Bug Out Bag (UK style)

[thesuper]

OK ladies and gents, Im putting together my first proper BOB. I already have my EDC set up, but I want my BOB to be much more advanced and adaptable. As I am a Brit it will obviously have to contain gear that is legal here, so no firearms or huge knives etc, darn it! Ideas welcome from all parts of the globe, but wanting to hear what UK peoples have in theirs, and other countries with similar Draconion laws to ours  My bag of choice (bought) is the 5.11 Rush 24, but can change that if neccessary for something bigger. I seem to already own most of the type of things needed, always buying more of course, any excuse  , just dont tell "er indoors"!. Just need to start putting it all together for the first time, in some semblance of order, keeping it "lean and mean". So.......lets begin. Thanks in advance, Rob

[Taxi Dad]

I could have written just that post ! i'm in for passing round ideas, this could be a great thread for me 
UK specific 'survival' kits occupy way too much of my thought processes, even tho I don't rate MY chances of surviving long due to health issues and the fact i'm a twit ! (and not very lucky)
so lets start !
where are we going to 'BUG' to ? in or out ? I don't think there is much land to support all the wannabe survivalists we have on this tiny island, so MAN is going to be one of our biggest threats ! and the bloody English weather  shelter + Fire(stove/cooking/heat) kits will be a must

*I've just got a maxpedition jumbo for my project 

[Taxi Dad]

these look good, well worth a thought ? I can see one coming my way soon  they seem to be available at around £25  on Amazon. finding Water isn't going to be much of a problem in the UK  but cleaning it might !
 

[hansthebear]

Im going to stay right where I am when the zombies come, everybody else will have bugged out and I'll have the whole city to myself!

[comis]

these look good, well worth a thought ? I can see one coming my way soon  they seem to be available at around £25  on Amazon. finding Water isn't going to be much of a problem in the UK  but cleaning it might !
 

I actually have that, and also if space is a concern, then get the AquaMira Frontier which is a smaller version(but the filtering capacity is also more limited)

For a more 'urban' setting, I do suggest it might be best to get a bag that is most commonly seen on the street(Jansport, northface, columbia).  I think anything that looks too 'tactical' or 'expensive' will attract unwanted attention from authorities or uninvited people.

For me, the priorities will be(pretty much similar to outdoor kit):
-first aid
-body temperature/shelter
-water
-signal/communication
-food
-navigation

A few items that worth mentioning, but sometimes being overlooked:
sam splint/Israeli bandage
money
passport
encrypted bank/asset info on usb
windshield breaker
spare batteries/solar charger
flashlight
walkie talkie
detailed map
spare glasses
mini prybar
spray paint/permanent marker
multiple water bag(collapsible 1L) and tons of water purification tabs
(standard outdoor survival kit items)

[thesuper]

Well, when I say "Bug out" bag, my needs/ideas differ slightly to lots of other ideas I read about. Mine will be more of a "grab bag"......thats to say packed with stuff one might need to do stuff to survive/cope in an emergency/disaster.......natural,man made or otherwise. Not large amounts of water/food, but things to cook food, heat/clean/drink water, biuld a shelter, make fire, useful tools etc. "priority" gear.....first aid, generic/personal meds, "compfort" items (sweets,sugars,spices,toiletries). A tarp to shelter under/sit on. An emergency bivie bag, travel micro towel, folding cups/plates,sporks, you get the idea. TD, is that Maxped shoulder bag big enough to carry all you will need? My 5.11 R24 will be heavy, of that im sure, but I know its built to take it, but size wise Im thinking maybe bigger is better, within reason of course! Lets face it, everyone on this forum could fill an army 100 litre Bergen twice over given half a chance.....and a donkey to carry it all on! But Im trying to stay practical and "real world". Especialy as I will be the donkey!

[frjack]

I'm not sure the whole "UK legal " thing applies in a situation where a BOB would be needed.

My opinion is that in such a situation, all bets are off as far as blades go. There's likely to be a fair amount of disregard for our pathetic laws, so you'll need a bit of protection, too.

Just something to mull over...

Sent from my Nex7 using Squiffy Tart 4

[Taxi Dad]

Well, when I say "Bug out" bag, my needs/ideas differ slightly to lots of other ideas I read about. Mine will be more of a "grab bag"...... TD, is that Maxped shoulder bag big enough to carry all you will need?

the simple answer is "NO !" 
i'm not really worried about 'bugging' , I'm too old & fat to survive any apocalypse ! i'd be zombie food for sure. my planned bag is going to be for those 'stuck' for a few days scenarios. OR ''grab and go rescue missions'' we parents have to do, that often involve rushing to the scene to find a long wait with little or no resources to work with !
my limited skills, poor judgement and very bad luck will get me dead very quickly in a big emergency but i'd like to be prepared for a sort term adventure like ~ a massive power outage while I was on a visit to a major city or something !!!

[AimlessWanderer]

Off the top ...

Shelter:
Change of clothes, Original Space blanket (heavy duty kind), 2 person heatsheet, cord

Fire:
Butane lighter (or two) and a ferro rod, Bahco Laplander saw, fixed blade knife

Signalling:
Torch with strobe/SOS, orange poly bag (waft to fill with air, throw in flashing torch, tie off with cord and secure - result is a huge orange flashing beacon which is trying to get attention while you're busy doing other things), mirror, whistle, mobile phone, torch batteries and emergency phone charger

Cooking/Water purifying:
Jetboil PCS, spork -  check out "travel tap" water bottles too ... (I have one, and it solves storage as well as filtration)

Other: First aid, non-perishable foods, bandana/buff/shemagh, meds, cash, multitool, some sort of survival reference guide (even though you might know what you're doing right now - when the SHTF you might benefit from a "reminder" or thought provoker .... plus it's something to read to alleviate boredom and keep the mind active and positive)

... I've probably missed something, but this is just off the top of the head 

[Millhouse]

My advice is to consider what your end goal is, and to equip the BOB accordingly.

For example, I live near a major city, but far enough away that I am unlikely to be affected by anything that might happen there. So unlikely to need to evacuate.

I do work near there, so my BOB is all about dealing with any immediate situations, then getting me home.

[nate j]

Here's my list, although I'm frequently updating and tweaking (for example, I just picked up a couple Lifestraws to replace the Aquamiras).  AFAIK, everything is UK-legal...

Full 1/2 liter water bottles
knife sharpener
Cooler
Travel Pack of Antibacterial Wipes (15 wipes)
Travel Pack of Standard Wipes (16 wipes)
Immodium Multisyptom Relief Chewables
Mainstay 3600-Calorie Emergency Rations
Stainless Steel Large Cup/Small Pot
Sterno Canned Cooking Fuel
Light My Fire Firesteel, Army Model
Mylar Space Blankets
Bottle of Extra Strength Tylenol
Victorinox Swisstool
Folding Camp Shovel
Fenix E01 LED Flashlight w/ Lithium Battery
Red Bandana
Victorinox Electrician Plus
100 ft. of 550 paracord
Fork & Spoon
Plastic Trash Bags
Roll of Duct Tape
Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter
Sterno Single Burner Folding Stove
Mountain House Meals (2 servings each)
Celox Pad
Emergency (Crank) Radio/Flashlight
Compass
ziploc bags
whistle
signal mirror
Ziploc bag of dryer lint
tweezers
safety pins
Larger plastic bags (55 gallon)
Fixed Blade Knife
Maps
rite in the rain notebook

[Cupboard]

I imagine my BOB would be for the scenario where I wake up and my house is on fire and for some reason I can't get immediate help.
So I want: first aid, light, some instant water (bottle) and some long term water (filter), some chocolate/cereal bars, something to wear so I'm not just wandering round in my pyjamas, a basic coat, some personal hygiene things (toilet roll, hand sanitizer, maybe wet wipes).
Then I'm going to need to get back going again so I'll need some documents and some money.

That gets me through that issue but what about anything else? What would have forced me to have to leave my house but not killed me? I'm assuming there's no help on the way for whatever reason but does that mean that everything around me has been flattened? My BOB falls short if I end up trying to survive for an extended period with no one else around.

If this event has caused mass death (apart from me) but "stuff" is still around, I'll just go to work where I have everything I need to survive for months. If the event has caused destruction of everything (flood?) I'll be pretty smurfed whatever I've got in my bag. If North Norfolk has suddenly become detached from the rest of the UK and we're off floating on a little adventure in the sea then the biggest concern will be rationing resources. If we keep up our "normal" routine then we could keep the immediate area around us fed and watered until the diesel ran out.

Question: do people carry their BOBs with them all the time? What happens if something happens when you're away from home? Or your car?

[Millhouse]

Question: do people carry their BOBs with them all the time? What happens if something happens when you're away from home? Or your car?

For me, I'm usually never too far away from my car where my primary kit resides. If I am at work, I have my work bag, which contains a selection of emergency items. If I'm out training, my kit bag also contains a selection of emergency kit. Finally, depending upon where I am going, I may also have various kit on my person.

[ironraven]

I don't carry my BoB in my vehicle all the time, but I do have an overnight bag (with a good shirt, slack and tie, in case visiting VVIPs show up) and items in my vehicle that let me go camping for two days any time I feel the need and can be added to my EDC pack if I'm having to ditch the vehicle and walk the 12 miles to my apartment. Which is two miles from a short term bug out location, and on the way to my permanent BOL.

First step, the writing of The Plan. The Plan will keep you alive even if you have dump BOB and haul smurf with just the clothes on your back and the stuff in your pockets. Everything else is stuff- critical stuff, but The Plan should factor in losing some and even all of it. With the best equipment and no plan, you're a still a refugee.

First task, think of 5-6 types of events that would cause you to bug IN. Then think of 5-6 types of events that would cause you to bug OUT. The reasons for leaving sometimes require special items. (No fair talking about zombies, plague, global EMP or anything like that- that's more than BoB can manage.)

So, with those reasons to leave town, you are now ready to think of three places you are leaving to. At least one should be in a different direction from the other two bug out locations. If you can't stash gear there, then you'll need to carry it. All of it. As a result, not all BoLs are created equal. Some BoLs are a buddy who's couch you can crash on for the night while mess of a bridge collapse gets cleaned up; over the hills and through the woods to Grandmother's self sufficent, solar powered organic farm protected by twenty rather fearsome dogs and your crazy cousin who can throw a small car is a very different kind of BoL.

Now for the fun question- how are you getting there? You should have 2-3 ways to get to each BoL depending on road issues. Locate, not just on the map but actually drive them (biking or walking is even better), potential problem points like major intersections (long skinny parking lots), bridges (boat ramps), and enviromental hazards (rock/mud/snow slide slopes, industrial chemical yards, etc) on each. Have a couple of detours for each, and mark them on the map. So, all of that means you might need special gear just to get to the BoL. And that's the easy option.

Hope to drive, plan to walk. Even bikes can break, and while there are winter bicyclists, they stick to plowed roads. Plan on a road march, with the option of going cross country. IF you have have to leave the vehicle, look at your gear. If you don't need certain gear any more, leave it. If you packed for a six day hike and you know you are two days walk out from where you are going, ditch three days of food if you are confident that you can afford it at your BoL.

On the topic of driving, if you need more than two cars, find out what you can swap between them with hand tools. You can put the same tires and rims on both? Great- if you've got the time and are willing to risk the exposure, get the jack and salvage them if you have to ditch the car who's engine just seized. But never be afraid to abandon the spare vehicle, even to the point of torching it (and hope you are never in that position).

So, you're now on foot. Goody. Be ready for the worst weather that time of year can throw at you, or be ready to find places to hole up. Plan for what happens WHEN (not if) your party gets separated, and cell phones are not a plan. Everyone who's old enough should have a map, compass, and know the route but also meeting points (message drops... ehhh, they work for some people). People too small should have pictures of their family, their home address, the BoL address, and (assuming you aren't running off to the cabin in the woods) how to reach whoever is at the BoL. "Me and Mommy and Daddy were going to Gam-ma and Gam-pa's" isn't super descriptive.

So... that isn't what gear goes into BoB, but what goes into BoB's brain. Instead, that list of nightmare should be telling you, along with your skill live and resources, what should be in your BoB.

Other things that should go into BoB's brain are documents. Thumbdrives are tiny and cheap and a 32gb drive will hold more wedding pictures, baby pictures, tax records, bank statements and insurance records than you can put into a van. Do NOT be the guy who dies with the box of photos under his arm. The only things I'd say that MUST be in BoB in hard copy are the last insurance bills, your insurance cards, your ID (including passport and birth certificate), bank book, and any prescriptions you have. And if at all possible, have someone far, far away hold a copy of all of that that you update at least yearly if not quarterly- you might have to dump BoB. He's a good guy and all, it won't be because of him, it's just that your life is weird right now.

And don't bug with your computer. If you really must, pull out the hard drive, assuming that all your really important stuff (records, photos, music) isn't on some kind of external backup already. Which is should be.

That, and cash. Cash is king. Silver, gold, an arm full of rolexes, those are all shiny, but but paper works, have as much as you can and remember you can spend ten one pound notes in ten places but a ten pound only in one so have a mix of small and large bills. (Although a little bit of trade gold or silver never hurt in a crunch, just be smart about it and learn what it's really worth.) Credit cards are worthless, and bitcoins are just electrons being annoyed.

So, that leads into gear.

You've got the start of it with your RUSH24- this will probably not be your last pack. It might turn into a get home bag/24 hour bug out bag,  but it isn't big enough for a 72 or 120 hour kit with cold weather gear. Do not despair. Start it small. Sounds like you've got some gear already, so go through it- what needs to be repaired, what needs to be cleaned, what needs to be duplicated, and what needs to be replaced. Put together your basic kit, with good footware and a shopping bag or gym bag with a change of clothes and duplication of your EDC right next to it. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to spend getting dressed at two AM and a need to get out RIGHT NOW.

Don't worry about building the perfect BoB tonight. Think small. A gallon of water, two days of food, change of clothes, any tools you need for self rescue if your threats could compromise the building (then throw them in the vehicle or dump them- they're heavy, unless you see an immediate need). Add a good flashlight and a blanket and your old glasses if you wear them (or a set of safety glasses if you don't- eye injuries are painful, scary, often perminant, and easily prevented). The paperwork from The Plan. This is easy, you can do that this weekend. And add a little to it- budget out a little bit, even if it is only a few pounds, from every paycheck. Watch the sales as retailers get ready for next season, hit yard sales and flea markets and estate auctions (or whatever they call them in the UK), don't be afraid to have to admit you can't afford a week of MoD-style 24 hour rations and for now you have three days of canned soup and instant tea and a cook stove that runs on ethynol and was made from two soda cans. That right there puts you way ahead of 90% of the population

Along with the gear, work on the big things. Emergency bank account- have it in a bank that has a lot of branch offices, and while I have a hard time saying this with a straight face, try to have a couple month's worth of expenses. This is just a good idea, even if it is hard to implement for basically everyone who doesn't have a bug out helicopter, but it's also just a good cushion. If you're like me and carrying a couple extra stone, lose it or upgrade it and work on your endurance, that, good clothing, your EDC and The Plan will keep you alive if everything else fails or has to be ditched. And work on your Bug IN plan to. Most things don't require a bugging out, but a digging in, and that means setting up in addition to BoB's 24/72/120/howevermany hours, 5-10 days of water and food and the means to cook it and keep yourself clean and warm.

One special note, if your bug out plan is bushcrafty, you're going in the wrong direction. Running away to the woods and doing the boy scout/bear grylls/swiss family robinson thing is very romantic and a great fantasy, but it isn't a plan.

[nate j]

Question: do people carry their BOBs with them all the time? What happens if something happens when you're away from home? Or your car?

For me, I'm usually never too far away from my car where my primary kit resides.

+1.

It's a game of percentages and odds rather than absolutes, anyway.  If for some reason I couldn't get to it, though, I would just have to try make do with what I carry on my person plus whatever else I could acquire.

In addition to maximizing its availability, another good reason to have your BOB in your vehicle is the very realistic (relative to many TEOTWAWKI scenarios) possibility of being stranded in/with your vehicle for anything from a few hours to a couple of days due to accident, human error, mechanical breakdown, or inclement weather.

[Grathr]

 Lightweight space saving way to purify water using Iodine tincture:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Purify-Water-Using-Iodine-Tincture/

First read about this method in Cody Lundins book 98,6 degrees, keeping your ass alive.
Just dont tell the pharmasist what you are going to use the iodine for. He/she might think you are nuts, and refuse to sell it to you

[comis]

Lightweight space saving way to purify water using Iodine tincture:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Purify-Water-Using-Iodine-Tincture/

First read about this method in Cody Lundins book 98,6 degrees, keeping your ass alive.
Just dont tell the pharmasist what you are going to use the iodine for. He/she might think you are nuts, and refuse to sell it to you

I look into that as well, and do wonder whether this iodine solution will be as effective as the sodium chloride(see water purification tablets made by AquaMira), , since the iodine don't seem to be as effective as to kill the Cryptosporidium.  Personally, I do prefer the use of iodine since it is more multifunctional than the sodium chloride tabs.

[Grathr]

Heres what I would put in the bag for short term survival:

Fixed blade Knife
Multitool with pliers 
First aid kit
Stainless steel Water bottle with wide mouth (so you can boil water in it) 
water
Iodine or waterpurification tablets
Space blanket
Emergeny tube tent or lightweight tarp. 
Waterproof matches and fire steel. (and maybe a bic lighter) 
Compass
Some ductape
Some lengths of cordage
Signal mirror
A thick wool sweather.
Wool hat
A small poncho (one of those festival ponchos that comes in Small packets a very low price) unless Im wearing a water proof jacket. 
Small binoculars or monocular (can save you a lot of energy, checking out terrain and people at a distanse) 
Waterproof notepad with pen/pencil. ( to take notes of landmarks, copy roadside information maps, rendevous points, timetables,  and so on) 
A wrist watch ( can save your phone battery by only having the phone turned on for short planned intervals. Like letting you family know you only have your phone on at 9-9.15, 12-12.15 and so on. Also essential for planning pick up points and rendevous points) 
Some high energy light weight food, like granola bars.