Bug Out Bag (aka: Ultimate Survival Kit)
Be Prepared. For Anything.
(15)
Recently, when the sky turned black in the middle of the afternoon over my Orange County home, I started thinking about survival. The fires were burning in several directions within five or six miles, and I knew there might be a chance I would need to evacuate. Thankfully, the fires didn’t burn any closer, but I knew I needed some gear and I need a plan.
When a natural (or man-made) disaster comes (or when the zombies do finally arrive), your preparedness will be an utter necessity. I’ve assembled the following kit based on my own survival needs. Yes, the contents your kit may vary, but the important part is that you have one.
A) Spec-Ops “T.H.E. Pack” ($200)
T.H.E. Pack is the platform in which all your gear is carried. Depending on the scenario, you may have to walk long distances and lug all your supplies on your back. I chose this pack because of its military-esque design; it’s rough and tough and ready for use. With 1730 cubic inches of space there is plenty of room for all of your gear, and the ergonomic design and pocket layout is comfortable and functional.
B) MSR DromLite ($25) & Hydration Kit ($20)
The DromLite is much more versatile than the average plastic hydration bladder. The outer skin is 200-denier Cordura nylon and the inside is coated with food grade polyurethane. The hydration kit converts the spout on the bag to a hydration straw that will fit nicely in T.H.E. Pack, with the straw exiting one of the flaps on the top of the bag.
C) Adventure Medical Kits S.O.L. 3 ($56)
I’m not a huge fan of prepackaged kits; usually they are poorly made and include a ton of garbage. The following kits have nothing but essentials and are tested for survival. Adventure Medical Kits S.O.L. 3’s (Survive Outdoors Longer) are compact and include all the tools for handling any emergency situation. One side of each pouch includes a host of medical supplies including Ibuprofen, tape, EMT shears (a new pair can cut a penny in half), moleskins (for blisters, not journaling), a ton of bandages and dressings, and some other necessities. The other half of each pouch is dedicated to survival gear. A survival blanket, compass, whistle, cable ties, mini headlamp, flash mirror, and Tinder Quik (a fire starter) are just some of the items that make up these kits.
D) Army Ranger Rick Kits ($15-$25)
If this kit is a bit too large for your tastes, Army Ranger Rick has assembled a few smaller kits that contain a safety whistle (really loud), folding knife, 550 cord (parachute cord with a strength of 550 lbs.), saw, signal mirror, LED light, and sparker. Army Ranger Rick additionally offers a water purification kit with Aquatab tablets and a condom… for holding water (a surprisingly innovative and space conscious water container). But if it does turn out to be the end of the world, well, best to be prepared.
E) MSR Titan Tea Kettle ($60) & Vargo Titanium Alcohol Stove ($30)
I LOVE all things titanium. MSR has developed a tough little kettle that is perfect for heating water for the Mountain House Meals. Even better is the tiny titanium Triad stove; a denatured fueled burner that is great for boiling up a few cups of water. Be sure to use it outside (denatured alcohol can have a bit of an odor) and couple with a wind break (DIY plans are available here). After 30 seconds of priming, you’re just a few minutes away from hot boiling water.
F) Poncho ($20) & Liner ($20)
These are great for staying dry, and can be used as a potential shelter. Pair this with a poncho liner (cleverly disguised as my backdrop), which is a military type blanket. Staying dry and warm are keys to survival.
G) Petzl Tikka XP ($50)
There are a million great flashlights out there, but for practicality I’m all about the Tikka XP headlamp. These are great if you need to do any type of work in the dark because both of your hands are free. This light has 3 different brightness modes, plus an emergency flash. A small plastic lens will turn the bright beam into a wide flood with the slide of a finger. Affordable and easily found AAA batteries power the Tikka, and that makes it all the more desirable.
Bug Out Bag gear continues on the next page
Love the A.T.F. addition!
As a follow up to my recent post on Neil Strauss's Emergency (http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/04/24/emergency-t... here's a link to Strauss's own Bug Out Bag and its contents: http://neilstrauss.com/fliesian/bugout.html
Great information, I have been slack in putting together a survival kit, thanks for supplying the motivation to do so.
nice! with the addition of the alcohol, tobacco and firearms (though, i personally don't carry firearms…maybe i should consider it) i do believe this is the most complete list i've ever seen!
i'm sure you guys are familiar with http://countycomm.com/index1.htm which is where i get some of my stuff. namely my split pea lighter and my flint stick. they have everything you could need and killer prices too.
Alan,
I am a huge fan of CountyComm, that place will burn a hole in your pocket if you're into "tactical" stuff.
-Jon
"Tactical" includes wolverine claws, right?
Haha only one's that are blacked out for stealth.
Dan, remind me to put you on my shortlist of people I'd want in my lifeboat.
just give me a call when the zombies come
do the insane women of New York qualify?
perfect timing. I've been working on my bug out bag for the last week. So far, i'm concentrating on the items that can fit into a .50 caliber ammo box. Works great and takes up no room in my trunk
Great idea but with the exception of the medic kits, datrex rations, and glow stick the rest is for a Hollywood premadonna stuck out in Sacramento.
As far as the pack goes, if your spending that money for a pack get one that has a hydration kid already built in. Such as Badlands Packs, the Diablo, buy the pack and extra hydration kit.
Binoculars are a definite need, see what's lurking up ahead before you become lurked. Something small yet durable, such as Nikon's Monarch ATB.
Next you need a real knife not some flimsy endorsed butter knife. Something that will stand up to your survival expectations, go for the SOG SEAL Pup Elite w/ Kydex Shield has part of the blade exposed for quick cuts w/o having to unholster your knife.
It is extremely important to make sure you always have a magnesium fire starter, water proof and will always provide a spark, and a personal favorite is the Model 60 Flint & Steel and Magnesium Fire Starter.
Lose the dorky miner's headlamp and get the Cyclops Orion 5 LED Hat Clip Light, more realistic and a good survival pack should always include a good hat.
Finally, you need to have a GPS and a few batteries. A good GPS will tell you what time sunrise and sunset is, essential when having to build a make shift shelter. It will also help to track where you came in from if you ever get lost. My list could use a few more items but you get the gist of what it really takes to have a true survival bag.
Aaron,
Thanks for reading Gear Patrol and commenting. It's always great to get feedback from our readers. I obviously can't speak for Dan, but I do share his interest in this area. Your suggestions are great and would make good additions to any BOB. Obviously there are always things you can add to a BOB to make it better. That SOG knife is great though, perfect for cutting paracord or fishing line hassle free. And a boonie hat would be in my bag since I look like Casper the ghost. I have to say discounting things like a leatherman, ponho, or an otterbox seems shortsighted to me. A leatherman is a hugely useful tool in everyday life never the less a survival situation. The poncho and otterbox fill one of the most important needs when surviving…staying dry, and considering Global Warming and Hurricane Katrina it stands to reason getting wet is a big possibility. Hypothermia kills Hollywood premadonna's and survivalists alike.
Lastly you have to consider for the vast majority of people a BOB would get used in an Urban or Suburban environment after a natural or man made disaster, and really is only meant for 72 hrs. As such they don't need the set up someone in a rural environment does, and they'll have the ability to do some urban "foraging" if need be. Your BOB needs to be tailored to your environment whether that be Hollywood or central Maine. Check out this thread from the EDC Forums on a BOB vs. Bag of Evil that's pretty interesting http://edcforums.com/index.php?topic=27881.0
Keep reading and keep commenting!
-Jon
I most definitely agree that it must be tailored to the overall specifications of the user and their environment. I agree that there are the great beneficial uses for the items I left out as well, especially the leatherman. Thanks for the comment and article!
wow! what a great response from everyone! this really was a ton of fun to build and thanks for all the comments! @aaron good thoughts on the GPS and the SOG Seal is a fantastic knife! @jon_gaffey i'm definitely going to check out that bag of evil!
Dan,
Great article! Let me know what you think of that Bag of Evil.
-Jon
This is great! I recently had a road emergency that had me stranded for several hours, late at night, in the middle of nowhere. And believe it or not my cell phone gave out and I hat to walk several miles to contact someone. Although it was nothing alarming, during the walk it got me thinking of just this. Would I survive in a real emergency and more importantly, I am prepared?! I mean, I am a Boy Scout. Does that count? Anyway, as usual I'm here at the old GP and you guys got me covered. Time to dust off my handbook. Thanks guys!
I have the SOL 3 and the only thing I don't like is the lack of real 550 cord. They supply "cord" but real 550 is always better. Have it on you, all the time!
http://scottsknotsstore.com/Survival.html
scooter, i have a 550 landyard that came with the Army Ranger Rick kit (kinda hard to see but it is right in the middle of the photo next to the little triad stove). i too really enjoyed the SOL3 but when it comes down to it, you can't beat the 550 for practicality and strength.
kudos on the fire fob! that is a badass piece of gear! nice site and cool stitching!
-dan
Thanks Dan. Great bag, good writeup. Do you know about the survival kit contest going on at woodsmonkey.com? The prize is a Charlie May knife.
i did see the contest on woodsmonkey! that is a fantastic site with some great reviews. i see the prize also includes a lanyard and survival bracelet from scottsknots
Aaron,
I think your suggestions are great and thanks for the input. I'm not sure if you aware of it, but we're actually now taking article submissions from readers like you, and if you've got other ideas on outdoor/survival gear that you'd like to share with the community by all means write something up and <submit it</a>. We love the fact that guys such as yourself take the time to read our site, and firmly believe that's what makes Gear Patrol's community different.
-Ben.
Bug out bag. Try to take foods that do not take water to prepare, I see so many bug out
bags with things like, instant oatmeal, hot chocolate & soups. The water should be for
drinking & take vitamins & protein bars. I also take a bottle of fiber, not only is
fiber needed but it also swells for a full feeling. I came across what is called
Lifecaps. They are a capsule that has everything needed to survive without food with
the exception of water. It is full of vitamins & minerals plus Iodine. Anyway, you take
three of them a day & drink water. I can actually take enough food in one backpack to
last 6 months because of these little Lifecaps, protein bars, fiber & water. I will run
out of water in a week so I do carry a small filter & a couple of those straw water
filters that filter the water as you suck.
You do not always have the ability or time to heat water to make soup or oatmeal. Anyway,
after I bought 25 bottles I found a coupon code & bought 75 bottles more. The coupon code
is… healthcap It will get you 33% off. There are also sites that have those filter straws
that are cheaper than any of the stores around here. (SLC) I think they are a really good
idea along with some purification pills. I cannot remember the sites off the top of my head
but you can Google for aquamira filter straw. Aquamira is the manufacture but do not buy
off there site because I have found them for almost 1/2 what they want on their own site
on other sites. Ipecac is also a great idea to have on hand Good luck, Gods speed & get serious about your bug out bag!
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Great stuff in that bag Dan. I'd like to mention I always keep a SAM Splint in my bag as well. Its a great all purpose splint that's moldable and something you can easily cut with scissors. Its the most popular emergency splint in the world and when in a real bind, you can mold it into a makeshift beer cuzzi.
Dan, what's your snail-mail, you need another item for your bag
Been busy at work and doing the knots, just now getting back to this thread.
Some good ideas here except for the GPS. What happens when you run out of batteries or your solar charge breaks? I'd rather have a compass on me then answer that question.
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