Originally published at Random Geekage. Please leave any comments there.

This originally came out of a need to put bits ‘n bobs someplace so they don’t clutter up my room or get lost. At some point, I decided to just take it with me in case it proved useful. Depending on how I’m feeling, it either rides in the front pocket of my Maxpedition Sabercat or in my Kifaru XTL.

The pouch itself is a Kifaru standard chamber pocket which came with the XTL. 425 denier nylon, plenty strong for small things.

Contents:

• Paracord and hair bands
• 2 boot bands
• Tissues
• Urban self aid kit
• Grimloc carabiner
• Clipper lighter
• Electrical lighter with torch

The 2 lighters serve different purposes. The clipper has a removable flint sparker so even without gas it is still useful. The electrical one has a small LED torch built into it, not the best thing in the world but when its the only thing you have you will be glad of it. The holster was made for me by V, features a belt loop and a clip to put on keys or what have you.

Originally published at Random Geekage. Please leave any comments there.

On body:

• Well worn boots
• Keys and wallet
• Watch
• Paracord wrapped around right wrist
• Beltline kit (will go over this at a later date)
• Nikon Coolpix S220 camera
• Buff

WebTex PLCE bergen:

• Lid:
  • Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski
  • Collins Gem SAS Survival Guide
  • Notebook and pens
  • Paracord
  • Baggie of cotton balls
  • Baggie of birch bark
• Front pocket:
  • 1000/6000 grit combination stone and nagura stone (not got anything smaller)
  • Folding spade (normally wouldn’t bring this but will be trying a dakota fire hole)
• Main chamber:
  • Section of foam camp mat to act as a seat
  • 2 days of clothes, swim shorts, some sort of acrylic beanie style hat, boonie hat
  • Caldera cone cooking system
  • MSR Titan Titanium 900ml pot with Culinary Upgrade Bag and utensils
  • Folding saw
  • Hygiene kit:
    • Toothbrush and toothpaste
    • Soap
    • Shampoo
    • Towel
    • Loo Roll
  • UK Army sleeping bag and DD Hammocks silk liner
  • Tarp for poncho floor
  • Poncho and ties
  • Possibles Pouch (will also go over this later)
  • First aid kit
  • Inflatable pillow
  • Food (cans, clif bars, trail mix)

Between the lid and main compartment is my self inflating roll mat. External to the pack is my french army 2 man tent which is far too heavy. Unfortunatly my Kifaru Paratarp won’t have arrived by the time of the meet. When it does finally come, the heavy (5.2kg, 11.4lbs) canvas will be replaced with 11 grams of silnylon (yay!). I’m bringing both the tent and my poncho so I can experiment with the poncho while having a known adequate shelter. Lashed through the tiny amount of webbing is my trainers so I can go for a run while at the site.

Originally published at Random Geekage. Please leave any comments there.

Edit: Avagdu let me know of some other stuff that could be worth looking at.

Been talking with V on the R5nger5 IRC channel (irc.freenode.net #r4nger5, come say hi) and the conversation drifted to investments. Various things were discussed which I will go over here.

Traditionally, investing is usually done with stocks or commodities. the problem with stocks is that they don’t really exist (money these days doesn’t really exist either, its what is known as fiat money which means that it is only worth what the state says it is worth and is backed up by people’s faith in the state but that’s something that can be discussed later). Gold is done in more or less the same way but there is (supposedly) a real tangible substance being held in trust.

The problem with that is you don’t get to hold it in your hand so its not really yours. If things go tits up with the company that you have given money to then your money could disappear.

Getting physical gold is also problem. An ingot is pretty damn expensive. Also, you need someplace to store it securely. Another big problem is in a SHTF situation. You will have to take that gold with you. Gold is heavy and doesn’t really do much. You would be better off in the short term with using the space and weight for food and water. If you can securely store your gold in a bug-out location that would be best.

This brings me on to the main focus. Investments should be functional and reliable as well as 100% under your control.

Wogs and r4nger5 know the importance of kit. Kit enables you to carry out tasks and can augment your skills. Getting good kit that will last a while is a great investment. I suggest getting a good knife (many tasks can be done with one). Pig Monkey suggests a backpack and a good pair of boots.

I made the suggestion of wog laminated maps. The ground does not change appreciably on a year to year basis so a good set of maps should last you at least a decade. For those who don’t know, wog lamination is where you take clear packing tape (or other clear strong tape) and cover both sides of the object resulting in a waterproof and tear resistant object. You also have the bonus of being able to write on the map with a pen or china pencil and wipe it off later.

Rechargeable batteries are also an idea. Every day there are more and more electronics coming out and they need power somehow. The majoirity of them are powered by batteries. Rechargeable batteries have the advantage of being reusable, you can hook them up to a solar panel or a small wind turbine and get power for your stuff in the field. The green-ness could also be a consideration. I suggest standardising on one size (or as few sizes as possible) to keep flexibility. AA size batteries are good for size and power output though getting a few leisure batteries could be useful in a more permanent (or less temporary) base. There is a caveat however. Rechargeable batteries have a limited time before the chemicals go bad and they fail to hold a decent charge. Consider them short term investment and don’t store them, use them.

Depending on how paranoid (or concerned) you are about your water supply, some sort of filter is also a wise choice. Folk are putting very bad things in the water these days, fluoride, lithium and there are prescription drugs detected in places.

Highly taxed goods such as tobacco and alcohol may be useful to barter/trade with though tobacco has a shelf life and isn’t as useful as alcohol.

Shelf stable foodstuffs are another valuable asset. Items such as grains, dried and canned food are easy to store and you will thank yourself for preparing if/when civilization collapses.

I would recommend also investing in skills. Even though they are intangible, the results of them can be used to improve your living and even gain regular employment. Getting a driving license is one that immediately comes to mind.

Just some ideas I’m putting out there. If anyone has any other suggestions please feel free to comment.

Originally published at Random Geekage You can comment here or there.

I got back from the R4nger5 meet yesterday. The weather was utter crap so I decided to bail, along with APIPA and Geddonia. Had wind, hail and rain, the ground was a bog and the whole thing was generally unplesant. Not to say that I didn’t have fun, enjoyed meeting new folks but the weather ruined the meet in my opinion.

Put my Caldera Cone though its paces and it performed really well. Managed to heat up my food with no difficulty (burned my macaroni cheese though) and used very little fuel (Especially considering I use too much).

Bought a stick of Swedish firesteel from Sloe which seems to work well. Gonna need to get a better knife for sparking with though, something with a high carbon content. Preferably a fixed blade suitable for bushcraft etc.

The first night I used my foam camp mat which is utter crap. coupled with a lack of pillow made for a very poor nights sleep. The next day I got a couple of pillows from Tesco and sold one to Jason as well as used the inflatable mattress I keep in my car. Made for a much better sleep. I now have a Gelert self inflating mattress suitable for camping with but have not tested it properly. It is quite comfy to lie on the floor though.

My experimental modular system wasn’t tested properly either but I’m thinking of abandoning it. The camp mat is getting chucked and the new mattress is too big. My tent is also too big and bulky (not to mention heavy, canvas is a bitch). Wanting to get a Kifaru ParaTipi but I need some serious cash for that ($507 USD is about £354). Anyone want to donate to the “Buy Kevin a decent light tent” fund?

Summary: cool people, shit weather, some shit kit. There is hopefully gonna be another one around easter weekend when the weather is better.

Originally published at Random Geekage You can comment here or there.

Just a couple of tidbits on how to improve the aforementioned pouch.

Use paracord instead of the shock cord as a drawstring. Shouldn’t need explanation.

The next one was inspired by Peekok’s idea to have another attachment point at the bottom (if I recall it correctly).

Make a loop of paracord

Push loop through the drainage hole at the bottom

Attach to a mounting point somehow (MALICE clip, carabiner, tie it whatever)

Originally published at Random Geekage You can comment here or there.

I decided to visit the local army surplus store today. I was planning on pricing an LBE (load bearing equipment) system but unfortunatly they lack that sort of thing. The only thing they have similar is waistcoats with pockets all over. I already have one and it has fallen out of favour. They did have a PLCE system the previous time I was there but that is not suitable as well.

I was originally going to visit and go straight home but they were shut. I decided to make a jaunt over to Moncrieff island and take a few photos to kill the time. The island would be a good bug out location if there wasn’t regular human activity. Lots of garbage and signs of fires.

I did get a small amount of stuff. Picked up some paracord (said it before and I’ll say it again, can never have enough) and a handful of boot bands (aka trouser twists/those elastic things with hooks on that scratch you if you let go accidently) as well as a pair of desert DPM trousers. Nothing special about the trousers though they do fit me very well. The seat is reinforced as well as the knees. Pockets are decent. Nothing else of note. I would like to get my hands on a few high speed pairs but I lack the funds.

Originally published at Random Geekage You can comment here or there.

First thing first, I had an absolute blast in Vancouver meeting all the folks over there. It is a shame that we had to part ways so soon. Really must meet up with folk again.

I’ll save folk the details of the flight there, save it to say that over 10 hours combined on a plane in economy class is not a nice experience. Food was ok but the thing that got me was the lack of leg space. Anyway…

Customs in Canada was the first…interesting…part of the trip. To get into Canada you need to fill out a form declaring what you are bringing in, why you are there etc. Foolishly, I ticked yes to bringing in weapons (packed a multitool) which got my stuff searched. Amusingly, the customs lady was not too bothered about the multitool, possibly due to not finding the blades on it. She was more concerned about what I meant by survivalism and what my arduino was. Thankfully she let me pass. Managed to get a taxi (expensive) to the hostel, checked in and then tried to crash for the night.

Managed to get a few hours sleep, going back in time messes with the head a bit. I had arranged to meet with Ephoy from the forums at a cafe somewhere. After an hour of getting my bearings (had to turn around twice) I got myself to the cafe early. Ephoy showed up shortly after. We introduced ourselves and then started talking about stuff.

The cafe, for those who are interested, is called Subeez and is located on a corner of Homer street and Smithe Street. They do a fantastic classic breakfast, main courses are somewhat lacking though. It proceeded to be the main meeting and hang out place for the whole trip.

We took the skytrain to a shopping center a good distance away. I too noticed something that Pig Monkey noticed when he made the trip up a couple years ago; there is a place to pay for the ticket but no place to have it checked. No conductors, no barriers, nothing. You could just walk onto the skytrain and get off wherever you wanted. In fact, after cruising around the shopping center we did just that.

The rest of the time is somewhat of a blur. At some point we agreed to meet at the Loose Moose, which has a strange policy of needing to eat to get drinks. Yugosaki and Halloween both showed up shortly after, followed by Icehawk. Good times were had, chatting about random crap.

Next day was more of the same, met up with BSV shortly before the new year, spent the time on the streets laughing at the drunks.

The day after, we had breakfast in Subeez (again), wandered around for a bit and decided to make a pilgrimage to Dave’s army surplus. Ye gods that was a trek, all the snow and the streets not having any consistent naming scheme meant that the trip took hours. However, we arrived and took a good look at the wares for sale. I picked up a new EDC pack, a 5.11 Rush 24 - which I gather is a medic pack - and a no name pouch similar to a Maxpedition 3×5 but bigger and cheaper.  Yugo and BSV also bought some stuff and we trekked back. Eventually we met up with Avagdu, Hatterofmadness and Pig Monkey. More comparison of kit ensured with an amusing incident of having boots on the table. I’m sure we pissed off the wait staff.

Finally the 3rd of Jan rolled around. After a time, we got to the theatre for the main event. Photos were taken, Cimmerian was filming folk. Almost at the last minute, Alex Peake and Brognought both found their way in.

Bloody hell those two are tall.

We got ushered in to the hall to see a slideshow of amusing images of the Rant team. After a while, the lights dimmed and Server’s prayer was played over the sound system. Sean came out garbed in robes and sat on the floor. This was the new Afternow episode that was promised. Needless to say, lots of video devices were pointed at him, including my phone. Not sure if my vid has uploaded yet, besides the quality is very poor. Avagdu says he got good audio so I’m gonna steal that off him.

After the new show, the lights went off, Sean got up and promptly fell over.

Cimm: “You ok? What happened?”

Sean: “My leg fell asleep.”

Laughter and applause soon followed.

The main video of the event then rolled, going over the history of Rant which was interesting and gave a few hints of what was about to come.

The Q&A with the WhatTheHell?!? cast was awesome. Prizes were given out and I was fortunate to find one of the 5 hidden SD cards under my seat with the main video as well as a comic. I also found out that I had traveled the 4th most distance. Ephoy was 3rd (being from Denmark) but 2 Australians (figures) took the 2nd and 1st prize.

After all the fun and games were over, we had food someplace, probably Subeez yet again. I had to go back to my hostel to drop off some pointy things and my laptop then we made for the club, Sanctuary.

Alex Peake was charged with navigation which…was less than optimal. But hey, we got there and I managed to shake hands with both Cimm and Sean.

I will say one thing about Sean. I suspect the only time he stops talking is when he is asleep. I swear the man could go on for hours. Though I suspect the drinks helped. He dropped some more info about Patrolling series 3, namely the idea of “tactical thinking”.

The rest of the time was more blurry. Folk had to disappear, the group shrank quite rapidly. I too had to leave on the 5th to get my plane.

10 more hours in economy. Joy. Thankfully, getting back into the UK was a lot less hassle, look at the passport and waved me on. Had more trouble getting my case off the baggage conveyer.

So there you have it. My jaunt to Vancouver. Would I do it again? If I had the money, in a heartbeat. I look forward to the day when we can meet up again.

My photos

Yugo’s photos

Avagdu’s photos

Alex’s photos

Originally published at Random Geekage You can comment here or there.

Last night I had an idea. Might not be any good, lemme know what you think.

Following the line of thought shown by SKTFM in the Patrolling series’, different bags for different tasks, I came up with what I call the Bush Bag.

Basically, it is a bag that contains everything you need to survive in the bush. The idea is to take a small bag, something like a Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack or similar in OD green or camo of your choosing and fill it with stuff you would need in a forest. Good bushcraft knife, plenty of paracord, some tarps for shelter, cooking gear, firelighting stuff and a first aid kit geared towards burns and cuts. The only stuff it would need is food and water, as well as a couple changes of clothes, but that can be in another bag.

Keep it in, strapped to or near your AWOL bag, that way if you need it you always know where it is. The idea is to have a modular system so you have all the kit for a particular task/situation in one place. Plus it theoretically makes packing easier.

I have done some mental calculations and I think all this would fit in my fatboy. Will give it a shot next time I’m going camping.

Originally published at Random Geekage. Links may not work properly here, visit the site for the right ones You can comment here or there.

Think I have enough stuff.