What Preps are you doing this week? Part 4

[shocker]

Thanks mate, nice to have some info. An exterior frame might be the way for me, the ability to fashion clips and clamps onto a wheelchair or walker-frame is inviting.

I was fine with frame packs until frameless packs became the thing to have, and I, like most, was dazzled by the bling of it all. I cannot really recall why frameless packs became "the thing"...maybe it was to do with catching the frame on stuff when climbing or on night moves through woodland ? But then my last civvy frame pack (a Vango) had a continuous tubular build..?? I dont know - I was probably just taken in by the newness of it all.

The only thing I dont like about the old style packs is the "one big sack" design. I know I can use liners and dry bags but the thought of just unzipping a compartment for my dry, night kit is very appealing !

[MBJ]

Thanks mate, nice to have some info. An exterior frame might be the way for me, the ability to fashion clips and clamps onto a wheelchair or walker-frame is inviting.

I was fine with frame packs until frameless packs became the thing to have, and I, like most, was dazzled by the bling of it all. I cannot really recall why frameless packs became "the thing"...maybe it was to do with catching the frame on stuff when climbing or on night moves through woodland ? But then my last civvy frame pack (a Vango) had a continuous tubular build..?? I dont know - I was probably just taken in by the newness of it all.

The only thing I dont like about the old style packs is the "one big sack" design. I know I can use liners and dry bags but the thought of just unzipping a compartment for my dry, night kit is very appealing !

I think from a manufacturer's point of view, and therefore a consumer's view too, it is obviously a lot cheaper to make a modern pack as you're not using metals or canvas. Modern packs generally have more compartments and therefore appear to be more convenient, but as I said the one big sack design does have it virtues in that you can pack more stuff. For example I'd wager that the LK35,which is effectively a 42-45L pack, could carry way more stuff than your typical tall and narrow 35L pack, and because of the external frame, you'll be able to carry more stuff via that too.

The canvas and metal frame does make it heavier than most modern packs of similar size, but not by much to be fair, and canvas will last for decades while you may be lucky to get a few years out of newer and cheaper materials.

So I guess the big draw with modern packs like a lot of things is the fact that they're generally cheaper to buy new, and are seen as more convenient, but may not necessarily be superior products.

FYI Military Mart are selling them for as cheap as £12.50, but I did spend a bit more to get a Grade A+ condition one and and paid more to get my order upgraded to a canvas version too.

[shocker]

Yes, I have been watching them at the same place myself. The big issue I have is storage - myself and La Shockette are in a 1 bedroom (plus tiny boxroom) flat with bugger all cupboard space. What little there is is full of the obvious; canned and dry foods, tools and equipment, already. Plus theres the homebrew and home lab taking up half the bathroom, then theres all the mobility stuff like wheelchairs. Its so bad that air rifles are currently being used as hanging rails for clothes. Its the only way I can justify giving them houseroom, giving them a purpose other than spitting leaden whotsit.

Thers already bergens hanging on doors so its got to be one thing out for any thing that comes in. Mrs Shox is seriously unimpressed by having her airing cupboard, the only inbuilt storage, full of inflatable matress, trangias & pressure stoves and the three eat-and-drink picnic/bug out boxes. And all the cordless drills and tools that can be run off the trucks 12v system.

But I digress (complaints of "dont 'ee ever go on?" from the wings) as usual. For once, its not just the price thats the issue, its the fact that I need to get this right first time. No buying something, changing my mind and saying I will sell it and then getting another. I promise. Honest. "Whats that frying pan for ? Dont hit me again, mrs shox ! Please ! Aaarrgh !"

[Plymtom]

Watching the thread progress, I have to say the merits of framed packs are clear, but the again so are the multi-compartment ones, I see two solutions.
1:- A couple could opt for both, one carries the stuff which needs access and organisation, the other carts the high volume stuff which mainly gets used at the destination.

2:- You may want to get an LK35 and Frankenstein (sew or strap) some pouches or even a small military pack on to it thereby addressing your needs.

As I said, I have gone modular and will be playing with that for some time, but there is no doubt that tents other than a one man are a no go, but then again i have a 100 liter argos special with a 5 man tent, some cooking gear, and 1 sleeping bag in, and very little else, we used it for day trips where we would only be going a few hundred yards from the car and did multiple trips anyway with camp chairs a gazebo ( because we burn too easily) etc, even the smaller 2/3 man tent takes up a fair old space if you try to pack it in a rucksack, so to get more in you really have to go for specialist weight saving and expensive gear - we can't and frankly a serious bug out or get home scenario would need hand carts or a big white van for all normal activity based scenarios many backpacks is still the solution, there's no catch all, because for instance shopping requires a practically empty one, outdoor leasure activities require some flexibility which a variety of packs where more than one person are involved like option 1 above provides the flexibility, years ago I used to use a shopping trolley when we had no car, for heavy stuff there was no option, sometimes a backpack as well with carrier bags balanced on top of the trolley maybe that's why I never took bug out as a serious option, lugging a weeks shopping on foot for a mile for a family on pavements is hard enough.

[Jamesey1981]

I would agree with plymtom, it's very hard to find one pack that would be perfect for everything, especially if you can't spend too much money on it.
I have more than ten different packs, but the three I use the most are my German army alpine pack, that's my usual daypack, it's a simple canvas rucksack with no frame that I give some structure with a small foam pad for sitting on, it's not huge but it's big enough for everything that I need for a day, my survival kit and some camera gear and it will likely outlive me. Then I have my LK35 which I have added a waist belt and some side pouches to, very comfy and I use that if I'm on a bushcrafty kind of trip or an overnight hunting trip, big enough to hold the gear I need, I can strap stuff to it, very comfortable and hard wearing but too heavy to use if I'm really going to be covering some ground, but so is the gear that I have in it. Then finally I have an osprey exos 58, very light, very comfortable, but too flimsy for pushing through woodland, the material it's made of is thin to keep the weight down, and it would be easy to rip it, that's the one I take when I'm hiking and the weight is an issue, so that's stuffed with lightweight gear.

Finding a compromise was actually impossible for me, so I don't envy anyone having to pick just one!

There are actually some pretty decent looking civilian backpacks on gearbest, but obviously not being able to try them is a bit of an issue.

[whenfires]

I have added some hockey-puck style hazard beacons to my car kits:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nordstrand-Fla ... 731&sr=8-5

They seem well made and very bright and having seen news coverage of another distracted lorry driver ploughing into the back of a broken down car with its hazards flashing, I though a set of these in each car would help focus someones attention if needed!

I've also just bought his and hers Craghopper Kiwi trousers to put in our grab/hotel bags.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I have added some hockey-puck style hazard beacons to my car kits:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nordstrand-Fla ... 731&sr=8-5

They seem well made and very bright and having seen news coverage of another distracted lorry driver ploughing into the back of a broken down car with its hazards flashing, I though a set of these in each car would help focus someones attention if needed!

Having used them a couple of times on a unlit a-roads they don't half slow down traffic especially the Blue ones ...... Now before any one pipes up unless you stick them on your car they are just a torch and do not come under the confines of the road vehicle lighting regulations and they were £60 for 6 rechargeable units in a charging dock type case on offer a few years back... From £120!

The red ones work well too they crop up in aldi and lidl from time to time last years lidl ones were crap aldi much better build

[Britcit]

First lot of spuds went in this last weekend, I do love this time of year.

I topped up on a few tins of food, some meds, rice and UHT milk at tescos today, nothing I'd consider over the top, but was quizzed by the bod at the checkout.

Conversation started with him asking if I was stocking a bunker, and went on to him asking if I 'knew something' no one else did. Once he asked me if my bunker was in my front garden, I told that I could tell him but then would have to kill him. The conversation tailed off at that point.

All this and the shopping was probably my least preppy one in months. Note to self.... Avoid him next time.

Ohhh, I hope I wasn't followed home

[Le Mouse]

I've got this week off, partly because I need a really good rest and partly because I need to sort my house out - a small bungalow with little storage. So today I endured Ikea torture to buy a new sofa bed and some storage shelves. The shelves are those Kallax jobs (replaced the chunkier Expedit shelves) and the large shelf spaces will be really good for organising my stuff. That way I'll be able to see the wood for the trees and work out what needs keeping, what needs replacing and what I need more of! It'll be particularly good for helping me keep track of the toiletries and washing products that I tend to buy in multiples when they are on offer - I always end up storing them in weird places when space under the bathroom sink runs out and then forgetting where I wedged them. However, I won't get to be Flat-Pack Queen for ages because my local branch is one of those stupid tiny Order and Collect branches and treat your order like an online one despite the fact I've trogged to a flippin' shop. Grr!

Early this year I finally found a dentist with space to take me and she told me my bone levels were too low for my age I was due to go for a 3-month appointment this coming Monday, but today one of the teeth she was worried about has come loose - so I have an emergency appointment for tomorrow morning and I am cr@pping myself. The obvious lesson? Maintaining good dental health is vital!

[Britcit]

My heart goes out to you Le Mouse, I hope you get it sorted.
I will visit a dentist if absolutely necessary , but I try to avoid them at all cost. I agree with you, good dental hygiene is a must. Helps you steer clear of the dentist drills, and if tshtf, its one less thing to worry about.

I store loads and loads of toothpaste and mouthwash.

Good luck in the morning.