Bug. out bag

[Tom W]

After watching something on the weather channel about survival I was wondering just what would be appropriate for a bug out bag. I have two backpacks In the shed that I used to carry hunting, and other than a good knife, some Paracord, toilet paper and spare ammo, what kind of food and water purification system. The guy on TV said 2 drops of bleach per liter of water and to let it stand for a bit. He also mentioned having duct tape. I don't want to pack a whole hardware store full of stuff, but I'd like to be a bit more prepared than what I am.

I'd love to go over to Ft Benning and get a case of MRE's, but have no idea if they'd be available to me.

 

[jollymon]

For the MRE's look at eBay and craigslist
As for what else to put into it , depends on were your going and what the reason your bugging out.
If its a storm, I'd take all important documents,cash , always have Cash , can't use a card without power.
Water , Food , some clothes, a Gun and ammo ,

If it's the End Of World As We Know It !! your bag is to get were you'll holdup if you don't have a place to go to
stand your ground and fight , It will be over for you quick

 

[GunnyGene]

After watching something on the weather channel about survival I was wondering just what would be appropriate for a bug out bag. I have two backpacks In the shed that I used to carry hunting, and other than a good knife, some Paracord, toilet paper and spare ammo, what kind of food and water purification system. The guy on TV said 2 drops of bleach per liter of water and to let it stand for a bit. He also mentioned having duct tape. I don't want to pack a whole hardware store full of stuff, but I'd like to be a bit more prepared than what I am.

I'd love to go over to Ft Benning and get a case of MRE's, but have no idea if they'd be available to me.

What you put in your BOB depends on how long you think you'll need to live out of it and under what conditions, and whether you'll be walking or driving. More than one knife. Water purification - a Lifestraw http://lifestraw.com/ or similar, so you don't have to carry around bleach or water. I'd include something like a Leatherman Multi-tool http://www.leatherman.com/multi-tools , 5 or 10 yards of steel wire, a couple of bic lighters, a couple small but powerful LED flashlights & spare batteries, a space blanket, extra socks and underwear, gloves, compass, signaling mirror, map, First Aid pack, etc. Maybe a few other things. You want stuff that is small, lightweight, durable. If you take any meds include them, but be sure to keep them up to date. Think about communications - you may not have cell phone service, so a pair of walkie talkies could be useful.

Vacuum pack stuff like clothing (to reduce bulk) or anything that could be damaged by water.

Oh, almost forgot: A Glover Pocket Reference.

 

[SR1911SHOOTER]

Nowadays, if we need a BOB, The S--- has hit the fan! It will be every man and woman for them selves.
One or two EMP bombs over the U.S. will wipe out civilization as we know it. No electricity, no transportation,
no factories to produce food, gasoline, Grocery stores will be emptied in days, or hours. The only survivors to amount
to much will be people who live in the country and farmers.
Maybe, a few deep running Nuke boats may survive.
Blackie

 

[DGW1949]

Traveling from point A to point B during an emergency ain't the same as going on a camping trip. Plus, unless you're leaving point A well ahead of time, there's a good chance that you'll end up having to tote all of that stuff while on foot, eh?

What, when, where, how...pertinent questions.
Just speaking for myself, I can go all weekend on two canteens plus what I can stuff inside a USGI butt pack. And yeah, I've actually done so. Then again, I ain't over weight and I wasn't trying to lug 50-60 pounds of junk around while on the move...just sayin'.
On the other hand, if you're lucky enough to be traveling by vehicle, and if you're lucky enough that nothing out of the ordinary happens while in route...then hey, load that baby up with whatever you want. :wink: .

DGW

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Instead of a BUG out bag for hurricane preparedness we pack a suitcase with cloths TP, personals as well as water, some blankets and pillows for sleeping in a shelter. ...and snacks. I ain't going camping if I have to leave my house I will be going to a shelter.

...now if the world is coming to an end I will just stay home and defend my family.

 

[Mobuck]

1st Aid, baby wipes/TP, a couple of bottles of water, a trioxine burner, candles, cord, space blanket, kettle, folding water container, 2 knives, eating utensils, several soup packets, flashlite w/spare batts, spare glasses & meds if you require those to function, gloves, signal mirror, and a 6'x8' square of house wrap. The BOB weighs about 20-25# so fairly portable if I have to bail out of the vehicle and run. It's basic survival w/o extraneous bulk/weight.
My BOB rides in a large (16"W x 24" L x 12" D) plastic tub w/lid that also holds a small Coleman stove w/fuel, ammo for my usual rifle and pistol, a couple of MRE's, more bottled water, and other odds and ends. The tub weighs 40# or so including the BOB and sits on the back seat of my work vehicle. It's basically 3-4 days of surviving w/o other input plus a little bit of comfort even in cold weather if I used my vehicle for shelter. The tub is black and would melt snow effectively in winter or catch run-off dew or rain from the plastic sheeting during warmer weather.

 

[gramps]

When I started working 70 miles from home, I found a backpack filled with a lite weight jacket, rain gear, extra tools/ammo, jerky etc made life easier. Now that same bag is present as I travel around middle Tn. I have added a map, compass, ruler so in case of an EMP I can navigate back home. I am an insulin dependent diabetic and presume after an EMP my medical supplies will be limited. I suspect I won't make it more than 6 months due to lack of Insulin. Reality sucks!
gramps

 

[Mobuck]

Other stuff I forgot: extra socks, a water filter straw, a few small ziplock bags, roll of "vet wrap", poncho, a hat/cap if you don't normally wear one all the time, and duct tape. My BOB is filled in order of purpose with "I need it NOW" items(first aid pouch, knife, flashlight) readily accessible.
During cold weather, I have a different bag loaded with warm clothing, gloves/mittens, and stocking hat plus a pair of insulated rubber boots in case I get stuck or have a difficult tire change.

 

[GunnyGene]

One other thing. Test your endurance limits. How long can you go without sleep? Most folks under 50 that are in good shape can handle 36 hrs or so before things start to get really weird.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

If it's a full-on EOTWAWKI situation and you're planning on "bugging out" by vehicle, you better consider how far you can get on the gas in your tank right at that moment . . . assuming you can get thru the totally-blocked highways. Good luck.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[mohavesam]

... consider how far you can get on the gas in your tank right at that moment . . . assuming you can get thru the totally-blocked highways. Good luck.
:wink: :wink: :wink:

Fleeing an urban/suburban chaotic disaster seems easy in print. Might be a bit more complicated IRL.

Communications, GPS, and water will be priorities.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

. . . assuming the necessary GPS satellites and/or cell towers are still functional . . .

:wink: :shock: :wink:

 

[Fox Mike]

There are many different considerations that saying what will work for me might NOT work for someone else. Destination, season of the year, weather, personal condition, route to use, health issues all will play a role in the 'bug out' decision. Then the question of "why" am I leaving. Weather, rioting, enemy attack, etc. My first 'grab' is my old Army survival vest. Lots of useful stuff in that. Might be prudent to purchase a couple of spare phone batteries and charge them as spares. Are we going to have to walk or can we drive where we are going? If you have to walk how much can you carry and how far can you carry it?

 

[RoninPA]

BOB's are (or can be) highly specialized depending on your personal locale, what the situation is, are you headed for your "survival" location, are you going to need to defend yourself, are you going to live of the land, etc., etc., etc, and etc. There can be a basic BOB and then a specialized BOB but I dare say that NO ONE can build a BOB that would cover ANY situation. I carry a BOB in my truck for use to get me to my home and family and from there we would prep for the next step. If I can't get to my family, my wife knows what to grab to help get to a safe location.

Basics for me would be first aid, something for potable water (can live without food for a good while but not without water), shelter (10x12 tarp can be folded very small and can be configured many ways. Parachute cord (a lot doesn't take up much room and is very handy), fire starter kit, triox tabs, canteen with steel canteen cup (can be used for various things as needed). Because of trying to keep it small/easily portable, a .22 pistol or revolver with a brick of ammo. And since I have one, it would probably be my Ruger MKIII with the suppressor. From this I could add a few things depending on what time of year it is.

 

[Tom W]

I was thinking more of a natural disaster like a bad storm or some such. Hopefully we could leave in our vehicle and stay away from the river. I would imagine if the local dam broke we'd be gone, as it's maybe a mile or so upriver. A few years ago the area flooded, but we're far enough uphill that the river never made it to us..,..

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Tom, always good to prethink stuff like that. Dam that close won't give you much time to get out. In your case, probably valuables, titles, cash, and such, pictures maybe, and a gun and some ammo, the usual stuff but getting your valuables out of the house and keep them safe would be a big deal I'd think. For most emergencies, except for natural disasters, I have no plan on bugging out as I have no real place to go if it's something that is going to effect huge parts/or complete country in general. I don't want to walk off an leave my stuff to looters and it would be tough to carry the guns and ammo. Get with the wife and I'm sure she will have her own ideas of what's important to take.

 

[DGW1949]

I was thinking more of a natural disaster like a bad storm or some such. Hopefully we could leave in our vehicle and stay away from the river. I would imagine if the local dam broke we'd be gone, as it's maybe a mile or so upriver. A few years ago the area flooded, but we're far enough uphill that the river never made it to us..,..

I hear ya on the dam thing, that would worry me too.
What you might want to do is get a topo map of your area and study it. That would give you a purty-good idea of where most of the water will probably go if the dam breaks, leaks, overflows, or whatever. Plus, if worse does come to worse, it'll give you a better idea on which way is best to head out if you do need to leave quick.

DGW

 

[Tom W]

West is uphill. During the Civil war there were gun emplacements up there to fire upon Columbus......they are still visible......

 

[gramps]

Yep, I am in the country. My place is grown up, and looks like no one is home. That is where I will go to if I am away. If SHTF while I am there. I will stay and await my family, who have plans of bugging out to the farm.
gramps