I want to creat a Bug out kit and I'm wondering which bag would provide a good basis

[Cougar Allen]

It's hard to make suggestions without understanding what kind of scenario you're preparing for..... I keep some gear in my car. One reason is in case I have to evacuate my home suddenly. That can happen to anyone -- the place catches fire, or they knock on your door and tell you a truck carrying hazardous chemicals has overturned and you have to leave the area immediately.

I also keep a backpack in the car, in case I break down and have to leave the car and go home. One time my transmission blew up far from home on the hottest day of the year, and if I hadn't had plenty of water and a way to carry it I would have had a problem.

Looking like I'm carrying an army surplus bag would not be a problem for me. As far as how I look goes, I'd rather look like a respectable gentleman whose car has broken down than like a drunken bum, but that's about all I'm concerned about -- looking reasonably respectable.

Around here at least (Western Massachusetts) the homeless drunks and panhandlers and street people don't usually carry a backpack or any kind of bag. (They must stash their stuff somewhere, I guess.) So just carrying a backpack or shoulder bag makes you look more respectable. If it looks like a soft briefcase that's a plus, but plenty of respectable gentlemen carry backpacks, anything from a book bag to a full-size backpack with a rolled foam pad lashed to the outside. Respectable people go backpacking these days. Respectable people carry a laptop computer and stuff to the office in a backpack instead of a briefcase, too, at least around here.

 

[PatrickKnight]

All of my packs (BOB GHB day hike pack and my multiple day pack) are all Osprey. I have found them to the most comfortable and durable packs in my price range (not to exceed 200 bucks).

My BOB is an Osprey Kestrel 32, it is loaded with enough stuff for my wife and I to cover a 72 hour period.

One thing you need to focus on is how many people will the bag need to support and for how long. Mine was built for 2 people for 72 hours there is enough food, water, shelter, medical, cloths in my pack to get this done. Also you want to look at what you need in your area and stock the pack with those items. If you live in the back country your needs will be different than mine would be living in the middle of a city.

 

[pfgsnoopy]

Better to make your gear look like a "dirty gym bag" than a loaded kit full of goodies that other people may be willing to kill you for.

Good point! I hadn't thought of that. As I said before, I'm neither against the tactical look nor am I going for it. But I think I'll consider going for the "hiding in plain sight" approach by using something that looks like EDC gear. On the other hand EDC backpacks and messenger bags are the most common kinds of laptop cases over here.... I wouldn't want to be killed by someone who's after my laptop only to find my bug out gear instead...

 

[pfgsnoopy]

It's hard to make suggestions without understanding what kind of scenario you're preparing for..... I keep some gear in my car. One reason is in case I have to evacuate my home suddenly. That can happen to anyone -- the place catches fire, or they knock on your door and tell you a truck carrying hazardous chemicals has overturned and you have to leave the area immediately.

You are right. Just the other day I heard on the radio that a WWII bomb was found on a construction site in Frankfurt (not far from here). It was the third one within the last 4-8 weeks on that very site! Each time the surrounding buildings had to be evacuated and the EOD people had to come and defuse the bomb.

 

[frankjuka]

I really like Tactical Tailor products. I have both their removable operator pack and extended range operator pack (they did a sale back in may with everything 30% off that was awesome. The removable operator pack is well thought out, comfortable, and, also important, non-descript in black. I got their enhanced admin pouch to add to front, hooked on a tourniquet pouch, a dpx hest mil spec and a fenix ld20 to the outside. Otherwise filled with practical pouches and gear that I can expect to use. If I don't use it I dump it and put something in there I will.

 

[lmalterna]

If bugging out "from" home- I use large lockable storage trunks. Two fit in the back of my Trailblazer and get padlocked together in transit.

Car carry is a tough canvas gymbag along with a boot bag with hiking boots and a change of clothes in them.

Get home walking bag is a Kellty MAP3500 in ocean gray.

EDC bag was a Maxped Remora but I picked upo a similar sized gray canvas with leather bottom bag in the Philippines that is more business office user friendly.

Different situations requires different styles of carry. Mine work for me but maybe not for you based on where you are and what you need to carry. Some areas I go camo or heavy tactical nylon draws too much bad attention. The Kelty is rugged and has nice features in a solid non military looking color and style. The canvas and leather bag hardly draws a look.

Bill

 

[panzertroop]

It's not likely that I'll have to carry the thing anyway, I'll most likely end up sitting on a bus, in a cab, in a carpool, on a train, a plane, or renting a car.

That doesn't sound like bugging out but vacation. Mass transit in the event of a natural disaster maybe shut down. Something to consider.

 

[sideways]

That doesn't sound like bugging out but vacation. Mass transit in the event of a natural disaster maybe shut down. Something to consider.

Yup. That is what I imagine a modern bugout would be. A forced, unplanned vacation with an unknown duration and with no time to pack.

Well there will be two types of emergencies that require me to leave my home. Either it is just me (house burns down) or everyone (natural disaster). If it is just me then I can rely on the system. If it is everyone it is likely that I will need to move far and fast. So will everyone else. Buses and private vehicles will be running and offer a more efficient mode of transit than walking. If you consider that you can cover about 4km an hour on foot the way people will be moving will be using motor vehicles.

In the aftermath of an event where you are trying to get clear of the event location you might have to traverse some difficult terrain that is not passable with a vehicles but even there having some wheels on your bag will help most of the time.