Bug Out Bag options

[BadShot]

OK So I generally don't pipe in very much in this area because there seem to be folks that know a ton more than I. This is one of those topics that crops up all of the time and a few things I've learned from them are:

1. Let the goal drive the gear (adapted from Pat Rogers - "Let the mission drive the gear train"):

This means a few things... first and foremost what are you looking to use the bag for? Is this an End of the World, I'm walking off to the wilderness? Is this, Get me from work back home to the rest of my crap? Is this a hiking, just got my self WAY lost bag?

Each and every scenario has differing requirements. No one bag meets them all.. I'll say that again... No One Bag Meets All Requirements!!!!!

2. You Will inevitably pack too much the first few times:

If you don't believe that, you've never tested your gear. Read, Read and Read again. Read some of the reviews from Katrina survivors, Google is your friend. Then take some time, pull out everything you think you need in the bag, lay it out like you would for an inspection (former mil know what I mean) and take a serious look at each item.

3. Test You Gear!
I'm really bad about this.. I keep saying I'm going to do a 3 day trip every summer with just my car bag or my supposed end of the world packing list.. something always happens and I don't get around to it.

So I've just done the simple thing. Put your pack/bag on and go for a 2-3 mile walk. Yeah, reality sucks don't it?!?!

You're fooling yourself if you haven't done at least something like this. Now try it again with all of the wonder gear you have on your rifles, pistols and with at least 48 hours of food and water, plus ammo, batteries, blah blah blah... and heaven forbid that those of who own gear like armor and helmets, add that in to your hike. Hey, we're up around 80LBS in added weight.

4. You get what you pay for.
OK this isn't to say that there aren't deal to be had. Look at the March Sale that Nachez had on Eagle A-III packs. Hands down one of the most bomb proof 3 day packs around.. less than $50 for a $155 pack. Hmmm.

5. You can never have too many... of anything survival related
Shop, shop and keep shopping.. you will find deals, you will find gear you never though of, or stuff that's been mentioned in your reading. Again, don't settle on the first price you see. Spend time shopping for the right deals and always look for a coupon code or call the vendor and ask if they have any deals or specials that aren't listed online. Don't be afraid to ask for a price break, you'll get them more times than not if you're polite and courteous! Buy 2-3 of the small or common items.. then you can do what I do... have a few bags fully packed with the baseline needs all the time and or in each car!

6. There is no one load out for all seasons.
This follows the mission drives the gear train idea, but lets face it, we're in Colorado and the seasons can be harsh, and during the Spring and Fall, temps change at the drop of a dime.. consider having more or less layered approaches to what you pack. You'll always need batteries, sharp things, lights, first aid and such. The rest changes constantly.

7. Life isn't static, neither should your bug out gear be...
Follows number six to an extent.. but food spoils, batteries age beyond usefulness, newer, better stuff gets acquired (e.g. LED flashlights over older maglights or what not). Food is one of the biggies.. yeah MRE's have a great shelf life... but read the fine print there. That is when stored at xxx temp and such. Hmmmm right?

Here are some of the packs I've used or found to have a solid following:
Eagle A-III - www.skd.com
Tactical Tailor 3 Day (here's a great source for the enhance version - http://www.greyghostoutlet.com/packs)
ATS RAID Pack - www.atstactical.com
Camel Back - Several options here, for me, my one monster pack is a BFM. Talk about being able to over pack a bag!

There are of course hundreds of packs out there, especially if you don't want the suedo military look or actual military grade gear.

Look, you're going to get what you feel you can afford, but realize that if you are building and pulling this together to be there when disaster strikes or the sh*t has hit the fan. Do you really want the Condor knock off of a Maxpedition bag, or do you want the Maxpedition pack that isn't going to fall apart 30 minutes into your trek home/into the wilderness/stroll on the moon?

So back to the crux... what pack to use? Use the best you can afford, use the right kit for the right job. Me... I have the most concern around getting home incase something happens while I'm away at work. I'm 27 highway miles from home in a major metro area. Moving on foot from one side to the other of town would just suck balls. But I use an Eagle A-III and an ATS RAID pack between 2 cars. Each car has basically the exact same stuff in the pack. The only thing that changes is based on which car I'm driving. I move my pistol to the pack in the car I'm driving that day. I'm actually working on putting a small list/review together when the mood hits me about these two bags and the two bags that my better half and oldest driving teenager have in their cars. So if I ever get these few reviews I'm writing done, I'll post up here with them.

In the mean time... have fun and keep researching guys.. there are always new and better ways to do things, then again, some times the best ways are the simplest!

[Irving]

2. You Will inevitably pack too much the first few times:

The one time we went to climb a 14'er (my first time), my pack must have weighed like 50lbs. I had all kinds of ridiculous stuff in there (like 30 minute road flares). I dumped about 25% of the weight at camp and the hike was terrible. I didn't even make it to the top.

[ray1970]

Boy.... I guess my question was a little vague. I guess I want a bag that I could keep at the house that if I had to leave home quickly and was pretty sure I could never return to my home I would have at least a few basic necessities. I have a small bag that goes elk hunting with me that has things like a first aid/medical kit, a few knives, a multi-tool, some paracord, fire making supplies, a compass, and some other "survival" gear. I guess what I am looking for is a larger bag that would hold all of this plus mags and ammunition for a rifle and a handgun. I don't need to pack food or water as these items just add necessary weight (well, maybe a couple of bottles of water just in case). I guess a backpack makes more sense than a duffle bag because eventually I would probably end up on foot.

Thank you all for the replies.

[tmckay2]

Boy.... I guess my question was a little vague. I guess I want a bag that I could keep at the house that if I had to leave home quickly and was pretty sure I could never return to my home I would have at least a few basic necessities. I have a small bag that goes elk hunting with me that has things like a first aid/medical kit, a few knives, a multi-tool, some paracord, fire making supplies, a compass, and some other "survival" gear. I guess what I am looking for is a larger bag that would hold all of this plus mags and ammunition for a rifle and a handgun. I don't need to pack food or water as these items just add necessary weight (well, maybe a couple of bottles of water just in case). I guess a backpack makes more sense than a duffle bag because eventually I would probably end up on foot.

Thank you all for the replies.

i would always go with a backpack. but it IS personal preference. the thing is if you shop around enough you can find huge ass backpacks that can carry a ton of stuff, and are pretty light and durable all things considered. duffle bags make sense size wise, but are a royal pain in the ass to lug around. if you KNEW you could basically live out of your car, then i agree a duffle bag is the way to go. but if you are loading that sucker up with ammo and all sorts of heavy stuff, you won't be able to carry it far. honestly if you don't want to spend as much money id look at military molle packs in surplus stores and such. even online they can be had for cheap and many are modular and allow for addition of all sorts of stuff. you can easily find a decent set up for under $100

[Jmetz]

OK So I generally don't pipe in very much in this area because there seem to be folks that know a ton more than I. This is one of those topics that crops up all of the time and a few things I've learned from them are:

Good and helpful info. Thanks

[BadShot]

Sure, I think these types of uses/needs are ever changing. You can't just settle on one setup. While the foundational components will be fairly consistent, there is always room for improvement and practice. Hey, that applies to AR's too