If you’re new to the world of preppers, you’ve probably heard the term “BOB” or “Bug-Out Bag” thrown around. Just what is it, though? That is what we’ll be looking into today. The concept of the bug out bag came from the thought of: “What if you needed to get away really fast?”
You never really know when you’ll need to get out of dodge because of political reasons, extended power outages, or sudden unforeseen natural disasters and other events. In any case, much like the survival kit, the bug-out bag is something that you need to have at the ready. When you’re building it, you need to consider certain things:
- Where are you going to put it?
- How much can you carry?
Having clear answers to the questions above will help you put together your bug-out bag better. The potential places where you can keep your bug-out bag are at home, in your car, or in your office (if you have a secured space). Finding out how much you can carry is a great indicator of what you can put in your bag.
What’s great about the bug-out bag (as well as other survival kit type) is that you can build them over time. It would be more financially responsible for you to do so. Having something that comes in handy shouldn’t be something that will ruin you financially. If you’re planning to pick a new addition to your bug-out bag every time you get paid, just be consistent. Don’t skip one paycheck where you don’t get something for your BOB. It might turn into a neglectful habit and you won’t get around to building it at all.
What’s in a BOB?
Your bug-out bag should ideally have something to help you survive for at least 72 hours. When you Google out other people’s BOB’s it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But if you’re just starting out, it would be important to stick to the basics. Here are some basic things that will come in handy in your BOB:
- Ready to eat food (canned food, mountaineer food, jerky)
- Flashlight with batteries AND extra batteries
- Bivouac Sack for warmth
- Personal first aid (have gauze, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, disinfectant, medicine, pain killers)
- Glow sticks (not the party kind)
- Change of weather resistant clothing/tough shoes
- Knife (preferably with a sheath)
- Multi-tool (kind of like a Swiss Army knife but better)
- Three bandanas (you never know when you need to tie something or hold something together)
- Water (while the usual suggested amount is 3 liters per day a BOB is under the impression that you will be moving around. So 1 liter container is enough. Just find a good water source when you can)
- Moist wipes packs
- Duct tape
- Lighters
These are some of the basic things that you’ll find use for in your BOB. Of course, in order to pull it off harmoniously, you’ll need a solid bag to put them in. It’s important to shop around before you choose but usually, it’s best to go with outdoor bags. They’re weather resistant and built to be tough. Now, get started on your BOB!
