Tweaking your bug out bag is a never-ending endeavor. The more you learn, the more you add and remove items, the goal being to make it more lightweight, more functional and more tuned to your unique situation and the disasters you’re prepping for.
Today we’re going to talk about some of the things you may not have considered before for your bug out bag, but given the wide variety of scenarios and real dangers that await you on your evacuation journey, it’s worth cross-checking this list to your existing BOB and your priorities.
#1. Nail Clippers
Nail clippers should be a part of anyone’s hygiene kit. Few preppers consider how long their nails will grow in a couple of weeks. Not only it’s unhygienic, it’ll annoy the shit out of you.
Plus, consider many nail clippers have an additional 1 or 2 small knives in them, and that’s always useful.
#2. Binoculars
One of the problems you’re going to have as you move along to your bug out location is people. You want to know in advance whether an area is safe to move through, so a pair of suitable hunting binoculars is going to be useful, or you can opt for a monocular, because it’s more compact and lightweight.
#3. A Respirator Mask
N95 or, better yet, N99 respirator masks could be a lifesaver in an emergency. You don’t know the kind of air you’ll be forced to breathe, maybe you’re running away from a volcano, maybe there’s an airborne pathogen you want to avoid. Respirator masks are pretty cheap on Amazon, they are lightweight, so there’s no reason not to add one in your bug out bag.
#4. A Pair of Small Scissors
Since multi-tools don’t have them, you should definitely add a pair in your backpack, for things such as cutting cloth or a bandage, and many more things. They’re also useful as puncturing devices.
#5. Sunscreen
If you ever hiked through the sun for a prolonged period of time, you know how detrimental this can be to your face and body. You can skip this if you don’t get burnt that easily, and if you pack a bandana or a hat that can keep the sun away, but if you live in or near the desert, or if your skin is more sensitive, it would probably be a good idea to have it.
#6. Mosquito Net
Keeping insects at bay in the wild is going to be difficult. You can’t carry enough spray to last you several weeks, it’s going to be heavy. And when you finish it, then what?
A mosquito net will last you indefinitely provided you keep it intact.
#7. Floss
Not only is floss good for cleaning your teeth, you can use floss to tie things together, make traps for small game, and dozens of other uses.
#8. Poncho
I have one in my BOB and it’s great, because it replaces the need for a tarp and a jacket. It’s useful to keep you warm in chilly and windy conditions, and, while not as big as a tarp, you can use it to sit on when you take a break. You can even use it to help make shelter by blocking a side of the shelter that you either want windproof, or to help trap the heat from your outdoor fire.
Wrap-Up!
I know this isn’t a long list, but keep in mind the point was to show you some of the items that are most often overlooked by preppers.
Do you have a bug out bag item you added after a few years, and wished you had done so sooner? Tell us what it was in a quick comment below.
