Hi, Preppers. I'm looking for some advice from you all. I'm a college student living a 10 hour drive from my family back home. I keep thinking about the worst case scenario if something were to happen and all sh*t broke loose. I would need to make it from Chicago to South Dakota so I can regroup with my family. To say the least, I'm sure a 10 hour drive in an emergency situation might not be a possibility so I want to be prepared to make it on foot. Any suggestions or ideas for a get home bag?
Long Distance Get Home Bag
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Focus on what you need to survive. Water, food, shelter and security. You can’t carry enough water for a two week hike, so get a couple filters. Food can be alot easier to carry now days with freeze dried pouches and energy bars at least. The security thing can help with catching food too, as in a gun for hunting. By the way, most prepping items can have more than one use, and should. Shelter can be anything from a tent, tarp, or even just a warm water resistant blanket. Your basics are covered by this, but I would strongly recommend some more things like minor first aid, extra shoes, fire starters, etc. The problem is with weight though. If you’re traveling a long way, I’m guessing 6 to 700 miles, you don’t want to over pack. Just the fact that you are considering and planning for the possibility of an event happening already puts you ahead of 90% of the people out there.
G, I wonder who this is. A college student would just Google it up or youtube search bugout bag. Yeah right.
I can't wait for Clyde to get back.
I can't wait for Clyde to get back.
Wait, you’re suspicious of this, compared to Mexican Maria this is nothing!
I miss Maria....
This don't surprise me. How many college students log on to message boards anymore? This isn't 2002. Lol. You can Google bugout bag and have instant access to 100 detailed in-depth videos on get home bags.
This is a joke.
Thanks, Brent. Starting a list of necessities right now. And I agree, weight here is very important. I need to take into consideration myself and my buddy who I plan on taking too so shareable items can easily be distributed to lighten the load.
I'm confused with the nature of your response to this thread. What is this community for if not for guidance, experience, and communication for people who want to be ready and prepared. I have people I need to look after, so being prepared is a must.
Thanks
Yea right I'm sure. And I'm Donald Trump.
I don't even know what you're trying to accuse me of, but unless you're hear to provide some advice for this then push off. I'm here so I don't have to waste my time sorting through the garbage websites online when you search this stuff.
Hmmm...u sound English. Carry on mate...aka Silent Seeker.
5:11 Rush 72 is a great bit of kit.
Everyone here has a budget to work with. The one thing I advise to not skimp on though is a good water filter. And Learning to use it properly too. Everything else is secondary to staying hydrated, especially when your walking with gear or doing any strenuous work your not accustomed to.
Seeing that ur from the UK I'm sure ur used to being on foot so that won't be issue. I know ur a college student so ur no stranger to youtube as well but I thought Id share anyway.
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You said that you will distribute the weight between you and your buddy to not overload. Just make sure you each carry a water filter, compass, map and flint or whatever you plan on fire starter. Those are essential and you just never know. You may get separated or loss one with a long hike. In a SHTF situation also keep in mind that others are going to be wanting your stuff and getting separated is a big possibility.
if you have a possibility,then try out some different bags,not all will sit okay on you,loading them will give you some advice you'll need about them.
but what ever bag you go for;check that it's made okay,not adviceable to go cheap and then find out after an hrs hike,seams brake etc.
but what ever bag you go for;check that it's made okay,not adviceable to go cheap and then find out after an hrs hike,seams brake etc.
Just looked it up, seems pretty cool. Unfortunately out of my budget.
I'd like to be ready for the event where I'd have to take to the fields and stay out of hind sight
I don't like that idea, but it's definitely a possibility. I guess acting the grey man is the best way out of the city until we can get on some open country roads
This is Silent Earth/MexicanMaria. Your gray man abilities are weak.
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Ok, for THAT long of a trek, the only things to carry with you are....
The TOOLS to get food, not the food itself (though some ration bars are a good idea). So, a good knife, and see weapon below. An extendable camping fork is very handy too.
A WEAPON (that can also get food) Small caliber gun, that way you can have lots of ammo, and not blow your food into tiny pieces.
WATER PURIFICATION (like a Lifestraw kind of thing) - Like food, you are going to have to find this on the way, can't carry too much.
REALLY GOOD SHOES (ones you know won't hurt after a lot of walking, and provide good support and wear)
CELL PHONE AND SOLAR CHARGER (and store a LOT of survival pdfs on it.)
SMALL DOME TENT (these are light, sturdy, and can take a hell of a lot of weather).
METAL WATER BOTTLE (so you can boil water, and carry some)
SEASONINGS (since you're finding food as you go, this will make it tasty)
SMALL COOKING PAN (so you can cook what you find)
DECK OF CARDS (so you have something to do during downtime...if you can, get some survival cards, so you can also learn about edible plants while doing so, etc.)
TRAVEL AT NIGHT (at night, you'll see a coming car's lights long before they see you. during the day though, you'd be pretty visible traveling along a road). Leads to the next item
FLASHLIGHT that can be charged via USB (i.e. your solar cell phone charger). Some chargers themselves have this, so done deal.
FIRST AID KIT (small one, like size of a wallet.)
LIGHTER (to make fire. simple, easy to use, but get a good lighter, not a disposable).
that really covers all the basics, anything else is just icing on the cake. Personally, I'd probably include some burglar tools too, so you can get into places along the way and hole up...but that's me.
The TOOLS to get food, not the food itself (though some ration bars are a good idea). So, a good knife, and see weapon below. An extendable camping fork is very handy too.
A WEAPON (that can also get food) Small caliber gun, that way you can have lots of ammo, and not blow your food into tiny pieces.
WATER PURIFICATION (like a Lifestraw kind of thing) - Like food, you are going to have to find this on the way, can't carry too much.
REALLY GOOD SHOES (ones you know won't hurt after a lot of walking, and provide good support and wear)
CELL PHONE AND SOLAR CHARGER (and store a LOT of survival pdfs on it.)
SMALL DOME TENT (these are light, sturdy, and can take a hell of a lot of weather).
METAL WATER BOTTLE (so you can boil water, and carry some)
SEASONINGS (since you're finding food as you go, this will make it tasty)
SMALL COOKING PAN (so you can cook what you find)
DECK OF CARDS (so you have something to do during downtime...if you can, get some survival cards, so you can also learn about edible plants while doing so, etc.)
TRAVEL AT NIGHT (at night, you'll see a coming car's lights long before they see you. during the day though, you'd be pretty visible traveling along a road). Leads to the next item
FLASHLIGHT that can be charged via USB (i.e. your solar cell phone charger). Some chargers themselves have this, so done deal.
FIRST AID KIT (small one, like size of a wallet.)
LIGHTER (to make fire. simple, easy to use, but get a good lighter, not a disposable).
that really covers all the basics, anything else is just icing on the cake. Personally, I'd probably include some burglar tools too, so you can get into places along the way and hole up...but that's me.
Depending on which situation unfolds I would look to a bike that way in the first few days hopefully before people turn violent you can cover major ground. If the situation turns Fitch the bike and travel at night. Hopefully the bike can get you away from the masses quickly.
On foot you do not reach in any way. Buy not expensive off-road motorcycle and a shotgun. These two things will somehow improve your chances of getting home. In the rest, everything will depend on the situation at that moment. In any case, before the nomination, it is better to wait a couple of days and assess the current situation.
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Wait where?
Personally, if all goes sideways, I definitely would rather get on my way home. I'll go as far as my truck can get me, and then I'm on foot. I'll travel at night, with the sole purpose of trying to be unseen while moving. When sleeping, it will be when well hidden, and during the day, and well off a traversed path. My get home goal is to get there without being seen by a single soul.
Personally, if all goes sideways, I definitely would rather get on my way home. I'll go as far as my truck can get me, and then I'm on foot. I'll travel at night, with the sole purpose of trying to be unseen while moving. When sleeping, it will be when well hidden, and during the day, and well off a traversed path. My get home goal is to get there without being seen by a single soul.
For a long-distance bug-out bag?
A lot depends upon your environment.
Make sure you have two pairs of boots so you can rotate them, and the stuff to take care of your feet. Get a mesh mosquito suit. I think highly of the Tioga Kelty external frame pack, but other packs may work just as well.
A jungle hammock is lighter than a tent, but you need trees to string it from. A back-packing filter will provide water, a rudimentary first aid kit with vet antibiotics may help you stay healthy, Peterson's Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants should be included, a fire kit, a compass, maps, a hatchet, a ka-bar, a wire saw, lockpicks (and the skill to use them), freeze-dried concentrates, peanut butter, a canteen, a folding shovel, Castile soap, and so on.
Skill is more important than stuff.
Read Wild, by Cheryl Strayed. She hiked about 1,200 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail with no hiking experience, boots that didn't fit, she began her trip strung out on heroin, and was overloaded with a lot of stuff that she didn't need.
It seems to me that most people seem to think that they need more stuff than is actually neccesary (I'm not excluding myself here. My girlfriend looks at my stockpile and suggests that I'm starting to become a hoarder. She may be right.).
If you have food, clothing, shelter, water, weapons, and medical needs covered with the bare basics...what else do you need?
A lot depends upon your environment.
Make sure you have two pairs of boots so you can rotate them, and the stuff to take care of your feet. Get a mesh mosquito suit. I think highly of the Tioga Kelty external frame pack, but other packs may work just as well.
A jungle hammock is lighter than a tent, but you need trees to string it from. A back-packing filter will provide water, a rudimentary first aid kit with vet antibiotics may help you stay healthy, Peterson's Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants should be included, a fire kit, a compass, maps, a hatchet, a ka-bar, a wire saw, lockpicks (and the skill to use them), freeze-dried concentrates, peanut butter, a canteen, a folding shovel, Castile soap, and so on.
Skill is more important than stuff.
Read Wild, by Cheryl Strayed. She hiked about 1,200 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail with no hiking experience, boots that didn't fit, she began her trip strung out on heroin, and was overloaded with a lot of stuff that she didn't need.
It seems to me that most people seem to think that they need more stuff than is actually neccesary (I'm not excluding myself here. My girlfriend looks at my stockpile and suggests that I'm starting to become a hoarder. She may be right.).
If you have food, clothing, shelter, water, weapons, and medical needs covered with the bare basics...what else do you need?
a 10 hour Drive is going to be a long way ON FOOT, you could be talking A MONTH's walk, maybe two.
food and water is going to be the main problem-no way can you carry a month's worth of food.
