*Light-Load "Walking Around" Gear*
By: Goshin

If you've been a Survivalist for very long, you probably have a substantial stock of gear and things to carry it in: BOB/BOG packs, webgear and so on... Alice Packs and LBV's are very popular among survivalists. You have your Bug-out-Vehicle gear, your Bug-out-on-foot packs, your Patrol packs and webgear, and maybe your just-going-camping-for-the-weekend gear.

What about "just walking around" gear?

Seriously, you aren't always going to be bugging out or going on patrol every time you walk out the door...even post-SHTF. Often, you'll just be going out to take a quick look at something, such as the garden, or to see why the genset stopped, or make sure your kids are pulling weeds like you told them to and not sneaking off to the swimming hole...you get the idea.

Are you going to put on your webgear and shoulder your rifle every time you go outside for some short-term mundane task? Not likely, unless things are REALLY REALLY bad. But, then again, you *never quite know* what may happen between going out the front door and returning home, so you don't want to be completely without equipment.

Here's a short list of what I hate to go out the door without:
- some kind of weapon
- fire-maker (lighter, usually)
- knife
- light-source

If I am going to be out for awhile, and maybe inconveniently far from the house:
- something to drink
- something to eat
and most of the time: - rain gear

WEAPON
For present-day purposes, and even post-SHTF where risk of hostile contact is very low, a pistol is the weapon of convenience. Relatively light, and it can ride on your belt...an AK slung across your back is a nuisance when changing the oil in your truck! A spare mag or two gives more peace of mind.

FIRE
Bic Lighters, especially the "mini" version; light, handy, and cheap, you can buy a bunch of them, put one in each pack or LBV, one in each vehicle, several in the bedside drawer. Swedish fire-steels or magnesium blocks are also good, but the old bic lighter is hard to beat.

KNIFE
Ideally, a multitool on your belt and a Spyderco flick-knife in your pocket...if it's just one or the other, I'd say the multitool is best, whether Gerber or Leatherman. My Leatherman tool is my eternal companion, and probably sees more use than any other item I have. Get one and you'll wonder how you ever got along without.

LIGHT
A "Solitare" model micro MagLite resides on my keychain and has proven invaluable many times...it uses a single AAA battery and is very lightweight. I am, however, going to get a Photon microlight very soon; I've seen them in action - they are TINY and VERY bright! The colored light helps preserve your night vision also.

DRINK
In the hot, humid summertime of Dixie, this isn't an option, it's potentially a life-or-death item. A small bottle of water stuck in your pocket is better than nothing...If you're going to be working hard in the heat, though, a hydration system like the Camelbak or similar is the way to go! Heat exhaustion and dehydration are real dangers in some parts of the country.

FOOD
Your body needs energy to keep going...if you are not CERTAIN you'll be back in time for lunch, a small snack (such as a pack of crackers) may keep you going when nutrient-loss *suddenly* saps your energy.

RAIN GEAR
Being soaked by a sudden downpour is unpleasant, and it's not good for your weapons and tools...in winter it can be far worse than unpleasant.
In my opinion, the USGI poncho is hard to beat...but one of those little pocket-pack "emergency ponchos" (pretty much single-use) is better than nothing.

With my full load of "Walkabout gear" on: my pistol is holstered, my Leatherman is on my belt, my micro MagLite is in my pocket, my hydration pack is on my back, my pack of crackers is in the hyd-pack spare pocket, and my USGI poncho is rolled tight and attached to the hyd-pack. The total load is just a few pounds and note that *my hands are free*! If my "short walk" outside turns into more than I bargained for, I am reasonably well-equipped to survive for awhile.

Let the gear suit the task at hand!
Goshin


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