Bugout bag - What am I doing wrong?

[Frnc]

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.

Bear in mind my fleeces are what some would call 'microfleece', ie quite thin. Fleeces can vary, up to the old, thick, retro 'pile'. Polartec used to do 100, 200 and 300. I think the standard 200 was more substantial than my cheap Regatta ones I have now, and probably weighed a bit more.

You need to find out the weight of the down vests, and weigh your fleeces. I had a look but weight didn't seem to be listed. AI reckoned 2-300g. They will be more windproof than fleeces, but don't cover your arms. Definitely worth considering.

For comparison, a hooded down jacket from a top mountaineering company is considered ultralight if it's under 500g, same weight as my Montane. For example Rab Microlight Alpine down hooded jacket 446g, £180 at UOGUK. Lightest hooded down jacket they do is 172g, a Black Diamond, but this has only 40 fill weight, compared to 150 for the Rab. And the BD is actually more expensive. Cheapest is a Haloffs at £130, 413g.

[grenfell]

Just musing some thoughts on this subject. Has anyone considered some sort of lightweight hand cart? There are numerous examples from chinese wheelbarrows , rickshaws , infantry ammo carriers to wheeled trolley come rucksacks and looking at film of people fleeing from conflicts wheeled devices are quite common. A simple trolley can carry more than a rucksack and be less tiring .
https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2022/07/ ... hand-cart/

[Frnc]

I could push my loaded bike if I had to, but I've also planned for ditching it, meaning I'd have to try to carry everything. This is why my rucksack is only half full. It has my sleeping bag and duvet uncompressed, so they could be re-packed compressed, and the rucksack would be well under half full.

My weight of around 12-13 kg is the weight if I was walking, with everying in my rucksack, including the rucksack. Closed cell mat would be strapped on the side or bottom. It also includes one trekking pole needed as a tent pole, but also useful on foot for stability on rough ground.

[Adjee]

Just musing some thoughts on this subject. Has anyone considered some sort of lightweight hand cart?

We have both a hunting cart (replaced pneumatic wheels for rubber ones) and a sledge they get utilized for many things other than what they were purchased for, versatile pieces of kit to have on hand.

Good link to an interesting article. Thanks.

[Peter]

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.

I very much agree, keep a go to friends/hotel/hospital bag handy, a grab bag, try and make sure you have a complete set of clothes for everyone as you might have to get out in your PJ’s,

Always keep a Get Home Bag in your car with enough qa stuff to keep you going for three days, if you are away from home when TSHTF it could take some time to get there.

If you do need to take to the fields you need shelter to keep you dry (and warm) three hours without shelter in bad weather can be fatal, even £3 plastic bivi bags can save your life.

[Frnc]

Obviously noone wants to bug out to the countryside on foot for days. But you might have no choice. Roads could be gridlocked (I don't have a car anyway). You might get told to go somewhere 20 miles away, outside the urban areas. If you can't walk that far in a day, you might be sleeping in the open. It could be cold and raining. You need to be prepared for anything. That's my view, anyway. There are definitely scenarios where the authorities would tell you to evacuate. Even if it was just that my roof got blown off, I could camp in my garden if I wanted. Or if armed looters were coming, I could vanish for a couple of days.

[HK06]

Ah yes I’ve seen this!
But I always figured it would not protect against the British winter cold as well as a wool blanket… but I am happy to be corrected

Look at the snugpac xl jungle blanket ...

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

[HK06]

Yeah I mean unless a zombie apocalypse occurs you are likely just trying to get from point A to point B in most scenarios.
However, as you said, that could involve a lot of walking in which case you need to be prepared. Similarly you could end up needing outdoor gear if you were (God forbid) in a refugee camp type situation.

Obviously noone wants to bug out to the countryside on foot for days. But you might have no choice. Roads could be gridlocked (I don't have a car anyway). You might get told to go somewhere 20 miles away, outside the urban areas. If you can't walk that far in a day, you might be sleeping in the open. It could be cold and raining. You need to be prepared for anything. That's my view, anyway. There are definitely scenarios where the authorities would tell you to evacuate. Even if it was just that my roof got blown off, I could camp in my garden if I wanted. Or if armed looters were coming, I could vanish for a couple of days.

[Frnc]

Ah yes I’ve seen this!
But I always figured it would not protect against the British winter cold as well as a wool blanket… but I am happy to be corrected

Look at the snugpac xl jungle blanket ...

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

Have you weighed your blanket yet? I use kitchen scales, and I put a collander on top. Things either fit inside or balance on top. If it only weighs around 1kg, that wouldn't be bad. My quilt is 444g.

Also your tarps. Tarps can vary in weight from 100g to several kg. Some are designed to be used with a trekking pole, and are more like a tent without a groundsheet, eg the DD range.

If one of your tarps is to be a groundsheet, you could maybe switch to thin but strong plastic. I have a groundsheet for one person that only weighs 44g! It is a Six Moons Polycro Small (they also do a large) footprint. My tent has a groundsheet, but this could be used for a quick lie down to rest my back, maybe with a poncho over me. Or to cover my pack.

[grenfell]

Just musing some thoughts on this subject. Has anyone considered some sort of lightweight hand cart?

We have both a hunting cart (replaced pneumatic wheels for rubber ones) and a sledge they get utilized for many things other than what they were purchased for, versatile pieces of kit to have on hand.

Good link to an interesting article. Thanks.

I've got plans to make a cart using two bike wheels. I've got all the bits I need , just need the time to actually put it together. The idea of a cart seems to be one that gets overlooked especially one that can be attached to a pushbike , I was also looking at a single wheel design specifically for bikes.
I re-enact and carry a load of gear in the van and trailer but there are a couple of members who don't have transport but get to events quite frequently. Long distance is largely by train and bus but a certain amount is on foot. They use a combination of rucksack and lightweight sack truck and are in effect pretty much practicing what we are talking about here.