One of the key elements of survival is flexibility. There is always a possibility of circumstances occurring which make it impossible to continue with life as normal. In a sense, we can say that that’s the definition of a disaster. If life could continue as normal, then it wouldn’t be a disaster.
But disasters come in different shapes and sizes as well. Some require only minor adjustments to our lives, while others require a total overhaul. These are the ones in which flexibility is truly our friend. Quite literally, if we are not able to make the necessary changes, we will not survive.
One of the changes we might be forced to make is a change in our location. While bugging in or sheltering in place at home is the more prudent course of action in most cases, it isn’t in all. When the tsunami hit the east coast of Japan in 2011, sheltering in place was the worst option available. You’ve probably seen the videos; entire buildings were swept away by the rising water. Anyone who tried to shelter in place probably died.
That’s why we always need a bug out plan. While you may not live anywhere near an ocean, there are other natural disasters that could hit your home. Then there’s the ever-present risk of social unrest, with angry mobs breaking down doors and destroying people’s lives. In either of these cases, bugging out may very well be the only prudent course of action to ensure survival.
But a bug out plan isn’t enough if you don’t have the resources needed to bug out as well. Saying that you’re going to leave your coastal town and drive inland isn’t a plan if you don’t have a vehicle. Likewise, saying that you’re going to survive, without the equipment to survive isn’t a plan either.
What should be in a bug out bag? In essence, the bug out bag contains everything you’ll need to have, in order to survive, if you are forced to abandon your home. To do this, your bug out bag checklist includes the food, tools, water and other equipment you’ll need to survive, no matter where you are.
Granted, you can only carry a limited amount of food and water. So you should also carry the means to gather and purify water, as well as the ability to hunt or fish for food. Your bug out plan needs to take into consideration replenishment of your food supplies, either at your survival retreat, your bug out destination, or a cache that you have prepared. But your bug out bag checklist should also contain enough food to keep you going for several days.
Most people’s bug out bag checklists have three days worth of food. That idea came from FEMA, who listed the magic tree day figure in their version of an emergency kit. Personally, I don’t think that’s enough. I have five days worth of food in my bug out bag, with an additional pack that has even more.
Start with the Bag
The starting point for any bug out bag checklist is the bag itself. While there are different ideas about this, most people agree that a is best. While we would all prefer to bug out in our cars and trucks, those of us who have been at this a while realize that in a mass evacuation the roads will turn into a parking lot. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the recent evacuation in Northern California, due to the failing of the Lake Oroville Dam spillway.
If, or perhaps I should say “when” the roads turn into parking lots, you may have to take out on foot. In that case, a backpack is the most practical bug out bag there is. Carrying the same load in a suitcase or duffel bag would be much more difficult.
But not any backpack will do. Avoid day packs, of the kind that children carry to school. They aren’t big enough to carry what you’ll need. It’s also a good idea to avoid military-styled packs, even though they are ideal in a number of ways. But a military-style pack sends the message that you are prepared, which might invite attack. Rather, use the type of backpack you would use if you were backpacking in the high country.
What to Take – Bug Out Bag Checklist
If you assume that you’re going to have to survive off of what’s in that backpack, at least for some time, then the contents must meet your basic survival needs. That means providing for warmth, shelter, warm clothing, clean water, food, fire, some basic first-aid and self-defense. That’s a lot to put in one backpack, but it is possible.
One thing to keep in mind is that bugging out is a lot like going on a backpacking camping trip. Your needs will be very similar. With that in mind, much of the equipment you carry along should be the same equipment you’d carry, if you were on that camping trip.
Good backpacking gear is designed to be lightweight, as every ounce counts. While that good equipment is more expensive, it’s worth the extra money if you can afford it. Every ounce you can save on your equipment weight is one more ounce of food and water you can carry.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the actual bug out bag checklist. This is most of what I have in mine:
Shelter
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- 10′ x 13’ Tarp – for making a temporary shelter
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- 6′ x 8′ Heavy-duty space blanket – one of the good ones
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- Space blanket 2 man tent
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- Three normal space blankets
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- Rain poncho
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- Emergency sleeping bag – made of the same materials as the space blankets
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- One complete change of warm clothing
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- 200′ of paracord
- Roll of duct tape
Water
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- Two liters of water in aluminum water bottles (can be put in the fire to purify water)
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- Sawyer bag water filter – guaranteed to filter one million gallons at 0.02 microns
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- Lifestraw – the best straw type filter I’ve seen
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- Water purification tablets (my emergency backup)
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- WAPI (water pasteurization indicator) – a great device that tells you when your water is pasteurized. You don’t have to get it hot enough to boil
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- Clear plastic sheeting – for making a solar still, if necessary (I live in an arid part of the country)
- Flexible plastic tubing – for use with the plastic sheeting to make a solar still
Food
Most people turn their food into homemade MREs. I don’t bother, as I find it easier to just carry the stuff that I can turn into those meals. If it’s in a meal, I tend to eat it all. Better to just eat what I need and allow it to last longer. All in all, I have about five days worth of food.
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- Rice-a-roni
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- Packaged mashed potatoes
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- Ramen noodles
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- Beef jerky (for soups)
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- Spam and tuna in soft pouches
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- Dried vegetables (for soups)
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- Dried fruit
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- Nuts
- High energy food bars
Cooking
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- Backpacking cookware
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- Camp stove that burns sticks
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- Esbit stove and fuel – a recent addition, for use when I don’t have wood available to burn
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- Stainless steel utensils
- Plastic cups and bowls – from the dollar store
Food Gathering
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- Spool of fishing line
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- Fish hooks
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- Bobbers
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- Split shot weights – I use the types that are designed to be removable
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- Automatic fishing reels – set them and come back later to see what they caught
- Guitar strings – for making snares
Fire Starting
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- Windproof butane lighter – more fires per cubic inch than anything else
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- Stormproof matches – the best survival matches there are
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- BlastMatch – I really like this, sends a shower of sparks, rather than fighting with a Ferro Rod
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- Cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly – my “go to” fire starter for damp weather. I have 50 of these
- Fire starters made of black powder and nail polish remover – my “real emergency” fire starter for wet weather
Tools
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- Sheath knife – on my belt
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- Combination hatchet, hammer, and pry bar – this was cheap, but it’s excellent. It’s also fairly lightweight for what it is
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- Folding pruning saw (much more effective than a wire saw or hand chain saw)
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- Multi-tool – make sure it’s a good one; the cheap ones bend too easily
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- Collapsing camp shovel
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- Machete with a saw back edge
- Spare flashlight, with extra batteries (my primary flashlight is on my belt)
Health
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- Toilet paper – don’t forget this one
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- Personal hygiene kit – contains toothbrush, toothpaste razor, soap, shampoo and deodorant
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- Insect repellant
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- Waterless hand sanitizer
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- Sewing kit
- Spare pair of prescription glasses
First-aid Kit
I carry a larger first-aid kit than most people do so that I can be ready for anything. Just a personal decision I’ve made. I want to be able to help out anyone I run across who is hurt.
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- Rubber gloves
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- Adhesive bandages – cloth bandages are flexible and work better. I also carry cloth knuckle bandages, which are great
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- Antibacterial ointment
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- Butterfly bandages – used in place of sutures
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- 3″ x 4″ Bandages – for larger wounds
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- Sanitary napkins – great for large wounds and cheaper than bandages
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- Cohesive medical tape – sticks to itself, not to your skin
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- Israeli bandage
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- Sam splint – foam backed aluminum, which is formable by hand. Can be fit to any shape to make a quick sprint. Much more comfortable and better than using sticks.
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- Ace bandages – for use with the Sam Splint
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- Tweezers – for getting out splinters
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- Eye loupe – for use with the tweezers, my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be
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- Medical scissors – for cutting away clothing or bandages as needed
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- Hemostats – for closing off a spurting blood vein, before the person bleeds out
- Tourniquet – the kind that can be operated one-handed, in case I have to use it on myself
All of these medical supplies, as well as some basic medicines, are packed in a shaving kit so that I can separate it from my bug out bag if needed. It normally hangs on the outside of the bag, so that I can get to it quickly.
Communications & Electronics
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- Disposable cell phone with cards for extra time
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- Signaling mirror
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- Whistle
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- Hand-crank FM radio – for getting the news and weather reports
- Solar battery charger – to charge my phone and tablet
Self-Defense
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- AR-15 “ghost gun” with a 4 power scope, chambered in .223
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- 9mm Glock pistol – on my belt
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- Spare magazines for both – on a thigh rig
- Spare ammunition for both
Miscellaneous
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- Compass
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- Monocular
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- Maps – topographical and road maps of the area
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- Extra batteries for my flashlight
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- Tablet – Contains survival books, including edible plant recognition
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- Miscellaneous plastic bags
- Small bungee cords – for holding things to the backpack, if needed
That makes for a rather heavy bug out bag and pretty extensive bug out bag checklist, actually way more weight than I want. But the food will be gone all too quickly, making me wish for that weight to come back.
