Urban Bug Out Bag in a Bookbag (?)

R

RenegadeMonk

Joined
Jul 28, 2005
Messages
254
I have been trying to turn my old bookbag/backpack that I used to use in school (I just graduated) into a Bug Out Bag. I'm trying to avoid any bags that look too military-esque. My old bookbag is still holding up remarkably well after 2 and a half years of toting textbooks, laptops, and the like...so I think it can hold up to holding survival supplies in case of an evacutation emergency.

Here are some things I plan to fill it with:

-Paracord
-Camp Hand Axe
-Hand Crank AM/FM Radio
-QuikClot
-Boker SnacPac
-Multi-Tool
-Travel Pack of Baby Wipes
-Extra Change of Clothes and a Pair of Shoes
-Waterproof Matches
-3 Packs of Beef Jerky (in vacuum-sealed plastic bags)
-Several Clif Energy Bars (Mmmmm...delicious) and Meal Replacement Bars
-1.5 Liter Water Bottle and an 8 oz Water Bottle
-Packets of Tea
-Potalble Aqua Tablets
-Travel Toothbrush and Toothpaste
-Travel-Sized First Aid Kit
-Extra AA, D-Cell, and 9 Volt Batteries
-Faraday Flashlight
-Extra Contact Lenses and Solution
-Cold Steel Bowie Machete (Small)
-3 Canned Food Items
-Tarp
-Tube Tent
-Bug Spray
-Space Blanket
-Maps of Surrounding States

I know this all may seem like a lot but I have been able to fit many of these items rather nicely already in the bag. Again, I'm trying to avoid anything military-looking in order to not draw too much attention in an emergency.

Is there anything I'm leaving out? While I've realized I can fit most of this stuff in the bag I'm trying to regulate space so it doesn't get too heavy.

Any advice would be appreciated...while I've been into outdoors and survival for a while this is the first time I've made a BOB.

~Mike
 
Where are you bugging to? Are you headed home from work or traveling 1000 miles. What will you do when you get there? Do you really need an axe and a machete? How long will your food last you. Why all the batteries, why not just an led headlamp? More info please.
 
2dogs said:
Where are you bugging to? Are you headed home from work or traveling 1000 miles. What will you do when you get there? Do you really need an axe and a machete? How long will your food last you. Why all the batteries, why not just an led headlamp? More info please.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the lack of info. Like I said I'm a newbie at this.

I am a young guy (21 years old) who lives in New Jersey. I'm just trying to create a BOB that will be able to hold necessary supplies in a backpack. I'm not sure exactly yet where I'd be bugging to or from. I plan to keep the bag in my home (in case I need to evacuate) and when I leave the house, in the trunk of my car (in case I'm away from home).

The reason for the axe and machete is twofold. One, they are handy chopping items that I feel will come in handy since I live in a rather forested area. Two, they make excellent field expedient weapons in case me or a loved one is being attacked.

The food should last me 3 days. The Clif and Meal Replacement Bars don't take much space and along with the jerky, canned food, and additional food items I plan to put in there (I just didn't put it in the list I posted...just forgot about typing it in) I feel I should be okay. I'm a former college kid so I'm used to going on for some time without eating very much lol.

The reason for the batteries is that I may need extra power if I come across an item that may be useful to my survival (radio, flashlight, etc). The batteries are there just in case...I don't plan to carry a whole lot of them. To be honest, I didn't think of an LED headlamp...maybe I should look into that.

Hope that helps. Sorry if I left anything out.

~Mike
 
RenegadeMonk said:
I have been trying to turn my old bookbag/backpack that I used to use in school (I just graduated) into a Bug Out Bag. I'm trying to avoid any bags that look too military-esque. My old bookbag is still holding up remarkably well after 2 and a half years of toting textbooks, laptops, and the like...so I think it can hold up to holding survival supplies in case of an evacutation emergency. IMHO,the worst thing you could carry in a SHTF scenario, is a brand new, hi-tech, tactical pack. Being tactical, it fairly screams, "Weapons within", and being new could be viewed by some as representative of the value of cargo it carries making you a target of interest. Better to carry an old, beat-up, but structurally sound recreation-looking backpack of one type or another, so good choice.
Here are some things I plan to fill it with:

-Paracord always good
-Camp Hand Axe as was posted, I wouldn't carry a hatchet and a machete - go with the machete
-Hand Crank AM/FM Radio good choice but might be better to include some Short Wave
-QuikClot
-Boker SnacPac don't know what this is
-Multi-Tool another good choice
-Travel Pack of Baby Wipes not necessary but sure are nice to have
-Extra Change of Clothes and a Pair of Shoes
-Waterproof Matches
-3 Packs of Beef Jerky (in vacuum-sealed plastic bags)
-Several Clif Energy Bars (Mmmmm...delicious) and Meal Replacement Bars
-1.5 Liter Water Bottle and an 8 oz Water Bottle consider a stainless steel water bottle so that it can be used to purify water as well
-Packets of Tea
-Potalble Aqua Tablets
-Travel Toothbrush and Toothpaste
-Travel-Sized First Aid Kit
-Extra AA, D-Cell, and 9 Volt Batteries what are all the batteries for? If you carry items that require batteries, try to get items that all use the same batteries, such as AA because of their availability and weight.
-Faraday Flashlight what's a Faraday flashlight?
-Extra Contact Lenses and Solution invaluable
-Cold Steel Bowie Machete (Small)
-3 Canned Food Items instead of canned food items, if you're going to carry this kind of food, why not freeze dried, etc. because of the weight. You will have water, because if not, you shouldn't be eating anyway.
-Tarp absolutely
-Tube Tent personally I wouldn't carry a tarp and a tube tent because of the weight, either one or the other
-Bug Spray depending on the season and location, could be invaluable
-Space Blanket
-Maps of Surrounding States although maps are important, may be too large a scale?

I know this all may seem like a lot but I have been able to fit many of these items rather nicely already in the bag. Again, I'm trying to avoid anything military-looking in order to not draw too much attention in an emergency.

Is there anything I'm leaving out? more fire making tools - fire steel and maybe fire straws, etc., magnesium bar,; compass. As I mentioned, I don't know what a Faraday light is, but I would strongly recommend an AA powered LED light (not a Mini Mag, while I used to defend them, have come to realize the detractors are correct); emergency sewing kit - ripped and torn clothes don't insulate very well; mirror- could be used for signalling but also to remove foreign material from your eyes, also for looking around corners :rolleyes: ; rain gear; hat; maybe sunglasses; work gloves; snare wire (not just for catching breakfast, but can be used for all kinds of things). While I've realized I can fit most of this stuff in the bag I'm trying to regulate space so it doesn't get too heavy.

Any advice would be appreciated...while I've been into outdoors and survival for a while this is the first time I've made a BOB.

~Mike
Click to expand...

Lucky you, your post caught me when I was idling at the keyboard :o The things I have listed is what I would consider. YMMV. There are other things but enough from me.

Doc
 
Actually my first question should been how did you come up with your forum name? Sounds like there might be a story there. Anyway I do like your idea of not looking too military so as to blend in. I would still eliminate an axe or a hatchet, your choice. Think of your bug out scenario as a camping trip with little time to prepare. What would you not like to forget when you go camping? What is on your list that you never use? If you have no particular place to go to what will you eat when you get there. How long will you stay in any one place?

Are there any documents you will need? How about personal possesions like photos? You may want to come up with a destination, maybe a friend's house 100 miles away and figure out how to get there unaided.

Keep running through some scenarios while you build your kit. Keep it simple and lightweight. Cost is a factor so do some research on home made kit such as using a discarded steel can as a pot and flea market clothes instead of new. Good luck.
 
2dogs said:
Actually my first question should been how did you come up with your forum name? Sounds like there might be a story there. Anyway I do like your idea of not looking too military so as to blend in. I would still eliminate an axe or a hatchet, your choice. Think of your bug out scenario as a camping trip with little time to prepare. What would you not like to forget when you go camping? What is on your list that you never use? If you have no particular place to go to what will you eat when you get there. How long will you stay in any one place?

Are there any documents you will need? How about personal possesions like photos? You may want to come up with a destination, maybe a friend's house 100 miles away and figure out how to get there unaided.

Keep running through some scenarios while you build your kit. Keep it simple and lightweight. Cost is a factor so do some research on home made kit such as using a discarded steel can as a pot and flea market clothes instead of new. Good luck.
Click to expand...

As for my forum name, read the novel by Shusaku Endo "The Samurai". If you read that you'll see where the name comes from :)

I totally forgot to include identification and documents in my bag. Thanks for reminding me. I could've been in a lot of trouble without them, so thanks again. As for personal possessions, I don't have that many photos...although I'm sure they would help boost morale in such a situation, so perhaps I'll start digging through the photo albums in my house.

I still think an axe and machete will come in handy, especially if they are small to fit in the bag and strong enough to chop wood, or the limbs of someone who tries to harm me in the event of civil unrest or social disorder.

In terms of cost, I've found that the $1.00 or less section of the local Target retail store is an amazing resource for finding travel-sized hygiene and first-aid gear. The local Big Lots has plenty of canned food items at good prices. Oh, and I plan to add Jolly Ranchers, Starburst, and gummi bears to the food rations. I prefer fruit candy over chocalate anyway, not just due to my personal tastes, but also due to the fact that chocalate tends to melt quickly in a go-bag.

~Mike
 
Gummi bears! Yecchh! My kids love those things, they can have em all. Now cinnamon Lolly Ranchers are a different story.

I have used the following in setting priorities. Keep in mind I grew up in hot country.
Water
Shelter
Fire
Food
Health
Security

These are further broken down as needed. Hope it helps.
 
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