I think the idea is to have the shelter protect from flexing and damage. last thing you want is have to use it and you have holes/tears that allow the heat into the shelter. let alone those shelters are around 350-400 bucks.
I'd be concerned about the shelter getting caught on the bag (or on the holes if you went with the modified case.) Seems the smooth rigid plastic is the best way to ensure a speedy deployment in an emergency.
I do ultraLite backpacking, when I go camping. Here's some tips I've picked up along the way. The ziplock bags cut the top of the bag away above the zipper, the plastic bottles file away parts that aren't necessary like some of the grip one the cap, things like MREs cut away some of the edge on package. On your bag itself cut off any extra strap once it's fitted. That Oakley tag for glasses cut it off. It all adds up, if you get really good you can pack a bag for a 3-4day hike and Way less than 15 pounds.
No no no...former infantry. Keep the camel bak. when these came out, us, the grunts loved them. It was so much better to have that water on your back than in your way along your belt. You're going to carry water regardless and IT REALLY HELPS WITH DEHYDRATION! The camel bak is so close to your mouth that you can get a quick sip here and there without stopping what you're doing and getting out the canteen. It actually prevents more soldiers from becoming heat victims. Think about it, you are busy doing something and to stop and reach for a canteen...set down whatever your working on, drink put it back...etc. So because your focused on your job, you avoid drinking so you can keep on task...result is more heat victims. The Camel bak really dropped the stats on heat victims because it made water way more available without losing focus on the job you're doing. does that make sense? Keep the camel bak.
ABSOLUTELY. Taking small sips more often you stay much better hydrated. Lose the cover if you have to and keep a spare bladder in your bag on the truck. You just have to take some care how you pack it if there's not already a separate compartment for it.
In my experience wearing a backpack, where the weight sits can make a difference between premature fatigue and a good working endurance. I always make sure that the heaviest items are as close as possible to the base of your neck right between the shoulder blades. I noticed that with your pack the fire shelter is at the bottom and water is out to the sides placing most of the weight on your hips which can restrict movement i'd suggest using a Platipus bite tube water system at the top of the main compartment. weighs about half as much as Camelback and can also carry xtra collapseable bottles
the plastic case on the emergency shelter keeps the folded edges of the shelter from deteriorating. that way when you open it up its a solid sheet not ribbons.
I noticed you have black medical gloves in your first aid gear. As a firefighter I don't wear black gloves because if I do a blood sweep on a patient it's hard to see blood on black. Try switching to blue or tan gloves like my department did.
Alex Derange EMT here. You want light colored gloves. Most of the time you’re not dealing with your hands covered in blood. Almost every day I get a little smear of blood from taking somebody’s glucose on me. Same thing if I’m taking care of a small cut, IV, whatever. I wouldn’t be able to see that with black gloves.
Outstanding video. I've watched several videos about lightening up your loadout. However, this is the first one where somebody has taken their pack in use and went through it step by step on camera.
Same here. I'm from south Florida, and DEET is not a comfort item, it's a necessity. Some of the mosquitoes down here are the size of quarters and have black and yellow stripes 😬
That plastic fire shelter protection plastic box, COULD be made lighter. Punch a number of holes in it with a good 1 hole paper punch. Use a pattern. Then cover the holes with much lighter clear tape. If the tape is pierced, inspect the fire shelter!
MRE's are engineered to have lots more calories than your store bought variety. Everything in an MRE is designed for high calorie and nutrient intake as well as compartmentalized for snacking as needed. On a fire line they might not need to snack and can make a meal. I don't know, I am not a firefighter but do have experience with MRE's themselves.
cody, Keep the plastic on the fire shelter. any deformation of the "brick" could make it more difficult to deploy and it could get punctured. Also, replace one of the plastic canteens with a metal one for boiling your water instead of carrying an extra cup
para cord makes crappy fire line boot lace. they melt and break the @ the first hot spot. Normal hiking I would agree with you but on the fire line you need something that can stand up to the heat. Keep the boot lace.
The issue is the P cord doesn't make a suitable boot lace on the fire line. Nylon melts and burns as you walk through embers and on hot ground. Leather is the only way to go and well worth carrying a spare.
leather laces break down too. Obenauf's laces hold up the best, or you can wax down P-cord with their brand of LP. If the laces burn up it doesn't matter anyway because you have at least 50 foot of cord for any such emergency. better to have it than not.....
The wave has a built in lanyard loop. Open the saw, and look at the space its in you can see the loop. All you need to do is get a flat tool in there and push it in the oppisite direction of the saw. Lanyard loop
My Wave does not have that feature. I checked a tutorial on CZcams, and there seem to be different models of Wave apparently :-0 The one I have is baught in Norway i think - maybe it is a regional thing or so?
How many hours do you have to wear that pack while on the fire the entire time if Soo I would like to thank you and ever other fire fighter wild land or regular not sure what you would call it but I would like to thank you for risking your live to help make mine and everyone else's better thank you Mr wranglerstar
Keep the whistle. In my safety kit at sea a whistle is one of my favorite items. If something happens and you get lost and in trouble a whistle will bring help to you in hurry.
Socks; you should have a spare pair of socks. Use them as socks, mittens, water filter, bandage, wound dressing, dust mask, towels, flag, small parts bag, hat band, sanitary napkin, pillow, ... Ah hell; just pack an extra pair of socks; because your mother told you to. Mom was right.
Well this is not a one size fits all scenario, if you found yourself needing extra socks in your work then that is what you should pack. But packing extra crap because you might some day need it is how you get a bag full of shit you don't need.
you should be changing your socks during breaks. at least I do. then tie the wet socks on the pack to dry. happy feet mean the world when your on slope doing IA or moping up.
Thanks for sharing Cody, and for keeping the cannel true to your standard. Things are spiraling out of control and having you share your life as you do helps in so many ways. I fought a few forest fires in the Sierras for many years ago now, and recalling what I carried I think you have scaled your pack down perfectly. Thanks again for including us!
@ Wranglerstar I think the plastic sleeve should go back in it is there to protect the shelter from puncture. I think the shelter would not be any good if , a briar went into the canvas bag and it put several holes into the shelter. I i know you would be careful of it , but can you always be mindful of it while doing the job.
Cody, The lanyard loop is integrated the wave. It's in the groove that the saw folds into, you push it out of the bottom with a screwdriver or something small. Unless yours is older, i think the older ones don't have this feature.
not to make you think twice about what you're taking out, but it's happened to me before where I go through a toolbox or something else and take out what I rarely or never use and wouldn't you know it, not long after, I need it but don't have it.
Cody a BIG BIG tip with mountain house is to turn the pack sideways when cooked and take a knife and cut longways down the packet it makes it not as deep so you can use a regular spoon
The lanyard loop is on the opposite corner. Look at the tip of the saw blade when it is closed. I carry my Wave daily in a leather case I made. It replaced the Blast that i got for Christmas several years ago. it now lives in my leather working desk. They are both worth every penny.
Cody, thanks for the video, I've done the same when taking a motorcycle in offroad adventure touring, remove duplicate tools and lighten things as much as possible. Lots of tough decisions.
For whatever the skeeter repellent weighs, I'd haul it. Malaria, dengue, zeka, west nile and who knows what else, not to mention the general annoyance of being dinner for the hoard.
You seem to not understand, he threw out things he was not using, if you need this stuff in your area then you should have it. The "what if" mindset it exactly how you end up with a bag full of shit you never need.
My son and I are both licensed trappers. We come in contact with wild animals and have to deal with swamps and areas most people stay away from. When we figured out our packs we had to look at bug spray as well as tick removers. I have to say the high quality DEET spray I found and we use has saved both of us from getting tick bites and any number of other bugs that want to eat us for dinner. With the upswing of Lyme disease now with ticks in our area I am glad we use it. I do not care for the chemicals being absorbed into our skin. I can say it works as I had a tick jump onto me while handling a beaver and it jumped off after only a second. The risk of disease is too great in my mind versus the risk of the chemicals on the skin. Like Cody we would not use it every day either, just when we are in the bush so our systems have a chance to clean out the absorbed chemicals between uses.
The radio remote I would keep because that speaker near your ear can be critical when the wind is whipping at your ears and that call to pull out and take cover comes over the radio. Also, keep a means to rinse ash or dust out of your eye.
I'd be concerned that taking out the smooth rigid plastic lining would make it harder to get the shelter out quickly (that it would get caught on the bag.) Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that if you need the fire shelter, you probably need it in a hurry.
I agree. that def needs to go back in... it reduces the wear on the shelter by not having constant rub on the shelter itself. it also lets the shelter slide out of the pouch easier, rather than it bunching up. Think pulling a pistol out of a holster vs a pocket.
The backpack is the shelter's "holder" it will slide in and out very easily (its rarely used, and hopefully never used) because the backpack is very sturdy. Once its inside, then the backpack itself will provide tremendous protection and its unlikely to ever have any wear. The weight is a constant drain when you're out in the field and its better to have a lighter pack so you're stronger and have more stamina when in a firefighting scenario.
2liter canteens can collapse, and the aluminum ones are durable. I would keep the bladder empty, and if you are out for along time. You can fill it up on sight.
Peter Carlson And I can tell you doing the level of exertion that he doing you won't last a month. More like a few days. The caloric intake is why I asked. In summer he would be exerting a need to have a 3,000 calorie intake a day. Thats why I asked. Calm down...
Peter Carlson I know how many calories they have. They used to be 3,000 now they have 1,500... Have you had either kind. They are designed to keep you moving not from starving. nvm that doesn't matter... What matters is how many calories are in the meals he replaced with... And I know he isn't going to be starving for weeks. That isn't the point. Why are you trying to argue on this...
Hey wranglerstar love the channel! Just a heads up I carry the leather man wave everyday and there actually is already a lanyard loop built into the tool!! If you open the wood saw and look just under where you would access the little pull tab for the saw blade there is a little extra piece of metal. If you push that up it exposes a loop out the top! Hope this helps!
If you want to upgrade your stove setup, you could look at the Alpkit Mytimug 650 with the Kraku gas stove. The whole kit including gas canister is lighter and fits snugly in the mug with plenty of room to spare for all your other items.
i would have kept the DEET , i sometimes work in an environment with lots of bugs and man i wouldn't want the bugs draining me when i work !! awesome video , stay safe out there !
I had the blue GSA bag and I had trouble reaching my quart bottles with my short arms. The water bladder works a lot better for me and stays cooler longer. Seems like you take a lot of food, I just used the bag lunch they give us (type 1 fire) and I couldn't even eat all of that. I did mostly mop up, being on a mostly newbie crew w/ seasoned squad/crew boss. We drove an hour out to drop off, hiked 2 miles and worked til sundown most days. 2015 Fork complex fires in Shasta-Trinity. I'm an AD
Ditch the heavy stove and fuel bottle. Do a little dumpster diving and find a small cat food can. Peel off the label, polish off the lacquer with steel wool, poke a series of small holes half way down the can all around with a paper punch or drill bit and then stuff a wad of fiberglass insulation into it. The fiberglass will help wick up the fuel and keep it suspended for efficient burning. This burns denatured alcohol. About two ounces poured over the fiberglass will ignite and burn for about 4 or 5 minutes, long enough to bring 2 cups of water to a boil. I found a used plastic whisky bottle on the side of the road which makes a perfect fuel bottle. It's small and flat like the kind one could hide in a coat pocket undetected. Flat items always pack better than round ones. This system is simple, basically free, and very light weight. When I hiked the Appalachian Trail my stove and large fuel bottle were among the first things I shipped home after a couple weeks on the trail. The other thing was my knife. Just didn't use nor did I need it. It was way too heavy to justify. What I kept was nail clippers. I had to trim toe nails anyway. The clippers could still open packages, cut string or rope. If anything has dual purpose then it trumps something with only one purpose.
What I was thinking while watching your video was, "Could I take that out of mine?". As an Ham radio operator, I have different needs. And summing up what you said in your video as your were taking your items out was this: " Do I need it, would somebody else need it, Is it worth the weight to carry it, and is it necessary, did I ever use that?" This video has inspired me to go back and take a lot at my pack, and see what I can change.
I'd keep the mic. Nothing more annoying than trying to hear the radio because it's either not close enough to your head or if you're trying to clip it closer to your head you're smacking your face with the antenna. Seriously, think about how loud it gets out there. Keep the mic. Batteries: Switch to lithium. Sure, more expensive but substantially lighter. Based on their capacity increase you could even reduce the number you're carrying. I'd keep the goggles too, but thats because I've been caught without them in a dust storm for 14 hours. My eyeballs were blood red even with glasses on.
I second the lapel Mike,first time you miss your call sign or a change In condition your going to wish you had it. Stay safe. Love your videos watched them all.
I have no personal experience, so all I can do is throw this out to the experts: How about a throat mike/earpiece deal for the radio? At the very least, they LOOK lighter. Now if only they work....
Jonathan Anderson He didn't strike me as the "tacticool" gear type, either, but my impression from the video was that the remote mic/speaker had been of some benefit, hence my suggestion/question. I know you already recommended just moving the whole radio up and forward.
Good morning Cody! Great video breakdown of your gear. When I load my backpack ( be it bugout/bushcraft, etc) I try to follow the rule of three, meaning does this item have the ability of being used for three uses. sometimes you can use the rule of three, sometimes you can't. loved the video
I love how you end your videos with this beautiful scene. It always changes. I saw one where the clouds were just right and it looked like smoke coming from top like (God forbid) a volcano. But this is where I think we got the words "America the beautiful." What a beautiful home and homestead. Great and God Bless you and the family.
What you want, what you likely need (more justified) and what you actually use over time in the scenarios and terrain you experience are three different things. In the end, most of what you thought you might need earlier was still included in your 4 day bag just in case but not lugged into the forest, hindering the very purpose you are there for. I found it well thought out and enjoyable. While totally different that my situation it made me think about what I should and should not carry when out.
Hey Cody, one thing we have done to cut down on bulk on the Mountain House set up. As opposed to requiring the long spoon, use a regular spoon and then just cut the bag of the Mountain House as you eat. As you already have scissors on your Leatherman, you cut out 3in of length on the spoon.
For AA batteries, get a couple of stor-a-cell 4 AA holders from amazon, and carry energizer E91 lithium AAs. They weigh about half of what alkaline batteries weigh, have a much longer shelf life, and if you put in fresh batts at home, maybe you can get away with only an extra 4 or 8. Good to have spares though!
As a retired firefighter, l must say I would be reluctant to take a gas cylinder, into a fire situation, let's face it you are surrounded by a heat source to boil your water on, but each to their own, love the videos keep them coming. Thanks Tony
kinetikx I have used esbits off and on for years great lightweight option! And may not be needed for firefighters but I always keep a few in my pack for emergency fire starter!
Really cool video. I was in an Army Infantry unit and I too was always trying to lighten my gear. One thing I did always include in my ruck was a 2 fl. oz. bottle of Tabasco sauce (had to have it with my MRE's).
yes, firefighters carry gas and oil for chainsaws in their pack as well as fusees which are similar to flares. I never wanted anything hot to eat on the line but to each his own.
true Paul, but gasoline & oil is a fluid and flammable vapors.... it's not pressurized in a can that can go BOOM if it gets too hot.... I've seen it happen with backpackers simply using the wrong windscreen for their isobutane stoves - usually a home-made shield out of aluminum flashing, or a pre-made shield intended for liquid fuel (white gas) type stoves where the shield goes all the way to the ground. traps the heat in causing the butane can to get hotter than it was designed for. and while the firefighters MIGHT in some circumstances, I don't think they'd have cans of gas or oil strapped to their back ;)
Yes, if you misuse a camp stove, you can get a BLEVE. You're not going to get an explosion carrying a can of camping stove gas in your pack. It's direct conductive heat vs radiant. 90% of wildland firefighting is mop up, walking the black and smothering hot spots in roots or buried rocks which retain the heat. You would have to be pretty careless doing direct fire attack to get the cannister inside your pack hot enough to explode. Basically your pack would have to melt. They make the pressurized cans to go backpacking and there are hot weather and cold weather fuel combinations. I have seen fuel & oil carried two ways on the fireline. One way is in the big red jugs like you use for your lawn mower. These are carried over the shoulder on the end of a hand tool with a wooden handle. The second is in a handful of Aluminum MSR brand fuel bottles on the sides of the pack where the 1Qt canteen bottles usually go.
When I was a kid, I was riding dirtbikes at a friends cabin in the Ozark mountains of Southern Missouri. We got back to the cabin, and I went to go wash up under the well hand pump before dinner. I noticed my right leg had a big gray spot. I looked closely and it was about a million tiny deer ticks. I must've brushed up against a nest while riding. I had so many ticks attached to me that I just had to let them drop off naturally over a week or so. It's a miracle I didn't get lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. I consider permethrin for gear and deet for myself a necessity in the wilderness.
I personally would take the GPS & mic extender & dump the phone. In my Wildland experience phones are a huge distraction on the fire line. I find that my rino GPS far more accurate then a cell phone & less of a distraction. For me the mic is a ease of use and speed response. I am on a hand crew & have to be able to communicate with my crew quickly & reaching for a raido is not something that I want to have to do with up to 4 saws running around me. A little more about the phone. I know that some fires have cool new maps and things that can track you and adjoining forces from you phone. This is all cool and what not. I constantly think of the fallen 19 who had phones out on the line and were sending text as well as talking on the phone. For me, I can not overlook situational awareness. It is a really big deal for me.
There are apps they use on the phone to distribute local maps with markings for equipment drops, etc. he talked about it in one the Wildland Firefighting videos once. That's not negotiable.
and also when you are at camp it some times nice to call home if you got signal to do so. Well should the sup and ever body in the higher up should be allow to have there phones then what is good for the goose is good for the gander . Because i seen sup and crew bosses and other people useing there phones on the line when they should be .
and by the way they was watching the fire and two dont you dear blame something on them unless you are willing to prove facts and links showing they use them and what they was using them for . Most of them was using it telling there family good bye be for they died .
@@AndrewMurphy8383 the fact of the fallen 19 is their boss, who was notorious for putting his people in very dangerous places, did put his people in a very bad place. The phones didn't help anyone. I knew Jesse Steed. I served with Jesse Steed. I know he fought to stay in the black to be safe for the coming wind shift. I can give you more information about the events if you message me. Yes phones are coming more and more accurate with Avenza and other mapping services in the past 3 years since my originalpost. Yes phones are fantastic to have to communicate with friends and family when you are not on the fire line. Oh and Hero pics. I wouldn't have my profile pic if I didn't have my phone. I have begun to carry my phone more on the line as I become a crewboss and have a need to communicate with Task Force leaders, divisions and whatnot. Like I said originally, I personally.... That doesn't mean I stop anyone or condemn them for taking phones... just me personally. Thank you Andrew for communicating and having worthwhile input.
I very rarely comment on CZcams, but I thought I'd just mention that you probably do need the first aid kit scissors, as the kit is meant to be as sterile a set of first aid supplies as possible. I dunno if others already said this, but I thought I would. The scissors you said you already have on your multi-tool or pocket knife are most likely the least desirable alternative, though I don't actually have expertise in this field.
I enjoyed this video. The only thing that I had qualms about was during the end card you stated that Police have a First Duty to go home each night...I disagree with this statement, because it tends to lead to the 'Us versus Them' argument. The Officers 1st Duty is to Know and Enforce the Laws and treat everyone equally. It also shows the current Police Mentality of 'Shoot First, ask questions later'. The Driver never pulled the Firearm, but was reaching for his wallet after informing the Officer he was Legally Conceal Carrying, and the Officer asked him for his License and Registration. This whole situation to me, had nothing to do with 'Race", but more to do with the Officer freaking out that a *Person* was *(Legally)* carrying a Firearm in its holster.
MutR Let me ask you this...why is a Police Officers 'Safety' more important than an average Citizens 'Safety'? As long as the Citizen isn't pulling/brandishing their Firearm in an Illegal way, then what Right does an Officer have to disarm someone not committing any Criminal Offense? After all people are 58 times more likely to be killed by an Officer than by a Terrorist, so shouldn't the Civilian be able to protect themselves from a Criminal/Illegal Act by an Officer?
MutR Think man, THINK!! If the 'Officer' has the person's I.D. and is walking back towards their Patrol vehicle there are 2 things going against a person pulling a firearm and shooting at the 'Officer'. First, the 'Officer' has their License, which would give any 1st responder the name of the person doing the shooting, and 2nd the Police Dashcam has their Vehicle make and license plate, as well as a video recording of the person doing the shooting!! The whole 'Officer Safety' thing is a load of bunk, when you can go to the ODMP (Officer Down Memorial Page) and do a search for 2015 and see that 130 'Officers' lives were killed while on duty, which even includes those killed by Heart Attacks and 9/11 related Illness, How many people were MURDERED by 'Officers' in 2015? The answer is 1,208 people...granted *SOME* were Justified, but alot were not. Police always go to their Firearm first, before resorting to Non-Lethal means of subduing a person like a Taser, Baton, or Pepper Spray. There is a culture of Police not trying to de-escalate Situations but to escalate situations to the point where they are "Permitted" to use Force. This is my point!! 130 versus 1,208 and the 1,208 don't include all of the people hurt/maimed by Police each and every Year!! The Police are also not held accountable for their Actions the same way that a regular Citizen is, such as being told to resign and serve Probation instead of Prison time that a normal Citizen would be if a Normal Citizen had done the very same exact thing an 'Officer' would do!!
Just out of curiosity, why do you randomly capitalize letters as you write? I notice a lot of people do that, and I'm curious if it's for emphasis, some random quirk of typing some people have, or another reason I can't discern.
Russ Osborn No, I am not an Officer, but I am very good friends with numerous Constitutional Sheriff's Deputies and I see and know how they handle those situations. As long as the person doesn't 'draw down on them' or brandish the Firearm, then they have no problems with a person having a Firearm, while the person isn't barred from possessing one per 18 USC Part I Chapter 44 section 922 and State Laws.
A luxury I allow myself is a pocket battery charger for my phone, which I use for several things while hiking. Besides the GPS and compass functions, the phone camera is of sufficient quality to enable me to leave my regular camera at home. So, the phone is actually several devices in one. However, since I got a SteriPen water purifier kit that came with a small solar charger, which weighs less than my regular charger, for double duty I can also use the same charger for my phone in the field. Haven't tested this yet, but will very soon. One of the keys to saving weight is figuring out what things can perform multiple functions.
I think it would be really interesting if later on you did a follow-up video where you talk about how the choices you made have either helped or hindered you and if you have changed your setup again (either put something back in or taken more out). I also feel like First-Aide isn't a place to cut down because like you said, it's more important to save a life. One thing my dad always told me when backpacking is only pack something that has more than one function. However, you did say that this is a FF bag so I don't know if that is a strategy you would like to apply.
As a Canadian, I am always somewhat confused by the American cultural practice of concealed carry. Why Americans feel the need to arm themselves on a daily basis is not something I understand. From my side of border the USA has a culture of fear. The land of the free, held hostage by their imagination and the media fuelled expectation that marauders are going to come busting down the door at any moment. I can see how this ever constant state of tension leads to confrontations like this where the police are fearful of the general public and the general public subsequently become more fearful of the police. Is my country utopia - no, we certainly have our issues. However, I can only hope that one day the people who live in the land of the free and home of the brave have the courage to look within and say "No more," and make the changes that need to be made for you all to live in peace and freedom. This could spiral into a whole inane argument about gun control and the whatnot so I will finish with a quote from a scholar who's name I forget but who is far smarter than I, "Arming more people and calling it a cure for gun violence is like buying a bigger belt and calling it a cure for obesity." Peace, love and prayers from a northern neighbour.
It seems to me (from the other side of the Atlantic) that a number of Americans don't trust their government and what they see as the arm of the government (the police). The constitution gives them the right to be armed and that's how they feel safer.
Just a simple reply, I can only speak to myself, I conceal carry when I can, has it ever served a benefit in 25 years, well, not it has not, I also have a fire extinguisher in every vehicle, has it been used, well, once in as many years of driving to help a motorist extinguish a car fire out on a lonely highway 20 minutes before the FD arrived. I also carry first aid/trauma kit as well as tire repair,compressor and spare tire. Is this because I'm simultaneously afraid of having a flat tire, sucking chest wound and defending myself while my car is on fire, well no. They are all tools to help myself and as well help other people who might be in need of assistance from a bad situation or to prevent a bad situation from becoming much worse. A firearm is only a tool, it can be used for good or evil, its the hands and the minds of those that wield the tools that determine the outcome.
+fastst1 I guess that's where cultural differences come in as I (mind you, I cannot speak for all Canadians) don't see a gun as a tool. It is a weapon. A tool is a knife that can be used to cut, carve, pry; a pipe wrench that can be used to break a union or hammer on the lid of a paint can. Both could also be used as weapons, I don't see you prying off or pounding on the lid of that paint can with your side arm. I guess that's why I really don't understand the need to carry a weapon and call it a tool. I would rather carry tools that, should I be forced to, I could use as a weapon.
3vil3lvis I am not anti-gun. In fact I own two of them. A few years ago a visitor from the US wrote a letter to a newspaper. This is the best article I could find that included his letter. Take from it what you will, but I view it as a great example of how our cultures differ. news.nationalpost.com/news/walt-wawra I do not feel that I need to be hyper-vigilant to defend myself from those who would do me harm. Quite frankly, I don't think 99.9999% of the people I encounter on a daily basis have any intention of doing me, or anyone else harm. My comment was in reference to the death of Philandro Castile and was made the day before the Dallas shooting. And it was a reference to the culture of fear that I see in the American media that gets broadcasted into my country every day.
FromThe Prairies Perhaps indeed its cultural and that our prisons have a culture of their own with a lot of non-reform going on. I think most people here are neutral, they see a crime and they walk away as its not their problem, the good will take some action, even say to call a store clerk to finger a shoplifter. As to the death of Philandro, a tragedy, normally if carrying, you let the contacting officer know and understand, then follow instructions. Several lives ruined that day.
I went back and forth on the MREs vs dry. Something to keep in mind is the water to cook as part of your weight unless you plan on a water source and filter.
I have a leatherman wave, an older one, it has a small lanyard attachment that folds away between the phillip's and flat head screwdriver. Worth a look.
Great video reminds me of my old USMC days u can compress the gear by making everything tighter , just a sugestión u might want 2 reconsider the MRE ' S U MIGHT NEED THE CARBS GREAT VIDEO
Great video as always, but did you bump a setting on the camera or something because i noticed its been having some trouble keeping focus in the recent videos.
In regards to the Leatherman Wave lanyard loop. It has one hidden opposite of the pocket clip slot on the saw blade side. Just stick something in the small opening there to pull it out.
my worry with ditching the plastic case for the shelter is that it holds the bag open making deployment in an emergency easier. seems to me without it the chances are higher that the shelter could get hung up and you could end up fighing to get it out and possibly destroying it in the process. the eye wash kit is probably really good to have too, would really suck to get stuff in your eyes and not have it. I would also throw the deet in the camp bag, last thing you want while youre trying to regroup at camp is bugs driving you nuts... definitely put the patch back on too
I have the answer for rubber bands for my bushcraft supplies. I bought a bicycle inner-tube new from Walmart. When cut directly across I get a band which is perfect for an Altoids can any width I want. When cut diagonally I get a longer band depending on the angle I use. I paid about $6.00 for the tube a year ago and I still have most of it left to use.
i would have kept that shelter case. im on a type 2 IA crew and our packs see so much abuse the shelter would be damaged very quickly without it. many times ive slipped on the hill and landed right on the shelter. I actually recently bought the mystery ranch hot top it is a great pack but itself is very heavy
hi cody just want to say you can get stoves way smaller than that now also at a fraction of the weight and if you look right you will get them at a good price.
You could use the attached lanyard hole on the Leatherman Wave. It is hidden in the place the saw rest, you just have to push it out with a scredriver. The problem is, that you cant quick detach it like the belt clip. Also, i saw people using the beltclip as a template to make their own attachments for the clip (like a fork and spoon) so you cuold make yourself a new lanyard clip from sheetmetal
I don't work as a firefighter, I'm actually in filmmaking, but we use radios all the time. Instead of the remote speaker/mic you have that weighs quite a bit, you might consider a surveillance earpiece, especially one with an EarMold ear bud. It weighs very little, can be run through your shirt to keep from snagging, and with the right earpiece, you can have it in all day and not notice it.
We always had 2 saying in the Marines. The first was similar to yours: "Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain." The second was "pack lite, and freeze at night."
The Leatherman Wave has a "secret" built in lanyard ring. If you look in the side next to the scissors there is a thin metal piece. Press down the tool lock release and with a pointy tool you can push it out a little, They are very tight and once a little is showing you can grab it with pliers to get it all the way out. Not the most user friendly setup but it is there and built in. Now you can take your belt clip off and breath easy with that 0.000613 oz weight reduction :-)
I don't really know what kind of conditions you are in when you set up your stove to boil your water, but think it might be worth looking into some of the lightweight alcohol stoves backpackers use. You can buy them and you can DIY a lot of them. Search for Zelph's Fancee Feast stove. Incredibly lightweight and compact. You would be able to pack the stove & alcohol fuel for two dehydrated meals and coffee completely in your Snow Peak pot without the fuel canister sticking out. Love your videos for the great information, ingenuity, common sense, and spiritual applications. Keep them coming!!!
Learn from me, I pulled the hard case off of my shelter last season and this year failed inspection for my shelter being in severely terrible condition. I had to buy another shelter to the tune of $450. I kept the hard plastic case this time around! I like the idea of the cook kit. MREs are terrible after you HAVE to eat a couple of them. At least with your Mountain House, you could get a couple of good meals before you have to go back to the MREs. It gives you a heat source in case you find yourself in a cold night on the line too.
I spent 4 years in the infantry back in the 80's with the 3/75th and 4/325 out of Benning and Bragg, and we said something close to that.....Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal PAIN. Keep up the great work.
The wave that I carry at work came with a lanyard hole already attached. I never knew it was there until I watched a video on it. It is located on the inside of the tip of the exterior saw blade. its kind of hard to get it out without a screw driver or other knife but it was there all along. Ive had the knife for 5 years and carry it every shift and never knew it was there. You may see if you have a hidden one in yours cody!!
if i remember correctly there is a built in lanyard loop that slides out that is right next to the end of the saw blade tip. i use a separate knife spine to push it out
Hey Cody have you ever considered making your own lanyard hole attachment. You should be able to trace the locking mechanism on that clip then trace the shape you want instead of the clip. It looks like simple spring steel. Dont know if that makes sense or if it would be as easy as I picture but it may be worth it.
As a backpacker I agree that the stove adds versatility, but as a former soldier, I think you should compare the calories of the MRE components to those in the Mountain House meals. MREs are quite calorie dense and can be eaten cold if needed. If your stove breaks, that Mountain House meal isn't going to be so great. The only real advantages of the Mountain House meals are that half pound (which is less weight than the water required to cook them) and the increased shelf life. I'd split the difference and carry both.
The plate that you took out should go back in the bag. That plate is a lighter substitute for a frame in an external frame or internal frame pack for backpacking. It will add structure to the pack and allow for a heaver load that a frame-less pack.
As a former Firefighter, Ems and retired Chief of Police, I find myself watching your channel all the time. Your topics are creative. The way you publish them makes us as the watchers feel as if we are interacting with you. Another words you make us put on our thinking cap . Thank you. If I may leave a comment as to the CCW. Over the years I have made contact with numerous ccw carrier's. Some told me and did not. After being told, I have without fail always asked the person I was conducting business with where his/her weapon was and where their license (proper paperwork) was located. After learning all that information, I would ask them to retrieve the items I needed to conduct our business. Never had an incident with any of them. Just food for thought, keep your paperwork in a diffrent location from where your weapon is located. Only retreive the paperwork when asked. That way you cannot be mistaken for reaching for your weapon. Thank you for your service to your community.
If they make you keep the fire shelter's plastic case you can cut some holes in it to reduce the weight.
great idea
I think the idea is to have the shelter protect from flexing and damage. last thing you want is have to use it and you have holes/tears that allow the heat into the shelter. let alone those shelters are around 350-400 bucks.
I'd be concerned about the shelter getting caught on the bag (or on the holes if you went with the modified case.) Seems the smooth rigid plastic is the best way to ensure a speedy deployment in an emergency.
Wranglerstar shows the plastic case in another video - it's manufactured with a hole in the base, so useless for carrying liquids.
Agreed. You can't afford to have the shelter get hung up on the pack when you need to deploy it.
I do ultraLite backpacking, when I go camping. Here's some tips I've picked up along the way.
The ziplock bags cut the top of the bag away above the zipper, the plastic bottles file away parts that aren't necessary like some of the grip one the cap, things like MREs cut away some of the edge on package. On your bag itself cut off any extra strap once it's fitted. That Oakley tag for glasses cut it off. It all adds up, if you get really good you can pack a bag for a 3-4day hike and Way less than 15 pounds.
No no no...former infantry. Keep the camel bak. when these came out, us, the grunts loved them. It was so much better to have that water on your back than in your way along your belt. You're going to carry water regardless and IT REALLY HELPS WITH DEHYDRATION! The camel bak is so close to your mouth that you can get a quick sip here and there without stopping what you're doing and getting out the canteen. It actually prevents more soldiers from becoming heat victims. Think about it, you are busy doing something and to stop and reach for a canteen...set down whatever your working on, drink put it back...etc. So because your focused on your job, you avoid drinking so you can keep on task...result is more heat victims. The Camel bak really dropped the stats on heat victims because it made water way more available without losing focus on the job you're doing. does that make sense? Keep the camel bak.
I cant do anything but agree. keep the camelbak its worth it.
I agree. That thing was a lifesaver for me when I was in Iraq. cody, keep the camelbak.
keep the camel bak you could get in a hot fire were it melts the other water
ABSOLUTELY. Taking small sips more often you stay much better hydrated. Lose the cover if you have to and keep a spare bladder in your bag on the truck. You just have to take some care how you pack it if there's not already a separate compartment for it.
10 years Active Army here, you said it best. Keep it!
In my experience wearing a backpack, where the weight sits can make a difference between premature fatigue and a good working endurance. I always make sure that the heaviest items are as close as possible to the base of your neck right between the shoulder blades. I noticed that with your pack the fire shelter is at the bottom and water is out to the sides placing most of the weight on your hips which can restrict movement i'd suggest using a Platipus bite tube water system at the top of the main compartment. weighs about half as much as Camelback and can also carry xtra collapseable bottles
the plastic case on the emergency shelter keeps the folded edges of the shelter from deteriorating. that way when you open it up its a solid sheet not ribbons.
that and any edge/sharp damage i would imagine
The fire shelter coating will eventually rub off, not having in its protective plastic will wear out the shelter pre maturely.
that is something i never thought of but true
I love this kind of video. It's like tapping into someones experience.
I noticed you have black medical gloves in your first aid gear. As a firefighter I don't wear black gloves because if I do a blood sweep on a patient it's hard to see blood on black. Try switching to blue or tan gloves like my department did.
you don't really need to SEE blood to know a liquid is blood, you can feel it
@@AlexDerange it does have that slippery yet sticky kinda feeling doesn't it...
...very distinguishable from other liquids.
@@adampindell ikr, that's what i was talking about.. you can feel blood and know it is blood before you see it
Alex Derange EMT here. You want light colored gloves. Most of the time you’re not dealing with your hands covered in blood. Almost every day I get a little smear of blood from taking somebody’s glucose on me. Same thing if I’m taking care of a small cut, IV, whatever. I wouldn’t be able to see that with black gloves.
@@Riverside69 that's a little bleed, nothing serious that wouldn't stop alone..
Dont wrap the batteries in tape they will stick in your flashlight and be a pain in the A$$ to get out
Outstanding video. I've watched several videos about lightening up your loadout. However, this is the first one where somebody has taken their pack in use and went through it step by step on camera.
I would have keep the deet but I live in south Louisiana the bugs will pick you up and fly off around here
Same here. I'm from south Florida, and DEET is not a comfort item, it's a necessity.
Some of the mosquitoes down here are the size of quarters and have black and yellow stripes 😬
Same with Yellowknife Canada out in the bush for the day, ya need to go for a blood transfusion
Cedar oil. Coming from South Florida
Yup here in Alberta Canada skeeters get big
Same here in nc
That plastic fire shelter protection plastic box, COULD be made lighter. Punch a number of holes in it with a good 1 hole paper punch. Use a pattern. Then cover the holes with much lighter clear tape. If the tape is pierced, inspect the fire shelter!
I think the entire point behind an MRE is to not care what you are eating and just force calories into you.
MRE's are engineered to have lots more calories than your store bought variety. Everything in an MRE is designed for high calorie and nutrient intake as well as compartmentalized for snacking as needed. On a fire line they might not need to snack and can make a meal. I don't know, I am not a firefighter but do have experience with MRE's themselves.
I ate MRE's for 27 days straight. I will second it that your stomach will not be happy with you.
Yeah, but if you have another brand besides MRE that is better and just as many calories and better caffeine why would you choose the MRE?
cody,
Keep the plastic on the fire shelter. any deformation of the "brick" could make it more difficult to deploy and it could get punctured. Also, replace one of the plastic canteens with a metal one for boiling your water instead of carrying an extra cup
Some one may have said it already but you have 550/para cord there in its self is many feet of emergency boot laces.
It's not much, but I would ditch the boot lace, too. Or at least use it to secure your Leatherman.
para cord makes crappy fire line boot lace. they melt and break the @ the first hot spot. Normal hiking I would agree with you but on the fire line you need something that can stand up to the heat. Keep the boot lace.
The issue is the P cord doesn't make a suitable boot lace on the fire line. Nylon melts and burns as you walk through embers and on hot ground. Leather is the only way to go and well worth carrying a spare.
No, they aren't. You can't use paracord as a boot like in firefighting because they melt in the heat. Leather is what is approved for use on boots.
leather laces break down too. Obenauf's laces hold up the best, or you can wax down P-cord with their brand of LP. If the laces burn up it doesn't matter anyway because you have at least 50 foot of cord for any such emergency. better to have it than not.....
The wave has a built in lanyard loop. Open the saw, and look at the space its in you can see the loop. All you need to do is get a flat tool in there and push it in the oppisite direction of the saw. Lanyard loop
Hope he reads that lol
Yeah i think most of the leatherman tools have one, took me 2 years to figure it out on my super tool 300
Just giving this comment a wee bump...
My Wave does not have that feature. I checked a tutorial on CZcams, and there seem to be different models of Wave apparently :-0
The one I have is baught in Norway i think - maybe it is a regional thing or so?
+croyfer I've had three different ones that all had it. They all came from the site
How many hours do you have to wear that pack while on the fire the entire time if Soo I would like to thank you and ever other fire fighter wild land or regular not sure what you would call it but I would like to thank you for risking your live to help make mine and everyone else's better thank you Mr wranglerstar
+ian jones we wear our packs pretty much all the time
You sir are a good person willing to carry all that wait for such a long time for all the wildlife and mother nature and to keep people safe
I am on the line for 14-18 hours a day, I'm in Alberta and we have had a heavy season
Well thank you Logan I thank you and I'm sure the wildlife does as well
+ian jones no problem
Keep the whistle. In my safety kit at sea a whistle is one of my favorite items. If something happens and you get lost and in trouble a whistle will bring help to you in hurry.
I'd say keep the first aid patch, if people need someone to provide first aid, they see that and know to go to you,
I agree. It barely weighs anything, and it could save someone's life.
I agree as well. people can know at a glance that you can help with first aid
+codginger99 I agree. Lol yes keep the patch
I agree, keep the patch
besides that patch gave the bag a lot of personality, keep it
I have to do the same process with my backpacking gear!
Socks; you should have a spare pair of socks. Use them as socks, mittens, water filter, bandage, wound dressing, dust mask, towels, flag, small parts bag, hat band, sanitary napkin, pillow, ...
Ah hell; just pack an extra pair of socks; because your mother told you to. Mom was right.
Well this is not a one size fits all scenario, if you found yourself needing extra socks in your work then that is what you should pack. But packing extra crap because you might some day need it is how you get a bag full of shit you don't need.
you should be changing your socks during breaks. at least I do. then tie the wet socks on the pack to dry. happy feet mean the world when your on slope doing IA or moping up.
Instead of single purpose glasses bag use a sock for each pair, twice the use from a single item.
… tourniquet; pot holder; hot pack; TP; sweatband; boot gaiter, …
... strap padding; fire starter; weapon; acorn sieve; foraging basket, deadman anchor, ...
Thanks for sharing Cody, and for keeping the cannel true to your standard. Things are spiraling out of control and having you share your life as you do helps in so many ways. I fought a few forest fires in the Sierras for many years ago now, and recalling what I carried I think you have scaled your pack down perfectly. Thanks again for including us!
you know its plastic so when you start to turn the clamp until it cracks you know you good...
that comment made my day. XD
@ Wranglerstar I think the plastic sleeve should go back in it is there to protect the shelter from puncture. I think the shelter would not be any good if , a briar went into the canvas bag and it put several holes into the shelter. I i know you would be careful of it , but can you always be mindful of it while doing the job.
Oh boy! 39 minutes!!!! Sweet :)
I saw that and got excited
+Conor Stephens oh! we all did
@ffec+ most of us
Cody, The lanyard loop is integrated the wave. It's in the groove that the saw folds into, you push it out of the bottom with a screwdriver or something small. Unless yours is older, i think the older ones don't have this feature.
not to make you think twice about what you're taking out, but it's happened to me before where I go through a toolbox or something else and take out what I rarely or never use and wouldn't you know it, not long after, I need it but don't have it.
Cody a BIG BIG tip with mountain house is to turn the pack sideways when cooked and take a knife and cut longways down the packet it makes it not as deep so you can use a regular spoon
I have the lanyard loop that I don't use, I'll send it to you if you want it
Did you send it?
The lanyard loop is on the opposite corner. Look at the tip of the saw blade when it is closed.
I carry my Wave daily in a leather case I made. It replaced the Blast that i got for Christmas several years ago. it now lives in my leather working desk. They are both worth every penny.
Hah! thats what AvE says... crank down the clamp till you hear the crack and back it off a quarter turn
Nice. another Ave subscriber.
I always use that advice! Just received the t-shirt: focus you fack XD
In beaver we thrust!
I would pay a Canadian Peso to know how many Ave subscribers watch Wranglerstar.
+tbw357 +1 fack
Cody, thanks for the video, I've done the same when taking a motorcycle in offroad adventure touring, remove duplicate tools and lighten things as much as possible. Lots of tough decisions.
For whatever the skeeter repellent weighs, I'd haul it. Malaria, dengue, zeka, west nile and who knows what else, not to mention the general annoyance of being dinner for the hoard.
In Texas you can't walk out the front door without it. So annoying and potentially dangerous like you said...
I have to agree here as well. You really should reconsider the bug repellent.
Especially if you may have to spend the night on the ground!
You seem to not understand, he threw out things he was not using, if you need this stuff in your area then you should have it.
The "what if" mindset it exactly how you end up with a bag full of shit you never need.
My son and I are both licensed trappers. We come in contact with wild animals and have to deal with swamps and areas most people stay away from. When we figured out our packs we had to look at bug spray as well as tick removers. I have to say the high quality DEET spray I found and we use has saved both of us from getting tick bites and any number of other bugs that want to eat us for dinner. With the upswing of Lyme disease now with ticks in our area I am glad we use it. I do not care for the chemicals being absorbed into our skin. I can say it works as I had a tick jump onto me while handling a beaver and it jumped off after only a second. The risk of disease is too great in my mind versus the risk of the chemicals on the skin. Like Cody we would not use it every day either, just when we are in the bush so our systems have a chance to clean out the absorbed chemicals between uses.
The radio remote I would keep because that speaker near your ear can be critical when the wind is whipping at your ears and that call to pull out and take cover comes over the radio. Also, keep a means to rinse ash or dust out of your eye.
love the fact that you eat those meals when Mrs. W is gone!
The fire shelter protective cover needs to go back in. it cant weigh that much. And it will keep you out of trouble.
I'd be concerned that taking out the smooth rigid plastic lining would make it harder to get the shelter out quickly (that it would get caught on the bag.) Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that if you need the fire shelter, you probably need it in a hurry.
exactly
It weights 8 ozs. It's quite a bit and I cannot understand the purpose.
I agree. that def needs to go back in... it reduces the wear on the shelter by not having constant rub on the shelter itself. it also lets the shelter slide out of the pouch easier, rather than it bunching up. Think pulling a pistol out of a holster vs a pocket.
The backpack is the shelter's "holder" it will slide in and out very easily (its rarely used, and hopefully never used) because the backpack is very sturdy. Once its inside, then the backpack itself will provide tremendous protection and its unlikely to ever have any wear. The weight is a constant drain when you're out in the field and its better to have a lighter pack so you're stronger and have more stamina when in a firefighting scenario.
given my experience, you might want to keep the eyeglass case.
The lighter the better!! I learned that backpacking the hard way. My first trip out I carried extra boots, bad idea.
but in wildland firefighting litter is not always the best because you have to carry every thing in your pack that you might need out on the line
I thought "lbs=suck" meant that you were finally ditching imperial units for a sensible system of measurements :)
One of these days the metric system will die the slow miserable death that it deserves
We metric countries only use your horrible measurements for carpentry, metalworking, and graphic design.
2liter canteens can collapse, and the aluminum ones are durable.
I would keep the bladder empty, and if you are out for along time. You can fill it up on sight.
Tourniquet, and are the meals the same amount of calories as the stripped MRE.
Peter Carlson If that is the case why he need a fire shelter???
Peter Carlson Then the,same would apply why he might need some high energy food...
Peter Carlson And I can tell you doing the level of exertion that he doing you won't last a month. More like a few days.
The caloric intake is why I asked. In summer he would be exerting a need to have a 3,000 calorie intake a day. Thats why I asked. Calm down...
Peter Carlson I know how many calories they have. They used to be 3,000 now they have 1,500... Have you had either kind. They are designed to keep you moving not from starving. nvm that doesn't matter...
What matters is how many calories are in the meals he replaced with...
And I know he isn't going to be starving for weeks. That isn't the point. Why are you trying to argue on this...
Hey wranglerstar love the channel! Just a heads up I carry the leather man wave everyday and there actually is already a lanyard loop built into the tool!! If you open the wood saw and look just under where you would access the little pull tab for the saw blade there is a little extra piece of metal. If you push that up it exposes a loop out the top! Hope this helps!
If you want to upgrade your stove setup, you could look at the Alpkit Mytimug 650 with the Kraku gas stove. The whole kit including gas canister is lighter and fits snugly in the mug with plenty of room to spare for all your other items.
i would have kept the DEET , i sometimes work in an environment with lots of bugs and man i wouldn't want the bugs draining me when i work !! awesome video , stay safe out there !
I had the blue GSA bag and I had trouble reaching my quart bottles with my short arms. The water bladder works a lot better for me and stays cooler longer. Seems like you take a lot of food, I just used the bag lunch they give us (type 1 fire) and I couldn't even eat all of that. I did mostly mop up, being on a mostly newbie crew w/ seasoned squad/crew boss. We drove an hour out to drop off, hiked 2 miles and worked til sundown most days. 2015 Fork complex fires in Shasta-Trinity. I'm an AD
I grew up in Dallas. I'm very, very sad tonight.
Ditch the heavy stove and fuel bottle. Do a little dumpster diving and find a small cat food can. Peel off the label, polish off the lacquer with steel wool, poke a series of small holes half way down the can all around with a paper punch or drill bit and then stuff a wad of fiberglass insulation into it. The fiberglass will help wick up the fuel and keep it suspended for efficient burning. This burns denatured alcohol. About two ounces poured over the fiberglass will ignite and burn for about 4 or 5 minutes, long enough to bring 2 cups of water to a boil. I found a used plastic whisky bottle on the side of the road which makes a perfect fuel bottle. It's small and flat like the kind one could hide in a coat pocket undetected. Flat items always pack better than round ones. This system is simple, basically free, and very light weight. When I hiked the Appalachian Trail my stove and large fuel bottle were among the first things I shipped home after a couple weeks on the trail. The other thing was my knife. Just didn't use nor did I need it. It was way too heavy to justify. What I kept was nail clippers. I had to trim toe nails anyway. The clippers could still open packages, cut string or rope. If anything has dual purpose then it trumps something with only one purpose.
the water bladder is a convience but it's quick to get a drink and get back to work instead of having to take out a bottle and put it back
What I was thinking while watching your video was, "Could I take that out of mine?". As an Ham radio operator, I have different needs. And summing up what you said in your video as your were taking your items out was this: " Do I need it, would somebody else need it, Is it worth the weight to carry it, and is it necessary, did I ever use that?" This video has inspired me to go back and take a lot at my pack, and see what I can change.
I'd keep the mic. Nothing more annoying than trying to hear the radio because it's either not close enough to your head or if you're trying to clip it closer to your head you're smacking your face with the antenna.
Seriously, think about how loud it gets out there. Keep the mic.
Batteries: Switch to lithium. Sure, more expensive but substantially lighter. Based on their capacity increase you could even reduce the number you're carrying.
I'd keep the goggles too, but thats because I've been caught without them in a dust storm for 14 hours. My eyeballs were blood red even with glasses on.
I agree with you - the mic and goggles
I second the lapel Mike,first time you miss your call sign or a change In condition your going to wish you had it. Stay safe. Love your videos watched them all.
I have no personal experience, so all I can do is throw this out to the experts: How about a throat mike/earpiece deal for the radio? At the very least, they LOOK lighter. Now if only they work....
I can clip my whole radio on that same spot where the mic was. Doesn't take a lot of space and doesn't get in the way. I'm not fighting fires though.
Jonathan Anderson He didn't strike me as the "tacticool" gear type, either, but my impression from the video was that the remote mic/speaker had been of some benefit, hence my suggestion/question. I know you already recommended just moving the whole radio up and forward.
I really love seeing your wild land fire fighting and gear videos and would like to see more of them.
Good morning Cody! Great video breakdown of your gear. When I load my backpack ( be it bugout/bushcraft, etc) I try to follow the rule of three, meaning does this item have the ability of being used for three uses. sometimes you can use the rule of three, sometimes you can't. loved the video
I love how you end your videos with this beautiful scene. It always changes. I saw one where the clouds were just right and it looked like smoke coming from top like (God forbid) a volcano. But this is where I think we got the words "America the beautiful." What a beautiful home and homestead. Great and God Bless you and the family.
Also, just my .02 I would add Benadryl to your "essential" carry pack, you never know when you or a buddy may get into something.
make sure you test that pack without the inner frame, I removed mine from my hiking pack once and it made the pack put a huge load on my lower back.
Now go back and watch your videos where you go through your packs with your friend and are justifying all that stuff to him.
+mutt2jeff is life not the process of evolving?
What you want, what you likely need (more justified) and what you actually use over time in the scenarios and terrain you experience are three different things. In the end, most of what you thought you might need earlier was still included in your 4 day bag just in case but not lugged into the forest, hindering the very purpose you are there for. I found it well thought out and enjoyable. While totally different that my situation it made me think about what I should and should not carry when out.
Hey Cody, one thing we have done to cut down on bulk on the Mountain House set up. As opposed to requiring the long spoon, use a regular spoon and then just cut the bag of the Mountain House as you eat. As you already have scissors on your Leatherman, you cut out 3in of length on the spoon.
Next step: Get lasik so you don't have to carry around contacts. Lol.
Hahaha just said the same thing! Not even halfway through the video!
Or you can get butchered like my son and have 3 cornea transplants. I suggest staying with the contacts.
@@rocketcitymadman statistical anomaly. Definitely worth getting lasik.
For AA batteries, get a couple of stor-a-cell 4 AA holders from amazon, and carry energizer E91 lithium AAs. They weigh about half of what alkaline batteries weigh, have a much longer shelf life, and if you put in fresh batts at home, maybe you can get away with only an extra 4 or 8. Good to have spares though!
the deet should be in the truck bag.
The basic gerber multi-tool weighs about half of what a Leatherman weighs. I have carried one for about 10 years.
As a retired firefighter, l must say I would be reluctant to take a gas cylinder, into a fire situation, let's face it you are surrounded by a heat source to boil your water on, but each to their own, love the videos keep them coming. Thanks Tony
An esbit stove is slower but it has to be lighter. Plus, no risk of an explosive gas canister.
kinetikx
I have used esbits off and on for years great lightweight option! And may not be needed for firefighters but I always keep a few in my pack for emergency fire starter!
Really cool video. I was in an Army Infantry unit and I too was always trying to lighten my gear. One thing I did always include in my ruck was a 2 fl. oz. bottle of Tabasco sauce (had to have it with my MRE's).
Is it safe to go firefighting whit the gas for the Primus in the backpack?
yes, firefighters carry gas and oil for chainsaws in their pack as well as fusees which are similar to flares. I never wanted anything hot to eat on the line but to each his own.
true Paul, but gasoline & oil is a fluid and flammable vapors.... it's not pressurized in a can that can go BOOM if it gets too hot.... I've seen it happen with backpackers simply using the wrong windscreen for their isobutane stoves - usually a home-made shield out of aluminum flashing, or a pre-made shield intended for liquid fuel (white gas) type stoves where the shield goes all the way to the ground. traps the heat in causing the butane can to get hotter than it was designed for.
and while the firefighters MIGHT in some circumstances, I don't think they'd have cans of gas or oil strapped to their back ;)
Yes, if you misuse a camp stove, you can get a BLEVE. You're not going to get an explosion carrying a can of camping stove gas in your pack. It's direct conductive heat vs radiant. 90% of wildland firefighting is mop up, walking the black and smothering hot spots in roots or buried rocks which retain the heat. You would have to be pretty careless doing direct fire attack to get the cannister inside your pack hot enough to explode. Basically your pack would have to melt. They make the pressurized cans to go backpacking and there are hot weather and cold weather fuel combinations.
I have seen fuel & oil carried two ways on the fireline. One way is in the big red jugs like you use for your lawn mower. These are carried over the shoulder on the end of a hand tool with a wooden handle. The second is in a handful of Aluminum MSR brand fuel bottles on the sides of the pack where the 1Qt canteen bottles usually go.
When I was a kid, I was riding dirtbikes at a friends cabin in the Ozark mountains of Southern Missouri. We got back to the cabin, and I went to go wash up under the well hand pump before dinner. I noticed my right leg had a big gray spot. I looked closely and it was about a million tiny deer ticks. I must've brushed up against a nest while riding. I had so many ticks attached to me that I just had to let them drop off naturally over a week or so. It's a miracle I didn't get lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. I consider permethrin for gear and deet for myself a necessity in the wilderness.
I personally would take the GPS & mic extender & dump the phone. In my Wildland experience phones are a huge distraction on the fire line. I find that my rino GPS far more accurate then a cell phone & less of a distraction. For me the mic is a ease of use and speed response. I am on a hand crew & have to be able to communicate with my crew quickly & reaching for a raido is not something that I want to have to do with up to 4 saws running around me.
A little more about the phone. I know that some fires have cool new maps and things that can track you and adjoining forces from you phone. This is all cool and what not. I constantly think of the fallen 19 who had phones out on the line and were sending text as well as talking on the phone. For me, I can not overlook situational awareness. It is a really big deal for me.
There are apps they use on the phone to distribute local maps with markings for equipment drops, etc. he talked about it in one the Wildland Firefighting videos once. That's not negotiable.
and also when you are at camp it some times nice to call home if you got signal to do so. Well should the sup and ever body in the higher up should be allow to have there phones then what is good for the goose is good for the gander . Because i seen sup and crew bosses and other people useing there phones on the line when they should be .
and by the way they was watching the fire and two dont you dear blame something on them unless you are willing to prove facts and links showing they use them and what they was using them for . Most of them was using it telling there family good bye be for they died .
@@AndrewMurphy8383 the fact of the fallen 19 is their boss, who was notorious for putting his people in very dangerous places, did put his people in a very bad place. The phones didn't help anyone. I knew Jesse Steed. I served with Jesse Steed. I know he fought to stay in the black to be safe for the coming wind shift. I can give you more information about the events if you message me.
Yes phones are coming more and more accurate with Avenza and other mapping services in the past 3 years since my originalpost. Yes phones are fantastic to have to communicate with friends and family when you are not on the fire line. Oh and Hero pics. I wouldn't have my profile pic if I didn't have my phone.
I have begun to carry my phone more on the line as I become a crewboss and have a need to communicate with Task Force leaders, divisions and whatnot.
Like I said originally, I personally....
That doesn't mean I stop anyone or condemn them for taking phones... just me personally.
Thank you Andrew for communicating and having worthwhile input.
@@Buckshot0351 let me ask you this have you ever work for hotshot or hand crew etc be for
I very rarely comment on CZcams, but I thought I'd just mention that you probably do need the first aid kit scissors, as the kit is meant to be as sterile a set of first aid supplies as possible. I dunno if others already said this, but I thought I would. The scissors you said you already have on your multi-tool or pocket knife are most likely the least desirable alternative, though I don't actually have expertise in this field.
on your other comment about the shootings, I think it comes down to lowering the standards for being a policeman in this country.
its not that hard to become policeman but my brother genration dont like the cops that why most of them wont go get and become one
Thanks, this was perfect to watch in preparation for fire season.
I enjoyed this video. The only thing that I had qualms about was during the end card you stated that Police have a First Duty to go home each night...I disagree with this statement, because it tends to lead to the 'Us versus Them' argument. The Officers 1st Duty is to Know and Enforce the Laws and treat everyone equally. It also shows the current Police Mentality of 'Shoot First, ask questions later'. The Driver never pulled the Firearm, but was reaching for his wallet after informing the Officer he was Legally Conceal Carrying, and the Officer asked him for his License and Registration. This whole situation to me, had nothing to do with 'Race", but more to do with the Officer freaking out that a *Person* was *(Legally)* carrying a Firearm in its holster.
MutR
Let me ask you this...why is a Police Officers 'Safety' more important than an average Citizens 'Safety'? As long as the Citizen isn't pulling/brandishing their Firearm in an Illegal way, then what Right does an Officer have to disarm someone not committing any Criminal Offense? After all people are 58 times more likely to be killed by an Officer than by a Terrorist, so shouldn't the Civilian be able to protect themselves from a Criminal/Illegal Act by an Officer?
MutR
Think man, THINK!! If the 'Officer' has the person's I.D. and is walking back towards their Patrol vehicle there are 2 things going against a person pulling a firearm and shooting at the 'Officer'. First, the 'Officer' has their License, which would give any 1st responder the name of the person doing the shooting, and 2nd the Police Dashcam has their Vehicle make and license plate, as well as a video recording of the person doing the shooting!!
The whole 'Officer Safety' thing is a load of bunk, when you can go to the ODMP (Officer Down Memorial Page) and do a search for 2015 and see that 130 'Officers' lives were killed while on duty, which even includes those killed by Heart Attacks and 9/11 related Illness, How many people were MURDERED by 'Officers' in 2015? The answer is 1,208 people...granted *SOME* were Justified, but alot were not. Police always go to their Firearm first, before resorting to Non-Lethal means of subduing a person like a Taser, Baton, or Pepper Spray. There is a culture of Police not trying to de-escalate Situations but to escalate situations to the point where they are "Permitted" to use Force. This is my point!! 130 versus 1,208 and the 1,208 don't include all of the people hurt/maimed by Police each and every Year!! The Police are also not held accountable for their Actions the same way that a regular Citizen is, such as being told to resign and serve Probation instead of Prison time that a normal Citizen would be if a Normal Citizen had done the very same exact thing an 'Officer' would do!!
Just out of curiosity, why do you randomly capitalize letters as you write? I notice a lot of people do that, and I'm curious if it's for emphasis, some random quirk of typing some people have, or another reason I can't discern.
i am curious if you are a police officer, you seem to be an expert at how they should preform the job. If not perhaps you should apply.
Russ Osborn
No, I am not an Officer, but I am very good friends with numerous Constitutional Sheriff's Deputies and I see and know how they handle those situations. As long as the person doesn't 'draw down on them' or brandish the Firearm, then they have no problems with a person having a Firearm, while the person isn't barred from possessing one per 18 USC Part I Chapter 44 section 922 and State Laws.
A luxury I allow myself is a pocket battery charger for my phone, which I use for several things while hiking. Besides the GPS and compass functions, the phone camera is of sufficient quality to enable me to leave my regular camera at home. So, the phone is actually several devices in one. However, since I got a SteriPen water purifier kit that came with a small solar charger, which weighs less than my regular charger, for double duty I can also use the same charger for my phone in the field. Haven't tested this yet, but will very soon. One of the keys to saving weight is figuring out what things can perform multiple functions.
Woulda kept the comp/whistle
I think it would be really interesting if later on you did a follow-up video where you talk about how the choices you made have either helped or hindered you and if you have changed your setup again (either put something back in or taken more out). I also feel like First-Aide isn't a place to cut down because like you said, it's more important to save a life. One thing my dad always told me when backpacking is only pack something that has more than one function. However, you did say that this is a FF bag so I don't know if that is a strategy you would like to apply.
As a Canadian, I am always somewhat confused by the American cultural practice of concealed carry. Why Americans feel the need to arm themselves on a daily basis is not something I understand. From my side of border the USA has a culture of fear. The land of the free, held hostage by their imagination and the media fuelled expectation that marauders are going to come busting down the door at any moment.
I can see how this ever constant state of tension leads to confrontations like this where the police are fearful of the general public and the general public subsequently become more fearful of the police.
Is my country utopia - no, we certainly have our issues. However, I can only hope that one day the people who live in the land of the free and home of the brave have the courage to look within and say "No more," and make the changes that need to be made for you all to live in peace and freedom.
This could spiral into a whole inane argument about gun control and the whatnot so I will finish with a quote from a scholar who's name I forget but who is far smarter than I, "Arming more people and calling it a cure for gun violence is like buying a bigger belt and calling it a cure for obesity."
Peace, love and prayers from a northern neighbour.
It seems to me (from the other side of the Atlantic) that a number of Americans don't trust their government and what they see as the arm of the government (the police). The constitution gives them the right to be armed and that's how they feel safer.
Just a simple reply, I can only speak to myself, I conceal carry when I can, has it ever served a benefit in 25 years, well, not it has not, I also have a fire extinguisher in every vehicle, has it been used, well, once in as many years of driving to help a motorist extinguish a car fire out on a lonely highway 20 minutes before the FD arrived. I also carry first aid/trauma kit as well as tire repair,compressor and spare tire. Is this because I'm simultaneously afraid of having a flat tire, sucking chest wound and defending myself while my car is on fire, well no. They are all tools to help myself and as well help other people who might be in need of assistance from a bad situation or to prevent a bad situation from becoming much worse. A firearm is only a tool, it can be used for good or evil, its the hands and the minds of those that wield the tools that determine the outcome.
+fastst1 I guess that's where cultural differences come in as I (mind you, I cannot speak for all Canadians) don't see a gun as a tool. It is a weapon. A tool is a knife that can be used to cut, carve, pry; a pipe wrench that can be used to break a union or hammer on the lid of a paint can. Both could also be used as weapons, I don't see you prying off or pounding on the lid of that paint can with your side arm.
I guess that's why I really don't understand the need to carry a weapon and call it a tool. I would rather carry tools that, should I be forced to, I could use as a weapon.
3vil3lvis I am not anti-gun. In fact I own two of them.
A few years ago a visitor from the US wrote a letter to a newspaper. This is the best article I could find that included his letter. Take from it what you will, but I view it as a great example of how our cultures differ. news.nationalpost.com/news/walt-wawra
I do not feel that I need to be hyper-vigilant to defend myself from those who would do me harm. Quite frankly, I don't think 99.9999% of the people I encounter on a daily basis have any intention of doing me, or anyone else harm.
My comment was in reference to the death of Philandro Castile and was made the day before the Dallas shooting. And it was a reference to the culture of fear that I see in the American media that gets broadcasted into my country every day.
FromThe Prairies Perhaps indeed its cultural and that our prisons have a culture of their own with a lot of non-reform going on. I think most people here are neutral, they see a crime and they walk away as its not their problem, the good will take some action, even say to call a store clerk to finger a shoplifter. As to the death of Philandro, a tragedy, normally if carrying, you let the contacting officer know and understand, then follow instructions. Several lives ruined that day.
I went back and forth on the MREs vs dry. Something to keep in mind is the water to cook as part of your weight unless you plan on a water source and filter.
I have a leatherman wave, an older one, it has a small lanyard attachment that folds away between the phillip's and flat head screwdriver. Worth a look.
Great video reminds me of my old USMC days u can compress the gear by making everything tighter , just a sugestión u might want 2 reconsider the MRE ' S U MIGHT NEED THE CARBS GREAT VIDEO
Great video as always, but did you bump a setting on the camera or something because i noticed its been having some trouble keeping focus in the recent videos.
In regards to the Leatherman Wave lanyard loop. It has one hidden opposite of the pocket clip slot on the saw blade side. Just stick something in the small opening there to pull it out.
The lanyard loop on the leatherman wave comes built into the tool. It is right next to the tip of the saw blade
my worry with ditching the plastic case for the shelter is that it holds the bag open making deployment in an emergency easier. seems to me without it the chances are higher that the shelter could get hung up and you could end up fighing to get it out and possibly destroying it in the process. the eye wash kit is probably really good to have too, would really suck to get stuff in your eyes and not have it. I would also throw the deet in the camp bag, last thing you want while youre trying to regroup at camp is bugs driving you nuts... definitely put the patch back on too
I have the answer for rubber bands for my bushcraft supplies. I bought a bicycle inner-tube new from Walmart. When cut directly across I get a band which is perfect for an Altoids can any width I want. When cut diagonally I get a longer band depending on the angle I use. I paid about $6.00 for the tube a year ago and I still have most of it left to use.
i would have kept that shelter case. im on a type 2 IA crew and our packs see so much abuse the shelter would be damaged very quickly without it. many times ive slipped on the hill and landed right on the shelter. I actually recently bought the mystery ranch hot top it is a great pack but itself is very heavy
hi cody just want to say you can get stoves way smaller than that now also at a fraction of the weight and if you look right you will get them at a good price.
You could use the attached lanyard hole on the Leatherman Wave. It is hidden in the place the saw rest, you just have to push it out with a scredriver. The problem is, that you cant quick detach it like the belt clip.
Also, i saw people using the beltclip as a template to make their own attachments for the clip (like a fork and spoon) so you cuold make yourself a new lanyard clip from sheetmetal
I don't work as a firefighter, I'm actually in filmmaking, but we use radios all the time. Instead of the remote speaker/mic you have that weighs quite a bit, you might consider a surveillance earpiece, especially one with an EarMold ear bud. It weighs very little, can be run through your shirt to keep from snagging, and with the right earpiece, you can have it in all day and not notice it.
We always had 2 saying in the Marines. The first was similar to yours: "Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain." The second was "pack lite, and freeze at night."
The Leatherman Wave has a "secret" built in lanyard ring. If you look in the side next to the scissors there is a thin metal piece. Press down the tool lock release and with a pointy tool you can push it out a little, They are very tight and once a little is showing you can grab it with pliers to get it all the way out. Not the most user friendly setup but it is there and built in. Now you can take your belt clip off and breath easy with that 0.000613 oz weight reduction :-)
I don't really know what kind of conditions you are in when you set up your stove to boil your water, but think it might be worth looking into some of the lightweight alcohol stoves backpackers use. You can buy them and you can DIY a lot of them. Search for Zelph's Fancee Feast stove. Incredibly lightweight and compact. You would be able to pack the stove & alcohol fuel for two dehydrated meals and coffee completely in your Snow Peak pot without the fuel canister sticking out.
Love your videos for the great information, ingenuity, common sense, and spiritual applications. Keep them coming!!!
I ditched liquid bug repellent for my bags. I use single use deep woods off wipes. Yep, they cost more, but they don't leak or weigh much.
Great vid ! Makes you think. Preparation H totables are great for burns, scrapes, cuts, etc.
They are portable - mostly witch hazel. Try it.
Learn from me, I pulled the hard case off of my shelter last season and this year failed inspection for my shelter being in severely terrible condition. I had to buy another shelter to the tune of $450. I kept the hard plastic case this time around! I like the idea of the cook kit. MREs are terrible after you HAVE to eat a couple of them. At least with your Mountain House, you could get a couple of good meals before you have to go back to the MREs. It gives you a heat source in case you find yourself in a cold night on the line too.
I spent 4 years in the infantry back in the 80's with the 3/75th and 4/325 out of Benning and Bragg, and we said something close to that.....Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal PAIN. Keep up the great work.
The wave that I carry at work came with a lanyard hole already attached. I never knew it was there until I watched a video on it. It is located on the inside of the tip of the exterior saw blade. its kind of hard to get it out without a screw driver or other knife but it was there all along. Ive had the knife for 5 years and carry it every shift and never knew it was there. You may see if you have a hidden one in yours cody!!
if i remember correctly there is a built in lanyard loop that slides out that is right next to the end of the saw blade tip. i use a separate knife spine to push it out
Hey Cody have you ever considered making your own lanyard hole attachment. You should be able to trace the locking mechanism on that clip then trace the shape you want instead of the clip. It looks like simple spring steel. Dont know if that makes sense or if it would be as easy as I picture but it may be worth it.
As a backpacker I agree that the stove adds versatility, but as a former soldier, I think you should compare the calories of the MRE components to those in the Mountain House meals. MREs are quite calorie dense and can be eaten cold if needed. If your stove breaks, that Mountain House meal isn't going to be so great. The only real advantages of the Mountain House meals are that half pound (which is less weight than the water required to cook them) and the increased shelf life. I'd split the difference and carry both.
Yet another great video, i just wanted to ask about your watch compass, could you tell me where you got that particular model?
The plate that you took out should go back in the bag. That plate is a lighter substitute for a frame in an external frame or internal frame pack for backpacking. It will add structure to the pack and allow for a heaver load that a frame-less pack.
As a former Firefighter, Ems and retired Chief of Police, I find myself watching your channel all the time. Your topics are creative. The way you publish them makes us as the watchers feel as if we are interacting with you. Another words you make us put on our thinking cap . Thank you.
If I may leave a comment as to the CCW. Over the years I have made contact with numerous ccw carrier's. Some told me and did not. After being told, I have without fail always asked the person I was conducting business with where his/her weapon was and where their license (proper paperwork) was located. After learning all that information, I would ask them to retrieve the items I needed to conduct our business. Never had an incident with any of them. Just food for thought, keep your paperwork in a diffrent location from where your weapon is located. Only retreive the paperwork when asked. That way you cannot be mistaken for reaching for your weapon.
Thank you for your service to your community.
On my leatherman wave there is a loop built in, it is on the end on which the saw is located.when you found it, you have to pull it out.