BUGOUT GEAR

BUGOUT GEAR - A Baker’s Dozen for Surthrival

1.   Shelter - exposure can kill even quicker than a lack of water.

2.   Knife - preferably large enough to hack with, small enough to carve with, and sharp enough to shave with.

3.   Fire Starter - get the best you can afford - the hotter the spark the better.

4.   First Aid/Survival Kit - see article - most store bought kits are not what you need most. A good first aid kit doubles as a survival kit!

5.   Weapons - if you don’t have a fortune a .22 rifle will kill most anything out to a hundred yards. Learn to use it!

6.   Cookware - whether it is a mess kit, canteen cup, or etc. the ability to make safe water and good safe food is essential for surthrival.

7.   Solar Landscape Lights - see article - light and power plus

8.   Ruck - A quality back pack is essential - the better it is the more you can carry

9.   LBE - Load bearing Equipment - when you have to go tactical you still need to have your basics with you

10.         Clothing/Boots - cotton kills and you won’t get far barefooted!

11.         Binoculars - essential for seeing things before it is too late - game, routes, threats, etc.

12.         Multi-tool - a good one with tools you can use.

13.         Night Vision - this is a game changer; and, the only high dollar item worth the expense.

 

Your bug in locale (and a lot of your gear) could be compromised by natural disaster, fire, NBC contamination, the government, or become just plain untenable to defend. That is why my gear list has what it has.

Exposure kills. Ironically, most people don’t have blankets good enough to keep them warm if there is no electric or gas to heat their home. If all you have is one space blanket per person that is better than nothing. If you do bug out remember - cold is dangerous, wet is dangerous, wet and cold are deadly. Exposure kills! I have numerous space blankets, an emergency “space blanket tent”, a regular backpacking tent, several local caves to go to, etc.

A good knife is an all-around life saver. I am talking along the lines of a good bowie knife. Tanto knives may look cool but most are worthless for any purpose other than what they were designed for - killing. A good bowie knife is a tool. It can hammer, pry, chop, cut, pare, skin, slice and dice almost anything - i.e. limbs of people or trees. I love edged weapons and have many; but, if I could only have one it would be a good bowie knife - about a 9 inch blade. The whole point is your knife should be more than an edged weapon - it should be a tool too. That said a multi-tool (and I love mine) doesn’t have a blade big enough or strong enough for many uses - prying, chopping, fighting, etc.

A while back a few hikers died from exposure here in AZ after being caught out overnight. When some of the survivors were asked why they didn’t light a fire they said they didn’t smoke so they didn’t carry lighters! - A sad way to whittle the “dumb” down from the gene pool. Fire is protection from cold and more: fire lets you make safe water and cooked food. It allows you to preserve food by drying, jerking, smoking, etc. It allows you to sterilize equipment, cauterize wounds, make medicines, etc. It allows you to make, remake, or repair many things - pottery, metal work, etc. If things really got bad it would even be your source of light. It is also a big morale booster.

Don’t get so focused on your weapons that all you consider are firearms and defense. The ability to hunt and kill, threats or game, without giving away your location could be critical. You should shop as your budget and skills allow. Think bows, crossbows, wrist rockets (sling shots), blow guns, spears, etc. Consider what you can make ammo for. I have a hunting quality, pump powered air rifle. It has interchangeable barrels. I can use a .22 barrel or a .177 barrel on it and I have a good stock of a variety of ammo for both calibers. Firepower is nice; but, skill is more important than caliber - practice often!

There are a lot of ways to cook and a lot of ways to make cookware; but, when the SHTF and you have to go mobile you will want a quick, easy, convenient way to cook and a way to collect, purify, and carry water. I keep a military canteen carrier on my LBE. It addition to holding the canteen in a canteen cup it has a small outer pouch that holds a bottle of water purification tablets. With this set up I am assured of a way to cook and to collect, purify, and carry water. With the canteen cup I can cook almost anything. In my B.O.B. ruck I have a mess kit. Inside my mess kit I keep condiment packets (such as olive oil, tartar sauce (for tuna), and jelly), compressed towelettes, a spoon etc. Because I carry my cookware I know they are uncontaminated and safe to use.

Yes, almost any bag will hold stuff to be a B.O.B.; but, a good ruck (backpack) is more than just a bag. It is (or should be) organized like a good combination closet, food pantry, and tool chest. You should be able to throw it into or out of a moving vehicle and still be able to locate and access important items in a hurry and in the dark. You should be able to get it on or off as if your life depended on it - which it might. When you have it on it should stay put - swimming, climbing, running, etc, without you wasting a hand to keep it in place.

There will be times when you will need to carry some vital gear (i.e. first aid kit) but a ruck is too cumbersome, too heavy or just plain unneeded. This is why having a good LBE (Load bearing Equipment) is essential. Whether you are away from base camp to hunt, scout, patrol, or etc. you still need to keep a certain amount of gear with you without taking the whole kitchen sink. An LBE to a prepper in action is what a tool box is to a tradesman, or a briefcase is to a businessman - it goes where he goes when he is at work.

Your nice jeans could be the death of you in extreme weather conditions - think cold and wet. Put at least one set of outdoor wear in your B.O.B or at least put some next to it, both is better. Wool and polypropylene are good choices. If you can afford it get some gear with Gore-Tex, Thinsulate, etc. This goes for clothing and boots. History shows that quality footwear will hard to come by if the SHTF. Have you ever tried walking very far with a blister? When carrying all your worldly goods and food? I have and it ain’t fun. Get the best you can afford, break them in, and use sparingly till you can get more.

Multi-tools come in as many different configurations as Swiss army knives. Get one that fits your needs; and, get one with quality. This is one place were cheap is not inexpensive - there is a lot of junk out there. Always remember that if it won’t last you don’t need it.

Is that distant bridge out or can you cross it? Is that guy headed toward you or away? Is he armed? One of the worse feelings in the world is when you know something bad is out there and you can’t see it. That’s one of the reasons why binoculars and night vision are on my list. Even if you bug in they will be important for seeing what is going on around you. Binoculars come in a wide range of prices, styles, optics, etc. They won’t be being made much if the SHTF very bad. Get them when you can.

There was a time night vision devices weren’t on my list; but, these days so many people - including the “bad guys” - have them that if you don’t you will be at a distinct disadvantage. Get them as soon as you can - even if just a 1^st Gen monocular. For an advantage get one that uses AA or AAA batteries and match some of your solar lights, battery wise, so you can stay recharged. When everyone else starts going dark again you won’t. Night vision makes you mobile 24 hours a day. It allows you to hunt better and have better security from threats - human and animal. In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king. Skip a few meals now if you must. (I am saving up to replace mine)