For the best bug out bag back pack, I would recommend an external aluminum frame pack or a larger hiking back pack. School back packs aren’t quite big enough. A frame pack has the weight of the frame, but you can attach items such as a sleeping bag or a shotgun or rifle. I prefer to carry handguns in a belt holster. Hiking back packs can often be found used in larger thrift shops like Value Village or the Goodwill. School back packs will work in a pinch, but they will be full with some larger items. Also, a normal back pack may not fit all of your bug out bag gear while remiaing comfortable for constant use without needing modifications. My list of bug out bag supplies is based on the premise of obtaining food and water en route. Some food and water needs to be carried, but a realistic amount to be totally self-sufficient likely requires an additional means of transport. Urban settings have food and water resources if one thinks outside the box. I list the means to cook and boil water on the assumption that food can be obtained in this part of the world fairly easily. Rural or natural settings have many potential sources of calories, and water can usually be found. Crushed charcoal in a bandana makes a makeshift filter that should remove most undesirable elements not killed by boiling or water purification tabs. I realize that emergency/camping food and fancy means of purifying water are out there, but I prefer to stick to basic methods without parts to break down. I also lack the funds to buy items such as purifying pump and so am forced to look at other means. The fishing kit could be swapped out for a collapsing pole if desired, but a fishing kit gives you the ability to rig up multiple lines for more opportunities for food. An actual pole could have uses, but it should be light and compact if you go that route. Weight is the key issue. I have hunted up steep hillsides in Eastern Washington and the ability to refill water and food on the go would be on the top of my bug out bag checklist if I had to go cross-country on foot. It’s simply impossible to carry enough water for more than maybe a day without breaking your back. I recommend the total load, except for a firearm if carried separately, should not exceed 30-35 pounds. I would aim for 25-30 pounds, if at all possible. If the items are no longer in use or are not any more needed by the previous owner, they are fair targets for scavenging. I will not hurt a person for the purpose of gaining an item, but I have no problem acquiring an unused item to ensure my own survival so long as no one else unnecessarily gets hurt. Theft, maybe, but in a survival situation, many rules of ’civilized’ living no longer apply. Calling it borrowing if it makes you feel better. I will not purposely hurt others, but I will act to ensure my own survival by whatever actions that requires. In the normal world, I am an ethically conservative person who is very professional. These values don’t disappear but rather get modified in the event of a survival situation. Many preppers and survivalists think that you have to be the lone wolf or the general store without any middle ground. A good balance lies somewhere in between where a person looks out for his or her own interests while still supporting a community setting when appropriate. I cover the basic survival needs of food, water, fire, defense and shelter, but prefer to carry knowledge and skills rather than a bunch of high-tech gear. Fancy gear is great, but it costs money and can get heavy quickly. Most gear can be improvised or scavenged if needed.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 04:01:05 +0000
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