However, I also carry my Get Home Bag, which is also my Urban Survival Kit. The GHB is just another layer of my survival equipment. My every day carry pocket gear is supplemented by my GHB(which is actually also EDC). My GHB is supplemented by the "Battle Box" in the truck. That gear will hopefully get me home, and so on. Anyways, the mission of the GHB is just to help get me back to the house. Nowdays, I have a less than 15 mile straight line from work to home, which is far more ideal than before my move. If I had to walk, it would be mostly rural terrain, so I had to keep that in mind when putting the bag together.
Urban Survival Kit Considerations
My first consideration for an Urban Survival Kit or GHB is weight/size. It has to be something I could easily carry around at work, and not get any undue attention.
Second, the bag had to be something in a low profile color. I ended up with a Maxpedition Khaki/ coyote brownish color.
As far as the contents of the bag, which I will talk about later, I needed a mix of urban type tools, and wilderness survival equipment, first aid gear, and other things that come in handy for day to day living in an urban environment.
Solution- For Now...
My solution is a Maxpedition sling bag. It is a lot more pocket based than all my other bags, but it is comfortable, and carries a water bottle on it easily, which always comes in handy. It also has enough room to toss a few diapers in when I am just out with the kids.
Contents of the Urban Survival Kit/ GHB
This bag is light, just over 5 pounds without ammo or water, and I intend to keep it that way. That means sacrifices have to be made. As always, the bag is part of a system, so I don't have a poncho, but if it looks like rain, I will have my Goretex.
General Purpose
Gerber Military Issue Multi-tool- In an Urban Kit, some sort of multi tool seems very necessary to me. It can do a lot of things reasonably well, and has a sturdy set of pliers.
ESEE Izula Fixed Blade- Small enough to be hidden on your person, but enough knife to do the job in most situations. I have used it to whittle primitive traps and process food in the kitchen. Most likely if I was on the move, it would come out of the bag and go around my neck.
Surefire Z2 Combat Light- For those times when you need "OMG bright!"
Dummy Cord Keychain Gear-All of this is clipped onto a Nite Ize key ring with mini S biners.
Streamlight Nano- Tiny light, cheap, and puts out enough light to navigate, or find stuff in a non-tactical situation.
Redi-Edge knife sharpener- Pull through type sharpener that puts a serviceable edge on a knife in a hurry.
P-38 can opener
Gerber Shard- Bought more on a whim than anything, but it will open up a beer in a hurry. Also has two different flat head drivers and a mostly useless Phillips, wire stripper, and is in the form of a tiny pry bar. Worth the seven bucks just for the fun of it.
Mini Bic with 550 cord retainer
Handcuff key
Duct tape wrapped around an old YMCA card
Spare can of OC
N-95 Mask
Mayday 1200 calorie bar.
1 Liter Nalgene water bottle.
First Aid Gear
I found a small Red Cross first aid kit that comes in a white plastic case. I added some more OTC meds, some derma-bond, and plenty of band-aids. Its a survival kit, not an aid bag.
Emergency Trauma Bandage
Muslin Bandage-used for a sling, head cover, improvised tourniquet.
Nitrile gloves
Tooth Brush and tooth paste- I may get stuck at work, brushing your teeth can make you feel like a brand new man.
Medical Tape
Purell Germ Grenade (hand sanitizer)
Wilderness Survival Gear
Altoid Tin PSK- Ill make an actual post about this later, but it has small fire, first aid, trapping and signaling pieces. If actually trying to "get home" this would go in my pocket, so if I were somehow separated from my bag, I would at least have this.
Shelter, 550 cord and Adventure Medical Kits Heatsheet bivy.
Most of the contents of the bag could easily be used for Wilderness Survival, but in my situation, I am not intending to stick around in the woods long enough to need most of these items.
If the situation dictates I walk ( the only reason I could think of would be something that causes multiple roadblocks, or wost case, EMP) I would grab a few provisions from work and my truck. This would also include my Glock 19 and its SERPA holster, and two spare mags, which would go in the bag.
I would probably also change out of my bright white work shirt in the summer, during this time of year I would have a far more subdued jacket on.
As always, if you have questions or comments, feel free to post.
-Whiskey
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