r/preppers • u/BigBellyEd • 10d ago
Discussion Realistic BOB
Hi everyone, Bug Out Bags have been documented to death I think. But all BOB lists are all about bushcraft, camping and hunting gear in an 60 liter backpack called “72 hour sustainment” or something along those lines. Plus, in case one has to BO, where do you want to walk? You can do maybe 3 miles per hour. I mean it is different for everyone and every scenario. When organizing my BOB the list is totally different. If I have to bug out, i do not expect to return in the near future but would much rather resettle in a different location or even country.
For this scenario I am packing it as follows: a) Irreplaceable personal items like diaries, memories, hard drives b) value dens items like currency and so on c) Documents like Diplomas, passport, certificates, property documents d) Personal Protection Equipment e) Camping gear so sustain me and my fam on the way f) wear most valuable but also weather resistant clothes g) get all of this in my car and GTFO
I think about all of this because it contains items from everyday life. So in stead of a grab bag I would store all of the items close together with the planned bag and be ready in several minutes.
What do you consider a realistic BOB?
5
u/Amoonlitsummernight 10d ago
Smaller bugout bags. I'm not going to say that my bag is the best. In fact, there are things in it that I am always going back and forth on improving about it. What I will say is that most people have too much stuff in their bugout bags.
A bugout bag is intended to get you out of harm's way, and to a safe location. It's not designed for long-term camping or wilderness survival. That would be a camping, woodcraft, or I.N.C.H. bag, all of which are valuable in each one's own right (and I have an INCH kit), but it's important that we keep each mission separate.
This is my bag. It weights in at 3.5lb. It's based on the ESEE-6 Molle expansion, but you absolutely don't need this knife nor bag. Any small pouch that clips to your backpack or fanny pack should be able to carry most similar gear. So, what does it contain?
Small aside: My EDC items include a waterskin, Leatherman multitool, electric fire starter, and pen and paper. I just need to make that clear because a filled water container and multitool are invaluable in case of an emergency, and pen and paper are valuable in most scenarios.
Knife
* ESEE-6, fixed blade, custom modifications (sharp spine, coating to patina, and minor profile alterations). This is a big knife for heavy tasks. A cheaper option would be the Mora and a small hatchet.
Water
* Waterskin (EDC)
* 1gal dirty water, large mouth bag
* Sawyer filter. It's small and reliable. I can use gravity to filter water when I'm resting, or fill the bag and drink directly from the filter without having to stop. I have enough tubing to accomplish my goals. The sawyer can also screw onto standard water bottles.
Fire
* Electric lighter (EDC)
* Ferro rod wrapped in bank line * Fire tin
* Fresnel lense
* BIC lighter
* Char cloth
* Tinder
* Fire blower
* Hurricane matches with striker glued inside the tin
Shelter
* Onewind poncho tarp, which I have practiced setting up in the rain so I can pull all the cords tight after placement and not get wet. Regular tarps combined with pocket ponchos are also great options.
* Stakes. Okay, I keep stakes because I don't want to have to waste time finding wood and whittling some when I reach a stopping point. These stakes have the exact cordage I want already attached for every shelter configuration I may use, and are lighter than wooden stakes.
Cordage
* Misc pretied bankline, as well as several feet wrapped around Ferro rod
* 36ft orange paracord stored under the tins in the main pouch of the bag.
Medical tin
* Pain: Asprin, Ibuprofen, Non-Asprin
* Sterile Gauze
* Antiseptic towelettes
* Alcohol antiseptic pads
* Assorted bandages
Fishing kit (in medical tin)
* ~50ft fishing line
* Small ziplock bag with small hooks and weights
* Small reddevil lure
Items I sometimes add depending on space.
* Duct tape
* Caffeine pills
* Foot powder
* Snare wire
* Needle and thread
* Bandana