What is a Bug out Bag?

[NorthernRaider]

What is a Bug out Bag?
© 2010 Northern Raider

Basically a Bug out Bag (BOB) is a prepacked rucksack or piece of travel luggage containing all the basic essential items you may need to help you survive the immediate aftermath of a crisis or disaster and help sustain you on your journey to your chosen place of safety. They can also be called Get Home Bags (GHB) Get Out Of Dodge bags (GOOD) and other interesting acronyms, but they all serve one single purpose to provide you with useful tools and materials to help you survive.

These prepacked bags are normally kept close to the front door or main exit of your residence allowing you to simply grab them if you have to abandon (Bug Out) your home or place of work.
(Do you remember the terrible sight of tens of thousands of business suited New Yorkers trying to flee Manhattan with only their business suits to sustain them?, Many people forced to walk dozens of miles in high heels or dress shoes, no top coats, nothing to wash the all engulfing debris from their faces and mouths)

It is normal for each member of the household to have their own BOBs providing they are physically capable of carrying them.
Secondly some people also keep BOBs in the vehicles supplemental to their vehicle based emergency kits, and many commuters also keep BOBs at the office or factory.
Some city workers who normally use public rapid transit systems now even keep folding bicycles with their BOBs at the office.

So what goes into a BOB?
BOBs are tailored to suit your own individual needs, local laws and local geography but a typical BOB would contain something like the following.
Multi Tool and Lock Knife
LED Flashlight with spare batteries and Chemical Light stick’s
Wind up/ battery powered combo AM/FM radio
Optional Watch/ Cell phone (prepaid and fully charged plus solar charger)
Compass / Local Map
Bus/ Train time tables (City workers)
Cycle / Footpath route maps
Notebook & Pencil (with notes of location of hospitals, stations etc)
Paracord / Duct Tape
Mini Pry bar / Spring loaded punch (breaking out of bus / train / office windows)
First Aid Kit
Spare Prescription medicines and Eye Glasses
Bottle of water (normally 2x 1 litre reusable bottles)
A portable water filter
Food / Cereal Bars plus other preferred easy to eat foods (up to 72 hours worth)
Change of socks/ underwear
Small Hygiene kit (bar soap/ toothbrush/ roll on etc)
Fleece / waterproof (depending on season and climate)
Gloves / Hat
Flat broken in walking shoes (if you’re an office worker)

These are the basics and you can add / subtract items to suit your own specific needs, BUT your chances or survival are much better if you have a comprehensive BOB.

[Nemesis]

Have you got a what is a EDC?

I am making new one for 2012 and trying to avoid the usual crap people tend to put in them.

[NorthernRaider]

One articles goes
Bare Essential Every Day Carry list
© 2010 Northern Raider

A very basic guide of essential items for a chap or chappese to carry as their EDC, it does not include professional tools and equipment, cosmetics, nor fashion and feminine hygiene products.

1. Pocket Knife
2. Multi tool
3. Compass
4. LED Flashlight & spare batteries
5. Analogue Watch , Solar or Self Winder
6. Purse / Wallet ( cash, credit card tool, credit cards, ID card)
7. Notebook & Pen & mini Sharpie
8. Eye Glasses, Shades,
9. Bandana / Large Kerchief
10. Length of Paracord and Mini Carabiner
11. Lighter
12. Cell phone
13. Prescription medicines ( Insulin , Migraine tabs, Heart tabs etc)
14. Keys on ring or belt carrier clip

Other items worthy on consideration are a
1. First Aid Kit and Water Puri Tabs
2. A couple of disposable dust masks
3. Micro AM/ FM radio (Ipod radio thingy?)
4. Hat and Gloves for cold weather
5. Monocular
6. Section of Map serving your local area.

PDA’s, Blackburrys, 10 Gram tin of Vaseline, Lip Balm, Baton, CS spray, Diary, Feminine products, eye glasses cleaner, spring loaded centre punch, permanent marker(Sharpie), chemical light sticks, Handgun plus ammo, micro prybar , food bars, small bottle of water, Flash drive stick, pocket digital camera, GPS,
Pain killers, pack away waterproof, Underground tube and bus route map, cycle route and walkways maps. All of the above are recorded as being carried by various people as part of their EDC, obviously many people use bags and packs to carry EDC kit with them.

Again as with the BOB list the EDC list is only the basic starting point for people to work from to develop their own EDC.

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Commuter version

Commuter Kit List
© 2010Northern Raider


Below is a suggested basic kit for commuters in the UK, it can be adapted as required.
These kits have become the "must have" among city types since 911 and 7/7. The Common sense bug has finally bitten many commuters and these few items are now as essential as Gucci suits and handbags among the “in vogue” community, however you do not need to be rich to have a commuter kit, just intelligent.

Bus / Train timetables and route map
Map of area (find alternative routes)
Micro portable radio (get traffic updates, news reports), spare batteries
Pocket solar powered battery charger
Notebook with Taxis, Rail & Bus company Hospital and local Police numbers
Cycle route footpath / walkway guide.
Photocopy of season ticket / Oyster card in case of theft or loss.
Mobile Phone (never less than £20 credit)
LED flashlight and spare batteries
Compass
Multi tool
Small folding knife (UK SPEC non locking & under 3 inches)
Spring loaded Centre punch (glass breaking if stranded on crashed bus/ trains)
Permanent marker (Sharpie) leaving messages, marking route taken etc
4 Chemical light sticks
4 Snack meal bars (Cereal, chocolate, raisins, type)
Watch / Chronograph
Cash in case credit card system fails
A few sterile hand cleansing wipes
3 foldable dust masks/ Bandana
Spare eye glasses / contact lenses
Butane Lighter
A litre of bottled water, water filter straw
Walking shoes
Fold up pocket sized waterproof jacket/ poncho
Small first aid kit
Mini Pry bar
Gloves
Baseball Cap / bush hat
Set of your prescription medicines.

No doubt many modern city folks will add PDA’s, Blackberries, USB cable etc.
© 2010 Northern Raider

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Clothing to consider

Modified or Designer clothing for the EDC prepped civilian
Copyright NR 2011


More and more preppers I meet are doing some interesting stuff with their EDC clothing, Poorer preppers like myself tend to modify or tailor proprietry brands of clothing to suit our own needs, I’m always adding extra pockets, re-enforcement patches, Fastex webbing and hangers, kit hanging loops, elasticated draw cords etc to my clothing. Equally many preppers choose to buy and wear clothing primarily designed for soldiers or police officers such as Combat Jackets, SAS smocks, M65s, Concealed Carry Jackets, Specialist Vests etc. And not forgetting our passion for tactical cargo pants either. Some folks spend huge amounts of first rate specialist outdoor clothing and still end up messing on with a sewing machine to get the product they want.

Also and very importantly in this ever more uncertain and violent world parents are also seeking specialist clothing for their children. GPS tagged clothing and shoes for the very young, GPS tagged phones for errant teens spring to mind but equally the enlightened urban families both prepper and ordinary types as well as the kids themselves have identified a need for even more specialist clothing.

This includes slash proof and knife resistant vests, hoodies, smocks and jackets for kids !!
(What a terrible indictment of today’s society until you realise that in London alone over 250 kids have been stabbed to death in the last year or two which makes teen prepping more important than ever it was before.)

Slash resistant clothing is now very popular in places such as Washington DC, New York, London, Birmingham, Rome, Berlin and Tokyo for teens as well as adults. It is a newish product range some city preppers may wish to consider as well.

There is also a trend among our teens and city dwellers to reduce the risk of becoming victims of muggings and street robberies by wearing clothing that allows them to conceal the inevitable collection of electronic gadgets they have these days. Firstly it helps them reduce the risk of being targeted as in many cases they can conceal their personal kit about their person instead of in bags and rucksacks.

Jackets, Hoodies and Vests that look just like ordinary outdoor civilian fashion clothing but have huge numbers of concealed pockets and hidden routes within the clothing to route phone speaker / headphone wires etc, This again is a development that can in many cases be beneficial to the urban prepper community as you can very often carry a full EDC load in the pockets rather than in a bag.

Article on Kids stab proof clothing
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk...552956.ece
Concealed 24 pocket Fleece
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Fleece_Jacket.shtml
22 concealed pocket travel Vest
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/New_T...Vest.shtml
26 concealed pockets Jacket
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/Revol...cket.shtml
Specialist Scottvest range Men and Women
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/subin...ests.shtml
Tactical multi pocket hoodie
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/cotton-hoodie.shtml
Knife Slash Resistant Hoodies
http://www.bladerunner.tv/hooded-tops-c-76.html
Knife Slash Resistant Windjammer Jacket
http://www.bladerunner.tv/weatherproof-j...uffangro21

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Hey W & C be honest are you just being a tad patronising to this old guy, you produce professional quality prepper research and reviews then ask me to provide an EDC list, Why do I get the feelin you could produce a far better and indepth EDC or BOB list than I ever could?

[Skean Dhude]

NR,

Look at it as a training course. He will provide his opinion.

[Nemesis]

Not at all, I really am lost when it comes to EDC, my old one was as far as I now see it all wrong and I gave up carrying it, now I am wanting to go again and build a 2012 EDC that is good for 72 hours self-sufficient to get me home.

Say I had to leave the truck in a rush or could not return to the truck all I have is a small pouch EDC on me type thing.


So Far I have:


EDC Pocket Organiser Fatty
Knife
Knife sharpener
Torch
Peanut lighter
Imco petrol Lighter
CRKT Knives: Eat N Tool
Can Opener
Wetfire
Ranger bands
Magnesium block or fire steel
Collapsing cup (might be able to heat this and boil water, not tested)
Air tight bag that can be filled with water
Waters tabs
Laser pointer
Solar torch
Pouch of my home made powder (energy)


"I need a small multi tool"


But that’s as far as I got.


I don't want fishing kit
I don't want a waterproof note pad
I can't fit a light stick

I don't want anything just for the sake of filling pouch or to look good, nothing pointless, I would sooner carry food then something that will not see use.

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I am really asking the forum and not just NR, I only directed it to NR due to the nature of this thread and thought maybe he had EDC one already written out.

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I forgot to add I have a water proof, freeze proof, shock proof mobile phone, basically you can kick the shit out of it and it will still work.


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Ok you posted:

1. Pocket Knife (got)
2. Multi tool (need)
3. Compass (Yes I will add to pouch)
)
4. LED Flashlight & spare batteries ( YES got solar and AAA torch I forgot batts)
5. Analogue Watch , Solar or Self Winder (not for pouch)
6. Purse / Wallet ( cash, credit card tool, credit cards, ID card) (cash got)
7. Notebook & Pen & mini Sharpie (no)
8. Eye Glasses, Shades, (no)
9. Bandana / Large Kerchief (no)
10. Length of Paracord and Mini Carabiner (got)
11. Lighter (got)
12. Cell phone (got)
13. Prescription medicines ( Insulin , Migraine tabs, Heart tabs etc) (none maybe painkillers)
14. Keys on ring or belt carrier clip (got)

Other items worthy on consideration are

1. First Aid Kit and Water Puri Tabs (YES) water tabs got, first aid kit had but assume I can't get back to truck so lost, will need to make a very small one to fit in pouch)

2. A couple of disposable dust masks (no)
3. Micro AM/ FM radio (Ipod radio thingy?) (don't have will look into Micro radio)
4. Hat and Gloves for cold weather (YES if it is cold seasons I always carry in my pockets, won't affect pouch)
5. Monocular ( I think YES)
6. Section of Map serving your local area. (Yes I will add to pouch)

I think I will also carry a copy of UK law on knife carry.

[NorthernRaider]

Hate petrol lighters they always dry out over a few months, I've got bic and other refillable butane lighters and torches that have been filled for over 8 years and still work instantly.
Mini light sticks are only 2 inches long and 5 mm wide !!!
Dont put EDC in pouch, lose pouch and your ****ed
EDCs got in pocket or belt to be real EDC.

[Nemesis]

(21 December 2011, 21:19)NorthernRaider Wrote: Hate petrol lighters they always dry out over a few months, I've got bic and other refillable butane lighters and torches that have been filled for over 8 years and still work instantly.
Mini light sticks are only 2 inches long and 5 mm wide !!!
Dont put EDC in pouch, lose pouch and your ****ed
EDCs got in pocket or belt to be real EDC.

Good point about Petrol lighter, I am quite good with my kit and would maintain and test often, I think I will swap out the Imco petrol Lighter for gas and keep the peanut.

My light sticks are 155mm x 15mm I think 2 inch is too small (never tried one) I will stick with solar key ring torch and my small AAA torch.

Yes my pockets are always full of stuff, but I want to make an EDC pouch showing other items alongside the knife that would stand up in court as to why I carry.

I really only need food and water, I can handle myself as can all my family so even though the knife is aggressive looking it is only there for urgent needs, cut seat belts or make fire, post shtf anything goes but now it is just a tool in my mind, also I want a EDC pouch to set a standard something the kids can "see" dad carries everywhere, train their minds, already my 7 year old wants to swap his EDC tin for a pouch, everything I do survival related I try to make it interesting for them.

Do you think I am pushing it bit far with this EDC knife.

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I also am going to down grade what I carry to local woods and bought this smaller Knife to replace the big ones I normally carry.





Would you all eat this?




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[NorthernRaider]

So your going to cammmo your blade by making it part of a tool kit, clever.

The none locking UK spec carbon scaled folder is beautiful, What is it, its smaller than my Voyagers but bigger than my Blade tech Mouse I prefer tanto blade styles over clip point and semi drop points though.

The Sog looks nice but not my kettle of fish.

Not keen on Scorpions for grub either.

[Skean Dhude]

The Sod looks good. I would question the EDC knife. Swiss Army knives get hassle that one would give these whingey whiners palpitations.

[NorthernRaider]

W & C you would like my Blazer PB207 butane lighter, you can braze with it as well as light fires.

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(21 December 2011, 22:25)Skean Dhude Wrote: The Sod looks good. I would question the EDC knife. Swiss Army knives get hassle that one would give these whingey whiners palpitations.

I think that actually depends where you live, In Landan the losers and lifes failures that are the Met would probably shoot him, but up here we dont have any cops and if we did you could probably get away with telling em your an angler.

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This is the EDC knife tool selection I built up over the years.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/43478117@N00/6550843973/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43478117@N00/6550843973/

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BTW W & C I honestly consider a pair of shades as ESSENTIAL EDC gear even if you have 20/ 20 vision, Bright sun, dust & smoke from collapsing buildings or fires, muggers squirting stuff in your face, getting to close to cops spraying CS, ETC.