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Author’s note:
My mother tongue is Afrikaans. The majority spoken language is, however, English and we need to reach as many of our brothers and sisters as we can. For this purpose the B.O.B brief will be in English. To all my Afrikaans speaking audience, thank you for your understanding.
In today’s uncertain times we should live by a motto: “
Prepare for the worst…hope for the best!” Our hope lies in our Father! ” (The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and He has taught us that: “Faith is best lived practically”. So, let’s start with the theory…so we can get to the practical…showing our Faith!
B.O.B is a subject that can be discussed in extensive writings. Our Core Focus for now will be to empower you with at least the basics to start off with. You can then use that information to build upon in your own time, pace and according to your own personal needs.
What is a B.O.B?
“A Bug-out Bag (B.O.B) is a portable kit that contains the items one would require to survive for 72 hours when evacuating from a disaster. The focus is on evacuation, rather than long-term survival, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit” – Source, Wikipedia
Why have a B.O.B?
Most people in the know say, if you need to leave in a hurry, you need to be gone in 15 minutes flat! What better way to do that, than have everything you need packed in your B.O.B…within close reach, ready to grab and go! (This brief will exclude a discussion on the geo-political – and economic climate as motivation why you should have a B.O.B…that’s a whole subject on its own)
Consider the following, when buying a B.O.B:
Price – You will have to rely on B.O.B as the primary essential tool to carry your “livelihood” for quite some time to come…so rather choose the higher priced, better quality product. Think of B.O.B as a major investment in your survival ability…rather than a pricy item. Most backpacks (from a reputable brand), or military spec backpacks are well constructed and should last a fairly long time. Price saving tips – look out for sales, special offers, group buy incentives, online offers, etc….become an informed shopper.
Size – A good rule for size is no smaller than a 30 litre backpack, with a load capacity of at least 13 Kilograms upwards. Key size features to look out for include – compression straps and load expansion capabilities (this will extend the all-round usefulness and manoeuvrability of B.O.B). A B.O.B (with the above features) can easily double up as a supply and re-supply carry bag. Keep in mind your body size/frame, intended cargo carry weight, fitness level and your manoeuvrability with B.O.B…no use strapping a mammoth on to a petit lady and expecting her to do “gymnastics” is there.
Key features – A well-constructed, adjustable and padded harness structure (hip belt, lumber pad, shoulder straps) is an absolute must! Look out for double stitching and/or reinforcing in key load bearing areas on the bag. YKK zippers are best (I prefer the larger size zippers) External baffles (material cover strip over the zippers) help keep the rain out. Look out for an overall sturdy construction on the backpack (B.O.B).
Various storage compartments inside and out, a sternum strap, additional latch points and a water bladder compartment, can prove to be very useful added features to consider. Note – most backpacks are only water resistant/ waterproof to a limited extent. Consider adding waterproof bags and a rain cover to your kit.
Colour scheme – In crisis situations it’s better to blend than to stick out like a sore thumb…so try and stick to low tone colours (darkish blues, greys, browns, greens, etc.); Note – this goes for your colour scheme on your clothes as well!
Special needs- Choose each B.O.B as per the individual’s needs/ special needs…especially for Kids/ elderly people/ people with disabilities / medical needs / animals and the like. You might even need to request a specialized B.O.B be manufactured for that particular individual (at a higher cost of course). Note – consider having a lightweight portable modular pull trolley system (with large mountain bike tyres) at hand…you can pull three times as much as you can carry…especially when the kids get tired,etc.
Useful add-ons – A smaller detachable day pack, or a mid-size “fanny pack”/thigh pack can be a very useful add on. It creates a modular system that gives you the option of reaching essential equipment quickly, without having to dismount your B.O.B.
Life priorities – We all add different levels of value to things in our life and we spend our hard earned cash accordingly. If you can understand the essential lifesaving importance of B.O.B (and contents)…it should be no issue to re-evaluate your spending patterns and immediately allocate funds towards acquiring this important tool!
Morne van Schalkwyk
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