For the BOB pack I am using a first generation woodland camo MOLLE II Assault Pack. I have tried several variations of school backpacks, gym bags and military packs. None seemed to fit the bill. They were either too small, too weak, too large or too uncomfortable.

I actually bought this Assault pack as compliment to the full MOLLE II Rifleman’s set (which has been sold due to it’s size and complexity). The Assault pack was the best feature of the whole set. I decided to keep and use it for my BOB. Some time has passed, and I added on the MOLLE II Buttpack for extra space. It now has a US Army poncho and poncho liner inside (Ranger Roll).

Main compartment contains my clothes:

• 1 pair convertible pants/shorts (zip off bottoms) and belt
• 1 long sleeve t-shirt – inner layer
• 1 moisture wicking/breathable t-shirt – inner layer
• 1 fleece – middle layer
• 1 nylon outer shell jacket – outer layer
• 1 pair wool socks
• 1 pair cotton blend socks
• 1 pair of underwear
• Trangia surplus pot set and alcohol stove

The main pocket has utility items in a plastic container. I also store the FM 21-76 ‘Survival’ and FM 21-11 ‘First Aid for Soldiers’ manuals, along with three 55 gallon heavy-duty drum liners in the same compartment. There is even enough room for Yellow bottle of HEET (methyl alcohol fuel), and a few energy bars. Kit itself is made up of the following:

• Assorted large and medium bandages plus Maxi pads for large wounds
• Cloth medical tape
• Several scalpel blades
• Hand sanitizer
• Ant-diarrhea medicine
• Half roll toilet paper
• Regular wood matches
• Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen
• Leatherman Core Multitool in a belt pouch
• Bushnell 8×25 Monocular
• Trioxane fuel tablets
• 17% Capsicum pepper spray
• 550 paracord
• Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter
• Sharpie permanent marker
• 3 lightsticks
• 2 yards of duct tape
• BIC Lighter
• Inova X1 Flashlight with batteries
• 2 Lithium Ion AA batteries for flashlight
• Large Safety pins
• Heavy-duty black thread
• Several needles
• P-38 manual can opener
• Magnesium fire starter
• Mylar emergency blanket
• Travel-size toothpaste and toothbrush
• Three 35 gallon draw-string trash bags

Update – 5/21/2008. After more reading about Combat Medics and first aid equipment, I added the following to my list:

• Gold Bond Medicated body powder. Soldiers use foot powder to keep infection and smell out, and I figured it was a wise idea. Gold Bond foot powder contains 1.0% Menthol as the main ingredient, the rest is mostly talc. This comes in a blue bottle. I found something similar: Medicated Body Powder; 0.8% Menthol and 5.0% Zinc Oxide. Zinc Oxide is and anti-itch agent in Calamine, and I can kill two birds with one stone by using the body powder instead of foot powder.
• Petroleum Jelly. This can be used for chapped lips and skin and added to tinder for firemaking. It is NOT to be used on burns because heat gets trapped by the jelly, and does not aid healing in any way. It can be used on burns and cuts during the healing process to keep skin protected.
• Dental Floss. Good oral hygiene is paramount, and it can be used as thread or fishing line.
• Elastic Bandage. ACE is the most popular brand, but most manufacturers are similar. I have a 4″ roll for sprains, to hold gauze dressing in place on an open wound. Elastic bandage is better than gauze because it is washable and re-usable.
• Fast Orange hand cleaner with pumice. I bought a couple of small (7.5 oz) bottles for the BOB and my regular camping pack. It is very convenient to clean your hands without having to use water before a meal, or if there is a first aid emergency.
• $2 leather palm Work Gloves.  I beleive these will be used more than any other item… except for clothes.  I have another pair in the camping pack, and they are used pretty regularly when gathering firewood and other manual labor.  Blisters are a pain in the a$$…

Some of these items have to be checked every year or so. I test the flashlight once or twice a year to make sure the batteries are still good. Pepper spray is good until 2011, and lightsticks have to be changed every 1-2 years. I usually buy a bunch every year, use the older ones for entertainment on camping trips, and replace them as needed. Some people suggest a painter’s face mask from a hardware store. This is something that may be added if space permits. I am strongly against increasing the size of my BOB, so time will tell. I do not plan on adding a sleeping bag at all. Creature comfort is not a priority, and the Ranger Roll will suffice as a makeshift bed, and keep me warm and dry in rainy or cold weather. There is no reason to put as much stuff as possible in the BOB, extra stuff means extra weight, which means you have to carry more food to compensate for used energy. As far as food goes, here is a list of things I consider for the BOB:

• Ramen Noodles – three or four packs will provide a lot of calories. They take up space, so keep that in mind. Some may want to stick to foods that do not require cooking. In a pinch, Ramen Noodles can be eaten uncooked; however if time permits, a warm meal of Noodles and jerky is delicious.
• Cliffs bars or other energy bars. Many more calories than a regular granola bar. They have to be changed out every year or so. I buy replacements at the beginning of camping season, and rotate my stock. These energy bars are my favorite emergency food, they taste good, do not require cooking, and very energy dense.
• Beef Jerky. I have made my own in a dehydrator, and it’s delicious. However, store bought jerky in sealed plastic bags/sleeves offers several advantages. It has preservatives which allows it to store for a longer period of time. It is sealed better, and it’s easier to buy than to make your own. I prefer the individually sealed strips to larger bags. They take less space, and it is far easier to portion out the individual packages.
• Chicken and Beef Bullion cubes. This is a delicious hot beverage on a cold day. Cubes do not take any room, and I can easily put a few dozen inside the cook pot, along with the alcohol stove. Tea bags complete the hot beverage assortment.
• Mountain House freeze-dried individual meals. This is something I keep meaning to buy, but have not gotten around to it. If you have experience with MH freeze-dried food, please post a comment, or write a review on the subject.