Homeless Gear (Part 1)

Let’s get our gear on…

As a general rule never carry more than you can comfortably pack for 10 miles. There are two exceptions to this rule...

·         Moving. your camp

·         Emergency situations

Your gear should be of good quality, nothing trendy, because trendy is usually overpriced garbage with a name or logo on it.

 Remember ADDUP

   Affordability

   Dependability

   Durability

   Utility

   Portability

 Now, let's roll out our gear...

1. Backpack

The keys here are comfort and utility.  I use a Deuter 60+10, this is an expensive pack and is not suitable for most homeless budgets. However; if you come across one you will find its versatility unequaled. Your backpack is your single most important tool, because it will be the holder of most of your other important tools.

2. Flashlight

You're flashlight is your second most important piece of equipment. Never lose, loan, or abuse your flashlight. I prefer a Mini-Maglite. It's small, but not too small. Uses AA batteries, which are common and inexpensive.

3. Sleeping Bag

A military down mummy bag is the best for durability, comfort, and portability. If you can't come across one of these beauties, use two cheapo sleeping bags and place one inside the other.

4. Multi-tool

The Leatherman Super Tool is ideal but pricey at around $75.00. Gerber makes a model called Suspension which is affordably priced around $35.00 and very high quality. There are a lot of cheap multi-tool knock-offs available, but most are of remarkably poor quality. Use what you have, but trade up to something you can depend on at your first opportunity.

5. Tarps/Plastic Sheeting

Properly utilized these items are life savers. Tarps/Plastic Sheeting can become a tent, ground cover, wind break, and water catch. Plastic sheeting in 6 Mil (.006 Inch) thickness can be obtained from construction site dumpsters and is very durable material. Anything thinner will not hold up well under homeless conditions. I will discuss shelter design and how to build a water catch in a later post.

6. Android Phone

This is your alarm clock, scheduler, internet connection, camera, notepad, entertainment center, GPS, and believe it or not it can even function as a phone. Weird, right? Cheap models like the Android Optimus Logic cost around $40.00 and available at your local grocery market, convenience store, or electronics store.  Keep it in a zip lock baggie to protect it from the elements. However; if your phone comes in contact with moisture, DO NOT TURN IT ON!  If it was on, RIP THE BATTERY, MICRO-SD, AND SIM CARDS OUT IMMEADIATLY! Dry off any remaining moisture from the phone, cards, and battery with a paper towel or a restroom hand drier. Then place the phone, cards, and battery in a zip lock baggie and fill the baggie with uncooked rice. The rice will absorb the remaining moisture. Leave all parts in the baggie with the uncooked rice for 24 hours. If you do not wait the full 24 hours because you're too impatient to wait to check if it still works, you will fry your motherboard and it definitely will not work.  Follow these simple directions and your chances are fair to good that you can resurrect your phone. Obviously, the best option is to protect your phone from getting wet in the first place.

Why don't I recommend the free phones from DSHS with the 250 free minutes/ 250 free text messages per month? Well, because they are garbage. Straight up, unabashed garbino! Rather than providing you all the wonderful utility a $40 Android will provide, the "Obama phone" will provide you with endless hours of frustration from failure to charge, power up, or make a call.   

We'll cover more gear in the next post. Until then, I love you all very much and so does our awesome God. 

If you must be homeless... be homeless well.