Whether you're caught in a jam, being attacked by zombies, or just want to go live outdoors. Bug out bags can do whatever life throws at 'em. Just please take note that all the stuff that my version of the B.O.B. is my opinion and my opinion only, so just because I don't have an item you think I should have is your opinion. Thank you :) Table of contents: 1. Finding the right bag 2. Items inside the bag 2a. Food and other eating utensils 2b. Shelter and fire building ideas 2c. Clothing options 2d. Knives 2e. Misc. objects 3. Compass and map or GPS? 4. Water

Step 1: 1. Finding the Right Bag

All B.O.B.'s come in tons of different shapes and sizes. So find the bag that fits you the most and however long you think you are going to stay out. Lets start off with some of the basics: Waist packs and pouches: They make good packs for 3-6 hours or a full day, but that's about as much as you can get out of them. School packs and shoulder bags: Depending on the size they should get you out of a jam for 1-3 days at most so they are where most bug out bags will take you. Military backpacks and external/internal hiking backpacks: These are probably the best for bug out bags as they have many pockets, pouches, and compartments for stuff. These will probably get you around 5-10 days with the right gear stashed in them.

Step 2: 2. Items Inside the Bag

The items you will be surviving off of will go inside this bag. I will be using an internal frame pack as my bug out bag so mine may hold more than enough to survive on. 2a. Food and other eating utensils We all know that food gives us energy and that makes us do stuff so to start this off ill name some food that I put in my bag: MRE's(meals ready to eat) depending on what you get MRE is probably the best out their this is what the military uses and eats. Or in a jam mountain house meals do just as good just not as much food as the MREs. You can also make your own style MRE as well get a zip lock bag and stuff it with dehydrated food and extra stuff such as Tabasco sauce or gum. Moving on to utensils to eat with you can start off with a bowl or a plate. I would prefer a Sierra cup or a collapsible bowl, but a plate would do just as well. Next, you could go with a spoon fork and knife combo that fits into one, or a fancy device known as a spork. And that's just about all I have to say about food items. 2b. Shelter and fire building ideas. Now we all know that the key to survival is shelter and a fire. Here I'll show you an easy way on how to do that. 8x10 tarp And 100 ft para cord This is the easiest way how to make shelter and their are hundreds of uses from both of them besides shelter. Next up is fire building. And I have several plans to build fire in case some thing doesn't work as it should. Simple waterproof matches in a waterproof container. Fire glass in pouch Butane lighter These are my ways of fire. 2c. Clothing options Depending on where you are and what you are doing, depends on what you should wear I typically have 2 pairs of clothes in my bag and 6 changes of socks in my pack. If you live in a hot area with high humidity. I would recommend short sleeve shirt with a rain poncho in case it rains.(Just don't wear the short sleeve shirt with the rain poncho unless its raining.) and jeans for the meaning they can take on anything along with a pair of hiking boots. And a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun off of your head. If you live in cold area with snow or ice. I would wear layers of clothing cause if you get to hot you can take a layer off and if you get to cold you can put a layer on. WARNING! Do not allow your self to sweat if it is too cold, cause if you do allow yourself to sweat the cold could kill you. Moving on, long sleeve shirt with thermal underware and an over jacket if its below or slightly above freezing. Jeans and thermal underware will help the lower part of you and a warm toboggan. Because 70% of your body heat is lost through your head. 2d. Knives Knives have many uses with them they can be used for just about anything. So I'll give you some pros and cons on the style of knives that would be packed. Fixed blade vs. foldable Fixed is better built but their are usually bigger and bulkier and mainly used as tactical knives, while foldable are usually pocket knives and multi tools which have a ton of uses but they don't have the biggest blade or size to compete with fixed blades. Survival knives are usually the best fixed blade knife you can get as they have truly everything you need to survive inside the knife itself. Hunting knives are great for gutting stuff and sharpening stakes and sticks but don't have as much use as the survival knife. Pocket knives are usually the single blades knife you see everyone have and they are great for the purposes of survival but their are better ones out there. Multi tools are usually the best pocket knife for survival as they have many tools on them and it fits in your pocket. Foldable tac. Knives are the knives that get people out of danger and usually are equipped with few survival tools. 2e. Misc. objects First aid kit Small shovel for digging latrines Sleeping bag Pen/pencil Caribiner Survival bracelets Pack cover Sunglasses Hat Rain poncho Leather gloves Candles Rain poncho Head lamp Flashlight And that's about that.

Step 3: 3. Compass and Map or GPS?

I prefer a compass and map over a GPS cause a compass and map does not require batteries. But a GPS does tell much more than a map does so what ever you decide to put in the bag is just fine.

Step 4: 4. Water

Water is another item our body needs and to hold that wonderful element you can use a bottle or an actually water bottle, a gallon jug, etc. but just because you have a full water bottler now, that could change in a matter of hours and then dehydration kicks in. So in order to survive you will need to have water on you and a way to get more water as well. One way on getting more water is to find a stream and use a water filter or iodine tablet to purify it into drinking water or you can boil the water to filter and purify it. So make sure that the water you drink isn't contaminated with parasites and bacteria.

Step 5: 5. Putting Together Your B.O.B. and Item Checklist.

Awesome, now it's time to put it all together and make your very own B.O.B. Item checklist: 1 Tarp 8x10 200 ft para cord or survival bracelets Sierra cup or bowl Spork or combo of fork knife and spoon 3 MRE's 1 butane lighter 2 waterproof container of matches 1 fire glass with pouch 1 compass and map or 1 GPS with batteries 1 first aid kit 5-10 carabiners 1 pen/pencil/ or sharpie 1 whistle 1 small thermometer 1 fixed blade knife or machete 1 pocket knife or multi tool 2-3 changes of clothes 6-10 pairs of socks 1 pair of hiking boots 1 sleeping bag 1 hat 1 pair of sunglasses 1 pack cover 1 pair of leather gloves 1 rain poncho 2 candles 1 flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries 2 canteens or water bottles or 2 1 gallon jugs of water Water filter or iodine tablets Small shovel Duct tape Altoids pocket survival kit And that's about all you will need. On me it looks like this: