Introduction: Apocalypse - Survival Prep: Bug-out Bag - EDC

By CHADOVISION
About: Oh Canada!

Are you prepared?

This Instructable will give you the building blocks to come up with your own tools, kits, gear, and survival items you may need in a survival situation.

Any of the kits to follow can be used alone but as a group you are almost unstoppable.

There are no rules here. You can use anything you wish to make your survival kits. You will be surprised how many ordinary household items you already have that when you put them in one place could mean life or death, or at lease give you comfort when in a bad situation.

I have collected, built and purchased these items to give me a little back up for those times when you need a little extra help out there. When me and my crew of friends and family go off the beaten path they are always l counting on me to have that little item they forgot.

I really hope this helps you build your survival kits, Every Day Carry (EDC), and must needed tools.

DISCLAIMER:
Never put yourself in a survival situation on purpose. Nothing is guaranteed. You could have every survival tool in the world and still not make it out.

Step 1: Survival Lanyard

I use this tool all year long as something I can throw in any backpack or even in my pocket. This tool will allow you to make fire, find your way, sharpen your other tools and provide you with 10ft of paracord.

Item include:

  • Small Monkey Fist
    • Used for throwing your rope long or high distances.
    • Also used as a weapon (if your monkey fist is weighted enough)
  • Capsule including cotton
  • Capsule including Vaseline petroleum jelly
    • Combine jelly with the cotton to give you a longer burn.
    • The jelly and cotton act like a candle and let you build a nice strong fire over top.
  • Compass
  • Thermometer
  • Capsule including water proof matches
  • Fire steel and striker
  • 4 in 1 tool sharpener

Step 2: Survival Lanyard in Action...

This day was -17 deg C. There are very few lighters that work well at that temperature. So out cames the Fire Steel.

Mixing the petroleum jelly with the cotton makes a sort of candle. Once you have a fire going this will burn much longer and help you keep it going.

The tin in the picture is filled with dryer lint. Dryer lint is in my opinion the best fire tinder going. It is free and there is always plenty around (at home, before you are in a survival situation). I collect dryer lint and save it in peanut putter jars. Also as pictured I put it in small tins. I pack this stuff every time I go camping. You can even simply put it in a ziploc bag.

Fire is Life!

Step 3: Survival Pouch (must Have)

This is one of my favorite EDC - Every Day Carry Items.

This pouch is actually just an pouch that I used to clip on the back of my backpack. You can use the small pouches that you can clip under the seat of your bike as well and re-purposed it.

This kit never stays at home.

First of all I spray painted it using Krylon Spray Paint :(http://www.krylon.com/how-to/camouflage/). Just looks better to me. You can bring this hunting, fishing and anywhere you go.

I also added about 15 ft of various lengths of paracord. This is a good use of the end pieces that you have laying around.

Contents on next steps...

Step 4: What's Inside...

Starting top left :

  • Multi-tool
  • Sewing kit (contents shown on later step)
  • fire steel (with whistle lanyard)
  • Waterproof match container
  • Pencil
  • Sharpe
  • Duct tape (not shown)
  • Orange garbage bag
  • Mirror
  • Instant coffee package
  • Band-aids
  • Lighter
  • Cotton swabs
  • Water purification tablets
  • Tea bag
  • Bouillon powder
  • Steri-strips
  • Paper
  • Space blanket

Step 5: Fire Is Life!

Matches in a water proof case, fire steel, lighter - really no need to explain way you need matches etc. In an extreme situation fire is life.

Multi-tool - there are 100's of uses for a multi-tool it is just a must have for any kit.

Step 6: Small Sewing Kit.

Contents:

  • Needle threader
  • Safety pins
  • Thread and needles
  • Razor Blade
  • Breaded fishing line
  • Cotton
  • Crazy glue

This little sewing kit I made just organizes a few of the items I wanted in the larger kit.

The needle and thread kit is from a hotel I stayed at once. I always save these. The braided fishing line is a very handy item. You can use it to run a ridge line for a shelter or use it to mend clothing. Oh ya, and you can also fish with it.

Cotton if amazing fire making tinder, and crazy glue can be used to put over small cuts to protect them.

Step 7: Space Blanket.

This item alone can save your life. (every kit must have)

It is light weight and takes up little space.

It has an air tight foil that can be used to build a shelter from rain, snow or the sun.

If you wrap it around yourself it will hold your body heat in. It will keep the moisture off of you while sitting on the ground.

It can even be used as a signaling device.

Check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_blanket

Step 8: More Essential Items.

  • Magnifying glass - make fire
  • and compass - know direction
  • orange garbage bag - shelter, cut holes in it to make a rain coat, signaling device
  • Stri strips - fix up those cuts
  • mirror - signaling device
  • tea bag - nothing like a nice hot drink
  • soup bouillon - even better - a hot drink of soup
  • water tablets - purify water
  • instant coffee - instant coffee
  • band-aids - cover up those cuts
  • cotton swabs - cotton great for fire tinder
  • paper - leave a note to help people know where you are.

Step 9: It All Fits Back Inside.

A small pencil, a small Sharpe, and duck tape can also fit in the small gaps. They all can have many uses.

Step 10: Survivor Belt! - Goes Everywhere With Me.

Yes I am partial to the Bear Grylls Gerber tools, but they really have everything you need.

This belt goes hunting, fishing, and hiking with me. If I lost everything else this would help me get through a tough situation.

Step 11: Survival Tins

Extra Batteries - line the tin with cardboard so you do not short the batteries.

Emergency Candle Tin: https://www.instructables.com/id/Emergency-Fire-Tin/ (one of my very first Instructables)

Step 12: Survival Tin 1

Sucrets Tin - all of these items were already in my house.

  • Produce bag - from grocery store. This bag can carry more then a liter of water and takes up no space at all.
  • Soup Bullion
  • Strike anywhere matches
  • Crazy glue
  • Zip ties
  • Bobby pin
  • Wire
  • Fishing hooks
  • Small scissors
  • Small knife
  • Fishing line
  • Candles
  • Water purification tablets
  • Instant coffee

Medicine: tummy trouble or an allergic reaction can really ruin any event good or bad. Having a single dose of a few meds could help you through a rough patch.

  • Ex-lax
  • Pepto-Bismol
  • Gravol
  • Tylenol Cold and Flu
  • Advil Cold and Sinus
  • Antihistamine - Like Allegra, Benadryl Allergy or Claritin

Step 13: Survival Tin 2 - Fishing...

Sucrets Tin 2 - all of these items were already in my house or garage. You never know when you might need to catch your dinner. Haveing a few fishing supplies can always make the job a little easier.

  • Whistle
  • Small multi tool
  • Smalll piece of fire steel
  • Zip ties
  • Nails
  • Jigs
  • Swivel snaps
  • Spinner snaps
  • Lures
  • Hooks
  • Weights
  • Flys
  • Compass

Step 14: Survival Tin 3 - a Bit of Everything.

Altoids Tin (with velcro strap)

  • Tin foil
  • Produce bag
  • water purification tablets
  • Key rings
  • Zip ties
  • Band-aids
  • Small piece of fire steel. ( I save used ones or broken pieces to put in these kits).
  • Razor blade (rapped in tape for safety)
  • 50 cents (in Canada it cost this much to make a call at a pay phone) Your Cell Phone will not always work.
  • Pins
  • Safety Pins
  • Needle
  • Braided Fishing Line
  • Fishing Line
  • Hooks
  • Weight
  • Matches
  • Birthday Candles
  • Duck Tape
  • Cotton
  • Sewing kit
  • Jig saw blade
  • Paper

Step 15: The Big Boys.

No Bug out bag would complete without a couple big knives or machetes. My knives look a bit used that is because I use these thing almost every weekend. They are covered in sap, dirt and scratches because I am in the bush cutting trails ext. all the time. These tools have all been tested in the bush.

Step 16: Final Bug-Out Bag.

This is my go to bug out bag. Using a lot of the kits seen in the previous steps I keep this packed at all times. I frequently change things out based on what I am doing but the basics are always the same.

The Bag:

http://www.gearbest.com/duffel-bags/pp_189908.html

ww.gearbest.com has some really great products for the fraction of the price. They also have things you can't get anywhere else. The pack in the link is very similar to the model that I purchased. Even though items are already at a low price they even have sales.

This bag has lots of pockets and tons of space for a perfect bug out bag. It is a small pack so even the smallest member of the family can carry it. This bag isn't made for your weekend get away. It is made for your day trips, daily use, and as a bug out bag.

What's inside:

Last two Items: (should both have their own How-to Instructable or Review)

Dragon Solar Panel - https://www.amazon.ca/X-DRAGON-Efficency-Sunpower-Technology-Smartphones/dp/B01D1BJFC8/ref=sr_1_cc_4?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1478051177&sr=1-4-catcorr&keywords=dragon+solar+panel

Other Option: http://www.goalzero.com/

  • Charges USB devices including but not limited to: Cell phones and tablets.

Platypus Gravity Works: Water Filter - http://www.cascadedesigns.com/platypus/filtration/gravityworks-40l-filter/product

  • This is one of the best finds this year.
  • Huge time saver, you get 4 liters of water without any work.
  • The gravity feed filters the water while you do other tasks around your camp.
  • Clean water is key to long term survival.

Fire, Shelter and Water and you will be able to hold out for quite a while.

I hope you enjoyed this Instructable!

Chadovision