Today’s post is a guest article from DavidSurvival.com and he has some good ideas about bug-out bags. See what you think.
-Jarhead Survivor
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Choosing the best bug out bag for survival or emergency situations is actually a lot easier than expected. In fact, any bag will do as long as it has enough space to carry essential items.
A backpack, a messenger bag, or even a duffel bag can be a handy commodity in times of crisis. Those who are dead serious on obtaining the right bag should consider the tips and pointers below.
Those who will not travel a lot may opt for a compact model since it can easily blend with the city setting. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of preparing in times of crisis where one does not want to cause alarm.
While a huge bag can be advantageous at times, there are times where a compact one can be as beneficial as its huge counterpart since it can carry energy bars, survival gears, water bottles, and other essential items.
Those who do not need a hydration pack but would want to carry more essential items than conventional a compact bag can opt for a two-strap backpack. A backpack is versatile bag that comes in a wide range of sizes, colours, and styles.
Like a compact bag, a backpack is usually used on a daily basis; as such, it can be a tactical bug out bag that can be handy during times of crisis. The good thing about it is many models come with padded compartments that can effectively accommodate laptops, mobile phones, and other essential gadgets.
The said option is ideal because some gadgets can be quite handy during emergency situations. Those who are conscious about their gadgets should seriously consider buying a solar backpack since it comes with solar panels that can be used to charge mobile phones, GPS watches, and other small devices
On the other hand, those who want a serious bag should consider a model that comes with an internal frame since this is the best bug out bag for them. It usually comes with back pads, harnesses, and padded straps that help reduce stress on the back and shoulders.
Common sense should be practiced when purchasing a bug out bag. This means, those who live in areas that frequently experience flooding should opt for a water proof unit. A majority of the bags that are sold on the market are made of lightweight materials that can even float on water.
Also, those who want to survive an emergency situation should settle for a unit that is easy to carry. In times of crisis, food bars, and water bottle can go a long way in terms of surviving a calamity.
Having multipul bags is not a bad idea. Bags are like tools each one has a purpose. With ILBE hitting the market makes a great investment and can sit in the closet ready if needed. Carrying a backpack with you during the day always gives you a option in case you are not around your main pack when all heck breaks lose. For me I have a back pack I carry with me with essentials to get home, can I survive out of it for a month? No, but that’s not the purpose, basic needs and to give me time to regroup and figure out how to get home. The ILBE is for time to bail and a more thought out plan. My opinion is have more than one option and dont become reliant on only one style or bag. Become flexiable because if it all goes crazy flexibility will rule.
I probably have five different bags all with different purposes!
I have one bag at the moment that holds all of my equipment. I plan to get a few more bags for more essential items such as food and water.
Well, I’ve got two bags. One in the car at all times and one in my house. Both of them with all I’ll need to survive for a while. I live in the desert so I also have extra water. My car tire well acts as a catch all for my extra water, tools (flatcrow bar, gun cleaning stuff, siphon hose and gas hand pump, extra clothing, tarp, sleeping stuff, tent, pads, etc.). If I have time to leave in my car I have a plastic foot locker ready to go with extra everything, and of course a BOB if I have to leave without the FL. I’ve tried to cover everything, maps, ammo, guns, but I know this is an on going project. I pray every nite that I won’t have to use this stuff and my family and neighbors can laugh at me all the more…..lol…Rusty
Chik-uns versus wabbits, I have both for diverse use, first of all the positive, chickens do not need a rooster to lay egg’s, egg’s are a needful ingredient with alot of receipe’s, they tend to themselves for the most part, and free ranging they can do a great job policing the bugz, fertilizer is plentiful but acidic, negative side, free ranging allows perdators to grab some unless you allow for that with security, without a rooster one cannot use your layers for meat unless you have an abundance of course, two if ya have a rooster he will crow at inoppurtune times and give you all away, wake up the neighborhood, and attract any solo roosters around with his challenging crow, then the fight is on. Rabbit’s are great, they tend to fall ill a bit more then chickens, ear mites, sniffles, cough’s, but they breed well and can eat almost anything green or dried that you have growing with the right knowledge, predators like to try and get at them unless you have security day and night… but both are good choices with a bit of know how to see them along…. Protein anyone?
Thats the main reason I picked up that Molle II large ruck . If its considered good enough for battlefield conditions ……thats good enough for me . The only thing I have a concern about is the frame …..field test will tell .
My locale is probably way different from many of you. Native brush is very thorny and dense, so fabric material gets torn and frayed pretty quickly. No mountains whatsoever, and only one river of substantial size (border with Mexico and I ain’t crossing THAT anytime soon, lol). Hot, humid and buggy – beau coup those three and you pretty much got our weather 10 months out of the year.
Cordura is good, but noisy (remember those thorns ?) so other than that, it works. My choice – Swiss surplus canvas rucksack, old school heavy duty leather / canvas construction. Not much capacity, but I’m 50 with some mileage, so even if you could pack 60 lbs, it wouldn’t be too far, lol. Its very tough and shrugs off that type of abuse. Downside – its heavy.
Good thing – snow is a 100 YEAR (or so) event, and 24 hours of hard freezing temperatures is usually decades apart. So REALLY COLD temperature (read bulky) clothing and sleeping bag really isn’t required.
I’m not a LEO and never been in the military, just hunted and hiked around here for 45 years. This set up works for me. BO is last resort, but still an option.
j.r. – me and hot weather have never been a good mix. If I don’t see any snow in a year it makes me crazy. I’m hoping for a huge winter this year as last year we got totally robbed.
A canvas rucksack eh? Now, that’s old school!
Have faith…we live in Maine. Look north…I snowmobiled all last winter.
I don’t live at the end of the world…but I can see it from here.
jr….glad to see someone else is in a desert climate too. My biggest worry of course is water but I’ve found a few places to go in the winter…..I’m in Vegas….its hot and dry …so I’ll keep looking for a good hideout with water nearby!! Problem is…there will be lots of competition!! Rusty
I gotta laugh…. I bought a big Molle pack with all the little bugs and whistles. I put everything I thought were must haves in it. I cannot lift it…LOL… So unpack and eliminate all the goodies…Like 200 rounds of 7.62×39..Now I can lift it for the 10 mile trek to the retreat. I will be testing that with my nephew so if I have heart attack someone will (hopefully) call 911…
Carl
Hey Carl – it’s a good thing you tested it ahead of time! I remember hiking a 65 lb pack on several occasions and it was awful – and back in those days I weighed about 140 lbs!
You’re doing one of the things that I preach and that’s taking your pack for a nice long walk to see how you feel with it.
Good for you!
I also just bought new hiking boots to replace my jungle boots that wore out after 40 some years. If I get really silly I will test the new ones with the back pack.
good job carl: I know several people that bought expensive gear, didnt test it on short hikes or walks. THen they used it on a real muli-day backpack and damn near died from the blisters and ranger rash. Testing you backpack is just the beginning…pants, shirtssleeping bags ets should all be tested waaaay before you really need to use them. That how I found out that mummy bags and I are not compatible. Although I get dirty looks from the other half, when I buy new boots I start breaking them in just moving aroung the house if the weather is bad.
very true , find out ahead of time to see if its a good piece of gear or junk .
Carl…I just ordered shoulder pads from amazon. The order comes with 2 pairs for around $10.00 so fairly inexpensive for that extra wt. in that bob. They are sheep wool fabric and nice and thick so hopefully will help the soreness around the shoulders. Take a look at them they might be of help to you. Rusty
Salute Jarhead:
Our group professes a layered survival gear system. A small tin can ( tobacco or breath mint can) stuffed with basic essentials in the pocket. A small “messenger” bag on load bearing harness and a full-on backpack. It’s goofy how easy it is to get separated from the backpack.
I live at the gate of camp Pendelton and our group instructs US Marines prior to deployment to the sandlands.
Thanks for all you do Jarhead
Semper Fi Yoda/US Air Force – US Army VET
http://www.magnifiedview.com
l like the idea of different sizes and styles of bags. Seems to me incognito is the best. If l work downtown in a business suit everyday, a backpack is gonna stick out like a sore thumb, however a sling bag or even a computer case might not. You can have different bags to fit the situation as well as the needs. An extra “diaper bag” in a car with a car seat is not uncommon. So if you were truly needing to get home in a SHTF situation, having a bag that blends well to what you’re wearing might be a better option. If you coach little league for example an extra bat bag would look perfectly normal and expected. Just my .02 cents.
Know what you mean about blending in. I work in housing construction. A backpack makes you “some sort if hippy”. I carry one of those cooler lunch bags made out of insulated nylon type fabric. It’s my lunch box and get home bag. Comes in handy on the job when we need a flash light, first aid, spare knife, leatherman, trash bag…altoids tin survival pack. It has even got a built in radio.
For someone new to prepping building a Bug Out Bag can seem like a big task. Everybody you read about has been tweaking theirs for months or even years and has a pile of gear built up. It’s hard to know where to start, but if you cover just all of the basics in a survival situation you will still be much better off that 99% of the people.
We started with one of the kits from http://www.srmarketplace.com and added copies of important papers, extra clothing and an emergency radio too. It takes only a few minutes to pick out a kit that works for your family and have it shipped to you, instead of driving all over town trying to find all the items you need for a good bug out bag. Then spend a day reviewing the contents and adding your extras. Put it in the hallway closed by the door and it’s ready whenever you need it. Total time spent probably 2 hours = Lifetime of Peace of Mind!
I also agree with the earlier posts about actually trying out your bug out kit and especially the boots!!!
This may sound like an odd option but Osprey does a series of rolling suitcase packs with a proper backpack harness built in to the back panel.
I’ve traveled the world with mine and its held up to baggage handlers and regular abuse. It gives the option of attaching things to the outside with its compression straps. The rolling option can give your shoulders a rest if the terrain is suitable.
It’s ideal for blending into gray man situations.
And adding a pack cover can quickly change the color.
And speaking of covers, if you have a Triumph motorcycle dealer nearby, some of the new bikes come with a tank protecting cloth cover that is elasticated around the edges.
Its not going to be waterproof, but you can paint it up to your local terrain, mine is desert colored.
Best part is they’re free if you ask nicely.