Table of Contents

An introduction to the Bug-Out-Bag

Designing your Bug-Out-Plan

Your Bug-Out-Location

The Bug-Out-Vehicle

Actually bugging out

Choosing a bag

Primary and secondary bag setups

Choosing your Bug-Out-Bag

Buying online

Staying hydrated

Water containers

Ready to drink sources

Water filters

Water purification

Eating on the go

Food options

Food for dependents

Tools for cooking and for eating

Stoves

Keeping warm (or cool)

Shelter

Fire

Clothing

Remaining safe

Your bug out knife

Tools

Lighting

Self-defense

Communications

Reaching the outside world

Gathering survival information

Navigation

Important documents

Money talks

Health & hygiene

Your first aid kit

Basic hygiene

Putting it all together

There is a hurricane and the government is urging you to evacuate. Maybe it's a flood. A storm has crashed a tree through your roof. An earthquake has compromised the structural soundness of your house. The government has issued a landslide warning. Volcanic gases are temporarily making your area uninhabitable. It is wildfire season and this time you are out of luck. A tsunami is threatening your beautiful seaside town and its power plant. You have to go.

There is no need to imagine a large scale missile attack. Although such events certainly do happen, there does not have to be another September 11 or another Oklahoma City bombing for your safety to be compromised. All that it takes is Mother Nature.

Do you have everything that you need to just take off on a moment's notice?

As anyone who has lived through any of these emergency situations will tell you, good things do not come to those who wait.

Preparedness these days is not just for tinfoil hat wearing hardcore survivalists living off the grid. If you wait to gather the supplies that you will need in a disaster, until disaster has already struck, you will be paying a premium. That is, if you can find what you need at all. If you start preparing now, you will be saving money today, and saving time when it really matters.

You really do need to prepare. One does not simply get out of Dodge. That is a sure-fire way to end up stranded on the side of the road with no fuel, thirsty, and cold. That is where the Bug-Out-Bag comes in handy. Also known the Evacuation Bag, the Get Out of Dodge Bag, the Go Bag, the Grab Bag, and the 72 Hour Kit, the Bug-Out-Bag is the life insurance policy that pays out by actually extending your life.

This guide will walk you through process of creating your own three day survival kit. In the following pages, you will read about how to plan for an unknown disaster situation, how to pick the best possible bag, and how to fill it with the tools to survive your trek to safety, regardless of your current survival skills. You will consider your water sources, nutrition, the importance of protecting yourself against the elements, how to stay safe, communication and navigation, as well as staying healthy. By the end of this guide, you should have the knowledge necessary to create a basic Bug-Out-Bag, and to come up with a few of your own Bug-Out-Bag tweaks and solutions.

Good luck.

An introduction to the Bug-Out-Bag

The one thing that holds true throughout the entire survivalist community is that everyone has their own ideas about everything. That is also true about the Bug-Out-Bag. Let us therefore define the Bug-Out-Bag.

In its essence, a Bug-Out-Bag is a portable kit, designed to keep you alive for the duration of an evacuation. Although some people design their Bug-Out-Bag to keep them alive for an indefinite amount of time, as they bug out into the wilderness, most people would call this kind of setup a Survival Kit. The purpose of the Bug-Out-Bag is merely to allow you to evacuate safely.

The duration of an evacuation can vary, and this is where different opinions lead to quite different Bug-Out-Bag requirements. For the purposes of this guide, we will follow the majority opinion and define the Bug-Out-Bag as a 72 hour kit. This means that the contents are meant to keep you alive and safe for three days of evacuation. At the end of those three days you should have reached safety and no longer need your Bug-Out-Bag.

The Bug-Out-Bag is not only for people who consider themselves hardcore survivalists. Leaf back to the first page of this guide. Chances are that several of those scenarios apply to you. You can probably think of several more. Do not forget about the human factor. A crisis does not have to be outwardly visible, it can be tremendously personal and lead its own life in the minds of the people affected. Your home can become unsafe quickly and unexpectedly for so many reasons.

The Bug-Out-Bag takes all of these eventualities into account, whether you get into the car, on a seemingly ordinary day, and go on a road trip to your parents' house for a few weeks because hateful people are threatening your child, or if you walk out of town, past the traffic jam, in a mass-evacuation.

Designing your Bug-Out-Plan

At a first glimpse, the untrained eye might mistake the Bug-Out-Bag for full coverage survival insurance. It's not. It is only one part in a much larger survival scheme. By its very design, it provides you with 72 hours of relative comfort, and, while the tools contained will remain useful, the supplies will eventually run out.

Although it is called bugging out and getting out of Dodge, the real purpose is not to get out of somewhere unsafe, but rather to get into somewhere safe. For this reason, a Bug-Out-Bag is not enough. You must have a Bug-Out-Plan

There is no one size fits all bug out plan. Yours will be highly personalized to your environment, your social network, and your needs. There are, however, some common considerations.

Your Bug-Out-Location

The most important question to ask yourself before designing your Bug-Out-Plan is: Where am I going? If the purpose of your Bug-Out-Bag is to get you somewhere safe, then you must also figure out where that safe place is.

Your Bug-Out-Location is going to be a place where there is food, water, shelter, and means for survival. It needs to be within reasonable traveling distance. Different people have very different opinions on what is a reasonable traveling distance, but if you are aiming at 72 hours of survival with your Bug-Out-Bag, then you need to be able to get to your Bug-Out-Location within 72 hours.

If you have a car, it may sound like you are getting literally thousands of miles to work with, but remember that all it takes is a hurricane for fuel to be limited. If you are taking your car, your Bug-Out-Location needs to be close enough that you can get there on whatever fuel is in your tank, and any spare tank you may keep in the trunk.

Some people buy themselves a second home, often off the grid, to serve as a Bug-Out-Location. While this lets you store several months of supplies in a safe place, and enjoy a summer home, it is not strictly necessary. For most people, a Bug-Out-Location will be the house of a friend or a family member.

Do not expect to bug out to a hotel. That may be an option if your home is flooded, or made unsafe by landslide or falling trees, but if a larger scale disaster strikes, there may be no rooms available anywhere safe within reasonable traveling distance.

The Bug-Out-Vehicle

Everyone has different opinions on what is the perfect Bug-Out-Vehicle. In the end, it comes down to your preference and needs. Your Bug-Out-Vehicle could be a SUV, a hatchback car, a golf cart, a motorcycle, a scooter, a bicycle, a boat, or a horse. The important part is that it is reliable, that you can fuel it in an emergency, that you have the tools to do emergency repair and know how to do it, and that there is space for everyone and everything that you need for bugging out.

Actually bugging out

Once you know where you are going, and by what means, you need to know how. If the main road is blocked, do you know what to do? Keep a map that covers the area you need to travel and mark out at least three routes.

If you are a family, or if you are bugging out with friends, you must be prepared for the eventuality that you are not all in the same place when you must leave. Where will you be meeting?

While you could just get up and leave your home, if there is a large scale disaster chances are, unfortunately, that it will be destroyed by the elements or looted by people. Keep a checklist of what you need to do before leaving the house to minimize problems, from turning off utilities to securing doors and windows. Divide up responsibilities if possible. Do you have school aged children? Who is responsible for picking them up?

Do you have pets? Will they be bugging out with you? The unpleasant truth is that it is not always feasible to bring your pets. While a dog may be able to come with you if you go by foot, a pair of pet rabbits may have to be left behind unless you can take the car, and your chickens may need to fend for themselves no matter what the scenario. Make that decision ahead of time, so that you are fully prepared when the time comes.

Choosing a bag

Although you may be planning on bugging out in a vehicle, even the best laid plans can be thrown off course in a disaster. You must be prepared for the eventuality that you may have to carry your Bug-Out-Bag to your Bug-Out-Location. Your survival plan is only as strong as its weakest link. Your Bug-Out-Bag contains everything that you need to survive your journey, so do not make it the weakest link.

Primary and secondary bag setups

If you are a single person bugging out on your own, deciding between a single and a multi-bag setup is easy. Because there is only one person around to carry your entire kit, it needs to be able to fit into, or be attached to, a single bag.

If you are bugging out in a group, whether with family or with friends, your setup will be more complex. You are unlikely to be able to carry everything that the entire group needs in a single bag, so a multi-bag system is preferable.

Many of the supplies you need to bug out with a group are the same as you need when bugging out alone, so not every member of the group needs an identical Bug-Out-Bag. The most efficient setup is one where there is a primary bag, and several secondary bags. The primary bag then contains all of the essential survival tools, and personal items – clothes, water, food, bedding, and hygiene articles – for one person. This bag is going to be carried by the strongest member of the group, and it needs to be the best built. Smaller secondary bags, containing just personal items for one more person, can then be carried by additional group members. That way, no matter how many of you end up bugging out, you will always be able to have the supplies you need, and having to leave behind a secondary bag or two is not a life threatening situation.

In a setup with a primary and one or several secondary bags, only the primary bag must fulfill all of the full Bug-Out-Bag requirements.

Choosing your Bug-Out-Bag

Your main priorities for a Bug-Out-Bag are function and comfort, and unfortunately these two priorities are likely to be at odds with each other. You want a bag that can contain as much as possible and is as durable as possible, but you also want a bag that is comfortable to carry and won't weigh you down. The key is to compromise just enough.

One matter that cannot be compromised, however, is this: your Bug-Out-Bag is a backpack. Any bag that does not have two shoulder straps will significantly hinder your mobility and compromise your safety in a survival situation. Because it is carried on your back, your hands will be free to work, steady yourself, defend yourself, and push through vegetation. Because it has two straps, the weight will be evenly distributed, which allows you to carry it for longer periods, and because it is attached close to your body it is unlikely to get lost or get stuck.

When choosing a backpack you have several options. A frameless backpack is the kind of backpack frequently used by school children and commuters. They are usually quite cheap, but they offer little in the way of support and are often too small to fit everything that you need in a primary Bug-Out-Bag.

A more prudent option may be a backpack with an external frame. These bags are mounted on a metal frame that lies against your back and are designed for carrying heavy loads for extended periods.

You can also choose a backpack with an internal frame made from metal or plastic. These backpacks offer much of the support found in an external frame backpack, and because they fit closely to the back they shift less than packs on an external frame, which helps you stay balanced in bad terrain. The downside to the close fit is the lack of airflow, which makes such bags sweaty to carry in hot weather when compared to bags with an external frame.

Whichever type of bag you choose, consider the shoulder straps. The wider and the thicker the straps are, the less likely they are to dig into your shoulders and injure you. Whenever possible, choose padded straps.

Although too reminiscent of the loathed fanny pack to ever be cool, a hip belt is actually an invaluable feature in a Bug-Out-Bag. It will redistribute up to 90% of the backpack weight onto your hips, which were much better designed to carry that weight that your back and shoulders ever were. You will suffer less shoulder fatigue and fewer injuries.

In a Bug-Out-Bag, water resistance is not optional. A large part of the contents will have been chosen to drastically increase your chances of survival by means of keeping you dry and warm, which cannot be done if you have a leaky bag. Getting water into your bag will also spoil your food and your first aid kit. When it comes to water resistance, you will need multiple redundancies. Start with a water resistant bag, add an extra layer of water resistant lining, and pack all of your supplies in water resistant packaging.

A Bug-Out-Bag with a single compartment may seem easier to pack efficiently, but one with multiple compartments is much easier to unpack. Think about it. When do you have the most time to fidget with your bag: today when you are packing it, or when you are trekking to your Bug-Out-Location, have cut yourself badly, and need to find your first aid kit? A bag with several compartments is much more likely to be well-organized, and organization saves valuable time.

Buying online

A backpack that fulfills all of the requirements of a primary Bug-Out-Bag can be expensive, so it can certainly be tempting to save some money by buying one online. Don't buy a Bug-Out-Bag sight unseen, unless you can return it for a full refund. You might be able to overlook the pains of an ill-fitted backpack on a hike or on a camping trip, but in an actual survival scenario you might be walking for 8 or 10 hours per day, carrying a much heavier load than you are used to. A poorly fitted backpack will affect how much time you can spend on foot.

Staying hydrated

The biggest danger in most survival scenarios is dehydration. The Institute of Medicine has determined that an adequate daily intake is 3 liters (6.3 pints) for men and 2.2 liters (4.6 pints) for women, when in in a moderate temperature and not engaging in heavy physical activity. The World Health Organization has looked at the requirements of lactating women, while engaging in moderate physical activity in above-average temperatures, and come to the conclusion that 7.5 liters (2 gallons) per person per day will meet the requirements of most people. If taking into consideration basic hygiene, not including laundry or bathing, that number rises to 20 liters (5.3 gallons).

In other words: if you are to survive for three days with your Bug-Out-Bag, you will need between 6.6 liters (1.7 gallons) and 60 liters (15.9 gallons) of water per person. Water is both heavy and bulky, so it goes without saying that most people will have to opt for packing the smaller amount. The rest of the water needed for survival will have to come from other sources, and since we cannot guarantee the safety of that water our Bug-Out-Bag will have to contain the tools necessary to filter and to purify water for drinking.

Water containers

Regardless of how large a water container you can carry in your primary Bug-Out-Bag, never carry all of your water in a single container. If that container springs a leak, you may lose all of your water. Smaller containers also allow you to distribute the weight across your bag, and are easier to drink from.

Many people swear by the cheapest and most abundant water container there is: recycled soft drink bottles. The downside to these bottles is that they are not very durable. They are designed to withstand pressure from the inside, not from the outside. Recycled plastic screw-top bottles designed for water rather than soft drinks are even less likely to withstand being knocked about or dropped onto uneven ground.

Much hardier plastic screw-top bottles, designed with backpackers and survivalists in mind, can certainly be bought without breaking the bank. They come in both canteen, thermos and bottle shapes.

A metal bottle may be heavier than a plastic one, but may hold up better and can be heated over a fire or on a stove in order to make food or to purify the water.

Crushable bottles take up virtually no space in your Bug-Out-Bag, and weigh very little, once emptied of water. They are available from many brands. Nalgene®, whose plastic water bottles have been a favorite of backpackers for decades, even makes one with an opening large enough to insert a water filter.

Your choice of water container comes down mostly to personal preference, as long as your bottle of choice is durable, safe, and neither too heavy nor too bulky. If you wish, you can spread your bets and divide your water supply between a variety of bottle types.

If you are bugging out with a baby or a pet, remember that they they have the same needs for clean water as you do, but they will not be able to drink out of a bottle. Your baby may need disposable bottle nipples and your pet may need a crushable water bowl.

Ready to drink sources

When your packed water runs out you will have to start harvesting water from nature. Most of it will need to be filtered and purified in order to be safe to drink, but you may have a number of options of ready to drink sources if you know how to identify them.

If you are lucky enough to be bugging out at a time of the year when there are abundant edible fruits and berries about, they are excellent sources for not only carbohydrates, but for hydration as well. The more water that you can get from food, the less you will need to drink directly.

Unless you are in a nuclear fallout zone, rainwater is usually going to be fine to drink. You can catch it in a collapsible bucket, a cooking pot, or you can spread tarp or a plastic bag so that it catches water in a larger area and funnels it into another container.

Since it is essentially very cold rainwater, snow is also fine to drink if you melt it. It is also easier to collect. Beware that snow that has been on the ground, on plants, or on buildings for some time can be contaminated.

Both dew and frost can be collected early in the morning with a clean rag, and wrung into a container for drinking.

You can also catch condensation from trees and bushes with the help of a plastic bag and a piece of string. Simply place the plastic bag over a non-poisonous species, and tie the open end tightly. When the leaves of the plant transpire, the bag will fill up with water vapor, which eventually condense on the plastic bag. Such condensation traps should be emptied every two hours, or the tree might stop producing vapor for the time being.

Water filters

All other water sources may need to be filtered and purified in order to be safe to drink. The difference between a filter and a purifier can be confusing, but in essence a filter is something that removes dirt in the water, even if that dirt is microscopic cysts and bacteria. Water purification kills viruses, but may not remove dirt.

There is a whole world of water filtering products to choose from. Your Bug-Out-Bag should have at least two: one primary, and one backup.

These filtration products will have either a paper filter and a ceramic filter. The former will work in most bug out scenarios, but will not stand up to use for as long as a ceramic filter. Either filter's longevity can be improved, however, by pre-filtering your water. Many people keep regular coffee filters in their Bug-Out-Bag in order to remove the worst of the dirt before doing the real filtering.

One of the simplest, least bulky, and cheapest of filters may be a straw filter. This is essentially a drinking straw with an integrated water filter. These will let you drink straight out of dirty rain puddle or a toilet bowl, but they won't let you filter water for a baby or a pet, and they won't let you filter water for cooking or hygiene.

A bottle filter is lightweight, can be stored in one of your main water containers, and is very easy to use. You simply scoop water into your bottle, screw in the filter, and drink or pour.

A hand-pump filter lets you filter larger quantities of water quickly, for all manner of purposes. They do take up significant Bug-Out-Bag real estate, however, and can be expensive.

Water purification

The simplest way to purify water, one that anyone knows how to do, is probably to boil it. Boiling water kills cysts, bacteria, and viruses, but it should not be your only source of water purification since there may be times when building a fire, or using valuable stove fuel, is impossible or undesirable.

Water purification tablets are cheap, take up very little space in your Bug-Out-Bag, and have a very long shelf-life. Be aware that they do have an expiration date, and while some can purify a bottle of water in 10 minutes, others may take up towards an hour.

While bleach is certainly cheap and easy to get access to, it won't kill all cysts and bacteria so the water needs to be properly filtered. Be aware that bleach starts to deteriorate and becomes less effective already within six months.

An alternative to bleach is chlorine dioxide. Unlike bleach, it will kill the most harmful cysts and bacteria and it will not leave a noticeable taste in the water. It also has a longer shelf-life. It is more expensive, however, and requires up to 4 hours of exposure to purify the water.

Water can also be purified with the help of UV rays. There are numerous simple systems using recycled soft drink bottles left in a sunny spot that can be used to purify water. There are also battery driven UV products, such as the SteriPEN®, that do this in shorter time.

Lastly, an alternative that does not require filtration: distillation. If you intend on using sea water as a hydration source, this may be your only option. Most water distillers on the market are electric. The ones geared towards survivalists, using fire and steam, often cost hundreds of dollars, but you can build your own for significantly less.

Eating on the go

Although it is impossible to survive without nourishment, food is a low-priority item in the Bug-Out-Bag. Keep in mind that your Bug-Out-Bag is designed to keep you alive for 72 hours, whereas a healthy adult can stay alive for 3 weeks without food.

This does not mean that there should be no food at all in your Bug-Out-Bag. You are likely to spend a lot of calories as you make your way to the Bug-Out-Location and the extra energy, warmth, and comfort of a meal can go a long way.

Because it is not a true survival necessity, you should not expect to spend much energy preparing your food. It needs to be quick and easy. It also needs to be lightweight. You should not be spending large amounts of energy carrying it. Since it is going to spend a lot of time in your Bug-Out-Bag, it should also have a long shelf-life.

Since the purpose of this bug out food is to give you some quick energy to carry on at a time of physical strain, it should be high in carbohydrates and calories. Proper nutrition is not of the essence here, since we are looking at short term survival rather than long term health. Naturally, if anyone in your bug out team is allergic to something, has a condition like diabetes or celiac disease, this must be considered when stocking food.

Food options

Some survivalists favor Meal, Ready-to-Eat, commonly abbreviated MRE. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, the MRE is a self-contained field ration designed for the United States military service. The package generally contains a main dish, one or several side dishes, a dessert or snack, crackers or bread, and possibly a powdered drink. They often have their own heat source, so you do not need a stove to heat the food. MREs are available online and through army surplus stores, but they can be both pricey and heavy.

Some options vaguely similar to the MRE include packaged sauces or semi-ready meals. Pasta sauces and ready to eat stews are often available in soft packaging that makes them easy to pack. They are available at the supermarket and can be eaten cold if necessary.

Energy bars, granola bars, and meal supplement bars are perhaps the most perfect of Bug-Out-Bag meals. They need no preparation, are usually high in calorie and carbohydrates, are easy to buy, easy to store, and are generally cheap. Although they hardly constitute a gourmet meal, they also come in a variety of flavors.

If you have the water, meal replacement shakes are a fairly quick and complete meal that takes up virtually no space in your Bug-Out-Bag. Simply put the powder in one of your water bottles, put the cork back on, and shake it. You will get valuable calories, while also adding to your water intake.

Dehydrated meals take more energy to prepare, including valuable fuel resources, but if necessary they can be reconstituted much more slowly in cold water and eaten cold. They are easy to find, relatively cheap, and take up little space in the Bug-Out-Bag.

You could also bring your own dried foodstuffs. Grains like rice and couscous are easy to pack, although they need to be cooked. Rolled oats, especially instant oats, are quicker to make than most grains and will use less fuel. Cured sausages and jerky do not need to be cooked, nor do nuts. Dried fruits can be used as a quick carbohydrate boost.

Cans and jars take up a lot of space and can be quite heavy. Some people feel that they are worth it, especially for high fat, high calorie, filling foods such as tunafish and peanut butter, or high energy foods, like honey.

When it comes to food, you can really afford to get creative. Quick energy can be derived from a cup of instant coffee or taurine pills. The energy gels used by marathon runners are equally useful when walking. You could even pack an aerosol can of sugary whipped cream if you prefer.

Food for dependents

If you have a nursing infant, breastfeeding is the best option even during a bug out scenario. If breastfeeding is not an option, then make sure to pack sufficient formula and consider buying disposable bottles and nipples rather than sterilizing on the go.

For the baby that eats solids, soft packaged baby foods is a great alternative to glass jars when it comes to the Bug-Out-Bag. You can also run dried vegetables in the blender and reconstitute later into a vegetable mush. Lastly, although frowned upon today, people used to pre-chew regular adult food for babies. In a survival situation, it is still an option.

If you are bugging out with a pet, remember to bring pet food. Dry food is easier, but if you must bring wet food, some brands are sold in soft packaging, which is lighter and easier to pack than cans.

Tools for cooking and for eating

If you plan on eating food that needs to be prepared in some way, chances are that you will need some type of cutlery. Your best bet is usually a spoon and a fork, or even a spork, as your Bug-Out-Bag should include at least one knife.

Even if you weren't planning on cooking your own food, a metal pot is often a good idea. In addition to cooking food, it will allow you to purify water through boiling, heat water for washing off, as well as collect rain water. A metal cup is a good addition that does all of the above, but faster, and in a single portion.

If you have a pot, you should have a pot scrubber or another means of cleaning it off. Proper food hygiene is essential for survival.

Even if you didn't pack canned food, bring a can opener. You never know when you might need one.

Stoves

Although you could cook on an open fire, stoves have some advantages. They are more reliable in bad weather, do not require the amount of experience that a live fire does, and they are less likely to be noticed at a distance, in times when going undetected is crucial. They do, however, cost money, require fuel, weigh you down and take up valuable Bug-Out-Bag space.

If you decide that you need a stove, there are a great many models to choose from. Most of them are one of two types, however.

A gas stove is very easy to use and also very effective, and works particularly well when cooking for large groups. You have a choice between a stove with a pressurized gas canister and a stove with a liquid fuel that needs to be pressurized with a pump. The later is a bit more difficult to use, but allows you to change your fuel type to whatever becomes available. Either type requires heavy and bulky fuel.

The other type is a solid fuel stove. These stoves can usually be folded flat or stored around a canteen, and they are burnt using a fuel tablet. They take less space than gas stoves, are not as heavy, and can be used to burn twigs when the tablets run out. The downside is that they are small and generally can only cook small amounts of food.

Keeping warm (or cool)

Exposure to the elements kills a large number of people every year. Depending on where you live, you run the risk of freezing to death or dying from a heat stroke. In certain locations, you may run both risks in a 24 hour span. If you are to survive 72 hours on the road during an emergency, you need the tools to stave of the cold, as well as the wind and dampness that aggravates it, or the heat.

Shelter

Whether it keeps you out of the wind and rain at night, or out of the sun by day, your shelter needs to be lightweight and take up as little space in your Bug-Out-Bag as possible. It must be able to withstand the elements, which includes snow if there is any risk of it. It should be easy to set up, even with frozen fingers and low light, and it should preferably not require special conditions, such as trees, to set up.

A nylon camping tarp is both lightweight and packable. Although tarps require a certain amount of experience to use, both with tarps and knots, they can be just as useful as a tent in many conditions. Being open, they do not protect against bugs or other critters, nor do they work in the most extreme weather conditions. Tarp does, however, have the benefit of being multi-purpose. It can be turned into an emergency hammock, if the ground gets flooded, a rainwater catchment, and more. If you are going to buy a tarp, make sure that any holes have grommets and that tiedowns are properly reinforced. Also make sure that you have packed plenty of rope.

If you have less experience, or if the weather can be expected to be more extreme, a tent is the better option. Tents are available for all kinds of weather conditions, they keep bugs out, and keep you off the potentially wet ground. A tent also feels a bit more like a home away from home, which is not to be underestimated when your whole world has just been turned upside down. As a beginner, tents are easier to use too, and if you are bugging out with a pet you are less likely to lose them during the night. A tent is going to be more expensive than a tarp, and it is going to weigh more. Go for the more lightweight aluminum stakes, over steel ones, and make sure that it comes with a very compact packing bag.

Whichever you choose, a tarp or a tent, you are likely to want a ground pad. If you do not have a tent, it will keep your sleeping bag dry, and if you do have a tent it will insulate you from the ground. It will also make the ground more comfortable, and a survival situation is not one when you want the added bonus of sleep deprivation.

A foam ground pad is lightweight, cheap, lasts a lifetime, and remains effective regardless of holes. Unfortunately, they are also very bulky and unlikely to fit in your Bug-Out-Bag. This means that you will have to mount it to the outside of your bag, which will announce to the world that you have supplies that they may wish to loot.

An air-filled ground pad takes up less space and provides more comfort. But, they are more expensive and useless when punctured. If you are buying an air-filled pad, make sure to also get a repair kit.

Your sleeping bag should first and foremost suit your climate. If you get very cold winters, you will need one that handles very cold weather. A sleeping bag with a hood is more likely to retain body heat than one that is open, which makes your job of staying warm during the night much easier. You will also have to decide on a filling. A down-filled sleeping bag will be lightweight and compact. A synthetic-filled sleeping bag will be heavier and bulkier in your Bug-Out-Bag, but lighter on your wallet. Whichever you choose, you will need a compression sack to ensure that your sleeping bag takes up as little space as possible when packed.

Fire

Fire will keep you warm and dry you up, saving you from hypothermia. Unless you are a master survivalist, chances are that you will need several means of making fire, in case one of them fails. Always store fire supplies in a waterproof container. They tend to be useless if damp.

Cigarette lighters are cheap, effective, and reliable except in very cold or very wet conditions.

Regular matches have a tendency to break or stop working, but waterproof matches have a better track record. The strike anywhere type is the most useful.

Ferrocerium rods are metal matches that create sparks when scraped with the back of a knife or another metal rod. They are the most expensive option, but can hardly be called expensive. Their advantage is that they work even when wet and cold.

If you are going to start a fire, you will need tinder, and if the weather is sub par you run the risk of not finding any. This is why you want to pack some tinder, so that you can always start a fire in an emergency. Tinder can be as simple as steel wool, which is cheap, available at the supermarket, and ignites very easily. Cotton balls can be soaked in fuel and stored in a waterproof container. If you prefer to buy tried and tested tinder, there are many kinds which are designed to work in wet and cold conditions. WetFire™, which is available online, for example, boasts being able to catch fire even in a bucket of water.

Clothing

Although a change of clothes can sound like a luxury in a survival situation, it can be a survival tool in itself. Wet clothes are chilling and may put you at risk of hypothermia. Clothes clogged with sweat and grime are less insulating than clean clothes.

Pack climate-appropriate. If necessary, change the clothes in your Bug-Out-Bag twice per year, so that you are always relatively seasonal.

All clothes in your Bug-Out-Bag should be durable, non-restrictive, lightweight, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking. If your aim is to stay warm, pack multiple layers, a knit hat and a pair of warm gloves. If your aim is to stay cool, remember that exposed skin easily becomes burnt skin, and don't forget a crushable hat to stave off sunstroke. While you may get away with one change of clothing in your Bug-Out-Bag, there should be at least one pair of socks for every 24 hours. Socks have a tendency to get wet faster than most other items, not dry while on, and with cold extremities you will certainly feel cold even quicker.

Just like when you were considering your shelter, remember that the elements kill. Pack a thin windbreak and a rain protection layer.

Since there is a risk of having to spend the next 72 hours walking, pack a pair of broken in hiking boots, and since you will probably be doing all sorts of work, protect your hands with a pair of work gloves.

Remaining safe

In addition to safety from the elements, you must think about safety from everything else. You must consider situational safety, the kind of danger good tools insure against, and safety from other humans and wild animals.

Your bug out knife

Your primary survival knife is probably the most important tool in your Bug-Out-Bag. It is essential not only for cutting, but can also be used to carve, chop, dig, and hammer. You will need it when building shelter, dressing wounds, making fire, preparing food, getting through the wilderness, and quite possibly even self-defense. It needs to be easily accessible at all times. Preferably, its place is on the outside of your Bug-Out-Bag, rather than on the inside.

A good bug out knife should have a fixed blade. Knives with a folding blade are great, but their strength is very compromised. Your primary knife should have a fixed blade, but feel free to keep a secondary folding knife as a redundancy.

When choosing a knife you will have the choice between a full tang and a rat tail tang. If these terms are new to you, a full tang is a knife that is both a blade and a handle created out of one solid piece of metal. Two halves of an outer handle is then attached outside, sandwiching the metal handle. Such knives are much stronger than a knife with a rat tail tang, that is to say a knife whose blade curves into a thin strip of metal that is then inserted into a handle.

When it comes to a knife, you should neither go too big nor too small. A good average size lies at around 10 inches.

You can choose between a single edged knife or a double edged knife. The choice is yours and both have advantages. While a knife with two sharp edges has twice the available cutting surface, a knife with a single edge will allow you to put pressure on the dull edge to guide it.

Regardless of the number of sharp edges, your knife must be sharp. A dull knife takes much more effort to use, which makes it easier to slip and to be seriously injured.

Lastly, you need a sheath for your knife, of the material of your choice. The important part is that the sheath should hold your knife in place snuggly, so that it does not fall out, but not so snuggly that you need two hands to pull it out.

Tools

In addition to your bug out knife, you will need several tools. These will partly be dependent on your general circumstances. If your Bug-Out-Plan might take you through dense woodland, you may want to pack a machete, a billhook, a small saw or a similar tool. If you live in an area where you might have to deal with wildfire, volcano dust, sandstorms, or if you are worried about airborne disease, consider a dust mask. If you are taking your car, you should have the tools to make emergency repairs, although these ought to be stored in your car rather than in your Bug-Out-Bag. If you are bugging out by bicycle, however, you may want a quick repair kit in your bag.

One tool you cannot go wrong with, both in terms of its multiple uses and its space-saving feature, is the appropriately named multitool. What tools you want it to include is a very personal choice, but it should at the very least have: a backup knife, a small saw-blade, a pair of pliers, and a pair of screwdrivers.

Another must-have tool is rope or cordage. Make sure that it is durable. If it is used for sailing, by the military, or for parachuting, then you are on the right track.

Lastly, you cannot go wrong with that fixer of almost all of the world's problems: duct tape.

Lighting

In order to stay safe in the dark you will need light sources. Because you might not be able to set up camp without light, and because you may have to move by night, make sure that your system is set up for redundancies.

A headlamp is an excellent primary light source, since it can be operated hands-free leaving you to do work and to stabilize yourself in uneven dark terrain. A hand-held flashlight makes a good second choice.

Mini-LEDs are easy to pack, but, if you do, make sure that yours is a decent light source. Many are barely strong enough to light up your keyhole when you get home at night, much less help you find anything in a serious bug out situation.

As a base camp light, candles work work surprisingly well and there are many with a long burn time that are excellent in survival situations. Oil lamps and similar devices are less ideal, as they require an independent fuel source and are often made of highly breakable material.

Self-defense

It is sad, but a fact of life, that your biggest problem in a disaster might not be getting enough water or surviving the elements, it may be other people. We do not have to imagine a zombie apocalypse to picture a scenario where someone might want to hurt you in order to get at your tools, food, or other belongings. Unfortunately, not everyone come together in perfect brotherhood when disaster strikes.

While you can certainly pack a variety of weapons to protect yourself with, your best self defense tool is probably not one that you put in your Bug-Out-Bag. Rather, it's the self-defense training that you do, and the mindset you acquire during training. While hand-to-hand combat is the last thing that you want to engage in, the skill is invaluable in a bug out scenario, and outside of bug out scenarios alike.

In terms of non-lethal weapons, pepper spray makes a good self-defense tool. Your pepper spray should spray in a stream pattern, as it is less likely than a mist pattern spray to be affected by the wind and lose effectiveness, or, worse, hit you. Always make sure that, whatever pepper spray you buy, it is legal to carry in your location.

Potentially lethal weapons that do not require licenses include your bug out knife, but any tool that can be used to bash at an attacker can become a weapon. This includes, but is not limited to a baseball bat, a metal pipe, and a chain. Instruments used for chopping, such as a billhook or an axe, make not only excellent weapons but excellent violence deterrents as well.

When considering firearms, your choice must be one that you know how to use and can safely wield without endangering yourself or innocent bystanders. Your firearm of choice must also be legal, and you must be licensed to carry it if a license is required. While many people say that, in a life or death bug out scenario, they do not care about the legality of their weapons, you probably don't want to stand trial for having said weapon in your bug out bag at home.

You have a choice between a a handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun, but remember that the purpose is to protect you, not to draw attention to yourself, whether from desperadoes or from law enforcement, or to signal to people that you have something worth stealing. Most bug out scenarios won't be the zombie apocalypse, so for most people the ideal bug out firearm is a pistol. In addition to being concealable, a pistol takes up very little space and is lightweight. You must, naturally, also pack ammunition.

Communications

Just as staying safe is a very broad subject, so is the matter of communications. In essence, communication is about sending information, receiving it, recording it, and, in some cases, using it. In a sense, it covers everything that happens, from that first phone call to your loved ones to get home in order to bug out, to the information about yourself and your home that you must communicate through official documents in order to get your life back after a disaster.

Reaching the outside world

Even most people who do not use a cellphone regularly carries one these days. That's because it is a very effective survival communications tool. Yes, in the event of a large scale terrorist attack or a zombie apocalypse the cellular network will probably go down. It may even go down on behalf of a hurricane. There may be too many people calling for help to let you get through to dial out. There are still plenty of bug out scenarios where your home, or your town, may be one of the few affected. In that case, your cellphone will serve you well. And do not forget that even if you get very patchy reception that is often enough to send a few text messages.

Pack a charged extra battery. If the cellular network is patchy, your phone's battery will be used up in no time roaming for a connection. You may also pack a charger. Crank chargers are safer in a bug out scenario than solar chargers since you might not be able to guarantee sunlight.

If you are bugging out in a group, consider getting a pair of walkie-talkies with a good range. This will allow you to split up and still communicate with each other.

Sometimes the message you want to send to the outside world is just one big loud “I am here!” You might not be able to shout loud enough, but the sound of a whistle carries much further than your voice. You can also work with visual signals. If you have packed a scarf, it can be used as a flag. A fire, or even a flashlight or glowstick waved about are other cheap signaling options. A signaling mirror is a mirror with a special sighting hole in the middle to help you aim. It can direct sunlight or flashlight to catch the attention of a rescue squad or airplane that may otherwise be out of hearing range. More expensive options include a flare gun. The most expensive option is a Personal Locator Beacon, a radio transmitter that sends a distress signal to the Search and Rescue satellite system. While great for a smaller emergency, they will obviously not catch the attention of anyone who is not monitoring these satellites.

Gathering survival information

In a regional or national disaster scenario, your smartphone is probably not going to let you go online to check what is happening in the world. In such a situation, a radio receiver is a good backup plan. Your radio will let you know what's going on around you and will let you plan route changes accordingly. While a battery-operated radio can be expected to last for 72 hours, a safer option is the hand crank radio.

If you live in the United States of America, make sure that you choose a radio that is compliant with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Radio. These 24 hour weather alerts, and disaster warnings, are transmitted through over 1,000 receivers across the US, and can often be picked up, assuming that the radio is compliant, even when local radio stations are down.

Once you have received important information, you need some way of recording it. Low-tech is better in a survival situation, so you can't go wrong with paper and pencil. Unlike a pen, a pencil always works and can be sharpened with your knife. If you want to be extra certain that your notes hold up, there is water repellent paper on the market.

Navigation

Since a bug out is all about getting somewhere, navigation is of extreme importance. For smaller and quite local disasters, a GPS, although the pricier navigation option, may do you good. Remember, though, that even a really cloudy day can be enough to make life difficult for your GPS. Do not expect to rely on it in a major disaster.

For this reason you will need a map. Your map should cover everything between your home and your Bug-Out-Location, and you ought to highlight at least three different routes that you could take. A map that covers a far greater area than you need will not only be extra bulk and weight, but is less likely to be detailed enough for you to use. A map that details bicycle routes and even topography is a particularly good investment, in case you have to go off the road.

Going off the road with a map is not a very good idea, of course, without a compass. It does not have to be a terribly fancy one, but you need to make sure that you know how to use it.

Important documents

There are a number of documents that you need to have with you when you bug out. This is partly because you might need to back up statements about you and your family to travel, but also because you need those documents to get your life back later, and they may not still be there when you go back home.

Your documents should be stored in a waterproof envelope. Although you can certainly back up your information to a cloud service or a USB key, it is important to also have paper copies on you. Remember that a USB key is not going to get you past a military checkpoint.

You will need to bring identification for all members of your family. In addition to IDs, passports, and driver's licenses, this includes a social security card and birth certificate. You may also need to prove your marital status, so bring a marriage license where applicable. If you are bugging out with a pet, you will need to bring papers with your pet's microchip or tattoo number identifying you as the owner.

In addition to proving who you are, you may need to back up certain statements about your health, whether to avoid quarantine or to get the medical help you need in a rescue situation. Bring immunization records, a record of your prescriptions, and any papers backing up or listing medical conditions and allergies. If bugging out with a companion animal, you will also need to bring your immunization records for all pets. In order to get your life back after bugging out, you will also want to pack your health insurance papers and any documents concerning disabilities.

Some other papers you will want to carry in order to start your life back up include the deed to your house, if you own it, and any home insurance that you may have. Your car insurance, your life insurance and, morbid though it may seem, the last will and testament of everyone bugging out. Additionally, you may want to include a number of papers for bank purposes, such as information about your bank accounts, credit cards, and loans or mortgages.

Money talks

Cash is king, and money talks. While money might be useless come a zombie apocalypse or an alien invasion, during your 72 hour bug out chances are high that people will still value it. You can't expect to be able to swing by the bank or the ATM as you're getting out of Dodge.

Don't keep it all in one place, and keep more than you might expect to need. Figures vary immensely. Some say that $100 is enough, others say at least $500, others still say $1000. Pack as much as you can spare, and you don't feel uncomfortable having at home. It is also a good idea to bring coins for vending machines or pay phones.

Health & hygiene

Lack of proper hygiene is one of the fastest ways to compromise your survival chances when you are already under a lot of strain. Proper hygiene must be ensured when dealing with food and water, with wounds, and with human waste.

You must also see to your health. Not only are you more likely to injure yourself in a survival situation, you are more likely to get sick, and on top of it all it is the worst possible time to be ill.

Your first aid kit

Most ready-to-use first aid kits available from the pharmacy are anything but ready to use, but you might be able to find one that makes a decent starting point. Whatever container you have for your first aid kit, it should be watertight. You may also want to put the contents into smaller waterproof bags. Your medicines and band aids will be no good to anyone if they are wet.

The most basic first aid kit should include:

Antiseptic wipes

Alcohol wipes

Sterile gauze

Band aids

Wound-closing strips

Self-adhesive bandages

Elastic bandages

Medical tape

Antibiotic ointment

Anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing pills (e.g. ibuprofen)

Allergy relief pills (e.g. antihistamines)

Diarrhea relief pills (e.g. imodium)

Antacid tablets

Sunscreen

Insect repellent

Eyewash

Tweezers

Safety pins

Rubber gloves

In addition, you may need a number of personal items, such as daily prescriptions, inhalers, a diabetes kit, and backup eyeglasses. If you are bugging out with a pet, do not forget your pet's prescriptions, and if you are bugging out with a baby, consider packing baby vitamins. Also remember to take into consideration any special circumstances you might have. For example, if you live near a nuclear reactor, consider buying potassium iodine pills. They offer very high protection for the thyroid if taken before exposure to nuclear fallout.

Basic hygiene

Although hygiene is extremely important in a survival situation, a basic hygiene kit won't take up much space in your Bug-Out-Bag.

You need soap. With a basic bar, gel or liquid you will be able to clean yourself, your clothes, anything that touches your food, and even wounds. Soap is the recommended way to clean open wounds when you do not have access to medical care, and if washing up your clothes seems like a survival luxury, remember that clean clothes wick moisture and insulate much better when clean.

Wet napkins are a great option to soap when water is scarce or if it is too cold to get properly wet. They should be packed in addition to soap, though, not instead of it.

You can use hand sanitizer to clean yourself when there is little water. It can also be used to clean off small cuts and scrapes. Be aware that studies have shown that hand sanitizers are less effective than soap and water. Yes, they make amazing claims on the bottle and those figures are backed up by scientific experiments... on people who have already washed their hands with soap and water.

A tiny camping towel has many uses, in addition to allowing you to dry off. Make sure to get one that is small and compact, preferably designed for backpacking. Regular towels are wonderful in their fluffiness, but they are also heavy and bulky.

As a woman, bugging out without the feminine hygiene product of your choice can be a nightmare. And if it isn't that time of the month, tampons can be used for fire ignition, and sanitary pads make decent basic water filters and bandages.

While you could always use a stick, if there is one around, it's nice to have some toilet paper. If you are bugging out with a baby, do not forget to pack diapers. All diapers should be disposable. You do not want to carry human feces around, waiting for a chance to do laundry. Other hygiene products, including a toothbrush, are optional.

Putting it all together

Now that you have given some more thought to your needs and the contents of your future Bug-Out-Bag, you need to start putting it all together. The temptation might be strong to get it done all at once. Disaster could, after all, strike tomorrow.

For some of you, that might be a bigger investment than you can afford right now. That's okay! Don't be put off getting started. Some of the items you may already have and be able to spare. Until you can afford a backpack with a frame, maybe you have an old backpack that you can use. Start investing in the essentials. You won't survive without water and some basic hygiene items, so start there. Maybe your first major investment is shelter and a robust survival knife. Build your first aid kit little by little, buying one new item on your weekly grocery run, if you must. Fine tuning your plan and gathering your important documents takes time, but it is free.

Preparedness is not about perfection. Being just a little prepared is infinitely better than not being prepared at all.

Table of Contents

An introduction to the Bug-Out-Bag

Designing your Bug-Out-Plan

Your Bug-Out-Location

The Bug-Out-Vehicle

Actually bugging out

Choosing a bag

Primary and secondary bag setups

Choosing your Bug-Out-Bag

Buying online

Staying hydrated

Water containers

Ready to drink sources

Water filters

Water purification

Eating on the go

Food options

Food for dependents

Tools for cooking and for eating

Stoves

Keeping warm (or cool)

Shelter

Fire

Clothing

Remaining safe

Your bug out knife

Tools

Lighting

Self-defense

Communications

Reaching the outside world

Gathering survival information

Navigation

Important documents

Money talks

Health & hygiene

Your first aid kit

Basic hygiene

Putting it all together