Hey guys. I am a contract faller (retired full time FF) so my line gear is a bit different. I have to carry wedges and a light weight nylon belt and nylon wedge pouch since my Nomex pants have unusable back pockets. In addition I carry my saw stuff and an extra 36" chain. I also carry two water bottles and two fuel bottles and chaps on top my pack. Like you two, most of my water is in a bladder. I ALWAYS carry toilet paper and Ibuprofen and some sort of electrolyte powder and power bars. My war bag half filled up with baby wipes. And Ibuprofen. God bless the man that invented the shower trailer.
I've watched a lot of EDC/ bugout bag videos, and it's always one guy showing his gear without much explanation. I love the concept of gear comparison, where you can banter back and forth justifying or discriminating against certain selections/choices/logic Etc. And when you're surprised you have some of the same stuff, it means so much more.
Cody: Could you give your guest a proper introduction please? He has been in the last few videos and I still don't really know who he is. I don't mind it. I just want to know who he is.
I basically never post comments here, but I decided to today to share the same comment and was surprised t find these other comments sharing my thoughts. He is a pleasant addition, but I share the thought that it would have been nice to be introduced. It would also perhaps give him some form of credibility as well. For now he's just some guy that has all of a sudden just appeared out of nowhere.
suggestion: get a neoprene tube insulator for your hydration packs. the uninsulated tubes act like a solar collector and heat up your water. the insulators really help keep your water cool. I also suggest tying a piece of paracord around your chem lights. then you have it handy to tie onto the light and swing it in a circle. you can take that little chem light and make a 6 to 8 foot circle of light if you twirl it on a string. this is a very effective siglal for aircraft even at a great distance.
+HardWayLearnt Funny you mention that. I have one on my hydration pack, but for some reason +Wranglerstar didn't on his; might be due to it being a replacement hydration pack, or it just didn't come with that model pack. I have been shocked at how well the sleeve helps!
+Alan M. Thornton true. I didn't see it on yours but it probably just blended in. looked like Cody had a camel back bladder. I have found camel back makes the best valves and mouthpieces but their bladders are second to platypus bladders. I mix and match by putting camel back mouthpieces on platypus bladders. nalgene makes great bottles but I hate their bladders... all that to say when I run a truck (SAR not fire) there is no excuse for your water leaking on everyone else's gear. You don't load it if it isn't locked down. :)
I ended up buying the MIL spec camelback unit for my pack for obvious reasons. They are more expensive, but worth it. I am guessing that Wranglerstar has the normal one that most have. Their valves and all are awesome like you said. Platypus does make an awesome bladder: very fast to fill and solid closures.
+HardWayLearnt Waste of money and weight. What you do instead is open it each time after you use it and let the water drain back into the reservoir so it doesn't stay in the tube. Had a friend teach me this in Daytona FL during college nationals where everyone carries around a pack full of alcohol LOL! Mission accomplished better than insulated tube and it is lighter.
David Bowden "open it each time you use it?" umm that defeats the purpose of wearing a hydration bladder. You can blow air back in to the tube if that is your wish however, the plastic tube still collects solar radiation and converts it quite efficiently into heat that does warm your water. allowing air to fill the bladder can also make it harder to tell how much water you have left in your pack.
Really love the detailed explanation of why you carry the items you do, it has shown me items that I could carry in my pack. I just work in the suburbs in a warehouse but still like to be prepared for anything I may need during the day.
Here in Australia we don't carry the fire shelter bc we are always with in 500m of an engine and the engine is build to with stand sitting inside a fire for 24 hours
We don't carry them here in Canada either. They don't improve chance of survival in an entrapment situation, per statistics. We'd prefer to jump into one of the many water sources throughout our forests.
I had my red card back in the 90's when I interned and worked seasonally for the NPS. I never got out to any big western fires but had many friends who did. It was great training and after 20 years I still remember so much. I still keep a perimeter around my property and that was very comforting when we had a large (WNC scale) fire here in the mountains last year that was way too close to the house. Love your Videos, Keep up the great content!
Thank you for what you do. It takes a lot of dedication and drive to fight wild fires. I was in Glenn wood Springs when Storm King Mtn happened. A very sad time for all of us. Thank you and God Bless you and your family.
You two are hilarious together, along with being very instructive. The fact that both of you seemed to be on the same wave length as far as having almost the same equipment. Extremely informative. Two coffees next time, one for either of you. As a Canuck long haul trucker, I'd go with a Timmy or two, but they can't be found south of the border. ; ) Keep up the great work!!
I started doing Wildland Firefighting in Ontario Canada and we do not get issued a fire shelter, bc the exact reason that Cody stated it gives people a false sense of security there shouldn’t even be a situation that you need to use one of those if you have your safety zones and escape routes established the main thing we stress over in Canada is safety!! They are just trees at the end of the day the main thing is getting crews safely home.
"There's a ... tremendous philosophy behind this particular hat" "Of course there is, it's you". This is so true ! ^^ Thank you for this very interesting video. I'm soon heading towards Vancouver BC and planning on hiking around and your packs really teach a lot about what one should have (even though yours are especially thought for firefighting).
I have zero knowledge on fire fighting. But I was glued to this video from start to finish. You guys complement each other very well. I enjoyed the video very much
I do not work on the fireline however i work out in the woods for the last 4 years. You have convinced me to buy a pair of Whites. Thanks Cody you have taught me so much.
Spare boot laces are fine, but it you carry parracord (which hopefully you are) are shoe laces. Instead of spare laces, carry a mini tube of superglue (appros 1.5 " in length) Simply measure how much cord you need for a lace. Apply an inch dab at the end point. Wait a minute or so for drying, then cut half way between the glue mark. You now have a stiff end to run through the eye of the boot. Superglue has many uses from sealing minor cuts to applying them to the paracord laces.
Great video. Allen has been a great addition as of late. He helps to share the extra insight. Very interesting to see how experience has helped both of you develop your packs in such a similar fashion. Thanks
I've had so many of those LokSak bags fail on me Cody. The black plastic zipper always tears wide open so the thing is completely useless. A working LokSak is way better than a ziplock, which will slowly leak air, but in my experience the ziplocks don't have catastrophic failure near as much.
Cody, someone may have already said it, but Camelback now has a flow meter you can put inline with the tube. They are around $30.00. Boy Scout leaders often have the same problem with the Camelback, etc. You cannot monitor how much a scout is drinking. When you are responsible for their safety, you need to know they are drinking enough. With these flow meters you can tell how much has been consumed.
When we had fires in the BWCAW a few years back I was ferrying firefighters up to the fire and they were marveling at the novelty of fighting a fire while surrounded by water on all sides.
-Web gear is the term when main compartment is removed -shelter casing is a must for protecting the shelter -never and always aren't the right words regarding flat vs terrain. Usually there's terrain -FS canteen lids fail even though cheap/free and yes aren't BPA free -reliable carabiner, yes. Rappel use, no. Sling loads are always in a cargo net -med kits should be external for access and labeled. I have 3 pairs of nitrile gloves since they're durable and sanitary -Dust masks are great around chippers. -Sportiva de-lam yes, Scarpa improved glue and best grade Vibram rubber. Ironically mentioned when discussing field repairing traditional boots. -signal mirror is better accessed from radio harness -Gold Bond ok (arguably carcinogenic) vitamin A&D+ zinc ointment is better.
I like to use first aid dry bags over Aloksaks after trying both. They are just more durable and its easier for me to pull the contents out and put them back in. They do come pre-marked first aid and in bright colors, usually red or green. Or you could just grab a regular dry bag and make do.
Great video guys!. About the fire shelter, if you have to use it, someone has made a major mistake, and things can't get any worse. The shelters we use in the Florida forest service are 10 pounds.
Package Tabasco can be found in in restaurant supply store or check with a local eatery and see if they can get you a box. You will have plenty to share.
Lost 19 of our HotShots at one time here in Arizona. Winds shifted and they were absolutely trapped. They deployed their shelters, but unfortunately the fire was too hot. Be safe and smart out there guys/gals. Lots of respect to you all...
Have you ever consider using Smart water bottles? They are all the jam on the trails. Most stores carry them and they last same 1 Liter. Also huge fan of the sports top pairs well with sawyer squeeze.
We get firestorms in BC and Alberta . The last one was in Fort McMurray and it turned into a firestorm. So it's mandatory for Canadian Firefighters to have fire shelters.
Try the MSR Dromedary bags. They're considerably more durable than your usual hydration bladders, can be easily patched, and can be used in multiple configurations. I've pretty much swapped to those exclusively.
I cannot see if it has been mentioned but a better option for the hydration tube is to have it running under your arm (no it doesn't chafe and after about 20 minutes you don't notice it) that way the mouth piece is clipped in upright and can often be accessed simply by dipping your mouth down to it.
I learned a lot, I could see this video as one of my must watch for my friends and family. I didn't think of all the things you talked about. Good in depth explanations. Love the pack. You gave me some great ideas !
Alan, find the widest drinking straws you can. Melt one end together, pour in some tabasco and then melt the other end. Should give you some lightweight single shot uses.
Most new MREs will have the supplementary packet with tp, gum, etc. but they will also have tiny bottles of Tabasco, we would always horde them for times they would be like gold.
You mentiond Gatorade; just thought I'd let you know something I started getting Powerade instead, because, not only is it cheaper but it has more useful vitamins and minerals in it such as Potassium and whatnot All things Gatorade is lacking Fantastic video though My father is the Battalion-Chief for the Golder Ranch Fire District out here in Arizona; going to send this video to him to see if it would be of any use to the Booters in the Wildland division
A heads up to any other wildland guys. I went to order a new set of Nick's hotshots, before I had my old Whites rebuilt and there is currently a 14 week wait for boots. So any one on a crew in R1 or R4 starting May 15th, you should put your orders in now.....
don't forget, your hard hat is a great spot to put gear. toilet paper, e clip, spare bar nuts, guitar sting for reaming out drip torches, a bic lighter and a bag of powdered gatorade stay in mine all the time on the line. great vid
Fire shelters haha we call them shake and bake bags in Canada and don't use them setup your safety zones and be proactive those things arent to be relied on. We have a an aerial view though being a helitac crew. Plus we are fighting in boreal forest so lots of water. I carry in my bag: water purification tablets, a first aid kit, gold bond, toilet paper, extra batteries, a survival blanket a headlamp, dry socks, waterproof matches fly repellent, a bug net and sun screen and 8 bottles of water. Being initial attack we only are on a fire typically for a shorter period of time then sustained action. On my person I carry on my chest pack two rolls of flagging, two rolls of electrical tape, a change or radio batteries my radio, a compass and a mora knife. My pockets I carry a camera, gloves and more electrical tape. Different environments for fighting for sure we never fight fire on slopes all flat and usually swamp.
It is amazing how similar people pack their gear. I carry nearly the same gear (minus fuzees and shelter) but about double the water for Australian conditions
I loved this! Just watched all the vids for this. Thanks for all the hard work and time to do this. I feel like I'm in my perfect niche. I have been doing Wildland for about a year now and have a background in camping/backpacking. I was right on point with a lot of things but also learned a few pointers too. Awesome vids. Always enjoy the Wildland videos and the mentoring you provide. Thanks fellas!
the eternal debate between wide mouth and narrow mouth bottles... I'm on the wide mouth side for that one, my reasoning comes from wild/stealth camping not from wildland or whatever like that but, here's my reason, they fit (screw on) on a water purifying manual pump and, I don't mind having one bottle less and carry the pump (even if I never had to get rid of a bottle to bring the pump and probably never will have to) also, if you get the fancy ones, at night you can put warm water in throw it in the sleeping bag and have a really really warm night (way better than taking rocks by the fire plus you have water in the morning)
+Alan M. Thornton thanks but, it's not an original idea, I have to give credit to the smart people with a lot more experience than I do who took the time to teach me their camping tricks
Same principals apply for wilderness SAR. So many team members dont show up prepared for an overnight stay. There is not always hot coffee and donuts at the rally point. LOL
Hi Cody, I was curious, but then pleased to see your opinion on the fire-shelter. I am an Australian forest firefighter, and as you say we don't use them. For exactly the reasons you stated! You should not get yourself into that situation, and the shelter will give a false sense of security! Enjoyed the vid, cheers
I've punched small holes in the side of my camelback with metal grommets inside them . going up in 1 inch increments . It doesn't compromise the bag that much, plus you can use them for tying things off and it makes it only a quick glance to check H2o levels
Really like the setup of both of you! It's especially interesting because I am not very familiar with wild firefighting in general. However, I can provide one tip from my own experience. You both use Gorilla tape which is interesting, however Gorilla tape, in my experience is simply slightly glorified duct tape. I'm not sure if you feel the same way, but I would recommend possibly making a switch to a PVC tape such as PASCO pipe wrap which is overall a much more durable and versatile adhesive in comparison to cloth tapes like Gorilla tape. Love the videos! Good luck!
Hi Wranglerstar, I did wildland fire for many years. Been retired since 2013. I agree with you about fire shelters. I would never trust my life to one. They get bigger and bulkier every year. Good video.
I am a firefighter and I understand the packs and there is a reason for everything you put in it. Granted you have to tailor you pack to your situation, but could you put the pack itself and some more of the other little goodies on the webstore? In the past I have just used a old bookbag from school (Not for firefighting) just as a grab and go type of pack but I need to start over. It is nice to see some of the reasons why you have your bags laid out the way you do. It comes from experience as well as trial and error so this gives insight and gives some with not as much experience a head start, so for that I thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this...and learned quite a bit. Thank you. And please, let me add..."boys and their toys..., er, um, tools". So thankful for heroes...and both of you are....
i would go more for an army style modular molle rigged vest style for more modification and some adaptability. there are so many different types of pockets for molle vests and of course that stuff is made to last some action!
Thank you for another enjoyable video, it was entertaining and educational, plenty of laughter,made a good team, also learnt a lot as well that might come in handy some time, all the best William
Great vid. Heaps of differences to hear in Australia. Your thinking on the shake n bake is spot on - we don’t use them with the idea being if you need to deploy it, you are in the wrong spot in the first place, dont put yourself there. Also “ there are no wildland fires on flat ground”, so true 🤣
I'm really enjoying the videos with both of you. May I suggest an introduction video for Alan with info about who he is and what he has done and is doing now. Thanks and I'm looking forward to the next video with the two of you. You both work well together and are having fun.
We dont use fire shelters in Canada anymore either. I work in B.C. and B.C.F.S was the last province that used them and they got rid of them in 2005. Just with our fuel there is no point we would almost everytime have direct flame if we were to deploy. thanks for all your videos love watching.
Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be a firefighter and as of last week I officially am one. I've only been on 6-7 calls but I now know this is why I was put in this earth.
Hey Cody don't know how often you do it, but I would not keep the chem lights around for a long time, get new ones when you can. When I was in the military sometimes they won't glow as bright if they get old. Love your shows.
I really like this new guy, not that your voice isn't great Mr. Wranglerstar, but some variety never hurts. He was awesome in the ax review video as well. Sure would like to know more about him.
Awesome video Wranglerstar.... like you said I am a wildland fire fighter from Australia and I would never carry a fire shelter. 90% of our work is done nea our trucks or on the urban interface all our trucks are fitted with spray bars and fire blankets there are some really cool videos on youtube showing their use thankfully I have never had to deploy our sprayers on the fire line.
I never get tired hearing of how people load out their packs, no two ever seem totally alike. I liked seeing the differences between Alan and Cody's loadouts and reasons why they built their packs that way. As a structural guy, I don't have any illusions about being a wildland firefighter, even though our department is good about sending us to more NWCG classes than the 130/190 that some departments stop at. We just don't have the experience to back up the training since most of our incidents are so infrequent and of short duration. I've deployed to a single state-wide incident in my career back in 2011, and that was as part of a Structural task force. Since our focus in on first response to IA incidents with Type 5 engines, our choices are a little different. We carry front mounted shelter packs on our Type 5, and carry our personal equipment and PPE in line packs on our Structural Engine while on duty. Accordingly, the large compartment of my line pack contains my Wildland PPE as well as a change of dry clothing.
Cody I use the same bottles as you do, but last year on 3 different fires I found the lids were coming loose just as the day went on and I would start leaking water. I now use a ittle electrical tape to tape the cap on until I need to use it. Have you had this issue?
+Wranglerstar I HEARD THAT!!! SEE?!?! "Caps come loose..." , "Not as durable....", "Can't refill easily and quickly...", "No attached cap to attach with carabiner...." "No fashion colors...." I rest my case.
i like the video so far but for i forget camelback makes a flow meter to keep track of how much you drink(i have never used it just know they make it)and i so use a shut off valve for my mouth piece so i can never leak. thank you
![21 DAY SURVIVAL BAG [UNBOXING]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ni9CM1T0SbY/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey guys. I am a contract faller (retired full time FF) so my line gear is a bit different. I have to carry wedges and a light weight nylon belt and nylon wedge pouch since my Nomex pants have unusable back pockets. In addition I carry my saw stuff and an extra 36" chain. I also carry two water bottles and two fuel bottles and chaps on top my pack. Like you two, most of my water is in a bladder. I ALWAYS carry toilet paper and Ibuprofen and some sort of electrolyte powder and power bars. My war bag half filled up with baby wipes. And Ibuprofen. God bless the man that invented the shower trailer.
+prescribedfire1953 Here is the real deal,
@@wranglerstar what about canned food?
Hey Cody: tell your buddy he can order the mini tabasco bottles through amazon. That's where i got mine and i added them to my kit
+Daniel Soler Looking now. Thanks!
I've watched a lot of EDC/ bugout bag videos, and it's always one guy showing his gear without much explanation. I love the concept of gear comparison, where you can banter back and forth justifying or discriminating against certain selections/choices/logic Etc. And when you're surprised you have some of the same stuff, it means so much more.
I love how Allen raise is eyebrows when you mention the metric system.
wow. keep alan around. he's a great guy and I love watching him
Likewise
I really like the new Cody & Alan Show
Go Bears !
+8RedBear5 ???almost like the American version of The Red Green Show???
me too
+Barry Girky Not enough duck-tape.
PyroShim why need duct tape when you have the osis survival kit
Cody: Could you give your guest a proper introduction please? He has been in the last few videos and I still don't really know who he is. I don't mind it. I just want to know who he is.
+Cabin Creek Seconded.
That's Allen, the neighbor that house sits I believe! Although I do agree and love the videos with him in it
+Gregory Steele Alan
I basically never post comments here, but I decided to today to share the same comment and was surprised t find these other comments sharing my thoughts.
He is a pleasant addition, but I share the thought that it would have been nice to be introduced.
It would also perhaps give him some form of credibility as well.
For now he's just some guy that has all of a sudden just appeared out of nowhere.
Isn't he the Uber driver from a while back? :)
suggestion: get a neoprene tube insulator for your hydration packs. the uninsulated tubes act like a solar collector and heat up your water. the insulators really help keep your water cool.
I also suggest tying a piece of paracord around your chem lights. then you have it handy to tie onto the light and swing it in a circle. you can take that little chem light and make a 6 to 8 foot circle of light if you twirl it on a string. this is a very effective siglal for aircraft even at a great distance.
+HardWayLearnt Funny you mention that. I have one on my hydration pack, but for some reason +Wranglerstar didn't on his; might be due to it being a replacement hydration pack, or it just didn't come with that model pack. I have been shocked at how well the sleeve helps!
+Alan M. Thornton true. I didn't see it on yours but it probably just blended in. looked like Cody had a camel back bladder. I have found camel back makes the best valves and mouthpieces but their bladders are second to platypus bladders. I mix and match by putting camel back mouthpieces on platypus bladders. nalgene makes great bottles but I hate their bladders... all that to say when I run a truck (SAR not fire) there is no excuse for your water leaking on everyone else's gear. You don't load it if it isn't locked down. :)
I ended up buying the MIL spec camelback unit for my pack for obvious reasons. They are more expensive, but worth it. I am guessing that Wranglerstar has the normal one that most have. Their valves and all are awesome like you said. Platypus does make an awesome bladder: very fast to fill and solid closures.
+HardWayLearnt Waste of money and weight. What you do instead is open it each time after you use it and let the water drain back into the reservoir so it doesn't stay in the tube. Had a friend teach me this in Daytona FL during college nationals where everyone carries around a pack full of alcohol LOL!
Mission accomplished better than insulated tube and it is lighter.
David Bowden "open it each time you use it?" umm that defeats the purpose of wearing a hydration bladder. You can blow air back in to the tube if that is your wish however, the plastic tube still collects solar radiation and converts it quite efficiently into heat that does warm your water. allowing air to fill the bladder can also make it harder to tell how much water you have left in your pack.
You two are great together. A little humor goes a long way to lighten the load.
Really love the detailed explanation of why you carry the items you do, it has shown me items that I could carry in my pack. I just work in the suburbs in a warehouse but still like to be prepared for anything I may need during the day.
Here in Australia we don't carry the fire shelter bc we are always with in 500m of an engine and the engine is build to with stand sitting inside a fire for 24 hours
I wonder what is left of the engine after 24 hours of fire, it would end of life it I guess. shorter periods would it get a refurb?
pros
Rgamer that's cool but even though it may keep a temperature low enough to survive wouldn't all the oxygen around you be burned ?
Robin Pohl this comment would be perfect for Kevin hearts "really" stand up.
We don't carry them here in Canada either. They don't improve chance of survival in an entrapment situation, per statistics. We'd prefer to jump into one of the many water sources throughout our forests.
Cody, the other guy is hilarious! You guys complement each other perfectly. Keep up the good work.
I had my red card back in the 90's when I interned and worked seasonally for the NPS. I never got out to any big western fires but had many friends who did. It was great training and after 20 years I still remember so much. I still keep a perimeter around my property and that was very comforting when we had a large (WNC scale) fire here in the mountains last year that was way too close to the house.
Love your Videos, Keep up the great content!
Thank you for what you do. It takes a lot of dedication and drive to fight wild fires. I was in Glenn wood Springs when Storm King Mtn happened. A very sad time for all of us.
Thank you and God Bless you and your family.
You two are hilarious together, along with being very instructive. The fact that both of you seemed to be on the same wave length as far as having almost the same equipment. Extremely informative. Two coffees next time, one for either of you. As a Canuck long haul trucker, I'd go with a Timmy or two, but they can't be found south of the border. ; ) Keep up the great work!!
I started doing Wildland Firefighting in Ontario Canada and we do not get issued a fire shelter, bc the exact reason that Cody stated it gives people a false sense of security there shouldn’t even be a situation that you need to use one of those if you have your safety zones and escape routes established the main thing we stress over in Canada is safety!! They are just trees at the end of the day the main thing is getting crews safely home.
Your friend helped tie this video together. So much enjoyment watching this. Great job you two.
"There's a ... tremendous philosophy behind this particular hat" "Of course there is, it's you". This is so true ! ^^
Thank you for this very interesting video. I'm soon heading towards Vancouver BC and planning on hiking around and your packs really teach a lot about what one should have (even though yours are especially thought for firefighting).
Nalgene bottles you can mix gatorade in. Which what I used it for in the military.
I have zero knowledge on fire fighting. But I was glued to this video from start to finish. You guys complement each other very well. I enjoyed the video very much
I love the square water bottles, I bought 2 of them for boy scout backpacking. I don't like how hard it is to find them though
Where have you found them to buy ?
I do not work on the fireline however i work out in the woods for the last 4 years. You have convinced me to buy a pair of Whites. Thanks Cody you have taught me so much.
Spare boot laces are fine, but it you carry parracord (which hopefully you are) are shoe laces. Instead of spare laces, carry a mini tube of superglue (appros 1.5 " in length) Simply measure how much cord you need for a lace. Apply an inch dab at the end point. Wait a minute or so for drying, then cut half way between the glue mark. You now have a stiff end to run through the eye of the boot. Superglue has many uses from sealing minor cuts to applying them to the paracord laces.
Leathers us best. Paracord melts
Fantastic dynamic with both of you! Hope you guys do another video together in the future!
Great video. Allen has been a great addition as of late. He helps to share the extra insight. Very interesting to see how experience has helped both of you develop your packs in such a similar fashion. Thanks
little tobasco bottles are in the US Army MRE's for the record. Probably 1/2 - 2/3rds of the meals have them if looking.
JP in JC - They need it!
I've had so many of those LokSak bags fail on me Cody. The black plastic zipper always tears wide open so the thing is completely useless. A working LokSak is way better than a ziplock, which will slowly leak air, but in my experience the ziplocks don't have catastrophic failure near as much.
Cody, someone may have already said it, but Camelback now has a flow meter you can put inline with the tube. They are around $30.00.
Boy Scout leaders often have the same problem with the Camelback, etc. You cannot monitor how much a scout is drinking. When you are responsible for their safety, you need to know they are drinking enough. With these flow meters you can tell how much has been consumed.
When we had fires in the BWCAW a few years back I was ferrying firefighters up to the fire and they were marveling at the novelty of fighting a fire while surrounded by water on all sides.
-Web gear is the term when main compartment is removed
-shelter casing is a must for protecting the shelter
-never and always aren't the right words regarding flat vs terrain. Usually there's terrain
-FS canteen lids fail even though cheap/free and yes aren't BPA free
-reliable carabiner, yes. Rappel use, no. Sling loads are always in a cargo net
-med kits should be external for access and labeled. I have 3 pairs of nitrile gloves since they're durable and sanitary
-Dust masks are great around chippers.
-Sportiva de-lam yes, Scarpa improved glue and best grade Vibram rubber. Ironically mentioned when discussing field repairing traditional boots.
-signal mirror is better accessed from radio harness
-Gold Bond ok (arguably carcinogenic) vitamin A&D+ zinc ointment is better.
Loved that you had a "co-host" and loved this video. Your show has helped our family start on a self-sufficient lifestyle. Thanks for your vidoes.
I like to use first aid dry bags over Aloksaks after trying both. They are just more durable and its easier for me to pull the contents out and put them back in. They do come pre-marked first aid and in bright colors, usually red or green. Or you could just grab a regular dry bag and make do.
Great video guys!. About the fire shelter, if you have to use it, someone has made a major mistake, and things can't get any worse. The shelters we use in the Florida forest service are 10 pounds.
Package Tabasco can be found in in restaurant supply store or check with a local eatery and see if they can get you a box. You will have plenty to share.
Lost 19 of our HotShots at one time here in Arizona. Winds shifted and they were absolutely trapped. They deployed their shelters, but unfortunately the fire was too hot. Be safe and smart out there guys/gals. Lots of respect to you all...
What kind of jacket is your friend sporting Cody? I’d like to buy one.
I love this dude. No idea who he is...
Have you ever consider using Smart water bottles? They are all the jam on the trails. Most stores carry them and they last same 1 Liter. Also huge fan of the sports top pairs well with sawyer squeeze.
We get firestorms in BC and Alberta . The last one was in Fort McMurray and it turned into a firestorm. So it's mandatory for Canadian Firefighters to have fire shelters.
Try the MSR Dromedary bags.
They're considerably more durable than your usual hydration bladders, can be easily patched, and can be used in multiple configurations.
I've pretty much swapped to those exclusively.
Awesome video concept man! It's always a fun exercise to put these bags together because it gets the gears turning, thinking about future situations.
I cannot see if it has been mentioned but a better option for the hydration tube is to have it running under your arm (no it doesn't chafe and after about 20 minutes you don't notice it) that way the mouth piece is clipped in upright and can often be accessed simply by dipping your mouth down to it.
I learned a lot, I could see this video as one of my must watch for my friends and family. I didn't think of all the things you talked about. Good in depth explanations. Love the pack. You gave me some great ideas !
Alan, find the widest drinking straws you can. Melt one end together, pour in some tabasco and then melt the other end. Should give you some lightweight single shot uses.
+snoopycomputer Interesting idea. I'll try that, thank you Snoopy
Most new MREs will have the supplementary packet with tp, gum, etc. but they will also have tiny bottles of Tabasco, we would always horde them for times they would be like gold.
I don't normally comment but in this case I'm very impressed of your bravery in having a friend. Keep being a man and helping us.
Great video with Alan - always good to see what other fire guys take with them. Thanks for the ideas. Stay safe and God Bless!
You mentiond Gatorade; just thought I'd let you know something
I started getting Powerade instead, because, not only is it cheaper but it has more useful vitamins and minerals in it such as Potassium and whatnot
All things Gatorade is lacking
Fantastic video though
My father is the Battalion-Chief for the Golder Ranch Fire District out here in Arizona; going to send this video to him to see if it would be of any use to the Booters in the Wildland division
A heads up to any other wildland guys. I went to order a new set of Nick's hotshots, before I had my old Whites rebuilt and there is currently a 14 week wait for boots. So any one on a crew in R1 or R4 starting May 15th, you should put your orders in now.....
I love the fact that you guys are collaborating!!
I’m bringing this back! Where can I get some of those water bottles?? The square ones.
Thank you so much!! These videos help me a ton and now I know what to bring! Thank you!
love these videos. I am not wildland certified. I am a volunteer firefighter for structure fires only right now.
don't forget, your hard hat is a great spot to put gear. toilet paper, e clip, spare bar nuts, guitar sting for reaming out drip torches, a bic lighter and a bag of powdered gatorade stay in mine all the time on the line. great vid
STILL the greatest multi part series IN UA-cam history with the greatest intro.
Alan (the guest) has a pleasant, calm voice. He should be a narrator!
This ought to be mandatory training video for newbie woodland firefighters. 👍
Fire shelters haha we call them shake and bake bags in Canada and don't use them setup your safety zones and be proactive those things arent to be relied on. We have a an aerial view though being a helitac crew. Plus we are fighting in boreal forest so lots of water. I carry in my bag: water purification tablets, a first aid kit, gold bond, toilet paper, extra batteries, a survival blanket a headlamp, dry socks, waterproof matches fly repellent, a bug net and sun screen and 8 bottles of water. Being initial attack we only are on a fire typically for a shorter period of time then sustained action. On my person I carry on my chest pack two rolls of flagging, two rolls of electrical tape, a change or radio batteries my radio, a compass and a mora knife. My pockets I carry a camera, gloves and more electrical tape. Different environments for fighting for sure we never fight fire on slopes all flat and usually swamp.
It is amazing how similar people pack their gear. I carry nearly the same gear (minus fuzees and shelter) but about double the water for Australian conditions
They sell packs of the Tabasco Minis in the Tabasco Country Store online and on Amazon. like $13 for a 10pack.
I'm enjoying the two of you doing videos together
I loved this! Just watched all the vids for this. Thanks for all the hard work and time to do this. I feel like I'm in my perfect niche. I have been doing Wildland for about a year now and have a background in camping/backpacking. I was right on point with a lot of things but also learned a few pointers too. Awesome vids. Always enjoy the Wildland videos and the mentoring you provide. Thanks fellas!
the eternal debate between wide mouth and narrow mouth bottles... I'm on the wide mouth side for that one, my reasoning comes from wild/stealth camping not from wildland or whatever like that but, here's my reason, they fit (screw on) on a water purifying manual pump and, I don't mind having one bottle less and carry the pump (even if I never had to get rid of a bottle to bring the pump and probably never will have to) also, if you get the fancy ones, at night you can put warm water in throw it in the sleeping bag and have a really really warm night (way better than taking rocks by the fire plus you have water in the morning)
+christopher bacon Smart man.
+Alan M. Thornton thanks but, it's not an original idea, I have to give credit to the smart people with a lot more experience than I do who took the time to teach me their camping tricks
Same principals apply for wilderness SAR. So many team members dont show up prepared for an overnight stay. There is not always hot coffee and donuts at the rally point. LOL
Thanks for your service too the both of you thats hard work and life threatening.
Hi Cody, I was curious, but then pleased to see your opinion on the fire-shelter. I am an Australian forest firefighter, and as you say we don't use them. For exactly the reasons you stated! You should not get yourself into that situation, and the shelter will give a false sense of security! Enjoyed the vid, cheers
Thanks to the guy with the John Deere cap and to your friend for this very interesting documentation.
#1 Item- is a reflective object generally a small mirror a CD etc.
I've punched small holes in the side of my camelback with metal grommets inside them . going up in 1 inch increments . It doesn't compromise the bag that much, plus you can use them for tying things off and it makes it only a quick glance to check H2o levels
Really like the setup of both of you! It's especially interesting because I am not very familiar with wild firefighting in general. However, I can provide one tip from my own experience. You both use Gorilla tape which is interesting, however Gorilla tape, in my experience is simply slightly glorified duct tape. I'm not sure if you feel the same way, but I would recommend possibly making a switch to a PVC tape such as PASCO pipe wrap which is overall a much more durable and versatile adhesive in comparison to cloth tapes like Gorilla tape. Love the videos! Good luck!
Hi Wranglerstar, I did wildland fire for many years. Been retired since 2013. I agree with you about fire shelters. I would never trust my life to one. They get bigger and bulkier every year. Good video.
I am a firefighter and I understand the packs and there is a reason for everything you put in it. Granted you have to tailor you pack to your situation, but could you put the pack itself and some more of the other little goodies on the webstore? In the past I have just used a old bookbag from school (Not for firefighting) just as a grab and go type of pack but I need to start over. It is nice to see some of the reasons why you have your bags laid out the way you do. It comes from experience as well as trial and error so this gives insight and gives some with not as much experience a head start, so for that I thank you.
Cody is a master "one-upper". Alan was cool as a cucumber.
This is amazing Cody! This is one of my favorite vidoes of yours. Humorous and good information to know!!!
Cody, having Alan in this video really boosted the fun factor...was very interesting to watch. loved it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this...and learned quite a bit. Thank you. And please, let me add..."boys and their toys..., er, um, tools". So thankful for heroes...and both of you are....
i would go more for an army style modular molle rigged vest style for more modification and some adaptability.
there are so many different types of pockets for molle vests and of course that stuff is made to last some action!
Thank you for another enjoyable video, it was entertaining and educational, plenty of laughter,made a good team, also learnt a lot as well that might come in handy some time, all the best William
Great vid. Heaps of differences to hear in Australia. Your thinking on the shake n bake is spot on - we don’t use them with the idea being if you need to deploy it, you are in the wrong spot in the first place, dont put yourself there. Also “ there are no wildland fires on flat ground”, so true 🤣
Really enjoying the commradery of the two of you!
I'm really enjoying the videos with both of you. May I suggest an introduction video for Alan with info about who he is and what he has done and is doing now. Thanks and I'm looking forward to the next video with the two of you. You both work well together and are having fun.
I secon, third and forth this comment. It would Be a great courtesy to all of us
I know the struggle in regards to the round water bottle thanks for sharing your solution
We dont use fire shelters in Canada anymore either. I work in B.C. and B.C.F.S was the last province that used them and they got rid of them in 2005. Just with our fuel there is no point we would almost everytime have direct flame if we were to deploy. thanks for all your videos love watching.
You should carry a fix played with the fire steel and is in a Mylar blanket you should also check out the wildland fire first aid kit
When you are editing the price part out, you might want to consider changing from the dreaded litre measurements.
Great video guys. Will use some of your ideas for my families camping gear.
Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be a firefighter and as of last week I officially am one. I've only been on 6-7 calls but I now know this is why I was put in this earth.
+USMC1345VET congrats!
Commenting for activity on the channel, I watch these videos before every fire as a checklist. The John Deere hat approach is definitely a real thing.
Hey Cody don't know how often you do it, but I would not keep the chem lights around for a long time, get new ones when you can. When I was in the military sometimes they won't glow as bright if they get old. Love your shows.
LOL! "...we can edit that out" (price on water bottles comparison) Great video. Very interesting and educational. Good stuff!
I really like this new guy, not that your voice isn't great Mr. Wranglerstar, but some variety never hurts. He was awesome in the ax review video as well. Sure would like to know more about him.
when Rhett & Link are older & into camping
Awesome video Wranglerstar.... like you said I am a wildland fire fighter from Australia and I would never carry a fire shelter. 90% of our work is done nea our trucks or on the urban interface all our trucks are fitted with spray bars and fire blankets there are some really cool videos on youtube showing their use thankfully I have never had to deploy our sprayers on the fire line.
I never get tired hearing of how people load out their packs, no two ever seem totally alike. I liked seeing the differences between Alan and Cody's loadouts and reasons why they built their packs that way.
As a structural guy, I don't have any illusions about being a wildland firefighter, even though our department is good about sending us to more NWCG classes than the 130/190 that some departments stop at. We just don't have the experience to back up the training since most of our incidents are so infrequent and of short duration. I've deployed to a single state-wide incident in my career back in 2011, and that was as part of a Structural task force.
Since our focus in on first response to IA incidents with Type 5 engines, our choices are a little different. We carry front mounted shelter packs on our Type 5, and carry our personal equipment and PPE in line packs on our Structural Engine while on duty. Accordingly, the large compartment of my line pack contains my Wildland PPE as well as a change of dry clothing.
I very much liked this series of videos and the insight into the world of wild land firefighting I knew nothing of.
Cody I use the same bottles as you do, but last year on 3 different fires I found the lids were coming loose just as the day went on and I would start leaking water. I now use a ittle electrical tape to tape the cap on until I need to use it. Have you had this issue?
Don't tell Alan,
+Wranglerstar i do want to thank you on the video. Some good ideas to add to my kit.
+Wranglerstar will there be a part 2 on it for the outer outer bag?
+Rayce Wood yes
+Wranglerstar I HEARD THAT!!! SEE?!?!
"Caps come loose..." , "Not as durable....", "Can't refill easily and quickly...", "No attached cap to attach with carabiner...." "No fashion colors...."
I rest my case.
i like the video so far but for i forget camelback makes a flow meter to keep track of how much you drink(i have never used it just know they make it)and i so use a shut off valve for my mouth piece so i can never leak. thank you
Very nice video, thanks for showing the equipment. Greetings Sebastian from Germany
Is a sliver the same as a wood splinter? That's what we call them in the UK.
TheSvenVids yes
Nice Expedition Overland hat. I love that channel!
+Brett Bjorgum One of my fav channels as well. Great group of explorers. Learned a lot from them
Brett Bjorgu
CODY I'm not sure if you would like it, however camelbak make a flow meter which tells you how much you have left in your camelbak bladder