A bug out bags purpose?

Roger that. I tell ya what, you bring your trash bag with leaves and I will bring my sleeping bag. He who doesn't freeze...wins...hahaha
 
pict said:
I translated an intresting passage from a book I read here titled “Abusado” (abused), the life story of a Rio drug dealer/criminal. If anyone had the need for a bug-out-bag it was this guy. His life was punctuated by attacks from the police and rival gangs. Even in his own home turf he had to constantly move around.

This guy is no hero or anything and a lot of his tactics lacked refinement. Everything he did he learned “on-the-job”. I just thought some of you would be interested in the contents of his BOB.

“He only slept dressed and with his shoes on, ready to run out into the street at any moment… even sleeping he was never separated from his canvas backpack that held things he considered inseparable: some used candles, lighter, folding knife, small flashlight, two books, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, a notebook, pens, a small bible, ceramic images of a few Catholic Saints, hand grenades, two boxes of pistol ammunition, and a spare magazine for Jovelina (his AK-47). There was also a compartment in the backpack full of food, salami, goiabada (sweet, thick fruit preserve), vanilla cookies, and vitamin C, which he liked to take when he awoke just before noon.”

From the rest of the text it is clear that he always had a handgun or two and a cell phone on his person. Hand grenades, what BOB is complete without a few?

Hiding is boring and you get dirty, hence the books, notebook, pens, toothpaste and soap. It also looks like he was quite spiritual, he was no Christian Warrior though. The bible was carried more as a spiritual good luck charm than a guide for living. These guys would pray for safety before committing robberies, murder etc.

Sophisticated or not his BOB saw a lot of use and got stripped down to the bare essentials. Mac
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Mac,
You know, I keep coming back to this thread. I think you summarized this whole guy's life when you wrote, "Hiding is boring and you get dirty, hence the books, notebook, pens, toothpaste and soap." Good stuff. You could say the same thing about survival in general, I guess. It's not glamorous or even "fun" in any sense of the world. It's, at best, boring and dirty.
 
forcedestrike said:
Yes I have, however I don't live in a harsh climate, mild weather even at night and as such I built *my* bug out bag based on my needs- obviously if I lived in Alaska my BOB would change somewhat. :P
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Ah, then writing off the opinions of those who don't live in such places is a bit short sighted, isn't it? If I lived in a place where trash bags would fit every need, that's what I would carry.

But I don't.

Could not agree with you more, but equipment is worthless if you don't have the knowledge to use it or a good understanding of your terrain. :)
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Indeed. So an axe is essential in my part of the world, and I will use my rifle an ammo to get even better goodies from those who have them that I disagree with, or protect my own from those who want mine or the shelter I have, or to kill and eat some food. So once again, my BoB includes that which yours does not.

Preparation involves actually experimenting with what you have, knowing your equipments limitations and what you can do with it.
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And around here your kit would leave you in bad shape in the winter. So perhaps a preface to your post could include location and temperature.
 
Ah, then writing off the opinions of those who don't live in such places is a bit short sighted, isn't it? If I lived in a place where trash bags would fit every need, that's what I would carry.

But I don't.
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I made it clear that this was my bug out bag from the very beginning ;)
My original question was;

"What do you think? Obviously I based my bug out bag on my own definition of a bug out bag, that being said I wonder who else goes for the "trimmed" BOB?"



Indeed. So an axe is essential in my part of the world, and I will use my rifle an ammo to get even better goodies from those who have them that I disagree with, or protect my own from those who want mine or the shelter I have, or to kill and eat some food. So once again, my BoB includes that which yours does not.
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My post was about trim and light bug out bags- you can survive without an axe or rifle-

I am not saying that your BoB is wrong but its not really my original question, this is not about the ideal bug out bag but lightweight ones and ultimately what you really need to survive.

And around here your kit would leave you in bad shape in the winter. So perhaps a preface to your post could include location and temperature.
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But I could survive, again read my original post and get what I am trying to say!

The purpose was to have as little as possible. Not to make it easy or comfortable.

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/snow-trench-shelter/

http://www.theozarks.com/SleepOut.htm -in that case jacket on the "bed" with padded garbage bags on top of you.
 
I sure hope people don't take your posts as authortative cause the stuff you're writing is going to get somebody killed. Case in point. You can't even keep things straight in a single post. First you say this...


forcedestrike said:
I made it clear that this was my bug out bag from the very beginning
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And then you said this...


this is not about the ideal bug out bag but lightweight ones and ultimately what you really need to survive.
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So which is it. Are we talking about your bag, or bags in general. There are plenty of places that if you don't have a bag you will die, and it doesn't even have to be the dead of winter either.

Furthermore your logic is bassackwards. Statements like

you think walking around with a fully loaded pack & Rifle looking like a hardcore survivalist wont get you unwanted attention from sheeple, criminals and the "authority" ?
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...have no bearing in logic. Perps go for the easy kill. They aren't going to waste their time fighting the guy with the rifle when they can go after the guy who doesn't have one.


But I could survive, again read my original post and get what I am trying to say!
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Have you ever been to America? Ever gone camping here. If not, how the hell would you have any idea what you need.
 
Why is an axe such a big deal? Even my "trimmed" BoB has an axe and a gun. And a space bag. It also has a large garbage bag, but those don't reflect heat as well. It's not a question of comfort, but performance.

I CAN survive with a knife and firesteel. The question is, why would I WANT to if I can make it easier on myself?
 
Robert H said:
Why is an axe such a big deal?

I CAN survive with a knife and firesteel. The question is, why would I WANT to if I can make it easier on myself?
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Amen Robert!

One can (if properly trained) survive in the wild with just a knife...but with an ax and a long gun I can live like a King!

In our part of the wilderness we have numerious two and four legged preditors - in no particular order they are cougar, black bear, people cooking meth, gangs stripping cars, poachers hunting for profit, and those illegally harvesting grass (both Mary Jane and Bear Grass). That is not to mention on the West Coast we have one of the highest populations of fugitives (lots of places for them to hide!)

Therefore I don't leave the house without at least a small ax and a long gun everywhere I go. Until the day someone can reliablity predict within 100% certainity the time and place when something bad will happen providing me with adequate advance warning...then on that day I'll consider leaving my ax and long gun at home.

You might say "you must be paranoid!" I say; I'm got nothing to be paranoid about because I'm the one with an ax and a long gun :thumbup:
 
For us there's a gradation. We have "ditch bags" of various types for various scenarios. They run from super light shoulder bag stuff to loaded homesteading bike trailers.

I've posted pictures of what I take along with me daily, and it pretty much qualifies as a BOB except for food. (my first aid kit contains enough iodine for several gallons of water, too. And since I use it for first aid it gets cycled). My wife rides 12 miles each way on a bike through farmland to do school. She has what she needs if she gets stranded. Even overnight. Just in EDC stuff.

I have a family, and much of our planning is different due to that. the 1.5KG first aid kit IS in our main ditch bag level. But it makes sense.

I don't carry a handgun. We have firearms, bows, slingshots and airguns. If the goal is food procurement, we're well set up. If the goal is self defense, I'd rather use the carbine anyhow. FWIW, not that I count on it, but I think the deterrent factor of a semi auto rifle is much greater than a handgun.

But what is bugging out? I go over this a lot, since my views don't seem to follow common molds. We live in a city, but I'm less than 2 miles from serious farmland. Also less than 2 miles from protected waterways. I don't HAVE to escape from Manhattan or Dallas, or thank-ghu from LA.

Bugging out means that the semi-suburban aggie college town we are in isn't sustainable for some reason, for an indefinite period of time. Which means I leave, with toddler, boy child, wife- and probably with some others we have plans with.

Our bug out location is higly variable, with all sorts of plans for directions to head depending on situations. Fire is by far the easiest- car as possible, bike after. head away from fire. But that'sa not an end of anything scenario (except maybe my knife shop burns down)- we head south to realtives, north to relatives, or east to relatives. (70 miles west in the Pacific, and no relatives)

Earthquake? Depends on damage. We're actually pretty well set up to ride it out if the house is standing. If we need to leave, again, it's car and bike, hiking if we have to. But it's not going to be with a 15 pound ruck. Not with kids.

EOTWAWKI? dude. far and fast. run the car empty, and start biking. or walking. We can be leaded up inside of 20 minutes and will undoubtedly forget crap, but there's real places to go from here, and good routes off the highways and even off the public roads.

But the primary family level ditch bag setup is a frame pack for me, for the wife, a small ruck for Leif, and two full bike trailers of gear as add ons.

Okay, all good, but what if I'm alone? well, my EDC is enough for me to happily get by for days, possbly weeks with foraging. Seriously- when I work outside of the knife shop I'm working outside, and sometimes overnight in remote locations. I'm pretty well set up. I'd rather have my hammock and mummy sack, but I'll live with plastic sheeting and emergency blankets.

I know, it sounds boastful, but foraging is cake around here. All year round. Glories of northern CA ag lands. There's feral "everything in safeway" growing around here, bearing trees like you wouldn't believe, and easy mushrooming in season. Hell, even the hackberry trees have edible fruit.
 
I sure hope people don't take your posts as authortative cause the stuff you're writing is going to get somebody killed. Case in point. You can't even keep things straight in a single post. First you say this...




And then you said this...
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Yes, it is MY bug out bag- I choose to go light- that does not mean it is ideal based on what you deem to be necessary-

I stick to the bare basics and as stated multiple times:

"I go for speed and lightness instead of comfort- individuals will balance between comfort and lightness as they see fit."



So which is it. Are we talking about your bag, or bags in general. There are plenty of places that if you don't have a bag you will die, and it doesn't even have to be the dead of winter either.
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What are you talking about? When did I suggest not having a bag?
Furthermore your logic is bassackwards. Statements like



...have no bearing in logic. Perps go for the easy kill. They aren't going to waste their time fighting the guy with the rifle when they can go after the guy who doesn't have one.
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:jerkit: Read my post again and put them in context. I choose to stick to a handgun because I want to blend in as I bug out.

Edit: ...and this suits my needs and my environment-



Have you ever been to America? Ever gone camping here. If not, how the hell would you have any idea what you need.
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Seriously???

Never been to Siberia yet I know its cold. :rolleyes:

To answer your questions' I have camped in the Swiss Alps, northern Turkey (if you don't like dogs don't go there :mad: ) All over France, parts of Scotland and South of UK.

Apart from Alaska I have most of America covered based on climate and terrain-

I am tired of repeating the same thing over and over again, its like I am attacking your religion or something- I ask if anyone goes light with bug out bags, people ask questions.. I answer and give my reasoning in the process.

10 minutes later theres a lynch mob? wtf.

You do what you want to do, The beauty of being human is that we have free will. I prefer cutting back and you want comfort and ease. And thats fine.
 
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There is nothing wrong with making it easy on yourself as I have stated before on multiple occasions.

Why do we spend hundreds of dollars on a blade when we could spend 50$ and get a KA-BAR Bowie?

Why have a bug out bag in the first place?

Why not just a camper van- that makes things easier, gives you flexibility and you can choose your own bug out location.

I choose to go with the bare minimum for a number of reasons,

1) I like knowing that I can survive with practically nothing.

2) It gives me a sense of pride when I go hiking and build my own shelter instead of just pulling up a tent.

3) Not depending on man made tools I depend more on my enviroment. This knowledge stays with me forever.

4) because I can. ;)

Robert H said:
Why is an axe such a big deal? Even my "trimmed" BoB has an axe and a gun. And a space bag. It also has a large garbage bag, but those don't reflect heat as well. It's not a question of comfort, but performance.

I CAN survive with a knife and firesteel. The question is, why would I WANT to if I can make it easier on myself?
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Some interesting stuff, if I have a family with dependents then your BoB has to change for third party needs which you have to take into consideration when you plan.

In a EOTWAWKI situation what sort of area would you bug out to? Easier to hide? Easier to forage for food? Best for shelter? Best climate?
 
forcedestrike said:
Some interesting stuff, if I have a family with dependents then your BoB has to change for third party needs which you have to take into consideration when you plan.

In a EOTWAWKI situation what sort of area would you bug out to? Easier to hide? Easier to forage for food? Best for shelter? Best climate?
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Well, I hate to say "that depends" but it does. Most probably we'd head northwest into the coastal ranges. We know the foraging, shelter isn't too difficult, hiding depends a lot on what type of scanerio and how many people we have.
 
Makes sense,

Ok hows this for a scenario-

Alien invade- all major cities world wide are knocked out, the emergency and military infrastructure is a mess and people are panicking- aliens are poised to begin an outright invasion.

What do you do? :P
 
turn the TV off and go to bed I've obviously been watching some shite re-run of independence day.

Seriously your scenario happens and we're F#©&ed! We are struggling to solve our fuel and power needs, we are only able to land on the very nearest planet closest to us, you think we've got Buckley's chance against an alien race that has blown up all major world wide cities and are ready for the outright invasion.

Are you sure you're in the right forum dude? Sorry you just lost me when you mentioned aliens...

BTW no insult intended, lets just get a little realistic about this.
 
forcedestrike said:
Makes sense,

Ok hows this for a scenario-

Alien invade- all major cities world wide are knocked out, the emergency and military infrastructure is a mess and people are panicking- aliens are poised to begin an outright invasion.

What do you do? :P
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Ya'll so funny! :P
 
No, first know your emeny.... do their heads explode when they are subjected to certain sound frequencies? What exactly do they mean when they say "Ack...ackackack"? Are they edible? Do they taze well, bro?

3142d11.jpg
:thumbup:
 
forcedestrike said:
What are you talking about? When did I suggest not having a bag?
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In your original post. Wait. Was that a trick question?

forcedestrike said:
I am tired of repeating the same thing over and over again, its like I am attacking your religion or something- I ask if anyone goes light with bug out bags, people ask questions.. I answer and give my reasoning in the process.

10 minutes later theres a lynch mob? wtf.
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WTF? Really? How 'bout this gem.
forcedestrike said:
Before I write the IDEAL bug out bag I will write what YOU don’t need:
(caps are mine)
* A 2kgs fully loaded medical kit.
* A tent.
* A sleeping bag.
* 500 rounds of ammunition.
* An axe.
* Camp stove.
* A rifle.
* A platoon of soldiers.
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I can't imagine what would upset anyone about that comment. Ideal BOB? What I don't need according to YOU? Why would anyone question the obvious brilliance of your non-arrogant completely objective and otherwise omniscient non-bloviations? Ahm just a dumb 'merican. Ah don't know how to do nothing but pollute the air and eat too much. Thank goodness I've got you to straighten me out.

Dude, you SO need to reread your posts.
 
LittleHairyApe said:
In your original post. Wait. Was that a trick question?



WTF? Really? How 'bout this gem.


I can't imagine what would upset anyone about that comment. Ideal BOB? What I don't need according to YOU? Why would anyone question the obvious brilliance of your non-arrogant completely objective and otherwise omniscient non-bloviations? Ahm just a dumb 'merican. Ah don't know how to do nothing but pollute the air and eat too much. Thank goodness I've got you to straighten me out.

Dude, you SO need to reread your posts.
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Both of you need to lighten up or I am closing this thread.

Forcedstrike, welcome to the Wilderness Forum. Be sure not to wear our your welcome. Relax. Enjoy.

I will only say this once: Don't waste everyone else's time with stupid arguments.
 
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