Re: What's in your emergency / bug out bag?
I've got a couple of bags, actually - none of them is really a "bug out bag" per se, but could serve the purpose. I EDC a Maxpedition Versipack that has basic stuff in it that I need for work, as well as my iPod, etc. In here, I also keep my single stage E2DL, spare magazines for my carry gun, an extra knife, and 4 CR123 cells. I also EDC my EX10 on my keychain, so I've got an option for lower light levels and extended battery life. In the car, I keep (well, used to, until I gave it to a good friend... gotta replace that soon) my Fenix P3D-CE, along with another 4 CR123 cells. This is in my tool bag. At home I have a medium sized pack that is basically a 72 hour kit, containing MREs, rations, water, survival/camping gear, etc. This is home to my A2 and a dozen batteries.
All three of these bags have these traits in common:
- They contain at least a minimal tool kit (Leatherman, gloves, safety glasses)
- They contain at least one cutting tool (knife, shears, scissors)
- They contain at least one way to start a fire (Bic lighter, strike anywhere matches, magnesium/flint firestarter, etc.)
- They contain at least one light source (flashlight, glowstick)
- They contain a shelter element (space blanket, poncho, tent, trash bags)
- They contain at least a minimal, if not comprehensive first aid/trauma kit
- They contain at least 15 feet of 550 cord
- They contain a minimal fishing kit
- They contain at least 2 .5 liter bottles of water
The car kit also contains a bit of SAR gear, which will probably be expanded quite a bit once the county forms the new team. I also keep a fair amount of gear on my person, i.e. watch, knife, carry gun, lighter, keys with EX10, survival bracelet, radio/pager for rescue squad, and some other small stuff I'm sure that I am overlooking. This amounts to another "kit" that I would have with me even if I lost my EDC bag.
A lot of my choices to carry redundant sets of items stem from reading articles like
this one. I've chosen what I carry based on where I go, what I do, and what I expect to have to do with what I've got. I definitely think that members of this forum share a common interest in preparedness and survival - that's one reason so many of us are also into knives, guns, camping, etc.