A Bugout Bag Could Save Your Life
Unexpected disasters happen all the time. Even though I want to be in control of my family’s safety, I cannot predict when or how a catastrophic event can happen. However, being prepared with a bugout bag is something you and I can control.
Imagine a scenario when you have seconds to react to imminent danger. Having a prepper plan and the prepper supplies and tools you might need, could be your key to survival.
While some folks don’t want to think about be prepared for emergencies, I preferred to build a bugout bag as my first step towards prepping. I started out with a small prepping budget, allowing me to include the most critical prepping essentials in my ready-to-go bugout bag.
To help you get started, I’ve gathered some need-to-know information to assemble a bugout bag to help you evacuate your home with little warning.
What is a Bugout Bag?
A bugout bag, also known by the acronyms B.O.B. and BOB, is a survival kit among the prepper community that holds the critical essentials necessary to save you in the event of a natural disaster or catastrophic event. This kit, typically held in a backpack, would be easily accessible, easy-to-carry, and ready to just “grab and go.”
To define “bugging out” as an action, it can be described as the unexpected, last-minute decision to escape your home or evacuate.
Bottom line: In the event of an emergency, grabbing your bugout bag should make you feel relieved knowing you have many essentials that you will need to survive.
How Many Days to Pack For?
A bugout bag is a short-term survival solution, a life-saving kit holding essential items to survive for 72 hours. Why the 72-hour timeframe? Well, survival experts note that a person can only survive for three days without water so that makes a realistic timeframe to pack for. The bugout bag is what you’ll grab to take with you to your designated bugout shelter, holding the contents you’ll need to survive for 72 hours.
What happens after those 72 hours during a dire emergency situation? The best answer would be that you arrive to your prepper evacuation location, that has already been stocked with a more comprehensive and larger number of prepper supplies, food, and water so you’d have ample supplies to survive the longevity of the crisis.
When is the Right Time To Pack a Bugout Bag?
The right time to PLAN and PACK is NOW! You want to have a bugout bag ready to go. Waiting for a catastrophic event to begin is too late to start prepping your survival kit. The time you take now to plan, purchase, and pack will offer you peace of mind so when emergency strikes, you simply grab the bugout bag and go.
There are a variety of scenarios where a bugout bag may be necessary. Whether it’s a result of a natural disaster like hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or the unspeakable threat of war, the impact on roads, fuel, electricity, food, and water could be a life and death situation.
What are the vital items you personally would need to take to evacuate safely and efficiently? Consider the critical essentials that make sense for you and your family. Contemplate what you would do if your necessary supplies faced shortages, if your location had supply chain disruptions, or there was a nationwide financial crisis. Shortages can very well lead to desperate times for those around you, so a survival kit takes on a new meaning when it comes to protecting yourself and your family from danger.
It’s time to pack your bag and be ready-to-go at a moment’s notice.
What Type of Bugout Bag to Select?
Your bugout bag needs to be an oversized, hiker-type of backpack. It needs to be large enough and sturdy enough to contain the gear necessary to get you through 72 hours of independent survival. You need to be comfortable carrying it for extended periods of time. The type of bag you select will depend on your preference, but extreme preppers and survivalists recommend a heavy-duty backpack that meets these parameters:
:: Large capacity bag to fit essentials
:: Durable construction
:: Waterproof material
:: Double shoulder straps
:: Weight distribution features
:: Multiple open compartments
:: Multiple zippered compartments
The size of the bag determines how much supplies and gear you can fit inside the backpack. However, the bag must be in proportion to your height and weight to determine your ability to carry it. One size does not fit all preppers.
The material MUST be WATERPROOF like a nylon material. Make sure it’s lightweight yet still durable to hold the essentials. Also be sure the backpack has multiple compartments to keep your supplies of different sizes and shapes organized and easy to retrieve. Double straps with a secure metal frame make the backpack sturdier and that will make for easier carrying.
Bugout Bag Essentials
There is no wrong way to customize a bugout bag. You just need to pack efficiently based on your family’s needs.
Here are popular categories of bugout bag essentials to consider:
:: Shelter
:: Food
:: Water
:: Clothing
:: Cash
:: Tools
:: First aid/medical/hygiene
:: Protection, safety, and security
:: Communications
:: Lighting
:: Fire starters
:: Important documents
You don’t need to pack every survival item that is recommended to you. Pack what you see fit to pack and what meets your prepping budget. Pack essentials that are considered necessary to provide well-being and survival to you and your family for at least 72 hours.
Shelter
Shelter is important. It needs to protect your family from the elements of weather, hot or cold, wet or dry. Shelter could be a tent, a tarp, or a military-style poncho, designed to create a makeshift tent. What would you need to stay comfortable? Insulated sleeping bags, emergency survival blankets, hammocks, and travel-size pillows can help provide comfort during what will no doubt be a traumatic situation.
Whatever shelter-related items that you pack in your bugout bag, make sure you practice setting up your shelter ahead of time.
Food
The most important advice I can provide is that the food items you pack in your bugout bag has a long shelf life. Consider bugout scenarios where you don’t have the ability to cook so select accordingly. Pack easy-to-prepare foods that are high in carbs, proteins, fats, minerals, and calories.
:: Peanut butter
:: Protein shakes
:: Protein bars
:: Energy bars
:: Meal replacement bars
:: Instant noodles/mashed potatoes
:: Military MREs
:: Dehydrated foods
:: Freeze-dried foods
:: Candy bars
:: Hard candy
:: Honey packets/sugar packets
:: Jerky
:: Beans
:: Tuna/salmon packets
:: Trail mix
:: Food for pets
Note: While your first thought may be to pack canned meats, canned soups, or canned beans, you won’t appreciate the added weight of the cans to your backpack. And don’t forget to pack a “spork” that combines the uses of a spoon and fork in one handy tool.
Water
Water is critical to your survival. Since you’re packing a bugout bag for a 72-hour survival timeframe, consider packing one gallon of drinking water per day per person. A sturdy, stainless steel canteen is also suggested. Duly note that water will be a heavy addition to your bugout backpack and take up a lot of space so each person you’re bugging out with should assist with carrying water bottles. Also, consider water for personal hygiene use. A literal lifesaver … consider packing a water filter for that filters pollutants and viruses from water sources you might find.
Clothing
Depending on the weather, hot or cold, rain, snow, or floods will determine your clothing needs. However, since you’re packing your bugout bag ahead of time, you’ll want to cover all weather scenarios.
A general rule to consider when packing your bugout bag is to prepare for a long hikie. Pack comfortable, yet thick, socks to help avoid blisters should you be walking on uneven surfaces in heavy duty hiking boots.
Prep for rain with lots of waterproof clothing like a hooded poncho to cover all areas of your head and body. A hat can work to provide warmth and help your head stay dry.
Bugout clothing to consider:
:: Rugged but comfortable hiking boots
:: Socks
:: Underwear
:: Thermal underwear
:: Shirts, preferably long sleeve
:: Pants
:: Warm hat
:: Rain jacket
:: Heavy duty poncho
:: Hand-warmer hot packs
:: Bandanas
:: Face masks
:: Waterproof work gloves
:: Sunglasses
Cash
It doesn’t take a major disaster scenario to recognize the importance of having an emergency fund. The fund will be important even for any day-to-day unexpected situations. However, a catastrophic financial collapse where credit cards are deemed useless, may necessitate the need for cash-only purchases. With that being said, it is recommended that you pack $500 cash in the form of small bills, in your bugout bag.
Tools
Possibly the most important tool in your bugout bag will be a survival knife. It should be a type of tactical knife with multiple uses including carving, chopping, and in the event of danger, providing self-defense. For many other tasks, a multi-use tool with screwdriver heads will be necessary as will some sturdy rope.
Comprehensive list of tools to consider:
:: Knife
:: Multi-tool/saw
:: Paracord/rope
:: Duct tape
:: Compass
:: Camping axe
:: Binoculars
:: Carabiners
:: Paper, pen, and pencil
:: Whistle
:: Heavy duty trash bags
:: Aluminum foil
First Aid/Medication/Hygiene
:: Toothbrush/toothpaste
:: Toilet paper
:: Tissues
:: Hand sanitizer
:: Bar soap
:: Medicine
:: Bathing wipes
:: Dry shampoo
:: Disposable razor
:: Feminine hygiene
:: Band-aids
:: Bug spray
:: Lip balm
:: Petroleum jelly
:: First aid gauze/bandages
:: Rubbing alcohol pads
:: Tourniquet
:: Sewing kit
:: Insect repellent
:: Earplugs
Remember, all items you pack need to match the needs of your family.
Protection, Safety and Security
Oftentimes, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, desperation instigates looting and other crimes. That’s why it’s important to be prepared to protect and defend yourself and your family. A gun can be used for defense and for hunting. You can also use pepper spray, a survival knife, or a stick. No one wants to ponder being faced with danger in this sense, but experienced preppers suggest that one must be prepared for all situations no matter how uncomfortable to think about.
Communications
While it would be great to assume that you’ll start out your bugout process with a fully charged cell phone, you know the reality of keeping the charge if a power source is not available. Pack a few fully charged power sources in addition to a solar charging unit.
To stay informed about any emergency situation, pack a small battery-powered or crank-powered AM/FM radio. Two-way radios are a great way to stay connected with other family members during a bugout. Keep in mind that two-way radios need to stay within approximately a 30-mile reach.
Lighting
There are a variety of LED flashlights, headlamps, and tiny solar lights on the market today. These compact, yet powerful light sources, are helpful to pack in your bugout bag. Mini LED lights, glow sticks, and candles can also provide extra light when needed. Be sure to pack extra batteries for the flashlights and matches to light candles.
Fire Starters
Speaking of candles, you want to make sure you pack stormproof matches as a way to instantly start a fire. Of course, you can rough it and make fire rubbing sticks in the woods, but fire starters, lighters, and matches are much more convenient and effective in an emergency situation.
Important Documents
In your bugout bag, be sure to pack the following documents in a waterproof bag or case:
:: Driver’s license
:: Passport (or at least a copy)
:: Social security card
:: Medical information
:: Medical insurance cards
:: Credit card account numbers
:: Bank account numbers
:: Important phone numbers
:: Gun-Carry permit (if applicable)
As part of your important documents, pack geographical maps of the evacuation and bugout area. You can’t rely on GPS in an emergency situation.
Update Your Bugout Bag Often
At this point, you’re realizing that your bugout bag with 72 hours of essentials will be heavier than expected. As you’re packing, make sure the backpack remains a manageable weight to carry as you add items. You may have to remove some items or pack multiple bugout bags for other family members to share the load.
Also, remember that building the most effective bugout bag is a continuous process. You want to occasionally update the documents, food, water, and other essentials, and add any new items that come on the market that you deem a worthwhile addition.
Your Bugout Bag is Packed. Now What?
Now that your 72-hour bugout bag is packed, find a place where you can store it securely, while keeping it accessible. As suggested, if you occasionally review the contents of your bugout bag based on your family’s needs, you will have less to contemplate should catastrophe arise.
There is no perfect bugout bag so always consider it a work in progress. Make sure it’s packed to face the demands for as many catastrophic events as you can imagine. No one looks forward to an emergency, but all preppers, whether beginner or expert, can at least rest assured knowing that a bugout bag is ready to go.
It could save your own life and the lives of your precious family.
