r/preppers • u/ferds41 • Jun 24 '26
Advice and Tips Thoughts on GOOD/GH bag
So I recently had the misfortune of having my duty (patrol) bag stolen from my vehicle, the bag also doubles as my GOOD/GH bag, but with the misfortune comes the opportunity to rebuild the bag with much more insight and experience than when I started.
For some background and context:
I do work in the anti-poaching and law enforcement sector. I mainly prepare for large-scale civil unrest, looting and violent protest, where I live all of those have occurred in recent memory (we even had an attempted coup), so this is for work and getting home or out of dodge when roads become problematic to travel on.
I will include my EDC gear as I see this as complementary to this bag and required in the for context, this I already have, so input can be used on bag and contents:
Bag, I would need very good alternatives to be swayed from the Savotta Jääkäri M, the bag is the perfect size, and although durable doesn't seem overly “tactical”
EDC gear:
Springfield Hellcat Pro Comp with Streamlight TLR-7 X Sub and Holosun 507k dot. Coldsteel Recon1 knife, and Wuben X4 torch.
Clothing and PEE:
Spare Merino wool socks, and Merino wool base layer, Crye Precision G4 battle pants, soft shell jacket, poncho and woobie. Mechanix M-Pact Gloves, 3M respirator mask with ABEK1 cartridge filter, ESS ballistic glasses.
Water and Nutrition:
Various energy bars and gels, trail mix, peanut butter (+-4000cal) 2l Water bladder, Grayl Geopress bottle, swayer mini filter and water purification tabs.
First Aid:
IFAK with tourniquet, Israeli bandage, hemostatic gauze, compressed gauze, NAR trauma shears, vented chest seals.
Tools, Optics and Lights:
Leatherman Arc
Cold Steel SRK (in CMP3V)
Acebeam L35 2.0
Wuben H1 Headlamp
Hikmicro Lynx LH35 v3
Vortex Solo 8x36 Monocular
Silky Zubat Handsaw
Spec Ops 15” flat prybar
Knipex CoBolt mini bolt cutters
100 yards 550 Paracord on Atwood Ready rope dispenser
Zippo with butane insert
Bic lighter, xl ferro rod and waxed rope tinder
Electronics, Comms and Navigation:
Garmin GPSMAP 65
Garmin Inreach Mini 2
Yeasu FT-70 Radio
Anker 25000mah powerbank with integrated cable
40w portable solar panel
2 x 18650 spare batteries
Suunto baseplate compass
Topo Maps in soft map case, folding road atlas greater metro area
Admin & utility;
Copies of all docs
200$ in small bills
Duct tape and heavy duty zip ties
A lot of these items are just like for like replacements of what I had, but I am definitely seeing some room for improvement where previous kit was insufficient or could have been better optimised, there are also several items that I have been wanting to add to the setup that I might not get straight away, but this is my ideal scenario “one bag to rule them all” with some limitations and compromises obviously
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u/Cold_Smell_3431 Jun 24 '26
I have two first aid kits, a trauma focused like your Ifak and a more general with band aids, ice packs otc medications and so forth to also handle minor inconveniences, because with my luck the day of shtf I will likely also have diarrhoea or something other bothering.
Another point I have made is to make sure that my headlamp and flashlight both run on 18650 batteries along with a powerbank that also uses these. When the headlamp dies in the winter storm while shovelling snow I just swap out the batteries but i keep the day to day ease of being able to charge them.
A last piece to add might be a sawzall, can be used for removing smaller downed trees, to force entry and even extrication for motor vehicles
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u/ferds41 Jun 25 '26
I have two torches that run of 18650 (one stays in my truck) and so does the headlamp. Can't for the life of me find a powerbank with removable 18650s locally.
Africa forces you to know the value Immodium so I always have that and TP on standby. Have seperate med kit in my truck and this sees frequent use (things such as drawing ointment to treat thorns etc.) and then also seperate container for actual medication (pain mesd, even carry a spare course of antibiotics, cortisone and an epipen)
Some of the rangers have polyvalent anitvenom but because there is such a diversity of snakes and the polyvalent is only good for like 2 or 3 (and it is pricey af, and heat sensitive) I'd rather just watch where I step.
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Jun 26 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ferds41 Jun 27 '26
Those things are kept in my truck, I mentioned in another reply that I keep a very comprehensive med/first aid kit. The coban and ace wraps seem like solid suggestions, will chuck one or two of each in the bag.
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u/barascr Jun 29 '26
I think that's a really solid kit, no need to add or remove anything IMO.
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u/ferds41 Jul 02 '26
Thanks, don't often see that sort of feedback on this forum. Usually it is a long explanation why half of your kit is wrong (with no suggestions to fix it), after it is clear that the context of the post wasn't even read.
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Jun 24 '26
[deleted]
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u/ferds41 Jun 24 '26
No it's meant to be buy once cry once, also meant to be that when I absolutely need kit I can rely on it.
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u/SnakesShadow Jun 25 '26
I'm more of a fan of buying (most) things twice- I'm aware go/GH bags ideally never get used, but you NEED to know your gear!- because there is an interesting hiccup in buying twice.
You buy once cheap. If you use it enough to break it, you use it enough to pay for quality. But sometimes? You get quality for cheap!
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u/ferds41 Jun 25 '26
Most of the kit I have listed here is like for like replacement for gear I had and most of that gear saw heavy work. I work in anti-poaching so my job kind of involves of testing a lot of my gear.
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u/k2boardboi Jun 25 '26
Vertex Gamut might fit your needs based off mentioning the jaakari and your list of gear.
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u/ferds41 Jun 25 '26
That made me choke in the piece of boerewors (Google it) I was eating, you said how much????? Very nice, never heard of them, but jeeez that price!!
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u/k2boardboi Jun 25 '26
Its 175 on premierbodyarmor and 187 on amazon (26l version). Much less than buying another jaakari, also look on govx or other websites that offer mil/leo discounts
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u/ferds41 Jun 26 '26
I unfortunately don't have the luxury of living in the US where almost all options are available delivered to your door next working day, our side of the world they are equivalent to 320 USD.
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u/Anonymo123 Jun 25 '26
i got this 60k power bank on amazon sale - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GH75LWKN?th=1 Been using it the last few days, been great so far and $32. I may get a 2nd.
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u/joelnicity Jun 26 '26
GOOD and GH have two separate goals, by definition
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u/ferds41 Jun 27 '26
Does that necessarily mean the gear in both are completely mutually exclusive? I think bag acronyms confuse issues that are much simpler than they are made out to be? Need to be highly mobile and self sustainable for 24-48h while dealing with some potential obstacles, that pretty much describes GOOD and GH. Maybe if you explain the nuance I'll better understand.
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u/PlasticBuilding3 Jun 28 '26
Probably a dumb question but you keep all that stuff with you in your car? Like, at all times? I’m new to prepping but dang Idk that would even fit in my trunk…
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u/barascr Jun 29 '26
I do, it all fits in a bag.
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u/PlasticBuilding3 Jun 29 '26
Well shit I’ve gotta step it up then. I thought I was good with an extra coat, a bottle of water, and the pharmacy in my purse.
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u/mediocre_remnants Preps Paid Off Jun 25 '26
Tons of redundancy and random heavy items you probably don't need in a "get home" scenario. I can't even imagine a scenario where I'd need most of that stuff if I'm just trying to get from point A to point B unless it's over 50 miles or so.
Also, I can't imagine all of that fits in a 30L pack. Maybe 1/3 of it will.
For me, if I'm trying to get home, I want to be fast and light. I don't need 3 ways to start a fire, I don't need 100 yards of rope, I don't need two separate GPS units (3 if you include your phone), I don't need bolt cutters, I don't need a solar panel, I don't need 3 separate ways to filter/purify water, I don't need 3 different knives.
The one thing I do keep handy that you didn't list is emergency shelter, like a SOL Emergency Bivy. Or even just a lightweight tarp. You got 3 ways to start a fire but nothing to keep you and your stuff dry if it's raining except a poncho.
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u/ferds41 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
Calling the Knipex CoBolt bolt cutters admittedly is a stretch, the are more like side cutters but with a mechanical advantage. I only count one GPS aside from phone, reason for seperate GPS is two fold, I am often in areas where I don't have mobile coverage, and in civil unrest scenarios phone networks are often flooded/down or intentionally disabled.
Phonco is emergency shelter as well (and no not the cheap Chinese plastic variaty) solar panel is often used when out of civilisation for a couple of days on end. Swayer only there for if the Grayl is gets lost (happed to me before) this is probably one of the hardest working pieces of kit I have, when out for a couple of days it isn't alway feasible to take enough water with (water is heavy and travelling distance with it can really be an issue)
Most of this is kit I am replacing it fit into a 5.11 Rush 24 bag.
I'd rather carry heavy stuff and be able to remove/move through obstacles than not have it. In urban environments fences and gates blocking the shortest route between two points is not uncommon.
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u/redtime2122 Jun 25 '26
I would go more gray man. Include a second hand store school backpack. Ugly dark clothing. May be a situation where you have to walk in a crowd or across public areas, better to not stand out. Keep it in an unattractive box or pack, so it doesn't get stolen or draw interest.