Excellent, perhaps also have a preparedness bag left at the family’s/friend’s place. Thinking about making one to leave at the office/work-place.
I’ve thought a lot like you. I keep coming up with if I’m bugging out so are a million other people. Gas (assuming you know where you’re going) will not be available. Is we’re you want to go going to be better than where you are or will those people be bugging out? As for currency, gold is the worst. You going to trade an ounce worth $3,600 for what??? Even silver will prove to be a losing proposition. If things are that bad, 2 rounds of ammo will get you a loaf of bread if it’s available. Best to set where you are up to provide your needs. Prepare to cook without alerting everyone you have food. Invest in power that won’t alert everyone you’re home like gas generators that emit a lot of noise. Know your neighbors and surroundings and make the best of it. If indeed you have a really good plan, a guaranteed place to go, and the assurance you can make it if the SHTF, stay alive, and have the resources you need, then great. I have yet to find anyone I know that has a bugout plan that doesn’t have a lot of “what if’s attached.” Think this out. I mean really think it out. Good luck!
After 20 years of Prepping I came to the same conclusion.
We are now prepping our home for bugging in and have turned our BOBs into Get Home Bags. LOL. ![]()
What you need the most for a bugout bag is a plan A and plan B then a Plan C. Each plan is based upon each specific scenario. Know your route to where you are going to need to go and have alternate routes that you can take to get there. The more routes you have, the ability to get there will be more possible. The place you choose to go to needs to be a safe place from the reason you are going there for. The location needs to be a location that can be protected, and you can observe anything going on around you.
Another thing you have to have is variable modes of transportation. If your vehicle is not operational, can you get to a safe place by bike, horse, walking? How long will it take you to get to a safe place? Then what can you carry with you? Does your go to location have any gear and stuff stored there? That way you do not have to pack all your gear, just the stuff you need to get there. I would say have multiple locations that would fit the get to safety location that fits the conditions.
Overall, the less you need to carry the faster you will be able to transverse to the next location with what you need to have on hand only to get there.
I’m heading to Cactus Junction, there is a guy with a moat and an alligator! ![]()
I have never planned for bug out or bug in . but I did and am prepared for emergency get home and home is set up for self containment.
To me, the questions that come to mind are, what are you prepping for, and for how long will you be bugging out?
Around Florida where I live, the most common reason to bug out would be an incoming hurricane. In that case, you probably have an evacuation route and destination pre-planned, and you know about how long you’ll need to be away. In the mid-west, maybe it’s tornados.
With all the stuff you’re discussing, it may be more of a bug out truck. I keep my truck stocked with pretty much everything I’d need to survive a day or three in the truck alone. I do a lot of driving for work, a few hundred miles from home, so I try to always be ready to bug home regardless of what happens. To this end, I have two different radios (CB and GMRS) in the truck, tools, survival food/water, ammo, blankets, first aid, knives, lights, paper maps, redundant stand-alone GPS units, etc. etc. Also, if, say, I wreck or break down and can’t reach someone quickly, I can hunker down with the truck and hold out for a while.
Otherwise, and I know others above have mentioned it, a lot of us plan not on bugging out, but staying put. Much of what you mention is good for all that. I’m not sure what your son’s needs are, and if he still lives with you, but if he needs any medicine or things like that, to me that’s item number one to have on your bug-in or out plan. The notes above from others are also good points, and I think you have a good list started.
I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR THE LESSON TO BUILD THAT ONE! ![]()
Couple hundred feet durable rope, gloves ( Kevlar/fire resistant ), paracord, quality carabiners, cash ( 1’s, 5’s and 10’s ), duct tape, various knives, mirror, whistle, compass, paper maps ( US geological topography ), CBRN masks.
Allow space for personal RPG’s, razor wire and couple of claymores.
I never leave home without the ability to cover my a$$ ![]()
I have a number of items in my B.O.B. that I have built over the past several years. Just remember to keep your loved ones in mind if/when you need to BO. As far as firearms, I have a Bersa BP9 pistol and a Henry AR-7 .22LR collapsible/water proof rifle (ammo for both). Both of these are really affordable. Survival knife. I also have 2) 2-way walkies/radios (Talk2Me), Emergency fishing gear. MREs for 2 weeks. Emergency blanket, Cold weather clothing. 200 yards of para-cord. Fire-starting kits. Waterproof matches. Collapsible emergency tent. Compass. Hand cranked radio. 3 canteens. Multi function tool. Emergency flashlights(hand cranked). Road flares. Flare gun. hand made snares. Mirrors. $300 cash (1s and 5s). Whistles. FIRSTAID KITS AND TOURNIQUETS! All of this actually fits in a large duffel bag. It will go in my truck, which always has at least 1/2 tank. Also have a designated meeting spot for your family!
There are two things you need if you eat MREs for two weeks, Lots of toilet paper, diarrhea meds, or the opposite. Xlax , stay away from the meat with tomato sauce!
Portable Faraday Cage
Solar recharger
Kindle or equivalent preloaded with survivalist type info, fishing line, hooks. M-80 or equivalent for emergency protein, pemmican as an example, space blankets aplenty, satellite capable phone plan (Verizon has one that u can make satellite calls from certain regular phones). PTT will work alot of times even when cell phone towers are overwhelmed. If you have the capability can get ham radio fairly cheaply and easy to obtain license.
Parachute cord, D rings, skeletonized axe or hatchet, various types of knives, eating kit,
Bug spray, sun screen, life straws (always have a back up on the most important things because you don’t want single point failure points).
This is just top of mind stuff from what I have in my bug out bags.
He will have to get a bag with wheels pretty soon. LOL

We would not survive bugging out without a vehicle and where would we go. I still have several go bags (not back packs) that can be grabbed and tossed into a vehicle. Trauma bag, weapon bags including maintenance and ammo. I still keep a couple of very light get home bags that go in the car if I have to drive short distances out of town. Be realistic about what you can carry and look seriously at wheeled cargo haulers like a folding deer carrier if you have to abandon your vehicle. Also look at alternate means of transport like bicycles. A bicycle can carry a large amount of weight. Swiss Army still use them. If you have lakes or rivers, a small boat or canoe can carry a lot of stuff even on a trailer and can be human powered.
A walking staff that can be made into a spear or gig. Heavy duty broom handle from hardware store works well and there are screw on blades that fit the threads. Not for throwing but can be a good defense against feral dogs or other animals. Gun shots attract predators and you need to conserve ammo. Also consider a bow, crossbow or an air rifle.
A book on local edible wild plants/food sources. Animal snares.
Solar battery charger.
Small collapsible wood stove. Other fuels will run out while twigs will always be available.
Water purification. Multiple filter along with tablets. Single wall stainless steel water bottles which can be heated. Check thrift stores. I have picked up a bunch for $1 each.
Fishing gear. Don’t forget crayfish. Not talking rods and reels but gigs or spears and nets.
I have it worked out. ![]()

That’s what I’m talking about. ![]()
You’re killing me!
That is what I feel like going to the range ![]()
I don’t ascribe to the whole ‘bug out bag’ mentality. Unless you have a SECURE and SELF-SUFFICIENT place to go, and a GURANTEED REUABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO SAFELY GET THERE, stay where you are most familiar. Harden it, stock it, and arm/train yourself to defend it. For those reasons we have GET HOME BAGS in every vehicle, along with weapons to defend ourselves.




