Bugout Bags & The Necessities

For those preppers who are "bugging out" a is a must have.  Whether you purchase a bag and the supplies separately or you buy a ready made bugout bag, it is imperative that they be stocked with the proper items.

Items that need to be in your bugout bag include:

• - I suggest a flashlight that takes AA or AAA batteries as these are much cheaper than specialty batteries.
• - These are an excellent choice for a situation when light will be needed for a while but you don't want to waste those precious batteries.
• - Multi tools are the most efficient way to carry a variety of tools without taking up too much room in you bugout bag.
• - A shovel will come in handy for a variety of reasons from digging up bait to hiding or retrieving your caches.
• - Make sure you have a first aid kit with you wherever you go in a SHTF situation.  You never know when an accident will take place.
• - A mess kit that includes reusable utensils is a must-have when bugging out.
• - Your bugout bag should contain enough food to get you through at least three days. This will enable you to reach your destination without worrying about finding food along the way.
• - Paracord has an almost infinite number of uses from replacing a shoe lace to anchoring your shelter.
• - The lifestraw is about as good as it gets. This proven personal water filter is both small and lightweight.
• - A water bottle with a filter should be included in every bugout bag.  Make sure the water bottle you purchase has the best filtration system you can afford to purchase.  Your life may well depend on this one item.
• - You never know when you may have to repair something along the way. Be sure to include a sewing kit in your bugout bag.
• - Tarps are an important item to include in your bag. I suggest you carry two (one for your shelter needs and one to cover anything you don't want getting wet while you're traveling).
• - I recommend getting a radio that is powered by a hand crank so you won't need to carry any batteries for it.  I also suggest making sure that your radio includes the weather band and will pick up short wave signals.  This will be your only connection to what is taking place during a SHTF situation.
• - A good bowie knife or machette will have many uses such as splitting kindling for starting your fires.
• - A sharp folding knife can come in handy for the smaller tasks that don't require a machette. I suggest the Piranta because it is a very high quality knife that won't let you down. As an added bonus the Piranta uses razor sharp disposable blades so you will never have to use up time sharpening it while you're on the go.
• - This one is pretty self explanatory. No-one wants to get soaking wet while on the go.

This list covers most of the items you will want to bring with you when you are on the move. You will definitely want to include some spare batteries for your flashlight as well as some personal hygiene items, a lightweight .22 caliber handgun along with some extra ammunition and perhaps a lightweight sleeping bag if you are traveling to your bugout location on foot to keep your body off the bare ground (a lot of body heat can be lost by sleeping directly on the ground).  Everyone will have a few items that fit their personal situation.  

Bugout bags should be stocked and sitting in a location where they can be grabbed as you are exiting the house.  You never know when you may have to leave in a hurry and it would be a disastrous situation if you didn't have the things you needed after vacating the premises.