Bugout Bag

Bugout Bags
A bugout bag is a backpack or rucksack filled with necessary survival items for you to use in the case of an emergency wherein you have to Get Out Of Dodge (GOOD). Core elements of a bugout bag should be: that the bag is durable; that the bag is spacious; that you can carry the bag; that the bag can fit essentials; that the bag does not stand out in color; and that the bag has carabiner space. This last one is important so that you can hook things onto the outside of your bag such as a water bottle or canteen which might otherwise take up too much space within your bag.

A good bugout bag has 9 core elements, and they are:
 * Fire
 * Water
 * Shelter
 * Clothing
 * Utility
 * Health
 * Defense
 * Sustainability
 * Misc Objects

This may seem like a lot, and it is, and so you must be very cautious with what you place in your bag. Make sure you have a bugout location that you can get to, and make sure that your bugout bag is tailored for your region's survival needs. For instance, if you are in a cold location, be sure to pack plenty of fire and clothing. If you are in a warm location, you may need less clothing and can include more water. In a city, utility might be one of your priorities, and if you plan on staying in your bugout location for a while, sustainability may be at the top of your list.

Whatever your specific needs are, you need to tailor your bugout bag to them directly. Always always always make sure you have some form of defense. Fire is also a necessary category, as is water. From there, you can get a little more liberal with your disecretion.

Some examples for each category are below:


 * Fire: Ferro Rods; Stormproof Matches; Lighters; Firestarters
 * Water: Water Filters; Water Purification Methods; Boiling Cup; Camel Backs
 * Shelter: Tarps; Tents
 * Clothing: Winter Gear; Night Gear; Summer Gear
 * Utility: Multi-Tools; Flashlights; Power Banks; Paracord;
 * Health: Baby Wipes; Med Kits; Medicine; Tourniquets
 * Defense: Firearms; Knives; Mace
 * Sustainability: Seeds; Shovels
 * Misc Objects: Playing Cards; Twine; Sharpies; Notebooks; Pens; Morale Boosters

Be sure to make a list of everything in your bugout bag, and label them too. For instance, I have AA's in pill bottles to keep water out, and they are also in plastic bags within the pill bottles, and on the bottles are masking tape with sharpie labeling how many I have.

This page is still being updated.