What goes in these things anyways? I decided to look for a guide about how to make one, and found out just how useless a real bug out bag is. It's
only for a 72 hour excursion? What's the point? I can live for 72 hours with my two feet and weather appropriate clothing. I decided not to build
a bug out bag at all after finding that out, and decided on something I'll dub my survival bag.
I've been buying things for this bag lately, but it's still far from complete. I decided to put forth some guidelines for packing it.
One, is that I want to get the most use of each item that I'm carrying, at the least amount of weight and size. I've decided to go for universal
style things, and do something I've come up with that I call "down packing". There's no point in carrying all the packaging and carry totes that
nearly everything comes with nowadays right? Right, so I've been taking them apart and using other solid objects to house them. Example, I took the
universal gun cleaning kit that I bought, and wrapped the items up in a rag and stuffed them in a piece of cookware. I've packaged each item inside
another, and now lost a bit of weight. Another example, I bought a small "mess kit" for eating, and put my fire starting materials, fishing
hooks/sinkers/swivels and such in plastic bags inside it. Saves myself a tackle box, keeps everything safe, and gives me something to eat the fish
with.
Another way to get the most from each item, is to buy things with accessories. The military loves this thinking. A soldier doesn't just have one
pair of boots for all weather, he has galoshes that pack up easily, and will keep his feet dry in the rain and slush as well. Being as dry feet are
key to survival, I'm going to follow that thinking and get some galoshes to pack away in my bag. Likewise nearly every other thing a soldier wears
can easily convert to another purpose or be incorporated into something else.
Breathable rain wear is another thing I'm packing. I know it might seem like a waste of space, but where I live further south, a snow storm is wet,
and being out in one for a few hours can result in you being soaked from the falling snow which is little more than sleet. Breathable rain wear as
your outer most layer with your normal clothes and some sweats underneath is a great way to insulate until temps get down to below 20. Getting soaked
all day, is a bad idea when the temps at night can drop very quickly. Anything lower than that, and you need a parka and insulated pants, which is
also something I'm packing.
I've heard of people planning ahead for radiation exposure with potassium iodine pills, but I've prepared for the most basic of survival danger, the
common cold. It's not good to be sick when trying to survive. Lacking the ability to walk long distances or find food could make the common cold
starve you to death. Add to it that you may not be bathing all that regularly, and you'll want a strong immune system. I've packed some garlic
pills to ensure my immune system is strong.
An obvious survival staple is a gun of some sort. I'll be using a very simple rifle and carrying a variety of ammo to ensure I'm prepared. I'm
considering what I can do to keep the ammo dry, such as shrink wrapping it. Not sure if that's a good idea being as that requires heat which is bad
around gun powder.
Baking soda and tooth brushes! That's right, I packed those too. Baking soda kills plaque, and the tooth brush is obviously for brushing your
teeth. Trying to eat foraged food without teeth would be difficult at best.
That's all I have done at the moment. Hopefully I gave you some ideas you had not thought of before. I have to get to work on my survival bag, but
it's a decent start.