What's in your bug out bag?

[Admin]

So what do you keep in your bug out bag? Feel free to post pictures. I will try and post pictures of my winter bag this weekend.

[BillCA]

For a short-term Bail-out-Bag to support you for anywhere between 24-48 hours after a disaster, I'd recommend the kit contain the following;

1 - duffle type bag or backpack to contain the kit.
1 - pair of spare socks suitable for walking/hiking
1 - pair of comfortable walking shoes (a must for women)
1 - pair of spare underwear (minimum)
1 - T-Shirt, cotton (summer) or thermal undershirt (cold weather)
1 - Long sleeve shirt (flannel/thermal in winter or cotton in summer)
1 - head covering - beanie, ballcap, fedora, whatever suits you.
1 - pair of warm gloves or work gloves
1 - rain poncho or rain suit sized to wear over a jacket.
1 - Jacket, insulated
1 - Knife, folding blade
1 - Knife, pocket (even if you habitually carry one)
1 - Whistle, loud
1 - Flashlight, LED type w/batteries
1 - Kit, First Aid, include Immodium-AD, Rolaids, Asprin, Ibuprofen
1 - Space blanket
4 - pint bottles of drinking water, sealed.
1 - Canteen, 1 Qt size, filled. Cup optional but recommended
6 - Food bars - survival foods, sealed granola bars, etc.
3 - Cans, fruit w/juices, pull top can. Peach, pear, mixed fruit, etc.
1 - Half-sized can of SPAM or similar stable food product
2 - Rolls of Lifesaver type candies (mint, butter-rum, etc.)
1 - Notepad, spiral notebook type
1 - Small pencil
1 - Address book with local & emergency contacts
1 - Local area map(s) for most frequented areas you use.
1 - Kit, small toiletry: Toilet paper, toothbrush & paste, small bar soap, hand towel, washcloth
6 - feet nylon or parachute cord wound up.
1 - Small butane cigarette lighter
2 - Books of matches in ziplock bag
1 - Pack cigarettes, Generic as firestarters (more if you are a smoker)
1 - deck of playing cards (against boredom)

Personal Choice/Needs Items
1 - ziplock bag with prescription medications (5-8 day supply)
1 - eyeglass repair kit
1 - Spare eyeglasses and/or sunglasses
1 - compass
1 - dental filling/repair kit w/Eugenol liquid
1 - sealed bag of nuts (up to 6oz) for energy
1 - 4oz tube of sunscreen (especially if fair-skinned)
1 - 2-4oz bottle insect repellant (in warm weather)
1 - Small aerosol can of pepper spray (animal and personal defense)
1 - Firearm, compact (a very personal choice) with spare ammunition
1 - Portable AM/FM radio (shortwave optional)

[HanzoSteel]

Great list Bill,

and a good pair of tweezers and nail clippers.

Deck of cards is a good idea, I always carry a frisbee in my truck for some reason. 

[BillCA]

Even if you're not a smoker, a pack of "generic" cigarettes and a couple of packs (3) of matches don't take up much room.  These can be used for barter, showing of friendship or helping to calm down someone - especially a smoker - who is rattled. If you smoke, that extra pack may save your sanity. 

Tip: Looking for a cheap jacket for your kit?  Visit a goodwill store or salvation army store.  Look for a jacket 1 size larger than you normally wear. This will allow some comfort over a sweater or windbreaker for added warmth if it's a cold day/night.  Either of those organizations would love to have your business.

If you'd rather have new stuff... watch for sales at places like Costco where they will have coats and jackets on special.  Down is good, but buy some waterproof vinyl tape in case the nylon rips. If you can find a jacket with a synthetic fleece lining, those will keep you very warm.

Remember, the idea here is something like an all-weather 48 hour survival bag. Not a long term bag. It should be enough to support you for two (maybe 3) days until you either find a shelter or can get home (or a safe location). 

[HanzoSteel]

Found this site, great for getting your bob setup. Lots of different ideas and items for the bag.

www.edcforums.com

[Daelith]

Mine's setup so I can grab it along with a few choice items and hike for up to a week if needed. Conservatively, I could get 80-100 miles on foot in that week, so I can really get out if need be. It's all carried in/on a normal-looking book-bag-style backpack so I don't look like I'm really geared up or anything.

So far it holds:

Medical:
Misc Bandages
Medical Tape
Gauze Pads
Gauze Wrap
Cottonballs
Peroxide
Rubbing Alcohol
Tweezers
Moleskin

Medicine Cabinet:
Toilet Paper
Benadryl
Pepto Bismal
Eyedrops
Chapstick
Neosporin
Aloe
Antacids
Floss
Asprin
Excedrin
Mouthwash
Sunblock
Icyhot
Hand Sanitizer
Bar Soap
Condoms

Food & Water:
3600 Cal Ration Bars
Water Bottles (good for water + container)
5 Year Sealed Water
1L Nalgene Water Container (Lexan, personally tested near impossible to break)
Coffee Filters
Purification Tablets + Water Filter
Camp Stove
500g Camp Fuel
Comfort Foods (hard candy, chocolate, and snack energy bars)
Lexan Utensils
Small Cooking Pot (1/2L)

Tools & Supplies:
550 Cord
15ft Duct Tape
3x Firestarting Materials (lighter, weatherproof matches, magnesium/flint/steel)
20 1Q Ziplock Bags (some used to keep other equipment watertight)
Heavy Duty Black Garbage Bags
Napkins / Papertowels
Flashlight (LED, AA)
Headlamp (LED, AA)
Extra AA Batteries
2x MultiTool
Sunglasses
Spare Clothing (underwear, 2 pairs of wool socks, shirt, wool sweatshirt)
Beanie
Wide Brimmed Hat
Old Hiking Boots
Work Gloves (w/ extra liners)
Radio (am/fm)
Mylar Sleeping Bag (Space Blanket, sealed on 3 sides)
2x Sharpies
2 Packs Cigarettes (I don't smoke)
Playing Cards

"Grab And Go Items":
Handgun + 2 Loaded Mags + 50rd Box Ammo
440/2M Ham Handheld + Spare Battery

[HanzoSteel]

Thats alot of stuff, have you ever weigh it.

[Daelith]

Thats alot of stuff, have you ever weigh it.

Unfortunately I don't have a scale so I have not weighed it. However, the load-out isn't quite as heavy as my backpacking load-out, so I'm confident in my ability to haul it in case of need. The backpacking load-out isn't as supply-heavy, but adds 5L+ of water, a tent, extra clothes, less calorie-dense (but tastier) food, a sleeping bag, and generally some rock climbing equipment.

[BillCA]

I don't think that's all that much weight.
In fact, I would guess that my list probably weighs tad more because I've specified some canned goods (weighty) and cool-weather clothing.  Kits like these should weigh in at about 12 lbs or less, not including the pack and a firearm/ammo if selected.

TIP OF THE WEEK
Was recently chatting with a friend who was in Santa Cruz during the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. He showed some real smarts in the immediate aftermath. He went into his local McDonalds and offered to buy up the pre-made burgers ( and chicken nuggets (4) they had on hand and talked them out of eight of the dipping sauces.  The power was out for 3 days but the first two days they survived on the Mc-bargains.  Fortunately he had enough cash in pocket. But he talked fast that it was a chance for them to sell the food instead of trashing it.

[Daelith]

That's a good idea on the McBargins.

Though, I must ask, why limit to 12 pounds or less? Are you speaking strictly from a encumbrance standpoint, or as a general easy-to-carry starting point?

[BillCA]

Daelith,

I guess I should've been more explicit.  It wasn't meant as a recommendation to keep the weight to 12 lbs.

The kit as described should probably weigh about 12 lbs or less, as an estimate. Most of the items are small and fairly light, with the exception of some water and canned goods.  This allows you some weight to customize your own B.O.B. for your needs.   

Realistically, a BOB is intended to give you a 2-4 day kit to allow you to survive "on the move".  Whether it is bugging out of your residence on short notice or pulling it out of the trunk of your car so you can head home from across the county.  It's a short term kit to tide you over while you figure out how to cope.

I figure it is best that it weighs as little as possible - certainly under ~20lbs fully packed - so you can walk at least 8 miles a day without it being too tiring or causing blisters or strained muscles.  At the time of the Loma Prieta '89 quake, I was working 44 miles from home with a 1300 ft mountain range between the two.  On foot alone, that would easily be about a 3-day hike, allowing for rest periods. The lighter any pack/gear, the more distance per day I could make.