Urban Survival Tool Kit

disturbed1970

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#1
In the GHB thread, I mentioned that part of my route from work to home involved a significant trek through major urban areas. I also mentioned that because of this, my GHB incorporated some non-traditional items, specifically focused on the urban landscape.

I'll list out what I carry, the "why" behind it, amd then see if anyone has suggestions for changing things up. The purpose of this kit is multi-pronged:

1. Entry/exit into potential layup sites
2. Ability to forage
3. Potential to make following me/chasing me over-costly (area denial)

The kit itself rides in a cheap Amazon tool bag: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FDL4QXB/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_X8W5E9X4PN4Q5GYJ4A1R
and contains the following:
1. Universal sockets (x2)
2. Mini vise-grips
3. Needle nose and regular pliers
4. Silky Pocketboy 130mm saw
5. Milwaukee folding saw with Sawzall blade
6. Universal Control Cabinet Key
7. Mini pry bar
8. Allen wrenches
9. Multi-bit screwdriver
10. Gerber concertina cutter
12. Gerber Short Stack

Other tools I have on me are a Leatherman MUT, a Morakniv Garberg, a lockpick/e&e kit, paracord and duct tape.

My thinking is that with this kit I can forage almost any spare/replacement part I may need, can make entry to most locations, and can turn on or off gas/electricity/water. I can also set up some rather nasty things on my backtrail.

In the woods (which compose about 70% of my path), the tools are basically dead weight - at least most of them. However, the 30% of my path that is urban has the potential to be the longest segment time-wise, as well as being the most dangerous. Urban survival is a different beast than wilderness survival, so it requires different tools.

While none of the pieces is individually heavy, outside of water, this is the single heaviest part of my GHB. Theoretically I could dump a bunch of them, once I get out of the city, if needed.

I have a jiggler siphon in my car, but my thinking is that if SHTF to the point where my GHB is in play, cars aren't working.

Ideas for if I am missing anything major? A paver can get me in anywhere a hammer could, which is why I don't have one on my GHB. I run a FUBAR tool on my breaching kit, but that is a lot of weight for a niche need. Idea is disassembly/repair/entry/escape.
 

GOBLIN X

PUKUTSI
Brass Subscriber
#2
I have water ways between me and anywhere i go NSEW. either river or blackwater so bridges in all directions. to cut mileage back , and visible exposure, i added a ATV innertube and co2 tire inflator with stem tool and extra co2 cartridges to my urban side of the kit. I can swim and wade, but not with a bag on or anything in my hands, add some cordage from the bag and i have a float for gear.
it all depends on you area terrain between where you are and where your going.
 

O:gweh

Domari Nolo
Forum Merchant
#3
Cordless dremel with metal cutoff wheels as opposed to the Milwaukee folding saw perhaps? Not saying its right, just discussing.

Pro - faster cut equals less time exposed, easier to cut a "protected" type lock

Con - louder, battery dependant, heavier.

Just a thought for discussion.
 

GOBLIN X

PUKUTSI
Brass Subscriber
#6
Cordless dremel with metal cutoff wheels as opposed to the Milwaukee folding saw perhaps? Not saying its right, just discussing.

Pro - faster cut equals less time exposed, easier to cut a "protected" type lock

Con - louder, battery dependant, heavier.

Just a thought for discussion.
in the truck in a old laptop satchel i keep a Milwaukee 4.5" fuel angle grinder and a spare battery.best money i have ever spent.
 

disturbed1970

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#7
Cordless dremel with metal cutoff wheels as opposed to the Milwaukee folding saw perhaps? Not saying its right, just discussing.

Pro - faster cut equals less time exposed, easier to cut a "protected" type lock

Con - louder, battery dependant, heavier.

Just a thought for discussion.
I have some power tools in the car - not sure if they are worth the weight penalty for the GHB. And the even more batteries I would need to carry 🤣
 

LostViking

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#8
I have been eyeing this for here at the club,
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Safety-Solutions/Emissions/2527-20

It would pair nicely with this,
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Metalworking/Grinders/2522-20

Bolt Cutters for accessing water
Various pry bars to get in or out of places
Tow Chains or good tow straps, to move stranded vehicles out of your way, pull down barriers if necessary
Lock pick set,
High Lift Jack (Vehicle Only)
Road Flares (fire starters, diversions, signaling, CQB deterrent)
$200.00 in singles

I avoid urban places like the plague.

But if you have to you have to.
Some times you're out, but you have to go in to retrieve someone else.
 

disturbed1970

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#9
I have been eyeing this for here at the club,
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Safety-Solutions/Emissions/2527-20

It would pair nicely with this,
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Metalworking/Grinders/2522-20

Bolt Cutters for accessing water
Various pry bars to get in or out of places
Tow Chains or good tow straps, to move stranded vehicles out of your way, pull down barriers if necessary
Lock pick set,
High Lift Jack (Vehicle Only)
Road Flares (fire starters, diversions, signaling, CQB deterrent)
$200.00 in singles

I avoid urban places like the plague.

But if you have to you have to.
Some times you're out, but you have to go in to retrieve someone else.
I have some power tools in my car kit, along with straps, jacks, flares, a sledge, large prybar, and some other stuff.

I also keep a full breaching kit in there, in case of an active shooter. I'm looking at things that are small, lightweight, and multi-use, for carrying in a backpack tool kit.

Ideally, I'd never set foot in a city again, but work demands it. I've been working off-duty gigs for 22 hours this weekend, and the majority of that time has been spent on ATAK, adding and scouting alternate routes - it still comes down to a likely 8 to 12 hours of navigating a major metropolis if I have to go on foot. That's assuming no injuries, and not having to hunker down for any reason.

I have a series of potential lay-up sites marked out (schools, known hidey-holes along the routes, etc.), as well as all the fire stations, and police department roll calls in the event those end up as strongholds. However, there is still a lot of open ground between those points.

Again, this all assumes foot travel is the only possibility, and that it looks like the event will be long term. Hell, for short term stuff, I'd just bunker down at work, at our firearms training facility. A couple million rounds of 9mm, 12ga, 5.56, and 7.62x39; water; food; heavy-duty construction; a few dozen DRMO rifles, a couple hundred shotguns and handguns; smoke, beanbag rounds, OC grenades, stingballs...I think I'd be ok, especially if other coworkers were there with me. 🤣
 

LostViking

Well-known member
Brass Subscriber
#11
I have some power tools in my car kit, along with straps, jacks, flares, a sledge, large prybar, and some other stuff.

I also keep a full breaching kit in there, in case of an active shooter. I'm looking at things that are small, lightweight, and multi-use, for carrying in a backpack tool kit.

Ideally, I'd never set foot in a city again, but work demands it. I've been working off-duty gigs for 22 hours this weekend, and the majority of that time has been spent on ATAK, adding and scouting alternate routes - it still comes down to a likely 8 to 12 hours of navigating a major metropolis if I have to go on foot. That's assuming no injuries, and not having to hunker down for any reason.

I have a series of potential lay-up sites marked out (schools, known hidey-holes along the routes, etc.), as well as all the fire stations, and police department roll calls in the event those end up as strongholds. However, there is still a lot of open ground between those points.

Again, this all assumes foot travel is the only possibility, and that it looks like the event will be long term. Hell, for short term stuff, I'd just bunker down at work, at our firearms training facility. A couple million rounds of 9mm, 12ga, 5.56, and 7.62x39; water; food; heavy-duty construction; a few dozen DRMO rifles, a couple hundred shotguns and handguns; smoke, beanbag rounds, OC grenades, stingballs...I think I'd be ok, especially if other coworkers were there with me. 🤣
Ha!

I totally agree,
If you have to be pinned down at work, in an urban area,
you probably have one of if not the best, spots available.

Can you get your vehicles indoors?
That would be a great advantage.

If it's short term,
ride it out.

Long term, load up the vehicles as best you can, take a deep breath, and open the door.
Pop smoke and FBs on your way out, and take your chances.

***Another thing I would carry, if I had to run that gauntlet often, is enough spare gas to get me home from the furthest point twice.

Pulling, towing, sitting in traffic, rerouting, driving over zombies, all eats gas
Have enough on board to get you home.

This reverts back to simple preparedness stuff.
Always keep your fuel tank at or over half full.
Fill up before, or as you enter, a densely populated area.

As I type,
I sit in the middle of almost 3,000 acres, (Not Mine) about 35-40 minutes to the nearest town.
Where I both work and live.

So I work these scenarios in reverse.
How will they get in? where will they enter? total aggression or shelter seekers?
How do I stop them? or at least slow them down?
Can I funnel them where I want them?

My dog died about 3 years ago.
This is the longest I have been without a dog in my entire life.
I miss that early warning system.
I miss both the passive and active defense a dog provides.