Conwict's Bug-out Bag, prototype!
- Thread starter conw
- Start date
- Status
Personally, I would forget the shotgun. It and its ammo add a lot of weight, for not that much utility.
I sort of like the 357 magnum revolver idea as a less than perfect combo gun. I think an AR would be a better choice as a combo gun, but a revolver might be seen as less threatening and weighs less.
I am not going to quibble over the exact contents of the bag. Everyone has their own ideas. I will say that IMNSO, most people who make up these bags never try out a lot of the stuff in them.
Fire starting is both easier and harder than it looks for instance. I am not a big fan of the flint and steel guys. Yes, you can make it work, but relying on it in the cold and dark is a recipe for disaster. A Bic lighter and some tinder will go a long way to getting a fire going quickly with cold fingers. For those who don't believe this, go out in your yard one day when it is 20 degrees out and try to start a fire. Its hard enough with a butane lighter. The wind and cold make it extremely tough with something more difficult to use. I sort of like the idea of bringing along some flammable liquid for that purpose, or maybe some heat tabs.
For those of you who have never tried it, moving around in the woods with a compass, and even a good map, is not anywhere near as easy as you might think. You should try it some day if you don't believe it.
Ever try to catch fish with the fishing gear you typically get in an average survival gear? Or use the snares some put in them? Forget it. Just ain't gonna happen unless you already know how to use them and have previously used them.
Point is that whatever you have in your bag should be stuff you actually know how to use, and actually have used.
I sort of like the 357 magnum revolver idea as a less than perfect combo gun. I think an AR would be a better choice as a combo gun, but a revolver might be seen as less threatening and weighs less.
I am not going to quibble over the exact contents of the bag. Everyone has their own ideas. I will say that IMNSO, most people who make up these bags never try out a lot of the stuff in them.
Fire starting is both easier and harder than it looks for instance. I am not a big fan of the flint and steel guys. Yes, you can make it work, but relying on it in the cold and dark is a recipe for disaster. A Bic lighter and some tinder will go a long way to getting a fire going quickly with cold fingers. For those who don't believe this, go out in your yard one day when it is 20 degrees out and try to start a fire. Its hard enough with a butane lighter. The wind and cold make it extremely tough with something more difficult to use. I sort of like the idea of bringing along some flammable liquid for that purpose, or maybe some heat tabs.
For those of you who have never tried it, moving around in the woods with a compass, and even a good map, is not anywhere near as easy as you might think. You should try it some day if you don't believe it.
Ever try to catch fish with the fishing gear you typically get in an average survival gear? Or use the snares some put in them? Forget it. Just ain't gonna happen unless you already know how to use them and have previously used them.
Point is that whatever you have in your bag should be stuff you actually know how to use, and actually have used.
rocinante
Member
I went through a lot of wilderness and bugout list and added them all to one list. The ones with two dots I got.
I got the essentials especially first aid in a doctor bag size tool bag and have a couple smaller ones that go with us in the cars.
Clothing
========
..gloves - work
..hand towel
..mosquito head net
..pants, gi pockets etc
..poncho
..suspender harness
..shirt t
..hiking boots
..bandana
..hat
..shirt long sleeve heavy duty
..socks
..shades
..vest - hunter orange
SHELTER
=======
..fanny pack
..hydration bladder
..sleeping bag, 4 surplus swiss bags.
..tent 2 6.6 lbs, 3 man wenzel pinon
..tarp
..backpack
..light pack boys woman
seam sealer
hammock
sleep mat??
LIGHT AND FIRE
==============
..matches w/p pack
..flashlights
..candles
..glow sticks
..head light
..lighters
..striker
..firestarter
HYGIENE
=======
..bug repellant
..comb
..dental floss
..soap
..sunscreen
..toilet paper
..toothbrush
..toothbrush paste
mirror (signal too) (i have a laser pointer on a flashlight)
mosquito coils
TOOLS
=====
..can opener (p38) (swiss,leatherman)
..compass
..cloth repair, needle and thread
..duct tape
..flares
..garbage bags
..hacksaw blade
..hatchet
..knife sharpener
..knife swiss
..knives
..leatherman
..machete
..rope
..screw drivers (leatherman)
..shovel
..super glue
..whistles
..wire saw
..zip bags
..zip ties
..string
..magnifying glass
rubber bands
sextant
solar battery charger
star chart
MISC
====
..cards playing
..sharpie
..radio am/fm
aluminum foil
batteries
binoculars
books, bible
camera
recorder, digital
harmonica
ipod
marker paint
radio walkie talkie
pedometer
FOOD
====
..field cook kit
..stove sterno
bullion cubes
electrolytes
dried eggs
dried milk
food bars
gum
hard candy
instant coffee
instant soup
mess kit
pepper
protein tablets
salt
sardines
tuna
vitamins
wire rack grill
WATER
=====
..coffee filters
..purification tabs
canvas water filter
purified = pump filter
water filter
Katadyne H2O purifier
solar still
1 bottle PotableAqua brand, halazone, or iodine tabs for H20
bleach
FIRST AID
=========
medicines
_________
..advil
..antibiotic ointment
..bactine
..bayer aspirin
..benadryl
..imodium
..lip balm (non melt)
..tums
..hydrogen peroxide
..antihistamine
..iodine
..Senocot - constipation
..Kaopectate - diarrhea
..Dramamine - nausea, motion sickness
..lanacane - anti itch
vodka
aloe vera
cold tabs
iodine tablets
syrup of ipecac (vomit, poisoning) - use finger
Vaseline
Allerest, Bufferin,
smelling salt - not at drug store
misc
..bandages
..cleaning packs (handiwipes)
don't know if medically good
..Condom
..gloves,sterile
..guaze
..heat packs
..hemostats
..scissors
..space blanket
..sponge
..surgical Blades
..tape
..tweezers
..ace bandage
..Butterfly Sutures
..eye drops/wash
..maxi pad
..hand warmer packs
xx moisturizer (sunscreen works)
..moleskin ??
poison ivy soap
xx Potassium permanganate
snake bite kit
I got the essentials especially first aid in a doctor bag size tool bag and have a couple smaller ones that go with us in the cars.
Clothing
========
..gloves - work
..hand towel
..mosquito head net
..pants, gi pockets etc
..poncho
..suspender harness
..shirt t
..hiking boots
..bandana
..hat
..shirt long sleeve heavy duty
..socks
..shades
..vest - hunter orange
SHELTER
=======
..fanny pack
..hydration bladder
..sleeping bag, 4 surplus swiss bags.
..tent 2 6.6 lbs, 3 man wenzel pinon
..tarp
..backpack
..light pack boys woman
seam sealer
hammock
sleep mat??
LIGHT AND FIRE
==============
..matches w/p pack
..flashlights
..candles
..glow sticks
..head light
..lighters
..striker
..firestarter
HYGIENE
=======
..bug repellant
..comb
..dental floss
..soap
..sunscreen
..toilet paper
..toothbrush
..toothbrush paste
mirror (signal too) (i have a laser pointer on a flashlight)
mosquito coils
TOOLS
=====
..can opener (p38) (swiss,leatherman)
..compass
..cloth repair, needle and thread
..duct tape
..flares
..garbage bags
..hacksaw blade
..hatchet
..knife sharpener
..knife swiss
..knives
..leatherman
..machete
..rope
..screw drivers (leatherman)
..shovel
..super glue
..whistles
..wire saw
..zip bags
..zip ties
..string
..magnifying glass
rubber bands
sextant
solar battery charger
star chart
MISC
====
..cards playing
..sharpie
..radio am/fm
aluminum foil
batteries
binoculars
books, bible
camera
recorder, digital
harmonica
ipod
marker paint
radio walkie talkie
pedometer
FOOD
====
..field cook kit
..stove sterno
bullion cubes
electrolytes
dried eggs
dried milk
food bars
gum
hard candy
instant coffee
instant soup
mess kit
pepper
protein tablets
salt
sardines
tuna
vitamins
wire rack grill
WATER
=====
..coffee filters
..purification tabs
canvas water filter
purified = pump filter
water filter
Katadyne H2O purifier
solar still
1 bottle PotableAqua brand, halazone, or iodine tabs for H20
bleach
FIRST AID
=========
medicines
_________
..advil
..antibiotic ointment
..bactine
..bayer aspirin
..benadryl
..imodium
..lip balm (non melt)
..tums
..hydrogen peroxide
..antihistamine
..iodine
..Senocot - constipation
..Kaopectate - diarrhea
..Dramamine - nausea, motion sickness
..lanacane - anti itch
vodka
aloe vera
cold tabs
iodine tablets
syrup of ipecac (vomit, poisoning) - use finger
Vaseline
Allerest, Bufferin,
smelling salt - not at drug store
misc
..bandages
..cleaning packs (handiwipes)
don't know if medically good
..Condom
..gloves,sterile
..guaze
..heat packs
..hemostats
..scissors
..space blanket
..sponge
..surgical Blades
..tape
..tweezers
..ace bandage
..Butterfly Sutures
..eye drops/wash
..maxi pad
..hand warmer packs
xx moisturizer (sunscreen works)
..moleskin ??
poison ivy soap
xx Potassium permanganate
snake bite kit
TeamPrecisionIT
Member
I think holding down the fort until a new one can arrive in the mail from a unaffected source is a viable option.
Damian
Just thought I'd add that having several smaller "mini-bags" within the bag is a great idea, even if they're zip-loc. This lets me either drop a category of items I don't need off temporarily, select one I need immediately (first aid, fire tools, whatever), or whatever I need to do I can tell by looking at which of three zip-locs are inside the larger bag...
hangtime
Member
good stuff here . . . . .
A couple of suggestions re: your emergency rations. A small container of Brewer's yeast and also one of lecithin. The Brewer's yeast is very nutrient dense while providing a large amount of fiber and would be my choice rather than psyllium - more bang for the buck so to speak. Lewis Labs makes the best I've tried. The flavor is an aquired taste but the stuff will keep you alive. Lecithin might be a better thing than olive oil as it is easier to transport, easier to digest and gives a better nutritional profile than olive oil. The fact that neither of these are perishable items is a definite plus in the old B.O.B.. Another food iten that does double duty is the lowly potato chip. Aside from the fact you can't eat just one(grin) the individual serving pack keeps them dry and ready to be used as the best tinder ever. Even if they go stale these things burn like crazy and I've used them to ignite wet or green wood a number of times. Most of the other bases have been covered by other posts but I thought these might interest you. And for the record, there is little practical difference between a 147gr subsonic 9mm and the 158gr .38 special. I shoot both and the difference when they arrive on target is largely academic. A revolver allows you to keep track of the brass a bit easier but this is only of value in a long term survival situation where reloading is the order of the day. Good luck - keep us up to speed on what you finally end up using.
A couple of suggestions re: your emergency rations. A small container of Brewer's yeast and also one of lecithin. The Brewer's yeast is very nutrient dense while providing a large amount of fiber and would be my choice rather than psyllium - more bang for the buck so to speak. Lewis Labs makes the best I've tried. The flavor is an aquired taste but the stuff will keep you alive. Lecithin might be a better thing than olive oil as it is easier to transport, easier to digest and gives a better nutritional profile than olive oil. The fact that neither of these are perishable items is a definite plus in the old B.O.B.. Another food iten that does double duty is the lowly potato chip. Aside from the fact you can't eat just one(grin) the individual serving pack keeps them dry and ready to be used as the best tinder ever. Even if they go stale these things burn like crazy and I've used them to ignite wet or green wood a number of times. Most of the other bases have been covered by other posts but I thought these might interest you. And for the record, there is little practical difference between a 147gr subsonic 9mm and the 158gr .38 special. I shoot both and the difference when they arrive on target is largely academic. A revolver allows you to keep track of the brass a bit easier but this is only of value in a long term survival situation where reloading is the order of the day. Good luck - keep us up to speed on what you finally end up using.
hang,
For now at least I am using a very trimmed-down version with essentially no frills...no spare ammo, no fishing; just a lot of fire starting options, first aid, and some other stuff like an e-blanket. I believe the list is in here somewhere. I will say this: it's small enough to carry all the time in my man-purse!
I like it...I could always make a small, seperate "multi-week" BOB type bag that contained a lot of spare ammo and food.
Great thoughts on the food, thanks!
For now at least I am using a very trimmed-down version with essentially no frills...no spare ammo, no fishing; just a lot of fire starting options, first aid, and some other stuff like an e-blanket. I believe the list is in here somewhere. I will say this: it's small enough to carry all the time in my man-purse!
I like it...I could always make a small, seperate "multi-week" BOB type bag that contained a lot of spare ammo and food.
Great thoughts on the food, thanks!
ctdonath
Member
Indeed. Recently, I spent a year match-free just to exercise alternate firestarting methods. Conclusion: matches are a Good Thing (TM). Keep plenty of matchbooks handy; they're probably the most efficient firestarter. Flint-and-steel is more an artifact of primitive camping* than of modern survival (throw one in the pack 'cuz it's light and worst-case functional, not because it's useful).
For survival firestarting I highly recommend keeping 2-3 road flares in the pack. Nothing better for starting a fire, and if that don't work then you're not having a fire noway nohow.
Also: keep a compressed wad of dryer lint in a baggie. Super-light, super-small, burns like crazy, great initial tinder.
* - "primitive" as in ultra-low-tech, not an REI store in a backpack.
I've been packing my main BoB as three in one. The bag has 3 main compartments of varying sizes. Each compartment is filled as its own BoB, complete yet scaled for length of need. Smallest serves one day fine; largest serves longer-term needs. Each can be split out as needed, shared with others or minimized/optimized for grab-and-go efficiency, or as the days pass the outer sections are emptied first.
dralarms
Member
You know for the fishing part of the pack, why don't you buy a pocket fisherman? It's lightweight, simple to work on, and I have caught some pretty good sized fish on one when I was younger. It was my favorite fishing equipment while in FL. fishing off the bridges.
I have a huge chunk of 60% dryer lint, 30% vaseline, 10% steel wool (roughly). Very well mixed-together. Wicked inflammable.
I originally put the steel wool in there because a member here suggested that you could mix Mg in from a Mg starter in the field and just strike the steel wool off the flint, but that didn't work for me. However, with Mg it does get hot enough that it burns the steel wool, and I prefer the consistency of the combination I mentioned and use.
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