Anyone have a "bug out" or "bail out" bag?

[jcall]

I just recieved my Diplomat tactical "bail out" bag. It is 16" high, 12" wide, and has pouches on each end for a radio, water bottles. Also has pouches on the side for extra 30rd mags for my M&P15.

Was wondering if anyone else has one and what essentials do you keep in it.

I will be taking this on trips in the car and will have it available if the "SHTF" scenerio happens. I will be keeping either my Springfield XD .40 or my upcoming purchase, a ParaUSA GI expert .45 (1911 syle), extra ammo, cell phone, flashlight, extra batteries, gerber knife, pen and small notepad, and ???

Thanks!

 

[hikerbum]

Food, fleece jacket, raincoat, space blanket, Water treating supplies, toilet paper

 

[mississippi revolverman]

I worked in the Ukraine 1 yr after the fall of communism. We were digging up the ICBM silos. We all had packs with our passport and essentail locked in the safe for deplorement.

I keep local currency and $300 US dollars added beef jerk strips, instant soup and emergency reflective blanket.

Later worked 3 yrs in Indonesia during the fall of the President. We were evaced 3 time for riots. Maintained my own pack there much the same content added clean underwear and socks anda collapsible baton which I did use once

 

[SmithNut]

Diplomat tactical

shopping from LA Police Gear??

 

[GatorFarmer]

I bought a 5.11 brand 72 hour pack from the local Marine Exchange. It holds about 60 pounds of junk fairly well.

What to put in a bag depends on your environment, how far you plan to go, and what you plan to do. If the bag is supporting a rifle, it would make sense to have a multitool and a rifle cleaning kit inside. Perhaps some spare AR parts as well, and batteries - if needed - for optics and weapon lights.

Other common bits of gear are flash lights, First Aid kits with supplies to treat gunshot wounds, wildnerness type survival gear, radios, signaling devices, etc. Food, water, water containers, and water purification gear should probably be included as well as anything needed for your climate - hats, gloves, compact sleeping bag, rain gear, shemaghs, what not.

Navigation gear also comes in handy - maps, GPS units, compass, and NVGs for those who have them.

I'm not familiar with the bag that you have. The LAPG "Bail out bags" are knock offs of better quality gear. They aren't terrible, but they aren't great either. Lots of people use old Alice packs if they're on a budget, otherwise people will buy Eberlestock (sp?), Kifaru and other higher end bags. I just use a 5.11 bag and my wife has a Blackhawk bag. I wanted something that still looked vaguely like a piece of luggage.

 

[Spotteddog]

Yup,
Ever since a fire in a 10 story condo at 02:00 hrs. 36 years ago. Everything lost due to smoke and water damage fighting the fire 3 stories above (1 fatality). Now due to suggestions from folks here, I have included computer disc's with info too. But I've long had copies of important documents at trusted friends homes outside the area.

 

[cowart]

Originally posted by Spotteddog:
I have included computer disc's with info too.

I think a flash drive would be better than multiple discs. Takes up less room, holds much more. I recently got a 16Gb flash drive at Sam's Club for $40. Thats equivalent to more than 11,400 1.4Mb discs.

 

[Spotteddog]

Great suggestion!
I'll take it up with my I.T. department (my Wife)
For me even the C/D's are a huge leap forward in technology though. I found them far easier to transport than the painted stone walls of my low-tech cave!

 

[jcall]

Originally posted by SmithNut:

Diplomat tactical

shopping from LA Police Gear??

Ya, found this one from them. Didnt want to spend a fortune on other bags that were too big for my needs and this one was just right for the price.

They have upgraded this bag from previous versions and is very well made.

You have provided very good suggestions, please keep them coming. I am making a "shopping list" as I keep reading.

thanks!

 

[deralte]

Sounds like the need for a small first aid kit. Especially reccomend Quik Clot to stop bleeding.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Originally posted by deralte:
Sounds like the need for a small first aid kit. Especially reccomend Quik Clot to stop bleeding.

Supposedly Celox (sp?) and Hemocon bandages work better. My wife was recently shown a training video for the latter. It shows pigs that were horribly injured and how quickly the wounds could be controlled with one and some Kerlix.

That reminds me though, my Quik Clot expires this month.

 

[crewdog564]

Many good ideas here. Now, With tongue only slightly in cheek, I'll quote from Dr. Strangelove:

Major "King" Kong checks the contents of his survival kit with his crew on board the B-52:

- one .45 caliber automatic
- two boxes of ammunition
- four days' concentrated emergency rations
- one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills
- one miniature combination Russian (pronounced 'Rooshan') phrase book and Bible
- one hundred dollars in rubles
- one hundred dollars in gold
- nine packs of chewing gum
- one issue of prophylactics
- three lipsticks
- three pair of nylon stockings

Kong comments positively: "Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."

 

[Spotteddog]

Yeah,
But they forgot to inventory the carton of Camel regulars?

 

[Firehouse]

Maxpedition Versipack Jumbo. Quite handy.

 

[USAF385]

Mine is loosely based off of the Aircrew Survival Kit we used during SERE training and carried during flight:

- Fixed Blade Knife
- Medical Kit
- Nylon Cord
- Water Bag
- Purification tablets
- Emergency Candle
- Compass
- Flint & Striker
- Waterproof Matches
- Hack saw blade
- Wire saw
- Tinder / Newspaper in water proof bag or container
- Whistle
- Signal mirror
- Fishing kit
- Mini multi-tool
- Sewing kit
- Safety pins
- Single edge razor
- Snare wire
- Plastic Garbage Bag(s)
- Zip lock bag
- Hard Candy
- Jerky
- If you wear contacts, a pair of glasses.

You'd be surprised how much you can fit into a small area when you try. My bag is smaller than yours and I crammed it all in. You may want to consider keeping a smaller nylon bag that folds up compact to keep in there also, so when you need to take things out, you wont have to try to cram everything back into one bag. A knife with holes on the hand guard is good for fashioning into a spear.. should your gun fail you. Sounds weird but condoms can be used as a water bladder.

 

[ChadW]

Nice list, USAF385. So... why do you know condoms can be used as water bladders? haha

 

[jcall]

USAF385- Thanks for the info. That was a good list.

 

[Curt Dawson]

And here I thought clay tablets were high tech over the paintings on my cave wall.Damn,I feel out dated.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Might be a good idea to get Katadyn water tabs if you're putting in water purification tablets. They'll kill viruses, unlike Iodine based pills, and also come foil wrapped, so it's easier to break down a package compared to opening a bottle and having iodine tabs rapidly go bad.

Surplus AF survival kits from the 90s can be had for about 70 bucks. Only the water bags, which tend to yellow, need to be tossed, the rest of the gear in them is still good.

If using a condom as a water bag, remember to get a *non lubricated* one. Also, put it in your sock after you fill it, it'll be less likely to burst.

 

[Bobwtn]

I keep a back pack in my SUV and it has many similar items as USAF has. Something to make fire, compact survival waffers, pair of socks, small first aid kit, extra ammo for 45, canteen, water purification tablets, knife, Gerber multitool, over the couter meds for cuts, headache, etc., poncho/shelter, etc.. with thoughts of earthquake or other crisis.(I live on the New Madrid Fault line) I also have a medium size box with locks in back of SUV with more ammo, small saw, entrenching tool, more food, extra pistol, very large size ziplock bags. Since we are discussing our what ifs, I have stored in my trailer some freeze dried cans from Mountain House and I store dried beans, rice, and corn meal in 5 gal paint buckets with sealable lids. I do this in case I lose job, community crisis, earthquake,fuel goes to $5.00 gal. and the shelves get empty at stores etc. I was hit by a tornado last yr. in Feb. and I was prepared then. Lost a camper, but my packs ( one for me and one for my son) were in SUV and I had food/water. I take shelter at our largest hospital usually and park SUV in their garage. I came out to the results of an F-4 at my house. I entered my street at 11:00P.M. armed and equiped. Was a very good feeling.

 

[Thunderhawk88]

Nice list, USAF385. So... why do you know condoms can be used as water bladders?

They also make good barrel (rifle-get yur mind outa the gutter! hahaha) protection in bad weather. We used some in Viet Nam that way.

 

[moxie]

Be advised that flash drives can all of a sudden die, for no apparent reason. A CD will take a lot more abuse.

 

[11B Lifer]

Water purifier, radio, batteries, light systems, medications, first aid stuff, fire starting materials, and 500 rounds of 9mm and my M92 with six magazines.

 

[Farmer17]

Walmart sells a pretty good little "survival kit" for about 15 bucks. Add a good multi tool, gun and ammo, food and water, a Glock entrenching tool, and a cell phone and I'm good to go.

 

[em-man]

You guys sure are going to give the marauding hordes a nifty day's worth of supplies...

 

[bored350]

Walmart sells a pretty good little "survival kit" for about 15 bucks.

Farmer17, what is this "survival kit" you speak of? Sounds like a good gift to get people started on preparing for an emergency.

bored350

 

[jkc]

I do enough camping, hunting, &tc. that much of the mentioned stuff is resident in my truck. That which isn't is contained in a few Rubbermaid containers that can be hurled into the truck in moments... Here, H2O is a significant factor --- carry some, filter more...

 

[GatorFarmer]

Originally posted by bored350:

Walmart sells a pretty good little "survival kit" for about 15 bucks.

Farmer17, what is this "survival kit" you speak of? Sounds like a good gift to get people started on preparing for an emergency.

bored350

I don't about the Walmart kit, but Adventure Medical Kits sells a pocket pack (designed by Doug Ritter) as well as a couple of other small kits that run 30 bucks or so.

 

[bored350]

I don't about the Walmart kit, but Adventure Medical Kits sells a pocket pack (designed by Doug Ritter) as well as a couple of other small kits that run 30 bucks or so.

Thanks, GatorFarmer, I'll look into them.

bored350

 

[GatorFarmer]

Originally posted by bored350:

I don't about the Walmart kit, but Adventure Medical Kits sells a pocket pack (designed by Doug Ritter) as well as a couple of other small kits that run 30 bucks or so.

Thanks, GatorFarmer, I'll look into them.

bored350

If you're looking for something to give to family members or others as a basic starting point, you might also want to look into the BestGlide 24 hr packs. They're about the size of an MRE, but full of goodies. If you need a bunch, let me know, I might be able to get you a discount.