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Long Range Bugout bag is created by Sandpiper of California (PiperGear.com). They make various sports bags as well as travel packs, and “bugout bags”. I snagged a used Long Range Bag on eBay last week for testing and reviewing purposes.

This bag is huge, no wonder they call it the Long Range bag. Like most suitcases, there is a zipper in the back that compresses additional 3.5″ of fabric, which adds 1116 cu/in to the main compartment. Unexpanded this pack is around 4400 cubic inches. Expanded it is around 5550 cubic inches. Because of its ‘square’ design, and expandable feature, the Long Range bag reminds me of a travel suitcase. In fact there are two carry handles, and a zippered back compartment to put away the shoulder straps. This can be handy if you fly with this pack, or travel via public transportation. Material is 1000-Denier Cordura, ACU color pattern. Stitching seems pretty good, however the metal carabiner attachments at the end of shoulder straps seem flimsy for the kind of weight you can carry in this pack. The bottom attachment points for the shoulder straps could use reinforcing.

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Main compartment contains my clothes:

• 1 pair convertible pants/shorts (zip off bottoms) and belt
• 1 long sleeve t-shirt – inner layer
• 1 moisture wicking/breathable t-shirt – inner layer
• 1 fleece – middle layer
• 1 M65 jacket – outer layer
• 1 pair wool socks
• 2 pair cotton socks
• 1 pair of underwear
• Added large Italian military wool blanket

I also store the FM 21-76 ‘Survival’ and FM 21-11 ‘First Aid for Soldiers’ manuals, along with three 55 gallon heavy-duty drum liners in the same compartment. There is even enough room for Yellow bottle of HEET (methyl alcohol fuel), and a few energy bars. Kit itself is made up of the following:

• Assorted large and medium bandages plus Maxi pads for large wounds
• Added Israeli Trauma Bandage
• Added two 4″ ACE elastic bandages for sprains
• Cloth medical tape
• Several scalpel blades
• Hand sanitizer
• Ant-diarrhea medicine
• Half roll toilet paper
• Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen
• Leatherman Core Multitool in a belt pouch
• Bushnell 8×25 Monocular
• 17% Capsicum pepper spray
• 550 paracord
• Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter – removed
• Added Katadyn Vario
• Sharpie permanent marker
• 2 yards of duct tape
• Two BIC Lighters
• Inova X1 Flashlight with batteries
• Two Lithium Ion AA batteries for flashlight
• Large Safety pins
• Heavy-duty black thread
• Heavy-duty waxed boot/rucksack repair thread
• Heavy-duty sewing awl; 10 assorted needles
• P-38 manual can opener
• Magnesium fire starter – removed
• Mylar emergency blanket
• Travel-size toothpaste and toothbrush
• Three 35 gallon draw-string trash bags
• Three N95 face masks

{Update 05/15/2011}. Pack has been switched to a Swedish Army surplus external frame rucksack.  The stock hardware has been upgraded with USGI MOLLE II shoulder straps and hip belt.  AK-47 bayonet has been replaced with a Buck Omni Hunter knife.

{Update 10/01/2010}. Went through the bag again… Permanently removed light sticks.  Added one more Bic lighter, an Israeli Trauma Bandage and an East German AK-47 bayonet.  Bayonet is a all-in-one knife, wire cutter and light-duty sawing tool.

{Update 5/21/2008}. After more reading about Combat Medics and first aid equipment, I added the following to my list:

• Gold Bond Medicated body powder. Soldiers use foot powder to keep infection and smell out, and I figured it was a wise idea. Gold Bond foot powder contains 1.0% Menthol as the main ingredient, the rest is mostly talc. This comes in a blue bottle. I found something similar: Medicated Body Powder; 0.8% Menthol and 5.0% Zinc Oxide. Zinc Oxide is and anti-itch agent in Calamine, and I can kill two birds with one stone by using the body powder instead of foot powder.
• Petroleum Jelly. This can be used for chapped lips and skin and added to tinder for firemaking. It is NOT to be used on burns because heat gets trapped by the jelly, and does not aid healing in any way. It can be used on burns and cuts during the healing process to keep skin protected.
• Dental Floss. Good oral hygiene is paramount, and it can be used as thread or fishing line.
• Elastic Bandage. ACE is the most popular brand, but most manufacturers are similar. I have a 4″ roll for sprains, to hold gauze dressing in place on an open wound. Elastic bandage is better than gauze because it is washable and re-usable.
• Fast Orange hand cleaner with pumice. I bought a couple of small (7.5 oz) bottles for the BOB and my regular camping pack. It is very convenient to clean your hands without having to use water before a meal, or if there is a first aid emergency.
• $2 leather palm Work Gloves.  I believe these will be used more than any other item… except for clothes.  I have another pair in the camping pack, and they are used pretty regularly when gathering firewood and other manual labor.  Blisters are a pain in the a$$…

{1/21/2008}. For the BOB pack I am using a first generation woodland camo MOLLE II Assault Pack. I have tried several variations of school backpacks, gym bags and military packs. None seemed to fit the bill. They were either too small, too weak, too large or too uncomfortable.

I actually bought this Assault pack as compliment to the full MOLLE II Rifleman’s set (which has been sold due to it’s size and complexity). The Assault pack was the best feature of the whole set. I decided to keep and use it for my BOB. Some time has passed, and I added on the MOLLE II Buttpack for extra space. It now has a US Army poncho and poncho liner inside (Ranger Roll).

Some of these items have to be checked every year or so. I test the flashlight once or twice a year to make sure the batteries are still good. Pepper spray is good until 2011, and lightsticks have to be changed every 1-2 years (removed*). Some people suggest a painter’s face mask from a hardware store. This is something that may be added if space permits. I am strongly against increasing the size of my BOB, so time will tell. I do not plan on adding a sleeping bag at all. Creature comfort is not a priority, and the Ranger Roll will suffice as a makeshift bed, and keep me warm and dry in rainy or cold weather. There is no reason to put as much stuff as possible in the BOB, extra stuff means extra weight, which means you have to carry more food to compensate for used energy. As far as food goes, here is a list of things I consider for the BOB:

• PowerBar energy bars.  Twice the calories than a regular granola bar. They have to be changed out every year or so. I buy replacements at the beginning of camping season, and rotate my stock. These energy bars are my favorite emergency food, they taste good, do not require cooking, and very energy dense.
• Chicken and Beef Bullion cubes. This is a delicious hot beverage on a cold day. Cubes do not take any room, and I can easily put a few dozen inside the cook pot, along with the alcohol stove. Tea bags complete the hot beverage assortment.
• Mayday 2400 calorie emergency ration.  This was added in December 2010.  Came in a $5 Coscto purchased emergency kit, which has been modified, and some components removed.  This is basically flavored saw-dust like bar packed with calories.  Level 3 emergency food; level 2 being the PowerBar, and level 1 being regular granola bars.  That’s the order I would eat them in.

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This is my list of Preparedness and Survival publications. Anything from wilderness survival, knot making, homesteading, repair manuals, training materials, etc. I own some of these books, others are in a list because of good reviews, and they are under consideration for purchase. I do not endorse any of these, this is more of a list for record keeping. Most of these can be purchased on Amazon or eBay as well as your local book store. If you like to browse of books in person, visit a small ‘mom-and-pop’ book store instead of a chain retailer. You can usually find used books for much less, and keep the small store in business at the same time.

• The Survival Handbook – (Peter Darman)
• US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76 – (Department of Defense)
• First Aid for Soldiers: FM 21-11 – (Department of The Army)
• Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition – (Abigail R. Gehring)
• Peterson Field Guides, A Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America – (Kent H. McKnight and Vera B. McKnight)
• Peterson Field Guides, A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America – (Lee Allen Peterson and Roger Tory Peterson)
• Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments – (Andrew Chevallier and Gillian Emerson-Roberts)
• Emergency War Surgery, NATO Handbook – (Thomas E. Bowen)

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Archive for the ‘Lighting’ Category

I am not a “flashlighaholic” like the guys at Candlepowerforums.com, however flashlights have always been cool toys for me. Ever since the Inova X5 purchase, I have been hooked on LED lights. They are far better for every day chores than an incandescent light. For the BOB, I purchased an Inova X1 single LED, single […]

Rayovac Sportsman 3-in-1 Head-lite

This little gem is a lifesaver. It has replaced all my other flashlights for everyday(night) use outdoors. Before purchasing this headlight on sale at Lowe’s, I used the Inova X5 LED flashlight all the time. The X5 is awesome in its own right, but the versatility of a headlamp outshines every regular flashlight. Wearing a […]

MagLite LED bulb conversion

I replaced the light bulb in my 10 year old MagLite 4D cell flashlight a few months ago. The light output seems to be about the same. Color of the new LED bulb is somewhat purple. The flashlight retains its adjustable focus, since the only thing that changes is the bulb itself. With the new […]

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Archive for the ‘Cooking’ Category

This mess kit can be purchased at any surplus store, eBay and many other web sites. I have been using this Mess Kit for many years in the woods. The clamshell design makes it easy to keep the stamped stainless steel knife, fork and spoon inside. The lower half is a bowl, with swing-away handle. […]

Czech mess kit

Czech mess kit is a nice light compliment to any stove. It only weighs about 1 LB, and there are three pieces total made of aluminum. Large pot is a little over 1 quart, the smaller pot is about 2/3 of a quart. The lid can be used as a frying pan, although I have […]

Coleman 533 Dual Fuel Gas stove

Coleman has had this model of Dual Fuel stove available for many years. It has been my de-facto camping stove for many years. While not light, its construction is bomb-proof, and fuel is relatively cheap. This is actually my second Coleman stove. The first one was lost somewhere. I either forgot it at a camp […]

Trangia Stove and pot set

The two Swedish Trangia alcohol stove sets arrived today. (Check out Trangia.se for current production mess kits and stoves). Looks like both pots are coated with paint; some sort of heat resistant paint. I have poured maybe an ounce of denatured alcohol and lit it. The little legs inside go up, and press against the […]

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Archive for the ‘Water’ Category

Water is essential for life. Drinking on the move can sometimes be a challenge if you do not want to stop. Personally, I prefer canteens and bottles, but for versatility, hydration bladders cannot be beat. CamelBak is well respected in this field, and has been on the forefront of hydration systems for more than 10 […]

Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter

Three of the Aquamira Frontier Filters arrived earlier this week. I bought them as a backup, and to put one each in our BOBs. Here is an exert from Aquamira’s web site: The Frontier Emergency Water Filter System is ideal for hiking, travel, and emergency preparedness. It is the perfect addition to your 72 hour […]

Katadyn Vario

After some consideration I decided to purchase a water filter. I made up my mind after lugging a few gallon sized jugs of water to our campsite on more than one occasion. I was not sure whether to buy a MSR Sweetwater or the Katadyn Vario. Both were priced the same, both had similar water […]

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Archive for the ‘Knives and tools’ Category

The factory knife sheath on the Buck Omni Hunter is of lesser quality than the knife itself. One fine Sunday afternoon, I got tired of being bored and decided to make my own sheath. Bear in mind, this is my first attempt at knife sheaths, and only second attempt at leather-craft in general. The end […]

Buck Omni Hunter 12 PT with gut hook

Overall length 9.75″ Weight 7.8 oz Steel material 420HC stainless Blade length 4″ Accessory Nylon sheath I have gained experience after several trips to the woods, that would not have come any other way.  One of the most used tools is a camp knife.  In the beginning, I thought bigger is better, and started with […]

CRKT Vertex drop-point

Overall length 7.25″ Folded length 4.0″ Weight 3.8 oz Steel material 8Cr14MoV stainless Blade length 3.125″ Lock Mechanism Locking liner Update 5/31/2011: Just after a few weeks of use the pocket clip has lost most of it’s spring.  I had to use pliers to compress it again, so that the knife would not fall out […]

East German AK-47 Bayonet

Length w. Sheath 13.25″ Knife length 10.75″ Weight 2.8 oz Steel material Carbon Steel Blade length 5.75″ Accessory Wire cutter If you are looking for a cheap knife to throw in your BOB and forget about it, the East German AK-47 Bayonet is a reasonably good solution.  It’s large, it has a built-in wire cutter […]

Keyhole Saw

One of the tools for making a semi-permanent shelter in the woods is often overlooked.  The tool I am talking about is a saw.  This can be a pruning saw, a folding saw, or anything in between.  Many people try to use a machete, or a hatchet, or even a camp axe to chop wood.  […]

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Archive for the ‘Packs and bags’ Category

Review coming ASAP, this post is a placeholder for now…

Piper Gear Long Range Bugout bag

Rating 4 of 5 stars Design internal frame bag Size extra large Number of Pockets 6 Max. Load Carried untested Price Paid $76 Pack Weight 6 lbs Total size 4400-5550 (expanded) Long Range Bugout bag is created by Sandpiper of California (PiperGear.com). They make various sports bags as well as travel packs, and “bugout bags”. […]

MOLLE Sustainment Pouch

For review today I have a MOLLE Sustainment Pouch. These are designed to attach to the sides of the Main MOLLE Pack to carry the “sustainment load – MREs”. I imagine they can be used for anything, from carrying clothes to food to bottles of water. My pouches are made by SDS, and have waterproof […]

MOLLE M-3 Medical Bag

Another good MOLLE accessory from CheaperThanDirt.com is the Medical Bag. Originally designed for combat medics this bag contains more First Aid and surgery items than the Individual Soldier’s first aid kit. There are several variations of this design: three, four and five compartment models. The bag from CTD has 3 compartments, and it can be […]

British DPM Camp Rucksack

Rating 3 of 5 stars Design internal frame rucksack Size medium Number of Pockets 0 Max. Load Carried untested Price Paid $18 Pack Weight 3.5 lbs Total size 2240 cu inches This little sucker was purchased ‘for the fun of it’ online at SportsmansGuide.com for $18 including shipping. I was searching for a good BOB […]

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This is the standard folder I carry in my belt BOB. It stays there, and comes out when cooking on all the camping trips. I have had this knife for about 10 years, and still love it. Knife enthusiasts have said that old-school Gerber steel is much better than the new stuff. I don’t know, and will not argue with them. The steel of this knife is good. It is stainless steel of some sort, sharpens easy, and holds the edge well enough. A few years back on one of my camping trips I thought I lost this knife, and replaced it with a Gerber AR 3.00 from Wal Mart. Then, after about 3 months, while cleaning my car, I found the Gator. Hooray! Both knives have their strengths and weaknesses, and the Gator would come out on top, in my opinion.  The clip-point blade seems to be better in old-school Gerber knives like this one. The Gator has a lock-back mechanism, and a “handle made of a hard inner core of glass filled polypropylene, with Santoprene rubber molded and chemically bonded around it.” The grip is exceptional, even when hands are wet. This knife requires both hands for operation. I have tried flicking it open numerous times, and it just will not happen.