What do you need to take with you if you have to leave home in a hurry? A bug out bag is a pre-packed bag you can grab and go if you have to leave home for an extended period of time and you don’t have much time to get things together. Most people might look at this idea as a silly one; like you are paranoid for even worrying about this. I suspect the folks in New Orleans when Katrina hit would disagree. Disasters happen, and when they do your options might not be what you hoped they would be.
I keep two, well, three really. I have a bag that I keep next to my couch. It’s a small bag with a few things in it. Enough to last me a few days – it’s designed to let me get somewhere close by if I have to walk. I will probably expand that bag. The actual limitation, in this case, is the bag itself. It’s a small bag that I can throw over my shoulders and walk with. I intend to replace it with a proper hiking pack soon, but if something happened tomorrow at least I have that (better to have something that isn’t exactly perfect than to have nothing).
Next is the car bag. It’s a much larger bag and is too heavy to lug for very far. It lives in the trunk of my car. If something goes terribly wrong in the world I have that to rely on. This bag is really designed for a long trip by vehicle.
Finally, there’s my boat. Yeah, that’s not a cheap option. Most people won’t have that. It doesn’t so much contain some survival gear as provide a floating survival base. It is pretty seasonal though, works much better as a survival option in warm weather. May to November more or less where I live. October can be dicey as well, but it’s not out of the question.
So, what’s in each of my bags?
1 – the small bag:
The Bag
I bought a small bag from one of the many Chinese cheap goods stores. This one turned out to be a great bag, so I decided it was my choice for a bug out bag. I believe it cost me about seven dollars. I have travelled around Europe, parts of the US, and Costa Rica with it. It has held up amazingly well. It’s well designed and has a number of great compartments. The only issue is the size. It’s not very big.
The Contents
- A shelter – this is one of those reflective blankets, but an oversized one. It comes with a rope so it can be used as a shelter quite easily
- A knife – I am actually using my Mora Light My Fire knife in this bag. It’s Got a flint built into the handle and since the blade is steel it’s a decent fire starter.
- Two pocket knives – once is a mini buck knife and the other is a knock off swiss army knife
- A strange tool that is a file, a compass, a ruler, a cutting edge – I don’t even know where I got it, but it’s useful
- A collapsible cup. It’s a small vessel for carrying water
- The SAS survival guide
- Matches
- A waterproof bag
- A lifestraw – it’s a water purification tool. Let’s you drink water from most sources
- A throwing hatchet. Not for throwing. It’s a decent hatchet and it’s lightweight and packs flat
- A collapsible bucket
- A water bag
- A bunch of cordages – specifically twine in this case
- A survival candle
- A small first aid kit
There are a few things I plan to include as time goes on… it’s actually a pretty light bag. For me, the priorities are going to be shelter and then water. I have the shelter taken care of – at least a rudimentary form. I actually plan to add one of those space blankets in the very near future. Right now it will let me make fire and create shelter. The hatchet can process small bits of firewood, the Mora knife can as well. I also just bought a bunch of granola bars which I will be adding to the pack.
It doesn’t have to last me long and the weight has to be low.
2 – the large bag
It’s a hockey bag. A big one, capable of carrying a large number of things. It is also damned heavy once full. I used to use it for my Ninjutsu bag. Now it’s dedicated to carrying emergency prep supplies.
The contents
- A Tent – the one I have included is a quick set up tent. It’s bigger than it needs to be, but it’s fine because this is intended to be carried by car
- A sleeping bag
- A knife – I use my Mora Bush Knife in this bag. It’s a good bush knife with a wooden handle and a full tang
- A first aid kit
- A waterproof bag
- Matches
- A lighter
- Flint, steel, and magnesium
- A travel stove
- A hatchet
- Another pocket knife
- A throwing knife
- A small pot
- A collapsible water container
- A bunch of rope
Again, this bag is lacking right now. I plan to add some food and another life straw. I would hope to be able to grab my bow if I had to bug out, but if I keep it in the car or the boat it will end up getting damaged. I can make a survival bow in a pinch.
Just like the small bag I need to be able to make fire, I need to be able to create shelter, and I need to be able to purify water. The small pot and the fire allow me to do the last one.
Some food would be great, and like I said I do plan to add some, but the rule of threes. You can go three weeks without food, three days without water, and three hours without shelter.
3 – the boat
I know, not exactly surviving on a budget. It’s a Pearson 30, which means it’s thirty feet long. It sleeps six and is capable of travelling for a week or two without contact with land no problem at all. The engine will run for about thirty hours on a tank of fuel, depending on use and sail is always an option.
The contents
Too much to list. There is a full galley, a head, electricity so long as the batteries last or the engine is running. The batteries can be charged from the engine. I plan on hooking up solar, but for now, it’s just the engines. There’s also a barbecue, food, water (both in the water tanks and I keep a bunch of drinking water on board as well).
Sojourn sleeps six – even more in a pinch, but six is the most you could do and be even remotely comfortable. That’s two double beds and two singles.
What she doesn’t have is laundry facilities or a shower. I do have a solar shower that can be hung from the mast if you really want to get cleaned up and the weather is warm enough.
If I have to bug out by boat I’m sailing south… the weather will be warm enough once I get far enough down the coast.
Obviously, if I have to leave my home my first choice is going to be the boat, but the car bag is alright, the small bag, well, I’d have to be really desperate. If I was though, I’d be very grateful to have it.
Two of these bags have been created using a very limited budget. The boat is the exception of course. I also have a place selected to bug out to, depending on what is happening. I have a family camp that I can go to. It’s around a twenty-seven-hour walk, so I’d really prefer to do it via car. The boat won’t get there since most of the route is overland (there is a bit of lake at one point) but the boat gives me what I would need the place for anyway – it gives me shelter, tools, a place to cook, etc.
That’s the trick with bugging out. You need to be able to go somewhere – at least have an idea for where to go. Your bag should allow you to get there.
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