Today was a good day. I got to visit my local Army/Navy store while Mrs Jarhead went up to the Goodwill to do some shopping. As I browsed through the various treasures I finally came upon a small camo bag that would fit perfectly in my truck toolbox. Score!
I’ve been looking for something like this to make a small bug-out/survival bag and was thrilled when I saw it back in the used ALICE pack section of the store. It was reasonably priced, so I picked it up. Here’s a picture of it next to my bug-out bag. It’s got less capacity, but I want to keep something in the truck with essential equipment just in case.
Check out this recent story of a guy who got stuck in the Maine woods for four days. Granted, I wouldn’t try to cross that washout with that particular vehicle, but the story is short on details, so until I hear more I’ll give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
Anyway, back to the new survival bag. The idea is to have it live in the truck. Schlepping my bug-out bag around between vehicles is a pain sometimes, but I hate leaving home without something as a back up, which is why I’ve had this particular idea brewing in the back of my mind. Its got straps, so that I can throw it over my shoulders and wear it as a pack if I have to. As a matter of fact, it reminds me of a miniature seabag when I sit and look at it.
In the second picture I’ve put a light sleeping bag in just to fill it out a little. Here’s a couple of small items I’ll be putting in it (that’s my knife and a firesteel in the far left of the picture.)
So far I have a 2 qt canteen, a canteen cup, a small stove, whistle and compass, matches, and my knife.
The way I envision using this bag is if I somehow manage to get myself stuck or broke down in the middle of the woods I’ll have enough gear to survive comfortably.
Here’s my question to you: knowing how I want to use it and seeing what I already have for equipment in the pictures, what would you put in it for survival gear? I already have some gear in the truck like a hatchet, saw, tarp, etc, but my toolbox is only so big and I do have tools and other equipment in there. This particular bag would be for hiking out. (The third picture is my toolbox.)
How about it SHTFblog readers? What would you put in the kit? I like asking you guys these kinds of questions because there’s always some good ideas and your answers help out our new readers as well.
Shout out your answers below and thanks in advance!
-Jarhead Survivor
I would give that washout a second look in my Excursion! No way I would try to cross it in a PT Cruiser. At least he came out ok.
water & food.
Agree, some food. Can purify water in your metal cup, but some iodine tabs? I wouldn’t ad much else, as its for short term emergencies, especially if you carry an edc knife. Knowledge will get ya home, and legwork… why add more to the weight?
Well down here in Ky , We have wild hogs , wild /feral dogs, bears and snakes. I never go out W/O my .357 mag or .45LC . For my survival kit . A hudsons bay ax, GI poncho, shelter 1/2, wool blanket, firstaid kit, big plastic rectangle,fire starter ,GI canteen cup&cover ,550 cord, good blade, pair a dry sox in a ziplock , 5 or 6 heavy ziplock bags, E tool ,TP and 1 hand held GI rescue smoke / flare . I also keep / rotate some instant coffee, sugar, jerky , rommin noodles , ect. all in an old ALICE MED. ruck . In the fall/winter/ spring, I also put a WP bag with wool clothing /swetter, dry boots and a rain suit behind the truck seat . That and a box a ‘catritges and I’m good to go. Ray in ky
+1 on the extra socks!
Maybe go with a warm parka that packs down small instead of the sleeping bag. I’d clip a small compass to it and put some food in it.
A mono gill net, 1 1/2 inch mesh, 6 to 8 ft long. Weighs next to nothing, takes up little space. One of the best food gathering tools going.
… and a small can of “Crisco” shortening, so you can fry up your catch.
some compact food, ie protein bars or something, some water purifying tablets, paracord, aluminum foil, and some kind of waterproof tinder. With what you have already and what I have listed you can pretty much do anything baring the more severe weather conditions. The paracord is the only thing that will take up much room followed by the protein bars not that either would take much really.
Heck you could wrap paracord around the straps on the pack to save room on the inside. The idea being something like a paracord belt or bracelet. To expand on this idea you might even sew on some pouches to the outside fo the pack as well for acouple of small items.
In addition to paracord, add some Gorilla tape and a pack of plastic ties. You can never have enough cordage or fasteners. If there’s room, a stripped down first aid kit. Things like a couple of battle dressings, roll of gauze, EMT shears. Gorilla tape and a small sewing kit can do double duty in a pinch.
I like the Gorilla tape! What about a pack of Quik Clot just in case…
I’d recommend pre-emting unwanted attention by ensuring your survival bag doesn’t ‘look’ like a survival bag.
yeh, wool socks, lots of cordage, GI winter helmet liner.
dark safety goggles. (UV rated)
one pair, extra large leather work gloves, sized to fit over a pair of GI or “rag wool” liners, which you should have also.
mosquito headnet, and mosquito repellant.
…and somewhere in the vehicle: (doesn’t need to be in the kit)
the jack, and lug wrench,
a “jack board,” (one foot square, or bigger of 3/4″ plywood)
low pressure tire guage,
tow strap, rope or chain,
fire extinguisher,
first aid kit,
e-tool, or shovel.
(a tire pump and patch kit wouldn’t hurt either)
… and a working flashlight!
Keep everything dry -line inside with contractor bag, and throw in 9×12 plastic sheeting. +2 on the spare socks!
How about some sort of small first aid kit? Pain meds? You never know when you may need it.
The article about guy lost in the Maine woods got me laughing out loud when I read the last sentence
“He told wardens he was glad he was found when he was… the only other can left at the camp was Alpo dog food.”
At least he had something left to eat!
Alpo ain’t that bad, tried a little last time I bought it for my dogs.
I have tasted worse.
When I was 5 my mom was cooking hamburgers in the kitchen & while she was waiting for them to cook, she opened a can of cat food on the counter next to the stove. As she scooped it out into the cat dish a piece of this meat looking substance fell on to the counter.
She turned to put the dish down on the floor & my 11 year old sister thought she spotted some rogue piece of cooked hamburger laying on the counter & snatched it up & popped it into her mouth. The look on her face when my mom told her she just ate cat food was hysterical!
Maybe she should have doused it with some mustard first …
To answer your question –
I always carry a couple gallons of water in 16 oz bottles, a military folding shovel, extra set of clothes, flash lights, a couple of knives, rope, matches, storable packaged food (several days worth), cell phone charging cord (car battery can charge the phone), 2 large towels, tooth brush, bush hat & what’s left of my brain.
Lots of great items up there, but I would add (or maybe I missed it?) a pair of well broken in boots or footwear. If you are going to walk out, the walk should be as comfortable as possible – its how you get out of there.
I would get a PALS/ MOLLE 3 day pack or day pack ……………just in case you need to expand on it . MOLLE to me is the best thought out , designed system ever made . I just wish one of the big backpack manufacturers would start making heavy load packs with PALS webbing , right now , the only one that does is Eberlestock .
Hey Jarhead , quick question : if you had to pick a heavy load pack which one would you choose , the ILBE or the MOLLE II ?
I don’t have any experience with ILBE at this point, but I’d like to get my hands one of those packs and give it a try. It’s got pretty good reviews from what I’ve read about it. I like the MOLLE packs pretty well. They’re well thought out and I really like the way items connect to the pack.
ALICE was a huge pain in the ass and with the exterior frame it was a back breaker with a the 60 to 65 lb loads we had to carry. I humped ALICE all over hell and gone and while it works pretty well for a light load I don’t like it for carrying heavy loads. I’m going to price out the ILBE packs and see if I can get my hands on one. I’ll get back to ya!
And a pack mule to carry it all. After 6years in the Army, multiple Ruck marches of 15-20 miles, for “fun”, with a minimum 50 lb pack, I have definitely become a minimalist. My car kit has a coffee can (think I got the idea for that here), small tarp for shelter or poncho, lighter and matches, 550 cord, some ramen, some iodine, and an emergency blanket. Combined with my EDC, which includes a. 45 and a knife, the mess kits out at 15 lbs or less. I’m old, but I can Cary 15 lbs all day, and nature provides the rest. For that matter, these are luxury items anyway, as I can get along without any of them if i have to. Knowledge, (cordage, bowdrill, simple rock tools, hardest is boiling water to purify but can accomplish it with a hollowed out stump and hot rocks, if nothing else). Its nice to have the luxeries, but not if you have to hump them all over.
Yeah, I still have the coffee can kit in my truck as well. I thought that was a particularly good idea. :-)
Agreed on all your points, although a few minimal pieces of gear can really make your journey a lot easier: pot, poncho, knife and firesteel combo.
I second the idea that knowledge in any situation will give you an advantage. Good comment.
A good beginner’s book for primitive living skills is “The Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living” by the macpheresons. (Totally butchered the spelling f their name,) . It doesn’t teach survival as much as it teaches techniques used by primitive cultures, the world over. You wnt learn to make an artistic Clovis point spear, (a skill requiring years f practice) but you will learn tp love, not just survive. Then branch out. I’m also not saying to not get the “luxeries”, just don’t get more than you can hump, or really need.
Live not love… stupid phone
50 foot of paracord, at least half a roll of duct tape, and a Berkey sport water bottle with a few tea bags stuffed in it.
(assuming you have emergency car repair & 1st aid separately: ) water, high-cal snack bars, blanket/sleeping bag, TENT (quick light popup), large raincoat. Assume you carry cash, phone, flashlight, lighter, walking shoes, & pocketknife/tool, and that you already knew where you were.
Lol, can’t argue with that jarhead, and I still have my edc and coffee can car kit. But a couple of the therapy have more in their car kit than I do in my BOB. Course, they may be younger and less battered than this old stonestacking (stone masonry was my profession for over a decade ) former soldier. Or, lol, maybe I’m just getting lazy…
I got ahold of a USMC molly rig frome a guy who just got out. Utter crap, WAY over engenered . Made with 10+ nylon pannels , 4 coil zippers , like 25-30 fastex clips and 30+yards of webbing. With the not to be ajusted internal frame it comes in at 7+lb by its self. AND THE GOOD NEWS. it carries less than the B.G.T . I shit canned it after 3 days. I been haulin’ LC-1′ round from when I was a boot (1975) , guess Im just used to it. Hell, I LIKE the medum LC-1 , had one for so long I know all its evil ways. And yeh, child of Odin. I’m into flintlocks , flint knaping ,yew self bows , fire drills ECT. but I like to be warm dry and fed. neolithic hunting promises none of that, its only a CHANCE to survive. If I ten ring bambi , porky or thumper with the mod.19 GOT CHOW! Add the sleep kit ,shelter ,bo-bo box & dry sox & hell I can walk home.
What you gonna do when your truck gets stolen and SHTF comes simultaneously?
@ Ray. Lol, not advocating going caveman. If you read all my psots, you’ll see I do have a BOB, car kit, and edc. BOB stays at home, car kit and edc have lots of multifunction small items, and weigh less than 15 lbs . Including a gun, knife and 8 feet of paracord. Well 16 feet of paracord with the new key fob. But it is minimalist. And I don’t need it. That’s all I’ve said, is that some of you have enough gear in your car kit to equip my whole family wit BOBs and I just wondered how you were planning on carrying vitally. Not specifically you Ray, just responding to your response.
Dad is a lumberman. Or lumberjack. Got hurt a couple weeks ago, next time I visit I will make him a really good first aid kit. He had skin grafts done today after all the dead skin was cut out. Holy poop after shtf.
Hotsauce. trust me bro.. it comes in handy EVERYWHERE