bug out bag. are you serious about it?

I'd say i take it pretty seriously. I have 4 of these bags... all with slightly different, but essentially the same, stuff.

Here's my Go-bag... everything should be visible. 10 day supply of food, fire steel, 3 lighters, survival guide, string, para-cord, 3 different purpose knives, multitool, Head-Lamp flashlight, hand powered flashlight/radio, mess kit for cooking/boiling water, Water storage bag, waterproof storage for matches, lighters and fire steel, mylar blanket, signaling mirror, frog/fish spear head, and 80 foot of coiled wire.... best i can figure, this kit is sufficient to keep me alive in the woods (uncomfortably) indefinitely.

This kit does not shoe my firearms. I will be armed with a BARE MINIMUM of a Glock 22 (.40 cal) and a Browning .308 rifle with 100 rounds each. Depending on the situation, i have heavier firearms avaliable.

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I'd DEFINITELY prefer to "Bug In" as i have a 6 month supply of food, a solar panel rig, and a much better set of gear than i could easily carry, but if time comes to head for the hills, i'm ready

those of you who have bug out bags, do you live in a place where shit might happen? if not, why have one?
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EVERY place is a place "shit might happen. If you don't believe that, go look up earthquakes, riots, terrorism, and hurricanes, and tell me the "type of place" where nothing happens...

I am not preparing for what i expect WILL happen, i'm preparing for the stuff i'll never see coming until it's too late to prepare.

Paranoia is a survival trait.
 
Building a basic bug out bag isn't particularly expensive or time consuming. Keep it in your car and you're covered for everything from the mundane (somebody needs a band-aid) to the fantastic (mutant aliens attack your town/city.)

Cost-benefit analysis puts this into the "better to have and not need than need and not have" category for me. As always, YMMV.
 
I Live in a place where no one has flat tires. Those of you who have spare tires, do you live in a place that has flat tires? If not why have a spare tire?
 
Henry44 said:
I Live in a place where no one has flat tires. Those of you who have spare tires, do you live in a place that has flat tires? If not why have a spare tire?
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Love it. Great point.

I just removed my spare tire from both cars and made some extra room for DVDs and candy. Sweet.

Wait a second, I missed something...
 
CubistHamster said:
Building a basic bug out bag isn't particularly expensive or time consuming. Keep it in your car and you're covered for everything from the mundane (somebody needs a band-aid) to the fantastic (mutant aliens attack your town/city.)

Cost-benefit analysis puts this into the "better to have and not need than need and not have" category for me. As always, YMMV.
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I suspect that most of us already have a BOB at hand, whether we think of it as that or not. In our society, most of the key components are carried in your wallet, which may be all that you need to move you from the point of impact to a safer destination. We can always add in a few knives, guns and tools and some comfort food, water and fuel as needed. It doesn't all need to be crammed into a funny little bag to qualify as a BOB kit. Personally, my first instinct is to defend the homestead until the fog clears and then work on an orderly exit if need be.

n2s,

ps. a note on food. Most of us can easily survive on body fat for weeks if not months. It would seem a disadvantage to overly worry about hauling bulky food supplies around.
 
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not2sharp said:
I suspect that most of us alrady have a BOB at hand, whether we think of it as that or not. In our society, most of the key components are carried in your wallet, which may be all that you need to move you from the point of impact to a safer destination. We can always add in a few knives, guns and tools and some comfort food, water and fuel as needed. It doesn't all need to be crammed into a funny little bag to qualify as a BOB kit. Personally, my first instinct is to defend the homestead until the fog clears and then work on an orderly exit if need be.

n2s,

ps. a note on food. Most of us can easily survive on body fat for weeks of not months. It would seem a disadvantage to overly worry about hauling bulky food supplies around.
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In Red: I'm gonna agree with this one. If you have the option, stay in your home, and wait... trying to exit a major city in the middle of a crisis is as close to suicide as you can get. You have roads designed to carry roughly 20% of the population at any one time, and you have 80-90% of the population on them. This is the equation used to calculate the population density of a parking lot.

Wait 3-4 days (assuming that you're not in danger where you are) THEN leave if you must.
 
I VASTLY prefer to stay home if at all possible, because that's where all my stuff is. Thats why my BOB stays in my car.

I work in a different town 30 miles from home. If there's some sort of natural disaster and I can't get home then the stuff in my bag will sure be helpful if I need to stay at the office, or in a hotel or a campground. If the house burns down at least I will be able to camp in the yard for a while.

I agree that that a lot of BOB plans are sort of survivalist SHTF fantasies, but that doesn't mean that a survival kit isn't a good idea. I figure that if things go so far south that I'm going to have to live in the woods there will be plenty of stuff to procure from empty homes. I have no illusions about my ability to fight off an invading army.
 
Well I live in a very peaceful place that is occassionaly slammed by tornados. We've had some incidents, historically, here in Indiana more or less on par with Joplin. For that reason, I do have a bug out bag. Given the circumstances with tornados, one needs things important to very short term need. Unlike hurricane where it may be hundreds of miles (or scores anyway) to a safer place. With a tornado, 99% of the time, if you can survive it, and get out of your house, and maybe walk two or three miles, you'll likely find yourself someplace where you can bunk with friends, family, or rent a hotel room (this would have been tough in Joplin of course). So what you need in your bug out bag is stuff to help you get out of your house...I gotta crowbar, a hatchet, and a saw stashed in my safe room. Your bag needs to have stuff you can haul with you overland to safety. In this scenario it's gonna be meds, cash, ID, and stuff like that. Yes, I have a some knives, a multi-tool, and stuff like that too.

My bug out bag knife today is a Spyderco Military and when the weather looks threatening, I toss an ESEE-5 in there for good measure. If I am headed out in the country, I toss either my ESEE laser strike in there or my BK7...something a little more outdoorsy.
 
I put a three day bag together on the premise of a natural disaster. I live in farm country were people still have morals and values. I can see a major Canadian city as being basically the same as any in the U.S., in terms of a higher population equaling a higher number of predators. My people feel safe out in the west and we believe in basic human decency. A lower population density here, vast easily accessible supples of fresh water, grain, etc. tend to make for friendlier neighbors. My mind set would likely be different if I lived in Toronto or New York.
 
Mine has evolved over the years from a truck bug out bag to save my life in a catastrophe to a bag filled with stuff that make little emergencies and unexpected needs much easier. I've got a flashlight, a few tools, a few knives, fire making materials, rope and a first aid kit. No food or water. I think there is an NRA emergency kit in there too with a whistle, mirror, blast match, etc. No gun. I made the decision I did not want to keep a firearm in the truck, although there isn't any law against it here.
 
ridnovir said:
I live in a small apartment in Brooklyn (NYC). So yeah I have the 3 day bag ready but if something serious would go down there is no way out of this death trap and I cannot buy guns
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Hmmm I've thought about that sort of a scenario for a brother that lives on the west coast. Would it be possible to get on a bicycle and ride out of there? A car seems out of the question. Another thought, what about an inflatable boat? Just ideas...
 
We live in southern Louisiana and have kits for each car as we are in a hurricaine zone. Fortunately with them there is plenty of time to prepare to flee but it helps to have basic kits already on hand, plus lists of those personal items we would take with us in our cars.
 
BePrepared said:
I'd say i take it pretty seriously. I have 4 of these bags... all with slightly different, but essentially the same, stuff.

Here's my Go-bag... everything should be visible. 10 day supply of food, fire steel, 3 lighters, survival guide, string, para-cord, 3 different purpose knives, multitool, Head-Lamp flashlight, hand powered flashlight/radio, mess kit for cooking/boiling water, Water storage bag, waterproof storage for matches, lighters and fire steel, mylar blanket, signaling mirror, frog/fish spear head, and 80 foot of coiled wire.... best i can figure, this kit is sufficient to keep me alive in the woods (uncomfortably) indefinitely.

This kit does not shoe my firearms. I will be armed with a BARE MINIMUM of a Glock 22 (.40 cal) and a Browning .308 rifle with 100 rounds each. Depending on the situation, i have heavier firearms avaliable.

28rik5l.jpg



I'd DEFINITELY prefer to "Bug In" as i have a 6 month supply of food, a solar panel rig, and a much better set of gear than i could easily carry, but if time comes to head for the hills, i'm ready



EVERY place is a place "shit might happen. If you don't believe that, go look up earthquakes, riots, terrorism, and hurricanes, and tell me the "type of place" where nothing happens...

I am not preparing for what i expect WILL happen, i'm preparing for the stuff i'll never see coming until it's too late to prepare.

Paranoia is a survival trait.
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Thanks for sharing that. I always learn from seeing other people's kits. You say 10 days worth of food there... I'm seeing the MRE and the energy bars, were these just exampels or is that the sum total? How many calories are there in those bars? Also, did you have a plan for what to do about water?
 
BePrepared said:
In Red: I'm gonna agree with this one. If you have the option, stay in your home, and wait... trying to exit a major city in the middle of a crisis is as close to suicide as you can get. You have roads designed to carry roughly 20% of the population at any one time, and you have 80-90% of the population on them. This is the equation used to calculate the population density of a parking lot.

Wait 3-4 days (assuming that you're not in danger where you are) THEN leave if you must.
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This is an excellent point. It's the same thing my brother and I worked out. Hole up if possible for a month or so and let the crazy subside THEN leave if you must.
 
I live in a small town in PA, not a particularly dangerous area, but I do have a basic bug out bag. A change of clothes, toothbrush, an extra knife, water, several ways to make fire, first aid kit, some other basics. My concern isn't so much disaster or war as it is other people. Virtually every culture since the beginning of time has had a codified system of combat techniques, there are literally thousands of styles and sub-styles and spin-offs of martial arts. People spend hundreds every year towards "self-defense" training or martial arts, they spend decades mastering the techniques. So much time and effort and money invested into defending against what? Other people. Not animals, other humans. I've had some interesting encounters with interesting people over the years, and for me I'm much more likely to have someone come through my window at 3:00AM with bad intentions then I am to have to worry about a natural disaster. My bug out bag is very minimal, designed to be light and versatile. I easily could make do in the woods for a few days, or in a motel room, or staying with friends. I've been forced to use my bag more than once, I have a little experience, and I know what works for me. I personally think people emphasize the wilderness survival aspects of their kit more than the personal hygiene aspects, but that’s just me. Everyone's kit is unique to them.
 
Triton said:
Thanks for sharing that. I always learn from seeing other people's kits. You say 10 days worth of food there... I'm seeing the MRE and the energy bars, were these just exampels or is that the sum total? How many calories are there in those bars? Also, did you have a plan for what to do about water?
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The bars you see are 3600 calorie bars. I have 2 in the pack. Along with that, the MRE's are good for a 2 days each if you're rationing. The smaller packs are various high calorie supplements that come from past MREs...

Also, you don't seem to be able to see the 40oz jar of peanut butter. ( i thought it was visible when i took the pic)

I have a total of 13000 calories in that kit.

I live in an area where water is very plentiful. With the mess kit, i can boil water and store it in either the metal canteen, or the water bag in the picture. I only have storage in that kit for 2 days worth of water, but it is very unlikely that i'll ever be more than 2 days from a water source in my area

I also store 2 5gallon water containers in my truck, assuming i can get to it and keep it

Believe it or not, the most efficient food you can carry with you is a jar of peanut butter 6600 calories in ONE JAR

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I was stationed in the Republic of Korea a little over a year ago, and I kept a Bugout Bag (funny enough that was the brandname of teh bag I used), in case of war. Of course the purpose was more to have a quick bag to grab as I headed into the underground hardened facility I worked in, more than fleeing into the wilderness. Of course, it would double as that if my base was destroyed and I somehow survived (I lived off base) to try to flee south.

I mostly had things like spare socks, batteries, flashlight, multitool, gum, paracord, small first aid kit (we had more extensive ones at work), compass (not really needed in scenario #1, but small enough to be worth it anyway IMO), small knife sharpening stone. If it was legal, maybe a suicide pill in case I was going to be captured, or our bunker caved in or something would have been in there too. Mainly it was just to make spending a week or so in a bunker more comfortable. Food and water was pretty well supplied already so I didn't bring any of that. I did get to use it for a bit when we were locked in from an exercise, but that was only for 12 hours or so.

Here in the UK, I still have one, but its mostly for being trapped in the car in case of snow. I live out in the countryish area, and have to take back roads to work. The ditches here are deep enough that a car would be invisible if it went off the road into one during a snowstorm. I have already had to drive to work in the middle of a snowstorm once, so I could see using it. I put in extra socks, a blanket, a sleeping bag, flashlight and batteries, an emergency whistle, compass, multitool, small first aid kit, and a firemaking kit for that one.
 
Just a tip to the new preppers in the audience. If you want a supply of food that will last essentially forever, doesn't taste like boot leather, and is cheap as can be, get peanut butter

based on a minimum dietary requirement of 1200cal/day, 20 40ounce jars of peanut butter is a 100 day supply of food. I keep 40 jars of PB, along with 50 pounds of beans and 50 pounds of rice and a 5 pound jar of salt/pepper mix... that means i can keep myself, and my wife alive in our home for as much as 6 months with NOTHING from outside except the water that i catch in the water barrel on the porch. Since we're 3 stories up, i'd say that makes the porch pretty secure

and here's the cool part. The entire food kit (not including the 200 MREs i keep in duffel bags) was under $200. It would SUCK to eat peanut butter, rice and beans for 6 months, but not nearly as much as it would suck to eat my boots and cats, then starve to death
 
BePrepared said:
The bars you see are 3600 calorie bars. I have 2 in the pack. Along with that, the MRE's are good for a 2 days each if you're rationing. The smaller packs are various high calorie supplements that come from past MREs...

Also, you don't seem to be able to see the 40oz jar of peanut butter. ( i thought it was visible when i took the pic)

I have a total of 13000 calories in that kit.

I live in an area where water is very plentiful. With the mess kit, i can boil water and store it in either the metal canteen, or the water bag in the picture. I only have storage in that kit for 2 days worth of water, but it is very unlikely that i'll ever be more than 2 days from a water source in my area

I also store 2 5gallon water containers in my truck, assuming i can get to it and keep it

Believe it or not, the most efficient food you can carry with you is a jar of peanut butter 6600 calories in ONE JAR
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Sounds good. I've mostly gone to those mountain house meals supplemented with a pile of those new hormel entrees in a box eatables or whatever they are called. One per day per person on those with the mountain house meals and energy bars and hard candy. Nothing beats a hot meal I've discovered. The peanut butter is also a good idea, especially with some crackers. You just have to rotate stuff.

In terms of the water I elected for a hiking filter, boiling all that water sounds like a lot of work. :)
 
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