so ive been meaning to do this for like two years and after last months storm knocked out power for three days i figured i really need to stop procrastinating on this. i put together what i think is a decent go-kit but i have this nagging feeling im forgetting something obvious.

right now ive got my FT-891 in a pelican case, a 40ah lithium battery, a basic dipole i can throw up in a tree, and a bunch of coax. also threw in my logging stuff and a laminated copy of local repeater freqs and the ARES nets in my area. oh and a hand crank weather radio because my wife insisted and honestly shes probably right about that.

i guess my question is — people who have actually deployed with this stuff, what do you wish you had brought that you didnt, or what seemed important at home but was totally useless in the field. im trying to keep the kit under 50 lbs because i might be the only one hauling it.

the thing that got me the first time i deployed was not having a way to charge the battery if the situation went on longer than expected. you've got a 40ah pack which is solid, but if you're running HF for a few days that goes fast. a small folding solar panel takes up almost no room and has saved me more than once. even a 50 watt panel folded up in a bag is enough to keep you topped off during daylight.

also — and this sounds dumb but trust me — bring more pens and notepads than you think you need. like way more. ICS forms, message traffic logs, random notes to yourself. you will go through them faster than you expect especially if you end up supporting an actual served agency and their paperwork needs. i've shown up with what i thought was plenty and been scrounging paper from a church secretary by day two.

your kit actually sounds pretty well thought out honestly, the dipole is smart, a lot of guys show up with just an HT and wonder why they cant reach anybody useful.

food and water lol. not even kidding, when i did my first actual activation i was so focused on the radio stuff that i didnt eat anything until like 7pm and i was completely useless by then. your brain does not work right when you're hungry and running on adrenaline. just throw some granola bars and a water bottle in there, future you will be grateful.

also headlamp with fresh batteries. separate from whatever batteries you have for the radio gear. i kno it seems obvious but its the kind of thing that lives in a drawer and has dead batteries half the time.