Bug Out Bag Competition

[busterheiney]

I wanted my wife and I to be prepared in case we have to suddenly leave the house with no warning. Fire, tornado, medical emergency, etc... So I told her we were having a small contest on who could pack the best bag to keep near the door so we could grab on our way out.

Long story short, other family members have gotten involved and it's gotten blown away out of proportion to where they now are preparing bags to survive in the wilderness for a minimum of 3 days. I keep trying to tell them that there's no reason to escape to the wild unless somebody is actively hunting you. My intent is to be able to get to other civilization like family or friends houses.

So, anyways, while they're cramming 75 lbs of survival gear into a backpack, I'm trying to keep mine more practical. Got a change of clothes, lightweight wooby, shoes, water, handgun, knife, copies of important documents, phone numbers written down, battery pack for phone, food/water, IFAK, and some other things that would help me make a hopefully short trip to get support. The best thing I'm packing is a spare set of truck and car keys. Why walk?

What are some other items that aren't normally considered that could come in handy? We have friends doing the judging for our competition...I told you this thing has gotten out of hand. Pretty sure I'm gonna win, but more importantly I wanna actually have something to use in case of....

 

[bigred1]

TWINKIES

 

[scott024]

A road flare. They make small 2 minute flares that help cut size/weight. I'd also say a small weather radio that gets am/fm just in case cell towers are down or overloaded. No more than it weighs, I'd have a poncho and come cordage too.

 

[Firpo]

One thing I just added this week are two milsurp seabags. I have pictures of family hanging on the wall that go back to the 1800’s and obviously no way to ever replace them. In a “you’ve got 10 minutes to leave” scenario I can hall arse up and down the two flights of stairs and have them ready to go in under a minute as I’ll be walking past them all on the way up from grabbing our go bags.

 

[swampratt]

Birth certificates and social security cards.
Large stainless spoon. Something to make fire. Knife.
Fishing string and hooks. Some stronger braided string.
9MM Hi-point and ammo. Only because it is small and light.
Duct tape.
I like the rain Poncho but I love some heavy duty contractor trash bags.
I have weathered out a storm with one pulled over me.
Water filtration straw.

I lived in the woods by myself as a young teen for 2 weeks No one knew where I was.

I had fishing string and hooks and a knife (Old timer 2 blade).
A stainless spoon and matches.

Spoon for digging a hole to live in. Eating stuff i caught in the creek.
Washing in the creek with sand in the evenings and scrubbing clothes.

Cook the turtles all the way done or get the salmonella that I did.
That is what forced me to go home. 3 days of fighting the salmonella.

 

[busterheiney]

Great ideas. I've got quite a bit of that stuff already. Gonna add some contractor trash bags now, too.

Any suggestions on lightweight food?

 

[RETOKSQUID]

A week, or weekend worth of prescriptions, an extra pair of glasses or contacts. Basically anything you would take for a weekend trip toiletries wise, headlamp, small flashlight.

 

[Catt57]

Great ideas. I've got quite a bit of that stuff already. Gonna add some contractor trash bags now, too.

Any suggestions on lightweight food?

A jar of dry roasted peanuts can provide protein.

 

[WoodsCraft]

If **** tickets, a toothbrush , and crest aren't on your inventory of items in that bag along with some nail clippers you probably need to reevaluate what you're doing.

 

[RockHopper]

If **** tickets, a toothbrush , and crest aren't on your inventory of items in that bag along with some nail clippers you probably need to reevaluate what you're doing.

I just replaced my supply of disposable toothbrushes. Been using the ones out of my get-home bag occasionally for the last few months. I also regularly rotate snacks, and I use the little tissue pills. In the field you can hydrate them, use them to clean up at any time, and then just save them for using as TP later on.