How to Pack a Bug out Bag (BOB)

The bug out bag is a key prep for every prepper. It’s your fallback when everything else goes wrong. In a future post I will take you inside the contents of my bug out bag to help you see what I feel is key to survival and help you make yours. In this post we are going to discuss some key considerations you must take into account when packing your bug out bag.

1. Sustainability — These are the last items you will ever own, make them good. Good quality and things that can be reused. If it has too many moving parts it will break. If you are going to run out of it and it’s not essential why pack it? For instance I know toilet paper is something that comes to mind. Why waste space on a ton of it when it’s something you will eventually have to do with out? Plan to start without and know how to obtain it or find something comparable. If it’s not a sustainable item look for alternatives that are.

2. Immediate Needs while in transite — this is were the last statement is thrown out the window in some ways. While you are bugging out let’s say the first 72 hours you are on the move and needing to move fast to prevent the chaos from following you. You will want some things in the bag to meet you needs without having to scavenge. Quick eat foods, emergency water packets things you can use with out having to build a fire or setup camp. You many not have the luxury of stopping for long, so maybe some toilet paper is ok, but not too much!

3. Creature comforts — Your spirits are important in a bug out so make sure you have some creature comforts with you that can help you through the stress, maybe some candy you like or some photos or key items to help you find some peace with the SHTF you are running from. This is where the bible and other inspiring works may be a good use of weight.

4. Keep it light — As much as I would love to take all the ammo and guns in the world it’s not feasible. So plan to keep it light. You want your pack to be 25% of your body weight to conserve energy. So start with the weight and figure out how to best use it.

5. Redundancy —  Have 2 or even 3 of key items such as fire starters, knives, key firearms components, flashlights, etc. Things can get broken, lost, or stolen so plan for it with your key items.

6. Don’t put your eggs into one basket — In my bug out I actually have 2 bags, first is a small butt pack that has the essentials, second is a larger hiking bag with everything else (and redundancies of the essentials) as well things like the knife and firestarter will always be in my pocket. The idea is if you had to drop the bug out bag and run at a high speed for your life you could and continue to live. You can get more stuff but not a second chance. If everything is in your bug out bag you are putting a lot of risk with it.

7. Party up and Disperse Comfort items — Every individual in your party should have the basics needed for survival. Think of it like if you got slip up can you all survive by yourselves? However some of the less important items that can help make a more enriching life could be brought with you by splitting them between members.

8. low profile — This is something I struggle with, I’m the guy that wants to buy all tactical gear and wear camo 24/7. However you want to create a low profile that says “nothing you want here!” So make sure you have some solid civilian looking clothes to head to town without scaring people if needs be. I recommend the 5.11 tactical clothing. Good ripstop cloths that will last. I saw a recommendation by someone to use a guitar case to carry your stuff as people won’t mess with a looser with a guitar. Not a bad idea but’s I’ve already bought civilian hiking bags to use.

9. Think all weather — Don’t forget to prep for rain or snowy season. What would you add to make sure you stay dry and warm and ultimately well. Just cause it’s not snowing doesn’t mean it won’t when you are out there.

10. Communication — think about a radio ideally a ham radio, but you can get a transistor radio to help you stay informed. Think about the dymo powered radios or solar radios.

11. Quick access — put the items at the top or on the outside that you will need to access most, and the items that you will use less or only need when setting up camp in the more difficult to reach areas. This will help you from having to constantly pack and unpack your kit.

There are a lot of considerations when packing your bag in the end it’s better to have a kit and missing things then no kit, so get what you can now and upgrade overtime. Think realistically. Sure you can pack bug spray but how long will it last? you can use smoke like on your clothes etc to repel them consider the natural alternatives to items. Survival is a mindset so work on developing your mind in the end it will make up the difference for what you lack.