wood
* screwdriver, flat head, 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small
* wire cutter
* can opener / bottle opener
* awl
* ruler, 8 inch

Repair
Duct tape, small roll

Utility
Paracord
Marker, black, permanent
Notepad, with pencil
Bandana, black, extra-large
Bandana, blue
Lanyards

Information
Phone number list

Economic
Money, $100 in bills, $3 in quarters

All of this fits into a medium size waist pack, and there is room for more items. I keep everything in a couple of pouches so that the items aren't jostled around as much. Things that I'll be looking to add the next time I go through it will be an N95 mask (N00 is way too big, and I'll have to find a way to keep it from getting crushed), probably some tea and soup packets, nylon zip ties (repair), and some safety pins. I'm sure I can think of more stuff to put in it, too.