Why You Should Always Have a ‘Bug-Out’ Bag On Your Trip & What Should Be In It

Those doomsday preppers are crazy, right? Well not really, or not always. I’m a bit of a prepper myself. I don’t go all out, although there is nothing wrong with that, but I do find it significantly important to have things on hand in the event of a national or local disaster such as flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc which all end up causing a shortage of various supplies and food.

But let’s look at this further. Say you are on vacation and a natural disaster does happen. You flew to your vacation destination and all rental cars are already taken so it looks like you are going to have to hunker down in a cheap hotel room until flights are up and running again or a rental car becomes available. You’re unable to get to a grocery store or a pharmacy or anywhere for that matter so you can only rely on what you have with you. What’s in your suitcase? Is it enough to sustain you until help arrives or you are able to leave? Probably not. That’s where having a bug-out bag can come in handy. It’s not always about worst case scenario, doomsday prophecies; it’s about being prepared for anything to happen. For Christmas one year, I made my family little mini bug-out bags that they could leave in there car or bring anywhere with them. It was basically a fanny pack with essentials such as non-perishable foods like beef jerky and peanuts, a small first aid kit, cotton balls and a lighter in case a fire needed to be built, and a mini flashlight. Something that simple can be life saving, or at the very least, helpful in different situations.

Types of bug-out bags can very depending on how prepared you want to be, can be changed depending on where you are heading or how you plan to travel to your destination (i.e. airplane, train, car, etc). I keep one in my personal vehicle at all times because I do a lot of driving when I travel anyway, but is even good to have locally if I break down in a snowstorm or get trapped by high water. It’s my preferred method of getting to my destination. You have a lot more room, in the sense of what you are “allowed” to put in your bug-out bag, as opposed to flying or other public transportation. For instance, you can’t bring a knife on an airplane carry-on bag but you can if in a checked bag. You are also limited to the amount of ounces of fluids on an airplane if you wanted to put some bottled water in your bag.

Let’s take a look of what should be in your bug-out!

• Non-perishable food (can & should include MREs, small, lightweight packs of food/snacks such as crackers, tuna, beef jerky, peanuts, etc. You should have 3 days worth of food but at the very least 1 day worth)
• Two to four bottles of water and a durable and refillable water bottle
• Standard first aid kit (bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, itch cream, assortment of over-the-counter medications for pain, stomach issues, & allergies, antiseptic towelettes, tweezers, protective/surgical gloves, and disposable cold compression packs)
• Cash and/or prepaid VISA card(not connected to your bank account) (this is money you are not spending on your vacation, just for emergencies. At least $100)
• Handcrack/solar powered radio (in case electricity is out. This one also will charge your cell phone, has a built-in flashlight and is small and compact. Doesn’t take up much room in your bag!)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Knife (a small tactical knife or a machete, remember these can only be on checked bags if you are flying. These are meant to be helpful in a situation you might need to make fire, cut open an MRE, but can also be used as self-defense if absolutely necessary. Remember to check places/states/countries you are visiting as they might not allow you to carry these.)
• A set of clean, dry clothes. (These do not need to be fancy at all. It can be a t-shirt and sweatpants just make sure they are in a bag that will stay dry. Make sure to bring a couple pair of socks too!)
• Poncho (you might get disposable ones or a heavier duty, reusable one)
• Compass and map of the area you will be in (Learn to how to use a compass in the short video)
• Fire starter, lighter, or waterproof matches (or all 3 if you wish!) (Also pack some cotton balls to help start your fire.)
• LifeStraw or water purification tablets
• Paracord
• Extra supply of any medications you are on, if any

The above is the basic necessities of what you will need in a bug-out bag. Remember to keep in mind how you are traveling and where you are going as you may need to make adjustments. Some other things to bring in your bug-out bag but aren’t necessary are:

• Fishing equipment (fishing line and lures, hooks, and bobbers)
• Hunting equipment (such as a collapsable bow. Keep in mind of hunting regulations in the area you will be in. Although, you will likely not be hunting for a meal unless you are in an extreme case of survival, in which, hunting regulations might be the least of your worries but still keep them in mind.)
• Camping cookware set
• Advanced first aid kit (everything in a standard with additions such as emergency wound dressing, venom extractor, splinting materials, suture kit, and tournquit.

I hope this helps you think about getting a bug out back set up for your travels, as well as any time, because you just never know

Better to be safe than sorry! Happy travels!