Are You a Modern Day Minimalist?

[rio grande]

A military waterproof bag, wrapped in a garbage bag (urban camo). Inside SAS LBE, will everything I might need to live off the land for months.

Dont forget the butt wipe. I have 40 "C" ration wipes in a seal-a-meal pouch, you never no when you might have to go.

Even tho both my canteens are fitted with nefty filters, I also carry an extreme purification system, and bleach tablets.
Water is life

On flairs, I carry both aerial, and road, The road flairs made dandy wet weather fire starters. It rains a lot here

Garbage bag - urban camo.....brilliant.
If you gotta walk out of the city, best to look like a homeless bum.
Who has nothing of value.

[Victor3]

 One thing I always carry is a head net. Cheap, compact and great relief when flying bugs get thick.

[vacek]

Twice a year, March and September I head to SE Asia for 18-21 days (each trip).  This usually means Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. I also usually end up in Latin America at least once and sometimes China and India.  Also 10-12 domestic trips that last up to a week. 

Anyway I  make sure that I can take care of myself in case I get stranded.  For meds I take the best all around antibiotic.. Leviquin.  I also take vicodin and the other normal over the counter pain relievers like Aleve, Aspriin, and Ibuprophen.  Also Sudafed and Benadryl.  I also take a medical thermometer.  I took Tamiflu with me to Asia last fall just in case.

I take a set of dental tools (needed them, actually the mirror, once in Brazil when I got an abcess which I sliced open with floss then gargled peroxide for 5 minutes followed by salt water....It hurt so bad I was actually crying like a baby when I used the floss to bust it open. 

A Leatherman Wave Multitool, the smallest Swiss Army and a 4 inch fixed blade.  I also take a basic fishing kit in the small military match safes.  Knife sharpener, Match safe with whistle and compass, file, thermometer, some bullion silver, several of those plastic zip ties, several ways to light a fire.  I am also now taking the mini-trangia stove and pot.  Also the little 220/110 water heater coil. water purification tabs, waterproof note pad, freznel lens and basic first aid items and sewing kit.

In my luggage I carry the survival bar (1600 calories I believe), spare instant coffee and soup bullion  and 4 balls of Asian egg noodles.

While flying my basic on-board pack has the meds and extra food like jerky, energy bars and slim jims and an extra set of glasses. When I arrive in country I make it a point to buy some 91% Isopropyl aclohol for my stove or if I can find it soa small bottle of Everclear plus 6 liters of bottled water (known not local brand)

Extra credits cars and at least $500 cash.

All of this weighs less than 8 lbs. and fits into my one check in suitcase.

[vacek]

Dang, I forgot to mention the large hankerchiefs and some good butt wipes.  Indispensable.

[Dee]

All good ideas for foreign or domestic travel.

[The Hermit]

At 74, I can't carry the load I used to, but I still like my pack basket. It will carry about 60-70 #'s of stuff if you're fit. Nice thing about it is bulky things don't jab you anywhere. In addition to things mentioned here, a good ground cloth is handy. I take 3# bacon, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, chocolate, powder milk, beans,steel frypan (I like my trout). SS cup, SS flat knife, fork, spoon set, snares, fishline, hooks etc.
Steel and flint works for me. Water filter, ddt, headnet in no see em time, belt knife, .22. and ammo.
Compass, candles, SS water bottle, camper axe and pocket bible.
Funny thing is, I have an Indian friend who goes out with just his .44 mag and what he carries on him, and he is happy and fat.


         The Hermit

[Dee]

Good grief Hermit. You need a trailer! BUT! I wouldn't mind goin campin with ya cause it sounds like you feed good on the trail. Bacon and eggs on the fire. Man that sounds good.

[SHOOTALL]

Hermit , no wonder the guy with the 44 is your friend !

[The Hermit]

Ha ha, thank you guys. I must be like GB and take a lot of things. My indian friend is "glued" to the side of Jackson Mtn in VA till spring, but he will be up when the snow is gone for one more campfire.
Last time he shot game with the .44, he blew the head off a grouse for our dinner. Mmmm, wrapped in bacon of course.
We have a bottle of 12 yr old scotch unopened that goes to the survivor. Seeing as there are just the two of us left now, I suppose I soon will be tasteing that scotch.  haha How's that for confidence?

   The Hermit


 

[teamnelson]

It was 12 when it was bottled ... how old is it now?

[The Hermit]

We bought it in 1966.

[teamnelson]

Very nice 

[PKnTX]

Also included is 2 tins of smoked oysters.

I'm always trying to think of a better food item for my pack.
Something nutritious, that will keep well and is compact/easy to stow.
For some reason the mention of tins of smoked oysters has stuck in my head. 

Is this just an food you personally enjoy or is there more to it?

[Dee]

Well PKnTX, I like oysters, and their good for you. If you look on the tin, the total fat is 5 grams, Saturated fat is 2 grams, cholesterol 10 milligrams, sodium (salt( 160 milligrams, Carbohydrates 4 grams, Fiber zero, Sugar, zero, and Protein 8 grams. With a few whole wheat crackers, they stay with you.
You just have to decide what you like personally.

[SHOOTALL]

I might try the oysters . Been using smoked mackerel

[PKnTX]

Yeah, this opened up a whole new set of possibilities for my possibles bag.

Just replaced the pack I've been using for years over the weekend.
Went up in size a bit and got a model with detachable shoulder straps.
Thinking is that it will be more versitile and comfortable the times there's
extra weight i.e. a 2nd canteen or water bottle (which there is a pouch for)
for longer or hotter days.  Also more room for food, which is why I brought this
one back up.

[ShooterSATX]

Chiming in from Baghdad...

Good ideas, all.The wife and I both carry small backpacks. After reading all of these ideas, I think I have to add a couple of more items; share the weight of course.

One thing that has crossed my mind out here in Iraq is a small MicroSD memory chip (like for cellular phones) with important documents (birth certs, deed, etc) and scanned copies of ID's, Credit Cards and Passports. If needed, I can sort of prove who I am and what is mine. Grab a small travel copy of 'The Good Book' and lift one of the edges to hide this chip in. Glue it back together and keep that book close to your heart. I doubt anybody you come across (with bad intentions) would bother taking that from you.

Thanks for all the info! Back home in about 2 months!

Aaron

[Dee]

Ok, Shooter, watch your six out there, and come home safe.

[kctibs]

Alot of people have said what they carry but how about what they carry their possibles in. I am getting a new pack this spring going to go with an Elberstock X2. What is your pack of choice?


http://eberlestock.com/X2%20Pack.htm

[teamnelson]

That's a sweet pack! I like the rifle scabbard option. I got a chinese version of the maxpedition raptor, love it! I'd like to put a molle scabbard on it like that eberlestock.