Bug Out Bag Help, Opinions and Advice

[JCook5003]

Hey Guys-

I want to put together a sort of Bug Out Bag, it's not a SHTF I'm leaving home thing, but I want it to be capable of that also.......

It would be an expansion of what I carry everyday, A SIG 239, a folding knife, and a Zippo
I would like for this pack to be something I can walk in on Thursday evening after work and grab and walk out and go camping till Sunday....

Here's a list of things I figured to include

100 rounds of .40 S&W ammo
LED Flashlight
MultiTool
Fixed Blade Knife
Two Man Tent
Small Pack Sleeping Bag
Toilet Paper
A First Aid Kit
Fishing Line, Hooks, and sinkers
A visene bottle of bore cleaner and gun oil
2 rags of some sort
100 feet of para cord
1 space blanket
A small tarp (maybe)
Water (recommendations on amounts and how to pack?)
Camp meals or MRE's
Maybe a lightweight camp stove
Survival candles(2)
Batteries

I am specifically looking for recommendations on the pack to buy cause that will abviously be the first purchase......

I want to know what brands, where did you get them, price, alternates etc. I have no idea where I am going to get any of this so recommendations are great thanks.

Also what else would you guys include in your pack?

One other note this pack will be put to use in Southwest Va, outside of Blacksburg to be exact.

Thanks in advance.

 

[halfacop]

First:

Hit the search button. This topic has been discussed several hundred times it seems.

I am sure that throughout the several threads already in existance - that you will prolly find some good info there.

Second:

Considering the list that you provided, I would do two things. I would take the bigger items:

Two man tent
Stove
Sleeping bag
small tarp
MRE's

Throw them in a pack of some sort and they could sit in the corner or even in your car at all times. These items are things that when you set up camp - you are not going to be carrying with you at all times.

Third:

The other items that you have listed would easily fit into a bag such a the Battle Bag ( http://www.skdtac.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=931&HS=1 )

These are items that you are going to carry with you even after pitching camp, when your out and about, hiking, fishing, drive into town etc etc.

That is the bag I have. Contents seem to change from time to time but usually consist of:

6 AR/AK mags
Secondary firearm (GLOCK, KAHR etc)
3 pistol mags
chem lights
100 ft para cord
surefire 6P
Dept Radio / Scanner
few shotty shells
Canteen from time to time
2 sets of cuffs
maps of the area (+ surrounding)
extra 6P batteries
widgy bar
Fixed blade knife and a few other odds and ends

This bag can easily be carried with me at all times regardless of where I go and contains things I may need at any given time on the move.

 

[dmftoy1]

Do you have an REI anywhere near you? If so, then my advice would be to go visit and have someone "fit" you for a pack. There are alot of body styles and shapes and if you get someone who knows what they're doing it'll make a world of difference in your comfort. The key things you're going to want are padded shoulder straps, a padded hip belt, and I tend to like sternum straps. Learning HOW to pack it correctly and bind everything down helps alot as well.

If you don't have an REI nearby then I'd look for a place that specializes in backpacking/camping. You're looking for someone who knows about backpacking to help you find the right fit. (get good boots too)

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

 

[JCook5003]

no we dont have REI but I do have a local outdoors store that is very knowledgable, I didnt know you actually could get fitted for a bag......thanks for the info.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

There are several good retailers that can fit you in SW VA like Damascus where they hold "trail days" every year. Lots of AT traffic comes there, so they are filling a year round need for people that live on the AT.

dmftoy1 gave you some great advice. follow it.

As for brands, I'll throw in my 2 cents as a longtime backpacker and hiker type.
You get what you pay for.
Arcteryx and Osprey are two very good brands.
Mountain Hardwear makes a very cutting edge series of packs as well.
North Face-not so much.
Deuter- Lower price and quality, but robust designs not bad for go bags.

Most of the time packs are made for volume due to the amount of gear you need for so many days in the field. And with that volume comes the weight. Bug out or SHTF packs differ from standard backpacks because you generally need less volume but the ability to handle more weight (ammo, weapons, etc). Your payload is denser than usual.
So, get a pack that has a good suspension system that will handle the payload you want to carry, but not one with a lot of volume (20-40 liters). And, make sure it has a hipbelt that can be interchanged instead of one that's sewn in permanently. Packs that have changeable hipbelts are usually more versatile and you'll stand a better chance of swapping the belt for one that is more comfy.
If need be, take all your stuff to the store and load it in the pack, shoulder it, and walk around with it for a while to make sure you like it before you buy it.
Seriously, people do it all the time.
Expect to pay between 100 and 300 dollars for a good pack that will suit your needs. And, if you buy one off the internet instead of from the local guys, go back and tip the guy who fitted you with a 20.
It's just good manners.

And, if you don't want to spring for a good quality brand pack, take the cheap one you get on a long weekend adventure and see if it passes muster. It might. But, life is too short to drink cheap scotch or use cheap backpacks.

 

[mrwood]

Re: Backpacks

Good idea on going to a retailer (e.g., REI)!
Getting a good fit is important.

Here is a link on sizing Gregory backpacks
http://www.lowergear.com/product-support/forester-fit.htm
You can can use this advice as a reference for your pack size.
Note: Different brands may size things differently ....

Once you know your size, you can look on ebay as well.
I have purchased a couple of packs from ebay.
Packs are not a bad thing to buy used - save some $$ for ammo .....

 

[houseofdon]

I'm a pretty avid backpacker, so my bug out bag consists of mostly used and secondhand outdoor gear. I don't like the idea of having thousands of dollars worth of my top of the line gear sitting in my car at all times. Put a wanted ad in your local Craigslist for outdoor gear. I found a used pack, stove, hydration bladder, and sleeping bag and ended up paying about $50 for well over $300 worth of gear. Perfect for a car kit that could be picked up and worn on my back when needed, and I wouldn't feel too bad if I lost it all.

Also take a ton of firestarting materials. I have match boxes stached all over the place in my pack, plus some tinder, WalMart fire starters, a lighter, and a magnesium stick. Overkill perhaps, but your party could come to an end real fast if you can't start a fire.

I also like to have everything packed in gallon-sized freezer bags. This allows you to compress clothing, give a reasonable level of waterproofing, and makes packing/unpacking much easier. Pack your stuff according to category (food, hygeine, first aid, firestarting, etc) for an additional bonus!

 

[Scanr]

Instead of cuffs, I would replace them with heavy zip ties. The weight difference and you could add quite a few more. They also have many uses.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

water

One good way to carry water without giving up volume to them is to use one lexan bottle and augment it with two 1 liter or larger water bladders made by platypus or the like.
These days a lot of packs come with onboard water bladders. Do NOT fill the onboard bladder with water and leave it. It'll get skunky and one good pull on that tube will give you a mouthful of sick.
Also, for cleaning and sterilizing you'll either need pills, a light sterilizer system, or some other method of getting and keeping the bugs out of the water supply.

Also, wrap some duct tape around your lexan water bottle as a way to keep the tape handy and not have a roll of tape.

Regarding buying a pack: I'd just add that you should not buy the pack first. Get your gear assembled and buy the pack that works for you (first) and your load out (second). Buying too large of a pack will green light you to bring too much junk. Buying too small leaves you open to tossing out things you need.

And, 100 rounds of ammo? If it were me, I'd take one extra magazine full and leave it at that.

 

[Mad Chemist]

I gotta agree with wheelgunslinger. 100 rds of .40 ammo is over 10lbs of excess weight.
My work and rec experience has taught me that most people overload their BOB's.

Important things to factor into bag assembly are:
local terrain type
number of people you need to support
food, water, shelter
medical supplies
fire starting material
extra clothing (rain gear, wool socks/sweater)
tools/cord/tape
flashlight+extra batteries
tp(smash the roll and put is in a ziplock bag)

If the cumulative weight of your bag exceeds 40lbs, then I hope you are in good physical condition. A weight that feels comfy after an hour can often feel downright miserable after 12 or 20. Add steep terrain to this equation and it only becomes more difficult.

 

[doc2rn]

As a man used to carrying a 60 lb pack, I gotta tell you about the Blackhawk modular pack. Lifetime warranty, expandable and colapsable, and with reinforced shoulder straps its the most comfortable pack I have ever owned. Some might call it a little pricey but I have yet to find it's equal. Get an old alice pack if you want, I have learned better. Mine is loaded out as a BoB, but I could add 4 things and convert it to SHTF.

 

[ilbob]

I would skip the guns and ammo. Its a seperate issue in my mind.

I concur with having a seperate bag for the bulkier items such as a tent, tarp, sleeping bag, etc.

Forget MREs. They are very heavy and you really don't need food anyway. You won't starve if you miss a few meals. You might die of thirst if you don't have an adequate water supply. I would suggest at least 4 liters of water in polycarbonate water bottles. Thats about 9 pounds. will last you a day or two.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Possibly a water filter system, instead of packing a lot with you. Mine's from MSR, it works very well, it's light, small, and will last for years. The drawback is it costs 80 bucks.

On the food: What about freeze dried? Again-It's light and small. It's only drawback I've run into: after living on it 4 days straight I started getting the rocky mountain quick step. But your body gets used to it after that.

Gun/ammo: If I have to go, I'll take 100 rounds of 357 ammo, my gp100 and my win 94.

Batteries? All mine are the rechargeable type. Add a portable solar panel from brunton, and I'll be ok unless it was TEOTWAWKI and I missed that fact.

With a sleeping bag, 4 man tent, food, survival gear, a belt knife, a small camp hatchet, 2 changes of clothes, soap, etc., I'm good for one week solo with a pack that weighs 55 lbs. Heavier than I'd like, but packable.

Why the four man tent? More interior room, not much more pack space, and only a pound more than a 2 man. Plus I can set out all my gear inside comfortably.

One key part I haven't seen mentioned yet: EXCELLENT FOOTWEAR, and GOOD SOCKS!!!! Why? Bugging out in a vehicle is one thing, but If your forced to get out on foot? Especially with 40-60 extra pounds on your back.

EDIT: On the footwear thing I forgot- ANKLE SUPPORT. You twist one up while wearing a pack, And I hope where you fall is comfortable, 'cause you won't be going very far for a while.

 

[Exmasonite]

well, the BOB/SHTF bag has gotten a lot of coverage so i'm not gonna rehash it but the one key point I picked up here is to make it MODULAR.

I have a large, internal frame "trekking" pack that's loaded for bear... pushes 50# fully loaded. Inside the main compartment, is a smaller pack (maxpedition pygmy falcon 2) with the "bare essentials". weighs closer to 15-20 lbs.

So, i grab the big bag for the "long walk" or to throw in the car but if something happens, i can grab the "combat rucksack" if I need to make tracks in a hurry.

Yes, i realize i'm probably losing a couple pounds w/ the extra pack but i like the versatility this set up offers.

 

[yhtomit]

First: For whatever instinct causes these threads to appear with regularity, despite the fact that they've come up so many other times ... I am grateful, because there are always some things I'd never thought of.

doc2rn wrote:

"Get an old alice pack if you want, I have learned better. Mine is loaded out as a BoB, but I could add 4 things and convert it to SHTF."

Which four things?

Are two of them guns and ammo? It sounds a bit like a riddle.

timothy

 

[biscuitninja]

A few Clif bars, those things can EASILY supply you with enough energy to keep you alive for a few days.

I still remember when the Northridge Earthquake hit... it wasn't fun. The bit deal at that time was the essentials. Gas, food, water. Food and water being the most important. But I do keep a little 9mm and the Mosin around for any people looking to loot... (*silently... bastards....*)
-bix

 

[LKB3rd]

http://www.efoodsdirect.com/products.html
That site has portable, storable food supplies. It is all good , mostly organic food and stores for at least ten years. Needs heat and water to reconstitute.

 

[Browning]

You might want to think about some tools to throw in that bag of yours.

Knives and Multi-Tools can do alot, but they couldn't help you build a shelter by sawing or chopping down a small tree or hammering a few nails, dig a hole all that well or get you into a locked shed or an abondoned house/store to use as cover or to get much needed supplies in order to sustain life (Important Note: I'm not talking about looting TV's or stealing non-essential items, I'm talking about obtaining abandoned food, water or medicine that's just sitting there while you, your friends and/or your family are starving, becoming dehydrated or bleeding to death like some people were during Hurricane Katrina). Perhaps leaving a note with your name and address with a list of the items taken might be in order.

Maybe something like...

A Small Hatchet along with a few nails, some cord, a tarp and/or a tent.

Fold Up Entrenching Tool

And/Or a Pry Bar and Bolt Cutters might be in order.

It's in kind of a grey area, but this site covers the possibility.

There's a section on tools or shelter.
http://www.captaindaves.com/guide/

Shelter

Other buildings

Shopping centers, fast food restaurants and other public buildings also may offer some protection in natural disasters, but they could be targets for looting, so you will want to avoid them. And while you may be buddies with the guy at the local gun store, his place will be on top of the list for gangs to loot, followed by electronics and furniture stores.

In a severe survival situation, you got to look out for number one. So if you're trying to get out of the city in an emergency and your car breaks down, who's going to blame you for breaking into that empty house and seeking shelter? In a life-or-death situation, property crimes will be the least of your worries (and if caught, you can hope for a sympathetic jury).