So ive been meaning to do this for like two years and I finally sat down last weekend and started actually building out a go-kit instead of just thinking about it. Got a Pelican 1510 case, threw in my FT-857D, a SignaLink for digital, and I've got a little power distribution block in there with anderson powerpole connectors throughout. Packed a coil of RG-8X, my buddipole, and a spare mic.

Here's the thing though — I feel like im forgetting something obvious. Like every time I think I have it dialed in I remember something else. Last week I realized I hadnt included any logging supplies, not even a notepad. So now theres a waterproof notebook and a couple pens rubber banded to the inside lid.

What did you guys find you kept forgetting or wishing you had when you actually deployed? Especially curious if anyone does ARES or SKYWARN activations regularly and what your kit looks like after a few real deployments vs what you thought you needed when you first built it.

The thing that bit me on my first real deployment was power. I had the radio, I had the battery, but I didn't have a way to charge the battery once it ran down and we ended up being out there a lot longer than anyone expected. Now I keep a small folding solar panel strapped to the outside of my kit and a decent PWM charge controller zip-tied inside. Not glamorous but it's saved me twice.

Also — headlamp. Sounds dumb but if you're operating at night or in a building with no power you'll be very glad you have it. And spare batteries for the headlamp. I also toss in a cheap handheld weather radio just in case I need situational awareness without tying up my main rig. After about four or five ARES activations my kit is completely different from what I started with, honestly half the original stuff got pulled out and replaced with more practical stuff.

antenna feedline adapters — I always forget those and then show up somewhere and the connector situation is a mess. like a little ziplock bag with a few pl-259 to SO-239, maybe a BNC adapter or two. also if your buddy pole needs specific tools to assemble make sure those are actually in the kit and not sitting on your workbench at home lol

oh and snacks. seriously. I know that sounds off topic but I went on a 6 hour deployment once and didn't eat anything and by hour four I was pretty useless