bug out bags
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TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
I think the important question that you have to ask first is where you are bugging out TO.
The destination will define what you want to take with you.
The destination will define what you want to take with you.
jordan1948
Member
I can't just have ONE bug out bag, I got an amm, box with multiple types of ammo and most of my firearms won't be harmed if I throw them in the SUV and go
SamG.
Member
Heres my bugout bag thread: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=384478&page=2
Hope you find something useful
Cheers
Sam
Hope you find something useful
Cheers
Sam
SamG.
Member
Will you be traveling by plane? The distance seems quite far for a bugout location.
250 miles isn't that far in Texas.
I used to drive further than that every weekend. Heck, I've got at least a month of supplies here but if I had to leave I'd be going 1200 miles and I'd still drive. If things are bad enough that I can't stay I doubt I'll be able to get a plane ticket. As for bags, I don't have one loaded up but it wouldn't take but half an hour to put together in my regular backpack, a Gregory Palisade. I guess I could buy some super tactical bag, but I've already got this one, it holds plenty of stuff, and it's darn comfortable to carry around with all that stuff in it.I keep thinking "bugging out from what?" Are we talking the dreaded zombie invasion, the breakdown of social order, or what? The reason I ask is that if all you're wanting to do is avoid nasty weather for a weekend, that's one thing; if you think there's a good likelihood your house will be in ruins and all that you love will be gone by the time you get back, that demands a rather more detailed level of packing.
I will say that, having read much of what was posted here about Hurricane Katrina, I was prepared to bug out before our recent mess (and had Ike been bigger, we would have done) with a couple of bags each. One would have held my computer, my writing stuff, and such; the other, which is my gym bag, had my clothing, my medications (which I'd filled a couple of days before to ensure at least 2 weeks' supply) and room for our important documents, some of my jewelry which I wouldn't leave behind, and a few things for the dogs' care. Toss their sack of food in the trunk with those items and we were ready.
If you're going to family, you may already have clothing and stuff there; if so, then you don't need to pack so much. It's a pretty individualized thing.
Springmom
I will say that, having read much of what was posted here about Hurricane Katrina, I was prepared to bug out before our recent mess (and had Ike been bigger, we would have done) with a couple of bags each. One would have held my computer, my writing stuff, and such; the other, which is my gym bag, had my clothing, my medications (which I'd filled a couple of days before to ensure at least 2 weeks' supply) and room for our important documents, some of my jewelry which I wouldn't leave behind, and a few things for the dogs' care. Toss their sack of food in the trunk with those items and we were ready.
If you're going to family, you may already have clothing and stuff there; if so, then you don't need to pack so much. It's a pretty individualized thing.
Springmom
theotherwaldo
Member
What are you bugging out from? I have bug-out "bags" ranging from hip-pocket-sized for clearing out of work if there's an emergency there (we've had two serious fires there in five years) to a fully-self-contained 1970s classic motor home.
Different bags for different troubles.
Different bags for different troubles.
TimboKhan
Member
Apart from having to actually evacuate, my typical bag resides in my truck and contains a host of useful things, tailored to my needs. Honestly, I suspect that any major issues that I have are going to be of the type where I am stuck in my truck, and so they are essentially tailored for that. I have some candles, a space blanket, a basic first aid kit, some 550 cord (which I have actually used once or twice!), a watchcap, a pair of gloves, a book (specifically, War and Peace. Takes a long time to read War and Peace, it does) a couple of pens, some paper and a flashlight. Additionally, I carry a wool blanket.
In the event of some weather emergency, which in this area would almost undoubtedly be defined as a tornado, staying in my building would be the single best idea. My building is made almost entirely of concrete, and while I suppose an f5 touching down right on top would cause some damage, I doubt very seriously that any place would be safer. Living on the third floor, neither flooding nor fire is a particularly major concern.
I can't begin to imagine a realistic reason that I would have to evac quick, but if I did, I am kind of in the camp of "I will throw stuff in my backpack at that time". Oh, I keep some water stored, and my backpack is essentially already packed with things like tent, stove, fuel, water filter, etc, but that is about it.
In the event of some weather emergency, which in this area would almost undoubtedly be defined as a tornado, staying in my building would be the single best idea. My building is made almost entirely of concrete, and while I suppose an f5 touching down right on top would cause some damage, I doubt very seriously that any place would be safer. Living on the third floor, neither flooding nor fire is a particularly major concern.
I can't begin to imagine a realistic reason that I would have to evac quick, but if I did, I am kind of in the camp of "I will throw stuff in my backpack at that time". Oh, I keep some water stored, and my backpack is essentially already packed with things like tent, stove, fuel, water filter, etc, but that is about it.
toivo
Member
Whenever I read one of these bug-out bag threads, I'm reminded of a story. Once I was a participant in a kind of touchy-feely orientation for people who were going abroad as teachers. The instructor asked us to get in groups and write on a sheet of paper three things we thought were "essential for having a successful intercultural experience." A guy in the group next to mine came up with the following list:
- condoms
- lots of cash
- overwhelming military superiority
Steve Raacke
Member
As ShaneS said in Listening to Katrina, "The backpack is a lie".
Bug out bags sound good until you have been forced to flee a few times. Those of us living in South Louisiana have learned this the hard way. Betsy, Andrew, Goerge, Lilly, Tropical Storm Allison which flooded us out, as well as Katrina, Rita, Gustav and recently Ike. They have taught us that the backpack (or Bug out bag) is a lie.
Read Listening to Katrina.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356667
Bug out bags sound good until you have been forced to flee a few times. Those of us living in South Louisiana have learned this the hard way. Betsy, Andrew, Goerge, Lilly, Tropical Storm Allison which flooded us out, as well as Katrina, Rita, Gustav and recently Ike. They have taught us that the backpack (or Bug out bag) is a lie.
Read Listening to Katrina.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356667
Deus Machina
Member
I have two bags. One is my old hiking pack, all-purpose in the sense that it doubles as--guess what?--a hiking pack. I could grab it and go camping for a weekend.
I have a smaller duffel that also contains more food, Sterno stove and fuel, some plant seeds, ammunition, cleaning kit for all my guns, soon will have at least five extra mags for all my guns, etcetera, etcetera.
I can grab the pack for camping or 'bug out', both for 'OMG RUN', and anything I can't handle between the both of them either involves long-term settlement or Hadron-Collider-Theories-Were-Right levels.
I have a smaller duffel that also contains more food, Sterno stove and fuel, some plant seeds, ammunition, cleaning kit for all my guns, soon will have at least five extra mags for all my guns, etcetera, etcetera.
I can grab the pack for camping or 'bug out', both for 'OMG RUN', and anything I can't handle between the both of them either involves long-term settlement or Hadron-Collider-Theories-Were-Right levels.
HKUSP45C
Member
My fiance and I spent about a year getting our bags together. They contain everything we'd "need" if a hurricane were to come and take the house. Copies of all of the paperwork I'd ever need (mortgage, insurance, passport, DL, med records, ect), basic first aid stuff, basic "survival" stuff (food [tuna flatpacks, spam flatpacks, energy bars and 2 MREs], space blankets, firestarters, flares, crank radios, ect.) and clothes for the two of us that would stand up to the task of a couple of days of on foot hiking. There's a bunch more and I have a comprehensive list in Excel format if anyone is interested, though, again, my needs will be wildly different from everyone elses.
Everything in the bags serves at least two purposes (except for a precious short list of specialty items like water filters) to conserve weight and space. and the bags are small enough and light enough to be "man portable" should the need arise.
The bags (there are 4) cost about $350 to build and cost about $50 dollars a year to maintain (replace what should be thrown out according to "good till" dates) and just sit quietly in our linen closet, stacked neatly with all of the other "hurricane" essentials I keep on hand. Living in Houston has taught me that hurricanes are a simple fact of life and come in every size from "ho-hum, it's raining" to "great googely moogely we had 7 feet of water in our living room" and shouldn't be treated lightly.
I've had friends of mine ask me "what are you so worried about?" to which I invariably reply "I have all of this stuff now precisely so I don't worry." The logic usually sinks in for them but then, most of my friends are smarter than I am.
The whole point of the bags (and my post) are not for living the way I would be if the situation hadn't gone totally awry in the first place. The actual reason I have built the bags is to be able to grab them, a few other things that are daily use and throw them, my dogs, a 40# bag of food and 30 gallons of water in the back of our Expedition and leave. 10 minutes from "we gotta go" to "Drive on" as we leave the house. In Houston, it will be the traffic caused by those fleeing that will be the largest barrier to my safety. The faster I can get out in front the better my odds in general.
It isn't so much about survival, it's about being the first one on the road, not waiting in line for necessities, not rummaging around looking for things, not wondering if the stuff in the bag is still good or even there, not floundering in general.
And there is some truth to that. The backpack won't make everything all better and probably won't have half the stuff you'd wish you thought of. It does, however, beat sitting in traffic on your way to a safer place because you couldn't get of Dodge while the gettin' was good because you were rummaging through the junk drawer looking for a flashlight while someone else was flipping through the stacks of office papers looking for the Home Owner's Insurance Policy papers.
BOBs are, to me, a peace of mind that is affordable and handy. To say they are worthless is also a lie. Heck, I carry a gun for the off chance my life is threatened, why wouldn't I pack and maintain a bag full of stuff that might come in handy if I'm forced to leave.
ETA, the bags are part of a plan. Even if you decide to pack a bag (or four) there is no use doing so if that's the extent of your "plan." The bags, like a gun, aren't a talisman, they are a conveyance or means to accomplish part of your plan. Just thought I'd throw in that reminder. Re-reading listening to Katrina reminded me of that small fact.
Everything in the bags serves at least two purposes (except for a precious short list of specialty items like water filters) to conserve weight and space. and the bags are small enough and light enough to be "man portable" should the need arise.
The bags (there are 4) cost about $350 to build and cost about $50 dollars a year to maintain (replace what should be thrown out according to "good till" dates) and just sit quietly in our linen closet, stacked neatly with all of the other "hurricane" essentials I keep on hand. Living in Houston has taught me that hurricanes are a simple fact of life and come in every size from "ho-hum, it's raining" to "great googely moogely we had 7 feet of water in our living room" and shouldn't be treated lightly.
I've had friends of mine ask me "what are you so worried about?" to which I invariably reply "I have all of this stuff now precisely so I don't worry." The logic usually sinks in for them but then, most of my friends are smarter than I am.
The whole point of the bags (and my post) are not for living the way I would be if the situation hadn't gone totally awry in the first place. The actual reason I have built the bags is to be able to grab them, a few other things that are daily use and throw them, my dogs, a 40# bag of food and 30 gallons of water in the back of our Expedition and leave. 10 minutes from "we gotta go" to "Drive on" as we leave the house. In Houston, it will be the traffic caused by those fleeing that will be the largest barrier to my safety. The faster I can get out in front the better my odds in general.
It isn't so much about survival, it's about being the first one on the road, not waiting in line for necessities, not rummaging around looking for things, not wondering if the stuff in the bag is still good or even there, not floundering in general.
yale said:
And there is some truth to that. The backpack won't make everything all better and probably won't have half the stuff you'd wish you thought of. It does, however, beat sitting in traffic on your way to a safer place because you couldn't get of Dodge while the gettin' was good because you were rummaging through the junk drawer looking for a flashlight while someone else was flipping through the stacks of office papers looking for the Home Owner's Insurance Policy papers.
BOBs are, to me, a peace of mind that is affordable and handy. To say they are worthless is also a lie. Heck, I carry a gun for the off chance my life is threatened, why wouldn't I pack and maintain a bag full of stuff that might come in handy if I'm forced to leave.
ETA, the bags are part of a plan. Even if you decide to pack a bag (or four) there is no use doing so if that's the extent of your "plan." The bags, like a gun, aren't a talisman, they are a conveyance or means to accomplish part of your plan. Just thought I'd throw in that reminder. Re-reading listening to Katrina reminded me of that small fact.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
250 miles down Texas Interstate is the bugout route here. In a car I'm assuming. If you think it will not be driveable then you might consider staying. 250 miles is a long walk if things are "hostile" outside.
I'd have in my bag bottled water, couple of energy bars, handgun and couple of spare magazines, cash in small bills and maybe if I was really worrying some gold coin. The only time you are gonna be out of your vehicle is to buy gasoline perhaps.
Pretty well sums it up in my opinion.
Your idea of important papers is great too. I scanned everything like that and put it on a couple of USB flash drives that I keep in my bags.
I'd have in my bag bottled water, couple of energy bars, handgun and couple of spare magazines, cash in small bills and maybe if I was really worrying some gold coin. The only time you are gonna be out of your vehicle is to buy gasoline perhaps.
Pretty well sums it up in my opinion.
Your idea of important papers is great too. I scanned everything like that and put it on a couple of USB flash drives that I keep in my bags.
+100
I've read nearly every bit of it, and I am using his advice as the basis for preparations for my wife and I. It makes a lot of sense.
I believe the exact phrase he uses is, "Survival is not a kit."
That doesn't mean that there isn't a place for them, and I am currently working on a BOB of the simpler sorts for us, but it is not the end all be all of survival, as ShaneS's experience shows.
It bothers me a little that so many people here seem to think a BOB should be stuffed full of guns and ammo, and only than whatever other things will fit in.
My BOB in the car is an old duffle bag. Its got a wool blanket in it, a plastic bag with a change of underwear and socks, and some misc stuff like a tarp, some parachute cord, etc.
My BOB in the car is an old duffle bag. Its got a wool blanket in it, a plastic bag with a change of underwear and socks, and some misc stuff like a tarp, some parachute cord, etc.
I am actually considering several bags or tubs.
1. a first aid bag in my closet with everything first aid and hygiene related that I will only use when Buggin out.
2. a bag in my closet with everything else that I dont want out in my truck and that I will only use when Buggin Out.
3. a box I keep in my truck with survival items and Misc items I may need when out camping or hiking or hunting.
4. a shelf in my safe with all the ammo and mags in one spot I would need for quick access when Buggin Out.
1. a first aid bag in my closet with everything first aid and hygiene related that I will only use when Buggin out.
2. a bag in my closet with everything else that I dont want out in my truck and that I will only use when Buggin Out.
3. a box I keep in my truck with survival items and Misc items I may need when out camping or hiking or hunting.
4. a shelf in my safe with all the ammo and mags in one spot I would need for quick access when Buggin Out.
I have a Maxpedition Vulture II and a Jumbo S-Type that I use. I've used the Vulture II for 4 days of hiking in the Smokys. It is a great pack but doesn't really place the weight on your waist that well. I need to get a better frame pack for long distances. When I'm bowhunting I use a mid-sized Camelbak pack; only because I don't want my main packs to smell like piss, blood, and dirt.
One thing about bug out bags....unless you're in Navy Seal shape, and unless you live in the Garden of Eden, you will find it remarkably difficult to walk carrying all that stuff for some indeterminate distance and eating what you find. BOB's don't need to be the sort of thing you carry across country when you camp out (although if you already own those kinds of bags it certainly makes sense for them to do double duty, particularly if you don't use them often for cross country hikes.) Bugging out isn't going to involve hiking from DFW to the piney woods, or for us, from Spring to Llano. It *may very well* involve needing to know the back roads to get where you're going, though.
Art Eatman once sent me a link to a map book that basically has every route you could ever need to get someplace without actually using the highways. If he reads this, maybe he'll help us out and post it here; and I'll try to dig it up out of my old emails.
Really good, I mean REALLY GOOD maps, might be the difference between getting stuck 30 miles from home and getting where you wanted to go.
Springmom
Art Eatman once sent me a link to a map book that basically has every route you could ever need to get someplace without actually using the highways. If he reads this, maybe he'll help us out and post it here; and I'll try to dig it up out of my old emails.
Really good, I mean REALLY GOOD maps, might be the difference between getting stuck 30 miles from home and getting where you wanted to go.
Springmom
sacp81170a
Member
I've got a Blackhawk X-1 Raptor pack. It's got enough room for 72 hours worth of gear and a 100 oz. hydration bladder. Lots of nice, durable straps (it's jumpable) and it's comfortable. I've been using it for my morning hikes around the neigborhood to stay in shape. A little pricey, but it works very well and will last for years. One of the worst things you can do is buy a pack, stuff it full of junk off of somebody's list and leave it in the closet. If you really need it, you may find yourself learning a painful lesson. I've been happy with the comfort of mine in various conditions, I've used it for day outings and the gear I've got in it is gear that I've used outdoors before.
That said, if you get any of the newer milspec gear(not gonna be cheap, but then what's your life worth?), actually take it out and run it through its paces, you can't go wrong. I have levels of BoB's. In my Go Bag(a simple gym bag I keep in the trunk of my car) I have a Stag AR with 30 round mag, a Blackhawk low profile chest rig(with 4 30 round AR mags, a Sig 226R in .40with 4 magazines, flashlight, OC, knife, etc.), a two quart canteen, a first aid kit with blowout kit, and a couple of MRE's. That's enough for "gotta get gone now" emergencies.
That said, if you get any of the newer milspec gear(not gonna be cheap, but then what's your life worth?), actually take it out and run it through its paces, you can't go wrong. I have levels of BoB's. In my Go Bag(a simple gym bag I keep in the trunk of my car) I have a Stag AR with 30 round mag, a Blackhawk low profile chest rig(with 4 30 round AR mags, a Sig 226R in .40with 4 magazines, flashlight, OC, knife, etc.), a two quart canteen, a first aid kit with blowout kit, and a couple of MRE's. That's enough for "gotta get gone now" emergencies.
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