This just supports my thought that survival has much more to do with knowledge and mentality, than expensive gear. Of course we all love nice gear but it's nothing without a prepared mind.
Knowledge > gear. Buying expansive stuff but having no experience with it will be less efficient than working with improvised gear as long as if you have practise. Also, the more pratise you have with gear, the more efficient will more expansive gear become. And with practise, you get the feeling of what your exact needs are, which makes your equipment all the more efficient.
As an emt I laugh at some people’s lack of knowledge in the emergency medicine field. They think that seeing something on a movie makes them qualified to do surgery. A lot of people have expensive medical kits in their car and have no idea how to use it to actually save a life.
It's really refreshing to see someone putting a get-home scenario into practice. There's such a huge gap between theoretical and practical knowledge. The more we are able to cope ourselves, the more we could help others too.
I have boiled water in a plastic bottle and in aluminum loaf pan.You just have to keep water in the bottle and above the flame , takes a little while but it will work. It will deform the bottle and you can reuse it . Great video w, we all need to test out our gear and ourselves.
Great video. Proof right here that knowledge is worth more than gear. Been saying it for years, use what you have and MAKE it work. People fall victim to paying entirely too much money for gear. It’s not the latest and greatest that gets the job done, it’s the mindset. Again, great job 👍
I've seldom seen a person actually practice the theory of having a go bag and its contents AND use the actual go bag and its contents to bug out. not only did you practice the theory, you were able to have other additional possible scenarios on the way. great job! now I'm thinking of doing the same thing.
This was a solid BOB setup for a really low price point and you ACTUALLY did a review. I'm a check to check kinda guy and when I look up videos like this, I'm doing it to get real inspiration. More often than not, these videos gear snobs mocking low budget equipment without really contributing anything of use to me. So really I have to say thanks for bucking the trend and producing good content. Keep up the good work friend.
Thanks Justin. This tends to be where I am going with the channel - real-life application. I'm about to shoot a video on a real-life survival kit, the one I take with me into the woods when I go hiking. And after I review it, I will take it into the woods and shoot a video on it by actually using it.
Cajun Swamp Fox I recently watched a video on a Berkey filter having col___ bacteria. It wasn't in the water before using it. In a situation how would a person test to know to know all is working properly?
good video, Tim. i like that you took a set price-point and went with it. as @SuperUncleRyan said, it's not about a bunch of expensive gear, but about the knowledge and mentality. and that's why i pared down my get home bag from an extremely full backpack to a smaller bag similar to the maxped versipack. i realized that i didn't need all of that gear with me, weighing me down. if i ever needed to walk the 30 miles home from work, or worse, the 50+ miles from another location i frequent, the gear meant to help me get home might have actually hindered me. so i took out everything, then put back in only the things i know i'd probably need. and those things, along with my edc that is always with me, is much lighter and easier to carry.
I wear a *Neoprene slimmer belt* for these testing 10 mile practice Hikes....it really helps alot with back issues...and your excess waist fat cries alot more... Very Thorough bug out walk through....thanks for sharing. cheers
I always have my walkout bag as I call it. Last year my snowmobile failed 12 km out, I went though my bag as its multi season. I ditched the stuff for summer, started hiking. I got to the point of thinking of overnighting, and was picked up by other explorers. But I wasn't afraid of overnighting in -10c weather w 2 +ft of snow. Slow steady progress, kept energy up snowshoeing out. Proved the equipment and concept.
Glad to see you actually gave it a go and see what it would be like. Only thing I would have changed would have been making some sort of overhead shelter for your sleeping area. You could be sound asleep and next thing you know it's pouring. Then scrambling around in the dark unfolding the mylar blanket isn't the time to do it. Prepare for the worse, hope for the best.
Great video, I love what you did with this series. I thought banking on the Ozark multi-tool was brave (or stupid) based on my experience with them. Thanks for effort!
Ozark Trail has multiple models of multi tools. They have one that goes for 20 bucks that has received good marks from several reviewers. Me? I'll stick with Leatherman but, I've got 8 or 9 and a couple Gerbers. (51 years old. If you buy what you can when you can, you'll end up with some good options. Jmo.)
A lot of people are putting these bags together and showing them off in videos but rarely do I see any videos of them actually field testing it! Great video! God bless brother!
Foot Patrol Hustlahz thanks for checking out the video. I plan on doing more like this - moving beyond just the theory of bags and kits to the actual testing and application.
Awesome test. I have done lots of walking and camping with my gear but never that distance in one day. Walking is never the problem but testing out the gear is certainly cool. Great vid! Just shows that its more about what you know and not what you have or how much you spent on stuff.
This video shows you have a great mental attitude and are a person of action, I respect that. Some questions, feedback etc follow. I hope you receive this in the good natured way it is intended. Your bag is high vis, do you have a way to hide it in case? The shoes idea is great. You mentioned the possibility of flooding, please do not plan to cross floodwaters!!! In the event of a flood how likely are you to get notice? How much notice? How can you incorporate habits into your day to day to support this? Communication and batteries/ power bank/ wind up charger etc. Radio? (to keep up to date on current events), Mobile phone? Weather proofing of these? For example can your mobile handle getting dropped in a muddy puddle? Does it have protective casing? Personally I would priorities a good poncho over the sleeping bag. What if getting home is delayed and you have to go to a different location because of those bridges/ flood possibilities etc? A spare pair of underwear would not take up a lot of space and would allow for a 2, 3 day delay. (you already have the socks.) Would it be worth including thermal wear in your kit? This combined with the poncho would make for portable shelter and could replace the sleeping bag. It would also double as something to sleep in particularly if you are stuck at your workplace for a few days due to the bridges being uncrossable. You could wash/ dry/ air your "day clothes" while wearing your thermal wear as PJs. You make a valid point about the smell of the food. Not only could it attract animals, in a "grid down" situation it alerts desperate people to the fact that you have food. Do you have a toilet plan? Wet wipes for example. Disinfectant hand gel? 3 minutes without air...do you have something to help filter out smoke/ germs etc? A cotton bandanna would be a cheap/ useful addition. 3 hours without shelter...The shoes idea for sure! A reliable, sturdy poncho acts as portable shelter or a wind/ waterproof light weight jacket and pants to suit. I feel like this has not been given enough thought. If you have to leave your "camp" in a hurry you could loss your sleeping bag (shelter) and backpack etc. Goodness this got long fast. Sorry. I hope this input helps.
I appreciate your dedication, i have suffered from sciatica when i was in my 20s. I try not to agitate the nerve because i will pay for it. So may not realize that there is no comfortable position to bring relief, so walking 13 miles is not a walk in the park. No punt intented. I thinknthat i would addva small goose down vest. They seem to ball up well. I've been to New Hampshire and depending on the season, nights can be chilly. I understan that for this $100. challenge it may not be acceptable but its def an option. Enjoyed the vid its a very realistic view of equipment and atomospheric conditions. Thank you!
You can boil water in the cans your food came in. Throw a zip lock bag into your pack to store the food once open and leave the lid attached firmly to the can and you have a cook pot/water pot.
great video! really wish people did more videos like this. Also that was really great ending on showing how the product held up. i had the exact same multi tool last year and instantly returned it. was not happy
Thanks for the great video Tim. You are the first video blogger that I have seen that actually went out and proved the gear would work. Everybody just shows the gear and talks about the choices behind it. really big thumbs up man.
I for one really like that you tested the route and the gear. Theres so many that just show off and review gear but never test it. Knowing the challenges along the way helps a lot aswell. Also really makes me glad my walk from work is less than an hour.
I picked up the same sleeping bag to try out. I took it on a 8 mile backpacking trip into the High Uintas in Utah, with overnight temperatures dipping into the 40's. It was surprisingly warm, pair it with my hammock quilt and I slept comfortably. The $20 dollar bag, can't be beat for the price!
Awesome video! I love watching people actually testing their kit. I did a test of my EDC gear and posted it on my channel a few months ago, I wasn't hiking but did an overnight with my EDC backpack. Doing stuff like this makes great memories!
Thank you for doing a get out there and test video!! Many people show a bag full of stuff but never show going and trying it witch I think is almost as important as having it
Those tins were a surprise. Thought they would melt on you. I'd still replace them with a tiny stainless dog food/water bowl (peace of mind). No issues with melting. As for the potatoes...did you heat them for morale (important!) or just because you like them warm? They're already cooked, so I was just curious (I was thinking stealth, but maybe that wasn't a consideration...). That was a thought provoking video. Thanks for doing it!
Thanks Tim, great video. Very thought provoking, even for someone like myself who's been prepping for a few years now, & who works in emergency services.
Fantastic vid, Tim you hit this out of the park! Practical testing is a must ,it's great to collect the gear and review it. Every day testing I hope a lot more and including you do the every day testing. You do live in a beautiful part of the country. Yes and the feet pay for it. Keep them coming. Fantastic job. Bill.
Probably the most enjoyable video I have watched lately regarding survival/preparedness. Outstanding job and has motivated me to prepare for giving this a try. Thanks
I had a feeling the multi tool would be troublesome. You could have used the milk jug to boil the water in. If I am correct its a physics thing as to why it won't melt but it requires not placing it directly on the coals. They do package tuna in foil packs and are vacuum sealed and the packages are plastic/foil combinations. The tins were something that didn't occur to me and acted as bowl too. Thanks for the vid. I can't wait to to see the next one on how you would tweak the kit. One suggestion maybe have a cheap cell or power bank handy in case something happens to your main on. A simple flip phone runs about 20ish bucks
Thanks for sharing this information. The story about your dad having to abandon the car in order to get home has inspired me to add snow shoes to my winter car kit preps. I live in New England too and know how a winter storm can sneak up on you. I still remember the blizzard of "78". I was just a young kid of nine but remember that blizzard all to well.
Just my opinion in without rule of law situation i would not burn a wood fire instead i carry an esbit stove. Why? Again its just my opinion a wood fire smell is like a dinner bell....
One thing I would have changed is your choice of food, I would get a can of mixed veggies or tomatoes okra and corn (my favorite) and a box of instant rice. This is a combo I use a lot because it fills you up and sticks with you all day. You're spending around 2 bucks combined for a good meal. Some jerky or hotdogs sliced thin is good in it also.
instant potato (prefer the loaded variety)and mixed veg, jerky and those store brand granola bars carbs, fats, sugar, salts everything for a growing survivalist lol
One thing you mention that got me thinking what if in your scénario the Bridges were only close to traffic but not for pedestrians youll be able to cross Them instead of crossing the river
This was really excellent. I have seen a lot of videos about what you might need but this is the first one I have seen that tested it out. thank you. I have been trying to get my husband to put together a get home bag but he thinks I am being paranoid. problem is he works about 100 miles from home so I don't know how he could put together enough gear, food, etc. to walk all that way. this worries me. I grew up in Florida and have been through multiple hurricanes so no I don't think it is paranoid to prepare. and now we live in earthquake country. just can't seem to convince him. so I will try to put something together for him and then just give it to him to take to work. the 100 miles is daunting though. would probably take him at least a week. got some really good ideas in this video.
Great video! Many youTubers put together all types of bags for different scenarios and never test them. Kudos for actually testing your get home bag. 👍👍👍
Nice to see you actually did test it. Better multitools can be found in automotive without jumping in cost to a leatherman. On the last vid I was shocked that you did not include that $5 jacket. Now you see why. That contractor bag was a nice find. Walmart sells them and they take up no bag space. One thing you didnt mention they can do is be stuffed with debris or just inflated and tied for a nice air mat or blanket. And of course be used as an emergency rain poncho. 1L or 1.5L water bottles can be found by the soda and come prefilled much cheaper than that polycarb bottle. The sawyer mini would have let you refill them on the go without having to boil, and would have kept pond debris out of your dinner. Finding moments of beauty is essential skill for morale, as well as mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Those tins are heavy aluminum foil, thicker than whats used in hobo meals directly on the coals. No fear of them burning through but ya they are single use. I know the dollar store offers small loaf pans that are solid metal, not foil. WM should offer something similar. Theres also the imusa greasepot which is a legendary piece of budget kit among ultralighters. Regarding scent and attracting critters, you burned that bridge when you cooked next to your bedroll. Burn the packaging, and have the cans in the fire to remove any more scent from them, but never sleep where youve cooked. Speaking of which, you ate. You did not mention the followup bowel relief. Your kit lacks hygene items to handle this eventuality. River crossings if the bridge is out presents a problem. Carrying an inflatable raft is obviously not practical for a GHB. Only thing I can think of is a set of swim trunks and a dry bag large enough to fit your pack, which would double as a float, pillow, and bear bag. You should have kept the bags from the purchases. They are no substitute for proper footwear but can be used to slap a moisture barrier between your socks and your shoes. Mistake items (my opinion only)... The whistle was a waste of money. Ferro rods have no place in an emergency kit, carry lighters. Foil pans My additions: Summer sausage or pepperoni stick and a couple of knorr sides. A 99 cent bag of gummy candy. Lighter, wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Imusa greasepot or solid metal loaf pan.
Very impressed. Great content man. You not only spend the money you spend time away from your family to bring an honest review of items a normal Joe can buy. Definitely going to sub and hope you can continue this awesome channel.
Great video, i thoroughly enjoyed it. Not so much the bag itself, but more your reflections, findings and thoughts along the way. Keep up the good work.
Great video! I've been looking forward to this one since you posted the original $100 bug out bag vid. Keep the entertaining/informative content coming!
Coming to the end of your video, a few things have come to mind... 1) some sort of portable music device with headphones to drown out the traffic and for motivation(future add on as over the $$$ tag), 2) bug spray, I seen to attract them and laying on the ground this would definitely be a necessity...
If you live that close to work consider a fold away bike or scooter for the get home journey. Just a pair of old winter boots next to them for when snow is the problem.
Hey Tim, awesome video. First time commenter here. Thanks for your work and the info. I really like this channel. One thing I was wondering about, I know the purpose of this test was to test the BOB, but what about your EDC? You have posted several videos of different types of EDC that you carry, I was wondering how that may have affected the scenario. Again, I know the purpose was to show how a grab and go bag might work and incorporating your EDC will probably cause duplicate of item and added weight. Anyways, I really liked this video, thanks again.
Thanks - I appreciate this. Yeah - I was thinking EDC could have helped a lot. I think I'm going to do another video with a more extensive bag sometime and utilize my EDC as well.
Well done, you look nackered!! Fair play,at least you went out there and did a dry run.for all the people I have worked for it is practice, practice practice, to say I was there.i look forward to your next video.🙌
back in '93 when Iowa had the "500-year flood" our downtown river bridges were overrun by the Des Moines river, one hour after I crossed over one of them to get to my evac location
If you dry and crush the cheap water bottles straight down flat and put the cap on you can put them in your pack in the event you come to a water source you can carry a little extra water. They weigh almost nothing empty and don't take up much room. Just a thought
For your scenario I would think a bike would be a better idea to keep at work than a bug out bag. You need a backup get home quick option more than an overnight option.
You can put the whole can in the fire. I do that when I'm camping. Purifying water kills Gerald and bacteria- but what about the chemicals. Cars leak fluids - when it rains becomes water run off. Washes off the bridges into the water. I don't think I have ever seen any other youtuber do anything like this. Great channel
Thank you, testing is very important. For the calm mind part, I would make sure to have some nervine herbs such as scullcap, California poppy, chamomile, lemon balm, calamus, and valerian. I also always carry activated charcoal ( food posining, infection, insect or snake bites, etc.)
22:00 .... coordinate with a couple of friends, give them your route, have one role-play being some sort of fellow "refugee", and have the other "attack" you - you don't know who's who, or when or where .... that will amp up the stress
thank you so much for your videos. be God blessed homey stay full of joy love ur family and keeping being honest with all your great videos and taking the time to make them for all of us whom are so grateful. be well and blessed.
those foil trays are seriously impressive for what you did with them, I'm getting some and flat packing them into my car bag, thanks for the review and all the best from mountain bear outdoors.
Are you going to do a similar video with an Amazon get home bag? Was that backpack comfortable enough? Other than the multi tool upgrade, what would you have added or upgraded if you had $50 additional to spend?
Okay, I like you ideas and the concept of this video is fantastic. Personally I carry a Pack in my Car that covers everything you mention in this video and then some. Then again it probably cost more than $100.00 to fill. Fire Kit. (Lighters, Fire Steel, Flint and Steel. Tinders and some Fat Wood.) First Aid Kit Tarp 2x Poncho Liners 3 days Canned Food for 2 People 2x 5 Liter Water Bladders (Back Pack Style) Life Straw Water Purification Tablets Folding Saw Hatchet Camp Knife (Condor Bushlore) Svea 123 Stove Esbit Pocket Stove Stanley Cook Pot with Cups 100 Ft. Paracord 100 Ft. Bankline 4 Pairs Socks On the other hand I always have a Swiss Army Knife in my Pocket. (Bundeswehr Model of the Trekker.) I also carry a Victorinox Multi Tool on my Belt at all time. (My Wife also always has a Swiss Army Knife in her Pocket.) To give you some idea why I have this set up. I grew up in Coastal New England where we were constantly hit with Nor'Easters. I now live in southern Florida where Hurricanes are becoming the norm. (Hello Irma? And yes I am tracking Maria.) Oh, my Camping Load Out isn't far from this. In that I add a Hammock and some Bug Netting. I may just use my Camping Rig as a Bug Out Kit. (With some added Foods.)
Just a quick thought. I believe that this shows that cheap is just that. I am reminded of my time in the military; it's not just about getting there, it's about having something in the tank when you arrive. In a true " get home " scenario we will be facing a continuing series of challenges, just making it to a destination isn't the end game. The majority of us are on a budget of some kind, but my thought process is one of not having enough money to spend it unwisely.
Very smart test man! Not so much in harms way..controlled experiment I guess you could say. Really gives you the peace of mind to know if you could hold your own. What’s the next step? 72 hour bugout video? That would be phenomenal!
Thanks for the heavy lifting Tim. This is probably the most useful vid on YT in quite awhile. Re: your comment about running shoes; they tend to be a bit flimsy and to not have good arch support. I believe cross trainers would be a better option. Trail runners even better.
One word: Keens (or something like that). :) I've gotten in the habit of wearing a pair of those to work everyday. They are made for light hiking and are waterproof. They come in different ankle / calf cuts like work boots. But since I wear them everyday, they are broken in, nice and comfortable. I wear business casual to work, but they are just close enough to dress-ish shoes to blend. And as somebody once said, "How often do you really look at a man's shoes?" :D
As long as the aluminum pan has liquid in it, I don't think it will ever melt or burn through. I have seen people take a rubber balloon filled with water and apply an open flame to the outside of it and it does not melt or pop or have any problems what so ever. Thanks for the video. God Bless
Great video. Im going to think about a trek home from where i work. I was thinking as I was watching how interesting it would be to do kind of a survival LARP. Maybe research a scenario that happened in your area and deal with it. Time, weather, public and emergency response to it, how your job might respond, rioting, or looting. Get home safely through all of that.
nice job overall! i wonder about bugs though too. in my area without bug spray and even with it sometimes, the bugs are all over me the minute i step foot in the woods. did you have anything prepped for that?
Very happy I came across your video I wish we had more videos like yours . The contents are great and have you tried the back pack that has molle 2 webbing also from Walmart?
You could wear a pocketed vest with the space blanket, mobile phone, compass, and load your belt with pouches a la Batman. I would change the baseball cap for a boonie hat to protect my neck from the sun or rain. Also carry the tuna cans in oil, so you can punch a hole in the center and insert a piece of cord in there using it as a wick for a candle or for boiling a cup of water...
Your the only person who ever really tested their gear.. hell of a job buddy.. great content. I enjoyed your video. Thank you
Ha - thanks Ny.
This just supports my thought that survival has much more to do with knowledge and mentality, than expensive gear. Of course we all love nice gear but it's nothing without a prepared mind.
how do i buy that?
Yes-Go lol
Knowledge > gear.
Buying expansive stuff but having no experience with it will be less efficient than working with improvised gear as long as if you have practise.
Also, the more pratise you have with gear, the more efficient will more expansive gear become. And with practise, you get the feeling of what your exact needs are, which makes your equipment all the more efficient.
As an emt I laugh at some people’s lack of knowledge in the emergency medicine field. They think that seeing something on a movie makes them qualified to do surgery. A lot of people have expensive medical kits in their car and have no idea how to use it to actually save a life.
random commentor who is yes-go?
I like the fact that you did a practical video, actually using the stuff you bought. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Jade.
It's really refreshing to see someone putting a get-home scenario into practice. There's such a huge gap between theoretical and practical knowledge. The more we are able to cope ourselves, the more we could help others too.
Next should be a 100 dollar amazon B.O.B. ,see how much better you can do on Amazon
Good idea - I started putting some items in my shopping cart from Amazon for that purpose.
I have boiled water in a plastic bottle and in aluminum loaf pan.You just have to keep water in the bottle and above the flame , takes a little while but it will work. It will deform the bottle and you can reuse it .
Great video w, we all need to test out our gear and ourselves.
Also, this video was very cool. It's nice to see someone put theory into practice.
Great video. Proof right here that knowledge is worth more than gear. Been saying it for years, use what you have and MAKE it work. People fall victim to paying entirely too much money for gear. It’s not the latest and greatest that gets the job done, it’s the mindset. Again, great job 👍
I've seldom seen a person actually practice the theory of having a go bag and its contents AND use the actual go bag and its contents to bug out. not only did you practice the theory, you were able to have other additional possible scenarios on the way. great job! now I'm thinking of doing the same thing.
Thanks for watching - I appreciate your comments too.
I have a bug out duffel bag
This was a solid BOB setup for a really low price point and you ACTUALLY did a review. I'm a check to check kinda guy and when I look up videos like this, I'm doing it to get real inspiration. More often than not, these videos gear snobs mocking low budget equipment without really contributing anything of use to me. So really I have to say thanks for bucking the trend and producing good content. Keep up the good work friend.
Thanks Justin. This tends to be where I am going with the channel - real-life application. I'm about to shoot a video on a real-life survival kit, the one I take with me into the woods when I go hiking. And after I review it, I will take it into the woods and shoot a video on it by actually using it.
Add one of the Sawyer mini filters to your kit for clean water quick and easy.
Cajun Swamp Fox
Watch his first video
He only had $100 to spend. At Walmart those are about$20. But I see your point for the upgrade.
Cajun Swamp Fox I recently watched a video on a Berkey filter having col___ bacteria. It wasn't in the water before using it. In a situation how would a person test to know to know all is working properly?
good video, Tim. i like that you took a set price-point and went with it.
as @SuperUncleRyan said, it's not about a bunch of expensive gear, but about the knowledge and mentality. and that's why i pared down my get home bag from an extremely full backpack to a smaller bag similar to the maxped versipack.
i realized that i didn't need all of that gear with me, weighing me down. if i ever needed to walk the 30 miles home from work, or worse, the 50+ miles from another location i frequent, the gear meant to help me get home might have actually hindered me. so i took out everything, then put back in only the things i know i'd probably need. and those things, along with my edc that is always with me, is much lighter and easier to carry.
Thanks sean - I'm going to try it with a higher budget next-time.
Really like the vid. Very informative of what might really happen when you need to get home or bug out.
I wear a *Neoprene slimmer belt* for these testing 10 mile practice Hikes....it really helps alot with back issues...and your excess waist fat cries alot more...
Very Thorough bug out walk through....thanks for sharing. cheers
ditch the tins and get the Ozark Trail ss cup its under $5.00, awesome video lots of food for thought
I always have my walkout bag as I call it. Last year my snowmobile failed 12 km out, I went though my bag as its multi season. I ditched the stuff for summer, started hiking. I got to the point of thinking of overnighting, and was picked up by other explorers. But I wasn't afraid of overnighting in -10c weather w 2 +ft of snow. Slow steady progress, kept energy up snowshoeing out. Proved the equipment and concept.
Glad to see you actually gave it a go and see what it would be like. Only thing I would have changed would have been making some sort of overhead shelter for your sleeping area. You could be sound asleep and next thing you know it's pouring. Then scrambling around in the dark unfolding the mylar blanket isn't the time to do it. Prepare for the worse, hope for the best.
good thoughts there - thanks!
Great video, one thing tho, you don't have to do tabs if you boil your water. The boiling takes care of the critters in the creek water....
Great video, I love what you did with this series. I thought banking on the Ozark multi-tool was brave (or stupid) based on my experience with them. Thanks for effort!
Yeah - multi-tool needs to be replaced. Thanks for watching this.
Seems like sharpening the knife would have made the multi tool much better.
Ozark Trail has multiple models of multi tools. They have one that goes for 20 bucks that has received good marks from several reviewers. Me? I'll stick with Leatherman but, I've got 8 or 9 and a couple Gerbers. (51 years old. If you buy what you can when you can, you'll end up with some good options. Jmo.)
A lot of people are putting these bags together and showing them off in videos but rarely do I see any videos of them actually field testing it! Great video! God bless brother!
Foot Patrol Hustlahz thanks for checking out the video. I plan on doing more like this - moving beyond just the theory of bags and kits to the actual testing and application.
Thank You! For the work you put in to your Channel/videos.
Awesome test. I have done lots of walking and camping with my gear but never that distance in one day. Walking is never the problem but testing out the gear is certainly cool. Great vid! Just shows that its more about what you know and not what you have or how much you spent on stuff.
Thanks - good words there.
Thank you for doing this experiment. Great information you have shared especially about finding usable items along the way.
Rock on - thanks for watching.
This video shows you have a great mental attitude and are a person of action, I respect that. Some questions, feedback etc follow. I hope you receive this in the good natured way it is intended. Your bag is high vis, do you have a way to hide it in case? The shoes idea is great. You mentioned the possibility of flooding, please do not plan to cross floodwaters!!! In the event of a flood how likely are you to get notice? How much notice? How can you incorporate habits into your day to day to support this? Communication and batteries/ power bank/ wind up charger etc. Radio? (to keep up to date on current events), Mobile phone? Weather proofing of these? For example can your mobile handle getting dropped in a muddy puddle? Does it have protective casing? Personally I would priorities a good poncho over the sleeping bag. What if getting home is delayed and you have to go to a different location because of those bridges/ flood possibilities etc? A spare pair of underwear would not take up a lot of space and would allow for a 2, 3 day delay. (you already have the socks.) Would it be worth including thermal wear in your kit? This combined with the poncho would make for portable shelter and could replace the sleeping bag. It would also double as something to sleep in particularly if you are stuck at your workplace for a few days due to the bridges being uncrossable. You could wash/ dry/ air your "day clothes" while wearing your thermal wear as PJs. You make a valid point about the smell of the food. Not only could it attract animals, in a "grid down" situation it alerts desperate people to the fact that you have food. Do you have a toilet plan? Wet wipes for example. Disinfectant hand gel? 3 minutes without air...do you have something to help filter out smoke/ germs etc? A cotton bandanna would be a cheap/ useful addition. 3 hours without shelter...The shoes idea for sure! A reliable, sturdy poncho acts as portable shelter or a wind/ waterproof light weight jacket and pants to suit. I feel like this has not been given enough thought. If you have to leave your "camp" in a hurry you could loss your sleeping bag (shelter) and backpack etc. Goodness this got long fast. Sorry. I hope this input helps.
Watching in 2021 living in British Columbia, Canada. This video is a gold mine. This is a situation many are facing right now.
Thanks for checking it out. This was a fun video to do
I appreciate your dedication, i have suffered from sciatica when i was in my 20s. I try not to agitate the nerve because i will pay for it. So may not realize that there is no comfortable position to bring relief, so walking 13 miles is not a walk in the park. No punt intented. I thinknthat i would addva small goose down vest. They seem to ball up well. I've been to New Hampshire and depending on the season, nights can be chilly. I understan that for this $100. challenge it may not be acceptable but its def an option. Enjoyed the vid its a very realistic view of equipment and atomospheric conditions. Thank you!
You can boil water in the cans your food came in. Throw a zip lock bag into your pack to store the food once open and leave the lid attached firmly to the can and you have a cook pot/water pot.
great video! really wish people did more videos like this. Also that was really great ending on showing how the product held up. i had the exact same multi tool last year and instantly returned it. was not happy
Thanks MM - and yeah, the multi-tool needs some help!
The tins should be fine as long as u keep liquid in there while heating. Good choices on supplies, great video!
Thanks!
Thanks for the great video Tim. You are the first video blogger that I have seen that actually went out and proved the gear would work. Everybody just shows the gear and talks about the choices behind it. really big thumbs up man.
Excellent project. Thanks for taking the time to do the challenge. Learned a few important things.
Thanks Jeffery.
I for one really like that you tested the route and the gear. Theres so many that just show off and review gear but never test it. Knowing the challenges along the way helps a lot aswell. Also really makes me glad my walk from work is less than an hour.
Thanks for checking this out. It was fun to do - just an investment of time to make something like this.
I picked up the same sleeping bag to try out. I took it on a 8 mile backpacking trip into the High Uintas in Utah, with overnight temperatures dipping into the 40's. It was surprisingly warm, pair it with my hammock quilt and I slept comfortably. The $20 dollar bag, can't be beat for the price!
Awesome video! I love watching people actually testing their kit. I did a test of my EDC gear and posted it on my channel a few months ago, I wasn't hiking but did an overnight with my EDC backpack. Doing stuff like this makes great memories!
Thank you for doing a get out there and test video!! Many people show a bag full of stuff but never show going and trying it witch I think is almost as important as having it
It was fun to do. I look forward to more like this.
Suggest you keep a spare pair of boots at work for these situations
j keep a pair of hiking boots and merino wool socks in my truck for this very reason.
Those tins were a surprise. Thought they would melt on you. I'd still replace them with a tiny stainless dog food/water bowl (peace of mind). No issues with melting. As for the potatoes...did you heat them for morale (important!) or just because you like them warm? They're already cooked, so I was just curious (I was thinking stealth, but maybe that wasn't a consideration...).
That was a thought provoking video. Thanks for doing it!
Yeah - heated them up just because it is nice to have some warm food.
Thanks Tim, great video. Very thought provoking, even for someone like myself who's been prepping for a few years now, & who works in emergency services.
Rock on - glad it got you thinking. That's a win in my book.
thanks for showing a practical application to the whole bug ot/get home bag. we always see the bags, bt this is the first usage video I have seen.
Other Than Intended Purpose Thanks. It takes a lot more work to test it out but it was fun to do.
Fantastic vid, Tim you hit this out of the park! Practical testing is a must ,it's great to collect the gear and review it. Every day testing I hope a lot more and including you do the every day testing. You do live in a beautiful part of the country. Yes and the feet pay for it. Keep them coming. Fantastic job.
Bill.
Probably the most enjoyable video I have watched lately regarding survival/preparedness. Outstanding job and has motivated me to prepare for giving this a try. Thanks
Thanks David - glad it inspired.
There's a lot of work that went into this. Thanks for all the time and work to actually test and some great ideas.
I had a feeling the multi tool would be troublesome. You could have used the milk jug to boil the water in. If I am correct its a physics thing as to why it won't melt but it requires not placing it directly on the coals. They do package tuna in foil packs and are vacuum sealed and the packages are plastic/foil combinations. The tins were something that didn't occur to me and acted as bowl too. Thanks for the vid. I can't wait to to see the next one on how you would tweak the kit. One suggestion maybe have a cheap cell or power bank handy in case something happens to your main on. A simple flip phone runs about 20ish bucks
Great video!! Appreciate all the time and effort you put into this.
Thanks for sharing this information. The story about your dad having to abandon the car in order to get home has inspired me to add snow shoes to my winter car kit preps. I live in New England too and know how a winter storm can sneak up on you. I still remember the blizzard of "78". I was just a young kid of nine but remember that blizzard all to well.
Thanks Danny. Glad it helped to inspire you. Where do you live in N.E.?
Good job Tim. Makes one think . Looking forward to the next video and gonna update a lot of my gear
Just my opinion in without rule of law situation i would not burn a wood fire instead i carry an esbit stove. Why? Again its just my opinion a wood fire smell is like a dinner bell....
Thanks for the tour of the seacoast. your comments on the noise were validation of one of my items. A pair of earplugs.
Yes sir - the noise was crazy.
One thing I would have changed is your choice of food, I would get a can of mixed veggies or tomatoes okra and corn (my favorite) and a box of instant rice. This is a combo I use a lot because it fills you up and sticks with you all day. You're spending around 2 bucks combined for a good meal. Some jerky or hotdogs sliced thin is good in it also.
instant potato (prefer the loaded variety)and mixed veg, jerky and those store brand granola bars carbs, fats, sugar, salts everything for a growing survivalist lol
One thing you mention that got me thinking what if in your scénario the Bridges were only close to traffic but not for pedestrians youll be able to cross Them instead of crossing the river
This was really excellent. I have seen a lot of videos about what you might need but this is the first one I have seen that tested it out. thank you. I have been trying to get my husband to put together a get home bag but he thinks I am being paranoid. problem is he works about 100 miles from home so I don't know how he could put together enough gear, food, etc. to walk all that way. this worries me. I grew up in Florida and have been through multiple hurricanes so no I don't think it is paranoid to prepare. and now we live in earthquake country. just can't seem to convince him. so I will try to put something together for him and then just give it to him to take to work. the 100 miles is daunting though. would probably take him at least a week. got some really good ideas in this video.
Thanks for watching - glad the video sparked some ideas.
Loved that you got out there and tested it. Awesome man. I'm excited to check out your videos.
Great video! Many youTubers put together all types of bags for different scenarios and never test them. Kudos for actually testing your get home bag. 👍👍👍
Thanks - I appreciate that.
Nice to see you actually did test it. Better multitools can be found in automotive without jumping in cost to a leatherman. On the last vid I was shocked that you did not include that $5 jacket. Now you see why. That contractor bag was a nice find. Walmart sells them and they take up no bag space. One thing you didnt mention they can do is be stuffed with debris or just inflated and tied for a nice air mat or blanket. And of course be used as an emergency rain poncho.
1L or 1.5L water bottles can be found by the soda and come prefilled much cheaper than that polycarb bottle. The sawyer mini would have let you refill them on the go without having to boil, and would have kept pond debris out of your dinner.
Finding moments of beauty is essential skill for morale, as well as mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
Those tins are heavy aluminum foil, thicker than whats used in hobo meals directly on the coals. No fear of them burning through but ya they are single use. I know the dollar store offers small loaf pans that are solid metal, not foil. WM should offer something similar. Theres also the imusa greasepot which is a legendary piece of budget kit among ultralighters.
Regarding scent and attracting critters, you burned that bridge when you cooked next to your bedroll. Burn the packaging, and have the cans in the fire to remove any more scent from them, but never sleep where youve cooked.
Speaking of which, you ate. You did not mention the followup bowel relief. Your kit lacks hygene items to handle this eventuality.
River crossings if the bridge is out presents a problem. Carrying an inflatable raft is obviously not practical for a GHB.
Only thing I can think of is a set of swim trunks and a dry bag large enough to fit your pack, which would double as a float, pillow, and bear bag.
You should have kept the bags from the purchases. They are no substitute for proper footwear but can be used to slap a moisture barrier between your socks and your shoes.
Mistake items (my opinion only)...
The whistle was a waste of money.
Ferro rods have no place in an emergency kit, carry lighters.
Foil pans
My additions: Summer sausage or pepperoni stick and a couple of knorr sides. A 99 cent bag of gummy candy. Lighter, wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Imusa greasepot or solid metal loaf pan.
This was awesome. Talk about walking the walk. Thank you for doing this. Lots of great lessons here!
Thanks for checking out - this was fun to do.
Very impressed. Great content man. You not only spend the money you spend time away from your family to bring an honest review of items a normal Joe can buy. Definitely going to sub and hope you can continue this awesome channel.
Great video, i thoroughly enjoyed it. Not so much the bag itself, but more your reflections, findings and thoughts along the way. Keep up the good work.
Wow, just found this video, neat experience. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
Interesting. I'm rethinking our 24 hour bags we have in the cars and focusing them on a 12 hour, walk home type bag. Thanks.
God Bless You! Thanks for the demonstration. Did the sleeping bag work at all?
dan toti it's a basic bag - I wouldn't want to have to sleep with it below probably 55°
Great video! I've been looking forward to this one since you posted the original $100 bug out bag vid. Keep the entertaining/informative content coming!
Great video Tim. Seriously one of the best I've seen.
Wow - thanks Alexander - really appreciate that.
really cool to see this tested, you dont see very many get home tests.
Nice load out. That garbage bag looks very strong.
I'm glad you mentioned the donation bin,
I would of never thought of that
Coming to the end of your video, a few things have come to mind... 1) some sort of portable music device with headphones to drown out the traffic and for motivation(future add on as over the $$$ tag), 2) bug spray, I seen to attract them and laying on the ground this would definitely be a necessity...
It was awesome to see you put it to the test too many people to show the video of them buying it but never a real live testing it. WTG
If you live that close to work consider a fold away bike or scooter for the get home journey. Just a pair of old winter boots next to them for when snow is the problem.
Hey Tim, awesome video. First time commenter here. Thanks for your work and the info. I really like this channel. One thing I was wondering about, I know the purpose of this test was to test the BOB, but what about your EDC? You have posted several videos of different types of EDC that you carry, I was wondering how that may have affected the scenario. Again, I know the purpose was to show how a grab and go bag might work and incorporating your EDC will probably cause duplicate of item and added weight. Anyways, I really liked this video, thanks again.
Thanks - I appreciate this. Yeah - I was thinking EDC could have helped a lot. I think I'm going to do another video with a more extensive bag sometime and utilize my EDC as well.
Well done, you look nackered!! Fair play,at least you went out there and did a dry run.for all the people I have worked for it is practice, practice practice, to say I was there.i look forward to your next video.🙌
Andrew Howden thanks Andrew
Excellent video of putting the concept to action. Very helpful info.
Thanks MP.
back in '93 when Iowa had the "500-year flood" our downtown river bridges were overrun by the Des Moines river, one hour after I crossed over one of them to get to my evac location
a Gerber Suspension is also a good choice, it has a great saw on it as well as a sharp knife
Thanks for this video!!
You have a Calm, Measured Demeanor.
A Great Attitude for Survival...
Thanks David. Thanks for watching.
If you dry and crush the cheap water bottles straight down flat and put the cap on you can put them in your pack in the event you come to a water source you can carry a little extra water. They weigh almost nothing empty and don't take up much room. Just a thought
For your scenario I would think a bike would be a better idea to keep at work than a bug out bag. You need a backup get home quick option more than an overnight option.
You can put the whole can in the fire. I do that when I'm camping. Purifying water kills Gerald and bacteria- but what about the chemicals. Cars leak fluids - when it rains becomes water run off. Washes off the bridges into the water. I don't think I have ever seen any other youtuber do anything like this. Great channel
Why would you kill Gerald? What did Gerald ever do to you?
Thank you, testing is very important. For the calm mind part, I would make sure to have some nervine herbs such as scullcap, California poppy, chamomile, lemon balm, calamus, and valerian. I also always carry activated charcoal ( food posining, infection, insect or snake bites, etc.)
22:00 .... coordinate with a couple of friends, give them your route, have one role-play being some sort of fellow "refugee", and have the other "attack" you - you don't know who's who, or when or where .... that will amp up the stress
Thank you for this video brother. It was an eye opener for me.
I went to subscribe because I thought it was great and I was all ready subscribed and had forgotten about it. Great video. Love this kind of content.
Welcome back! And more of this content coming soon!
You always have great stuff for us !!!!!! Thanks again and blessings 😇
Another good video! Thanks for sharing.
Well done. I'm glad you thought about the bridge situation. Hopefully your feet and sciatica have recovered since you filmed this.
Yes - both are better - thanks!
thank you so much for your videos. be God blessed homey stay full of joy love ur family and keeping being honest with all your great videos and taking the time to make them for all of us whom are so grateful. be well and blessed.
jason vick thanks so much Jason.
those foil trays are seriously impressive for what you did with them, I'm getting some and flat packing them into my car bag, thanks for the review and all the best from mountain bear outdoors.
Thanks for watching and for the comments.
Are you going to do a similar video with an Amazon get home bag? Was that backpack comfortable enough? Other than the multi tool upgrade, what would you have added or upgraded if you had $50 additional to spend?
I'll be making a future video about this experience - stay tuned!
EverydayTacticalVids thanks! Looking forward to it
Good video. Really makes you think the what if. I like the fire against the rock. Nice idea thx.
Thanks David.
Okay, I like you ideas and the concept of this video is fantastic.
Personally I carry a Pack in my Car that covers everything you mention in this video and then some. Then again it probably cost more than $100.00 to fill.
Fire Kit. (Lighters, Fire Steel, Flint and Steel. Tinders and some Fat Wood.)
First Aid Kit
Tarp
2x Poncho Liners
3 days Canned Food for 2 People
2x 5 Liter Water Bladders (Back Pack Style)
Life Straw
Water Purification Tablets
Folding Saw
Hatchet
Camp Knife (Condor Bushlore)
Svea 123 Stove
Esbit Pocket Stove
Stanley Cook Pot with Cups
100 Ft. Paracord
100 Ft. Bankline
4 Pairs Socks
On the other hand I always have a Swiss Army Knife in my Pocket. (Bundeswehr Model of the Trekker.) I also carry a Victorinox Multi Tool on my Belt at all time. (My Wife also always has a Swiss Army Knife in her Pocket.)
To give you some idea why I have this set up. I grew up in Coastal New England where we were constantly hit with Nor'Easters. I now live in southern Florida where Hurricanes are becoming the norm. (Hello Irma? And yes I am tracking Maria.)
Oh, my Camping Load Out isn't far from this. In that I add a Hammock and some Bug Netting. I may just use my Camping Rig as a Bug Out Kit. (With some added Foods.)
Great video. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Do you not carry a jacket with you? Is the poncho all you have?
Yeah - in the late summer I often don't wear a jacket to work. I wanted to be as realistic as I could be.
Just a quick thought. I believe that this shows that cheap is just that. I am reminded of my time in the military; it's not just about getting there, it's about having something in the tank when you arrive. In a true " get home " scenario we will be facing a continuing series of challenges, just making it to a destination isn't the end game.
The majority of us are on a budget of some kind, but my thought process is one of not having enough money to spend it unwisely.
I found both your videos very, very insightful!!! Thank you for the lesson!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Home run . Double like this video . Keep it coming
Thanks IP247.
Part of my survival gear i keep in my trunk are boots and extra clothing for the season. Just to name a few. Food for thought. Like the vid!
John High thanks John and yes good ideas on the boots and clothes.
Very smart test man! Not so much in harms way..controlled experiment I guess you could say. Really gives you the peace of mind to know if you could hold your own. What’s the next step? 72 hour bugout video? That would be phenomenal!
I would be a time investment, but definitely a very cool experience.
Thanks for the heavy lifting Tim. This is probably the most useful vid on YT in quite awhile. Re: your comment about running shoes; they tend to be a bit flimsy and to not have good arch support. I believe cross trainers would be a better option. Trail runners even better.
Yeah - good call on the cross-trainers.
One word: Keens (or something like that). :) I've gotten in the habit of wearing a pair of those to work everyday. They are made for light hiking and are waterproof. They come in different ankle / calf cuts like work boots. But since I wear them everyday, they are broken in, nice and comfortable. I wear business casual to work, but they are just close enough to dress-ish shoes to blend. And as somebody once said, "How often do you really look at a man's shoes?" :D
As long as the aluminum pan has liquid in it, I don't think it will ever melt or burn through. I have seen people take a rubber balloon filled with water and apply an open flame to the outside of it and it does not melt or pop or have any problems what so ever.
Thanks for the video. God Bless
Great video. Im going to think about a trek home from where i work. I was thinking as I was watching how interesting it would be to do kind of a survival LARP. Maybe research a scenario that happened in your area and deal with it. Time, weather, public and emergency response to it, how your job might respond, rioting, or looting. Get home safely through all of that.
nice job overall! i wonder about bugs though too. in my area without bug spray and even with it sometimes, the bugs are all over me the minute i step foot in the woods. did you have anything prepped for that?
That was one of the things I would do different, though because of the wind the bugs weren't bad that day.
Very happy I came across your video I wish we had more videos like yours . The contents are great and have you tried the back pack that has molle 2 webbing also from Walmart?
Thanks for watching. And I haven't tried their packs but I did have a buddy who had one and he really liked it.
You could wear a pocketed vest with the space blanket, mobile phone, compass, and load your belt with pouches a la Batman.
I would change the baseball cap for a boonie hat to protect my neck from the sun or rain. Also carry the tuna cans in oil, so you can punch a hole in the center and insert a piece of cord in there using it as a wick for a candle or for boiling a cup of water...
Wow. An oil lamp. Thanks for a great idea, I wouldn't have thought about it myself.