75 Bug Out Bag List Essentials

One of the simplest, most crucial steps in disaster preparedness is to have a well-thought-out and organized bug out bag list to aid in your preparations. This will ensure you have the equipment needed to make your departure from an area of disorder or complete chaos a safe one.

A Bug Out Bag List is Not One Size Fits All

An excellent bug out bag starts with a great bug out bag list.
It doesn't necessarily mean everything you put on the list will end up going into your bag, but at least you've got a pretty good idea of where to start.
The last thing you want to happen is not start because you don't now how. Especially if you're just beginning, it's easy to get overwhelmed with the ton of information out there.
Some of it's really good. Some of it's... not.

Building A Bug Out Bag Does Not Have to Be Difficult

Building your own customized bug out bag doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, it should be a fun and enjoyable experience. After all, having a solid bug out plan, and knowing that you're planning well-in-advance should help put your mind at ease about "SHTF" scenarios.
So whether you're new to the idea of bugging out, or you've been in this neck of the woods for a while now, there's most likely something you can take away from the following.

Choosing a Bug Out Bag

The first item on your bug out bag list is the bag itself. There are several schools of thought on this topic, of which the two main ones are:
1) You should choose the best bag for you
2) You should only choose the bag after you have the items
Regardless of how you decide to go about it, make sure your bug out bag is durable, fits you well and is comfortable and has plenty of storage space and compartments to stow your survival gear.
Make sure your bug out bag list includes the following items:

Water and Hydration

Arguably the most important bug out bag essentials are related to water and hydration. The human body can go without water for only 72 hours, whereas it can go without food for about 3 weeks. Water is an absolute must-have in your bug out bag. One liter minimum, per day, per person is highly recommended.
Recommended items critical to adequate hydration are listed below.

• Drinking Water (3 Liters)
• Collapsible Water Bottle
• Hard Water Bottle
• Metal Water Bottle / Canteen
• Water Filters / Purification Systems
• Water Purification Tablets (Qty 3)

Food and Food Preparation

Next up are food stuffs. In the preparedness community there are a lot of people eager to recommend various products, mostly off-the-shelf, dehydrated, store-bought items. A goog bug out bag list contains a variety of non-perishable food items, some that might require water and some that don't. In a real bug out situation, you don't know how scarce your water source might be. To be safe, plan for more scarce than you think.
Most of these items are self-explanatory, but the important thing to know now is, you'll want enough food to last three days at least. Multiply your food requirements by the number of people that would be traveliing with you. For heat-resistance and durability, make sure you have metal cooking utensils and cookware.

• Protein / Energy Bars (Qty 6)
• MREs / Dehydrated Meals (Qty 3)
• Spork
• P-38 Can Opener
• Metal Cooking Pot
• Metal Cup
• Pot Scrubber
• Portable Stove
• Stove Fuel (Qty 8 Tablets)

Clothing

Choosing clothing for your bug out bag is a very personalized selection as everyone has different body types, tolerances and levels of fitness. The items listed below are to be strategically layered to maintain a healthy, comfortable body temperature at all times.
Your clothes selection will obviously depend on your location, climate and the other factors listed above. You should evaluate your bug out bag every six months. At these times you'll want to have a seasonal selection of clothes that you can swap out when necessary.
At least two changes of clothes ensure you can always have a dry set to wear. The last thing you want while bugging out, and in the elements, is wet clothes. Not only are they uncomfortable, but hypothermia is a real concern not to be taken lightly.

• Lightweight Long Sleeve Shirt
• Convertible (Zip-Off) Pants
• Underwear
• Wool Hiking Socks (Qty 3 pair)
• Medium Weight Fleece
• Hat w/ Flex Brim
• Working Gloves
• Rain Poncho
• Shemagh

Shelter and Bedding

At first glance, to the experienced survivalist, some of the items listed for this category might seem excessive or even impractical. But the items on this list are specifically made compact and lightweight with the backpacker in mind.
Yes, you can make a shelter out of a tarp or use a trash bag filled with leaves as a makeshift ground pad, but these items are a wise choice to include for numerous reasons. Being well-rested, both mentally and physically, is extremely important when times are rough. Do what you can to make sure you're at your mental and physical peak at all times.

• Tarp
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Ground Pad
• Wool Blanket

Heat Source

Having several means for starting a fire is also essential when bugging out. The following basics should be included in every bug out bag. The reason being, there is a saying in the survivalist and firearms communities:

"Where there are two, there's one. Where there's one, there's none."

Essentially that means, if you don't have a back up, and your primary fails you... you're toast.
For that very reason, have at least three different means of starting a fire on your bug out bag list of items to pack.

• Ignition Source (Qty 3)
• Tinder (Qty 3)
• Waterproof Storage

First Aid

First aid is one of those areas where there are a lot of "done for you" type products out there that just aren't well-suited for a survival kit. Look for first aid kits that are specifically made for "survival" and have high ratings from reputable sources. Of course, you can always build your own if you know the right items to include.

• First Aid Kit
• Insect Repellant
• Mylar Survival Blanket

Hygiene

Various aspects of personal hygiene are often overlooked when compiling a bug out bag list of essentials. But the implications of forgoing any of these for an extended period of time might lead to infections and a rapid deterioration in health. When bugging out, you need to be at the top of your game, so be sure to pack these items.

• Wet Napkins
• Hand Sanitizer
• All-Purpose Camp Soap
• Hygiene/Signal Mirror
• Small Pack Towel
• Travel Toilet Paper (Qty 2)

Tools

Next to weapons, this is the one category that everyone loves to go crazy over. And it's easy to see why; gadgets are cool, and some of these are especially sweet. But remember this: "every ounce counts." Determine the must-haves and forget the rest. That said, consider including the following three tools in your bug out bag.

• Survival Knife
• Multi-Tool
• Machete

Lighting

Illumination, like fire sources, is something you'll need multiple instances of as well. If one fails or you lose it somehow, you have another to take its place. Each item listed below has multiple uses, but they all serve the same purpose - helping you see what you're doing or find where you're going. Don't forget the extra batteries!

• LED Headlamp
• Mini LED Keychain
• Light Glowstick
• Mini LED Light
• Candles
• Batteries

Communications

Communications is another highly contested category in the preparedness community. Not all potential scenarios will allow for use of these items, but if your situation does, you'll be glad to have these items with you.

• Cell Phone
• Crank Power Charger
• Emergency Radio with Hand Crank

Travel Aids

Depending on the situation you find yourself in, these items might prove quite useful. Don't leave home without carefully thinking these through first.

• Documentation (Passport, Identification etc.)
• $500 Minimum in Small Bills
• Quarters (Qty 8)
• Gold / Silver Bullion Coins
• Local Area Map
• Compass
• Small Note Pad / Pencil
• Emergency Whistle

Self Defense

Without a doubt, this is a controversial topic.
Self defense is something everyone should give serious consideration. Bugging out, in its severest of circumstances, is a survive or die proposition. Whether you choose a handgun, a rifle, both, or just a can of pepper spray, it's completely up to you. But you can be sure in a bug out scenario, being equipped to defend yourself and hunt wild game will be a welcomed option for most.
If you choose not to carry a weapon, or are not allowed to do so, then at least consider some degree of self defense training - especially if you have a family - as they'll be depending on you for their safety.

• Pepper Spray
• Handgun
• Takedown rifle
• Ammunition (Qty 25 rnds minimum)

Miscellaneous

These are items that didn't necessarily fit into any of the other categories, but they're just as important for inclusion in your bug out bag. Chances are some of the items will have you scratching your head, but you'll want these items in your bug out bag too.

• 550 Parachute Cord (50')
• Cotton Bandana
• Duct Tape (25')
• 55 Gal. Contractor Garbage Bag (Qty 2)
• Resealable Bags (Qty 5, Various Sizes)
• Sunglasses
• N95 Face Mask
• Sewing Kit
• Latex Tubing (3')
• Fishing Kit
• Condoms (Non-lubricated)
• Binoculars (Optional)
• Face Paint
• Military Surplus Survival / Snare Wire

The Bug Out Bag List above isn't intended as Gospel truth. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to do your own due diligence and come to your own conclusions. Your bug out bag will not "automagically" keep you alive. It is, however, intended to help you survive a bug out scenario.
If you don't learn how to use these items effectively and practice using them on a regular basis, all the bug out bags in the world probably won't be able to help you.
Emergency preparedness is not a fad, nor a hobby. It's a way of life. If you believe that, you'll be all that much better off as a result.

If you enjoyed this article and would like a free, detailed version of the list for your own personal use, be sure to visit www.BugOutBagAcademy.com for this and other great bug out bag related resources.

How to Make a Solar Oven at Home

A solar oven is a great to cook off the grid and are easy to make on your own. Not difficult to make and your family will enjoy the fresh and hot meal. It takes about 30 minutes for a solar oven to preheat.

TO MAKE YOU NEED:

 · two cardboard boxes (one large and one smaller)

· black construction paper

· scissors

· aluminum foil

· glue and tape

· staplers

· old newspapers

· a pencil (or a marker)

·  plastic wrap.



- First, line the bottom of the large box with well crumbled newspaper. Then, insert the smaller box into the larger one, and fill in the empty side spaces between the boxes with newspaper crumbles.

- Make sure to cover the inside walls of the small box with aluminum foil. You can use invisible tape to glue the edges of the aluminum foil to the edges of the cardboard box.

- Glue the black construction paper onto the bottom of the small box. This will help absorb the heat much better, and your homemade solar oven will be more efficient.

- Next, on top of the large box, you need to lay a large piece of cardboard. Now trace the shape of the box on the board nicely, using a marker. Allow around 2-3 inches on each side around the trace line, and cut the cardboard.

- Now use aluminum foil in order to cover the cardboard. The aluminum foil that is placed over the cardboard must be extremely smooth and without any wrinkles so that it will reflect the light properly. Use invisible tape or glue in order to secure the aluminum foil onto the cardboard. The reflector that you obtained this way should be stapled or glued to the back of the large box.

Now your homemade solar oven is ready, and you need to make sure to place it so that the reflective part is facing the sun directly, for maximum efficiency. You can place just about any type of pot with a glass top that fits into your oven, and start making food using solar energy. You need to be patient however, because it might take even up to 3 or 4 hours until your meal is ready, so make sure to start cooking earlier than usual. If you want to make your cooker even more efficient, place a plastic wrap on top of your oven. Keeps the heat in a lot better with the plastic wrap over it.

Dehydrated Bananas ~ DIY

Get out your  Food Dehydrator and Do your own dehydrated bananas, they are a lot cheaper and healthier to make them yourself.

Simple steps to a healthy treat.

1. Soak your bananas for 5 minutes in a bowl of fresh lemon juice. If you don't have lemon juice, you can use unsweetened juice.

2. Slice up the bananas into equally-sized thin pieces. Place the slices on a mesh sheet to let some of the liquid drip off.

3. Dehydrate them slowly and do it for 18 hours at 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not heat them until they are crunchy. Turn off the heat when the pieces are pliable.

4. Let them cool down...and start eating.

The SHTF Stockpile Preppers Guide. Here's What You Need on Hand to Save Your Life.: (The SHTF Stockpile, The SHTF Preparedness, shtf survival, shtf plan) was a free kindle book when this post was written.

The SHTF Stockpile Preppers Guide.

Here's What You Need on Hand to Save Your Life.

When the stuff hits the fan it is not going to be a pleasant experience. But no matter how unpleasant you can always be prepared.

This book is about preparing for a day that hopefully never happens. That day is the total breakdown of society. We hope that day never comes; we hope that our civilization can go on for ever, but history has never had a society that lasted longer than 300 or so years, so we must be prepared for collapse.

If we are hit up with another dark age, we must know how to counteract this lack of preparedness with the knowledge that we can have a guide, we can have a plan, and we can have a compass in uncharted waters. All of these things are available to those that seek them out. This is the plan that we are forging for you to follow in the case of calamity.

Some topics covered:

• Prepping for effects of Climate Change

• Proper First Aid

• Water supply

• Proper Food Storage

• Low Tech Tools

• The Go-bag.

• The Scenarios

• The List.

Ways To Cook With Your Fireplace

Reflector Oven

The open fire of your fireplace is a very versatile way to cook. There are many ways to cook with your fireplace and can be a great way to have a heated home and a hot meal when power is out. That one fire can not only give you heat, but you can bake, boil, roast, simmer a stew, and more. Pretty much like a campfire, but this is in your home.

One way to cook is by using a Cast-Iron Trivet. Remove some of the coals from the fire and place over to one side in your fireplace, place the trivet on top of that, and place your pot on top of that. Let it cook! You can boil water and make soups and stews this way. It is also a easy way to use your Cast-Iron Dutch Oven .


An easy way to roast some meat over the fire is by using a spit. Just impale the meat with the spit and place the meat over the fire to seal in the juices. Then move it further away from the fire and let it slow cook . Make sure that you have a big roasting pan under the meat to catch the dripping juices. Makes it safer and plus you can baste the meat with its juices while it is cooking.

A Reflector Oven is an awesome way to be able to bake and cook with a fireplace. Pretty simple way to cook. Place in front of fire and the heat reflects to the food. Kind of like the solar oven.

Some other tools to have for fireplace cooking are a hanging griddle, Pie Iron Sandwich Cooker, and a Heavy Duty Grill.

With all or any of these tools for cooking, you will be able to make great family meals for your family. No worries if a winter storm comes through and wipes out your power.