The Bug Out Bag
Everyone’s favorite, the Bug Out Bag:
The following pages are taken from my book “When All Else Fails.” I wrote this book because finding practical information and real-world experience about family preparedness is getting harder and harder to find. The book is a down-to-earth, pragmatic approach to family preparedness, without the dogma.
Living from a bug-out bag isn’t going to be comfortable, warm, or easy. It isn’t meant to be, it’s only for bringing basic survival and recovery necessities while traveling due to a crisis.
Supplies
The materials needed to be prepared for such a wide range of possibilities is inextricably linked to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of the individuals preparing; one dependent upon the other. The principle of “the more you know, the less you need” is foundational to investment into preparedness supplies. This principle reinforces the KISS filter, and should help whittle any monetary investment (and material items) down to the affordable essentials.
I’ll give you a few lists from different sources, to get you started thinking about how best to materially prepare your family. No single list is a catchall, they are designed for different audiences, and ranges. Use these lists as examples and build upon them for your specific situation.
Officials’ Supply List
Emergency Management Officials publish the following list of household preparedness as a general rule:
Water—one gallon per person, per day
Food—nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items
Flashlight
Battery powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications (7-day supply), other medical supplies, and medical
paperwork (e.g., medication list and pertinent medical information)
Multipurpose tool (e.g., Swiss army knife)
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (e.g., proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
Emergency blanket
Map(s) of the area
Extra set of car keys and house keys
Manual can opener
Medical supplies (e.g., hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses,
contact lenses, syringes, or a cane)
Baby supplies (e.g., bottles, formula, baby food, and diapers)
Organizing Supplies
Before we get into detailed supply lists or spending any money, we need to establish a system of organization. This will help to make sure that our supplies are efficient and serve their purpose. The best way to organize supplies is by time frame of emergency recovery periods. This means that not all supply kits are equal, some are designed only for short-term, and some are for long-term survival or permanent changes to our way of life. A small get home bag isn’t enough to supply you for a week, let alone the rest of your life. Different situations require different supplies.
One-handed Survival Kit (the last resort)
Bug Out Bag: 3 Days of supplies, light enough to carry. (Hiking Bag)
Camping kit: The family camping gear doubles as a longer-term option if necessary. (Sportsman bins)
You’ll notice a trend with these supply lists: I endorse and use modular kits and double pack only the bare necessities. This way, even if one part of the kit is lost, we’re not screwed. Others will likely need help and be less prepared than we are; we will have enough supplies to help and not just pass by and leave them to die.
One-handed Survival Kit
I’ve gone so far as to pack these in my checked luggage on flights. A water bottle survival kit is in the side pocket of my Bug Out Bag. In case I need to drop the bag, I can grab the bottle and still have tools to help me survive.I’ll come back for the bag when the bear figures out there isn’t anything good in it. I can also give it to someone in need of help. The one-handed survival kit is a large metal water bottle with various small tools and supplies inside: 550 cord, a lighter and matches, a multi-tool, a space blanket and plastic garbage bag, etc. I’ll come back for the bag when the bear figures out there isn’t anything good in it. I can also give it to someone in need of help.
The Bug Out Bag
Most emergency preparedness publications from government authorities recommend preparing for 72 hours. In the home, it’s pretty simple; you probably already have 3 days of food, and most of the supplies you’ll need. Stock up on water, and you’re set. Until you have to evacuate, that is. This is where the ubiquitous “go-bag” comes into the picture. A Bug Out Bag is basically a 72-hour survival kit, ready to grab at a moment’s notice.
The purpose of a Bug Out Bag is to supply you with enough equipment to survive while en route to safety. There is not a Bug Out Bag in the world that can supply you well enough to live the rest of your life. Even Dick Proenneke needed annual resupply via bush plane when he left civilization to live in the Alaskan wilderness. If you’ve never heard of Dick Proenneke, buy the movie made about his legendary escape from civilization. Back to Bug Out Bags…
Bug Out Bags are all about efficiency; lightweight and basic. The trick to a Bug Out Bag is to balance immediate necessity with weight. A good rule of thumb is no more than 20 percent of your body weight. While some might be able to march with 75lbs on their back for 12 miles a day, the rest of us couldn’t maintain that pace and our health. You’ll burn up valuable calories and fluids if your bag is overloaded. Don’t believe me? Go on a 10-mile hike with your bag on.
You just need to pack the basics for survival, long enough to get to your destination, away from the danger. A 2-quart water bladder and a water filter are a good balance between weight and immediate necessity; there is no way you’ll be able to carry 3 gallons of water in a Bug Out Bag and leave room and weight capacity for everything else. Instead, you can find water (if your environment is capable) and purify it as you go. As always, remember the Cost/Benefit Analysis here, and plan accordingly.
My Bug Out Bag is really just my hiking/camping bag. It stays packed, in the garage, and is resupplied regularly with backpacking trips every month or so. Every time I go out, I remove anything I didn’t use the trip before. I’ve whittled it down to a balance between the absolute necessities, and what comforts are worth the weight. This is a good way to think about Bug Out Bags, and bugging out in general: it’s just high-stakes camping. Use your Bug Out Bag regularly: get your money’s worth, gain experience with your tools, and enjoy nature. The more knowledge you have, the less equipment you need to carry.
Speaking of which:
Everyone should know how, and be experienced using every item in their bag. It doesn’t do you any good to have equipment if you can’t use it. Don’t just tell your family how to use the flint and steel, don’t just show them. Make them each demonstrate that they can do it.
Bug Out Bag List
Lightweight backpacking tent: Small and simple is the trick, I’ve got a tent with a vestibule on each side for gear storage and sheltered cooking without suffocating myself in a pinch.
Rainfly: I keep a separate rainfly for covering the camp kitchen, or firewood pile, or as a second layer in strong storms…
High Quality Sleeping Bag: rated to the next lowest rating than the coldest low temperature in my area, or the area through which I’ll travel.
Sleeping Pad: I’ve got a hybrid foam/inflatable pad. Not only does it insulate you from the cold ground, but a good night’s sleep, whenever possible, is always welcome, and is essential for making good decisions.
Knife: A multi-tool is a good option, although I prefer having a secondary survival knife because of the blade strength and durability.
Lighter: Go for a basic Bic lighter. Don’t go for a Zippo or other similar-type lighters. Without a seal, the lighter fluid will evaporate within a week or two.
Fire starter/ fire kit: Always a good option. Cheap, small, and light. No reason to not back up your lighter with another method of starting fire.
Tinder: I keep about 10 cotton balls in a sandwich bag with a dab of petroleum jelly rolled into each. I have found that these catch a spark and hold a flame longer and better than anything else I’ve tried, even on rainy days.
Canteen: a military style canteen with a metal cup attached will give you something to boil water/cook in without requiring extra space. I also have a 2-quart military canteen just in case water is scarce
Can Opener: Grab an old-school military-style can opener. They weigh next to nothing, and don’t take up any space.
Water filter: I carry a Sawyer brand one-gallon gravity filter. It weighs only a few ounces and will filter just about anything you need to worry about. Get the gravity filter: pumps and squeezing are great in theory but have slow flow rates and add much unnecessary work to a camp.
A wool Patu blanket: lightweight but large, and incredibly warm, these are used as cold weather wraps in many parts of the world.
Headlamp: You won’t need anything amazingly bright here, just enough to read, or complete small tasks in the dark.
2 small LED lanterns: The Black Diamond lanterns can run for a few nights on one set of 3 AAA batteries, and two of them provide adequate light for camp without taking up much room or adding significant weight.
Cook Kit and Stove: I keep a two-person basic cook kit (pan and pot) in my bag, and inside the pot fits my lightweight rocket stove. The rocket stove will boil a quart of water in minutes with just a handful of sticks and twigs.
Map and Compass: A map of the local area, including all evacuation locations, is essential, along with a compass. You don’t need anything fancy, just something reliable and easy to read.
Rope: I pack at least 100 feet of 550 cord in each bag. (550 cord also makes great shoelaces)
Medications: I keep a small medication bottle with various, easily recognizable medications (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, allergy medicine, etc.) Any prescriptions should be included separately.
First aid kit: a small, store bought camping first aid kit serves this purpose well.
Sanitation: I keep a package of baby wipes, a toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, a razor, and a small bar of soap in a small kit. Sanitation in very important to health and must be maintained, even in an emergency.
Documents: I keep a photocopy of our family’s Emergency Action Plan, my birth certificate, driver’s license, Social Security Card, and Insurance policies folded up in a water proof pouch.
Cash: I keep $100 in small denominations in my wallet at all times.
Keys: One house key, one of each car key.
Two-way radio with NOAA weather alerts. I have radios that can be charged by mini USB, which a solar panel can take of.
Additional Options
Hatchet: I pack a small tomahawk that is handy for splitting wood, hammering stakes, defense, and many other tasks. It’s a steel head, with an ash shaft that can be replaced in a pinch if it gets broken.
Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate: Small and light, this will boost morale more than you think. It’s a small comfort that can make you feel “normal” for a few minutes, not to mention a great surprise for the family.
Bug Repellent: Another morale booster, let alone a safety issue. Mosquitos are the #1 killer of human beings on the planet from the animal kingdom. Keep them away. (everyone underestimates the humble mosquito in zombie apocalypse movies…)
Poncho: A poncho is a great multi-use piece of equipment that is small and light to pack. It can be used as intended, as a tarp or lean-to shelter, or combined with other tarps to provide more significant shelter.
Solar panel setup: This will charge any electronics ensuring communications as available (I have two-way radios that will charge by mini USB with NOAA radio) and the battery pack charges AA and AAA batteries. I also bought the LED light that comes with the kit; it’s plenty for a tent.
Deck of playing cards: You’ll get more entertainment per square inch with a deck of cards than anything else.
Mylar Blanket: for $3, why not? Small, lightweight, an extra layer of insulation, or another way to rainproof a bush shelter. These are very reflective and can be used for signaling for rescue as well.
A high-quality hammock can be an alternative to a tent, so long as your region has trees to tie it to. Do yourself a favor and try it out a few times before you depend on a good night’s sleep, hammocks take practice. You’ll need one with a bug screen, a rainfly, some additional rope/line, tent stakes, and a few carabiners will make set-up and tear down a breeze. If you’re considering adding better shelter options for a Bug Out Bag, the weight should be a major consideration. Does the shelter pass the Cost/Benefit Analysis? What will you have to give up to gain the shelter and keep the bag easily manageable?
Another point worth making here: if you are traveling with others, all efforts should be made to coordinate supplies between the Bug Out Bags. Having 2 water filters is worth the space and weight, but having 2 tents is not. One person can carry the supplies; one person can carry food and water.
10 steps to a Bug Out Bag checklist
Security: pack the minimum amount of supplies to ensure that you can travel safely to a safe location.
Pistol and/or rifle
Minimal ammunition
Shelter: pack the minimum amount of supplies to ensure you are protected from the elements while en route to a safe, based upon region/season.
Tent/hammock/tarp
Clothing
Water: Pack supplies to purify water sources long enough to arrive at a safe location. Pack the minimum amount of supplies to store enough water between water sources in your region/season.
Water Bladder and drinking tube
Canteen
Water Filter
Fire: pack supplies needed to make fire, including the collection of firewood.
Food: pack supplies needed to collect, hunt, trap, or fish for food, based on region/season. Pack minimal amounts of food in case collection is not possible.
Fishing kit
Knowledge of wild edibles within region/season
Compact, lightweight foods with long shelf life
Tools: pack the most efficient tools available to make shelter in the region and gather firewood.
Saw
Hatchet/Axe
Medical Supplies: Pack enough supplies to last en route to a safe location.
Basic first aid kit
Prescriptions
Toiletries
Communications: Pack efficient and reliable forms of communication
Hand crank NOAA weather radio
Mobile phone and charger
Emergency Action Plan
Return to Normal supplies: Documents, Identification, Keys, etc.
Comfort Items: Items that will help maintain family morale while you’re planning your next steps in recovery.
Resources
FEMA has a great wealth of knowledge available for family preparedness, including preparedness lists, practices, and resources.
https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
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