bug out bags and their contents

[urban fox]

just reading the section about the recent earthquakes and it is a bit un erving but no more so than any situ we could face at any time!!!
but I wanted to ask firstly hands up who has their bug out gear tuned in and really ready to go at a moments notice (and be honest???) there are three of us here and tonight as we speak we have loads of stuff vacuum packed clothing etc food stocks the works but its not all in the same place and it would take a fair amount of time to get it all in the car and be away!! there is only one bug out bag ready to go at this time and thats the biggest one my own.. and secondly if your bob is ready does it contain any hunting type gear and would you leave the said items at home if the situation were not fully clear to you at first!!!

[lisaloolibell]

My bug out bags definitely arent ready which is a worry still need to get kids rucksacks from Aldi theyre not in till April. Havent done anything at all with them since my op few weeks ago but gonna crack on with them soon. Bought loads of stuff to go in them just havent sorted it all out yet. Need to do more vacuum packing too.

[Northern Raider]

The thing is folks in the REAL world its almost impoossible even for experts to be constantly rerady to go at a moments notice, generally Quakes and Domestic fires dont give you much time and the best you can plan in advance for is getting out of the house before it burns/ falls down, you may grab your 90% ready bag as you get out, but realiatically the threat from Quakes and Fires is low.
In some high earhquake areas the BOBs are designed with that in mind and are stored in sheds or structures that can survive quakes.

For the rest of us we rely on graded levels of preparedness, IE we watch the TV, listen to the news, check the WEB and forums and set our levels of readiness as the intel and situations allows.

What you should always have access to I think is flashlights and lightsticks.

[Carrot Cruncher]

My BoB is hanging up in the spare room and ready to go. It's 80L which is a bit big but I am carrying all the kit/food/clothes for 2 people for 72 hours min. I'm not 100% satisfied with the contents but it covers most of the bases I can think of. Some of the kit isn't ideal but is a "make do" until i can afford to buy the kit that I want but it will still do the job (just a bit heavier than it needs to be). The plan is we can survive out of the BoB if required but ideally the BoB, Car Bags, etc will just be carried to the campervan.

As for hunting gear, the BoB has food for 2 for 72 hours, then some fishing kit (no rod but need to add nets) and snare wire. I need to practice more with the snare wire (should make up the snares beforehand too) but havent yet.

On the other site Almach did a little scenario of a developing situation which was very handy to do and look back on as it revealed some major things I had forgot. I now have a contents checklist that covers bugging out on foot, by car, and by camper.

[Magz]

Mine is ready, there are lots of things I'd like to add to it but if I had to go what I've got will do. I had 1 back pack coz it's what I use if we go for days out but needed a bigger one for my BOB I couldn't afford a new one so checked all the 2nd hand shops till I found a good one chucked it in the washing machine and hay presto BOB for £1.99 when I can I afford I'l get a proper hikers back pack but for now I'm as ready as I can be.

[urban fox]

Am going to make a concerted effort this week now we are back to semi normal to pack 3 BOB's and make put them in the best place I can possible do my friend makes gas bottle woodburner stoves as a hobby and a source of extra cash and he has started to make small portable ones of which I am due one it all takes apart and stores inside itself so to speak.. I am a bit worried though since I lost my car just before christmas. I have since replaced it with one which is much smaller.. its all I could afford from my insurance payout so am thinking of having a tow bar fitted and buying a trailer.
I have been a bit of a squirrel over the last few years and have accumilated tons of survival and prepping gear. if I had a van as big as a tranny I could perhaps take it all with me but I do need to offload tons of it I have many many stoves lanterns sleeping bags tents shelters medical gear just about everything you can imagine.. generators solar setups loads of torches searchlights rations water bottles.. cutting tools ie bushcraft type axes, saws, knives, just way too much gear. if there was a local preppers group i would take the whole lot of what I call surplus and share ot out amongst those who need. failing that I could do a prepper car boot sale... but joking aside I got most of it to stock a bug out location but as yet I ant been able to find a suitable one where the stuff could be stored safely. I have two battery banks with solar and crank charging systems one I plan to leave here the other at my location when I get one.. but it feels like am running out of time.

[itsybitsy]

Well I've got a bag - but all it has in it are a couple of torches at the moment!!! Can only do a bit at a time - that's just how it is. If TSHTF today and I had to bug out I'd need to go on the hoof!

[Magz]

I found some of what I needed I already had in the house, like candles, cotton wool and Vaseline, spare tooth brushes, lighters, small mirror, 1st aid kit, pain killlers, wet wipes, black bags, spare sets of hat gloves scarf, clothes, all my important papers in one box, blankets, swiss army knife, ( any knife) can opener, torch. loo roll, wet wipes .
A decent grade black bag has many uses, you can wear them to help keep you dry, stuff them with leaves for a bed, go to the loo in them, a tampon becomes a water a water filter, a condom a water bottle, spare sunglasses will protect your eyes from dust and stuff, half of my BOB I filled with stuff from home, it's very basic but you can eat, stay warm and dry, drink and stay alive.

[hobo]

We have an evac bag for each member of the family, ready by the door - has all the basics inc. FAK, prescriptions, change of tshirt/underclothes, brew kit, dry food (flapjacks, crackers etc). These would see us as far as our BOL. Will do a full list this aft and post it for your input.

[andy prepper]

I keep my bug out bag stock and ready go in my office but my other half has got know bag ready as on my 2 do list. To anyone putting a bug out bag together when buying contents, I would recomend ebay, wilkos, 99p stores, poundland you can uselly get a bargin. Only things would not buy 2nd hand or cheap make is some medical equipment and water purfication systems.