That book you mentioned looks interesting. I'll likely get a copy myself. Saw it being sold at a certain online shop I sometimes go to.First, let me recommend a book that helped me learn a lot about backpacking, which, is really kind of what we are talking about with a Get Home Bag or BOB.
I have to be honest though, it's easy to mistake backpacking set-up, with a BOB, with a GHB (Get Home bag).
It's like three similar dragons but each just a bit different enough in mildly varying shades of green. One example: I'm starting to re-think the need for hunting in a Bug-out situation. You're trying to get from point A to your Safe Haven, point B in the fastest way possible. Even if you're on foot, is taking time to go hunting a productive use of ones time? In a BOB, you're likely going to have enough food and water to last you 3 days. You could realistically stretch it out to 4. The time spent hunting small game would be better spent running, driving, or just in general traveling to safety before the sun goes down.
When you're backpacking or hiking, you can take along a small game rifle. In a bug out, some sort of disaster has occurred. Likely not Armageddon. But I remember here in NY, when hurricane Sandy hit and the looters came out, many decent folks started arming themselves. The police were told to go out and arrest those civilians found to be carrying guns. In most cases, they were store-owners trying to protect their property. The police didn't care, and targeted anyone with a visible gun. Moving through an area, even a small game rifle slung over a shoulder is going to attract the wrong kind of attention during a bug out situation. Something like an Airweight (around 15 or 17 ounces) snubby, .38 Special rated for +P ammo pocket revolver in a coat pocket or an inside the waist-band holster is going to be reliable as well as go unseen until you need it. Something like an S&W 442, Ruger LCR, or the lightweight variation of the Taurus model 85.
Backpacking, you're just not likely to run into looters or desperate folks running to the woods completely unprepared for whatever disaster hit. Bug out scenario, both types of folks are going to around. For a Get Home bag.... You might run into one or the other type of person. Or, perhaps not. You might be the one going through the emergency yourself, or it might only affect one area that you're in. Thus, requiring you to at least get out of there while you try to Get Home.
The most important items in all three bags, varies. Easily for a Get Home bag the most important item is going to be cold hard cash that you keep in the bag. With a GHB, being safe could be as easy as hailing a cab and offering the driver a generous bribe.... er, "tip".... to get you home as fast as possible and NOT picking up other customers. You're not going to be able to do that during a bug out. Even if cabs are running, they're not going to stop to pick anyone up! And if you run into a stupid cabbie who does, he's not driving you about 70 miles to your Bug Out Location. Just not happening.
With backpacking, you're walking. In a Get Home scenario or a bug out one.... That's the absolute last thing you want to do. You might be forced to. But last option to be sure. Makes you more vulnerable out in the open... on foot. Now add being on foot during a bug out and having your family on foot with you, with a small child or two.
Out of all 3, bugging out is the scariest dragon. The GHB one can be scary but is mostly annoying most of the time. The backpacking one can occasionally be dangerous. But much of the time is actually fun and even downright friendly. Thing is, it's very easy to confuse one type for another. Especially a bug out scenario, often very little attention is paid to moving around in urban areas before you get to the woods. Either in a vehicle or on foot. On foot, the sewer is an excellent option. I've heard of an improvised tool that can pry manhole covers open. Just need to find the reference book in which that was described. (And damn I've got a lot of those.)
But yeah, similar; but unique challenges involved in all three. There's stuff in my GHB you won't find in my BOB, and vice versa. Home is only 10 miles away for me from work. My GHB will look very different than a guy who lives 35 miles away and commutes by public transportation into the city.
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