Bugout bag - What am I doing wrong?

[Yorkshire Andy]

Look at the snugpac xl jungle blanket ...

https://taskoutdoor.co.uk/products/snug ... vcQAvD_BwE

[GillyBee]

This is very much an outdoor survival set. Which only makes sense if things are so bad you have become on foot refugees.
More likely in the UK is the "friend's floor/hotel/hospital" bag scenario which is a simpler packup but with more home comforts for littles.
Either way make sure smaller kids are well labelled with their identity and contact details marked somewhere discreet in case you get separated in the chaos.

[Frnc]

Haha yes I’ve definitely gone for the ‘overprepare then refine’ approach! The more I learn, the more I appreciate mobility and training over excessive equipment.
I was thinking about the blade loadout - Hatchet might not be needed if I have a folding saw and a good knife.

Honestly the heaviest thing is that wool blanket but I don’t know what an alternative is with the UK climate.

Erm, a hatchet and 3 knives, and you're going to add another? That's too many, to me.

Frnc is really good at lightweight issues. You'd be replacing stuff you already have with titanium, or carbon fibre, but it would help.

Why *three* permanent markers? That's a lot!

How many batteries are in those packs you're listing?

I don't think you need trauma shears in a bug out bag - you've got a couple of knives, and the shears I've got are pretty heavy.

You're taking silver and gold coins in your bug out bag? That's INCH philosophy (I'm Never Coming Home) and I get not wanting to lose them, but honestly, you'd be better burying them in a known place on your property. How much do they weigh?

I wouldn't pile in, but you did ask! To be honest, over the years I've seen a lot of dads with babies and toddlers who do too much, because they love their child, and it's the best motivation of all, absolutely. And you have the sense that you can pare this down - you're right! Trust that. If you have to leave your home (and we advise people to stay put if they possibly can) your family need you to protect them rather than using all your strength on carrying these things.

HTH!

If the blanket covers the three of you, it might be your best bet. An ultralight backpacker would use a down quilt. These are not like a duvet, they are like the top of a sleeping bag, ie ususally mummy shaped. Three of those would add up though, and cost a fortune. Personally, I have a synthetic half bag, that comes just past my waist, and a cheap rectangular camping duvet that doesn't weigh much and can pack pretty small. The idea of the half bag is you sleep in your puffy jacket.

Speaking of which, you mentioned fleeces. These are ok, but only in combination with something windproof over the top. Ideal is a thin windproof, made out of Pertex or similar. The kind of material you get on the outside of puffy jackets and sleeping bags. Your other option is a puffy jacket. You mentioned those. You are correct - don't compress them. Leave them loose on top of your bugout bag, or hanging near it. Besides, I wear it in winter. I do have another, but I wouldn't fork out for one especially for bugout. Another example of what isn't packed is waterproof jackets. I have a few, but none are packed. I have one by the front door and one in my prep room.

My sleeping bag and duvet are in the BOB, but not compressed. Puffy is on the door of the 'prep room' next to my bedroom, hat and gloves in it's pockets.

[GillyBee]

Do you have a hospital/hotel/friend's floor bag already prepped ? If not I would prioritise that first. You are much more likely to find your family evacuated post fire/flood/gas exposion to a leisure centre or hotel. If you need to take to the fields with a partner and small children then the apocalypse is really here and things will be very tricky indeed.
But if you do want to test that out, try camping overnight with your kit somewhere close to home and see how you get on. Easier if your partner is on board, otherwise it may be just you.
And remember to ensure that small children are labelled with identity and contacts somewhere discreet like their underclothes. This improve the chances of being reunited with their family if and they get separated from you.

[Frnc]

My BOB is modular, mainly because I don't have a car, and can't walk far, so if there were no taxis or public transport, I'd be using my bike. So I can have the rucksack only half full of mainly light weight stuff, and the rest in panniers.

Front left pannier contains tent, pot, gas, stove, and freeze dried meals. Also the Mora and Leatherman. So obviously if I was going to hotel, leisure centre etc, this bag wouldn't be needed.

Front right pannier has various bits and bobs like first aid, wash kit, and lifeboat ration bars. If I was going to a hotel or leisure centre, this would get tipped into my rucksack, which has more than enough room for it.

There would be a few things in it that I definitely wouldn't need, but that doesn't matter.

[HK06]

Thanks all for your input.

Plan so far is:
•Remove the hatchet
•Replace a SAK Swiss champ with a SAK Ranger
•Replace 1L steel bottle with a 1L platypus
•Restrict oats and lentils to ~250g each
•Restrict multivitamin tabs to 45
•Remove 2 pens and 2 matchboxes
•Remove fleeces - not sure if I should replace these with ultralight down or just assume we will wear layers when we leave… let’s see

I’ll keep you updated!

[Arzosah]

Sounds good so far, nice to hear you're taking it onboard and thinking things through on your own still.

[Frnc]

Thanks all for your input.

Plan so far is:
•Remove the hatchet
•Replace a SAK Swiss champ with a SAK Ranger
•Replace 1L steel bottle with a 1L platypus
•Restrict oats and lentils to ~250g each
•Restrict multivitamin tabs to 45
•Remove 2 pens and 2 matchboxes
•Remove fleeces - not sure if I should replace these with ultralight down or just assume we will wear layers when we leave… let’s see

I’ll keep you updated!

I weighed some of my winter gear for you.

Fleece jacket with pockets 407g
Fleece pullover (no pockets) 281g
Windproof 164g
Synthetic puffy (hooded) 520g
Synthetic puffy (non-hooded) 432g
winter hat (waterproof) 69g

Obviously the fleeces have to be worn with a windproof and hat, and maybe a neck warmer. The windproof has a hood, but the fleeces don't.

[Frnc]

Hooded puffy is a Montane Prism I managed to pick up cheap. Overall heaviest on it's own, but is very favourable compared to the combinations. On the other hand, the combos are more flexible. I'm not sure I'd want to wear a waterproof over a puffy really, although it is doable.

[HK06]

Appreciate you weighing your gear.
I’m surprised your puffy jackets are not much lighter than fleece. I was considering replacing my fleeces with Uniqlo ultralight down vests to save on weight… I already have packable rain ponchos to layer on top

Hooded puffy is a Montane Prism I managed to pick up cheap. Overall heaviest on it's own, but is very favourable compared to the combinations. On the other hand, the combos are more flexible. I'm not sure I'd want to wear a waterproof over a puffy really, although it is doable.