What's in Your Bug-Out Bag? Contest

[angeryamerican]

It's that time again, contest time. But things are going to be a little different this time around. This is a thread for us all to discuss our bug-out kits, share information and opinions on your thought process and gear. Over the weekend I'll post up pics of my kit. I will pick a winner from posts on this thread. Even if you don't have a bag, post up. Tell us why you don't, what you think you need and why. Ask questions, offer answers. We all need to share info, there's only so many of us after all and we need to look out for one another. I know by now you're wondering what the prize is, so here it is. The winner will get this Goal Zero Guide Plus charging kit. It will ship directly from Amazon. Only posts here in this thread count, so post up.

http://www.amazon.com/Goal-Zero-41022-Guide-Recharging/dp/B00DD6B9IK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1449892653&sr=8-3&keywords=goal+zero+nomad+7

[Cannonball]

Here is my layered approach to EDC/GHB: I have a Gerber shard and Streamlight Nano Light on my key ring and carry a Benchmade D2 Mini-grip or Griptilian.

I have a Maxpedition EDC organizer which includes the following items:

• Streamlight Protac 2L flashlight
• Leatherman Wave + bit set
• Leatherman Croc tool
• Lighter
• duct tape wrapped on Sharpie markers
• pencil & pens
• notepad
• Colt arrowheads
• CRKT KISS ASSist Tanto

The organizer can be carried by itself or put into my EDC/GHB which is usually kept in the truck. I decided to use a Mountainsmith Day lumbar pack for my EDC/GHB since it is not tactical looking and allows several carry options including the waistband, single shoulder strap, or I can attach the double shoulder strapettes. I also already had it, so I didn't need an additional purchase. I am fortunate to live about 8 miles from home, so for my daily commute this is what I have.

• Solar charger
• Headlamp + batteries
• Extra AA, AAA, & CR123a batteries
• small waterproof match container with compass and whistle
• matches
• lighter
• tinder/votive candles
• Signal mirror
• Emergency Mylar blanket
• Fixed knife - ESSE Izula
• Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic sharpener
• Ziplocs
• Carabiners
• 100’ paracord
• Nalgene bottle
• iodine tablets
• titanium 650 ml cup
• titanium spork
• 3 Granola bars
• Lifestraw
• superglue
• Outdoor Research Helium II shell
• emergency poncho
• first aid kit
• nail clippers
• contacts x2
• extra glasses
• safety pins

Additional tools/supplies that are always in the truck include:

• Astra A-100
• 50 rounds .45 ACP
• 50 rounds 9mm
• gallon of water
• Danner GTX boots + socks
• Gloves/ski hat
• softshell jacket
• extra web belt
• TP & wet wipes
• work gloves
• SOG Sogfari machete
• SOG Folding Shovel
• Hultafors Classic Swedish Axe Steel Hunting Axe
• Pulaski
• spade shovel
• ratchet straps
• utility rope
• tow straps
• Hi-Lift jack
• 12v inverter
• Adventure Medical Sportsman Hunter FAK
• Becker BK2
• Spyderco Endura
• Leatherman Blast
• 3D-cell Maglite
• large Crescent wrench
• roll of duct tape
• tool kit
• 100’ paracord

For times when I am going out of town or into the desert/mountains I bring the Mountainsmith EDC/GHB along with my Osprey Atmos 50 backpack which includes the following items:

• 6” crescent wrench
• Duct tape roll
• Zip ties
• ESSE Laser Strike
• Smith's 50408 Pocket Pal X2 Sharpener and Survival Tool
• 6’ x 8’ camo tarp
• Outdoor Research Advanced Gore Tex bivy sack
• ALPS Mountaineering 40* synthetic lightweight sleeping bag
• Big Agnes sleeping pad
• Emergency Mylar blanket
• TP roll
• Headlamp
• Flashlight - Fenix & spare
• More AA, AAA, & CR123a batteries
• Lighter/matches/candles/firestarter
• Nalgene bottle & iodine tablets
• 100 oz camelback bladder + Sawyer filter
• MSR Dromedary Light 3L
• Steripen
• cook pot
• Esbit stove + fuel tabs – I also have a MSR Whisperlite International that may be used
• 4 mountain house meals
• 2 - 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar
• fork/spoon/spork
• Ziplocs
• trash bags
• Carabiner x2
• Webbing + paracord
• Paper/pen/sharpie
• First aid kit
• ace bandage
• Old eyeglasses
• eyeglass repair kit
• safety pins
• superglue
• toothbrush
• small moonshine bottles
• compass
• microfiber rag
• Gloves/ski hat
• Poncho/rain pants
• extra LS t-shirt
• Cargo pants
• GoLite synthetic down jacket
• boonie hat
• socks x 2
• contacts x4
• Gun Cleaning kit
• Bug repellent

While there is definitely duplication, I set it up this way so that I can grab them in a hurry if needed or go through and lighten the load by removing duplicates if time allows. Firearms that I carry include A S&W M&P Shield 9mm, S&W 438 snubby, Glock 23, or a Springfield XD9 tactical depending on where I am going. I think I am pretty well covered for myself, but now I want to start thinking about what to carry if my wife and baby girl are along as well.

[kickstand]

Cool...it's about time to repack for colder weather anyway.

[angeryamerican]

Hey Cannonball, throw some cloth diapers and couple rubber covers in your kit. Reusable and work. And that is a hell of a load out! Nice

[W.Lynn]

I do "levels of." It just doesn't make sense to have more than what's in my pockets (which is enough to scare some,) when I'm just going to the dairy for milk & butter. Each level includes ALL of each lower level.

Pockets: SAK, Gerber suspension, small "key folder" on key ring, phone, 'write in the rain' notebook, cheap pen, forever match, magnesium bar fire starter & scraper, usually 2 disposable lighters (in different pockets,) fresnel lens & "tool cards" in wallet, epi-pen, various other tools/first aid items per location or activity. And a zappy flash-light that is bright, rechargeable, and delivers a wallop of a zap if I use the button instead of the on/off slide.

Next level, purse. Fits a full size boom-thing with extras, more first aid, high energy snackage, life straw - it IS Texas after all!

Next level, "the bag o' goodies." Very specific to my life & skill sets. More first aid, more food, more comms, things for the grandkids, deck of cards. Almost forgot the Sawyer mini water filter. I really, REALLY wish I wasn't 1500 miles away from it, even in my own father's house!

I'm "in the works" on a big kit, but employment is not imminent, so no rush.

[simcityman81]

In my kit I have.......the knife you sent me. Yeah thats about it. I need just about everything. I live in a crappy trailer with more canned food than frozen/cool food but otherwise I never seem to have money to plan ahead of the month it is. My wish list would include things mostly for water purification and first aid. My head just starts to swim when I see lists of brand name things. i love seeing lists that have generic items I can buy anywhere and arent $300 top of the line. Sure I want good stuff but thats half a months rent and I barely even make that lol

I mean i do have a bug out bag but it's mostly 10 year old band aids, 5 year old water purifier tablets, some Goodies headache powder, an extra pair of socks, a spork/knife combo (really cool looking actually lol) 2 bottles of water and random assortment of rope/string and personal hygiene stuff. I may get about 5 miles down the road and then run out lol

[Cwi555]

For this area, we utilize caches assuming its a bug out situation. For that to occur, it would have to be something that happened without warning. If we get even 15 minutes warning, we would already be in a stocked BOL if we needed to move at at all.
Having said that, bags are minimal. 48 hours food, fire steel, tp, small personal hygiene kit, FAK, canteen, purification tabs, multitool, space blankets, 200 yds of fishing line, 25 feet of duct tap, zip ties, and personal arms. 30# including water and arms. Then there are situational bags. Mopp4 kits and supplementals, fire gear, heavy com, heavier arms, larger food supply, and larger FAK. Those things may or may not be needed depending on the situation. Mobile walmart kits are not conducive to the point of surviving. Layered defense in other words.

[redman2006]

Sim,

Cheap water purification that lasts forever can be had at chinamart. The sawyer brand filters are really good, cheap, light, and compact. I was seriously skeptical of them at firt. They withstand through hikes of all the long trails, some multiple through hikes. I think mine was $30-$35.

Most here seem to be gear junkies, but ask about substitutes. All of us started somewhere.

A mora knife instead of an ESEE, or mil surplus stuff instead of ultra light. The gear is fun, but really, the knowledge is what will save your butt.

Make an aluminum can whitebox style stove at home or a compact wood gassifier stove or grab a few esbits and a stand when you drop by the military surplus store.

What kind of gear do you need and is there any way we can help find cheap alternatives?

[RD]

Is a well stocked beer frig a good start? )

RD

[redman2006]

Rd, it is proof of God to have beer in times of need.

[redman2006]

I have layers too I guess.

A knife is always on me. It has been since I was in grammar school. Remember that? Teachers would ask to borrow it, and every boy wanted the teacher to use theirs.....especially Ms. Fletcher, but that is a different story.

In a bag I carry to work, there is a leatherman, a 9mm with spare mags, a lighter, power bar, and a water bottle. This is just a cheap day pack I use as a "briefcase".

In the car, there is a little more that just stays there. A change of clothes that would be seasonally appropriate with hiking boots, spare ammo, a sawyer squeeze, a bottle of alcohol for the home made stove, food, a milsurplus canteen, cup and stove bottom. A set of leather gloves, poncho and cordage. A light fleece jacket. Maps of the area, nothing fancy, but the Gazetter is a decent start. A head lamp and spare batteries. A fixed blade knife, mora. It all fits in a small milsurplus range bag.

The bigger bag stays at home except when I go on longer trips. It is an ilbe. I need to rethink this bag a lot. Basically it is an expanded version of the car bag. My thought is that I have options. I can stay with the vehicle in one scenario and be very comfortable. In a short hike scenario I abandon nothing and haul it all with me. In a long hike I sort based on need and cut weight.

I also have, in a separate bag, a small handheld ham radio. It is more for receiving than transmitting and picks up all bands, sort of.

Almost all of the gear is extra backpacking gear that got replaced with nicer things as I could afford to, milsurplus gear, garage sale gear, or home made.

[PLA]

Its all about layers and reducing what you are carrying to the least nesesary and my Pic fu is apparently not up to the task so

On me, every where but the shower
G17 or 19
2 mags
knives, usually 2 fixed blades, 1 folder so I have options to add of take off depending on what I'm doing
Gerber or Leatherman tool
Brunton Helios Lighter

http://quietsurvivalist.com/my-edc-or-by-request-what-do-i-carry-in-my-pockets/

Then the next layer which is part of my get home kit is my Smock, which carries my FAK, radio, snacks, compass, strobe light, flash light

http://quietsurvivalist.com/the-quiet-survivalists-review-of-the-dropzone-tactical-recce-smock/

Then my working pack, which is for unscheduled over night or storm stops

Pack
poncho w/liner
poncho w/ bungies for shelter
merino wool underwear
socks
Gore tex rain suit
water filter
stove
cook set
2-3 days dehydrated food


I layer everything, based on where I am and what I'm doing.

YMMV

http://quietsurvivalist.com/what-you-need-not-what-you-want-living-in-the-bush-pt-3/

Sorry for adding links, I tried the pics but apparently its beyond me at this hour

[Boston_Joe]

Sad to say I don't yet have a bag. There are 2 reasons for this.
1- Is I've only recently come around to seeing the need to get prepared. For a long time I procrastinated and tricked myself into thinking things weren't as bad as they seemed.
2- Money. The knowledge I'm gathering is free, the things that I will need are not.

I plan on actually making a couple of bags for both Mrs Joe and me. One to be taken day to day as a get home bag and other more extensive ones as true bug out/get the hell out of Dodge bags.

That said I have picked up smaller low cost items here and there to be put in my as of yet unpurchased bags.
Sewing kit
fishing kit
fire making
Knife

[PLA]

Joe just from my experience, go with the 90% rule first

90% of your time is spent consistent with very few areas. Most people are this way as well. Start planning from there. What you need not what you want to get from say, work to home.

You will find you don't need nearly as much as you believe

[redman2006]

Pla, that was hard for me. What do I want or what would make a trek home easier vs what do I need to make that trek.

Joe, craigslist and garage sales are your friend. You can find good packs for $50 that the owner used once if ever but paid $400 for them new. Stoves and lanterns and home gear is the same way. Locally, craigslist is loaded with stuff for next to nothing..