Putting Together Your Bug Out Bag List
Getting Started with Your Bug Out Bag List
When you first are building a bug out bag, they can seem like a daunting task. There's so many options for a bug out bag checklist out there to choose from that it can get overwhelming with the seemingly Limitless range of products features and brands to decide from.
Starting is easy once you learn the basic goal for a bug out bag list. You want to create a bag that allows you to grab it and get out the door the drop of a hat. This means that once your bug out bag is complete the perfect kit you are single bag.
When creating a bug out bag, really try to stick to a list that will last 72 hours. That's why a lot of the time you'll hear a bug out bag described as 72 hour bag or a 72-hour kit.
Choosing What Should go in Your Bug Out Bag
When you're choosing items to put in your bug out bag you want to make sure that every item has a purpose. That purpose is to keep you alive from the time that you bug out do the time that you were able to return home, or until you reach your bug out location. This should be on your mind the entire time you're putting together your bug out bag checklist.
The contents of your bug out bag checklist we're also going to vary from person to person depending on many variables. Some of these variables include geographical location, climate, terrain, in addition to your personal health and which skills you do or do not possess.
While everyone's bug out bag will be different there are many things that are going to remain the same.
Putting Together Your Bug Out Bag
If you're building your bug out bag from scratch the first thing you want to do is to ensure that you put all of the essentials on your list.
The first thing I like to choose is the bag itself. This allows me to know how much room I'll have to fit items in as I choose them. What are the main considerations for the bag should be whether you are bugging out in a city a rural environment.
If you're bugging out in a city you're going to want something that doesn't draw a lot of attention. So packs with subtle color such as black brown or green that don't appear to be military will be a good bet.
Bugging out in a rural environment however allows you to choose many more styles of bags. In this case and military bag may suit you best. You can even go so far as to choose a bag with camouflage pattern as long as you choose a pattern that is appropriate for the area that you'll be bugging out in.
Other factors that go into choosing a backpack are going to be durability, comfort, and materials. Other considerations are the number and types of attachment points of the bag may have as well as the number of pockets on both the inside and outside.
One of the most common bags used as a bug out bag is the 5.11 tactical Rush 72. Its size makes it a great 3 day bag and its overall construction makes it extremely sturdy. One of the best parts about the bag is the MOLLE webbing on the outside.
MOLLE Attachment Points / Add-on Storage
Being able to add storage on the outside of your main bag is an excellent way to increase your carrying capacity. Exterior storage has the added benefit of allowing you to quickly access gear from the outside of your bug out bag instead of trying to dig around inside the bag to find your gear.
Another type of bag you may want to consider is the duffle bag. The duffle bag is an old-school style bag where your gear is placed inside one large compartment. The main advantage of a duffel bag is the fact that expand to accommodate a wide variety of gear and equipment and is particularly useful if you're trying to tote around something like a tent or a full size rifle.
Many people find this style of bag useful if the how to build a bug out bag for their vehicle. The combination of carrying capacity was the ability to simply grab it out of the trunk and go make it a great choice for this type of application.
Water
The most basic part of any survival kit is going to be water or means to collect water. as humans can only survive for 3 days on average without water, it's one of the most important things to add to your bug out bag checklist.
A hydration bladder of some kind is often a great place to start. Many backpacks have a space in them allocated for hydration pack which allows you to store your water vertically against your spine instead of loosely in your bug out bag.
This helps keep the weight of the water centered against your body and not bouncing around.
Canteens and Water Bottles
The main benefit of using a canteen or water bottle is the fact that once it's empty you have a place restore water. It can also be useful if you need to filter contaminated water and makes it easier to refill then a water bladder and shallow resources.
One of the best water bottles out there is from Nalgene I prefer their traditional 32oz water bottle but anything in their line is great. They also have collapsible canteens which allow you to have extra water storage capability that won't take up a lot of space in your bug out bag.
Water Filter
Water filters like the LifeStraw are great for a bug out bag. In fact some can just be inserted in line with your water hydration pack and filter water on the go. This means that you can fill your pack with contaminated water simply drink from it as you would normally.
Water Purification Tablets
Water purification tablets take up very little space and can kill a vast majority of bacteria that you're likely to encounter and natural water supplies. The main benefit beyond their lightweight is the fact that little time and don't need much preparation ahead of time purifier water. Simply fill a container with water and drop in water purification tablet and within 30 minutes to an hour you have drinkable water.
Something that many people don't take into consideration is the fact that if water is not readily available in your area having a water filter or water purification tablets on you bug out bag checklist will not help you.
Bug Out Food
The human body can go for a long time without food. Well you may not want to resort to starving yourself for a week on end the human body is more than capable of surviving that long.
When packing food you should be aware that energy requirements are going to vary depending on the age gender and activity level of the people that you're traveling with. An average man looking to consume approximately 3000 calories per day while a woman should be looking to consume around 2400 calories per day. This may seem like a lot takes into consideration that survival situations require more of a human than sitting on the couch and watching TV.
Military Meals
Military meals or meals-ready-to-eat are conveniently packaged with food spoon napkins toilet paper among other things. The main advantage is that you can simply open the package and begin eating it. The disadvantage is the fact that all of that extra stuff inside just adds to the weight of your bag.
Freeze Dried Food
Freeze dried food typically think of when you see hiking food or backpacking food. Its main advantage is the fact that they taste very good and they don't weigh all that much. The main disadvantage comes from the fact that you need to add boiling water to use. This means you cannot simply open the bag and eat it you have to sit down and prepare your meal which makes it much more difficult to eat on the go.
Energy bars energy bars are great because they are easy to eat on the go, they hardly take up any space and they're very lightweight. The downside is that they contain a low number of calories compared to many other food sources.
Portable Stove and Fuel
Portable stoves can be great if you have time to stop and set them up. They not only allow you to warm and cook your food but they're also allow you to boil water. The downside is that there sometimes a large and clunky and can be heavy.
Shelter
Shelter can come in many forms it is extremely important to any bug out bag checklist.
Tent
Tents are great because they offer protection from the elements and they allow you to have a roof over your head at night. Again the main drawback of carrying a tent is its weight and size.
As with any item that you choose for your bug out bag list, you should always aim at striking a balance between usefulness and weight. A heavy tent may provide more protection than a lightweight tent but if it weighs you down and it prevents you from moving at a steady pace then it is actually going to be less useful in the long run.
Oftentimes a one man tent is the best bet for a bug out bag list. They're small and will keep you dry.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags come in a wide variety of sizes and weights. They're often rated on the temperature that they should protect you to. Keep in mind when choosing a sleeping bag that this temperature is exaggerated and while they may keep you alive at that temperature we not going to keep you comfortable.
I always try to put a small sleeping bag on any bug out bag checklist I make.
Clothing
Any people feel the need to pack a wide variety of clothing in their bug out bag. In my opinion the best thing to do is to keep the amount of clothing on your bug out bag list to a minimum while ensuring that you have plenty of socks t-shirts and underwear. This allows you to change out your base layer of clothing in your body and is most likely to get sweaty.
Footwear
The type of that you bring with you when you bug out is critical. If you're stuck wearing dress shoes when you have to walk for 3 days straight you're going to end your journey with your feet being a blistered mess. In a survival situation at best this is going to slow you down and inhibit your ability to move at worst it can lead to infection and serious health issues.
Using highly durable water functional footwear is your best bet.
Rain Gear
If you're going to be bugging out in an area that doesn't experience much rain then you probably don't need rain gear for everyone else rain gear should be considered a necessity. This year does not have to take up a lot of space in your bug out bag list but it has to be sufficient to keep you dry during a storm.
Fire Making Material
Being able to create a fire and to generate heat and light is an important skill survival situations. Luckily hey you don't have to know anything about creating a fire in order to start one. what are the best things that you can pack in your bug out bag is a simple Bic lighter. They're cheap lightweight and allow you to easily create a fire.
Other ways to create a fire include waterproof matches a weatherproof lighter, fire steel or fire starter or even a magnifying glass.
First Aid Kit
One of the most important items in any survival kit going to be your first aid kit when putting together a first aid kit for your bug out bag list, you're going to want to make sure that you can not only treat scrapes and bumps but also severe trauma such as gunshot wounds brakes.
I always recommend the inclusion of a tourniquet or 2 in any first aid kit. If you're trying to treat severe bleeding not be afraid to use one.
Flashlight
Flashlights come in a wide array of shapes sizes and weights. A good flashlight doesn't necessarily have to be a high-speed tactical flashlight. It can be something as simple as a Maglite.
NOAA Weather Radio
This radio is an absolute necessity when you're trying to get weather and disaster update information. They cover not only the NOAA band but the AM and FM coverage as well. This allows you to stay up-to-date on the most critical information about weather and disaster alerts in the area that you are in.
Multi Tool
A multi-tool is a must on any good bug out bag list. The type and style of multi-tool that you choose is up to you again just make sure you have a quality piece of equipment that isn't going to break the first time you try to use it.
Paracord
Paracord is great because it allows you to not only make primitive shelters what has a wide variety of other uses any good bug out bag list should have a couple hundred feet of paracord on it.
Survival Knife/Axe
A survival knife an amazing asset stuck in a survival situation. As with the multi-tool be sure to select a high-quality blade going to dull or snap as soon as you start using it.
Pre-made Bugout Bags
If you don't want to go through the hassle of can your own bug out bag list from scratch you can always begin pre-made bug out bag. These pre-made bags nice because they give you all the basics and still allow for a little bit of room for you to personalize the bag to your specific situation.
One thing that I found in pre-made bug out bags is usually lacking is the first aid kit be sure to inspect the first aid kit when you first get your pre-made bug out bag to make sure that it has everything that you're going to need in a survival situation. Most of the time these first aid kits simply have a couple Band-Aids and maybe a bandage.
