The Go-Bag: Your first step in survival.
There are many different lists on what should go in a 'go-bag.' One of the problems is no two go bags are the same. YOU need to look at the enviroment you will be going to, is it wooded, is it desert, is food easy to get, is water easy to get and what are the temperatures that you will have to deal with, when you plan your go bag.
Yet even with this, there are some things that are common on any go bag list. For example the US government has a list of items and most of those items are on any professional list also. I will post both a professional list and The GOVERNMENT list and as a start and i Will be making my own list to follow as i Test out differnt items. Please dont wait for me to start. IF you find somehting that should be on the list, and/or you have tested out certain products, please email us and I will include your reviews for others to see and learn from.
Yet even with this, there are some things that are common on any go bag list. For example the US government has a list of items and most of those items are on any professional list also. I will post both a professional list and The GOVERNMENT list and as a start and i Will be making my own list to follow as i Test out differnt items. Please dont wait for me to start. IF you find somehting that should be on the list, and/or you have tested out certain products, please email us and I will include your reviews for others to see and learn from.
US GOVERNMENT:
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
Since Spring of 2020, the CDC has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.
A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Since Spring of 2020, the CDC has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
- Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces
- Prescription medications
- Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
- Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
- Replace expired items as needed.
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.
Skilled Survival recommends
First off, there are four critical objectives to take care of before you move on to the rest.
They’re often referred to as the Rule of 3’s.
These are resources that you will need in any situation and should form the core of your go bag checklist.
1 – Air
At a minimum keep a face cloth shield and few 95 masks in your go bag to help clean up the air you inhale.
But if you’re worried about nuclear fallout or even chemical attacks – you’ll need a full-fledged gas mask.
Medications
If you’ve got allergies or asthma, keep a supply of your medications or a spare inhaler in your go bag. Add an Epi-Pen if you or someone you know has an allergic reaction and can’t breathe.
2 – Shelter
You can survive for 3 hours without shelter in dangerous temperature conditions. But in the most extreme environments, that number is reduced drastically.
That’s why you should pack a survival blanket or a bivvy sack. These survival devices can mean the difference between life and death in bad weather.
You could also add a tent hammock for extra comfort without adding too much weight.
If you plan to travel with others, you can also look at larger group shelters such as a survival tent or even just a survival tarp.
3- Water
You can survive for 3 days without water.
Water is critical for survival, so make sure you always have access to clean, safe water.
I keep several single wall water bottles in my Emergency Go Bag (about a gallon total).
I also carry a small survival water filter so I can refill bottles from any available water source.
The Sawyer mini is both small but powerful. It can filter 100,000 gallons before it’s used up – that a whole lot of water!
4 – Food
Sure, you can survive 3 weeks without food but who would want to?
Your mental and physical performance will suffer quickly without energy.
If you’re not keeping up with the calorie demands, you quickly enter an agonizing state of starvation.
This can lead to poor decisions and fatigue when you can least afford it.
So pack a few lightweight, freeze-dried meals and some calorie-dense snacks.
GO BAG CONTENTS – EVERYTHING ELSE
Once you’ve got these four critical objectives handled, you can focus on the rest of the contents of your emergency go bag
Clothing
Your clothes in an emergency can make a huge difference.
Proper, high-quality clothing that will last is worth the investment.
Environmental conditions will change the types of clothes you need, so it’s best to keep up with the seasons.
For example, taking out the heavy winter coat in the summer means more space and weight savings.
Sturdy Gloves
Keep a pair (maybe two) of durable gloves in your bag.
They can be cold weather gloves, even in the summer.
They won’t add much weight or take much extra space, and your hands won’t contribute that much to overheating.
Leather palmed gloves will also protect your hands from more than just the cold:
- blisters from working with tools
- hot cooking pans
- splintered firewood
- broken glass
Worse yet, an infection could be the end if you’re not able to find any antibiotics!
Hat
You often hear the head can lose heat faster than the rest of the body. That’s why I keep a baseball hat and a windproof fleece beanie in my bag.
I can wear them separately or together, depending on whether I need protection from the sun, cold, or both.
Waterproof Jacket and Pants
A good waterproof jacket and tactical pants are a must.
Don’t worry about getting ones with insulation, use layers underneath for warmth.
This means your clothes will be more flexible across a broader range of conditions.
They can also be useful for protecting your regular clothes from other wet, messy tasks. Tasks like cleaning game and working in wet conditions.
Full Change of Clothes
Face it, you’re going to get dirty and wet at some point. You’ll have to change clothes to get clean and dry, as well as repair any damage.
Keep a small sewing kit with your spare clothes.
I like to swap out the cheap cotton thread in my kit for some lightweight fishing line. It’s more durable, and the repair is less likely to come apart later.
Extra Socks (or 2)
Keep an extra pair of socks on hand, in addition to the one in your spare set of clothes.
Full days of hiking can really do a number on your feet.
That’s why you should swap your socks frequently to prevent blisters and trench foot.
When you’re on the move, take the time to do it whenever you stop for a meal. You’re far more likely to remember it that way.
And your feet will feel better when you have to shrug that heavy pack back on and start moving again.
Boots
Get an excellent pair of hiking or tactical boots. Something with waterproof Goretex is best.
Hiking on wet feet for hours or days can lead to all sorts of foot troubles – the least of which is blisters. You don’t even want to think about trench foot!
The bottom line is bugging out requires healthy feet – and good boots are the first and best line of defense.
Lighting
Headlamp
Look to the mountaineering community for the best headlamps.
These are no-compromise lights.
They’re built for a sport where failure can be fatal and saving weight is paramount.
A good headlamp will weigh very little and provide lots of hands-free lighting on each charge.
Flashlight
A bright LED tactical flashlight is another excellent light source.
It can serve as a backup light, as well as a weapon when needed.
Chemical light stick
Chemical light sticks can be a reliable backup light as well.
They have a long shelf life and can be used in any conditions. They work great as navigational markers and for signaling for help.
The only downside, they can’t be stopped once you activate them.
Solar Lantern
A lightweight solar LED lantern can also provide great in-camp lighting. These are ideal for tasks and group activity after dark.
Now they’re not great for navigating in the dark.
But they can give your headlamps and flashlights a break when cooking dinner or reading a map.
Luci Solar Lanterns are one of the best – both bright and lightweight!
First Aid
At some point, you’re going to get injured.
Hopefully, it’s a minor cut, and you can clean it up and slap a Band-aid on it.
Stock up on the daily consumables of life on the move – you’ll go through them faster than you expect.
It’s helpful to keep a small day-kit in an outside pocket of your pack so since you may need these things frequently.
This Solo Kit from MyMedic is just about the ideal size and has all the medical gear you need in a single compact pouch!
Anti-bacterial wipes
Yes, it’s true, antibacterial drugs are creating more resistant bacteria. But in an emergency situation, that’s less of a consideration.
Even normal bacteria can turn small cuts into life-threatening infections. So be extra cautious and clean any wound with anti-bacterial wipes.
Bandages and Band-Aids
Once your injury is cleaned, and debris removed, keep them protected with a bandage or band-aid. This helps to reduce the chance of infection or re-injuring the same place.
Antibiotic ointment
Like anti-bacterial wipes, antibiotic ointments help keep wounds free of infection.
Besides their antibiotic properties, most of them contain pain-relief ingredients. These can help manage minor pain associated with cuts and scrapes.
Pain Relief
Speaking of pain relief, be sure to include some medications for pain management.
Ibuprofen and aspirin are the go-to over the counter drugs. Although naproxen sodium (Aleve) works well and is longer lasting.
It’s not a bad idea to keep a small tube of an oral painkiller (Orajel) as well.
It can be a HUGE relief if you chip a tooth or cut your gums.
Moleskin
Again, take care of your feet (that can’t be said enough).
You’re going to get blisters and hotspots from your boots at some point. Keep a pad of moleskin in your day-kit to patch up your feet on the move.
Sunscreen
Obviously.
Daily Medications
If you take daily meds, ask your doctor for an extra prescription for your disaster supplies.
Make sure to rotate them, so they don’t expire.
If it’s a serious or chronic ailment – you’ll appreciate having a well-stocked first aid kit. These are the items you pull out in a real medical emergency.
Keep your kit organized and labeled so you can find anything you need quickly.
Medical gloves
Latex gloves help keep wounds clean and prevent contamination. Because soap and water for clean up will not be easy to come by.
Gauze pads
Gauze pads are incredibly useful when attempting to stop bleeding. Don’t be afraid to use several layers of gauze if the bleeding is hard to contain.
Keep lots of pressure on the wound, whether by hand or with a compression bandage.
Triangle Bandages
Triangle bandages are large swaths of cotton cloth used for deeper cuts, or scraps.
SAM Splint
The SAM Splint is a sandwich of foam and lightweight aluminum. These can be formed into a nearly infinite range of splints for every body part.
Light and effective – perfect for a bug out bag.
Tourniquet
Tourniquets have come a long way since the old fashioned belt-around- the-arm.
Modern tourniquets are easy to use and far more effective.
Medical Instruments
Shears, scissors, forceps, and tweezers help with medical incidents from small to catastrophic.
Stock extra safety pins and tape as well, since you’ll need lots to secure bandages in an emergency.
Navigation
Even if you know the local area, it’s a good idea to keep some navigational tools ready in your go bag.
If if you know the area like the back of your hand, you might have to look something up.
You also might need to communicate plans to others who don’t have a mental map of the land.
GPS (Stand Alone & Phone App)
I have a standalone GPS in my emergency go bag, loaded with all kinds of maps – but it’s only a backup.
Generally, I use one of several GPS apps on my smartphone. Cell phone GPS antennas will work even without any cell service.
The app is more user-friendly, faster, and has a broader range of map layers I can choose from for my local area.
If I’m worried about my phone battery, I can always fall back on the stand-alone unit.
These GPS devices last days on a single set of batteries.
Actual Maps
A large paper map of the area can be indispensable when coordinating with a group of people.
Knowing the backroads and alternate routes might be useful after a disaster.
Finding water sources might lead you to ponds you’ve never noticed before on the topo map.
It’s a good idea to keep a map that covers the whole region, in case you have to evacuate further than planned.
Orienteering Compass
Learn how to use a compass before you trust your life to it.
Once you know how to use it, a map and compass is an efficient and lightweight navigation setup. No batteries, no satellites to worry about.
They’re harder to use at night, but with skill, it can be done
Self-Defense
Survival Knife
A trusty survival knife can be both a defensive weapon and a multi-tool.
Look for one with a full tang and a solid steel blade.
Learn how to maintain the edge and keep a knife sharpener with your other tools.
Pepper spray
Devil Juice is an extreme pepper spray measured at 3,000,000 SHU – an astounding 50% hotter than the Carolina Reaper!
Ammunition
If your EDC includes a firearm, be sure to add some extra ammunition to your go bag.
You don’t know when you’ll run across more. But ammo can be heavy so don’t overdo it either…
Fire & Heat
Even if you’re fortunate enough to have good weather, you’re still going to need to stay warm.
Matches/Lighter
Every go bag list should contain at least one tool to make fire.
Waterproof matches are a good start, as well as a survival lighter.
Firestarter
You might not always find good dry kindling.
“Magic Biscuit” fire starters are easy to make at home. They’re nearly indestructible and can help start a fire in the worst weather.
Hand warmers
Chemical hand warmers are cheap and easy to find.
They provide low-safe heat for hands or feet while you’re on the move and can’t sit by a fire to warm up.
Small backpacking stove
A portable stove and cookware can help keep you fueled up and warm when a campfire isn’t an option.
Multi-Purpose Tools
There are lots of tools that fall into several different categories. But these multi-purpose tools can be priceless in a disaster.
Hatchet/Saw
A small hatchet or saw can make lots of tasks easier; from collecting wood to building shelter.
Plus, the back of the hatchet serves as a great mallet to pound in tent stakes. And the saw can help clear vegetation to build a camp.
Either one makes an excellent improvised survival weapon if needed.
Multi-Tool
Of course, a survival multi-tool should be in your pack, if not your EDC as well.
Paracord
There are endless possibilities for paracord in a survival situation.
Pack a long coil of paracord for hanging bear bags. You can also use it for building survival shelters.
The inner strands can be plucked out and used for fishing line or to create invisible snares for small game.
Plus hundreds of other uses…
Duct Tape
If it can’t be fixed with duct tape (or my favorite Gorilla Tape), it can’t be fixed.
Wrap a couple of yards of tape around your water bottle instead of the whole roll.
Miscellaneous
Finally, all the rest. There are always things that don’t really fit into any category.
They can slip through the cracks, so we added a category just for them.
Light Weight Rugged Solar Charger
From flashlights to GPS units to cell phones, there’s going to be a decent amount of technology in your go bag. All worthless devices without electricity!
So be sure to add a solar charger and battery pack if you depend on any of those items. Make sure to include the cords for each device!
Skilled Survival recommends The QuadraPro USB Dual Power Bank.
It’s got a huge 6,500mAH battery capacity with dual charging ability.
Survival Whistle
A loud survival whistle is an excellent means of signaling for help. Pack a high-powered whistle that works even in bad weather.
Goggles
At the top of the list, we mentioned dust, smoke, allergens, and other particulates. These are bad for your lungs, and I suggested packing a gas mask.
The same thing applies to your eyes – so make sure to protect them from irritation with goggles.
I have a pair in my go bag, but I swap them out for ski goggles in the winter to protect my eyes from snow blindness.
Hand Crank Radio
To make intelligent survival decisions while on the move (or when the power is out), you need an emergency radio.
My favorite is the hand-crank radio.
That way, you’ll never run out of power. When the radio needs more juice, just crank!
Emergency Cash
If the power is out, your credit card isn’t going to be worth much.
Save up a small amount of extra cash and keep it in your go bag.
A couple of hundred dollar bills isn’t unreasonable.
Important Documents
Make both paper and electronic copies (on a flash drive) of all your important bug out documents.
Keep them in a sealed bag in your pack.
The originals can remain in a fireproof home safe or a bank safety deposit box.
- Passport & Birth Certificates for all family members
- Vaccination records for all family members (including pets)
- Insurance information for automobile, medical, and homeowners/renters policies
- Photo inventory of your home. A photo inventory of your home can be invaluable for insurance claims.
- Titles and Deeds to your house, car, and any other essential loan documents.
- Addresses and Phone Numbers for all your contacts. Your phone may not be functional, so a hard copy of the address book is a good backup.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT EMERGENCY GO BAG TO CARRY YOUR GEAR
Once you’ve got your packing list sorted out, and your supplies gathered, take time to find a tactical go bag.
It should be organized, durable, and comfortable – since you might be wearing it for a long time.
Check for these features when you’re shopping for your tactical go bag:
- Durable, water-resistant fabric
- Comfortable pack straps and hip belt
- Hydration bladder compatible
- Attachment points for extra equipment (i.e., MOLLE)
Be careful not to get too large a pack. It’s tempting to have the extra space, but you’ll just fill it with more stuff and weigh yourself down.
One tactical go bag that has all this and more is the EVATAC Combat Bag.