The Bug Out Bag Method
The Bug Out Bag Method is an emergency preparedness plan that features a well stocked bag of versatile survival gear as its core component. A bug out bag put together with this method will contain emergency essentials that will be useful whether at home (bugging in), with a vehicle, on foot, or at a bug out location. This website is about finding affordable, useful, and dependable gear to complete such a bag.
Bug Out Bag
While there is certainly no universal standard for building a Bug Out Bag or 72 hour bag as it is sometimes called, it does seem that most people are building them for a 2-3 day stay in the woods. There also appears to be a trend of selecting more tactical style items, and seriously neglecting heavier items like tents and sleeping bags. Finally, many items packed in these bags are designed for short term use, and are not suitable for extended use if the situation should require dependence on your bug out bag for more than 72 hours.
A Different Approach
Any bag with a collection of useful survival gear is a definite asset in an emergency situation, and you can’t pack everything you might possibly need in one bag. 72 hours is a good and reasonable goal to shoot for with the chances of reaching a back up location or receiving assistance within that time frame is generally pretty high. The main difference with the Bug Out Bag Method is that you hedge your bets with more versatile gear; tools and supplies that fit the bill for a 2-3 stay in the woods, but that are also better suited if the ordeal should last longer than the standard 72 hour timeframe. Additionally gear is also selected with home, bug out locations, and vehicle applications in mind and not just wilderness survival as the sole focus.
Affordable
The cost of stocking a bug out bag can quickly get out of hand, so it is important to keep your budget in mind. Ultralight premium camping gear would often times make ideal equipment for survival situations; however, it is more important to have a complete bag assembled with all the essentials covered than having a few high end pieces of specialized equipment. That being said you also don’t want go to cheap as you need to be able to depend on this gear when needed.
Getting Started
Assembling a well stocked and thought out bug out bag can be a fun project, but it takes time, money, effort, research, testing, and plain old trail and error. The most import thing you can do is start. I have recently finished writing a detailed article called Bug Out Bag Essentials that you can use for guidance and ideas; many of you who are outdoor enthusiasts may already have a good portion of the equipment necessary to put together a solid bug out bag.
Side Note: Many people are confusing Bug Out Bags and Get Homes Bags as interchangeable; however they serve two different purposes; click here to learn more about the purpose of a Get Home Bag.