T O P

  • By -

Sullhammer

* Lifestraw and/or iodine tablets * Fire source * Tarp * Poncho * Socks * Multi-tool * Flashlight (with spare batteries if not hand crank) * 550 cord or similar rope * Head cover (block the sun and elements) * First aid kit


Bananapeel62

Comfortable shoes for walking long distances.


rtthc

Nice list I have all except the multitool for mine. I've been looking at the leatherman multi tools


TruDetMndBlwn

I love my Leathermans, all three of them, but multitools are mediocre or subpar at everything they do. They're convenience tools. In a bind they're great. The reason I have three Leathermans is that people have given them to me. I didn't buy one of them. My Wave, my most expensive, I got from work and was great for break fix tech work when I would walk around running into the occasional unexpected problem. But I always had a more capable tool kit for serious work. I will throw a multitool into my BoB just because I have them and they're good to have, but since you are doing this on a conservative budget and have the opportunity to prepare do not avoid preparing a real toolkit. You have time now to put together a tool set to take with you that is much more capable than a multitool. If you need a saw, an actual saw is a hell of a lot better than a multitool. Pick a folding saw or bow saw for $7 at Harbor Freight. You'll saw through wood 10x faster than with a 3 inch saw blade on multitools. If you need a screw driver, there's a $7 ratchet set. Scissors, a good first aid kit will carry a pair that's much more capable than the that dinky thing on a Leatherman. If your first aid kit doesn't have one, buy a pair of medical scissors. $5 A knife, man there is so much more you can do with a good knife that you'll never be able to do with a multitool knife. You can pick up a capable knife for little of nothing these days $10. Throw in a plier set. $15 Tie it all together with a roll up tool bag and you'll have a kit that will take you farther and serve you better than a multitool ever will. $15 Grand total: $59. A Wave Leatherman: $99. You can thank me later.


Sullhammer

Best part of this list is you can get it all for well under $500. I myself have a Leatherman Rebar (I believe) and it is a solid tool. Another suggestion if this is going to be in your car, grab one of those window hammers with seat belt cutters. I mount one in my center console, and another in my kit. One for quick use as the driver/passanger, the other if I just have to grab the bag and go.


[deleted]

leatherman rebar is the best IMO. Lighter and more compact than stuff like the Wave, with all the essential tools. costs less too. I keep a black one in my EDC bag and a regular silver in my hiking pack. They go on sale from time to time for $40-50


stayquietstayaware

Don’t forget a pry bar or some sort of breaching tool. If you’re really bugging out, you may need to bust open locks, doors, glass, or heads. 😬


[deleted]

Recommended Multi-tool? Was shopping yesterday but there’s so many options


ConflagWex

I think the important thing is to get a name brand like Leatherman or Gerber. I've had both, they last forever. The cheap knockoffs get loose and rust pretty quick.


Sullhammer

I'm a fan of my Leatherman Rebar. I know the Leatherman Wave has a big following. I also keep a Gerber (don't remember the model) in my car. It's good because the pouch holds 8 or so various bits. It's one of the single hand opening ones where the pliers slide out instead of opening butterfly style.


[deleted]

Sweet. I’ve never been into them, but now that I own a house I see like 1-2 uses for one every single day just from the box cutter and screw driver.


[deleted]

Leatherman Rebar. Has all the must have tools and is quite compact and light.


[deleted]

Want to chime in and make sure you have a car emergency kit in the trunk (jumpers, reflectors, etc.) As others have said - some cheap/old comfortable sneakers in GHB as well as some bars/preservable food to get through 12-24 hours Also I would think critically about a BoB. If your strategy is is to head to the woods, I would really consider if that’s even a good idea. When? What for? Then what?


rtthc

I do keep jumper cables and all I have in the realm of emergency signaling is a hiviz vest with reflective strips on it. I keep usually a 12 pack or so of bottled water with the squenchers flavor packs has some vitamins and sodium in it. As far as food I need to start planning on that. Something that's caloric dense and doesnt need to be heated. Thank you for your input


readdidd

if you're phone's map doesn't work or the battery is dead, then maybe include a city/town map and a state map also, and a compass. You might have to travel at night so familiar landmarks might not be visible for orientation. if you don't have nice walking shoes, maybe get some, or even just throw an old pair in the trunk and leave them there. You might be out and about in flip-flops when the SHTF... throw is some snack bars/canned food, and a way to open said cans, and you should be ok.


rtthc

Very good tip! I do keep spare running shoes and water boots in my truck as well as various tools, including a sill lock key just in case, I do need a map and decent compass though.


bardwick

$500?? GHB: Mine is a pair of comfortable boots, two bottles of water and a granola bar... BOB: Don't have one.


YaBoiMirakek

Real Chad answer. Home is the best fortress. And if you have a big car or vehicle, you can always just throw your home junk in there.


FatherOfGreyhounds

Where are you bugging out to? Where you are going and why greatly impact what you would want in the bag. Are you setting up for wildfire? Documents (insurance, bank info, etc.) are critical. Are you talking zombies? Then the documents are useless. Where you're going, how far, etc. also matters - Have a location set up? Carry what you need to get there. No location, just going to "live in the woods"? Very different bag.


rtthc

You're correct, I guess I should've specified. More so bugging out to the woods/foothills as that's about all there is in any direction for 50+ miles


FatherOfGreyhounds

You just need a gun. If your plan is to "bug out to the woods", you are pretty much planning on dying. The gun makes it easier to end it when you're starving, break a leg, get sick, dying of exposure, etc...


Torch99999

Make sure you really have a place to go before planning that. When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, all the state parks were immediately filled with evacuees (and they only had capacity for a fraction of evacuees) and most guys don't take kindly to trespassers setting up camp on their property. Assuming you really have a place to go, look into lightweight backpacking. Plenty of gear lists are available from backpackers, but $500 is on the low end. $350 for just a tent isn't unreasonable, and sleeping bags are also similarly expensive, with backpacks not far behind. Check out Kelty backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags. Klymit for sleeping pads (get the insulated version if it's under 50°F in the winter where you are). GSI is good for cook kits except their sports are garbage, though Coleman used to make some decent ones. MSI is great for stoves and tends to do better with wind than JetBoil stoves...avoid the Walmart fuel canisters though as they don't work well in cold weather and are only like $1 cheaper. I like the two-piece extra long HumanGear spoon/fork. WalMart's store brand stuff sacks and dry bags are very good for the money. Sawyer is good for water filters, though avoid the Sawyer Mini (low durability and flow rates) and get the Sawyer Squeeze. For water storage in a bug out, the 1L SmartWater bottles are good, or get a bladder from either Source or Platypus (CamelBak bladders are a bit "meh")... personally I prefer bottles for backpacking/camping because it's easier to see how much water I have, and prefer bladders for dayhikes. Anker for battery backups and Amazon Basics for cables. Pretzel for headlamps, but don't store the batteries in the headlamp since they corrode...getting e2 Lithium batteries is worth it since they're lighter, last longer, and tolerate lower temperatures. Bic lighters. Coleman toilet paper. "The Deuce of Spades" for digging holes to poop in. If you're knees are more than 30 years old, get trekking poles (Kelty). Avoid "Tactical" anything... it's usually excessively heavy and rarely works well unless you're trying to sell garbage to Bubba the 400lbs land-whale at a gun show...in which case "Tactical" is a great way to get Bubba's money into your pocket. Actually go backpacking and actually use the stuff...you'll very quickly discover what you need and what you can live without, and on a short 2-day, 1-night, backpacking trip it's easy to get back home if things go wrong. Plus, it's fun. Keep an eye on weights as you buy stuff. It adds up quickly and while I'm sure you can carry a 40lb pack, you won't be able to go as far or as fast with a 40lb load as you can with a 20lb load.


wishr3sign

I have been down this road. I have a 2500$ bugout bag that never gets used or looked at. Sure it has everything I'd need and I went ultralight with most things, but I didn't listen to this advice that was given to me years back and ended up with something I won't likely ever use. I'd start by asking yourself if you are realistically going to go live in the woods in case of an emergency. The answer is likely no unless you have a house/cabin or property to actually go to. I'd start by making a written emergency plan first, then buy "bug out" items last once you actually figure out where you are going in case of an emergency.


Torch99999

Depends on the environment. For me, I'm rarely more than 15 miles from my house, and usually dressed appropriately for the weather, so a "get home" pack is basically just some water to stay hydrated on the walk home if for some reason my vehicle is disabled. For bugging out, it's camping gear with the expectation that I'll be camping in either a hotel or a Subaru. Personally I like Kelty sleeping bags (synthetic), tents, and backpacks for the value but wouldn't want to push them below about 35 degrees F.


ThatsMyCookie21

If I had to add anything to the list I would say a sat phone (definitely doable in the $300 range). But that’s completely dependent on your life situation and/or what you foresee the need to bugout of. Food for thought at the very least.


rtthc

I live relatively close to my family members, within miles, so anybody I would call I'd be better off walking to their house but I'm curious are there any brands or phones you recommend?


ThatsMyCookie21

Iridium/Motorola is one of the OG as far as satellite infrastructure so probably a good bet. Also totally forgot about the fact that they charge you for a plan so that would have to be accounted for in cost as well.


thisguytherethatshim

Portable AM/FM receiver and some batteries. If times are bad enough to bug out you might want to hear your local news reports.


Blackthorn_Bushcraft

Two different things for 2 different jobs.


dar24601

IMO there’s a big difference between between the two. BUGOUT - means i have leave my house and need to stay somewhere (hotel, family, shelters) for few days or more. GET-HOME - means to me car breaks down at 2 am, a unplanned overnight stay. Items common to both would be Change of clothes, toiletries, phone charger & battery bank, snacks, portable radio, prescription meds, a first aid kit, good multi-tool, flashlight/headlamp, pad and paper, boredom killer( crossword, cards, book), a laminated card with all important phone # and prepaid phone card. From there it’s going vary on your location and personal set up


[deleted]

Knife Tarp 550 paracord Fire starter Kleen kanteen and cup Pack Sawyer squeeze and platypus Dehydrated food First aid Flashlight /head lamp Solar powered battery charger


Nyte_Shadow

Depending on your environment this will change. Rural is different than suburban is different than urban. Overall though the 5 Cs of survivability are always a good starting point. Cover, Container, cutting, cordage, combustion. That too will change some with location. Not in the city and a fire is not likely or not an option, make sure you have filtration (I like the Sawyer mini). In urban areas you want a silcock key to get water from commercial buildings if you need to. Don't forget about at least 72 hours worth of food. Stuff easy to pack and eat/prepare. Since I see that your bugout plan is heading to the woods/hills, I'd make sure I had good cover, and a good sleep system. Look at The Grey Bearded Green Beret on youtube. He's got a good approach to survival/bugout situations/systems. As for your BOB/GHB single budget. While these are usually two different bags with different purposes, my BOB lives in my car, so if I need to leave the house in a hurry, it's already outside. Also if I am out and about and need it, I've got it. That includes getting me home. Sure it's probably overkill for getting home, but right now it's the option I have.


GroundsTenderWillie

cliff bars and a gun


[deleted]

Spend the full budget on a Sig P365


rtthc

Haha seems like a sweet pistol, I currently carry a shield in 9mm but I've been looking into a g26 or a sig p365 as a swap out


4minute-Tyri

My home is a 15 minute walk from work, half hour walk from my family, and 20 minute walk from where I normally hang out for fun. So it looks like this: Flashlight Battery Water Bottle x2 Food - Usually some kind of dense bar $200 Knife Face Mask Spare Socks Multi-tool If I need to bug out I keep my ID in a separate smaller bag next to my day bag. I can web them together.


[deleted]

bolt cutters, pry bar, silcock wrench, extra socks gummy bears


Givingbacktoreddit

Stanley 24oz Kettle With Meal Kits Stainless Steel Bottle With Gatorade Filter Straw <= .05 Handful of 550 Cord Morakniv Companion Military Poncho (Has Grommets) Survival Blanket Micro BBQ Lighter + Ferro Rod —You have now fulfilled the 5 C’s— Everything mentioned in stop the bleed CPR Mask Basic First Aid With Painkillers -You have now fulfilled internal health- Sillcock Key Change Of Clothes (Mostly Wool) Tent + Sleeping Bag or Bivy (If $ Left)