Urban mini-BOB

[Matthew]

Hey all, I was looking for a small BOB that I could have with me all the time. (at least in the car) Of course I was looking at the latest coolest digital camo stuff. But then it occurred to me that camouflage is more about color pattern, it's about blending in.

So I got one of these:

http://www.mountainsmith.com/store/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=428&category_id=4109b1b0697f233 853157dec08b2ef7f

I figured if you have to walk in a urban environment to get somewhere in an emergency, no one would give you a second look with this. It's big enough to hold an MRE, First aid supplies, my H&K pistol, water, extra layers (strapped on the outside) and a spare AR mag. I look at it as my 12 to 24 hour bag. Plus, it makes a good day hiking pack.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy

I agree, Mat. Camoflage is important.

Thing is camoflage means different things in different enviroments. Everyone understands the difference between spring and fall hunting camoflage, but to me, urban camo has it's own set of rules.

For instance to me, anywhere in the metro, a dark colored college looking book backpack is appropriate. You see students, construction workers, office comuters, all types of people with them on the city bus or light rail.

I keep one in the truck at all times. Stocked kinda, sorta like yours. Contents depends on the time of year. Extra water bottle in summer, stocking cap and extra gloves in winter.

Have an old school backpack in a locker at work. Change of clothes and more. For instance, it came in real handy the day I got drenched in hydralic oil.

Mat that is a nice bag you have. At $69.oo a little steep for me. Think I have 50 cents each in my school packs.

But a "grab and go" pack can be a lot of comfort, if you are forced to "grab and go"

Wyo

[Matthew]

Wyo, Yeah they are a little steep, although I found them for $50 instead. I hike often and therefore it sees a lot of use, so the comfort is worth the price.

What do you think of using a bright colored nylon tent bag for carrying the AR? I have an Mforgery with a telescopic stock that is short when closed up. I figure that would be a discreet way of having a rifle handy.

[edward_4576]

I've put a BOB in my car that would do to get me home and one at work that if combined with the one in my car would carry me 72 hours. I have a very cheap looking back pack to carry it all in. Camouflage is important and the one thing I have to keep in mind if I'm stuck at work and got to hoof it is that I have to go through some bad area's downtown before I got home. If it was an area wide incident I figure the lowlifes downtown would be scavenging anything they could and I don't want to appear to have anything of value.

[Archangel]

Cammo is to blend in, if you trying to get out of the city, you want to look like eeryone else. Look at the lastest "War of the Worlds." Do you blend into that? How far away is your AK that you want an extra mag. Maybe an extra clip would be better. Be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Just my 2 cents, Michael ::) :o ::)

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy

"Blend in" That is a very good definition of cammo.

And that will vary with what you are trying to "blend in" with.

Yes, a tent bag, that looks like a folding sports event, camp chair bag would work great. May need to make a cardboard sleeve to go into it to smooth out some of the obvious "AR15" bumps. But should work fine.

Good info, everyone.

Wyo

[edward_4576]

I've been thinking about camo. In the urban areas that I may have to go through I'm actually thinking of a disguise. A backpack might be a bit conspicuous. I'm thinking a fanny pack with a vest to distribute your items around covered by a "hoodie". With some makeup to make you look like you haven't shaved in a few days and to make you look dirty might do the trick. What do you all think, any suggestions?

[Matthew]

Uh, I don't think I'd ever list make-up as a part of my survival kit. But that's just me. :-/

[MYellowRose]

I checked out that link and must admit that the pack is nice but not worth $70 to me.
Here you would "blend in" more with a regular backpack like you get at Target or Wal-Mart or the local thrift store. Even a small duffle bag thrown over the shoulder would suffice as you'd fit in with all the school kids and even look like some of the homeless. Might want to take that into consideration. Personally I see very few people here with a "fanny pack" or "belt pack" anymore unless they are tourists.

[kyhillbilly]

what about one of them gym bags that has a strap on it lots of folks carry them around

[Matthew]

As I said earlier, I use the pack at least weekly on hikes. A duffel bag might blend in with the homeless crowd better, but it sure wouldn't hike as nice. High-quality equipment is expensive. But quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

[Morning_Owl]

Ed,
I think you have a good point with a disguise of some kind. Blending in is good (camo) but, if you don't want to be bothered be undesirable. In my pack I carry a small bottle of ash from my fire place to smear on my face and clothes. Some rag clothes and a small bottle of alcohol to perfume myself with, so to speak and maybe a snoot or two. ;) Also my close are big baggy and men's. I feel if SHTF a drunk, filthy, man is less likely to be bothered than a well dressed woman. I do have a gun but I would rather just be left alone.

[monkeyman]

I had posted on the idea of urban cammo on another forum before. My basic thought was that especialy since Im a large guy with a full beard and long hair and often in work clothes any how that homeless might be a real good cammo. Homeless folks tend to be 'invisible' to most any way. Most people includeing cops want nothing to do with the homeless especialy as long as they arent creating a problem/disturbance. So I figure with a long worn out/grungy looking trench coat or duster and grungy work clothes and maybe either an ALICE pack or mil surplus duffel bag you look the part that every one wants to ignore anyway. Then just find a mud puddle or some such to roll in and if you can find some cat/dog leavings or better yet some road kill to rub down with then after a while you will no longer notice the smell (a skunk cant smell its self) and even anything like road blocks tends to be less of a problem since no cop is going to want to be closed up in a car with some one that smells like road kill to transport them and have that smell left in the cruiser they have to work in and few thugs want to bother some one who 'obviously' has nothing to steal.

The trench coat or duffel bag either one can easily hide a short carbine with a folding stock let alone any handgun you might choose to carry.

[CarolAnn]

You guys might want to ask some of your wimmin-type folks what they think about the "homeless" look being a good disguise! Who do people consider powerless? Homeless folks. Who do they fear and mistrust? Homeless. Who are they going to blame first if anything happens? - - you get the picture.

In an URBAN area, you want to look as urban and clean cut as you can manage if you don't want harassment from the townies. Of course, it depends some on what neighborhood you're in - then it's more a matter of careful observation & mimic the general look.

Last year I spend almost all of my savings on a camera I've wanted since I was a teenager. I love having it, but the first thing I did was to rip the big yellow Nikon logos off of the bag. It screams "STEAL ME." Now I have that bag nestled into a cheap gym bag, so I have the equipment protected but it doesn't look like so much.

I haven't doctored the camera body with duct tape yet, but it's occured to me! I kinda like that commercial where the guy walks up to a rusty junker of a car, pulls off what turns out to be a craftily painted cover, and reveals his hideously expensive sports car underneath. Now THAT's urban camo!

[redflare]

I carry something similar to this:
http://www.redflarekits.com/pc/12-030/dsk/The+Micro+Kit

Its good enough to last 24hrs. Even more if I have a bottle of water with me. And it blends right in :)

[JakeLeg]

i just re-packed the bag i keep at work.

bought a backpack that's about 1.5 to 2 times as big as a kid's bookbag at walmart. not large enough to draw attention. best 30 bucks i've ever spent. has several pockets in the main rucksack, and a couple of pockets on the outside. has a zipper flap on the bottom that conceals an attached rain cover that folds out and covers the pack using an elastic drawstring at the perimeter. it has a flat clear plastic map sleeve that is velcro mounted in the area sandwiched between the pack and your back (should keep everything dry back there) and being that it's velcro, you can remove it to check out your map without removing the map from the plastic sleeve.

now, according to the original poster, who is concerned with 'standing out' yet carried around an extra AR15 clip. won't the AR15 stand out?

[Tightwad]

It's one thing to "blend in" but any sort
of blending will not happen unless you
follow convention more and fashion less.

That said any sort of pack other than a back
pack, brief case, purse, messenger bag or fanny
pack will draw attention depending on where you
are and how you are dressed. All of these factors
had better match or you'll stick out like a sore
thumb.

Also, what the hell is this junk about carring a gun
in your pack? Unless you want a one way ticket to jail
carry a stout "folding knife" but no gun. A knife you
can explain reasonably but never a gun.

[Eli80Cal]

I was taking the bus for a while to get to my work sight while attached to a temporary detail. (bus was free) I undertook this same challenge, and after a week or so, decided that this
http://maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_jumbo.htm
was the best option for me. It was a "get home" pack for me. It held a liter bottle of water, and I could fit four glock mags in the pouch opposite the bottle. The pistol has its own compartment, and is readily accessible. Expensive, but very well built. I got black, as there is a college campus downtown, and the cross strap blends in well. Fanny packs are very obvious that someone is carrying, and I had thought about a backpack, but I like having my pistol readily accessible. There is also plenty of storage space inside, and MOLLE attachements outside should you feel the need.



On a side note, they make a smaller version that my wife has, that looks very similar to a purse, but also provides ready access to a firearm.

As tightwad stated above, be sure of your local laws.......

[Tuckahoe]

I agree with the others the fanny pack screams you are packing you may as well carry out in the open. The tactical vests that the gunshow commandos wear along with the cargo pants is another dead giveaway. There is nothing wrong with this dress at the range or in the field but in an urban setting you are going to look like Crocodile Dundee.
The start of your mini BOB is what's in your pants pocket. Good folding knife that can be opened with one hand.
Multi tool.
Cell phone.
Pepper Spray.
A small LED flashlight
Even a NAA mini revolver can be carried in a pants pocket.

[Tuckahoe]

If you work in an office another small kit can be stashed in a desk or locker. This could contain any of the items included in your pocket kit plus food and water. A couple of cans of food and some bottles of water may just look like lunch items to your co workers but if trapped in a building for a few days may save your life. Get the pop top cans so you don't need a can opener. A good flashlight will be needed too. If you work in a highrise or away from an exit you may want to invest in a smoke escape hood in case of a fire.
A good basic first aid kit is always good to have.
Another handy item is one of those hatchet/ hammer crowbar looking tools carried by many of the outdoor and surplus dealers. This would give you a tool to break down a door or dig yourself out if trapped under debris. These are cheap and for around $8 they give you a large multi tool to break your way out. All of the above can fit nice in a gym bag or you could just use a locking briefcase.
If you drive to work another kit should be stored in your vehicle. The idea is to layer your survival items where you are never without anything.

[edward_4576]

Where I work everyone has some sort of storage area. *In my workspace I have allotted a drawer for an office kit. *The company I work for has well equipped first aid kits that are checked and upgraded monthly. *When the person comes out to update the kit I go and talk with them and they usually give me stuff to keep my office kit up to date. *I have at least three days of food and water there, just in the off chance I get stuck at work and for some ungodly reason I decide to stay there or perhaps when my wife isn't up to packing me a lunch or some such. *Heck I probably have more (I have the carcase of at least two "snapaloupes" in my drawer).

http://www.slimjim.com/index.jsp

I have in my car a kit made up for road emergencies for when I'm going back and forth from work. *If I travel for other reason I have a different kit I take. *Now here is an idea that I have been working on. *For Christmas one year I got a nylon organizer that hangs on the back of the car seat. *It looks a lot like one of those vests the cops wear. *It has six pockets that cover the front and straps that would allow a person to strap it around themselves. I've been thinking about getting some ballistic plating sized to fit in those pockets. *I think it could be used as a low caliber protective vest if I had to go through some high crime areas. *Any thoughts?