Contents: go bag vs bugout bag vs get home bag

[UnforseenWeather]

I don't know about you guys but over the years I've put together many iterations of various bags. From a get home bag to bugout bags for the wife and I to a newer go bag, I've tried to design myself a well balanced system I could use if the worst happens. The downside is, I need to focus to maybe 2 options for bugout rather than the 4+ options I have right now.

So, what are the bag options you're using and if you have the time, what are the contents of that bag?

[jsbcody]

Right now mine is more of a Get Home Bag than Bug Out Bag. I have a Diamondback Tactical SOF Assault Pack jumpable. I got it on Ebay relatively inexpensive ($149) and came with a camo rain cover. Here is the pack:



Eventually I would like to get one of the rifle concealable packs (Eberlestock) , and make it my Bug Out Bag.

1. Food: 3 day supply of emergency Lifeboat style rations and 4 energy food bars, all good for 5 years.

2. Water: 3 day supply of Lifeboat style water packets (good for 5 years), Camelbak, and back pack size water purification filter. I have an old metal canteen cup that I use to store the water filter in.

3. Emergency Survival Stuff: Marine Corp Surivival tin and contents, bottle of water purification tablets, fire starting-lighter-matches- magniesum striker- dryer lint, emergency blanket. I also have an old Boy Scout Heat Tab Stove with a box of Heat Tabs, me and it have been through a lot of deployments.

4. Cutting: Ontario RAT 5 knife, small Gerber multi tool, EOD Breaker Bar.

5. Cordage: 550 cord, 4 carbineers, 6 eight inch zip ties, and small roll of Duct Tape.

6. Season appropriate clothing which I change out every 2-3 months (cargo pants long sleeve shirt, polar tech pullover). 3 pair of socks, 2 pair of underwear, Shemagh (it is just like Duct Tape!) and Mechanix Impact gloves.

7. Military poncho and poncho liner which also doubles as sleeping bag. I add a lightweight cold weather sleeping bag under pack for winter months. I also have a small lightweight tarp (6 foot x 6 foot).

8. Personal gear/Hygiene/First Aid: Wet Wipes, Tylenol, Combat Tourniquet, Israeli Bandage, Cellox clotter, couple band aids and small packets neosporin. Sunscreen in summer and chapstick in winter.

9. Ammo: 4 extra Glock 17 magazines for my Glock 19.

10. Collaspable hiking sticks.....I am older with banged up knees, so this helps me on rough uneven terrain.

11. Compass and 10x monocular on left shoulder strap.

12. Light: G2 flashlight + extra CR123 batteries and 3 chem light sticks.

I have set up the removable pack belt with an RTI adapter for holster and 2 pistol mag pouches on right side.

Two or three times a week I put the pack on and take the dog on a 2-4 mile hike through one of my local parks. I have also used it in a weekend survival training course (hiking, navigating, shelter, survival skills) and it worked out great.

As far as rifles go for the Bug Out Bag option:

Right now: 5.45 Krebs AK and AR7 (with extra mag and box of 50 .22 rounds) in the pack. Going to add the UW Gear bandoleer in 5.45.

Maybe with rifle pack: 7.62x39 Rifle Dynamics or VZ58, and CZ 527 (in 7.62x39) in rifle pack, UW Gear 7.62 bandoleer.

I am kind of conflicted on this as far as weapon selection; one option is for being on foot, one option for bicycle (I have a trailer for my mountain bike- FANTASTIC SET UP!!!) , and another option for vehicle.

[Willieboy]

I find it difficult to set these bags up properly because one never knows what kind of emergency for which to prepare. I tend to lean toward preparing for civil unrest brought on by God know what. Therefore, my emphasis seems to be on ammunition, basic tools, first aid gear and appropriate boots, clothing etc.

On the other hand, weather related issues can always crop up here in South Texas. Such emergencies seem to call for a different set up. I can only be prepared for so many things, so I think I'll just trust God not to tax my preparedness too rigorously.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Well I have a forty-two mile trip home from work, so I may carry a little more than normal folks would for a GMHB. I have debated over the years of going light and fast, or going a bit heavier and maybe going slower. Currently I'm in the heavier and slower mode as I believe in this heat no matter how much I'm carrying, it will be slow. I also figure that I can dump what I don't need if I need to pick up the pace a bit.

I'm carrying pretty much what jsbcody listed with addition a bit more complete first aid kit, and I'm also carrying a mosquito tent. In my AO, I would need a transfusion after one night in the woods without mosquito protection. I do not carry lifeboat water, but instead have a water filter and aqua pure tabs. My tarp is larger at 12x12 as I cauldron get caught in a torrential rain storm and feel the slight weight increase for a larger tarp is worth it.

For weapons, it's a Glock 23 with three extra loaded mags and 36 extra rounds. Knives include ESEE-Laser Strike, Gerber multi-tool and Gerber Combat Folder. My walking stick is a martial arts wooden pole that is VERY solid that I picked up at a garage sale a few years back. I put the rubber crutch tips on it so it wouldn't poke into the ground as much. On this stick is about 15 feet of extra 550 cord. I have a hank of about 30 feet in the pack.

The pack is a Kelty Falcon 4000 with a 3L hydration bladder plus a 1L Nalgene bottle. I have at least three days of grub, plus whatever I can throw into it before I leave work. If you are not familiar with this pack, the top can come off and make a fanny pack. Before I would "hit the road" I would make this my last ditch must keep items. This would then be ready to detach from the pack and strap onto me if needed. I also carry some cash in bills and coins as you never know what you would be able to buy along the way. I also carry a Yaesu FT-60R for comms as well as my iPhone.

In the way of comfort, I have a Thermarest pad, and a small butane type stove. My food I carry are; 1 MRE, First Strike rations, trail mix/Clif bars/granola bars and some mountain house meals. The meals change as I try and rotate them due to the heat.

I believe everybody's BOB/GMHB will vary due to location, terrain, distance, physical shape and age. The basics will need to be the same though...protection, water, shelter, food and first aid. Then comes the comfort stuff.

[UnforseenWeather]

Good stuff guys. I have some decisions to make.

[jsbcody]

Jul 8, 2012 21:19:16 GMT -5 Willieboy said:

I find it difficult to set these bags up properly because one never knows what kind of emergency for which to prepare. I tend to lean toward preparing for civil unrest brought on by God know what. Therefore, my emphasis seems to be on ammunition, basic tools, first aid gear and appropriate boots, clothing etc.

On the other hand, weather related issues can always crop up here in South Texas. Such emergencies seem to call for a different set up. I can only be prepared for so many things, so I think I'll just trust God not to tax my preparedness too rigorously.

All true. I would have to call my current bag described above as a "72 Hours Stuck at Work and Then Trying to Get Home Bag". When I go for an actual Bug Out Bag, it will be one of the bigger Eberlestock bags, as I believe a Bug Out Bag should be at least a 3 to 5 day bag. Of course most of the same items I have listed above will be in it. If you don't have a particular place you are going to (a cabin and more family members in my case), then your BOB will depend entirely on the situation (natural disaster, terrorist attack, anarchy/collaspe of society, zombie apocalyspe ;D), weather/season, and your escape route and method (foot/bike/car/boat/etc).

I think of BOB items as 3 levels:

1. Battlebelt with pistol, mags, knife, and very basic survival items (stays on your person at ALL times).
2. Chest Rig and some sort of hydration pack or assault pack with some MORE basic and short term survival items (stays on your person MOST of the time and NEAR you at all times).
3. Backpack with living and longer term survival items.

Now this is just my philosphy on the above items: In a very bad situation, you might LOSE your back pack, you might SACRIFICE your chest rig, but you NEVER give up your battlebelt.

[UnforseenWeather]

I think I need to rethink my setups. I only need one bugout bag (one for the wife as well).

Then I only need a patrol bag for, well, patrolling - something small and simple, like a Camelbak Mule or at most, Hawg - with a few essentials in it - food, water purification, maybe a few spare mags and a boo boo kit - and nothing more.

First aid (BOK), mags and fixed blade knife obviously stay on the belt.

Past that I think - as I am prone to do - I might be overthinking it.