(Part 2) Top products from r/bugout

There is a lot wrong with this list, so I'm just going to work down it one by one with my thoughts on the matter.

USB flameless lighter? Why? That is going to be unreliable, at best. Throw a few BIC lighters and some stormproof matches in there and be done with it. IF you want to be fancy, get something built to be rugged, that will stand up to use in the field:

https://www.amazon.ca/Ultimate-Survival-Technologies-Floating-Lighter/dp/B00C85NBA6/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173178&sr=1-2&keywords=camping+lighter

Speaking of, I didn't see any sort of firestarting material. Warmth is going to be important, and you need as few steps as possible between you and fire. Get some quality firestarters. I am trying to keep all my links relevant from amazon.ca, so some of the brands I'm most familiar with aren't there. But these work well (though there are options from Wetfire and other brands that take up less space):

https://www.amazon.ca/Ultimate-Survival-Technologies-Fire-Stix/dp/B00C6SHODK/ref=sr_1_20?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173338&sr=1-20&keywords=emergency+fire+starter

What is with the mall-ninja "tactical" hatchet? That is a lot of weight and not a lot of utility. You'd be better served with a reliable and lightweight folding saw, and a good full-tang fixed-blade knife. Something like a 7 inch Corona saw:

https://www.amazon.ca/Corona-Cutting-Tools-RS-7041/dp/B00004R9YN/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173467&sr=1-1&keywords=corona+folding+saw

If you insist on carrying a hatchet (and their function in a bugout situation is debatable, especially for the weight) get something quality like an Estwing:

https://www.amazon.ca/Estwing-E24A-14-Inch-Sportmans-Sheath/dp/B00BNQR4SG/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173510&sr=1-1&keywords=estwing+hatchet

Nothing wrong with duct tape, but you'd do well to wrap just maybe 3-4 meters of it around a small core (like from doggy waste bags, or even just around itself).

The self-crank radio/flashlight/phone charger is shit. You also don't need four lights, especially if all of them are crap. Buy one good flashlight, and maybe one good headlamp.

A flashlight like a Nitecore P12 or something that runs on an 18650 and offers long runtime would be ideal. If you buy a diffuser cap for it, you can replace the lantern. Pick up some spare, high quality 18650 cells, as well. The P12 has SOS and beacon modes, which will run for days at a time, in addition to a nice throw and excellent brightness on Medium and High.

https://www.amazon.ca/Nitecore-Flashlight-Lumens-Meters-Distance/dp/B00PQE1D2E/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173859&sr=1-2&keywords=nitecore+P12

As for headlamps, those don't need to be super bright. You want something with enough brightness and floodiness to work around camp. But ideally you also want a red-light or low-light mode for night time, when you don't need to destroy your night vision just because you need to take a piss or something.

https://www.amazon.ca/TACTIKKA-CONSTANT-LIGHTING-HEADLAMP-DESERT/dp/B00GCGIGHK/ref=sr_1_14?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482173989&sr=1-14&keywords=petzl+headlamp

The powerbank thing in the crank radio is crap, only 1000mah. Not enough to charge most modern smart phones even 25%. Figure that of that 1000mah, ~25% will be lost just due to inefficiency in the charging process. Get a 10,000mah or bigger high quality battery, with 2.1A ports, and be done with it:

https://www.amazon.ca/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Ultra-Compact-High-speed-Charging-Technology/dp/B0194WDVHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482173708&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+usb+power+bank

Combine the money you'd spend on the shitty folding knife and the shitty Gerber multitool, and buy a proper multi-tool. You don't need two folding knives.

The Leatherman Wingman is a good value, though I prefer a nicer quality one like the Charge TTi, but at four times the price it may not be worth it just for an S30V blade.

https://www.amazon.ca/Leatherman-2996-831426-Wingman-Multi-Tool/dp/B005DI0XM4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482174264&sr=8-1&keywords=leatherman+wave

Ditch the camp toilet paper, that stuff is like wiping your ass with cardboard. Get some biodegradable camp wipes from an outdoor store. You can now use these to clean your ass, and they also are useful for wiping your hands, or taking whore baths.

Same with the camp soap. Are you bugging out or camping for a week? Nothing you are going to do in a bugout situation is going to necessitate body soap. Toothbrush, floss, deodorant.

Ditch the giant first aid kit full of crap you don't need. Those things are heavy and 80 of the 85 pieces are just different sized bitch stickers. Build your own first aid kit tailored around the likely injuries you would face: sprains, cuts, burns. Maybe throw some Quik Clot Z-pack gauze or a tourniquet (CAT or similar) in there for larger trauma, if that is a concern to you. Limit the bitch stickers to 5-10. All gauze, tape, trauma pads, alcohol wipes, tincture of iodine, moleskin for blisters, tweezers, surgical shears, gloves, maybe burn cream. Small containers of medications you might need: aspirin, antihistamines like Diphenhydramine, anti-diarrheals, etc.

That survival paracord bracelet thing is garbage. You already have 100ft of paracord in your list (which you could probably cut down to 50ft). You don't need some shitty firestarter, whistle, and compass thing. Buy a real lensatic sighting compass. Not going to do you much good without a map and the ability to understand it, anyway.

https://www.amazon.ca/UST-Survival-Essentials-Lensatic-Compass/dp/B005X1YI3Q/ref=sr_1_5?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482174799&sr=1-5&keywords=compass

You have both a cookset AND a mug/pot. This is extra redundant and not needed in a bugout situation. Stick to food you don't have to prepare. Caloric density is your friend. Jerky, EPIC bars, Clif bars, etc.

If you need to boil water, use a single-wall metal canteen (NOT a thermos). Remove the plastic lid, fill with water, set in your fire. Widemouth canteens like those by Klean Kanteen are multi-purpose (multipurpose is your friend). You can sterilize water, you can cook and eat food out of it (because of the large opening), and you can fill with hot water, wrap in a sock, and warm your sleep system.

https://www.amazon.ca/Klean-Kanteen-Stainless-Bottle-27-Ounce/dp/B0027W6WHE/ref=sr_1_sc_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482174908&sr=1-4-spell&keywords=klean+kanteen+widemouth

You don't need a can opener if you have a good multitool.

Lifestraws suck ass. They only work as a straw, and I am going to guess you don't want to get your water by drinking out of puddles exclusively. Get a Sawyer Squeeze mini filter. This can be used in-line with a hydration bladder, can be used like a Lifestraw, or can be used to filter an fill your water storage containers/bladder:

https://www.amazon.ca/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482175065&sr=1-1&keywords=sawyer+mini

One seriously lacking area for you is your sleep system. A tarp and a space blanket are not going to keep you functionally warm. You might survive a night, but you won't be useful the next day.

At the BARE minimum, you should get a good, reflective, breathable bivvy sack, like this one from SOL, AND a sleeping pad. A bivvy will reflect heat back onto you, helping with heat lost through convection, but no sleeping bag will help with heat lost through conduction (you touching the cold ground). That is why a sleeping pad is mandatory. I have used the Escape bivvy and the Klymit pad linked here together, and both kept me comfortably warm to about 50 degrees F. Below that, I've had to augment with base layers or jackets, and that still sucked. If you are hoping to sleep in below freezing temperatures, you'll need a properly sorted ultralight sleeping bag.

https://www.amazon.ca/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Escape-Bivvy/dp/B00EVGD0FQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482175280&sr=1-1&keywords=SOL+escape

https://www.amazon.ca/Klymit-06SVGR01C-Camping-Mattress-Green-Grey/dp/B007RFG0NM/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1482175199&sr=1-1&keywords=sleep+pad

Other recommendations of mine would be to take survival, medical and foraging guides and put them on a smartphone, along with a GPS mapping software and pre-downloaded offline topographical maps at 1:24k resolution of your main bugout areas and 1:100k resolution elsewhere. Something like Gaia GPS for iOS or Backcountry Navigator Pro for Android:

Might I suggest a different approach to this situation?
Don't buy anything, yet.
Start out with a better pack, for your setup go on down to a local sporting good store, rei if you have them. Go to the backpack section and find something 3000 square inches or more but no bigger then 5000. Find something ina neutral color. Then make sure it's comfortable and had a nice hip placement belt. Ask the clerk when the best sales are.(dont buy anything)

Then read two books, ill recommend one you pick the second. 98.6 degrees to keeping your ass alive, then pick a good book on ultralight backpacking. From there I want you to take another look at your list. Now, I want you to go to your local grocery store and buy enough food to make 3 days of meals thats shelf stable for 2 years (check the label) to make using only direct heat, hot water, or fresh from the container. Then buy 1 case of mre's, check online to make sure they are as fresh as can be. Set aside 9 mre's, then buy some mountain house meals, enough for 3 days of food. Ok, now with just food, water and your newly purchased hiking backpack I want you to go on a nice day hike. Except, each time you go you eat one mre or one home made mre, or one mountain house before and after each hike. Keep a little journal on what the effects are.
This is your starting point, I'm inspired I'll make a full post on this. But that, and only that will be your starting point. You'll have a decent backpack, a good understanding of food amd it's effects and you'll understand the logistics of walking extreme distances with the essentials you'll need.

I have more of a GHB. The bag is an LAPG 3 day pack. It was really cheap and seems to be good quality with a few exceptions (I would replace the buckles if you get one) but the stitching is great and has held up so far. This bag has one large compartment, and two relatively large pockets on the front. Webbing has held up well, and I often grab and carry it by the d-rings I have on it.

I bought this and have it filled with some things in the main compartment. One thing in it is a Plano waterproof case with fire gear in it, another is one of those little organizers where I keep all my small things like batteries, money, super glue, stuff like that. That fits nicely in the bottom of the main compartment. On top is a 'group sized' FAK with stuff in it. It too sits nicely on top of the first bag. There's also a mesh pocked inside that has all my toiletries, maps, and a little food. And I have my KaBar in the main compartment.

Front top pocket has my everyday/quick access stuff(flashlights, chem lights, pop-tarts, a spare HDD) and the bottom has my binos, pouch of charge cables, backup battery, and radio.

I probably need to review what's inside, but having things sort of organized makes it much easier to carry the bag and get at what I need, even when you take into account that I have to remove a pouch entirely to get what's inside.

If I could change anything, I might go for a bag with more smaller front pouches or something since just having a big jumble of stuff sucks.

Basically you got a kit that is a GearWhores dream, what you don't have is a kit that will keep you alive for more than a few days.

1. I want you to pile up all this shit you call a kit on Floor
   
2. Place an empty box on your bed and put the following in it:
   A) the ability to clean and carry water.
   B) the ability to make fire.
   C) shelter to keep dry/warm (a simple poncho and Mylar Blankets at first)
   
   At this point you could live for a couple weeks, and you've spent $40+ cost of pack
   
   D) food, start with compact shelf stable foods, like the dry emergency rations or these.
   A couple weeks worth is like $20, now if you ration you could live for over a month.
   
   3)Now throw away everything else left on the floor.
   As the other person pointed out you have 60+ pounds of junk. That fact is a kit to keep you alive for over a month should cost $60 and fit in a shoe box.

Great start. I would add a small hiking first aid kit like this. Plus I always recommend adding Immodium and Benadryl to first aid kits. They're probably the two OTCs most likely to save a life.

I don't see any kind of sleeping kit here.

YouR tradeoff is between "good and comfortable" and "Small and light."

At the very least, consider the SOL Escape Bivvy. It's small and light, of good quality, not too expensive, and is well reviewed. It will help you survive, but will probably not keep you comfortable.

A used Military Sleep System is much more comfortable, and will run you between $70 and $120 bucks. It is fairly bulky however. It won't fit in the pack you listed. Typically, people buy the Molle carrier for it and strap it to the top or bottom of their pack.

There's plenty of information. All that stuff published in the 50s and 60s still applies but here's a good place to start:

U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological And Chemical Survival Manual https://www.amazon.com/dp/046500797X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_97EhAbW1R9EM3

I am told this is freely available as a pdf online but I can't seem to find it while on mobile.

Yes, a basement shelter will help.

Those were hard to find! I wanted something fairly inexpensive since I have up to 5 of them that I can put in depending on the situation I am in. I found these and they are a perfect fit:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CNR0J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I compress them down with two ranger bands which you can see in the photos, just makes them easier to get in and out and prevent items from shifting or making noise.

i had snagged this for my BOB
MSR MiniWorks EX
and also
Nalgene 96Oz canteen

been pretty pleased with the ease of field cleaning, and quality of the filtering

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00020S7XK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1410610220&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40 have one of these in every bob. Great radios and pretty solidly built.

You have fishing line, hooks and lead but no knife. I see a multi tool but I think it’s worth the weight to add a fixed blade knife. It’s useful for preparing fish, cutting wood, and so much more.

Watch this or one like it to drop in price (CamelCamelCamel) like it does a few times a year:
Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Sandvik Stainless Steel Blade, 4.1-Inch, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTJKB00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vvAPBbJBENH05

It's essentially half of this kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000069EYA/

• (3) 2x Aspirin tablets
  
• (3) 2x Ibuprofen tablets
  
• (3) 2x Extra-strength non-aspirin tablets
  
• (7) Alcohol cleansing pads
  
• (7) BZK antiseptic towelettes
  
• (3) Antibiotic ointment packs
  
• (1) First aid cream packs
  
• (1) Insect sting relief pads
  
• (1) Burn relief pack
  
• (30) 3/4"x3" Adhesive plastic bandages
  
• (10) 3/4"x3" Fabric bandages
  
• (10) 1"x3" Adhesive plastic bandages
  
• (5) 1"x3" Fabric bandages
  
• (2) Knuckle fabric bandages
  
• (2) Fingertip fabric bandages
  
• (1) 2"x4" Elbow & knee plastic bandages
  
• (20) 3/8"x1-1/2" Junior plastic bandages
  
• (1) Butterfly wound closures
  
• (3) 2"x2" Gauze dressing pads
  
• (2) 3"x3" Gauze dressing pads
  
• (1) 4"x4" Gauze dressing pads
  
• (1) 1/2"x5 yd. First aid tape roll
  
• (1) 2"x2" Moleskin

I'd never have a gun in my EDC, but other than that it looks okay.

I recommend these things

These two books are great
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0061992860/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1885071620/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here is the list of gear. It is meant for both myself and my wife, so I doubled up in some places. (Links where I have them)

• LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
  
• yueton Shatterproof Stainless Steel Ultrathin Folding Travel Mirror
  
• S.O.S. Rations Emergency 3600 Calorie Food Bar
  
• Mini Foldable Folding Shovel
  
• Coleman Dome Tent
  
• GreenLight Diamond Strike on Box Matches,
  
• Zippo Typhoon Matches and Match Kit
  
• My Amazing Outdoor Inc Camp Mess Kit
  
• Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
  
• Aootek Upgraded first aid survival Kit
  
• AxPower Dust Masks
  
• Dust mask filter pack
  
• Esky Portable Emergency Weather Radio Hand Crank Self Powered
  
• Foxelli Disposable Rain Ponchos
  
• TOUGH-GRID 750lb Paracord/Parachute Cord
  
• Aquatabs AQT200 Water Purification Tablets 200 Pack
  
• REEBOW GEAR Hard Knuckle Tactical Gloves
  
• Sharpie Plastic Point Stick Water Resistant Pen
  
• Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top-Spiral Notebook
  
• Buck Knife 119
  
• 1 quart zip lock bags pack
  
• 1 gallon zip lock bags pack
  
• 2 Days worth of clothes
  
• REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Assault Pack Backpack, Capacity: 34L
  
  Total Combined weight 27.4969375 Lbs (assuming my measurements are correct, couldn't get a good read on the tent so I had to use manufacturer info)
  
  Stuff I don't have yet, but which I plan to include as I get them:
  
  
• Passports, and other document copies
  
• Extra cash
  
• 9mm pistol
  
• Better water storage
  
• Solar charging and power banks

The tarp and the tent both tie out to the poles. No trees or anything required. Obvs I can tie out to trees if I want to, but I don't have to. The poles are new to me, but so far they've cleaned up the tent pitching process.

Total calories are somewhere around 3000, so 2.5 days maximum, but as I'm camping and having fun I'm rarely out for more than 24 hours, and I've stretched ~3500 calories out to five days before. It wasn't fun, but I managed.

Eventually I'll get a better headlight. I've been looking at the Streamlight 61307 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WV8GS4C/ because it runs on the same CR123 batteries I use in my main light.

Edit: accidentally a word

> water filtration for the river water

Your LifeStraw will clog up way too fast, OP. Check out something like this instead.

Cut plenty of firewood ahead of time.

Personally I would bring some #10 cans of Mountain House even if I was planning to hunt or fish. Maybe some multivitamins in case what you're eating is not enough to stay healthy.

Also at least three sleeping bags of different comfort ratings for each person. If you run out of firewood and get really cold, you can unzip and pile on top to stay warm.

Gore-Tex and wool everything, especially for your feet. Cold and wet is the worst.

I'd consider a Morakniv fixed blade for each kit. They're so durable, great grip, sharp as heck, and are cheap enough to get a few easily from Amazon: Morakniv on Amazon

Jansport Big Student. 31 liters, does not look at all tactical or hikerly, comes with a lifetime warranty, available in an astonishing variety of colors and patterns. I've been using one as a work bag (taxi driving) for the last four years and it's holding up just fine. I have another that I used for community college that also is fine. My cat puked on the college bag once. I washed it on gentle cycle and let it air dry on a drying rack. It came out looking brand-new.

titanium cook set weighs 7.4 ounce they are regularly used by ultra light hikers stainless is heavy for its small benefits

These are what I use:


Flashlight: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VTLLC13


Headlamp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WV8GS4C


May also want to repost this question on r/flashlight

https://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Stock-Starter-Survival-Emergency/dp/B07TS8QLZP/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=29L1VZG40X4YK&keywords=jungle+stock+fire+starter&qid=1564243561&s=gateway&smid=A4IOO6LZDKY7M&sprefix=jungle+stock%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

I'm seeing a complete oversight of the stuff I see so many other people make on this sub. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear. Hygiene gear.

What are you going to wipe your ass with? Clean your hands before your eat? Brush your teeth? What will you bathe with, even if it is just a pits, nuts, and ass wipe down with baby wipes?

-My rule of thumb is 7-10 baby wipes a day when in the field. Having baboon butt from being poorly cleaned up after hurts at first, then will get to be real bad news. A pack of 100 baby wipes doesn't weight too much.

-A toothbrush. Things like toothaches used to be fatal problems not too long ago in first world countries, and still are in third. A cavity or any other nastiness in your teeth is one of those "all encompassing hurts" that make everything difficult, kind of like pulling a muscle in your back or something.

-An outdoor shower isn't necessary, just a good scrub down at the end of the day on any part of the body where there is a crease/fold- armpits, groin, etc. These places also have hair, which grows/supports bacteria.

I'm not going to hit the clothes thing, because u/edheler did a good job of the break down. I'm just going to emphasize socks. The legs feed the wolf, right? If you're feet go bad from wet socks/foot nastiness, life starts to suck fast.

The rest of this is just my opinions and personal preferences.

-I see you have quart sized ziplock bags. I prefer gallon ziplock bags. Waterproofing your kit, especially your clothes, is key. When it rains and your pack gets saturated, everything inside will soak up all that water like a sponge. This adds more weight, which sucks to carry, but on a survival note, now you have to take the time to lay out all your gear and dry it to prevent it from molding. In Undaunted Courage, Ambrose talked about how Lewis and Clark went to great lengths to dry out their gear anytime it got wet, because they know that that shit had to last them for the duration. A bugout situation will be similar- what you have is going to have to last, and it getting wet is no good. The 32 gallon trash bags may be for this purpose, or other general purpose stuff, but I've found that once you put a lot of stuff in them they rip. Gallon bags are clear so you can see whats inside of them, small enough to not have so much extra space, and big enough to fit most things. I've found quart size bags to be just too small for all around use.

-A tarp. I see you have a hammock and a bag, which is my preferred way of sleeping outdoors. My hammock is a hennessy with a built in rain fly. Getting rained on sucks, and a tarp can keep you dry. Also with hammocks, on cold/windy nights, the hammock functions as a heat sink, since there is no ground beneath you to insulate you. A tarp will cut down on the wind leeching away your valuable heat, even with your bag in there. I've slept in my hammock for a long period straight, and some kind of windscreen/liner is important for the winter moths that are coming up. Plus, a tarp is one of those survival items like a knife or rope- it's got too many uses to be left out. My personal three items that I always harp on are knife, rope, tarp.

-Good on you on the zip ties. They are incredibly useful little things.

-Have you considered a knot card? Knots are a set of skills with an expiration date on them- if you don't use them all the time, it leaves you. I use the hell out of mine, and you don't give up much weight or space.

I went with this one. My bag is urban prepped since I live downtown Chicago. This one made the cut for me because I use a lot of MOLLE add ons and can compartmentalize certain scenario based add ons. For example, I have a side pack that has PPE for catastrophe in the city (think 9/11 dust and destruction), so it has respirators, safety goggles, a few other things. Not needed? Great, quick pop off and a few pounds lighter (also, I’m packing for 2... girlfriend thinks I’m crazy, but I got her covered).