Are Bug Out Bags location specific?

[Reverenddel]

I was trying to explain that things we need here on the East Coast, might not work for those on the Left Coast, or in a desert, or in a tundra. I was told that's not true.

I realize there are BASIC items, but are BOB's generic, or locale specific?

[Jakeiscrazy]

I think they are location specif even seasonal.

[Reverenddel]

I know if you have the basics of fire, tarps, and such... you pretty much can survive anywhere.

Les Stroud once said "If I have a good knife, a strong tarp, and a way to make fire? It's camping, not surviving."

[Jakeiscrazy]

There is surviving and there is thriving. If your build a BOB you should be striving to do more than survive on the edge. Les Strout may be right but I wouldn't chance it.

[mamabearCali]

I would say they are location specific, season specific, and family type specific.

There are some things that you want in every situation--knife, tarp, method of starting a fire. However there are things that would be location specific--are you in a location with streams and lakes and all you need is a filter for getting water, or are you out in the desert where surviving means harvesting water in less than ideal situations. Is it the summer when you need protection from insects? Is it the winter when a good pair of snowboots and a heavy coat is the difference between life and death. Is it spring, summer, or fall when wild plants might be available for eating and animals around for the picking off, or is it winter when you must carry your own food and wild food is very hard to come by.

IMHO bugging out is the last option, but if you must bug out you owe it to yourself to be able to survive for more than a day (in the winter without a coat, even here in mild VA, is not going to be survivable). Seasonal and location specific things are going to make that easier/more likely to happen. Additionally if you have children, if you can, a bug out bag for each of them would be wise as well (mine is small for each child--a one gallon ziplock bag). In it I would recommend a comfort item and a toy for each child a set of clothes and a pair of socks, some small bits of non-perishable food would not go amiss (trail mix). Now in my 6 year old's bug out bag we are considering putting a small pocket knife as my DH is starting to teach him about how to handle a knife. Additionally I am looking for a small collapsible cup for each child--have not found one that I like yet.

[Palladin]

I think they are location specif even seasonal.

+1

Definitely loc. and season specific, and owner specific.

[Pumbaa]

And I will add that they will change according to your perceived needs and current life situation as well.

eg, you are commuting 5 miles and now doing 40. You have a family grow by 1. Ages of family members will also effect things. What you have for a 2 month old is different for a 2 year old or a teen.

I personally, believe you should at least think about your needs monthly or quarterly. Minimum 1x year.

As said, location also changes things. I lived in snow country in New York. What I carried 1/4 year differed from the rest. Now that I am in VA, that has changed too. But I do take into account that we still get some snow and cold here.

[gunderwood]

Of course they are location specific...

The one on my motorcycle is different than the cars which is different than the house...

[zephyp]

The best thing to have is survival knowledge...multiple ways to stay warm, light fires, and have "drinkable" water if you know what you are doing and have next to nothing with you...

[vooduchkn]

I agree with above posters that BOBs are area specific. I currently live in Hawaii (hoping to jump to the mainland in March) and my bag has significantly changed from last location.

Fresh water sources are an issue here. Most of the island streams contain leptosporosis, so I make sure i have what I need to neutralize this nasty little critter. It is always hot here, so water is the main issue if you have to head to the hills. For that reason each bag has 4 bottles of water that are sealed. These can be sterilized using the SODIS method after they have been consumed. Each bag has a camelback in it as well.

It rains a lot, so I have weather protection for my family in our bags. Each has a main poncho and then an emergency poncho. The thought being, make your shelters from the main poncho and use the emergency if needed.

Despite it being a "jungle" environment, most of the vines are not very friendly when it comes to using them in constructing anything. 550 cord is cheap, light and very useful.

We have 3 months of prescriptions for each person as needed on hand all the time.

Food. The wildlife here (next to birds and ocean fish) is non-existent. This island has about a 5 day supply of food and then the grocery stores are basically empty (if shipping stops). We have a week food supply via MRES and various other items stashed away in our bags.

I am always looking for improvement. Suggestions are always taken!

[Reverenddel]

The Primary things are Food, Shelter, and Fire. (Yellow, Blue, and Red), the Secondary things are Protection, Communication, and Scavenging (Green, Purple, and Brown).

If color coded list are your things, you get Post its, and start thinking of things that go into your BOB...

That'll tell you more about specific locations than trying to think it out long ways.

For example: In VA Winters? It's more ice than snow, communication by Dish isn't as feasible as by antenna. Also, solar power cells need a layer of added protection (usually a Lexan sheet simply attached with padded big black paper clips.)

[zephyp]

The Primary things are Food, Shelter, and Fire. (Yellow, Blue, and Red), the Secondary things are Protection, Communication, and Scavenging (Green, Purple, and Brown).

If color coded list are your things, you get Post its, and start thinking of things that go into your BOB...

That'll tell you more about specific locations than trying to think it out long ways.

For example: In VA Winters? It's more ice than snow, communication by Dish isn't as feasible as by antenna. Also, solar power cells need a layer of added protection (usually a Lexan sheet simply attached with padded big black paper clips.)

Fail. Force protection and security are always number one...if you dont have that the other things dont matter.

[Skeptic]

I think they are location specif even seasonal.

+1.


If I have a water filter in my BOB and I am going to an area with brackish water, it better handle salty water, or else dont bother having it.

Meanwhile my extra compass is not winter friendly (the liquid will freeze - I had 2 previously) so that goes out of my bob when its gets chilly, also I put in extra wool socks when it gets cold.

[Skeptic]

I think they are location specif even seasonal.

+1.


If I have a water filter in my BOB and I am going to an area with brackish water, it better handle salty water, or else dont bother having it.

Meanwhile my extra compass is not winter friendly (the liquid will freeze - I had 2 previously) so that goes out of my bob when its gets chilly, also I put in extra wool socks when it gets cold.

Um that is if I HAD a bob. Nosiree, not I. Nope nope big misunderstanding there. I am not one of those types not I. That's just a European carryall you see over in the back of my truck.

[Skeptic]

The Primary things are Food, Shelter, and Fire. (Yellow, Blue, and Red), the Secondary things are Protection, Communication, and Scavenging (Green, Purple, and Brown).

If color coded list are your things, you get Post its, and start thinking of things that go into your BOB...

That'll tell you more about specific locations than trying to think it out long ways.

For example: In VA Winters? It's more ice than snow, communication by Dish isn't as feasible as by antenna. Also, solar power cells need a layer of added protection (usually a Lexan sheet simply attached with padded big black paper clips.)

Fail. Force protection and security are always number one...if you dont have that the other things dont matter.

That really depends on the nature of what you face. In ages past more people died in wars from sickness hunger or exposure than from being wounded in battle. You could have 100% force protection but if you have no water and no way to get it, you have 3 days to live tops.

[zephyp]

The Primary things are Food, Shelter, and Fire. (Yellow, Blue, and Red), the Secondary things are Protection, Communication, and Scavenging (Green, Purple, and Brown).

If color coded list are your things, you get Post its, and start thinking of things that go into your BOB...

That'll tell you more about specific locations than trying to think it out long ways.

For example: In VA Winters? It's more ice than snow, communication by Dish isn't as feasible as by antenna. Also, solar power cells need a layer of added protection (usually a Lexan sheet simply attached with padded big black paper clips.)

Fail. Force protection and security are always number one...if you dont have that the other things dont matter.

That really depends on the nature of what you face. In ages past more people died in wars from sickness hunger or exposure than from being wounded in battle. You could have 100% force protection but if you have no water and no way to get it, you have 3 days to live tops.

I dont care what the situation is. Force protection and security is first priority. Then you can move out and get the other things. If you have water, food, and shelter you must have security of fear losing those things.

Even in real life the very first thing I do in a new home is make sure everything is secure. It is idiotic to move anything in unless the doors and windows lock. Security is always first unless you are facing life threatening conditions that require immediate attention such as severe bleeding, trauma, etc.

[vooduchkn]

If color coded list are your things, you get Post its, and start thinking of things that go into your BOB...

That'll tell you more about specific locations than trying to think it out long ways.

For example: In VA Winters? It's more ice than snow, communication by Dish isn't as feasible as by antenna. Also, solar power cells need a layer of added protection (usually a Lexan sheet simply attached with padded big black paper clips.)[/quote]


Fail. Force protection and security are always number one...if you dont have that the other things dont matter.[/quote]
That really depends on the nature of what you face. In ages past more people died in wars from sickness hunger or exposure than from being wounded in battle. You could have 100% force protection but if you have no water and no way to get it, you have 3 days to live tops.[/quote]

I dont care what the situation is. Force protection and security is first priority. Then you can move out and get the other things. If you have water, food, and shelter you must have security of fear losing those things.

Even in real life the very first thing I do in a new home is make sure everything is secure. It is idiotic to move anything in unless the doors and windows lock. Security is always first unless you are facing life threatening conditions that require immediate attention such as severe bleeding, trauma, etc.[/quote]

I agree with you to an extent. When it comes to being armed, I agree. About going out to "get" other things that are needed as long as you have your security covered but, I would expect others to be armed as well.

It makes sense to cover you bases and have a starting point that will last you until you need to go look for a resupply.

[ShortMan]

Since a bug out bag needs to be small enough to carry, I'd say it is location specific. I grew up in Minnesota, lived in Florida, Iceland, Mojave, Oregon, and now Virginia.
I always updated my car survival kit whenever I settled in a new area. Iceland one had more and heavier blankets, Mojave kit had tons of water plus some mineral packets and a large jug of sunblock, as opposed to one tiny stick. Oregon bag I put everything in Ziplocks and added a real rain jacket as opposed to those flimsy emergency packets.
Virginia kit can probably be more balanced since we dont have extreme weather.
And obviously if I had a baby I would need to make something different.

I'd say when you settle down for keeps you should make your car kit and bug out bag work as well as possible under the conditions. Its also a good excuse to dig in and see if theres anything that could use improving. I tried many combinations of flashlights but recently took to scattering Photon lights all over the place and now just have one good ITP light and spare batteries, as opposed to my previous method of several different Mini-Mags. Flashlight technology improves fast enough its worth the time to put newer things in and take old stuff out. Other things dont need replacing. I dont think theres a new and improved Mylar blanket out there. Quality survival knives really havent improved, nor have MRE's.

[Palladin]

+1 on the Photons.
Very handy

[Reverenddel]

This isn't about WHAT YOU BRING, it's about ORDER OF SURVIVAL.

I can understand your thought process on being armed, but you know? I can MAKE a weapon, I cannot MAKE POTABLE WATER! It doesn't keep the rain/snow/sun off of me. It doesn't keep me warm/ward off insects.

A weapon can be fashioned easily, but disease, weather, thrist/hunger kill more often than roving bands of evil.

I realize it's a "gun forum", but sometimes? Guns ain't the answer to everything... I hate quoting Rambo II, but "I find the mind is the best weapon."

Securing what you have is nice, but you have to GET IT first!