Finally bought a Bug Out Bag today
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Think rule of 3’s.
- 3 minutes without air (or in icy water)
- 3 hours without shelter in harsh conditions
- 3 days without water
- 3 weeks without food
- Cutting tool
- Combustion device
- Cover / shelter
- Container
- Cordage
- Candling device
- Cotton bandana
- Carlo / duct tape
- Compass
- canvas needle
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GREG,
Good info....THANKS !
REDD
Good info....THANKS !
REDD
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Greg, great go by, I remember that!!!
I must admit though a lot of my stuff I got ideas from @RACHGIER , he knows his crap when it comes to this stuff, at least along the lines of how I go about things.
I'm sure he will be along and make a REALLY long post full of great info!! Or just link one of his other responses lol.
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For rudimentary shelter, I put an SOL Escape Bivy in my bug-out bag.
www.surviveoutdoorslonger.com
This is the breathable model that's also a bit more robustly constructed than typical space blankets. Using it in conjunction with a poncho shelter will give you compact and effective protection from the elements.
For fire making, I got a Blast Match, which is a spring-loaded fero rod inside of a handle with a striker. When you open the end, fero rod deploys, and then you press down on the striker as you press the handle forward, causing the striker to scrape and ignite sparks from the rod. I've used mine to ignite Vaseline-soaked cotton balls. It works very quickly and is easy to use.
I got a mil-spec lensatic compass, also, for navigation. You need something durable, stable and accurate if you're going to do any dead-reckoning, and the mil-spec models are about the best for that purpose.
For water filtration, this is what I got:
www.rei.com
Additionally, I put a Life Straw into the pack for quick drinks from water sources if needed.
I'm a fan of the CRKT M-16 line of knives, and a folder is always good to have along with a fixed-blade knife. This model is what I got years ago. It is robust, easy to deploy and keeps the blade securely opened.
www.crkt.com
For a compact stove to heat a canteen cup of water, I put in an Esbit stove with some fuel tabs. It works. In a pinch, you can use sticks for your heat source right on the surface where a fuel tab would normally go, but you have to keep adding them pretty quickly as the fire burns.
This list is hardly extensive, but it will give you a starting point for your shopping list.
Escape Bivvy
The game just changed! The Escape™ bivvy combines breathability, body heat reflectivity, and water resistance for the most fully-featured backcountry emergency shelter in the SOL line.
www.surviveoutdoorslonger.com
This is the breathable model that's also a bit more robustly constructed than typical space blankets. Using it in conjunction with a poncho shelter will give you compact and effective protection from the elements.
For fire making, I got a Blast Match, which is a spring-loaded fero rod inside of a handle with a striker. When you open the end, fero rod deploys, and then you press down on the striker as you press the handle forward, causing the striker to scrape and ignite sparks from the rod. I've used mine to ignite Vaseline-soaked cotton balls. It works very quickly and is easy to use.
Robot or human?
www.walmart.com
I got a mil-spec lensatic compass, also, for navigation. You need something durable, stable and accurate if you're going to do any dead-reckoning, and the mil-spec models are about the best for that purpose.
For water filtration, this is what I got:
Katadyn Hiker Microfilter | REI Co-op
The lightweight, reliable and easy-to-use design makes the Katadyn Hiker microfilter a great choice for backpacking and trekking.
www.rei.com
Additionally, I put a Life Straw into the pack for quick drinks from water sources if needed.
I'm a fan of the CRKT M-16 line of knives, and a folder is always good to have along with a fixed-blade knife. This model is what I got years ago. It is robust, easy to deploy and keeps the blade securely opened.
M16®-14ZSF
Our Carson Desert Tactical Folders have been developed specifically to blend into the desert environment. Our M16®-14ZSF folding knife features our super rigid InterFrame build with 420J2 stainless steel liners, threaded stainless steel back spacers, and Desert Camo pattern glass-reinforced...
www.crkt.com
For a compact stove to heat a canteen cup of water, I put in an Esbit stove with some fuel tabs. It works. In a pinch, you can use sticks for your heat source right on the surface where a fuel tab would normally go, but you have to keep adding them pretty quickly as the fire burns.
This list is hardly extensive, but it will give you a starting point for your shopping list.
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Let's cover the fundamental baselines for any BoB, Survival Kit, or IFAK loadout. Personalization.
A. What are your limitations?
Pack your bag based on what you need help with, not what you do well.
B. What are your expectations with this kit, and how many people are you needing to support?
Is this kit supposed to get you through the day, a week, a month, etc and how far (distance) do you need it to take you?
C. How much shit do you think you need vs what will you actually need?
The key is to stay fast, light, and mobile.Every ounce counts.
D. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
I run my survival/medic bag, which I detailed the shit out of in another thread(s), and a chest rig with mission critical survival shit if I lose the main bag. The key word here is 'me'. The main bag will keep a team rolling indefinitely. The chest rig will keep me rolling.
E. Location, location, location.
What environment do you need to survive in because gear will change often and extremely based on the what, where, and when you are.
A. What are your limitations?
Pack your bag based on what you need help with, not what you do well.
B. What are your expectations with this kit, and how many people are you needing to support?
Is this kit supposed to get you through the day, a week, a month, etc and how far (distance) do you need it to take you?
C. How much shit do you think you need vs what will you actually need?
The key is to stay fast, light, and mobile.Every ounce counts.
D. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
I run my survival/medic bag, which I detailed the shit out of in another thread(s), and a chest rig with mission critical survival shit if I lose the main bag. The key word here is 'me'. The main bag will keep a team rolling indefinitely. The chest rig will keep me rolling.
E. Location, location, location.
What environment do you need to survive in because gear will change often and extremely based on the what, where, and when you are.
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Great start @Think1st
@RACHGIER my 72 hour kit also consists of 2 bags. I use the Hidden Woodsmen Deep Woods Ruck and Haversack. I also carry my water in a Centerline Systems Mother Canteen Carrier. My IFAK pales compared to yours, but I do keep a trauma kit…sort of.You would probably call it a glorified Boo-Boo kit.
My 72 hour bag is designed to get me home to my family from the 2nd house. Of course the plan is to throw it in my car and drive home. I will be there in an hour and a half. But if I have to hoof it it is almost 70 miles to walk. I am thinking about adding an electric bicycle, but for now it will be by shanks’ mare.
here is my rundown of the 10 C’s. I do carry redundancies.
Cutting Tools:
TOPS B.O.B. - Primary
TOPS Mini Scandi - secondary
TOPS Ucon - hatchet
Awaga Canyon Boreal 21 - saw
Combustion:
Exotac Firerod XL
Exotac Titanlight
Exotac Matchcap XL with Stormproof matches
2 Bic lighters
Flint and Steel
Firebox Gen 2 Ti stove.
Cover:
Lightfighter FIDO 1 AI shelter system
Hidden Woodsmen Blackout Tarp
Klymit sleeping pad and pillow
Snugpak Jungle Blanket
Container:
Heavy Cover Ti canteen cook set
Woodknot Gear Ti French Press
Grayl water filter
Cordage:
Paracord
#36 Bankline
Candling:
Olight Warrior flashlight
Olight Prerun headlamp
Cotton:
Shemagh
2 bandannas
Cargo Tape:
Gorilla Tape
Compass:
Silva Ranger
Canvas Needle:
Exotac Rip Spool
@RACHGIER my 72 hour kit also consists of 2 bags. I use the Hidden Woodsmen Deep Woods Ruck and Haversack. I also carry my water in a Centerline Systems Mother Canteen Carrier. My IFAK pales compared to yours, but I do keep a trauma kit…sort of.You would probably call it a glorified Boo-Boo kit.
My 72 hour bag is designed to get me home to my family from the 2nd house. Of course the plan is to throw it in my car and drive home. I will be there in an hour and a half. But if I have to hoof it it is almost 70 miles to walk. I am thinking about adding an electric bicycle, but for now it will be by shanks’ mare.
here is my rundown of the 10 C’s. I do carry redundancies.
Cutting Tools:
TOPS B.O.B. - Primary
TOPS Mini Scandi - secondary
TOPS Ucon - hatchet
Awaga Canyon Boreal 21 - saw
Combustion:
Exotac Firerod XL
Exotac Titanlight
Exotac Matchcap XL with Stormproof matches
2 Bic lighters
Flint and Steel
Firebox Gen 2 Ti stove.
Cover:
Lightfighter FIDO 1 AI shelter system
Hidden Woodsmen Blackout Tarp
Klymit sleeping pad and pillow
Snugpak Jungle Blanket
Container:
Heavy Cover Ti canteen cook set
Woodknot Gear Ti French Press
Grayl water filter
Cordage:
Paracord
#36 Bankline
Candling:
Olight Warrior flashlight
Olight Prerun headlamp
Cotton:
Shemagh
2 bandannas
Cargo Tape:
Gorilla Tape
Compass:
Silva Ranger
Canvas Needle:
Exotac Rip Spool
We have trauma kits put together, one for B, one for me. They've got about everything but an iv and a neck brace. Honestly though, I need some training. I don't know shit about what most of the stuff in there is or how it works, so we are going to do some training. He's up there with Rach on the knowledge- not quite, he was a bomb guy, not a medic, but does know more than we will hopefully ever need to know.
We each have body armor that we are still in the process of putting together. We've got our vehicles both set up with most everything we'd need if we ended up stranded. Still need to get a couple small additional bags ready and get a set up ready for the kiddo.
I want to look into those fancy ferro sticks! We have Firestarter kits but nothing that fancy. A zip lock with a short pillar candle, a lighter, some cotton, and several sticks of pitchwood.
We each have body armor that we are still in the process of putting together. We've got our vehicles both set up with most everything we'd need if we ended up stranded. Still need to get a couple small additional bags ready and get a set up ready for the kiddo.
I want to look into those fancy ferro sticks! We have Firestarter kits but nothing that fancy. A zip lock with a short pillar candle, a lighter, some cotton, and several sticks of pitchwood.
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@greg_r
I really don't carry drinking water in my setup, per se? I have a lifestraw and purification tablets in the chest rig and a 5L lifestraw mission gravity system with spare straw in my ruck. I also keep an empty 3L bladder in my ruck to fill if I need it and I always have a 40 0z aluminum water bottle that lives in my hand 24/7, even when I'm just running errands. In an emergency there are also a couple bottles of saline in the pouches. One in wound care, the other in trauma. I also keep a couple gallons of distilled water in the truck for the truck. My truck has its own FAK.
To maintain hydration at a bare minimum the average person needs approximately 1L/30oz of water per day in a temperate climate while performing light to moderate work. Currently, I'm surrounded by rivers, lakes, creeks, etc. so I don't need to carry water. From my front door to my cardiologist's office is 74 miles. That's a lot of walking, but I'll be crossing the Arkansas River and several creeks more than a dozen times along the way. At 2lbs per liter and 2 liters per day, I would rather carry a pound of filtration and purification equipment instead.
I really don't carry drinking water in my setup, per se? I have a lifestraw and purification tablets in the chest rig and a 5L lifestraw mission gravity system with spare straw in my ruck. I also keep an empty 3L bladder in my ruck to fill if I need it and I always have a 40 0z aluminum water bottle that lives in my hand 24/7, even when I'm just running errands. In an emergency there are also a couple bottles of saline in the pouches. One in wound care, the other in trauma. I also keep a couple gallons of distilled water in the truck for the truck. My truck has its own FAK.
To maintain hydration at a bare minimum the average person needs approximately 1L/30oz of water per day in a temperate climate while performing light to moderate work. Currently, I'm surrounded by rivers, lakes, creeks, etc. so I don't need to carry water. From my front door to my cardiologist's office is 74 miles. That's a lot of walking, but I'll be crossing the Arkansas River and several creeks more than a dozen times along the way. At 2lbs per liter and 2 liters per day, I would rather carry a pound of filtration and purification equipment instead.
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LOL….mine too. I keep one in both my truck, my car, and my wife’s car. Both the cars get by with a Boo-Boo kit, the pickup truck needs a trauma kit. Plus it takes copious infusions of the mineral oil type!
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Oh no. I meant for the truck. I drive an '01 Suburban that clicks and pops worse than I do. Granted all I really need are 10mm, 12mm, and 21mm sockets and wrenches. 😆FAK for the car....fluids, wrenches, drivers, pliers, jumper cable, straps, power port jumper, spare wire, spare bulbs, fuses, electrical tape, tiny compressor........
Oh....you meant a FAK that is "for" carrying in your car....
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When I saw the Gorilla Tape, it caught my eye because we have rolls of it in our bags. To save space, we grabbed corners of the angled cardboard strip layers in the center and pealed out the entire middle roll form. That allows the whole role of tape to be flattened out. A flattened oval of tape isn't as pretty as a round one, but the tape peels off all the same.
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This would be good exercise in fun - what are the weights of your BOBs. I have 2, well 3 but I don't count the car one cause I don't have to carry it lol.
One is a light weight one, weighs in at 28lbs very basic like 3 days food/water thermal blanket, tent, fire/fire starter stuff knife and a small hatchet. Then I have my full on 45lb one, same as above except more of the above along with medical gear, candles, duct tape, para cord, ponchos, thermal tent... I remember when I was putting them together a good rule of thumb was 25% so I tried keeping it under that 45lb number... I have a small collapsible mil surp shovel that will prolly get attached at some point, still deciding... You know I haven't weighed it in awhile, when I get home I may do that... you know little things get added all the time... Might do a breakdown and see if I still "want" everything I have packed or if I was just being "over-zealous" lol
My Daughters and wife's BOBs are just smaller/lighter versions.
Then we have the "Medical Bob" it has all our meds, tylenol, cold medicine, more detailed first aid gear, bandages... you name it, it's in there (I think...)
Of course that doesn't count my vest with mags, rifle and belt with sidearm and more mags... along with my IFAK.
One is a light weight one, weighs in at 28lbs very basic like 3 days food/water thermal blanket, tent, fire/fire starter stuff knife and a small hatchet. Then I have my full on 45lb one, same as above except more of the above along with medical gear, candles, duct tape, para cord, ponchos, thermal tent... I remember when I was putting them together a good rule of thumb was 25% so I tried keeping it under that 45lb number... I have a small collapsible mil surp shovel that will prolly get attached at some point, still deciding... You know I haven't weighed it in awhile, when I get home I may do that... you know little things get added all the time... Might do a breakdown and see if I still "want" everything I have packed or if I was just being "over-zealous" lol
My Daughters and wife's BOBs are just smaller/lighter versions.
Then we have the "Medical Bob" it has all our meds, tylenol, cold medicine, more detailed first aid gear, bandages... you name it, it's in there (I think...)
Of course that doesn't count my vest with mags, rifle and belt with sidearm and more mags... along with my IFAK.
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Works with all tape rolled on cardboard. I have flattened rolls of duct tape and electrical tape. I usually break the roll down and rewind some of it on to flat strips of cardboard. You never know when that 3 or 4ft of tape will come in handy.
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You know I NEVER thought of that... good one guys, thank you!!
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Yeah, going to go through my bag over the next few nights, and get it down. I'm sure there is extra. I believe I have some "boxes" of ammo too which adds weight... I have 6 rifle and 3 pistol mags for my belt/vest so I don't need that. Plus, want to make sure I have only 3 days food/water. After thinking on it I may have 6... that adds a lot in water alone.
Oh, instead of the folding saw I have one of those "wire" saws. They work pretty good and weight next to nothing. good enough for small stuff.
The mylar tent and little "wood burner" is weight my wife wanted me to add... it's light foldable one, but like you said, every ounce counts...
Maybe if I get that stuff off (ammo and food) I can add that small shovel and still be around 30lbs lol
I may have a few knives too... I know I can only use 1 at a time...
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