(Part 2) Best products from r/vagabond

What is your price range?

I got a 37L Mystery Ranch bag about a year ago and love it lots. There are a lot of places to mount auxiliary bags and items to and the design of the zippers make it easy to get to anything anywhere in the pack. I also have a cargo harness (cant find a link for just the harness itself) which I wear under my pack and lets me carry a few more belt-mounted bags on my hip.

A few brands I'd recommend, depending on the indended use:

• Osprey and Patagonia make excellent lightweight backpacking/mountaineering packs
  
• Kifaru for backwoods/bushcraft
  
• OneTigris, Trident, and Voodoo Tactical for accessories/pouches/smaller packs
  
• Marom-Dolphin
  
  EDIT: Back when I carried a camera I was in love with Lowepro, their bags feature modular, heavy padding to protect delicate things like cameras, laptops, even drones.

Get a Thermarest. Folds up fairly small, only 1.5lb, super comfortable and pretty warm.

Pair this with a waterproof bivy sack, my favorite is the military surplus Goretex bags like this. I've seen people stand in ponds up to their chest with one of these on and come out dry.

With a 0 degree bag you're ready for just about anything and will be mostly comfortable in just about any weather.

Not sure what OP is using, but I tried a few different models while trainhopping, and I highly recommed Baofeng digital scanners. Excellent range, huge memory bank, kickass battery life, and can take a beating.

Even better, they are really affordable and theres a wide variety if you wanna get fancy.

The 30 dollar model (UV-5r) will work for most hobos, but the BF-FH8P for 60 dollars is a great, great scanner.

I am partial to a hammock and a tarp. I have a shemag that I use instead of a pillow. You need to find multi-use items. Some people find that cardboard works for a cushion and insulation so they have no need for a sleeping pad. Pine needles and leaves also work.

Weather in the northern states will turn very cold shortly. Consider southern locations for now unless you want to work at the ski slopes.

You don't mention any cooking equipment. A stainless steel cup or a dollar tree dog bowl with a wire handle added, will let you heat up water for coffee, tea, ramen, oatmeal or just add hot water food packets like Knorr noodles and rice or instant mashed potatoes. West coast locations require positive shut off stoves during burn ban seasons. Otherwise there are many free alternatives.

I have a sawyer water filter that gives me the option to acquire water from natural sources.

Wrap around sunglasses will help keep sand from blowing in your eyes. Eyeglass strap will help you hang onto them.

Walmart sells a head lamp and strap for $1 in the camping section. Very useful for dumpster diving.

Lots of free downloads for your phone that can make life easier. Off line maps, topo maps, google earth, toilet finder, free wifi finders, fast food apps, campendium, boondocking, freecampsites.net, BLM land maps, google translate, duolingo, scanner radio apps.

Also to compare notes, here's my list copied and pasted. I've had it saved for a while now:

**note: I mostly travel in Europe as an American, so I need things like a passport and adapter.

***

Backpack contents

Good rules: Most important things are your shoes, backpack, and sleeping bag, so buy good quality for these. Everything else buy as cheap as possible (if you have little money like I did). If you don't use it after two weeks, throw it away. Every little thing adds weight, so be careful not to carry too much. Your backpack should weigh 10% your body weight. Wear dark colors so you don't get them stained, plus you won't stick out as a tourist. Most of this can be bought at REI or any outdoor sports store, workers there will be familiar with the items in this list

Backpack (mine is a Whitney 95 Gregory but that's way too big. I wish I had a size between 45 and 65 liters. The best brands are Gregory and Osprey.)

Backpack contents:
Small dry-bag (nylon waterproof bag), inside:
Passport, passport case, vaccinations card (only necessary if you go to tropical countries with lots of diseases), [money], phone charger x2, electric adapter x2 (American to European)
This is the holy grail of travel plugs:

amazon (dot com) /TraveLite-Compact-International-Adapter-Lenmar/dp/B005OQ7TKY/ref=pd_sim_23_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005OQ7TKY&pd_rd_r=ATS1RE32H65D8Z60Y13Z&pd_rd_w=M6LPD&pd_rd_wg=Ltrth&psc=1&refRID=ATS1RE32H65D8Z60Y13Z

Sleeping bag (squeezes down to size of a football yet good quality)
Sleeping pad (I have a mini blow up air mattress)
Big plastic tarp (keeps sleeping bag and pad clean when sleeping on dirt, plus it's an emergency rain cover)
Bag for backpack when in checked luggage on plane, so the straps don't get caught in the conveyor belts (a big trash bag will also work) like this

rei (dot com) /product/887945/osprey-airporter-lz-pack-duffel-small
Backpack rain fly
Clothes: Summer
-Underwear x5 (Cotton boxers)
-black cotton t-shirts x2
-Cotton socks (about 5 pairs?)
-Zip-off pants x2
-gym/running shorts (used as swim shorts too) x1
-Rain jacket
-Hat

Clothes: Winter
-Sweaters x3
-Wool socks x5
-Wool hat
-Scarf
-gloves
-coat

Toiletries
-Toothbrush
-toothpaste
-floss
-Bar soap and case
-nail clipper
-razor
-sun screen
-towel (old beach towel, thin and doesn't take up much space)
-Toilet paper
-Condoms

Flip flops
Shoes

Small umbrella
Glasses case, glasses, sunglasses
Spork
Plastic bag full of plastic bags (ziplock bags are rare in Europe)
Book?
Watch
iPhone

Metal/nalgene water bottle

Ukulele
Ukulele case
Pick x2

Food (amount varies, mostly plastic wrapped dried fruit and nuts that stays fresh for months)

Day bag (light weight draw string backpack for daily use)
typically includes my ukulele, water, dried fruit, condoms, and a sweater or umbrella depending on weather

Yep it works. It won't keep your shoes bone dry if you dunk them in water but if you spray down the outside of your shoes with it really well then let them dry for 24 hours. It definitely will keep the outside dry. I spray down my shoelaces too and let them dry separately. I bought this stuff. I'd personally reapply occasionally but I don't know if that's strictly necessary. It's certainly not a scam though.

There is heavier duty stuff out there if you want something that will really make your boots/shoes super waterproof instead of "water resistant" though. Just look at reviews.

Edit: This looks decent too.

You might benefit from something like this. It is within blade-length for even folding knives, is fixed blade so it is mentioned by even less laws, had a great case/clip so you can easily open carry (clip showing in pocket) to avoid even more laws, and finally... The loop (and holding style) prevents it from being easily disarmed by your opponent (or dropped due to motor function failure in an emergency). Also notable, serration for use as a tool, single blade (to avoid "double bladed"/dagger restrictions), and in a less-than-lethal requirement, you can use the whole knife/holster as a kubotan or as punch reinforcement.

I carry it every day. When holstered it barely even looks like a knife, so it is easy to open carry even in banks and offices. It is easy to mount in MOLLE, so you can easily tuck it into a backpack strap while hiking.

r/vandwellers.

The problem with carrying a firearm is that if you don't have the mentally tough attitude to use it, it's a greater danger to you than to an adversary.

I'm a life member of every gun rights organization I could find--NRA, GOA, JPFO, SAF, etc. I love firearms. But I don't think they are any security panacea. The person who wants to use a firearm as a deterrent against bad guys is far better off with a well-trained dog. I'm not saying you shouldn't own a firearm, but if you do buy one, you want to obtain very thorough training in how and when to use it.

Bad guys, speaking generally, are huge risk takers. Unless he perceives that you intend to kill him, he is going to be calculating his chances of getting close enough to you to try to disarm you. But he's not going to disarm a German Shepherd or some other breed commonly used as a guard dog. Dogs can sense your fear and the evil intentions of others, through body language, or body odor or something. I had a German Shepherd who was the sweetest dog. He loved everybody. But if he "alerted" on somebody, I was immediately convinced that whomever he alerted upon was up to no good.

You can't just assume a dog will protect you. They must be trained to do so. And once they're trained, you are responsible to control them, to care for them and to protect them. It's almost like having a child.

For a woman, having a trained personal protection dog is a huge defense asset. Most bad guys will avoid any place or any vehicle that contains a dog. (Nobody wants to get bit. Or shot. Or stabbed.)

The book in the link below was written by a former Air Force Security dog handler. It's an excellent book, and it tells step-by-step how to train a personal protection dog, up to every level, except to where the handler can order a dog to attack independently. He doesn't teach that, because once a dog has been trained to attack upon command it must spend the rest of its life in a secure kennel, and cannot be allowed to run free in a yard. The danger, to innocent passers-by, and to the dog, and to the owner, is too great to allow an attack dog to run free. But short of an "attack dog," a personal protection dog can live a normal dog's life.

Order the paperback. It's a lot cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Train-Watchdog-Bruce-Sessions/dp/0830657533

What you want in a canine companion is a well-behaved, well-trained, affectionate dog who can also protect you from adversaries. But keep in mind, you cannot leave a dog alone in a vehicle very long, and never with the windows rolled up completely. Training a dog is largely a matter of behaving in an unemotional, controlled way yourself. If the dog isn't performing correctly, it's not his or her fault. It's YOUR fault. Dogs want to please you. So you must be endlessly patient and well-disciplined yourself in order to get the desired behavior from your dog. You must be absolutely consistent with your dog. You can't scold him for getting on the couch one time and allow it another time. If he can't get on the couch, it must be absolute. Commands must be given exactly the same way every time. "Sit" always means sit. "Stay" always means stay. And "Guard" always means "Scare the holy fuck out of this rapey bastard."

But the absolutely best defense tactic is to not be there in the first place. Don't go into situations where you might be attacked to start with.

This is great. Even better for me has been a Jumper / Battery / Compressor / USB charger / Light combo. This one at Amazon is $55 right now, waay cheaper than getting all 4 of those things. With the $5 cable (‘often purchased together’) you can charge it up from your car while driving and use the USB ports for devices without having to turn your car on again.

Good luck with your travels!

Changing your socks frequently won't help much, but it will help protect your feet from blisters and "hot spots" (areas that aren't quite abraded enough to blister, but which become painful and sore enough that you don't want to walk.)

Breaking in boots and shoes is extremely important in you are living life on foot. Infantry soldiers are issued two pairs of boots. They are supposed to alternate boots every other day. When you first get a pair of combat boots, you soak them in water, beat them with a wooden-handled scrub brush, put on two pairs of clean, woolen, combat socks, tuck two spare pair into your belt, and go for a walk. Halfway through, you stop, take off the boots, switch socks to two dry pairs and walk back. As the boots dry, they begin to mould to your feet.

On the second day, you do this to the second pair of boots. You only need to soak and beat them once, but you need to switch boots every day so that they wear in evenly and they have a chance to air-dry out (from sweat) to avoid fungus. Pull your boot inserts out of the pair that is "resting."

https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/military-boots.html?qview=3370816

https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/military-boots.html?qview=5960165

Your foot bears weight unevenly. If you look at a barefoot footprint in wet sand, you can see that your body weight is borne on the "ball" (metatarsals) and "heel." Because of the way people walk when wearing boots (the heel strikes the ground first, then the toes) and especially when marching in cadence, military boots tend to wear worst on the back of the heel. In effect, lacing boots up above the ankle protects the ankle, but causes people to walk unnaturally. If one grows up barefooted or wearing moccasins, your natural gait will be very different, in which one points the toe when taking a step. This looks somewhat like a ballet dancer pointing her (or his) toe. The toes/metatarsals strike the ground first, and the heel later. This is similar to the way people's feet touch the ground when running--you run "on your toes," kind of.

Boots will wear more on those areas where the foot bears the majority of the body's weight, and as the boot sole wears, depressions will form inside the boot to accommodate the plantar surfaces of the foot. This is what we mean when we say boots are "worn in." Once this occurs, as long as you do not wear your boots with wet feet and wet socks, your feet should not blister. However, when on a long hump you should still rest your feet ten minutes out of every two hours, and change socks and inspect each other's feet during the rest.

Modern hiking boots usually do not require much of a break-in period, but they also are not nearly as durable as military boots. They are designed a lot like tennis shoes.

https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/9-best-light-hiking-boots-spring-2018/

Older design (1970's) mountaineering boots have a very stiff sole and a very robust way of lacing. Walking in them feels a little bit like having boards strapped to your feet.

https://www.amazon.com/Danner-Womens-Mountain-Light-Cascade/dp/B00SC8DDTC

Everybody chooses boots that suit them best. Nothing wrong with that. I chose boots that were not necessarily the best quality or the most comfortable, but for which I had good evidence to support the idea that they would not fail me 1,000 miles from home. I chose military packs for the same reason. Tough, durable, almost impossible to break.

With through hiking, everyone assumes that it'll be cheap. It is relatively, but it isn't as cheap as you'd think. You'll want to have a few thousand stashed away (it varies). Getting income while on the trail might be hard.

Lighter is better. Check out /r/Ultralight to get your "base weight" down.

If you're inexperienced with the outdoors, read "The Backpacker's Field Manual" and understand what "Leave No Trace" means. Use those to learn how to take care of yourself and the outdoors.

You can find used gear online. If you don't have any right now, and are on a budget, it's often the best way to buy it.

I'm not your girlfriend, but I want this towel.

I love microfiber towels. They dry fast, and help the other clothes in the dryer dry fast when doing laundry.

after 20+ yrs out on these beautiful roads + rails of america,the best I carried was the older Kelty redwing 50 for 7 years and never wore any holes in it all the zippers still worked. i now have the new Kelty Redwing 50 style and i can already tell ill be keeping this one for probably another 7 years...https://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Redwing-Backpack-Medium-Large/dp/B009R6B7EG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517961896&sr=8-2&keywords=kelty+redwing+50 well worth the money i promise.

Yeah camping with soap sure easy / makes sense... But grass and pine needles? That's fucking hardcore dude. Green scrubbys are really really cheap And if you buy a big pad you can cut it into 4-6 smaller pads that each last around 2 months so...

P.S. FUCK SPONGES Paper towels and a green scrubby works great

P.P.S. Here's what a green scrubby looks like if you don't know. https://www.amazon.com/Jetec-Cleaning-Scouring-Scratch-Kitchen/dp/B07FMPMFKD/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=green+scrubby&qid=1570812550&sr=8-6 Only for reference this amount would last me about 100 years lol.