My new more practical bag
:
I used a typical backpack that a teenager would bring to school with 3 compartments :
1) In the first compartment, i put a small plastic container about 4" x 12". In here i put a maglite with 6 extra batteries, 10 books of matches, a
small amount of dried out cotton, a little stick of magnesium, a pen, a small compass, and approximately 20-30 water purification tablets (the plastic
container has 6 locks on it and a rubber water proofer seal so that water can not get in at all). Also, i included 1 tarp approcimately 10' x 10'
rolled up as tightly as possible, and a space blanket.
2) Also, i included in the second pocket 1 pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a rain slicker. In a small pan about 8 inches in diameter, i
stuffed two pairs of boxers, 3 pairs of socks, 4 butane lighters, and 2 bandanas.
3) In the last compartment i put in 10 energy bars, a small medical kit (little bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 2 needles, 2' of thread, 10 bandaids,
and a small ace bandage). Also included a 30' fishing line, 5 hooks, and 2 bobbers in a small plastic container for fishing. I also put in 20 .22
bullets in a waterproof container. Also, i included a knife, a multi-tool, and a small hatchet. Lastly, i put in a few maps of local areas and a few
how-to books (i rolled these up and put them in old newspaper bags and used rubber bands to seal them off at the top, the contraption is fairly
waterproof, espoecially while in the backpack).
4) On the outside of the backpack i put 1 1 liter bottle of water on each side of the backpack in the water bottle holders. I also attached a small
blanket approximately 6' x 4' to the top of the backpack rolled up as tight as possible and secured it with a small amount of cord. I also attached
approximately 20' of some thin nylon rope to the handle at the top of the backpack.
(i did not include the .22 itself in my pack description as i am sure a person would either hold it or use a shoulder strap)
overall i am guestimating that my pack weigh about 20 pounds give or take a few pounds, which i consider a pretty easy load to carry around. Also, a
benefit to the pack i listed would be that you would not overly stick out, meaning that you would draw much less attention to yourself.
As previously stated by other posters, i would recommend having a stash already ready, but if that is not possible, my pack would be able to get me
through a week or two until i could find a stream / river / pond where i could get water / fish.
P.S. - Anyone have any suggestions on what to add or take out of my pack?