Pre made bug out bags

What pre made bug out bag do you guys recommend? I know most will say buy it separate but i really don't know where to get quality stuff at a good price. I was looking at this Here.

And adding some antibiotics and mre's. Some magazines and a longer term water purification. I have an eno hammock and quilt. Will attatch those to the outside. Very wooded around here so the hammock should work well and is the size of a grapefruit. Will eventually add a tarp.

Bag is for me my gf and 1.5 year old daughter. If you can do it cheaper/ or better any help is appreciated.

I personally think you are mistaking a BOB for a few of the things needed for a long term post SHTF camping excursion.

If you want to buy this kind of stuff go ahead. But chances are, most of the people buying or receiving them wouldn't be able to effectively use most of the stuff.

I would pass, it looks like you could spend half the money at wally world and get the same stuff with a bag from L.A. Police gear.

I would pass. on a budget? Buy alice pack for 50bucks and go on trip to walmart to fill it up.

I agree with the Alice pack. Got a LC-2 with frame and all straps from a local surplus store for just a hair over 60. Bought most of the gear inside at Walmart and amazon. I recommend making two, one for you and one for the wife.

Pre-made bags are not what you want. Like mentioned before, buy an Alice pack and make a bag for your own use in your area and climate. What would work in SC may not work in say Texas because of the different climate and surroundings. Make a bag to suit your needs and area not a general purpose bag, plus the pre-made bags may not have everything you need.

The problem with premade kits (and to a lesser extent, the random ideas of people on the internet that don't know you or your specific needs) is that they may not be what you need. Dollar for dollar, they're not really even a good starting place. Most of the stuff in these kits is almost worthless, even if you do know how to use it. They are popular because people don't want to take the time and effort out of their busy lives to actually do a little research and do it for themselves. In the long run, you'll spend less money, or about the same amount of money to have a kit that actually works for your specific situation, and one that you'll know how to use.

If you're a camper, hunter, or backpacker, you may have some stuff to get you started. Obviously, a decent pack is needed, but not necessarily the first thing you should buy. If you already have one, that's great, but if not, start putting your stuff together first, then find a pack that fits it.

Basics include:

Water: You should have some in the kit ready to go, but also have a couple ways to purify water when your handy water runs out. I like filters because they are fast, easy, small, and can be cheap. And typically either go/no go. Very little guesswork involved. Boiling water is a good backup, but takes time, fuel, makes you easier to spot, and doesn't remove chemicals. You also have to carry a pot to boil water in, and in your case with 3 people, it should be fairly large or you'll be spending even more time boiling water in smaller batches. Having a fold up 1 gallon or even a 5 gallon water container or bladder is a good idea. Even an empty half gallon or gallon milk jug hanging off the back of your pack will come in handy.

Food: You should have a supply of ready to eat food. A lot of people like MREs, but they're expensive and heavy. Some granola/nut bars are good because you can eat them on the run. You don't want to carry too much ready to eat food if you will be traveling by foot as it gets heavy quick. But you need to have some for those times when you can't stop and eat. Freeze dried or dehydrated food is light, easy to make, and can be filling and nutritious. You will need more water for these though.

Shelter: This is very region/weather dependent. Do you have a lot of bugs in the summer? Snow in the winter? Rain? The very basic and lightest shelter would be a tarp or improvised tarp from plastic. The thinner the material, the lighter it will be, but the more delicate it will be. Make sure to get something big enough to cover your whole family. Space blankets are a great addition because they are small, light, and really work. They are easily damaged though, so generally used for emergencies only. For longer use, look into bivy bags, or hammocks in warmer, more humid areas. Have some clothing appropriate for your family and environment. Raincoats/ponchos for wet, warm layers for cold, etc. Cotton is a no no. Wool or polyester type fabrics will naturally repel water, dry faster, and still keep you a bit warmer while wet. Cotton soaks up water, and wicks away body heat. Hypothermia is a killer, even in summer, and everyone in your group should know what the symptoms look like and what to do about it.

First Aid: Do your research here, and take some First Aid classes. The best first aid kit in the world won't do you any good without knowing what to do. Make sure your bob has medicines you need to take on a daily basis, or emergency inhalers, epipens, etc if you need them.

Fire: Carry several bic lighters. Don't screw around with firesteels, firepistons, bowdrills, and that kind of crap. I mean it's ok to have one as a backup, but if you need fire, you need it now. Several lighters will last a long, long time. Carry at least one of them in your pocket so even if you lose your pack, you can still make a fire. (In fact, I like to carry a small survival kit and first aid kit in my pockets as well, for the same reason)

Hygiene: In a shtf scenario, whether you're a refugee or traveling with a purpose, disease is a big problem. Especially with a small child. Toilet paper, baby wipes, alcohol based hand sanitizer are all very, very important. Learn how to dispose of your waste to prevent reinfection, and clean utensils and hands thoroughly. Being sick will slow you down, or possibly kill you. Some shtf situations may actually be related to disease.

Defense: You will be very vulnerable on the move. Everyone old enough to operate a weapon should know how to safely use one, and they should carry one or have fast access to one. Keep your eyes open. A well trained dog could be a lifesaver at this point. Also look into simple perimeter security when camped/lodged. If events should warrant, all members should understand and use light and sound discipline. Keep watches.

These are the basics. Start there, and work your way through different problems and ways to solve them. Some items may have multiple uses, like iodine in the first aid kit for sterilizing water.

The best way to develop a good bag that contains what you need and not a lot of extra crap is to strap that thing on and go hike somewhere with it. Stay a night, and hike back. Hell, do a week if you can. You'll learn more about what you need and what you don't need from doing that than you ever will from reading messages on a board.

Az

This seems like really good advice. A lot of the stuff in BOBs I see on the Internet is just wild. It seems like a really good idea to start with some thought about just what it is you think a BOB is for. To me, it is something to keep in the car or some other handy place in case of an imminent threat that I need to run away from right now and do not have time to pack.

I am not worried about anything more than a few days down stream, and the chances of needing to "live off the land" are close to nil, even if I had the skills to do so. Having the ability to start fires or disinfect water for the 6 months I might need to live off the land is ludicrous to put in a BOB IMO. So is 20 or 30 pounds of guns and ammo.

Put stuff in a BOB that might actually be useful if a freight train derails a few blocks away and you have 2 minutes to escape the cloud of noxious gas that is approaching your home. IMO, you can't escape most disasters that are likely to befall you on foot. Just ain't going to happen. So, I think keeping your BOB in the car makes the most sense. That way you can also use it as part of your car kit and maybe some or all of your GHB.

Did this with the wife and our car surival kit.

We were shooting out in a remote area, when I told her we were stranded and would have to spend the night in the car. And in the Arizona mountains it gets cold at night. At first she was like , but then decided to play along.

She got to experience:

How to safely build the fire w/ a mag bar.
The importance of having water and food in the car and the GHB. And how to ration them.
How to use a wire saw to cut wood.
Practice with a signal mirror and compass.
Learned to use the folding emergency stove.
Heat and eat beef stew from the can.
...and so on...

All out in the wild.

Other than not sleeping well, she said it was fun.

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