Bug Out Bag

Hummer Tool List Article

About a year ago I started assembling the bits and pieces for a 'Bug Out Bag' or 'Go Bag'. I owe a great deal to others who have gone through this exercise before me. I spent countless hours researching on the web, dissecting numerous lists, and carefully analyzing what is truly necessary and why. Your personal situation will almost certainly differ, but feel free to use this list as a starting point for your own. Although I purchased a lot of the contents on sale, the replacement retail value of everything at the time  this article was written is about $1,400.00.

I actually made up two nearly identical bags, one for my wife and one for me. Hers includes some 'female items' that mine doesn't, and I have an extra gadget or two in mine.

Living in Minnesota, I've been reminded all my life that being prepared is not optional - blizzards, floods, ice storms and tornadoes can and do kill those who ignore this. My philosophy about a 'Go' bag is similar to my philosophy about life insurance - it's better to have it and not need it than the other way around. 

The intent of this bag is to be always with me (usually in my truck) should it be necessary to 'go' at a moments notice. It is designed to provide a relatively complete source of necessities for up to 72 hours for one person stranded away from their home or vehicle. The content choices embrace the concept of "Two is One, and One is None" meaning that - in a critical situation - if you have only one of something, that one will fail, be lost, or otherwise be unusable. For this reason there is much redundancy of certain items. For instance, there are five flashlights and four knives in the kit, and there is both Kleenex and toilet paper which can be substituted for each other should you run out or one get wet.

Much thought went into the selection of foodstuffs. While the quantity might initially seem excessive, in adverse conditions a person will expend over 3000 calories per day which need to be replenished. There are multiple sources of protein, carbohydrates, and calories in the kit. Provisions for both warm and cold meals are included, and nothing additional is required beyond what is carried in the pack. It is certainly possible to get by with less - a healthy adult will not starve from going without food for 72 hours - but having a warm and filling meal can mean the difference between a miserable time and a tolerable one.

Water is heavy - even without counting the container it comes in - so has intentionally been limited to just over one gallon, or a little over 8.5 pounds. If you need more you can collect it, purify it using the water tablets in the kit, and filter it using one (or more) of the four coffee filters in the kit. There are multiple drink powders that can be mixed in to mask the taste and smell of water that has been filtered and treated. Also, I plan to add a Reverse Osmosis or MIOX unit as soon as the budget will allow.

Being an EMT, I chose to equip the bags with a few more First Aid and Medical items than you might find in a 'normal' kit, but they add very little weight or volume and make me more confident that I can deal with most typical Medical Emergencies that might come up - and maybe even some atypical ones!

What the bag doesn't provide is as well-considered as what it does. For instance, there is no seasonal clothing or shoes/boots in the pack, as those items are heavy and bulky. My premise is that you will leave home appropriately dressed and shod for your situation. The minimal clothing in the bag allows you to survive in most parts of the US during 4-6 months out of the year, and also allows you to put a layer of clean, dry clothing next to your body when needed.

There are no large tools, like a crowbar or axe. Again, they add substantial weight and offer questionable utility. A good knife is perfectly adequate for cutting small trees and limbs for a fire if you can't simply gather them. And a wire saw weighs only a few ounces and cuts more quickly and quietly than an axe anyway.

The bag I chose was on sale at Dicks. I got the MountainSmith Approach 3.0 BackPack with the Rhyolite 6061 Trekking Poles. It has 2044 cubic inches of interior space. It wasn't my goal to use every last inch, but I think I came pretty close in the end!

Cash
√ $100 in small Bills (not shown)
√ 1 - Roll Quarters ($10)
(Remember that your food and ammo can also be bartered for items you need)

 

CleanUp & Shelter
√ 2 - Heavy Trash Bags - one clear & one black - also function as a serviceable poncho if needed.
x - Lightweight Tarp or Tent - still needed

 

Clothing
√ 1 - pair of socks
√ 1 - pair of Underwear 
√ 1 - T-shirt. (T-shirt can be used as a towel if needed.)
√ 1 - Windbreaker or sweatshirt?
√ 1 - Cap/hat
√ 1 - Pair Sunglasses
√ 1 - Sweat Band

 

Communications
√ Yaesu VX-7R with 
x - Spare Battery or (less desirable) AA Battery Holder/Adaptor - still needed
AM/FM/Weather Band crank radio. Gather news and information during troubled times.

 

Cooking Equipment
√ 1 - Lightweight Stove
√ 1 - Emergency Candle with multiple wicks
√ 1 - Heat Cell in a can (Sterno)
√ 1 - Aluminum foil - approx 30" x 24" folded to 3" x 6"
√ 1 - Titanium Mini Solo Cook Set consisting of:
            √ 1 -     3.1/2 cup Pot with Lid
            √ 1 -     1.1/4 cup Drinking Cup
√ 10 - Water purifications tabs
√ 1 - 32 Oz. Polypropylene Bottle
√ 1 - Heat Cell in a can (Sterno) 
√ 1 - Nesting Chow Kit  - 3 pcs. (Knife-Fork-Spoon)
√ 1 - Stainless Steel Mess Kit, 4 pc.
√ 4 - Small Coffee Filters, for "quick & dirty" water filtering
x - Personal Reverse Osmosis or MIOX unit - still needed

 

Condiment Packets
√ 2 - Ketchup
√ 2 - Spicy Brown Mustard
√ 1 - Mayo
√ 1 - Parmesan Cheese
√ 3 - Salt
√ 1 - Salt & Pepper
√ 2 - Mints
√ 1 - Honey

 

Drink Mixes
√ 1 - Motts Hot Spiced Cider Granny Smith
√ 2 - Tea, Earl Gray
√ 1 - SwissMiss Instant Cocoa
√ 1 - Gatorade® Instant Mix - Fruit Punch flavor
√ 1 - Gatorade® Frost Instant Mix 
√ 1 - Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
√ 2 - Crystal Light 'On The Go' - Lemonade 
√ 1 - Emergen-C Pink Lemonade
√ 2 - Beef Bouillon/Soup cubes

 

First Aid
√ 1 - Glucometer (10% of Americans are diabetic. If one is in your group this item is critical.)
√ 2 - Single Edged Razor Blades & 2 - Surgical Steel Fur Blades
√ 1 - Splinter Out
√ 1 - QuickClot ACS 15g - only $10, weighs 6 oz. and might save a life!
√ 3 - Povidone Iodine Prep Pad
√ 1 - 5x9 Trauma Dressing
√ 1 - Band aids. Different sizes. (Include cartoon or camo ones if you have kids.) I have:
            √ 5 - 3/4" Bandaid
            √ 2 - 1" Bandaid
            √ 1 - Extra Large Bandaid
            √ 2 - Fingertip Bandage
            √ 2 - Knuckle Bandage
√ 2 - 3x3 Sterile Pad
√ 2 - 4x4 Sterile Pad
√ 6 - Medium Alcohol Prep Pad
√ 3 - Triple Antibiotic Ointment
√ 3 - PDI Nail Polish Remover (Acetone Wipes)
√ 1 - 10 Hour Heat Patch
√ 1 - 8 Hour Heat Wrap - Neck/Arm
√ 2 - Pair Nitrile gloves
√ 1 - Instant Cold Pack
√ 1 - 1" Transpore Clear First Aid Tape
√ 1 - Roll 4" x 75" Kling/Kerlix Stetch Bandage

 

Fishing Equipment 
(You can eliminate this if there are no lakes or rivers near you, but it only weighs a few ounces and is about the size of a book of matches.)
√ 1 - Monofilament Line, 50' 
√ 3 - Hooks - size 8, 10, 12
√ 6 - Sinkers/split shot
√ 1 - Small bobber

 

Food
√ 2 - Planters Salted Cashews
√ 2 - Nabisco Chips Ahoy Cookies 4-pack
√ 2 - Nabisco Oreo Cookies 6-pack
√ 1 - Crab Pouch
√ 1 - Tuna pouch 
√ 1 - Pink Salmon pouch
√ 1 - Smoked Alaskan Salmon pouch
√ 1 - Mountain House MRE
√ 1 - Balance Nutrition Energy Bar - Peanut Butter
√ 1 - Balance Bare Nutrition Energy Bar - Trail Mix Bar Cinnamon Oats & Honey
√ 1 - Nature Valley Peanut bar
√ 1 - Nabisco® New England Oyster Crackers
√ 1 - Nabisco® Ritz Bits® with Cheese
√ 1 - Nabisco® Animal Crackers
√ 1 - Venus Original Recipe Wine, Cheese, Caviar Crackers
√ 1 - Cafe Cracker, package of 2
√ 1 - Justin's Organic Classic Peanut Butter
√ 2 - Power Bar® Gel - (Choice of Chocolate, Green Apple, or Caramel flavor)
√ 4 - Candy - Werthers or Jolly Ranchers
√ 1 - Almonds
√ 1 - Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup
√ 1 - Lipton Mushroom Rice Side - Rice & Orzo in a savory mushroom sauce
√ 1 - Lipton Alfredo Pasta Side - Fetuccini in creamy Parmesan & Romano cheese sauce
√ 1 - Quaker Instant Oatmeal
x - Survival Tabs - still needed

 

Light/Heat/Fire

√ 1 - 12-hour Green Glow Stick

√ 1 - 12-hour Red Glow Stick

√ 1 - 30 minute High-Intensity White Glow Stick

√ 1 - Magnesium and flint (part of folding knife)

√ 36 - Windproof/Waterproof Matches

√ 2 - Bic Lighters.

√ 1 - Signal mirror - use inside lid of Altoids Package
√ 3 - LED Flashlights w/spare batteries
√ 1 - Crank Style LED Flashlight
√ 2 - Fire Starter Sticks
√ 1 - LED Headlamp

 

Medications - Oral

√ 2 - Electrolyte / fast hydration tablets

√ 3 - Ibuprofen pills (general pain, muscle aches)

√ 2 - Non-aspirin Acetaminphen (headache, general pain)

√ 2 - Aspirin (for heart only, not for pain)

√ 2 - Benadryl

√ 2 - Dramamine Chewable Tablet

√ 2 - Imodium

√ 6 - Cepacol Lozenges (for cough and sore throat)

√ 1 - Roll of Rolaids

 

Medications - Topical

√ 2 - Safetec Insect Sting Relief Wipe

√ 2 - Medicaine Swab Sting and Bite Relief

√ 2 - Safetec Insect Repellant Lotion

√ 2 - Safetec Sunscreen Lotion

√ 2 - IvyX Post-Contact Cleanser Towelette

√ 2 - TechNu Oak-N-Ivy Outdoor Skin Cleanser

√ 1 - SPF-30 Sunscreen Lotion packet
√ 1 - SPF-30 Sunscreen Lotion tube
√ 1 - Vicks VapoRub

 

Navigation

√ 1 - Compass - Military style

√ 1 - Binoculars 

x - Maps - Still needed

 

Personal Hygiene & Sanitation

√ 1 - Small Bottle Gold Bond Powder 

√ 1 - Nail Clipper
√ 1 - Floss - Can be used for a lot of things other than actually flossing.

√ 1 - Mini-Roll of Toilet Paper (doubles as Kleenex if needed)

√ 1 - Mini-Roll of Paper Towels

√ 1 - Deodorant (sample size)

√ 1 - Body cream

√ 1 - Blistex Medicated Lip balm

√ 1 - Burts Bees Lip Balm
√ 1 - Bar Soap

√ 1 - Hand wipes

√ 1 - Paper handkerchiefs (Kleenex - doubles as toilet paper if needed)
√ 1 - Wet Ones Travel Pack - 15 thick cloths (5.3/4 x 7.1/2")

√ 1 - Go Towels - 4 Individually Wrapped Moist Cotton Washcloths

√ 1 - Shampoo Bottle

√ 1 - Purell Bottle, 1 oz.

√ 1 - Q-tips package, 30 pcs. in Reusable Case

√ 1 - Plastic Toothpicks in Reusable Case

√ 1 - Small Hair Brush

√ 1 - Small Bottle Antibacterial Dish Soap (useful for clothing, hygiene, etc.)

√ 2 - Hair Binders

√ 1 - Tooth brush

√ 1 - Small tooth paste
√ 1 - Disposable Razor (use soap as shaving cream)

 

Personal Safety

√ 1 - Pistol - kept on person

√ 2 - Extra Magazines (loaded)

√ 1 - Extra Gun Food (14 rounds in Mags, 28 rounds loose)

N-95 or N-100 Facemask

 

Tools & Repair

√ 1 - Hotel Sewing Kit (needle, thread, buttons, safety pins)

√ 1 - Super glue

√ 1 - Box Cutter

√ 24 - Small Black Tie Wraps (4", 18lb)
√ 12 - Heavy Duty Black Tie Wraps (14", 120lb - useful for emergency vehicle repairs, as handcuffs, etc.)
√ 1 - Small Swiss-Army Style Knife
√ 1 - Folding knife with pocket clip. Half serrated, half straight. Includes Flint and Whistle
√ 1 - Whistle (part of knife above)
√ 1 - Black Fine Point Sharpie
√ 1 - Duct tape, small roll
√ 1 - Multi Tool
√ 50' - String
√ 1 - Pair Leather Gloves
√ 6 - Rubber bands and tire bands, also called Ranger bands.
√ 1 - Picture Hanger Wire, small roll 
√ 1 - Scotch Transparent Tape, 1/2" small roll
√ 1 - Black electrical tape, 1/2" small roll

√ 20 - First Class 'forever' stamps (OK, this is a personal issue because I never have stamps with me)

√ 1 - Otis Gun Cleaning Kit

√ 1 - Glasses/Lens/Optics Cleaning Kit, custom design

√ 1 - Metal Çutting Sawzall Blade, 18 tooth per inch (or a hack saw blade cut in half)

x - 1 hour Epoxy. Chose it over the 10 minute kind because you can work calmly - still needed
x - Wire saw - still needed

 

Emergency Gear

√ 1 - Emergency blanket. 
√ 100' - 550 Paracord
√ 1 - Package of firecrackers. (signaling, diversion)
√ 1 - Smoke Bomb - same as above
√ 1 - Emergency poncho - use trash bag
√ 2 - Condom (non-lubricated)

 

Water

√ 8-9 - ½ Liter bottles Water (7 fit perfectly into my bag, with 2 in outside pockets)

 

Various uncategorized

√ At least a 3-day supply of any prescription medications you take.
√ Deck of Cards

√ Small Tin Altoids Gum

√ Full set of house / automobile keys for locks on all property/vehicles owned or controlled

√ Ear plugs. (Shooting, explosions, who knows?)
√ Pencil.
√ Note pad
√ Batteries. AA and AAA
√ 2 - Spare 1 quart Ziploc bags
√ 2 - Spare 1 gallon Ziploc bags
Solar Charger for Cell Phone

Paperback Book