BOB – A Detailed View Part 1

Earlier we described a BOB (or Bug Out Bag) and listed the items you might need within. Here we'll be taking a closer look at what goes into a BOB and their uses; part one covers the camp axe, shovel, and cash.

1.1 The Camp Axe

The camp axe is a very handy piece of kit to have; although it can weigh 600g and upwards it shouldn't impact on the overall weight of your BOB, keep this in mind when selecting your axe. Bigger isn't always better. You might also want to consider choosing a one piece axe, that is, not your traditional steel head on a wooden handle. A wooden handle can break, leaving you with the laborious task of crafting a new handle.

Needless to say that the camp axe makes an excellent modified weapon, but of course its main uses are that of cutting timber, kindling, etc.  Used side ways it also becomes a handy hand trowel, which brings us to our next item.

1.2 The Shovel (or Entrenching Tool)

I like to call a spade a spade so let’s use the correct term for this item, its an entrenching tool, so called because, much like any tool, it has multiple uses. Ideally you want a fold-up E-tool, this makes it easier to store and carry. It too can weigh from 600g upwards and, like the camp axe, you don’t want to skimp on quality when buying one.

Pictured is the same E-tool that I own. It has a tempered steel head, its fold-able, has a serrated saw edge for cutting, a pick head for digging up hard ground, a classic shovel head for soft sand, and a triangular handle for ease-of-use from multiple angles and positions. You can see why I chose this particular model.

Its uses range from:

• Shovelling soft sand
• Digging up hard ground
• Cutting/sawing/hacking wood and small trees
• A modified weapon
• And whatever else you can think of!

 1.3 Cash

Seems like an unusual sort of thing to have in your BOB, right? Wrong. Cash can come in very handy.

No matter how long you've been stranded in the wild, when you finally trudge into town or stumble across a service station, no amount of fox furs, rabbit carcasses, or good will is going to get you a room, a shower, and a hot meal. So how much should you carry? $100 - $200 should suffice, keep them in two or three separate waterproof pouches/containers in different sections of your BOB. This way, if you are robbed, you don’t lose all your money at once.

Alternatively; if someone runs into you in the middle of nowhere and you are threatened, you can always attempt to bribe your way out of danger. Because most people are inherently greedy they will actually spend up to ten seconds contemplating your offer. This is when you can do one of two things; run like the clappers, or try to overpower them. The second choice is obviously the more dangerous of the two and is not recommended unless you've no other choice left.