My Bug Out Bag Module Contents 

A few people have asked me to write something more specific, on what to actually put into an EDC and/or BOB. Each person is going to have a different idea of what the perfect Bug Out Bag or Every Day Carry bag will be. To do that sort of article justice would require me to go into the advantages and disadvantages of every different water purifier, firearms, shelters etc. I could say to only use ceramic filters, but that would be of little use to someone living in an area with either tannins or abundant mud particles suspended in water which clogs them quickly. The firearms I own would have little use for someone that has access to semi-autos and cheap ammo or living in bear country where larger bores are prefered. The same goes for people that can legally carry firearms in their countries. So I thought it best to write down what I use and the reasons why and how it comes together to give others ideas. 

I have health difficulties so the idea of carrying one large Alice type pack on foot has never occured to me. Also people will have different levels of experience in different fields. A health professional will have more items specializing in treatment of wounds where as others with a military background may prefer firearms as a primary need. Ive worked in the OZ State Emergency Service, the equivelant of the US CERT/SAR, so my first aid kit is the same size as many peoples entire BOBs. I also have smaller kits but I know how many materials are needed when responding to multiple injuries when having to pull someone out of a windshield of a vehicle, let alone after a SHTF event. The choice here is do I help others or not. I look at it that if I have the tools on hand I can atleast have options and that may include having others, use those tools on myself. 

My primary plan is to bug in. However when that becomes unreliable option, I have a small bus that im working on that will hold all my gear and be permanently packed. Just hook up my small 4WD for being towed. This provides a permanent form of shelter and also makes it easier travelling with three pets. If alone a light weight, lockable trailer with off road suspension would have surficed, once again being permanently packed. Trying to load a vehicle takes too long if wanting to be independant for longer periods. I do have a three day pack in my car which I class as a short term BOB or Get Home Bag but if I have to leave my premises then I wont be going back and prefer to have longer term options, so Im not a refugee after three days and not reliant on government hand outs.  

Government shelters have the potential in attracting too much attention of the wrong sort. That includes people that prey on others or officials wanting to disarm or use your goods for the benefit of others, that havent bothered to make an effort beforehand. 

I'll be trying to cover the following in a series of modules; bags/containers, clothing, hygiene, shelter, communications, navigation, fire, food, water purification, cooking, tools, first aid, hunting/foraging and self defense. The modules will include; an urban belt kit, rural belt kit, EDC bag, first aid kit/first response pack and personal meds, clothing bag, tactical bag with tactical belt, GHB or short term bob(3Day) and heavy or long term bob, food requirements and Pet BOBs including food. 

No amount of gear is a replacement for good training and a decent skill level. The following may seem alot but its designed to be carried to a vehicle not to be carted by foot. Nine bags takes very little time to pack into a small 4WD, mostly fitting on a roof top cargo tray, if already prepacked. This is what Ive been working on completing for myself. I just keep finding new products to either test out or update to and keep swapping items around trying to find the right combination that works the best. Which is half the fun. 

1) Urban Belt kit

This is essentually an Escape and Evasion belt including every day carry items. I use a custom 38mm BDU belt, made with two pouches to be accessed from the front and rear of the belt depending on which direction your ands are restrained. I usually keep the escape items in the rear pouch assuming youll be tied from the rear and the evasion contents in the front stowage area. 

Items include x2 handcuff keys to suit ADI and Smith cuffs, bagotta pick and rakes, widgy pry bar, SOG V cutter, dacron bow string, titanium dog tag knife in their 4 in 1 kit that includes a firestriker and button compass, photon micro light and solka wire saw. Worn on the outside are a small LED lenser torch, gerber multi tool and foster bros blackjack in a maxpedition adjustable torch/baton holder , mercops para-flail on a maxpedition keyper, along with a JEB PPK in a pikal upswept tip similar to a clinch pick but with a skeletal grip worn in a crossdraw position and an ANSO Pikal in a right hand dominant draw. Ive started to get into training in the pikal system after watching Shivworks Inverted Edge Techniques dvds and found it suits my H2H style down to the ground. Being short I always liked getting in nice and close to avoid a larger assailants reach. Styles that teach to be away from an agressor with a blade teach more sparring based on a fencing background. Never found that sort of fighting to fit me.