by jpfeffer » Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:05 pm
This might just be a crazy idea here, but I just read all 6 pages of this thread, and it seems like above all else, everyone here is trying to argue for, understand, and create a list of items needed for a survival kit in various situations. I think the title pretty much covers that. We’ve linked to websites, read blogs, other forums, product reviews, and sales pitches for survival equipment and this has all helped us form opinions on what should be in our personal bug out bags or vehicles. But here’s where it gets crazy:
What if we planned a meet involving all of these ideas and put them to the test so-to-speak? Everything I’m about to say is riding on the assumption that we’re all as interested in what to have in emergency bug out kits as 6 pages of posts would lead me to believe.
What if we all put these kits to the test and had a weekend long “competition†(or more) to see how well they each hold up. If we could find property to use, we could:
- Have everyone live off of his or her own supplies for a set amount of time (2-5 days?)
- Driving competition through terrain chosen by the planners
- Shooting competition to simulate survival tactics, hunting, etc.
- Judging of each rig/kit by mods. or event attendees on its effectiveness
- Various competitions or trials to put the kits to the test (“What if?†scenarios)
I just think that if we put these to the test, that would speak more to their effectiveness than one opinion against another, and it would help to finalize some of the lists we’ve come up with. People would be able to explain the “whys†of their own kits, and by reporting back on the competition with writing, photos, and videos, it would allow ORTB to be a source of information for more off-roaders than just us TB fans.
I’m afraid to post this, because I’m afraid of being banned to the OS, but right now it’s opinion vs. opinion, whereas something like I’ve proposed would give us a “well, look at what happened at the ORTB Survival Competition, that tool proved to be useless/useful/a lifesaverâ€. I know it would help me make up my mind on what to take with me on trips, be it simple off-roading, weekend camping trips, week long expeditions, or bug out situations.
Again, I’m prepared for flaming. Maybe pictures and stories from other trips are good enough for deciding what to bring or what not to bring. What I’ve proposed is also difficult to plan (supervision for firearms, safety, medical, etc., food stocked for bug out kits that don’t last, and so on and so forth). But even so, it could be a valuable tool for teaching survival skills to people who don’t have much experience in that area, deciding what would be good to have and what’s a waste in bug out kits, and more. Sorry if this is a dumb idea in everyone else’s eyes. Mods can delete if so. But does anyone else see a good teaching/learning/exploration opportunity in something like this?
2002 Trailblazer LTZ
Constant Work in Progress
But hey, we plan events like TECORE, so maybe someday "The Challenge" could be a reality!
.. I've done 10 days out of a rig, its easy.. I've also done two weeks out of a backpack. Not as easy, but once you get past the first few days, it gets better. We have allot of high mountain steams up here to gilster water from,and Tons of critters to munch on.. I imagine other places wouldn't be as easy to do so!
