Let's talk Bug Out Bags/Go Bags and where to start

First aid kit

Edit: also asswipe

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Let's talk Bug Out Bags/Go Bags and where to start

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If you are a baller you can buy a pre-made bug out bag but it is expensive.

I have a bug out bag and for a long time I regretted making it. I went a little overboard and spend a ton of money. And for years I never used it. Well, later on I got married and my wife enjoys camping. So now my bug out bag and equipment is my camping gear. We just spend a week at Big Bend and had a blast.

Just don't go overboard because it adds up quickly. There is a lot of cool survival gear out there.

I want this to be dedicated. True bug out and not dual use.

Anything that goes in such as flashlights, chargers, gun magazines will leave there.

Would be my luck the world would flip upside down and I'd have just come back from a camping trip lol.

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What type of bag is the best?

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I'd figure out what's going in it first. Then decide how light it can be, or how robust it needs to be.

For short or intermediate concerns, lighter the better, IMHO. However, you won't be able to get replacements until the crisis is over.

Something you can do - for fun - is to plan a bug out drill (a camping trip) and just see what you need versus what you can do without. Then reverse engineer your temporary campsite - decide how much food and water you need for your specified time (3 days, 10 days, 1 month), and go from there.

What people tend to remember:

food, water, shelter

What people tend to forget:

fuel, batteries, (ammo) - the stuff you use/run out of that is heavy - other than food and water - you will have to make some choices because there is a finite amount of consumables you can take period.

This is why bulk and weight - almost on the same principle as backpacker's principles (every ounce counts) - are the primary consideration, with durability and useability being important, but secondary concerns, because ultimately a family of four can only carry about 1000 pounds of equipment 300 to 400 miles on a single tank of gas in a vehicle, and only about 175 pounds of gear on foot for any distance at all.

So plan accordingly.

And you've ordered from there and vouch for them?

Beef jerky is pretty light - but it will drive your water craving up so you have to be disciplined in using that or any freeze dried food as a primary source (especially protein).

I like tuna pouches for an emergency protein supply. I think a true intermediate term plan would almost require a camp (or at least a buried cache of a few weeks supply of dried beans, rice, etc.) with access to water than can be boiled or purified.

Water is the key to the entire survival plan. You can't survive without it for more than a couple of days, and it is difficult to stretch - lack of it renders all your other preparations moot.

But, for 72 hours, this looks solid - almost overkill. My experience is (~30 years military, Hurricanes, Kosovo, Iraq, plus I was a Boy Scout - go figure) - you can stand on your head for 72 hours. It's when the reality of a week/2 weeks - months - that's when you would really have to be prepared to a degree that is difficult for most to comprehend.

(ETA: And for survival purposes, a light weight collapsible .22 rifle is going to be a superior option - you can do everything at a minimal level with a .22 rifle - hunt, defend, assault - plus the ammo is much lighter - remember weight is going to trump everything here - 1600 rounds of .22 LR weighs about the same as 200 or 300 of centerfire pistol or rifle ammo.)

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fishing line

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Often overlooked, but weight wise, it pays for itself extremely quickly.

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Cordage

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Cordage has almost infinite uses in a survival situation and relatively light for utility (another concern is stock up on light items that can be used for trade).

Anything reusable to make improvised traps, too. Can also pay for itself if you can trap hogs or deer. In a survival situation they are all going to avoid your fire (bears won't, by the way) - but they will try to use your water source. Trapping is just less certain than fishing or hunting - sometimes you can't afford patience. But traps definitely part of the intermediate/long-term strategy.

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I'll come and take all you nerds stuff that y'all have been hoarding

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There is a kernel of wisdom in this - aside from water (which is non-negotiable) - quality, working firearms and an ample stock of ammunition are essential because of folks like Bossier2323. If you have those (and are a bandit) you can get whatever you need. If you don't have them, you can't defend whatever other preparations you have made or your family.

So, also vital.

Your 20k rounds of assault rifle ammo would quickly become my 20k rounds of ammo.

You can build 20 AR's, just means I'll have 20 AR's by the time I'm finished.

Everybody loves their chances until they get hit in the mouth