Mission:
In this review we set out to display the best overall general option for the largest reasonable "bugout" bag setup possible. These loadout configurations have seen a lot of testing over a variety of environments. A rucksack set up for emergency preparedness is an item unique to the individual using it, and we will explain in detail how to set up a "bugout" bag as well as why we set up ours the way we do. However, before we get started on the bag and its contents there are a few things we need to share extremely pertinent to setting up your own Go/GTFO/INCH(I'm Never Coming Home)/Bugout/Emergency Preparedness bag.
First of all, contrary to popular belief you don't start with a bag, weapons, tools or equipment. You start with a plan based solely off your personal level off physical fitness, your survival skillset, knowledge, and abilities. For example, I'm an ex-college athlete and competitive fighter that's been exercising over 5 days a week for more than 10 years. I've rucked this pack more than 100 miles loaded out for some trips with up to 80lbs. One must realize that carrying an 80lb rucksack is neither easy nor enjoyable, and will be appropriate for less than 1% of people reading this article. Throughout the testing phase of this pack I've brought many of my more athletic friends out on possible "bugout" scenarios, camping trips, and hiking excursions. Upon completion of these various trips most people never want to go again with the exception of the Bone Tac team members. It’s crucial that you do not overestimate your abilities and that you realize carrying a heavy pack sucks... For anyone! Well why have I chosen to write up an article on a pack that is too heavy for the large majority of people? Because there's no such thing as overkill when your life is on the line! Also, this pack can be loaded out with less than half the items I have chosen to place in it, and it’s very easy to weed out what we have in our setup that you won't need for your particular "bugout" scenario.
What's a "bugout" scenario? We consider this a scenario where yourself or your loved ones are in imminent danger and you will need get out of your immediate area quickly and without time to pack. Why would you have to "bugout"? Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, solar flares, tsunamis, floods, and landslides could cause the need for a bugout. A good example is the general lack of law and order that led to the declaration of martial law in the city of New Orleans post hurricane Katrina. It is entirely plausible that many of the lives lost post Katrina could have been spared had those individuals been better prepared. After a natural disaster many things we take for granted are often not available such as food, water, shelter, and electricity. Grocery stores are not stocked, public water may be contaminated or not available, homes and vehicles could be destroyed, and depending on the severity of the disaster rioting and looting could be rampant. Not having a plan for food shortages or emergency situations is a relatively new problem stemming from a false sense of security brought about by our lives of excess and instant gratification here in modern day America. Other possible scenarios where a bugout bag could save your life range from terrorist attacks, riots, and a vehicle breakdown in a remote area, to the general decline of modern society.
Accordingly, your bag should reflect your situation in size, weight, and contents. How far will you have to carry your pack? Do you have a vehicle that will be available post-disaster? What if your vehicle is not available? Will you be bugging out alone or with others? How fast will you need to move? Do you have an escape route planned? How about an alternate escape route? These are all questions that need to be answered before you start to make purchases or set up a kit for emergency preparedness. Most of our guys have several bags packed at all times for various scenarios. Not necessarily just for emergencies but we store different types of gear in different bags. From dive bags and climbing bags to minimalist survival packs with just the essentials setup for moving quickly. I personally carry one such bag when hiking or stalk hunting in the wilderness.
As you develop a plan for potential disaster scenarios you should consider "the rule of three's", and your area of operation. The rule of three's states that you can last three days without water and three weeks without food so you will need to plan accordingly. Your specific area of operation will determine what tools, skills, and equipment you will need. Where do you spend most of your time? Chances are this is where you'll be when disaster strikes. Do you work in an office building? If so you may want to consider learning how to rappel and keeping rappelling equipment such as our RDT (rapid descent throw) bag in your office or cubicle. Do you live in a potentially cold environment? Then you'll need to have layers of warm clothing and possibly fire or shelter items stowed away for emergencies. How close are you to plentiful food and clean water sources? This will also help determine what type of bag you'll need, and what to pack it with.
In this review we set out to display the best overall general option for the largest reasonable "bugout" bag setup possible. These loadout configurations have seen a lot of testing over a variety of environments. A rucksack set up for emergency preparedness is an item unique to the individual using it, and we will explain in detail how to set up a "bugout" bag as well as why we set up ours the way we do. However, before we get started on the bag and its contents there are a few things we need to share extremely pertinent to setting up your own Go/GTFO/INCH(I'm Never Coming Home)/Bugout/Emergency Preparedness bag.
First of all, contrary to popular belief you don't start with a bag, weapons, tools or equipment. You start with a plan based solely off your personal level off physical fitness, your survival skillset, knowledge, and abilities. For example, I'm an ex-college athlete and competitive fighter that's been exercising over 5 days a week for more than 10 years. I've rucked this pack more than 100 miles loaded out for some trips with up to 80lbs. One must realize that carrying an 80lb rucksack is neither easy nor enjoyable, and will be appropriate for less than 1% of people reading this article. Throughout the testing phase of this pack I've brought many of my more athletic friends out on possible "bugout" scenarios, camping trips, and hiking excursions. Upon completion of these various trips most people never want to go again with the exception of the Bone Tac team members. It’s crucial that you do not overestimate your abilities and that you realize carrying a heavy pack sucks... For anyone! Well why have I chosen to write up an article on a pack that is too heavy for the large majority of people? Because there's no such thing as overkill when your life is on the line! Also, this pack can be loaded out with less than half the items I have chosen to place in it, and it’s very easy to weed out what we have in our setup that you won't need for your particular "bugout" scenario.
What's a "bugout" scenario? We consider this a scenario where yourself or your loved ones are in imminent danger and you will need get out of your immediate area quickly and without time to pack. Why would you have to "bugout"? Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, solar flares, tsunamis, floods, and landslides could cause the need for a bugout. A good example is the general lack of law and order that led to the declaration of martial law in the city of New Orleans post hurricane Katrina. It is entirely plausible that many of the lives lost post Katrina could have been spared had those individuals been better prepared. After a natural disaster many things we take for granted are often not available such as food, water, shelter, and electricity. Grocery stores are not stocked, public water may be contaminated or not available, homes and vehicles could be destroyed, and depending on the severity of the disaster rioting and looting could be rampant. Not having a plan for food shortages or emergency situations is a relatively new problem stemming from a false sense of security brought about by our lives of excess and instant gratification here in modern day America. Other possible scenarios where a bugout bag could save your life range from terrorist attacks, riots, and a vehicle breakdown in a remote area, to the general decline of modern society.
Accordingly, your bag should reflect your situation in size, weight, and contents. How far will you have to carry your pack? Do you have a vehicle that will be available post-disaster? What if your vehicle is not available? Will you be bugging out alone or with others? How fast will you need to move? Do you have an escape route planned? How about an alternate escape route? These are all questions that need to be answered before you start to make purchases or set up a kit for emergency preparedness. Most of our guys have several bags packed at all times for various scenarios. Not necessarily just for emergencies but we store different types of gear in different bags. From dive bags and climbing bags to minimalist survival packs with just the essentials setup for moving quickly. I personally carry one such bag when hiking or stalk hunting in the wilderness.
As you develop a plan for potential disaster scenarios you should consider "the rule of three's", and your area of operation. The rule of three's states that you can last three days without water and three weeks without food so you will need to plan accordingly. Your specific area of operation will determine what tools, skills, and equipment you will need. Where do you spend most of your time? Chances are this is where you'll be when disaster strikes. Do you work in an office building? If so you may want to consider learning how to rappel and keeping rappelling equipment such as our RDT (rapid descent throw) bag in your office or cubicle. Do you live in a potentially cold environment? Then you'll need to have layers of warm clothing and possibly fire or shelter items stowed away for emergencies. How close are you to plentiful food and clean water sources? This will also help determine what type of bag you'll need, and what to pack it with.
Water:
As mentioned before a human being can only survive approximately 3 days without water. This is further dependent on your hydration level at the time of the water shortage, your level of exertion after the shortage, and your bodies metabolism. This makes having a potable water plan at the top of our bug-out bag prep list. You will soon find that disaster scenario's tie these various categories of preparedness together quite closely to form one common theme: Survival! For example, fire can be used to boil and purify water. You'll need water on hand, knowledge of water sources in your area, and a way to purify said water sources. If you've ever spent time in desert regions hiking, camping, living, working, or exploring then you may know the importance of water.
Less than two centuries ago much of the western United States was only navigable by those with knowledge of natural springs, rivers, wells, and underground aquifers. Those with this valuable knowledge and skillset quickly became known as guide's and trackers. Another place one may realize the importance of fresh water is at sea. Being surrounded by water you can't drink can quickly turn from a pleasure boating dream to a hellish nightmare scenario (The high salt content of seawater will actually drain the water from your body as you drink it, and dehydrate you faster than not drinking at all). However, you don't have to be a desert rat or sea captain to understand the importance of staying hydrated and being prepared for water shortages.
Once you've developed you're bugout plan, decided on a final destination, and plotted multiple escape routes (we recommend three), you can calculate the amount of water needed for your trip. You'll want approximately a gallon per day for your projected trip. It is also important to remember that in the chaos ensuing a natural disaster it could take you at least twice as long to bugout as it does on the practice runs you should have completed by now as part of your plan. So, if it normally takes six hours to get to your bugout end location, you should plan on carrying a full days water supply. Another reason that we are covering water first, is that it will probably be the heaviest thing you carry along with your weapon and ammunition. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.35lbs... Plan accordingly.
If you are bringing a small bag and planning to move quickly carrying water containers separately is an option. Stainless steel water bottles such as those made by Sigg can be heated over a fire to boil water for food and purification. Stainless steel bottles can also be easily attached to your pack, belt, or plate carrier with a carabiner (An item with multiple uses in a SHTF scenario). For the minimalist or those looking for budget friendly options; a plastic gallon of water can be slung over the shoulder with some cordage, killing two birds with one stone.
As important as your primary water supply is, it’s equally important to have a plan for when that water runs out (either consumed, lost, or stolen in the ensuing panic). This is where knowledge of local water sources comes in to play. Know where the water is at along all points of you're planned route in the form of springs, wells, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, etc. You also need a plan for accessing this water. Is it on private property? Could someone be guarding it? Is there cover near the water source or is it in an open area? Think through the process of water retrieval and re-supply at each water source.
Now that you know where the water is and how to get it, assume it is contaminated. In the city its likely to be polluted with a variety of contaminants, and in rural environments water often has small particles of animal feces not visible to the human eye that will make one violently ill shortly after drinking it. Think beaver fever or giardia. This is why we have packed our giant bugout bag with an NDUR survival straw, various water purification tablets, chlorine blocks, and a Katadyn micro-filtration system that will filter thousands of gallons of water. The survival straw is small, quick and effective. Tablets are even smaller and lighter but don't filter water, only decontaminate it, water still must be filtered in many cases. Katadyn makes very effective water filters that are still quite small and although relatively expensive we recommend purchasing a multi-use filter such as this, and using it. It’s important to remember that water filters alone do not remove viruses or radioactivity! If you are concerned about waterborne viruses or radioactive contamination you must seek other means of obtaining clean potable water. Chlorine tablets and bleach can also be used to decontaminate water. A gravity filter can be made with sand and gravel, or a condensation filter can be made with a tarp but these are time consuming ways of attaining water and best reserved for a more permanent camp location than bugging out. Water can be poured into metal containers through a cheesecloth or coffee filter (so consider packing coffee filters) and then boiled for at least 30 seconds to purify. Water doesn't actually even have to be boiled to be purified, it can be heated at lower temperatures for longer periods of time and still be safe to drink. Of course, its always better to be safe than sorry... Especially with drinking water.
As mentioned before a human being can only survive approximately 3 days without water. This is further dependent on your hydration level at the time of the water shortage, your level of exertion after the shortage, and your bodies metabolism. This makes having a potable water plan at the top of our bug-out bag prep list. You will soon find that disaster scenario's tie these various categories of preparedness together quite closely to form one common theme: Survival! For example, fire can be used to boil and purify water. You'll need water on hand, knowledge of water sources in your area, and a way to purify said water sources. If you've ever spent time in desert regions hiking, camping, living, working, or exploring then you may know the importance of water.
Less than two centuries ago much of the western United States was only navigable by those with knowledge of natural springs, rivers, wells, and underground aquifers. Those with this valuable knowledge and skillset quickly became known as guide's and trackers. Another place one may realize the importance of fresh water is at sea. Being surrounded by water you can't drink can quickly turn from a pleasure boating dream to a hellish nightmare scenario (The high salt content of seawater will actually drain the water from your body as you drink it, and dehydrate you faster than not drinking at all). However, you don't have to be a desert rat or sea captain to understand the importance of staying hydrated and being prepared for water shortages.
Once you've developed you're bugout plan, decided on a final destination, and plotted multiple escape routes (we recommend three), you can calculate the amount of water needed for your trip. You'll want approximately a gallon per day for your projected trip. It is also important to remember that in the chaos ensuing a natural disaster it could take you at least twice as long to bugout as it does on the practice runs you should have completed by now as part of your plan. So, if it normally takes six hours to get to your bugout end location, you should plan on carrying a full days water supply. Another reason that we are covering water first, is that it will probably be the heaviest thing you carry along with your weapon and ammunition. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.35lbs... Plan accordingly.
If you are bringing a small bag and planning to move quickly carrying water containers separately is an option. Stainless steel water bottles such as those made by Sigg can be heated over a fire to boil water for food and purification. Stainless steel bottles can also be easily attached to your pack, belt, or plate carrier with a carabiner (An item with multiple uses in a SHTF scenario). For the minimalist or those looking for budget friendly options; a plastic gallon of water can be slung over the shoulder with some cordage, killing two birds with one stone.
As important as your primary water supply is, it’s equally important to have a plan for when that water runs out (either consumed, lost, or stolen in the ensuing panic). This is where knowledge of local water sources comes in to play. Know where the water is at along all points of you're planned route in the form of springs, wells, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, etc. You also need a plan for accessing this water. Is it on private property? Could someone be guarding it? Is there cover near the water source or is it in an open area? Think through the process of water retrieval and re-supply at each water source.
Now that you know where the water is and how to get it, assume it is contaminated. In the city its likely to be polluted with a variety of contaminants, and in rural environments water often has small particles of animal feces not visible to the human eye that will make one violently ill shortly after drinking it. Think beaver fever or giardia. This is why we have packed our giant bugout bag with an NDUR survival straw, various water purification tablets, chlorine blocks, and a Katadyn micro-filtration system that will filter thousands of gallons of water. The survival straw is small, quick and effective. Tablets are even smaller and lighter but don't filter water, only decontaminate it, water still must be filtered in many cases. Katadyn makes very effective water filters that are still quite small and although relatively expensive we recommend purchasing a multi-use filter such as this, and using it. It’s important to remember that water filters alone do not remove viruses or radioactivity! If you are concerned about waterborne viruses or radioactive contamination you must seek other means of obtaining clean potable water. Chlorine tablets and bleach can also be used to decontaminate water. A gravity filter can be made with sand and gravel, or a condensation filter can be made with a tarp but these are time consuming ways of attaining water and best reserved for a more permanent camp location than bugging out. Water can be poured into metal containers through a cheesecloth or coffee filter (so consider packing coffee filters) and then boiled for at least 30 seconds to purify. Water doesn't actually even have to be boiled to be purified, it can be heated at lower temperatures for longer periods of time and still be safe to drink. Of course, its always better to be safe than sorry... Especially with drinking water.
Fire:
Learning to control fire and use it to our advantage is one of the first and most basic things human beings have done to separate ourselves from animals. Fire is as integral to survival as water, and an absolute necessity in regions that experience cold winters. Aside from the obvious and arguably the most important use of fire to boil water for purification, fire has literally too many uses to list in this short review. However, we will briefly discuss the survival benefits of fire as they pertain to our bugout bag and scenario.
Due to the fact that we're warm-blooded mammals and our bodies can only survive at a relatively small temperature range, the benefits of the heating properties of fire range from providing comfort to preventing hypothermia, frostbite, and death. Fire is also an extremely useful signaling tool when lost, stranded, or trying to mark a specific location. During the day smoke can be used as a signaling device by burning green vegetation, animal dung, or wet grass and leaves. Native American smoke signals are a means of silent communication relatively easy to master and often ignored by today's outdoorsmen. At night fire itself is an invaluable signaling device. A mere candle can be seen from over a mile away on a clear night. Many food items not safe for human consumption in their raw form can be eaten once cooked. Smoke and heat can be used to cure meats for long term storage (think jerky), and leaves can be boiled to create tea that often contains a high vitamin content and offers various medicinal uses.
Three things must be present for the combustion process to take place: Oxygen, heat, and fuel. This basic understanding of the "fire triangle" is a necessary base for mastering primitive fire. The next step is breaking down the fuel category into tinder, kindling, and fuel. Tinder is a small, dry, source of fuel with a high surface area, loosely bundled to allow greater oxygen interface. Tinder should easily catch fire with heat or a spark. Birds nests, fine wood shavings, dry bark, fibrous plant material, and dried moss are some possible examples of tinder. One key survival tip is to gather tinder while hiking, and store tinder at bugout destinations when possible. Collecting tinder while hiking should be practiced regularly to develop habit and will conserve energy in actual survival scenarios. We save our dryer lint when doing laundry and keep small waterproof containers of this lint in our bugout bags. Char cloth is another cheap, and well suited form of tinder for survival kits. Char cloth can be made by charring old t-shirts (singing them with a lighter to the point right before combustion). There are also several types of tinder/fuel you can buy that make fire starting very easy such as the highly combustable "WetFire" cubes and flammable gel packs.
After tinder you will need a slightly larger source of fuel called kindling. Kindling consists mostly of small sticks and twigs when in wooded areas, or anything of similar size that's flammable in urban areas. A small amount of kindling should also be gathered while hiking, or any walking portion of the bugout, or survival journey.
The last type of fuel is your bulk fuel that will keep the fire burning for extended periods of time. Large, split, dry hardwood logs are the best source of fuel. You should have a storage of fuel at your bugout destination. You should also know what items can be gathered and used for fuel, if necessary, at your bugout location as well as along your planned routes.
Now that you have at least two types of tinder packed, you know to gather tinder and kindling along your journey, and you have stored all three fuel types at your destination, you are ready for heat. Heat is good but a spark is better, so we recommend packing three survival tools that can create a spark. Items that fit this category include: lighters, flint and steel, or weatherproof matches to name a few. Some fire starters include a spark generating device and a fuel source such as a military surplus magnesium fire starter. Fire starters that generate heat to create fire such as fire pistons or magnifying lenses work well when used properly and under ideal conditions but are not our preference. It’s important to know your location and projected location so you can pack fire starting supplies accordingly. One of our Cadre, a primitive fire expert, heads out into the wilderness regularly with only 550 paracord and a knife to starts fires by creating a bow drill set. But there are certain conditions where even this bushcraft expert of decades, and SERE school graduate has trouble creating primitive fire. The rest of our guys, under his tutelage, are lucky to create primitive fire on fifty percent of our attempts.
The third leg of the fire triangle is also the one we can't control: oxygen. Starting fire's in low oxygen environments such as areas of high altitude is difficult at best. We suggest training and practice for those living at or near high altitudes.
Learning to control fire and use it to our advantage is one of the first and most basic things human beings have done to separate ourselves from animals. Fire is as integral to survival as water, and an absolute necessity in regions that experience cold winters. Aside from the obvious and arguably the most important use of fire to boil water for purification, fire has literally too many uses to list in this short review. However, we will briefly discuss the survival benefits of fire as they pertain to our bugout bag and scenario.
Due to the fact that we're warm-blooded mammals and our bodies can only survive at a relatively small temperature range, the benefits of the heating properties of fire range from providing comfort to preventing hypothermia, frostbite, and death. Fire is also an extremely useful signaling tool when lost, stranded, or trying to mark a specific location. During the day smoke can be used as a signaling device by burning green vegetation, animal dung, or wet grass and leaves. Native American smoke signals are a means of silent communication relatively easy to master and often ignored by today's outdoorsmen. At night fire itself is an invaluable signaling device. A mere candle can be seen from over a mile away on a clear night. Many food items not safe for human consumption in their raw form can be eaten once cooked. Smoke and heat can be used to cure meats for long term storage (think jerky), and leaves can be boiled to create tea that often contains a high vitamin content and offers various medicinal uses.
Three things must be present for the combustion process to take place: Oxygen, heat, and fuel. This basic understanding of the "fire triangle" is a necessary base for mastering primitive fire. The next step is breaking down the fuel category into tinder, kindling, and fuel. Tinder is a small, dry, source of fuel with a high surface area, loosely bundled to allow greater oxygen interface. Tinder should easily catch fire with heat or a spark. Birds nests, fine wood shavings, dry bark, fibrous plant material, and dried moss are some possible examples of tinder. One key survival tip is to gather tinder while hiking, and store tinder at bugout destinations when possible. Collecting tinder while hiking should be practiced regularly to develop habit and will conserve energy in actual survival scenarios. We save our dryer lint when doing laundry and keep small waterproof containers of this lint in our bugout bags. Char cloth is another cheap, and well suited form of tinder for survival kits. Char cloth can be made by charring old t-shirts (singing them with a lighter to the point right before combustion). There are also several types of tinder/fuel you can buy that make fire starting very easy such as the highly combustable "WetFire" cubes and flammable gel packs.
After tinder you will need a slightly larger source of fuel called kindling. Kindling consists mostly of small sticks and twigs when in wooded areas, or anything of similar size that's flammable in urban areas. A small amount of kindling should also be gathered while hiking, or any walking portion of the bugout, or survival journey.
The last type of fuel is your bulk fuel that will keep the fire burning for extended periods of time. Large, split, dry hardwood logs are the best source of fuel. You should have a storage of fuel at your bugout destination. You should also know what items can be gathered and used for fuel, if necessary, at your bugout location as well as along your planned routes.
Now that you have at least two types of tinder packed, you know to gather tinder and kindling along your journey, and you have stored all three fuel types at your destination, you are ready for heat. Heat is good but a spark is better, so we recommend packing three survival tools that can create a spark. Items that fit this category include: lighters, flint and steel, or weatherproof matches to name a few. Some fire starters include a spark generating device and a fuel source such as a military surplus magnesium fire starter. Fire starters that generate heat to create fire such as fire pistons or magnifying lenses work well when used properly and under ideal conditions but are not our preference. It’s important to know your location and projected location so you can pack fire starting supplies accordingly. One of our Cadre, a primitive fire expert, heads out into the wilderness regularly with only 550 paracord and a knife to starts fires by creating a bow drill set. But there are certain conditions where even this bushcraft expert of decades, and SERE school graduate has trouble creating primitive fire. The rest of our guys, under his tutelage, are lucky to create primitive fire on fifty percent of our attempts.
The third leg of the fire triangle is also the one we can't control: oxygen. Starting fire's in low oxygen environments such as areas of high altitude is difficult at best. We suggest training and practice for those living at or near high altitudes.
Security:
Many of the items in your survival kit tend to expand on one another, some to the point where one item is necessary for proper function of the other. The right gear can make difficult missions much easier, sometimes the right gear can even save your life or the lives of others. But on the other hand, relying completely on gear in a life-threatening scenario when there is always a possibility of loss or failure can get you killed. The best guns jam, and even the nicest hand made fighting knives and tomahawks like ours can still be lost or possibly even broken. Security does not always mean who has the biggest gun or the most ammo.
When we say everything starts with a plan, we mean everything. You will need a security plan in place. You will also need practice, training, and a survival mindset. The sheer will to do anything you can to survive in an emergency situation is one of the greatest tools you can have. Your security plan should also be based off your needs, abilities, and area of operation. You'll want to make yourself a hard target using deception and camouflage where possible. Plan to try and fit into your surroundings while trying not to look like you have things others may want. At the same time be prepared to display use of force and be prepared to use deadly force when necessary.
Your security plan will need to include getting out of the area you’re in at the time of emergency, providing security for your trip to the end location, and setting up security at the end location. If you cannot protect yourself or your belongings in a disaster scenario at any point, then you might as well be setting up your pack for the first person that tries to take it from you. Chaos is the rule of thumb in almost all post-disaster scenarios.
Your location will be a strong determining factor of your security needs. If you're in a city, you'll need to be able to protect yourself against potential violent mobs of rioters and looters. In this situation openly carrying a firearm at the ready while moving carefully and purposefully may be your best option. If you're in a rural area you may need to protect yourself against wild animals or smaller groups of people. Camouflage and stealth may be your best tactics in less populated woodland environments.
We recommend having a firearm and at least one edged weapon in an emergency situation. Actually we recommend having two guns and two knives that are exactly the same. One to practice with regularly, and the other to keep in your bugout bag. We recommend at least 200 rounds of ammo and multiple magazines either on your person (belt or plate carrier), or in your bag. You'll also want a few things to keep your weapons running smoothly such as cleaning equipment, lubricant, and something to sharpen your knife with. Essential cleaning equipment includes something to run through the bore of your firearm, and a lubricant (we use dry lubricants that do not collect dirt and debris). You can usually find or repurpose some type of rag or cloth when necessary, as well as a metal object to scrape away carbon (we have a carbon scraper on our multi-tools). Cleaning can be done with any type of soap and water and if absolutely necessary hot water can be used by itself. Just make sure to dry your weapons thoroughly and re-lubricate before use.
Above all else training is still the most important aspect to security. Train regularly with your weapons, and with your body in some type of martial arts. Train your mind by educating yourself on skills and techniques as well as planning for various scenario's. If you do all this, you will be a survivor.
Many of the items in your survival kit tend to expand on one another, some to the point where one item is necessary for proper function of the other. The right gear can make difficult missions much easier, sometimes the right gear can even save your life or the lives of others. But on the other hand, relying completely on gear in a life-threatening scenario when there is always a possibility of loss or failure can get you killed. The best guns jam, and even the nicest hand made fighting knives and tomahawks like ours can still be lost or possibly even broken. Security does not always mean who has the biggest gun or the most ammo.
When we say everything starts with a plan, we mean everything. You will need a security plan in place. You will also need practice, training, and a survival mindset. The sheer will to do anything you can to survive in an emergency situation is one of the greatest tools you can have. Your security plan should also be based off your needs, abilities, and area of operation. You'll want to make yourself a hard target using deception and camouflage where possible. Plan to try and fit into your surroundings while trying not to look like you have things others may want. At the same time be prepared to display use of force and be prepared to use deadly force when necessary.
Your security plan will need to include getting out of the area you’re in at the time of emergency, providing security for your trip to the end location, and setting up security at the end location. If you cannot protect yourself or your belongings in a disaster scenario at any point, then you might as well be setting up your pack for the first person that tries to take it from you. Chaos is the rule of thumb in almost all post-disaster scenarios.
Your location will be a strong determining factor of your security needs. If you're in a city, you'll need to be able to protect yourself against potential violent mobs of rioters and looters. In this situation openly carrying a firearm at the ready while moving carefully and purposefully may be your best option. If you're in a rural area you may need to protect yourself against wild animals or smaller groups of people. Camouflage and stealth may be your best tactics in less populated woodland environments.
We recommend having a firearm and at least one edged weapon in an emergency situation. Actually we recommend having two guns and two knives that are exactly the same. One to practice with regularly, and the other to keep in your bugout bag. We recommend at least 200 rounds of ammo and multiple magazines either on your person (belt or plate carrier), or in your bag. You'll also want a few things to keep your weapons running smoothly such as cleaning equipment, lubricant, and something to sharpen your knife with. Essential cleaning equipment includes something to run through the bore of your firearm, and a lubricant (we use dry lubricants that do not collect dirt and debris). You can usually find or repurpose some type of rag or cloth when necessary, as well as a metal object to scrape away carbon (we have a carbon scraper on our multi-tools). Cleaning can be done with any type of soap and water and if absolutely necessary hot water can be used by itself. Just make sure to dry your weapons thoroughly and re-lubricate before use.
Above all else training is still the most important aspect to security. Train regularly with your weapons, and with your body in some type of martial arts. Train your mind by educating yourself on skills and techniques as well as planning for various scenario's. If you do all this, you will be a survivor.
Shelter:
Shelter, as it pertains to survival and bugout scenarios, is quite different from our general understanding of the word. When we discuss shelter in regards to your bugout bag and plan we are referring to anything that can protect you from the elements. As we mentioned before the human body is relatively unsuited to our natural environment. In fact, mother nature can kill you long before you die of starvation, which is why we've chosen to discuss shelter before food.
Just to get my point across I'll give a few examples. I know of a bushcraft expert who built a simple bivy for shelter while surviving the African bush. He learned a hard lesson on shelter when, while he was sleeping in his open-ended tarp shelter, a Hyena decided to take a nice bite out of his face. I myself keep a tarp in my bugout bag, and prefer to sleep in just such a tarp shelter. It's quick, easy, efficient, doesn't take a large amount of energy to set up, and a military surplus canvas shelter half can be had for around $20. However, shelter in Africa must include protection from the local predators and megafauna. I had a similar close call one evening while sleeping in my shelter half in a swampy region of the deep south. A large boar hog came into my camp early one morning out of curiosity and decided to check out my small tarp shelter while I was sleeping. He didn't fare as well as the Hyena... As we can take from the previous examples there are shelter options that work for particular situations and shelters that don't!
Campers have been known to take advantage of natural caves and rock overhangs for their inherent shelter qualities. Problems occur in the way of falling rock when a fire is built too close to cavern ceilings, and smoke buildup can occur leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. But when these possible dangerous residual effects of fire are taken into account, caves and rocky outcroppings offer excellent shelters. One particular area of South America brings experienced hunters and outdoorsmen from around the world to hunt red stag. "Widow makers" have been known to take lives of men such as these while they sleep in tents, or shelters that otherwise would be considered acceptable. A "widow maker" is a term for a tree that falls on an unsuspecting camper, normally due to the tree being dead or partially dead, leaning precariously on other vegetation, or from high winds.
It's important to realize that there is no perfect shelter, and that choosing the best shelter is completely dependent on your area of operation. I will reiterate that shelter for our particular scenario is anything that protects oneself from his or her environment. If you have a potential to be shot at, ballistic armor is a type of shelter that can be worn which you should factor into your plan. More realistically, you're clothing will be the first and most important item of shelter. A good pair of shoes and multiple pairs of heavy duty socks is absolutely crucial. We recommend trail running shoes for temperate regions and insulated boots for cold environments. Extra heavy duty socks should be kept in your bag. One old trick to help prevent blisters is to wear dress socks under your heavy socks.
Layering clothing is important. If there is any potential for cold weather in your area of operation or bugout destination you must have multiple layers of warm clothing as well as waterproof outerwear. In warm, arid regions complete coverage is necessary to prevent extreme cases of sunburn. Shemagh's, bandana's, sunglasses, gloves, and hats (such as a Tilley hat www.tilleyendurables.com), are shelter items you should pack or wear. We also recommend a very heavy duty pair of pants like the fire hose pants from Duluth Trading Co.
After you realize you can wear a large portion of your shelter items, the next step is to choose more traditional shelter items to pack. The traditional shelter items packed should be chosen after mapping out potential shelter areas along your bugout routes. Most of our guys pack jungle hammocks such as Eno hammocks with lightweight rain fly's. They work so well because they pack down almost to the size of a softball, are very light, and take very little caloric expenditure to set up. We recommend using an Eno double nest in earth tones and making your own lightweight rain fly out of waterproof camouflage material. One thing to remember is that hammocks are not conducive cold environments. If in a cold area you'll need to take further measures to protect yourself from the elements.
I personally don't use a hammock. Years of college athletics and competitive fighting has taken its toll on my knees and sleeping in a hammock for me is quite painful and nearly impossible. I carry a tarp, a mylar emergency blanket, and a heavy sleeping bag in areas where below freezing temperatures are likely. The mylar (space) blanket and/or tarp can also be used to reflect heat from a fire when necessary. I sleep on the ground and use natural vegetation to form a makeshift sleeping pad. Shelter building could be an entire book in itself and is a bit outside the scope of this write-up. We recommend doing some research and learning to build shelters quickly and efficiently out of common items in your area. Its beneficial to practice shelter building in both urban and rural environments.
Shelter, as it pertains to survival and bugout scenarios, is quite different from our general understanding of the word. When we discuss shelter in regards to your bugout bag and plan we are referring to anything that can protect you from the elements. As we mentioned before the human body is relatively unsuited to our natural environment. In fact, mother nature can kill you long before you die of starvation, which is why we've chosen to discuss shelter before food.
Just to get my point across I'll give a few examples. I know of a bushcraft expert who built a simple bivy for shelter while surviving the African bush. He learned a hard lesson on shelter when, while he was sleeping in his open-ended tarp shelter, a Hyena decided to take a nice bite out of his face. I myself keep a tarp in my bugout bag, and prefer to sleep in just such a tarp shelter. It's quick, easy, efficient, doesn't take a large amount of energy to set up, and a military surplus canvas shelter half can be had for around $20. However, shelter in Africa must include protection from the local predators and megafauna. I had a similar close call one evening while sleeping in my shelter half in a swampy region of the deep south. A large boar hog came into my camp early one morning out of curiosity and decided to check out my small tarp shelter while I was sleeping. He didn't fare as well as the Hyena... As we can take from the previous examples there are shelter options that work for particular situations and shelters that don't!
Campers have been known to take advantage of natural caves and rock overhangs for their inherent shelter qualities. Problems occur in the way of falling rock when a fire is built too close to cavern ceilings, and smoke buildup can occur leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. But when these possible dangerous residual effects of fire are taken into account, caves and rocky outcroppings offer excellent shelters. One particular area of South America brings experienced hunters and outdoorsmen from around the world to hunt red stag. "Widow makers" have been known to take lives of men such as these while they sleep in tents, or shelters that otherwise would be considered acceptable. A "widow maker" is a term for a tree that falls on an unsuspecting camper, normally due to the tree being dead or partially dead, leaning precariously on other vegetation, or from high winds.
It's important to realize that there is no perfect shelter, and that choosing the best shelter is completely dependent on your area of operation. I will reiterate that shelter for our particular scenario is anything that protects oneself from his or her environment. If you have a potential to be shot at, ballistic armor is a type of shelter that can be worn which you should factor into your plan. More realistically, you're clothing will be the first and most important item of shelter. A good pair of shoes and multiple pairs of heavy duty socks is absolutely crucial. We recommend trail running shoes for temperate regions and insulated boots for cold environments. Extra heavy duty socks should be kept in your bag. One old trick to help prevent blisters is to wear dress socks under your heavy socks.
Layering clothing is important. If there is any potential for cold weather in your area of operation or bugout destination you must have multiple layers of warm clothing as well as waterproof outerwear. In warm, arid regions complete coverage is necessary to prevent extreme cases of sunburn. Shemagh's, bandana's, sunglasses, gloves, and hats (such as a Tilley hat www.tilleyendurables.com), are shelter items you should pack or wear. We also recommend a very heavy duty pair of pants like the fire hose pants from Duluth Trading Co.
After you realize you can wear a large portion of your shelter items, the next step is to choose more traditional shelter items to pack. The traditional shelter items packed should be chosen after mapping out potential shelter areas along your bugout routes. Most of our guys pack jungle hammocks such as Eno hammocks with lightweight rain fly's. They work so well because they pack down almost to the size of a softball, are very light, and take very little caloric expenditure to set up. We recommend using an Eno double nest in earth tones and making your own lightweight rain fly out of waterproof camouflage material. One thing to remember is that hammocks are not conducive cold environments. If in a cold area you'll need to take further measures to protect yourself from the elements.
I personally don't use a hammock. Years of college athletics and competitive fighting has taken its toll on my knees and sleeping in a hammock for me is quite painful and nearly impossible. I carry a tarp, a mylar emergency blanket, and a heavy sleeping bag in areas where below freezing temperatures are likely. The mylar (space) blanket and/or tarp can also be used to reflect heat from a fire when necessary. I sleep on the ground and use natural vegetation to form a makeshift sleeping pad. Shelter building could be an entire book in itself and is a bit outside the scope of this write-up. We recommend doing some research and learning to build shelters quickly and efficiently out of common items in your area. Its beneficial to practice shelter building in both urban and rural environments.
Food:
Food is essential for any kind of survival situation for obvious reasons. However, the amount of food to pack in a bugout bag, and even whether to pack any food at all is a highly controversial subject. I will say that everyone here at Bone Tactical, even the hardcore minimalists, recommend packing a food source of at least 2000 kcal. In our large bugout bag setup, we have packed much more than that.
General nutrition rules and preferential diets tend to go out the window in a “bugout” scenario. We recommend you pack accordingly. Instead of thinking about what you like to eat or even what’s the healthiest food choices, some other considerations will likely determine what nutritional items make it into your go bag. Since your now carrying your food supply everywhere you go, it’s all about bang for your buck. This means you want the highest amount of calories per lowest amount of volume. After you determine what foods are the smallest, lightest, and most calorically dense, you can then begin to sort said foods by nutritional value of the calories. Dehydrated foods are a good place to start your search. They are usually very light and often have extended shelf lives. Dehydrated fruits are also very calorically dense while offering better nutritional value than many other high calorie sources. Several companies make dehydrated meals for camping that are excellent for survival scenarios.
You can’t pack enough food in a bugout bag to survive for any extended period of time. Your plan, and loadout must reflect this fact. At best, the food you pack will hold you over during your journey and time of transition, while allowing you the energy and convenience to cover more ground more quickly. You’ll need a means of harvesting food as well as a means of preparing it. We recommend packing a stainless steel or titanium container for food prep and boiling water. A small fishing or trapping kit will come in handy in rural environments, if you have the knowledge and ability to use them. Some of your security items can also be used for hunting. One can also scavenge for food: Wild edible plants in rural environments, and even refuse and food waste can be utilized in urban areas. Knowing your area of operation and having a plan will again be crucial to not only what food you pack, but for preparing it, and acquiring more.
Food is essential for any kind of survival situation for obvious reasons. However, the amount of food to pack in a bugout bag, and even whether to pack any food at all is a highly controversial subject. I will say that everyone here at Bone Tactical, even the hardcore minimalists, recommend packing a food source of at least 2000 kcal. In our large bugout bag setup, we have packed much more than that.
General nutrition rules and preferential diets tend to go out the window in a “bugout” scenario. We recommend you pack accordingly. Instead of thinking about what you like to eat or even what’s the healthiest food choices, some other considerations will likely determine what nutritional items make it into your go bag. Since your now carrying your food supply everywhere you go, it’s all about bang for your buck. This means you want the highest amount of calories per lowest amount of volume. After you determine what foods are the smallest, lightest, and most calorically dense, you can then begin to sort said foods by nutritional value of the calories. Dehydrated foods are a good place to start your search. They are usually very light and often have extended shelf lives. Dehydrated fruits are also very calorically dense while offering better nutritional value than many other high calorie sources. Several companies make dehydrated meals for camping that are excellent for survival scenarios.
You can’t pack enough food in a bugout bag to survive for any extended period of time. Your plan, and loadout must reflect this fact. At best, the food you pack will hold you over during your journey and time of transition, while allowing you the energy and convenience to cover more ground more quickly. You’ll need a means of harvesting food as well as a means of preparing it. We recommend packing a stainless steel or titanium container for food prep and boiling water. A small fishing or trapping kit will come in handy in rural environments, if you have the knowledge and ability to use them. Some of your security items can also be used for hunting. One can also scavenge for food: Wild edible plants in rural environments, and even refuse and food waste can be utilized in urban areas. Knowing your area of operation and having a plan will again be crucial to not only what food you pack, but for preparing it, and acquiring more.
Cordage:
Cordage may have more uses in a SHTF scenario than any other one item you can pack. Think McGyver with duct tape (which can also be a good addition to your pack). We recommend a large bundle of 550 paracord. Its light, strong, and can be had in many colors including camoflauge and safety orange. It can be used for making weapons, trapping, hunting, fishing, making a tourniquet, fixing things, as a tiedown, making fire, making shelter, climbing (in emergencies), and many other things.
Cordage may have more uses in a SHTF scenario than any other one item you can pack. Think McGyver with duct tape (which can also be a good addition to your pack). We recommend a large bundle of 550 paracord. Its light, strong, and can be had in many colors including camoflauge and safety orange. It can be used for making weapons, trapping, hunting, fishing, making a tourniquet, fixing things, as a tiedown, making fire, making shelter, climbing (in emergencies), and many other things.
Tools:
Tools are often heavy but can also save one a lot of time and energy when sh!t hits the fan. Because of this, a balance must be reached between what useful tools we want to bring and what we have the realistic ability to carry. This is also why tools with multiple uses are so much more effective in this scenario. For example, this is why we designed wrenches, bottle opener, nail puller, and penetration spike into our combat tomahawk. Some select Special Forces soldiers carry our tomahawks in their packs, and their needs closely mirror that of one packing a bugout bag.
Tools are often heavy but can also save one a lot of time and energy when sh!t hits the fan. Because of this, a balance must be reached between what useful tools we want to bring and what we have the realistic ability to carry. This is also why tools with multiple uses are so much more effective in this scenario. For example, this is why we designed wrenches, bottle opener, nail puller, and penetration spike into our combat tomahawk. Some select Special Forces soldiers carry our tomahawks in their packs, and their needs closely mirror that of one packing a bugout bag.
