Tag Archives: go-bag

Toolmonger: go-bags, emergency supplies and tool storage

Toolmongerhas an excellent discussion – don’t just read the post, read the comments, Toolmonger’s  readers are an outstanding crowd – about the best ways to store and transport tools.  Box vs. Bag: How Do You Carry Your Tools?  This discussion is easily applicable to go-bags, or any emergency supplies for emergency response, evacuation, or rebuilding. The same storage principles are useful for paramedics, electricians or soldiers: if perfect, the result is the right tools for a given set of tasks, as light as possible, and easily accessible. Of course, it’s impossible to predict every possible problem – but that makes it even more useful to have sets of tools pre-arranged per task.

 

Trunk Organizer/Storage Bin – usable as go-bag/jump bag from Lee Valley Tools

Lee Valley is offering this Trunk Organizer/Storage Bin for only $13.50 (USD).  My personal experience with Lee Valley has always been good.

Lee Valley Trunk Organizer/Storage Bin

From Lee Valley’s description:

This is a product anyone can use. We designed this soft-sided interpretation of the ubiquitous milk crate after finding similar products to be overpriced or poorly executed. This one has hinged rigid panels to give the sidewalls support, while allowing the two-compartment container to collapse into a compact 3″ thick bundle, making it easy to store (and easy for us to ship!).

Made from a tough woven polyester, it has padded handles and piped edges, and measures 23-1/2″x13″x7-1/2″ when open. The coated interior surface helps to contain any spills, and makes it easy to clean. It is ideal for use in a car or truck, holding all sorts of items to keep them from sliding or rolling around as you drive, particularly for keeping grocery bags upright. In the home, it?s as useful as a basket for both storage and transport of anything from woodshop offcuts to children?s toys.

via Trunk Organizer/Storage Bin – Lee Valley Tools.

Some caveats: There’s no lid, so it’s either got to end up on the top of things – or at least without anything on top of it.  On the  other hand – for quick hauling of anything – perhaps to and from a  vehicle, or other hastily assembled packages, one or more might do well kept in their folded state.  My calculations suggest about 2291 cubic inches; corrections or confirmations from readers welcome.

And here are some additional images:

6-in-1 Utilikey from SwissTechTools.com/at Container Store

6-in-1 Utilikey from SwissTechTools.com

6-in-1 Utilikey from SwissTechTools.com

Picked up this Utilikey 6-in-1 tool at one of the local outlets of the Container Store. It weighs half an ounce (0.5 oz; 14 mg.) and has six features:

– Flat Screwdriver

– Phillips Screwdriver

– Micro Eyeglass Screwdriver

– Straight Blade Knife

– Serrated Blade Knife

– Bottle Opener

It locks and unlock easily, seems quite sturdy and precisely machined, and there’s enough dull surface area to grab with the blades open that it can be held securely and used with some force.

There’s an 8-in-1 model which includes a wire cutter and wire stripper, but we haven’t seen or tested a sample.

If you’re carrying just house keys, it’s still small and light enough not to be in the way. This one looks like a must-have, and perhaps a good item for bulk purchase by community-based preparedness organization.

Note: we assume that you’re all already carrying portable flashlights.

Available at The Container Store, but not, apparently, on their website.

On Amazon, Swiss Tech UKTBS Utili-Key 6-in-1 Polished Stainless Steel Key Ring Multi-Tool.

Conflict of interest disclosure: we receive, in theory, a small commission on any sales via Amazon.

Toolmonger: BCB Mini Work Tool (Flat Multitool)

Dan Kitchen reviews the BCB Mini Work Tool at Toolmonger:

The BCB Mini Work Tool looks like a miniature version of the ATAX tool that Toolmonger [photopress:BCB_miniwork_tool.jpg,thumb,alignright]featured a few weeks ago. This credit card-sized piece of stainless steel integrates 11 tools in its simple frame, including a knife, saw, bottle opener, flat screwdriver, and a hole that can be used as a wrench.

BCB Miniwork Tool

[BCB Survival USA]

from Ideo at Cooper-Hewitt (Smithsonian Museum): Vernaid bandage

This bandage – in a shape designed to be useful in more than one configuration – was covered with language-free instructions for use. From the amazing (and amazingly wide-ranging) “Ideo Selects ” exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt

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[singlepic=219,320,240,,left] If you’re in or going to be visiting New York, the Cooper-Hewitt is at 2 East 91st Street – that’s at Fifth Avenue on the East side (just east of Central Park). Their number is 212.849.8400 – hours and directions here. To be candid – I love the Cooper-Hewitt – but I’m not sure why – as part of the Smithsonian, a publicly funded museum, it charges admission. But one suspects this is more a legislative/executive branch decision – the Smithsonian museum system, alas, not described in the constitution as a coequal branch (but it might be an improvement).

For our readers concerned with disaster preparedness, there are (at least) four other items in the Ideo show that are worth a look, and in at least one case, of substantial historical significance:

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Leatherman Skeletool: 5 ounces (142 grams)

Leatherman has introduced the Skeletool and skeletool CX:

[singlepic=173,480,412,,left] The Skeletool has a removable

pocket clip – so it can be used with or without a sheath.

[singlepic=172,320,240,,right]

The Skeletool CX has carbon-fiber handles; Erik Sofge, in his Popular Mechanics review (link below) says that it’s got a particularly comfortable grip – no small asset for a tool that, almost by definition, one uses in less-than-ideal conditions. The CX also has some attachable bits stored inside the tool. (I’m not entirely sure how they both end up the same weight – this may be the result of my misreading the specs )

Link to Erik Sofge’s review at PopularMechanics.com.

AllMed Hi-Viz Rescue Vest – excellent!

I’ve been using the AllMedHi-Viz Rescue Vest for a few weeks. Happy to recommend it – worth every penny – although for CERT and other purposes I’d like to see a lower bulk price. For the record, we weren’t given a review sample – and regard this as money well spent. And I intend to assemble a bulk purchase soon. Here are some images.

It’s great – I’ve worn it every time I’ve been to the park with Lucy and Zoe before dawn, and my guess is that it exceeds ANSI Class III visibility requirements. (AllMed doesn’t make the claim – and for the moment, I’m saying again – it’s a guess). We’ll try to measure visibility soon.

And it has the feel of something well-made and well-designed – very sturdy but not at all uncomfortable.

And it’s got enough pockets that, by itself, it could function as a go-bag or jump bag with the “A” gear – the absolute essentials. We’re going to figure out how much we can stuff in the pockets.

Responders should, of course, add ID – name, units, etc. – but I’d urge anyone doing it to use Reflexite letters – what makes this vest unique is the combination

of conspicuity and load carrying ability – i.e., pockets – don’t make it any less reflective if at all possible.

Product page here .

"Moflow" water pack from Polarpak via Boing Boing Gadgets

From Boing Boing Gadgets:

The “Moflow” water pack from Polarpak looks like a traditional back-mounted water carrier, but the inclusion of an air pump adds two useful features: you don’t have to suck on a hose to get a sip of water, as biting on the tip gives you a blast of pressurized liquid; the air pressure in the reservoir helps keep the water from sloshing around. You can add a shower head attachment as well for a little backwoods rinse down.It looks like a wonderful addition to the standard design, but I’d worry that the little hand pump, which isn’t integrated into the system, would be easily lost.

It’s selling at a suggested $32, but you’ll still need to purchase a backpack with a standard hydration pack slot.

polarpak_moflow.jpg

Product Page [PolarPak.com]

From Joel Johnson  at Boing Boing Gadgets .

The existence of a “standard hydration pack slot” is, in our view, a very helpful innovation, and we’d like to know who came up with it. We hope to start reviewing light packs with these slots as candidates for g0-bags/jump bags – and the presence hydration slot should count for a lot.

Go-Bags – several lists and thoughtful comments from Jim McDonald

has an interesting and practical post about go-bags – it’s an annotation and exegesis of lists he’s posted on his Emergency Kits page. Here’s McDonald’s explanation of his “Urban Bag”:

Urban bag

If you’re just going away for a little while, or you only need to get home from the office, and you’re in a built-up area, this has the supplies you need. If you can grab nothing else, grab this one. If you only have ten seconds, grab this one.

(Along with what’s in your pockets. I assume some pocket change, subway tokens, a pocket knife, ID, and so on.)

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