I have one just in case I ever need to leave in a hurry or have an impromptu camping trip. Building a Bug Out Bag (also called a BOB or 72-Hour Bag) is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for disaster and increase your chances of survival. You will also want to include a fire steel which can generate sparks in any weather condition. The hand-crank also has a cell phone charging feature. Preppers come from all walks of life. – If you decide to make your own bug out bag you’ll want to start with a good-sized, water-resistant backpack and then fill it with a combination of food and practical implements that will allow you to transcend any difficulties you’re likely to encounter. Having food in your bag is a very smart idea. A knapsack is plenty, and a backpack is too much for an individual. In fact, most people have the idea of a bug out bag completely backwards. I carry a KA-BAR US Army Military Fighting Knife and also a Mora 840 MG Clipper Knife which I use as a smaller all-around camp knife. A.45 semi-automatic strapped to your leg/belt, AR type rifle slung on your shoulder, a multi-tool (such as a Leatherman) on your belt and a boot knife. What I like about these sites is that they provide you with ideas you might otherwise miss. Add or take away anything you need or don't need; this is just a general kit. You will need to move quickly and efficiently to safer ground, so don’t burden yourself down too much – carry only essential survival gear for your needs, requirements, climate and terrain. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The term bug out stands for moving out of your home and spending time in an unfamiliar outdoor environment. Watch out for people trying to take your stuff. Read below on how to create your own bug out bag. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. By using our site, you agree to our. This water should be stored in 2-3 durable containers with at least one of them being collapsible to reduce bulk as the water is used. I’ve gone on many survival trips where I haven’t eaten for a few days; you can live without any food at all for 72 hours. Get one with shoulder straps if you want even more portability. Any larger than this and the knife becomes more difficult to use as an effective tool and starts to get bulky. Wool maintains 80% of its warming properties even when soaking wet and is a very durable survival fabric with incredible insulating properties. A second emergency shelter option is a simple reflective emergency survival blanket. It’s lightweight and really effective if you practice setting it up. I personally carry all of these documents in a sealable waterproof map case. If the weight of your bug out bag is an issue, dehydrated camping meals are excellent choices. Keep it basic. Regardless of climate, I recommend packing the following (some of these items can be on your body when you leave): What to pack for an actual shelter is a heavily debated topic within the survival community. Choosing your survival knife is a very personal decision, and besides your knowledge, it will undoubtedly be your most useful survival tool. Just in case you have to bug out on foot, the weight of your pack should always be a consideration. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Under this category I will also include important documents. The second can be a smaller one to use around camp or while fixing meals, etc. Before we dig into each of these categories, it is important that I discuss the bag (or pack, rather) itself. You need to be comfortable carrying it for extended periods of time. A fire will always work but may not be practical in every situation. It needs to be large enough and sturdy enough to contain the gear necessary to get you through 72 hours of independent survival. But we can control how prepared we are to deal with a disaster. I prefer one from Adventure Medical Products called the Heatsheet. Some people prefer to make their Bug Out Bags for even longer periods of time. Know how to use it before you need to. I personally carry the following light sources: Gerber Firecracker Flashlight, a lanyard multi-function tool with small LED light, one glow-stick and one package of 9-hour candles. You can also bring a lightweight camping tent. Canned meats, soups/stews, and beans are great options. Prepping 101: How to Make Your Own Bug-Out Bag. And that’s what this guide is geared toward. It’s the bug out bag that I personally use by the way.. It’s constructed of 600D Polyester which makes it tough as nails.. Try not to let your pack send the message that you are stocked to the brim with all kinds of survival necessities. A fully charged cell phone is at the top of this list. The reality is that sudden and uncontrollable events of nature and man do happen. Even mobsters and other criminals have them. Make your Own Bug Out Bag. Lie down and die, or grab your survival kit? How to Build Your Own Urban Survival Bug-Out Bag Spies and certain military personnel have them. Mini keychain LED lights are lightweight, cheap, and last a long time. Ideally, a bug out bag should weigh about 15% of your body weight, assuming you’re in decent shape. In many instances, preparing food requires heat. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. 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I personally carry a self-igniting MSR Ultra light stove in my BOB with one fuel can. Because you are preparing this bug out bag in advance, you can toss in a few of the easy options like lighters and waterproof matches.You will also want to include a fire steel which can generate sparks in any weather condition. A metal army canteen is another good choice because it can be used to boil drinking water that’s collected in the field if your immediate supply runs dry. It should contain at least one small metal pot, a spork, a metal cup, and maybe a metal pan or plate. Some of us—by “us” I mean not me—have a lot of money and invest in … A very simple cooking kit is all you should need. I would suggest having one flashlight that will throw light some distance, like a mini mag light or a mini LED flashlight. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Since this is a 72-hour survival  kit, that means it needs to contain 3 liters of fresh drinking water, minimum. Your solution is a bug out bag—a kit that contains the essentials to help you survive for three days. Wouldn't buying a bug out bag be better than making your own? projects, snares), Pad of paper and pencil (leave notes or record information), 2 bandanas (because they are so dang multi-useful), Machete (clearing brush, chopping wood, self-defense), 4 spare AA batteries for my Gerber Firecracker, 2 dust masks (can double as crude filters), Bar of soap and small bottle of hand sanitizer (hygiene), 36″ length of rubber tubing (siphon, tourniquet), 2 heavy duty 30-gallon garbage gags (water storage, shelter, poncho), Sunglasses (can double as safety glasses). We cannot control when, where, or how disasters strike. I personally use a SnugPak Rocket Pack as my bag. This is a guest post from Creek Stewart of Willow Haven Outdoor. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Knowing how to make fire is one of your most important survival skills. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Create-a-Bug-Out-Bag-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Create-a-Bug-Out-Bag-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Create-a-Bug-Out-Bag-Step-1.jpg\/aid1993417-v4-728px-Create-a-Bug-Out-Bag-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"