What's in your bug out bag?

W

WK ONE

Joined
Apr 25, 2015
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270
Hey guys.

I've been building my 1st bug out bag recently. Tell me what you think:

-Blackhawk Lightweight Phoenix pack

-Magnesium block and striker (alongside a bic lighter and a bunch of strike anywhere matches)
-Emergency blanket
-Duct tape
-Small first aid kit
-Compass
-2 Flashlights w/extra batteries
-500 ft of paracord
-Shemagh
-Wicking 1st layer shirt and longjohns
-Blackhawk SOLAG gloves
-4 pairs of socks/underwear
-2 sets of clothes

And of course, the knives:
-Esee Junglas (for chopping, breaking down kindling wood, etc.)
-Esee 3 (for everything else)
-Izula 2 (just cuz)
-Worksharp field sharpener

What's in yours? Anything I should have in mine that isn't there already?
 
Perhaps a small water filter or at least, some purification tabs. Small bug spray/sunscreen and a boonie cap. Ive used a blackhawk pack for many years, it's held up well. Chemlights and a headlamp are always useful. Oh, and a spare magazine or two.
Best of luck.
 
Yes. You should add:

Tampax - bullet wounds, bleeding, fire starter.
Charcoal - emerg. filtration, fire assist and transport, camo, etc.
Seel wool & 9v. battery - fail safe ignition source; misc uses.
Honey packets in a vacuum zip lok - first aid, light bonding agent, misc uses.
Tube of super glue in vacuum zip lok.
Army surgical field kit.
Charcloth
XL Condoms - emergency water carry, waterproof storage of small items, membrane sheeting, snow/hot water pack for medical compresses, etc....
Lg. container dental floss - for everything; shoelaces, waterproof lashing, medical, etc.

If it's really a bugout bag, consider upgrading your first aid kit to something beyond basic. And your bic lighter to a high altititude lighter such as a Brunson. A bic is cheap and worthless when wet; keep it, yeah, but have a f/p backup. Fire is nothing to even chance not having. The Brunson is as reliable as you can get. I'm on my third--all under warranty from buying the first one yeeaars ago (all exchanges due to damage, not malfunction).

Some more stuff, but not sure how basic you want to stay. Might add a couple other things later as I see how the thread goes. :)

Oh, and a couple bandanas, zip-tie assortment and some amount of Kleenex in a dry bag.

Edit: I didn't see any kind of container for boiling water....
 
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I'd throw in a couple of various sized zip ties, a couple Chem lights ( possibly the "flashlight" thingie to direct or block the Chem lights illumination ), a couple of garbage and zip lock bags, a Sawyer Mini water filter, and enough prepackaged food for a couple days of eating light, and a Nalgene bottle ( which you can keep items dry in when you're not carrying water.

I've found that the emergency rations for lifeboats are pretty tasty. The ones I get taste like lemon cookies, last 5 years or more, and one brick of nine equal pieces is enough food for 3 days. It's a little heavy for what it is but it's worth the weight.

A couple of pieces of silver if you can afford them because you never know what you'll walk into if things get bad and a little money that isn't dependent on the fed may come in handy.
Oh,

AND A GUN, spare mags, and a little extra ammo.
Depending on the size of the bag and what type of area you expect to go through will determine the type of firearm you need. I've decided on a Glock 23, 3 spare mags loaded, and an extra box of ammo.
Another bag has a 7 inch barreled AR PISTOL with an arm brace and 5 mags.
Get what you're proficient and comfortable with but I'd suggest that you go no lower in caliber than a 9mm.

Carry it all around on a weekend to see if you can. You may need to remove some items or change how you've packed it for more comfort, this isn't something you wanna find out if you ever need it. Don't forget the boo boo kit.
 
Alright, here's my list. Still have to add some stuff, but it's mostly complete

-5.11 Rush 12
-Condor water bottle pouch

-Comprehensive first aid kit in a Maxpedition IFAK pouch
-Tarp
-SOL Emergency shelter kit
-100 feet paracord
-SOL bivvy
-SOL space blanket
-Swedish firesteel
-UCO storm matches
-2 Bic lighters
-Sawyer mini water filter
-Potable aqua Iodine tablets
-Nalgene bottle
-Assorted mountain house/backpacker's pantry food
-1 Military MRE
-Trauma kit in a Condor EMT lite- CAT tourniquet, decompression needle, etc.
-1 pair Mechanix original gloves
-Duct Tape
-Rescue Essentials Pandemic protection kit
-Toiletry bag
-2 flares
-Wilderness survival guide
-Sharpmaker
-Petzel Tactikka XP
-Fenix e05
-Saber Prepper spray
KNIVES
Cold Steel Gi Tanto latched onto the pack itself
Kabar USMC on the hip
Becker BK14 with TKC scales, Azwelke sheath :D
 
sideways said:
What are you trying to accomplish?

Planning starts with setting design parameters.
Click to expand...

I think the hardest achievement is to have it everywhere for anything under one to two weeks. Beyond that, I would be looking at either a bug-out cottage or a bug-out country: Passports and suitcases...

Gaston
 
Awesome, thanks for the advice, guys. There's a few things that I wasn't even thinking about that seem like no-brainer after reading this. Keep it coming please!

Also, please keep in mind that I'm Canadian, therefore I have limited access to firearms.
 
The whole idea of a bug-out-bag in my opinion has to start from knowing what kind of situation you are likely to face. a what-if bag will quickly end up being more gear than you can easily move with, and be far too expensive to take places you might need it.

Most likely situation that means you have to grab the bag and run is a house-fire. You get 10 seconds to think, maybe.
I'd get a good USB key with scans of every document you can think of, insurance, license, school transcripts, everything that can help you get your life sorted out after the fact. a "burner" phone, charged and with a list of numbers to contact out, even if its just text, means you are not leaving loved ones wondering, and a boss unaware that you are going to miss a shift.
some sort of shoes, even if its a pair of chucks, or heavy sandals, if you have to go, you get to grab one thing, it might not even be pants. The goal is to limit the interruption as much as possible.

Next level is a "planned" evac, natural disaster, industrial accident. think 20 minutes to leave, and you are headed to a hotel or school gym. So what can you take that makes getting to work monday morning still possible. Or what can you leave at work (uniform, or whatever) that means you can hit a shower at a gym, and be good to go, your world may stop, the rest keeps moving. This is where your planning really is key, what's the likely scenarios, which roads are going to get blocked, is moving on foot going to be smart, or even possible? For me, I'm most likely to get locked in by flash flooding at high tide, as I'm very near the mouth of an estuary. So for me, bug in is the plan, or wait until the water drops so I can get home for a few hours to make a new plan.

Last and worst case is the RUN! situation. In this case you won't know where or when, so the kit has to go with you wherever you go, but there are limits to that practically. you have to make yourself mobile, that means food and water. This is the least likely. but its the most scary. I'd say you need to top you weight out at whatever you can comfortably walk quickly at for a sustained (hours) pace, or jog without getting winded.

The best thing you can have is skills. the reality is as much as we all want to lone-wolf it, the better, and safer option is being someone who can help the community. Have your safe food handling card so you can help in the kitchen and make soup. Have your first aid (or better yet, advanced first aid) so you can help others who are injured. Being part of the solution also helps you deal with the stress of the incident, whatever it is. What that boils down to, is that your kit will then be YOUR kit, not anyone else's because you know what you'll need. You'll know your bug-in/bug-out options, and therefore be much more prepared than someone who just has a duffle bag of stuff from the Red Cross or FEMA 72 hour list.

If you post your location, or even just a general idea, there will be some more ideas about likely situations, and some other thoughts.

All in all though, its a very good start to a kit. I'd for sure look into options to carry water, platy bags, or dromedarys. where I live water is pretty critical, especially during summer, so if I have to walk, I can leave the house with 10+L of water, if I'm driving we can take 50. That gives me several days to sort out the next move.
 
I think it is a bad kit. but then I have no idea what the intended purpose is.

In an urban emergency the #1 priority is access to the documentation and emergency funds required to function within society.

In a wilderness setting you may well die of exposure before you can get help... so think backpacking kit. Shelter, sleep system, water, food & prep, navigation, emergency communications etc.

If diarrhea hits you'll be needing toilet paper and maybe some meds/vitamins.

If your vehicle or your body has a blow-out you'll be needing a repair kit.

And if it is Canada you'll be wanting extreme cold weather gear at least half of the year and cold weather gear for the rest of the year.

If you are in the wet parts you'll be wanting good rain gear.

Which brings us back to setting design parameters...
 
There was a thread years ago done by a guy who had to flee New Orleans during the flood.. Try to find that. He needed documents to prove who he was and resume so he could get a job in Texas. Really a good read.
 
Oh crap! Forgot to mention that part. I have an MSR pocket rocket and a stanley steel cup, plus some extra fuel
 
sideways said:
I
And if it is Canada you'll be wanting extreme cold weather gear at least half of the year and cold weather gear for the rest of the year.

Which brings us back to setting design parameters...
Click to expand...

Yep, so very true, although there are some folks from the northern states that would argue they know what cold is like. Never underestimate the power of warm socks.

At the very least he has a base to work from, and did ask for help. Two steps in the right direction, more or less.
 
I'd take half as many clothes pick either the 3 or izula not both and add some food and a metal water bottle and some purification tablets
 
sideways said:
.......In an urban emergency the #1 priority is access to the documentation and emergency funds required to function within society.
Click to expand...

COPIES, not originals. Exposes the originals to theft when the bag is sitting in the home awaiting use, which may never come. But a very good addition to the list. SMALL amount of emerg. cash for same reason.

sideways said:
In a wilderness setting you may well die of exposure before you can get help... so think backpacking kit. Shelter, sleep system, water, food & prep, navigation, emergency communications etc.

If diarrhea hits you'll be needing toilet paper and maybe some meds/vitamins.
Click to expand...

Good ol' white rice for simple diarrhea. But meds for anything clinical, dysentary, etc. Anything short of virus should be able to be handled by something OTC and compact for packing.

A small AM radio should be added--9v. battery already mentioned, though an extra could be carried in the radio. AM radio will become the internet during an shtf situation. FM could be worthless.
 
ExtraTang said:
Oh crap! Forgot to mention that part. I have an MSR pocket rocket and a stanley steel cup, plus some extra fuel
Click to expand...

Strongly advise having something larger than a cup for water/food prep....esp for multiple persons.

Is that Stanley the double-wall INSULATED cup? :) Not ideal for cooking/boiling at all.
 
Knowing what your local emergency responders will be using will help, FM works better in urban areas, AM for rural, much bigger reach, shortwave for world. If I had to pick one, AM would be my choice. NOAA band is also very handy since you can get weather updates, works in Canada as well, at least enviro canada used the system last time I was there. HAM is another option. Again, depends on what you do, and where you are as to if it will help much or not.
 
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