Thanks Skunk! Your advice is invaluable.

I'm glad to see the BOB includes food - too many include everything but food, which I think is a huge mistake.

About how much would you folks recommend limiting weight to? How about no more than 10-15% of body weight?

I think for the average joe thats going to be the most you are going to want to lug around with you but a good pack can alow you to carry more.

I got my son a nice, big pack so HE can carry more.

"If you want to eat, you've got to pack your own food."

Oh, I'll pack the food. He's carrying all the other stuff.

I guess it's wise not to let the kids too close to the food, when there's a limited supply. My teenage son seems to go through a gallon of milk every other day.

Yeah, my son is 19 and is not fat but he is 6' tall and I take a risk carrying food if he's hungry. I bought a pound of pastrami recently and when I went to make a sandwich there were only two slices left. Seems he made a sandwich for himself for lunch.

Architect, our resident "Survival" expert, and he has done a lot of research and actual DOING recommends no more that 45-50 pounds If I remember quickly. That weight he says allows for more rapid and prolonged movement.

If you haven't read any of the threads he has started, you need to. He has a LOT of VERY good info. But he doesn't get around here to much any more since they moved into their new "OFF THE GRID" home.

I would also say watch the weight of your pack!!! Unless your used to ruck marches the heavy packs will KILL YOU!!!

I guess it all depends on how far and where you are headed. If I've got to "bug out" without a vehicle, I won't be looking to take a big heavy pack to slow me down.

The bigger issue is where would folks bug out to? If it's like rats fleeing the sinking ship, most will end up drowning. If they are hoping to stay with a relative, what if nobody's home when you get there (or worse). It's hard to plan for disaster - too many unknowns.