Looking to put together a basic bug out bag
- Thread starter Saltwater60
- Start date
ArmedCorgi
.475 A&M Magnum
You're gonna want a tomahawk also.
I think you should have at least one change of clothes in your bag with extra socks and underwear. Also a rain poncho.
I carry a small bag with me in my truck. Despite my being home every day I like to keep a day bag with me incase I should get laid over a night somewhere. As I suggested I have 1 change of clothes with extra socks and underwear, some snacks that could serve as a meal in a pinch, like beef jerky and tuna pouches, some cliff bars, bottle of water,, extra batteries, battery bank for phone and tablet + cables, toiletries and other such small sundries.
I have a separate bag for the truck gun which also holds the medical kit.
I carry a small bag with me in my truck. Despite my being home every day I like to keep a day bag with me incase I should get laid over a night somewhere. As I suggested I have 1 change of clothes with extra socks and underwear, some snacks that could serve as a meal in a pinch, like beef jerky and tuna pouches, some cliff bars, bottle of water,, extra batteries, battery bank for phone and tablet + cables, toiletries and other such small sundries.
I have a separate bag for the truck gun which also holds the medical kit.
Target
6.5 Creedmoor
I looked at my situation and decided that bugging out is not an option. We could go to camp ( seasonal) if the house caught fire or something major but short of that we'd have to stay here.
Mom is 94, the wife has a few medical issues and I'm not 100% due to my heart transplant so heavy physical labor is no longer possible.
I've accepted that I only have a few months worth of meds on hand at best then I will more than likely start deteriorating physically.
I do enjoy watching videos and reading forums on the subject but know that if a SHTF TEOTWAWKI scenario were to occur I would not last long term.
Mom is 94, the wife has a few medical issues and I'm not 100% due to my heart transplant so heavy physical labor is no longer possible.
I've accepted that I only have a few months worth of meds on hand at best then I will more than likely start deteriorating physically.
I do enjoy watching videos and reading forums on the subject but know that if a SHTF TEOTWAWKI scenario were to occur I would not last long term.
livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
I hear you,,, While I am not in as bad a shape as you .. I tell my Doctor I feel as I have aged 10 years in the last one... Bad knee and hip.. Arthritis
I understand during the depression Hobos would come around willing to work for a few hours for a bowl of soup ... But who knows what things would be in this age . During a real SHTF a lot of us will not be around ... Short of that we are a very innovative bunch of people ... Drones could be delivering meds right to your door step. .. We just don't know ... Here is a good forum if you have not already discovered it. Many folks with disabilities exchange ideas . Survivalist Forum
livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
My Urban Get Home Bag
This is a neat concept!
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Robin
.475 A&M Magnum
You can go for weeks without changing your clothes, but you don't take care of your feet, your dead!
These new age fabrics don't work, and cotton kills, they have to be wool, even in the summer, they work. Grunts know these things.
Robin
Merino Wool Socks 3 pack
MERINO WOOL SOCKS, 3 PACK, NICE WARM SOCK AND A GREAT BUY!
armysurpluswarehouse.com
Robin
You can go for weeks without changing your clothes, but you don't take care of your feet, your dead!
These new age fabrics don't work, and cotton kills, they have to be wool, even in the summer, they work. Grunts know these things.Merino Wool Socks 3 pack
MERINO WOOL SOCKS, 3 PACK, NICE WARM SOCK AND A GREAT BUY!armysurpluswarehouse.com
Robin
Agreed. I bought some socks years ago in Egypt, they were the greatest socks I have ever worn. They were something like 80% wool and a few other ingredients. I wish I still had them, beyond awesome.
masterswimmer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
You can go for weeks without changing your clothes, but you don't take care of your feet, your dead!
These new age fabrics don't work, and cotton kills, they have to be wool, even in the summer, they work. Grunts know these things.Merino Wool Socks 3 pack
MERINO WOOL SOCKS, 3 PACK, NICE WARM SOCK AND A GREAT BUY!armysurpluswarehouse.com
Robin
My favorite go to socks are American made Wigwam socks. I've got a wardrobe of them.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
While you *can* go weeks without changing clothes, it can cause a lot of problems in various situations.You can go for weeks without changing your clothes, but you don't take care of your feet, your dead!
These new age fabrics don't work, and cotton kills, they have to be wool, even in the summer, they work. Grunts know these things.Merino Wool Socks 3 pack
MERINO WOOL SOCKS, 3 PACK, NICE WARM SOCK AND A GREAT BUY!armysurpluswarehouse.com
Robin
I would not suggest preparing only for the worst case SHTF situations.
Better to prepare for multiple situations, in proportion to their likelihood of occurring.
You are far more likely to get stranded somewhere for days where a change of cloths would be very helpful than you are to be in a truly TEOTWAKI situation where it isn't important.
Another good argument for a change of cloths in an urban environment is camouflage.
If you normally dress "business casual" or better, in a SHTF situation it could be very important *not* to look like you might be a respectable gentleman.
A hoodie and worn jeans to replace your button down shirt and khakis could save your life.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Good points guys.
I just bought a 5.11 tactical bag for $60 and I bought the hydration bag that can clip in the outside. It just does a normal bottle of water and I’m fine with that. I’ll add a few extra bottles and a life straw to the inside of the pack. I also bought a general smaller pack that attaches to the outside.
milk use this pack for hunting, hiking, camping, and a get home/bug out bag. Many of these items will translate to multiple situations.
I just bought a 5.11 tactical bag for $60 and I bought the hydration bag that can clip in the outside. It just does a normal bottle of water and I’m fine with that. I’ll add a few extra bottles and a life straw to the inside of the pack. I also bought a general smaller pack that attaches to the outside.
milk use this pack for hunting, hiking, camping, and a get home/bug out bag. Many of these items will translate to multiple situations.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
While flint and steel are probably a better idea, I recently got one of these for my zippo . Seal seems to hold, and let's me carry spare fuel on me. A few drops + flint and steel could probably be well worth it in a survival scenario and takes up less space. One full canister would probably last you far longer than cotton balls and petroleum jelly, while taking up less space. Just a thought.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Yeah I’m going to get a lighter as well. I bought one of the small things of zippo lighter fluid. I’ll put it in some heavy duty ziplock bags. I figure if it can travel across the country it will last my bag in a hike.
I’m kind of pissed that 5.11 hasn’t even shipped my bag yet. It did say they have delays due to the CV but it’s been 5 days already. Fast shipping is important to me honestly.
I have some fishing gear
A knife
5 razor blades
Some lint
Two fire starters
Duct tale
A few heat bags for sleeping
Whistle
Compass
Signal mirror
Lifestraw
Some fishing line for tie downs
Safety pins
Change of socks and underwear
Some cleaning supplies
Hand sanitizer
Snacks
A nice multi tool. Some one left it in my car years ago and I asked everyone I thought it could be and everyone said nope not mine man. I’m keeping it
And a few tins to store things in.
I need a first aid kit
Tunicate
Blood clotting powder
An ax
Gloves
At times I’ll add my gun and spare mags depending on where I’m going.
I’m also asking for a Garmin gps 20x.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Just received an email that my pack is delayed. No eta. What a joke.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
Get both a lighter and the canister. The canister has a rubber seal. For the zippo, you get some bike innertube (I use 1.5 inch diameter. It's tight, but you want it tight to keep the air out) around the cap. You just want to cover the break in the cap, so you can roll it down at will and open the lighter easily. For long term, take both the canister and the lighter, and vacuum seal them (not super tight) to keep all air out of both for long term storage. Keep them in the BOB that way. Periodically may want to refill the lighter just to be safe, few times a year. The fuel pod seems to hold well, so maybe every year or two replace the fuel in the canister and put a new backup flint in it since they degrade over time.
Also, get something raw metal cause it makes a better seal with the rubber and is reflective so you can use it as backup signal mirror. I've got a brass cause it's cheap and works. Cleans up back to a mirror finish when tarnished.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Very good advice.
I especially like the lighter doubling as a signal mirror.
I also have a zippo lighter without any lighter fluid in it and it lights these waxed wicks. It works very well. They are light and small enough I will carry both.
now only if my bag didn’t get lost. It hasn’t moved in shipping since Friday 12/5. It is coming from California so maybe it’s still in route but that seems odd to me.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
My bag made it to Illinois. I hope the bag is big enough. It’s 24 liters so that would mean 12 two liter poop bottles worth. However I watch a 5.11 video and they said it’s a half day pack. I can’t imagine 24 liters not being enough.
Mine was an 18l bag. I had a few pouches molled to it and the bag served all of my needs. Zip lock bags with all the air out helps. Organization is the key and a must for a good, optimal bag.
Celt
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I can't wear wool because it gives me a rash. Does Merino wool itch like standard wool?You can go for weeks without changing your clothes, but you don't take care of your feet, your dead!
These new age fabrics don't work, and cotton kills, they have to be wool, even in the summer, they work. Grunts know these things.Merino Wool Socks 3 pack
MERINO WOOL SOCKS, 3 PACK, NICE WARM SOCK AND A GREAT BUY!armysurpluswarehouse.com
Robin
Edit, I just looked it up and Merino wool is supposed to be okay for people that normally react to regular wool.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
I throw just colored craft paper in any ziplock bags I have for two reasons:
- It color codes the bags.
- Items in the bag are against a lighter backdrop, making them easier to see.
- I can remove the paper and break it into pieces and use them for trail markers as a secondary use, if need be.
You already answered, but, I always seem to have a reaction to wool as well, The Merino, little to no issues.
Celt
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Good to get the confirmation. I really need to get some of these socks already.
I watched a good video on bug out bags the other day, and I really need to include a couple of things in my standard bag. Two things I'm going to add are a mini crowbar and a mini pair of bolt cutters. Because I work in the city, those are two items I very well may need if I ever were trapped in the city and not able to drive my car home.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
I have yet to have to return a pair of Darn Tough socks (Merino wool). Pulls here and there, but no holes. Been wearing them for years cause the Hanes ones are garbage and don't cushion my feet like Darn Tough does.
I buy a pair or two a year when I see a sale. I think I have like two weeks worth of pairs at this point cause they won't die, even hiking in them.
Merino is definitely worth it / the way to go.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
This is always solid ( Sparrows Jim ), but they have a lot of sets that are worth looking at. What do you want to open, exactly? I carry a small set in a Go-Tube in my pocket when I want to be covert -- even though lockpicks are legal in NY to carry. Some rakes and a tension tool, basically. Few shims. Stuff like that.
Target
6.5 Creedmoor
When buying Merino socks, always check the wool content. It can vary from 20% to 72% like the ones above .
They also make Alpaca wool socks. Not sure how it differs.
They also make Alpaca wool socks. Not sure how it differs.
Celt
.450/400 Nitro Ex
If I've got a cut through a fence or cut off a padlock on something, and as far as a crowbar; in case I got to pry open a door. Imagine a scenario where I'm stuck in an urban area overnight. It would be nice to be able to get behind a closed door somewhere if I needed to.
Other than that I have some MREs to last me a few days, water, water purification,Compass, a map, Fire Starting stuff, some additional cold-weather layers, garbage bags , zip ties, etc...
I wouldn't mind getting a solar panel, one of the compact roll up type ones to charge my cell phone if need be.
libertysnake
.338 Win Mag
The solar panel is useful not so much for making calls -- as in SHTF cell service is probably going to be spotty -- but for the maps on your phone. You could basically have massive amounts of offline maps of the entire USA on the phone. Unless the battery goes completely on the phone, you're talking years worth of access to the maps.
I was thinking of getting some sort of cheap tablet with replaceable batteries somehow, and just have a spare lithium battery or two. That's really the main determining factor on a lot of phones, the battery over years. Long as you keep the device dry and charged, you're gtg with nearly limitless resources in your BOB. Countless books, maps, everything. Throw the device in a faraday bag and it's even protected against EMP.
Actually, to be honest, for just pure text, something E-Ink is your best bet. Why? Kindle will last something like weeks on a single charge. Doesn't take much to charge it even. So you're not wasting a lot of time charging the kindle.
So I'd probably take my kindle + some sort of cheap tablet I have yet to find for maps.