00 Life Support System - a 3 Part Modular Survival/Travel Kit

Not just for survival but for life.

*This is in the Be Prepared Contest, if you like what you see give it a vote!

System Components
1. EDC
2. Ultralight 00 Bag
3. Complete G.O.O.D. Bag (Get Out Of Dodge) aka Get Home Bag, B.O.B.

After the great feedback on the VZ-Panel I've decided to contribute my entire survival/travel system which I've developed over years of back-country and urban travel.

Every system must be tailored to the individual's lifestyle, location and the season.  I'm currently in L.A. and travel primarily by bike so my system is more tailored for Warm/Dry 'Cycleocalypse'. As winter is approaching things will be swapped out.

This is a real world setup, I actually travel with everything in this kit and use the EDC and what I call my 00 bag regularly. The elements that make the complete G.O.O.D. bag are organized in pouches or waterproof bags making them easy to throw in my main pack for a quick departure. 

My philosophy is not ultralight but I strive to keep it as light as possible. With this kit (plus amenities, clothing + laptops/work stuff) my family of 3 (2 adults, 1 infant) has lived and traveled for over 6 months with 1 checked luggage (North Face Duffel Bag/Backpack), 1 large carry on backpack (Mission Workshop Vandal), 1 med briefcase, 1 small backpack and 1 Ergo baby carrier.

The quantities below should be used as a per person ref. There are things I sometimes list from my kit for my 1.5yr old daughter which you might not need, i.e. baby tylenol, baby food packets, baby vitamins, diaper bag, etc.

You'll want two of some important things in case 1 gets lost or breaks, i.e. Knife, fire starters, water purification methods, water carrier, shelter etc. That doesn't mean you need two of the exact same thing for everything, just multiple tools that intersect in their functions.
As the SEALs say, "Two is one, one is none."

This system is still evolving, some of the items are new and I haven't used them yet (i.e. the bear pepper spray, and keychain stuff! in the GOOD bag list).

With so many survival experts on instructables I hope this can become a community effort, I'll keep updating this instructable with any major feedback and community tips from the comments.

The Kit uses 3 Main Bags and several Molle compatible pouches of different sizes with everything organized in waterproof roll top compression sacks.

The main bags I use are 
00 Bag - Suunto Lightweight Trail Running Hydration Bag
00 Waist Bag - Army Surplus padded waist pack
G.O.O.D. Bag - Mission Workshop Vandal (Just got this as the bag of all bags, looks good enough to use as my daily, expands to gargantuan proportions, completely waterproof, lifetime guarantee, made in USA).

Step 1: Part 1. the EDC

It all starts with your EDC, here's mine.

Belt

• K2 Climbing Belt made with nylon webbing
• 1x Heavy Duty Chain with Compact U-Lock (When cycling)

Retractable Keychain on belt (1each)

• MicroLight
• Keys
• Fisher Space Pen
• Mini Pry Bar/Multitool
• Tweezers
• Utili-Key

Pockets

• 1x UL Tyvek Mighty Wallet
  • Cash (Local Currency)
  • ID
  • Credit Cards
  • Business Cards
  • Flat Fresnel Magnifying Card
  • Highly Ambiguous Password Hint for Encrypted Files
• 1x HTC Sensation World Phone
• 1x Wired Headset with Sugru Custom Earbuds
• 1x Bic Lighter
• 1x Pen/Sharpie
• 1x Strong Sharp Folding Knife (Spyderco or Equivalent)

Section 1.5 Extended EDC
When necessary, extended day trip, or when traveling by bike

On belt or in bag

• Canon Compact Powershot Pocket Digi Cam in neoprene Lowe Alpine case. (for intel gathering)
• 1x Cordura Molle Pouch
  • 2x ea. Spare AA's+ AAA's for lights/ backup USB charger
  • 1x Li-Ion Backup battery with LED
  • 5x Rigger Heavy Duty Rubber Bands (Staples)
  • 1x micro USB wall plug (110-220)
  • 1x Bic Lighter
  • 1x Clorox Wipes to-go pack
  • 1x Mini Glow Stick
  • 1x Visine/Eye Rinse
  • 1x Short Mini USB Cable
  • 1x Short Micro USB Cable
  • 1x Mini Phoenix Waterproof Flashlight
  • 1x Emergency Whistle With Compass and Lanyard
  • 1x 2 Sided Sharpie
  • 1x Altoids First Aid Kit W/ Wrapped with Super Heavy Duty Rubber Band
  • 1x Spare prepay SIM card
  • 1x 2 part Iodine Water Purification Tablets
  • 1x Keychain Police Pepper Spray

Step 2: Part 2. 00 Bag

Aka Bond Bag, Jason Bourne Bag (Urban/Suburban Short Term Survival 1-7 days)
In addition to Part 1 EDC carried in Lightweight Trail Runners Bag and Waist Pack.

• 1x 3L Giegerrig Pressurized Hydration Bladder
• 4x Ration/Energy/Protein Bars/gels
• 1x Bike Multitool
• 1x Gerber Diesel Multi Plier (has can opener)
• 2x Bike Tire Levers
• 2x Spare Inner Tubes
• 1x Compact Bike Pump
• 1x Bike Patch Kit
• 2x Zip-lock Bags in case of rain I can stash my pouch and phone in there
• 1x Camelbak Electrolyte Tablets with Caffeine
• 1x VZ-Panel
• 1x Blaze Orange Microfiber Pack Towel/Sham Wow (Can be used for all kinds, i.e. pre-filter for iodine tablets)
• 1x Navy Blue UL SilNy Backpacking Tarp/Poncho (low viz)
• 1x Full First Aid Kit (See contents at bottom of page, I carry this depending on where I'm going, i.e. back-country                   hiking/trail running)

• Admin Pouch (in Bag)
  • 1x Waterproof Notebook
  • 1x Plastic Flex Ruler with angle finder (mm + ")
  • 1x Micro Tip Sharpie
  • 1x Pencil
  • 1x Ballpoint Pen
  • 1x Technicians 4 piece Precision Screwdriver
  • 1x Large white grid post it note pad
  • 1x Stainless Steel Travel Chopsticks
  • 1x Passport/Misc ID's/Cash
  • 1x Mini USB Flash Drive with encrypted backup folder jpg family pictures, birth certs, marriage certs, passwords, etc.
  • 1x Folded waterproof Local Area Topo Map or road map depending on urban or country

Step 3: Part 3. Complete G.O.O.D. Bag

Complete (Get Out Of Dodge Bag) aka B.O.B., Get Home Bag.
Urban or Back-country Long Term Survival replaces 00 Bag

note: Only basic survival rations included. Either make your own MRE's or learn to catch/identify wild food in your region. This is a continuation of 00 Bag contents. All contents are carried in a 100% Weatherproof bag, to be submersion proof interior is organized in smaller waterproof roll top sacks.

FIRST AID/WATER    

• 1x Complete First Aid Kit (Based on First Responders Kit) (see complete contents below)
• 1x 3L Camelbak Hydration Bladder (in addition to Giegerrig 3L)
• 2x 1 Liter Water Bottles
• 1x Sawyer 1 Million Gallon .02 micron Viral Filter (max 150gal/day gravity fed, also attached to giegerrig inline hose)

FOOD/FIRE/COOKING

• 8x 3600 cal. Food Ration Bars
• 1x UL Alcohol Stove/Hobo Stove (lots of instructables on this, you could just make one on the fly too)
• 1x Multi Fuel Stove (if back country)
• 1x Fuel Cannister
• 1x Cotton Ball/Vaseline Fire starters in waterproof container
• 1x Matches and strike paper in Waterproof Container
• 1x Compact Cook Kit 
• 1x Spork+Knife
• 1x Small Bottle Doctor Bronners Magic Soap
• 1x half roll of TP (Compressed in Ziplock without center cardboard roll)
• 2x Small Microfiber Pack towels/rags

SHELTER

• 1x UL Parachute Hammock Blaze Orange (Hi Viz)
• 1x UL Backpacking Tarp With Grommets
• 1x mosquito net
• 1x Full Change of Clothes/Person (Local Style to blend in, not Camo unless backcountry)
• 1x UL Waterproof Breathable Rain Coat/Person
• 1x Wide Brim Boonie Hat

COMMS/ELECTRONICS

• 4x Nextel On and Off Network Phones  
• 1x Brunton Roll Up Solar Panel with 12V car adapter 
• 2x Super Bright LED (w/ strobe) Flashlight
• 1x Headlamp
• 1x Backup Battery Pouch
  • 8x AA's, 4x AAA's
  • 1x 4AA USB Adapter    
  • 3x Li-Ion
  • 4x Nextel Batteries
  • 1x AA/AAA Compact Smart Wall/12V Charger
  • 2x Nextel Charger
  • 2x USB Cables (micro and mini)

TOOLS/REPAIR

• 1x Compact Chain Saw
• 1x Bear Spray Pepper Spray (Personal carry riot control) (recommend UDAP products)
• 2x Keychain Pepper Spray (Again, UDAP was started from a Grizzly Bear attach Survivor)
• 1x 50 ft. 7 strand Paracord (550lb) on Locking Climbing Carabiner
• 2x handkerchief
• 1x Spare Glasses/Contact Lenses
• 1x Magnesium and flint fire starter brick
• 2x Snare Wire
• 1x Fishing Line With Hooks
• 2x Collapsible Lightweight Trekking Poles
• 1x Duct Tape Rolled onto Trekking Pole
• 1x Flourescent Gaffers Tape Rolled onto Trekking Pole
• 4x Sugru mini packs diff colors
• 1x Large Ziplock with important printed docs, birth certs, Social Security Card, Marriage Cert, Bank Statements etc.
• 4x Large Heavy Duty Zip Ties
• 1x Zip Tie Multipack (various med-small sizes)
• 1x Compact Mylar Lined Umbrella    
• 1x Monocular
• 1x Compact binocular
• 1x Compact 12V Auto Inverter with AC and USB (for AC chargers/electronics, tablets, computers, etc)
• 10x Large Foil/mylar coated ziplock bags for EMP protection.
• Assorted lengths nylon webbing (good for making anchors, incredibly strong and lightweight)

Reference Library 

• 1x Book How to Survive The End of the World As We Know It (TEOTWAWKI)
• 1x SAS Survival Guide (Color)

*Optional
1x Survival and DIY/Instrucatables ebook Library on compact E-Ink tablet (stored in foil ziplock pouch)

Step 4: Complete First Aid Kit Inventory

This is the checklist I use for my first aid kit, plus or minus a few items. I tend to keep several survival items in my kit as well but I haven't listed them here since they're listed in other steps. 

Complete First Aid Checklist:
[ ]1x mini trauma Shears (W/ RIP Shears)
[ ]1x seatbelt cutter + shears alt http://talonrescue.com/
[ ]10x Nitrile gloves
[ ]20x adhesive bandages (fabric, Johnson&Johnson knuckle type are good for everything)
[ ]20x butterfly closures
[ ]2x tongue blades/finger splints
[ ]1x roll plastic medical tape
[ ]5x 2" x 2" Gauze Pads
[ ]4x 5" x 9" Bandages
[ ]4x 4" x 4" gauze pads
[ ]2x QuickClot Bandages (Israeli Bandage)
[ ]2x Blood Stopper (Celox or equivalent)
[ ]2x Triangle Bandages
[ ]1x Elastic/Ace wrap bandage (stick to self kind)
[ ]1x Mylar Survival Blanket
[ ]1x 5 pack of Oral Airways (make sure u know how to use them, i.e. never on someone conscious)
[ ]2x Instant Cold Packs
[ ]2x Instant Hot Packs
[ ]2x Sodium Chloride Irrigation Solution 250ml
[ ]20x Antispectic Wipes
[ ]2x Tripple antibiotic ointment
[ ]1x Splinter tweezers/forceps
[ ]12x Alcohol Prep Pads
[ ]4x Resealable plastic bag (Ziplock)
[ ]1x Dual tip Sharpie
[ ]1x Tympanic (ear) thermometer
[ ]1x analog thermometer
[ ]1x Several ft. Seran Wrap folded up
[ ]1x Multiuse SAM (or budget equivalent) Splint
[ ]1x Sunscreen+Insect repellent (baby Safe/Waterproof)
[ ]3x N95 Face Mask, ideally with activated charcoal as well
[ ]3x Smelling Salts
[ ]3x Oral glucose gel
[ ]4x Burn Gel
[ ]3x 10 days supply iOSAT Potassium Iodine Tablets (For radiation)
[ ]Allergy Pills
[ ]Anti-Diarreah Pills
[ ]Baby Pedialyte for hydration
[ ]Tylenol, Baby Tylenol
[ ]Electrolytes and Multivitamins Pouches and pills (Emergen-C, Camelbak with Caffeine, etc)
[ ]Curved Needle for stitches/Repairs
[ ]Curved Hemostat
[ ]1x Dental Floss
[ ] 2x Fishing Line, monofilament 1 strong 1 thin.

Step 5: Closing Notes:

Notes:
UL 00 Setup is in a Trail Runners Backpack and Waist Bag

Use Waterproof Compressor Bags (Silny or stronger) with purge valve to save space and protect from submersion, create flotation device, carry water, etc.

Foil zip lock pouches for waterproof storage (maybe the copper variety are EM shielding? I tested the silver ones and they aren't).

Survival Tablet (Nook night light ebook reader) with complete survival library and diy/instructables additions i.e. civilization rebuilding library. engineering, electrical, mechanical, architecture, design, medical, etc.

Family photos and personal data on encrypted SD cards or flash drives (I use axcrypt for files and Keepass for passwords, keep the software tools on there with the files).

Reference EMT First Responder Kits for your first aid kit.

Some of my favorite survival instructables I referenced while planning this kit
-All the altoids tin survival kits/first aid kits, too many to name
- One SF Soldiers Survival Kit 
- Mini Alcohol Stove (After reading all the instructables I don't travel with one, if I need one i can make one!)
- MRE's on the Cheap (A priceless how to on making your own MRE's)

Notes: Good tip from user tomsweet65 is to organize MRE's and first Aid stuff into vacuum seal trauma bags 

Suggestions I'm looking for: How to lighten the load/combine multiple items, good items for barter (Whiskey, rare items, no Rare Metals, or Precious Gems) and glaring omissions.

Comments

[SimonG5]

Why don't people ever name the bag they used and it's capacity?

[kobie.berkhout]

I need a bag like this!! with extra wheels possibly :O Anyone know where i can get this??

[Nosanon]

Mission Workshop makes the large expandable backpack, it's called the Vandal. The hip strap is an optional addon but well worth it for heavy grocery trips, or anytime the bag is fully loaded.

[mettaurlover]

I would add a folding shovel to the full pack list; they're pretty cheap, and almost infinitely useful if properly sharp. In addition, the MINIMUM amount of paracord I would recommend having is 100', which is, conveniently, one of the most common sizes it's sold in. MRE heaters are also pretty useful, since you can either use them to heat food in wet weather or burn them as a surprisingly aggressive fuel source.

[Nosanon]

Thanks for the input on the folding shovel, it's a great tip. I've seen them used for everything from digging latrines and fire-pits to throwing tomahawks, so yeah, super versatile and I agree a valid addition. Now to find the perfect one that's not too heavy. Are there titanium folding shovels? jk.

I'll up the parachord, I actually have 150', 50' on the carabiner and another 100' of a dif color elsewhere (it's in the GOOD Bag kit pic, I guess I forgot to add it to the list).

[espdp2]

+ The military entrenching tool is my preferred shovel. Best way to "go" in the woods! Dig your cat hole, set the shovel to 90*, and sit on it with one cheek. Almost as convenient as your toilet seat at home.
- Too heavy for EDC.

[ered101]

I bet that's a sudden awakening in the morning as that cold steel hits that bare booty.

[mettaurlover]

Well, given its purpose you don't actually WANT a folding shovel to be all that light-what you want, if you're looking for any durability at all-is one made primarily from steel; I have one that weighs a couple pounds with one serrated edge and one scalloped edge, never could figure out what that side was for.

[EyeWander]

Awesome, I carry a related assortment in my pocket and a little ditty bag with some of the supplies you show in my Camera Sling pack every day. Great Instructable!

[travisttt]

My recommendation for a good barter item? .22 LR ammunition. These rounds are small and light, allowing you to carry more in less space. They may not pack the same power as larger rounds, but in a survival situation they are adequate for obtaining food or defending oneself. Rifles and pistols shooting this round are incredibly common and accessible, so many individuals would be interested when access to ammunition ended. You can buy boxes of over 500 rounds for about $20 allowing you to trade or sell numerous quantities of individual rounds. This gives you far more opportunities to obtain what you need to survive. Good luck when you need all of this stuff. Things could get very interesting following the election, no matter who wins.
TNT

[espdp2]

Bartering .22 LR ammo? That's simply brilliant! Also the first time I've ever heard of the idea. One of those smack myself in the forehead ideas.

[travisttt]

Unfortunately, you've picked the worst time possible to happen to read this comment. As you might already know, ammunition prices are astounding, if you can find it at all. This is especially true for .22 (Just saw a guy advertising $50 per brick and have no doubt he will get what he's asking). I am reasonably confident that the panic buying will come to an end as new gun control legislation dies, but who knows? Some politician might decide that disarming vulnerable and law abiding citizens will make them safer against the reliably armed criminal. People are stupid. If you're not unbearably concerned about an imminent zombie apocalypse, foreign (or domestic) attack/invasion, and/or complete monetary collapse (most realistic scenario), then I suggest that you be patient and buy a brick or two when the market returns to some semblance of normalcy.
Good luck with your preparedness and survival,
TNT

[espdp2]

You're absolutely right about that, and I agree that prices will normalize eventually, but they'll be "normal" at a higher price than they used to be. Lots of us already have a decent stash though, and are ahead of the curve.

You know, centerfire reloading kits and supplies is another area that I've not heard much talk about lately, although it was frequently discussed during the Clinton years. This could be a side income stream for someone with a little knowhow.

[Nosanon]

That's a great rec on the ammo. It doesn't apply so much for overseas or if international travel is coming into play, but for domestic survival I couldn't agree more. The single round/multiple round capability mention make it almost as good as coin but with a whole lot of function metals and coins don't have.

[espdp2]

I have a question about the 4 Nextel phones. It's my understanding that they no longer work on any network, as of this spring. Have you tested them lately, and do you have any plans to replace them with FRS or MRS radios or the like? Or cell phones?

[Nosanon]

I always carry my HTC Sensation (w/ backup batteries) as my day to day cell, the nextell are for digital off network secure 2-way/multi-way comms. These days I'm also workin with some cheap made in china VHF/UHF HAM talkies. Btw, anyone know of any beginner or intermediate HAM resources?

[hobbssamuelj]

this is an excellent guide. very complete.

[Nosanon]

I just want to say thanks to everyone that voted on this 'ible, it won the runner up prize in the Be Prepared contest! Thanks a ton everyone and of course the instructables staff!

[poofrabbit]

Congratulations on being a finalist in the be prepare contest!

[Nosanon]

Thanks!