Buggin Out...

I was paranoid long before "Doomsday Preppers" ever hit the airwaves. I grew up spending my days away from the house, romping around the woods of north Texas hunting bears with a backpack full of bubble gum, Baby Ruths, and ammo for my cap gun. Naturally, I grew to love having everything I needed for my long days, and formed a strange bond with backpacks. You can ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you it gets real weird real fast. I have 14 packs right now, and each has their specific purpose. I can tell you the exact pocket configuration, and what is in each pocket of every bag. Everything has its place, and that is very valuable to me.

So why not build an emergency prep setup? Seems like something everyone should have, and it was a great opportunity to flex my fetish for good packs. Let's think this one through and put something great together...

First off, I splurge on good equipment. I skipped meals in college to put better parts on my bikes. And I don't EVER want to see how much money has actually been spent on this stuff. I just stay focused on the fact that if shit hits the fan, I'll be working with the good stuff. Much thought went in to this setup, and that's my exact goal with this write-up... to get your own wheels turning. Do you have a plan for various events? Do you have the necessities to execute your plan?

Ab "Bug-out-bag" is defined as a 72 hour setup more than a survival kit. For me and my people, evacuation isn't quite as important as it is for others. But I jumped at the opportunity to build an all-inclusive setup that would give me confidence in a short-term survival situation. I wanted one bag that would cover the basics: food, water, shelter, and protection for my bride and I. Her pack could be loaded with more event-specific gear or dog supplies in the event of an evacuation. But as I stated earlier, that isn't much of a priority. What is a priority is getting home to her if I'm somewhere else when something happens, or otherwise stranded. Your particular setup needs to reflect your goals as well as your local topography, climate, etc.

Here's what I put together after a recent re-pack for the coming cold weather:

Number one is what you don't see, and that's the person carrying it. In an event, dress smart. Good socks, layers, hat, and the best outdoor shoes you have. Why pack a coat or pants when you can throw it on real quick? Also, do some sort of training and cardio. It doesn't matter how many gadgets you have if you can't cover any ground.

Water: 

Immediately fill up any water bottles you have and grab a fistful of snacks and scarf them down. You need the calories, and you won't have the time to stop and filter any water for a while. First priority is mobility. I keep at least one Nalgene bottle, and have the setup to carry a few on this pack. I also have a Camelbak bladder that I can add in only a minute or two. Don't go overboard here- at over 8 lbs per gallon, you can easily overload yourself with water. I keep a quick use filter straw, as well as the Katadyn filter system I can use when there's time to refill the bottles. A compass and headlamps/ flashlights are a good thing to have as well. I also have a small green light that is harder to detect if I'm moving at night. Pay attention to the batteries needed. It's a good thing to keep the majority of things to one kind of battery so you can pack spares, but it's also nice to have a little variety in case you have to forage for batteries later.

Security:

If there's ever an event that's bad enough to put me on the run, it's going to knock the rest of the world back on its heels, and desperate people terrify me. Here in Texas, everyone has weapons, and they're all itching for the chance to justify using them. I've also heard conversations where people's sole survival plan is to forcefully steal what they need (ironically the same people that get all wound up over the redistribution of wealth when it comes up in politics). That being said, I'm an alarmist to the bone, and if the situation has me on edge, do not make me nervous. I counted 5 blades in my pack, not including the two that are always on my body. Knives don't run out of ammo or make noise, and I'm pretty handy with them. You can also see the ultralight judge and a stack of ammo. That one fires .410 rounds, so it would be better for hunting than the 9mm with three spare clips that will be on my hip in an emergency situation. Gun preparedness and weapons training is something we take very serious, but it's also something I'll never advertise.

Water, clothing, and security are the main things I consider if I need to GTFO right away. The pack is only good if I get to where I can safely set up a spot. This, too, involves more thought than equipment. In any survival situation, a little knowledge goes further than money can buy. Fail to plan, plan to fail. I've had the benefit of growing up in the area I live, so I've got several locations in mind if i need to hide out. Once I get there, the pack can come off my back. It's time to set up a shelter and refuel.

Shelter:

I love my hammock, and I use it all the time. It's a two person Eno design that includes straps and a rain fly that I can set up in about three minutes. It gets us off the ground and under cover in a bind. My pack also has straps on the bottom that I can easily secure a backpacking tent to if need be. Once again, the clothes you have on are crucial. There's no blankets or pillows in this kit. Just a rain shell and extra pair of socks, both of which the wife has first dibs on.
When shelter is up, it's time to build a fire. Don the gloves and grab the biggest knife or the one with a saw, and get some brush. Also, either practice making fires often, or sandbag it. I do both. I'm a big fan of redundancy in preparation, so there are six different ways to make a fire in my pack. Go ramble around the local sorting goods store and you'll see several nifty helpers. Waterproof matches and fire starter matches are cheap.

Food:

I live next to a wildlife preserve and a dog adoption center surrounded by farmers and cattle in the middle of horse country. Guns, knives, and some fishing hooks along with some will to live should take care of that. But just in case, I pack some beef jerky with me.

Other goodies:

I like to have a basic First Aid kit, as well as optics. I keep some binoculars and a monocular with tripod to keep an eye on my surroundings and scout for trouble. There are also many compact "survival kits" that easy to store. The memo pad is nice to make notes, maps, or communicate if there's a language barrier. Bug spray and para-cord are easy to carry and come in handy, as well as cheap ponchos and a few extra batteries. The newest addition is the SAS handbook, which is a phenomenal resource. Like I said before, knowledge is the biggest bang for the buck you'll find.

Things I'd like to add:
Emergency radio, and a good map.

Hopefully this has your wheels turning. There are several bags available that are already packed and ready, but I've really enjoyed building my kit. Keep it updated and be familiar with your equipment. Repack it when the seasons change, and pay attention to details. Shelter items can be packed deep, while you want easy access to your self defense, navigation, and water items. No one is going to stand and wait for you to dig around like a sorority girl in her purse! Give it some thought and have some fun! If the world crumbles, you'll be ready! And if not, you'll have a sweet bag full of toys next time you go camping!