The Big Bug Out Bag Thread

[Lord of the Large Pants]

I seem to remember a topic for this, but I haven't been able to find it. So I'm making one. A topic, and also a bag. I am not an expert on bug out bags, but I'll post mine for critique and hopefully to get some discussion started.

A bug out bag is a fully packed, easily accessible bag that you can grab and go in the event of a crisis. Most people say you should plan for it to last you 72 hours. This would include food and water, clothes, tools, protection, etc. However, most bug out bag guides assume you're going innawoods for 72 hours for a full camping experience.

That is not my use case, mostly because I would probably, DEFINITELY die. My (most likely) use case is "a probable EF3+ ass-ripper of a tornado will be there in 10 minutes and your home will cease to exist, wat do". I have tried to adjust accordingly.

I actually had a bug out bag before, but it kinda sucked, so I'm doing a heavy redesign. I consider this done not when I've added every possible thing, but when I've removed every possible thing. So, here's where I'm at.

Spoiler: My Proposed Bag

Stuff I Carry Anyway
Phone - Secure-ish phone (Calyx) with critical offline backups and various helpful programs, many of which will work without internet.
Wallet, keys, flash drive, etc.

Bag
Backpack- 5.11 Rush 24, 37L. Fite me.
Hip belt - Padded, with MOLLE. I kinda hate this, it tends to come loose from the attachment points of the bag.
Boots + high socks - Not in the actual bag, but located near bag for easy access.
Jacket/Coat - Also located near bag if needed, depending on weather.

Light
High capacity head lamp - Runs on 4 AAs, long life if run on low light. Will probably include a spare set of lithiums.
Handheld flashlight - Non-Chinesium, USB-micro rechargable.
Clip light - Clips to the bag, has a flexible head and can plug into a USB-A to recharge.

Extra Clothes
Underwear - 3x
Socks - 2x pairs
Breathable short sleeve shirts - 2x
Fancy Tacticool Overshirt - Supposed to be good for hot and cold weather.

Defense
Beretta Storm 9mm full size - Wasn't bought specifically for this. It's a gun I'm reasonably comfortable with but wouldn't totally break my heart to lose in a worst case scenario.
IWB holster - Prints like hell once the hip belt is on but I'm not sure there's much I can do.
Mags - 3x total
Personal defense rounds - 51 total between all mags
Small bag for all this so it's not immediately visible when I open the backpack.
Pepper spray - Non-lethal option, easy access external mount, attached by rip-away magnet.

Food and Water
Hydration bladder - 1L (3L capacity) with water preserver
Grizzly bars - Calorie dense. 1 package, 9 bars, individually wrapped once you break the outer packaging, 400 calories each, for a total of 3600 calories. Relatively low sugar compared to other emergency bars which I think is probably an advantage, but I'm not totally sure.
Survival Tabs - 24 pack. General nutrition.
Flavored tuna - 3 pouches, for protein.
Disposable forks - 3x, for tuna

First Aid Kit
Kit itself is externally mounted for easy detach.
CAT tourniquet - Externally mounted
Trauma shears - Externally mounted
Foil space blanket thing
Heavy-ass disposable gloves - 2 pair
Israeli bandage
Hyfin chest seal
Medical tape
Compressed gauze
Quick-clot gauze
Large island dressing
Non-adhesive burn dressing
Triple anti-biotic ointment
Misc small bandaids

Other Medical (wouldn't fit in first aid kit)
Personal meds - Vitamins, prescriptions, sleeping pills, etc.
General meds - Painkillers, cold and flu, digestion, etc.
SAM Splint - 36" folded

Not included: Actual medical knowledge. Working on it.

Tools
Leatherman Wave - With full bit set and clip.
Spudger - 2x nylon
Paracord - 50', non-Chinesium.
Lighter - USB micro rechargeable electric.
USB cables - 1 Lightning, 1 micro, 1 C
Flat duct tape
Button compass
Local physical map
Signaling whistle
Sunglasses
Poncho - Also not Chinesium. Has attachment points to double as a small tarp.
Bags - Handful of small trash and Ziploc

Misc
Dead Presidents - 500, half in small bills, hopefully semi well concealed in the bag's inner compartments. Might grab extra cash from the same on the way out if I have time.
Mini Bible - New Testament + Psalms
Passport
Deck of cards
Small blank journal
Mechanical pencil
Pen

Hygiene and related
Bar soap
Hand sanitizer
Sunscreen
Bag Balm
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Magic tiny towels that come in a tube and expand in water
Dude Wipes - I know they're kind of a meme but I think they make sense here.
All travel size

On the Fence

Here's some stuff I'm not sure if I want to include, or I know I do but I'm not sure which version.

Extra water - Water is heavy-ish but I'm thinking I should probably take it up to 2L.
Water purification - Tablets, Life Straw, or inline filter for the hydration bladder. Want to include at least one, just not sure which.
Knife - I have a knife in the mutli-tool, but I've heard some reasonable arguments in favor of an extra standalone. I'm trying to decide between Kershaw Blur (small and light, but not fixed blade), Morakniv Garberg (middle ground, but most visible mount point), or a KABAR (ironically the mount point is easier to reach and probably less attention grabbing since I can mount it to the bottom of the bag, but large and intimidating).
18" Crowbar - Not sure how much of a meme pick this would be. It's relatively heavy and I've heard some people say that anything less than 3' is useless.
Battery bank/power - Trying to decide between a small battery bank, a slimline wall adapter, or both. The adapater is unlimited power... if the grid is up. The battery bank is limited and relatively much heavier, but will always do SOMETHING.
Handheld VHF radio - Cell reliability in a disaster is much better than it used to be. Obviously not perfect, but they generally have backup power, etc. Radio communication is limited to other people with radios. On the other hand, that shit don't break and is self contained.
2 capacity mag carrier - Possibly too tacticool and more shit to get in the way on the belt, especially if trying to conceal. However, more ammo easily accessible. Alternatively, I'm wondering if I should even cut back to a single spare mag and just keep it in the backpack. Lead is heavy, yo.
Extra fire starters - Kindling, storm matches, etc. I am not going innawoods so I don't know how useful it would be.
Antibiotics - Not sure if you can still do the trick where you get fish anti-biotics. Not sure if it's a good idea even if you can.
Dust mask - Possible air quality issues/increase in sickness (in general, not necessarily 'rona) during a disaster? Might just be paranoia.

TOTAL CURRENT WEIGHT - Around 20LBS. Then again, 4.5 of that is gun+ammo, and the gun at least is going on my belt immediately (I would think?).

Also, is it normal to have to loosen the shoulder straps, like, a LOT? I have and it still feels like the hip belt is way too high and loose. But I'm a tall, skinny bastard.

Now this whole thing is probably a conceit on my part. I think that in a real crisis I would be one of the first people eaten. But I'm trying, dammit.

So. Bug out bags. Discuss.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

"a probable EF3+ ass-ripper of a tornado will be there in 10 minutes and your home will cease to exist, wat do".

Florida man spotted

 

[The Repeated Meme]

I don't really have such a bag but I do have a rather large backpack I use every day for groceries and things. It's where I keep my spare phone; fix-a-flat, spare keys and some other things in case certain issues arise. I was thinking of throwing one of my battery backups in there too for good measure; but with the backup phone, probably not necessary.

In the event of a catastrophe I can quickly grab all my essentials and be out of the house in seconds; but I don't really see that happening. Power outages on the other hand; much more common which Is why I have a rather large collection of UPSes and battery banks. All I need in a power outage is an ethernet cable to connect my modem to my phone and a battery bank with an adapter to power the modem. With this minimalist setup I could probably last 3 days which is the longest power outage I've ever had.

If I get whiff of an upcoming power outage I also brew up some coffee in advance so I can have iced coffee for the next few days; but if all else fails I can just buy some ghost energy drinks.

 

[Billy Bob Dick]

here's one of the prevoious threads if you're interested:

Thread 'Bug-Out Pack / Go Bags / Emergency Kit'

Jun 1, 2024

So I've kept a bug-out bag in my car for a few years now. Generally nothing more than regular preparedness, but it has shrank and swelled over time depending on life stress, my personal sense of security, finances, etc.

I've got my knives, emergency food and water, thermal kit, blankets, survival and navigation tools, and everything else you'd typically gather. I know from experience however that everything can be improved upon.

I'm also thinking of making a secondary kit for home, which can be grabbed in a heartbeat. I'm already up on my canned and dry goods, so I'd like this thread...

• Flavius Claudius Julianus
• Replies: 101
• Forum: Self-Sufficiency

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[Skitarii]

Flashlight, duct tape, knife, matches, paracord rope, hemp rope, trash bags, 3x clothes,

This private information is unavailable to guests due to policies enforced by third-parties.

(for EU legal reasons this is a joke), vacuum sealed slatko + yoghurt, first aid kit (splints/gause/bandages/scissors/etc, most of it I haven't touched in years), flares, batteries, dried foods, instant ramen, thermos, canteen, at least two mason jars + sleeping bag/tent/hygeine supplies if I'm going to be away from civilization for more than 72 hours.

I haven't been backpacking in years, I mostly just visit monasteries now and I don't need to bring half the stuff I listed above. If civilization collapsed tomorrow, I'd raid a gas station for fuel and jack some spare tires off the first abandoned car I see and just drive out to a monastery with the clothes on my back.

 

[VIPPER?]

Not included: Actual medical knowledge. Working on it.

A first aid course is like a couple hundred bucks. Depending where you work, they might foot the bill. Just do it, or at least download/buy a modern manual from an actual school.

Here's some stuff I'm not sure if I want to include, or I know I do but I'm not sure which version. ...

If you've got a car, get a jerry can of water. These days you can even just buy like 10-20L of sealed water in a nice clear mini-jerry can with a label and throw it in the trunk forever. Lifestraws aren't meant to be reusable iirc so maybe get a couple but don't make it your primary way of getting drinking water. Tablets are a good idea but won't do anything about debris. Filters tend to be slow, I dunno how much I'd want one right on my hydration bladder. I'd rather have one on another container and then transfer it to the camelbak.

A real knife would be good but I'd get a hatchet or crash axe since it can be also used for hammering/prying respectively. This would eliminate the need for the crowbar. Multitool knives are junk and are not to be trusted for anything beyond cutting light cordage. Even if it's sharp and robust there's always the risk of it just popping right off under heavy load. You won't be batoning wood or doing anything else serious with a multitool blade. Multitools are great for emergency nigger-rigging and are basically free for the weight/space but are nothing to rely on.

Battery banks are cheap as fuck and honestly you should just get one of those wallet sized ones for EDC. It's super handy. I don't know why you wouldn't also have a little wall fob on you nearly all the time in normal life, at least thrown in in your day-to-day normal bag. If you've got a car and it doesn't have USB ports, one of those 12v "cigarette lighter" converters would be handy as well. You can get 10 amp hour USB batteries for less than 20 bucks, some with solar trickle-charging.

Handheld VHF is imo, a bit of a meme. Ham nerds exist but owning a radio myself there's next to no traffic on it outside of the marine bands, and it's doubtful a ship will come help you if you're 20 miles inland. And radios break and fuck up all the goddamn time, nor is there a guarantee anyone is listening or that other operators aren't incompetent. And modern emergency services use frequencies and standards largely inaccessible to someone just using a 40$ memefeng. If you have homies maybe pool some cash to spring for one of those 5-packs with all the accessories but its actual usefulness is doubtful since people with radios are increasingly rare. That said if you do get an unlockable memefeng, they can go on FRS frequencies (i.e. the cheap dollar store walkies) so you can scan for them or communicate with people you know have one.

Do not self-medicate with specialist drugs like antibiotics if you don't even have basic first aid knowledge. You're not a doctor or pharmacist.

Dust masks are pointless, they will not save you from turbo-coof or riot gas or whatever. Are you planning on doing some painting while on the run or something? Even then, a proper sealing respirator or nothing (or better yet stop doing urbex at the asbestos factory)

Ditch the button compass and get a real one. They come with rulers and a protractor printed/etched in and are way handier for actual navigation using a paper map. You don't need some 90 pound solid brass nautical piece, one of the cheap plastic card-sized ones will do. They're designed to lay flat on your map so you can do actual land nav for realsies.

If you don't have a car, get a car. If you're serious about bugging out in a natural disaster, are you really gonna march through 6 feet of water or in 120kmh winds to some unknown destination? Plus you can carry way more stuff that will actually help you (or others)

I also notice you don't have much for disinfectants in your kit; hand sani can work but it's goopy and can make a mess and the perfumes might irritate wounds as much as it helps. Stuff a few alcohol wipes in the FA pouch and get a little travel bottle of proper alcohol at least. I would carry some peroxide too because I just like it for tiny scrapes, but I've heard it's no longer recommended for larger wounds since it can damage tissue and it just deleting minor cuts is bad akshually.

I'd also look at having other firestarting stuff. I've heard bad things about those electric lighters. You can get a pile of windproof lighters at the dollar store, and a can of butane at any smoke shop. Proper lighters are great for fusing synthetic cordage, welding plastic, and some other niche uses than lighting smokes or starting signal fires. A flint striker would be good in case your lighters all die. People sleep on just carrying a loupe, if it's light out it's really trivial to start a fire with a lens with some practice.

The bible and cards are a bit of a lol. If you've got a phone just get a bunch of pdfs? Cards aren't that crazy but surely if you've got a notebook you can entertain yourself with drawing/writing/math and word games.

 

[recons borign nao]

Saw this thread and wanted to pop in. I have (what I feel like) is a solid SHTF bag, but have been trying to make it a general natural disaster/SHTF bag as time goes on, just due to the environment around me.

For those that live in areas with common/disrupting natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, etc) do you have separate bags for natural disasters and an "innawoods" scenario? I have tried to make one bag that fits both scenarios, but I feel like it ends up missing a couple things for either scenario, while also having extraneous things for either scenario, depending on if it's a natural disaster or a summer of love. Would be interested to see what you guys think and do.

 

[888Flux]

Handheld VHF is imo, a bit of a meme. Ham nerds exist but owning a radio myself there's next to no traffic on it outside of the marine bands, and it's doubtful a ship will come help you if you're 20 miles inland. And modern emergency services use frequencies and standards largely inaccessible to someone just using a 40$ memefeng.

146.52 MHz is the national VHF calling frequency in the US. During any natural disaster there is a high (>90%) likelihood that a county-level ARES / RACES chapter is monitoring traffic there if they are activated.

ARES / RACES orgs are in direct communication with local dispatchers for emergency services. Most of the time they operate from the same building. While Hams do like to over-dramatize the importance of ARES, if 911 or cell service was down and someone had a medical emergency that could be a life or death difference. Remember that medical problems don't just go away if a tornado or earthquake happens. If you suddenly clutch your chest or gash your head and start bleeding, you are SOL if you don't have an alternative method of communication.

(And btw the above is not a recommendation for a True & Honest shit hit the fan type situation. If what you are dealing with is manmade and not an act of God then you want to stay far the fuck away from the government.)

. And radios break and fuck up all the goddamn time,

I've had a $20 Chinesium Baofeng UV-5R that had the battery corrode from water damage after being left in a kayak for 3 days that still functions 5 years later. Radios, especially higher end radios made by reputable companies are less prone to failure then you think. They can handle quite a bit of abuse.

nor is there a guarantee anyone is listening or that other operators aren't incompetent

Most Hams literally fantasize about this shit.

If you have homies maybe pool some cash to spring for one of those 5-packs with all the accessories but its actual usefulness is doubtful since people with radios are increasingly rare

I agree. I actually wrote a little getting started guide over in the Ham thread and my first recommendation to people is actually just bubble pack radios. They get the job done and have comparable performance to a entry level HT. But it's a worthwhile investment to consider an actual proper radio, and more importantly - learn how to use it.

 

[VIPPER?]

146.52 MHz is the national VHF calling frequency in the US.

I quickly looked it up to see if this is Ch 16 (it's not; that's 156.800) and got nothing but pages basically saying "Is this really a calling frequency? I never hear anything on it." In SHTF I would worry that that's not gonna change.

I'll give you that even the cheapest modern electronics are shockingly robust, but I stand by the idea that boomer HAMs are rarer than they used to be. At the very least, I'd say to get a cheap handset and look on radioreference.com if there's a local repeater, then leave your shit in scan mode at your desk for a day to see if anyone actually talks on it. Maybe even reach out and see if anyone talks back. Maybe my experience is just the result of being in a maritime area; but I say that if you don't have a communications plan in place before S HTF to contact known friendly agents, you're better off with a flare gun and rape whistle. At the "tactical" level, even on warships I've seen faster responses from barrel fires on deck than I have seen from radio maydays.

Though THAT said, in general, if your use case is "what if I or a family member/homie has a medical emergency that 911(or someone else competent and mobile) can respond to", having prior contact and knowing your local repeater frequencies and if emergency services listen to them or if a competent group of hams have close ties or what-have-you is more important than the quality of the radio itself. You could have an overpriced ICOM and an antenna an amp/exciter/antenna a warship would be jealous of, but if the only people around you can reach are the local Old Guy Squadron who couldn't help even if they didn't outright refuse, there's no difference between that and dying in silence.