Table of Content
If you don’t go stainless steel, you still need a way to carry water so consider a Nalgene bottle or a collapsible water bottle, if space is tight. The Bug Out Bag will contain items that you’ll need to survive for a few days. Everything you need should fit in and it should still be light enough for you to carry.
I have one bottle wrapped in 15 feet of duct tape. The 2nd bottle is nested with with a gsi stainless canteen cup. I would not put all my diabetic meds in the first aid kit, I would keep the bulk of them in a separate kit, but maybe put 3 days in the first aid kit. I wouldn’t want anyone to get a hold of them as they could get quite sick if they mistakenly took them, some people don’t read notes on items especially on meds.
Organizing Your Get Home Bag
You’ll need to think about the season, your region and the type of commute that’s available to you. For example, an urban environment may have required more specific items as compared to the rural routes. Small Binoculars – You’ll want to be able to check for obstacles and “situations” before you get to them.
This level will ensure that you get home safely within a 3-hour period. The items here will prove to be very useful but aren’t helpful when it comes to overnight stays. A get home bag can get you home even amidst huge calamities and disasters, but it only works if you have it with you most of the time. Emergency Signal – Pack in a small mirror or a flare for when you need long-distance signaling items. Glowsticks – Get the ones that give you 12 hours of light.
Small First Aid Kit
I don’t get why this is always overlooked. Outfit it with a rear tire stand that she can sit on and bada bing bada boom, you’re there and back in less than an hour. If you spin regularly like me…25-30 minutes. I’m taking matters into my own hands so I’m not just preparing, I’m going to a friggin’ war to provide you the best of the best survival and preparedness content out there.
You’ll probably want to avoid anything expensive, fancy or tactical. Minimal space and weight can go a long way to keep you sane on a hike solo or with another person. Having a mini set of playing cards can occupy time while in a safer place and keep your spirits up. Also having tea and coffee can really boost morale.
Lumbar/Mountaineering Hiking Pack:
I have a similar setup I keep under my backseat with about 2 days rations. I work in southeast PA so that should be enough for me to walk home in a disaster. I keep 2 extra mags in mine though haha. Please follow all your state and local laws when adding firearms/magazines/ammo/ knives as well as have safety training before handling any weapon. I am liscenced to carry in my state, which also allows me to carry a firearm during a state of emergency, your local laws may vary. – Printed list of telephones and addresses of friends and family.
The basic recommendation for a get home bag goes as far as food is 3 days’ worth. Like a bandanna, duct tape has a million and one uses. It’s a must in every survival bag, be it a bug out bag, inch bag or get home bag.
They come in a waterproof or non-waterproof version as well. Light weight, nicely padded and comfortable. And don’t forget to include your medications – especially if your life depends on them. It might be a luxury but I’d add a water filter to get rid of the nasty stuff before you boil/chemically purify to get rid of the nasties. You may need to boil water, heat up food, or just stay warm while you make your way home, so make sure you have a good lighter or some other kind of fire starter. You’ll need this in case you’re travelling through an unlit area at night.
Based on our above criteria, here is a selection of backpacks and other bags that would make fine get-home bags. ❌ Overtly tactical or military appearance- recall that you GHB may accompany you as you go to your job/appointment/whatever. Tactical backpacks can be very conspicuous in some settings. ✅ A duffel/gym bag – For sure capacity and a minimum of fuss, a gym bag or duffle bag is an okay option. You can cram whatever you need into one and reasonably expect it to hold up if it is high quality.
Flashlight or Knife – You’ll need a sturdy, water-proof headlamp or flashlight. It should have a stable hands-free feature and has several light modes including strobe signals, dimming, and flash. You’ll need all three of these survival bags in order to be prepared for anything.
I suggest you get a metal bottle because it gives you the possibility to boil water or even cook in it, which comes handy in a survival scenario. When the big bang happens regardless of what kind it is, know how you will go get your kids. Is there a route you’d think would be safer to use? What about alternate routes in case you have to detour?
Without skills, you’re bound to make potentially lethal mistakes out in the wild. Keep your survival skills sharp and up to date. Practice fire-starting, shelter-building, and basic first aid well in advance.
If you carry a smaller, leaner laptop bag then your extra space will be sharply curtailed. The biggest disadvantage of a laptop bag is shared my most other bags that are not backpacks; it will have only a shoulder strap and a handle to help you carry it. As you well know, disaster can strike at any place, any time. No matter how fool-proof your bug out plan is, you can’t execute if you can’t get home – that’s why having a get home bag accessible at all times is essential. Lastly I may just be a naive Canadian, but in my opinion (please guys, don’t rip me apart), I can’t say I understand this push for weapons. Like I get having a rifle… it’s for hunting.
One downside is that you can’t fit in additional items and you’d need to rely on the external straps to do so, which sacrifices a bit of mobility. The waist and shoulder straps add a nice touch in terms of efficient weight distribution. One downside is that you can only hold water and very little else. First, let’s figure out what constitutes a Get Home Bag. I like to think of a Get Home Bag as a backpack, filled with enough tools and supplies to get me home. We may not have to hike a thousand miles, but some of us might end up on foot for more than 40 miles.
