Bugout Bag? What’s Inside and Why?

Gear selection and reasons for my personal BUGOUT Bag

[aserioussalamander]

My dad left when I was 6 years old. I'm 13 now. Dave is like a father figure to me. I have a pack fully geared and a cooking kit at the ready at all times in case I need it

[apprenticegilligan]

It would be great if colleges offered a prepping course. One that would cover EVERYTHING from bushcraft, ham radio license, trauma medical training, canning, wilderness and urban survival, everything. Then when folks graduated they would have all the knowledge, licenses, and training available.

[sandraw]

Re: First Aid. Agree that minimum you need for most injury situations is a tourniquet, duct tape, pack of compressible gauze, and an Ace Bandage or Coban. However, illness will bring you down fast. As a minimum (which takes very little space if packed in labeled zip lock pill bags) you need painkiller ((Ibuprophen), anti diarrheal, anti-histamine, anti-nausea.

[jeepnicc]

Dave, that nesting cup for the Grayl is probably the best news I've heard all year!

[dick-parker]

I just want to thank you for all the knowledge you’ve passed down over the years. I been watching your videos since I was 12 and I’m 24 now. I’ve learned so much from you one of my favorite videos is the shotgun and shell bag combo that you did, it was a classic🇺🇸

[moorshound]

Possibly the best bugout bag video ever made.
Hats off to you Sir.
Very well put together kit.
Thanks for posting.

[ejvaiese]

I typically don’t like when people talk on and on..but I could listen to Dave talk for hours.

His knowledge, conveyance of information, tone, cadence, vocabulary, humor, story telling, engineering mindset combined with the eveydayman’s perspective.

Man this is good stuff.

[dash]

Great video. Few of us would be leaving home alone, its important that everyone have their own C’s instead of parsing them out across the bags, if one bag is lost then we’re all missing something.
We each carry a Eno Jungle Nest with a built in bug net, poncho, and Snugpak Jungle Blanket - it never seems to get mentioned that a hammock *can* be laid out on the ground if need be. I add a 10x13 Aquaquest camo tarp that we all fit under.
Wife has a Glock 35, I carry a G27 in a Hill People chest pack and a AR pistol, or a 590A1.
A chest bag correctly suspended from your backpack straps cant be praised enough, its literally freeloading, every pound added to the chest counterbalances against the backpack, its almost like cheating, plus its always attached to you, always there, never lost or loose.

[secondslater]

Great vid, Dave.

Aussie bushcrafter here, I don't have a ready made bug out bag as such, I have 2 large oiled canvas rectangular duffle bags with a flat zip top that I keep all my bushcraft and bugout gear in when I am home. I use two bags to make them light enough to move a short distance to my vehicle, this enables quick movement from the danger area with all of my gear if required or just ease of transport when doing a field trip.

The contents are sectioned up and marked for identification using various pouches ie shelter, water system, sleep, rope management, cooking, food, firestarting, tools, so on and so forth.

I keep an empty collapsible rolltop pack of 60 litre capacity right next to these two bags so I can easily load it with gear to suit the bug out situation, I do this as it unlikely a bugout situation would occur while I am home, so my priority would be to make it home, load (either the two main bags and pack into my vehicle or contents into my pack if on foot) and go.

Because it is unlikely that a bugout situation would occur while I am at home, daily, I carry a bushcraft satchel with the 10 C's and few additions that would keep me for a couple of weeks in my bugout spot knowing I can gather and hunt food there.

Anyway, just a few thoughts on doing things differently.

[mendyviola]

My most likely scenario is bugging IN during hurricane season. I would love to see a video with your thoughts on what to have to shelter in place for long periods of time without power or potable water in hot weather, and possibly in a damaged house (e.g. roof leaks, etc).

[MIgunnut]

Dave I love what you do I have been off line for the last 3 years I moved off grid and no internet I'm glad to see your well and I hope your family is well


God bless

[maxlvledc]

One thing I've always admired about your process is how you think through the multiple applications of every item. That rope management system almost single handedly changed my experience in the outdoors.

[wisconsinwoodsman]

Yes, please get licensed if you plan to use your radio in non-emergency situations. I was participating in a recent emergency training event and some idiots were using the repeater we were working on illegally. Super frustrating. Don't forget that getting licensed also puts you in touch with people who can work with you on how to properly operate your radio. You will get much more satisfaction out of your communication experience if you learn, participate, and respect the hobby.

[primordialhumandwarf]

got to meet dave at the agricenter in memphis TN, missed his class but caught up with him afterwards at the pathfinder stand and he was kind enough to sign a copy of his book. glad to see he is still going at it and spreading the knowledge wherever and whenever possible, even if weve seent it 100x already. thanks dave!

[monlonlabe]

Almost everything is said and well said. Thanks for the video.

My 2 cents if I may :
Hammock : A DD hammock (english brand) could be used on the ground as well as with trees and it has a built in bug net . One model is with waterproof bottom in case for wet ground. It also have a double layer so you can fill it with leaves to make a cushion (mattress) and an insulation between you and the ground. I've testes this product for several years, rock solid.
Headlamp : RightNow it exist AA batteries rechargeable with USB cable so if you use them with your headlamp you do not have to carry mor than one spare of batteries and you can charge them with the SolarFilm solar panel. If your headlamp use another type of rechargeable batteries (AA, AAA or 18650 or xxx) Olight is making a "universal" charging cable for most type of batteries. Cost 30USD and weight very little.

[anonymous_friend]

Hey Dave, Try using eneloop pro AAA batteries for your headlamp with a small battery charger for your power pack, and you can have near unlimited headlamp usage without restocking batteries.

[michaelsimmons]

This is why I like David. “Explain and define and think.” I have a bug out bag bc you’re supposed to have one. I did not really know the real reason I had one. Now after this video I’ll have a better bug out bag and a second one for my other set of circumstances. Thanks again David for a great video.

[sagewilson]

Gave me a lot to reconsider in my edc in general, and about the mindset behind the bug-out bag, presented in a concise and clear way unmatched by any other content creator I've seen. Thanks, Dave. The dry bag for carrying water is a great idea. I have one that my mom gave me and now I know where to put it to use. 30L = 63.4 LBS!!!

[owenh]

Love the concept of flexible water bladders. It allows you to grab your water quickly and leave your water source quickly. There are several different styles of filters (gravity, suction, etc) that allow for different applications.

[mrhalfstep]

Dave, Bravo on a very insightful video! I would like to add one thing, if I may. The Grayl filter element ( I have the larger version, but I think this holds true with all of them ) has a finite lifespan, once you start using it, at least, that's the warning that the company uses in its advertising. So I would recommend that you pack a spare filter, particularly if you found that you couldn't resist "testing" the bottle ahead of time or if you use it routinely, outside of the bugout bag scenario, and aren't keeping track of the filter element's age. Popping on a fresh filter during SHTF would be the safest recourse, IMHO