Just completed a 3-day practice bug-out with my regular group (6 people) after previously doing several solo runs. Wanted to share some key insights about food planning that surprised us.

The biggest revelation: Group food is WAY different from solo food. When I bug out alone, I can get by with minimal variety and basic freeze-dried meals. With a group, food becomes much more complex:

• Someone always has dietary restrictions you didn't plan for
• Food prep takes 3x longer than solo
• You need group-sized cooking gear
• Water requirements skyrocket

After comparing various options (found this helpful) we ended up standardizing on freeze-dried meals that:

• Cook in their own pouches (less cleanup)
• Have 15+ year shelf life
• Only need boiling water
• Serve 4+ people per package

Another surprise: Meal sharing became critical for morale. When someone's meal tasted better than others, it created tension. Solution: We now plan all group meals to be shared meals.

Weight distribution was also tricky. We found it's better to distribute meal components among members rather than having each person carry their own complete food supply. This provides redundancy if someone gets separated.

Anyone else practice bug-out scenarios with groups? What food solutions worked for you?

Hi Friends! I’m looking for input on cities that would be ideal for a bug out location. I live in SoCal so I’m looking for something more Midwest in case it hits in the fan in this area. I’ve seen a lot of people buy raw land and while I think that’s amazing, I’m a busy working single mom and I don’t have time to figure out whether a lot is land locked, entitled or go through the building process.

Can you suggest anywhere that I could get several acres and a small home up to like $300k? Maybe one that wouldn’t require too much maintenance if vacant most of the year? I’ve never been in snow and I’m a bit worried about pipes freezing.

Thank you!

Family of 4, 2 small kids - what would be most critical to pack if you were to need to bug out fast. Say, if internment camps for targeted groups were becoming a reality in a country. Nothing that can't go on a commercial airplane, so I assume no multitools, guns, Kbar, etc. Of course there are a lot of assumptions here about the ability to fly in such a situation, whether a country will accept you, travel visa, etc.

Passports for the fam
$2,000 cash in 20's (at least buy the basics anywhere)
Change of clothes
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Phone charger
Coloring books/crayons to keep kids amused and quiet while figuring things out

What would you add?

The shat has hit the fan and blown all over the place. It's all over the ceiling's walls and floors. It's time to get out. You tac up, load up, and grab your guns. Your side arm is a 9mm of your choice. You have to choose 1 of 4 rifles. 1. AR15 with a 16 inch barrel. 2. An AR 15 SBR. 3. A 9mm carbine with a 16 inch barrel. 4. A 9mm carbine SBR. Which one are you grabbing and why?

Hi everyone!

I’m currently building out my bugout bag and on the hunt for a reliable, high-quality multitool. From my research, two Leatherman models have stood out:

• Leatherman Surge
• Leatherman Wave Plus

I’m not as focused on budget, quality and durability are my top priorities. Are there other models maybe even from different brands that I should consider?

Here are the main features I thought I will use the multitool for in a bugout situation:

• A sharp knife for general cutting tasks
• Strong wire-cutting
• A saw that can handle small branches

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Hi all, I am assembling my first bug out bag. would love advice.

Seems that youtubers and others mainly use molle style bags, I was curious if a barrel with a harness could be used as a bug out bag instead. I do have a nice harness setup but it is quite large at 60 litres, just wondering what the feasibility of rucking a big barrel in a SHTF scenario.

Also would be a negative for accessibility since I would need to go through the top lid for every single item.

Thanks for input.

I assume many folks here already do, but for the handful that might not, you really should get out in the mud with your gear. The best way to test your mettle, and find weak spots in your equipment, is to use it in adverse conditions. Boots can be comfy out of the box, but blister factories after a few hours hiking. Your bag might seem fine, but the balance and distribution and pack order can only be properly refined by taking it in the field. Even brand new heavy duty rain gear can have failures at the seams. You can't be confident in anything until you test it.

I'm not suggesting everyone needs to plan a 72 hour bug out simulation in torrential rain. But if you can't bring yourself to don your wet weather gear and go on a 3 hour trail in the best of times, how can you have confidence in it when you really need it? And this goes doubly for life saving gear like sleep systems and shelters. I know a fair number of people who haven't taken the tags off theirs, let alone spent a night in it.

I'm new to the tinfoil hat brigade so please bear with me. I have these terrible feelings that something bad is going to happen in the country due to the elections/outside actors and it keeps me up at night. I don't care who wins honestly, I hate both of them and I don't think whoever wins is going to have a smooth transition of power. With that being said, what do I have to look forward to? What is the most likely scenario that can play out in society? Should I be buying a hundred cans of sardines and learning to drink my own piss (I'm kidding of course, I hate sardines).

Traveling to Texas via car. It will be a 22 hour drive there and back. Bringing a 40L backpack. I have the basics but would love to hear what everyone thinks I should pack for this trip. Thinking more on the lines of a road bugout bag

Just a question by a concerned citizen.

Hey everyone, I live about an hour north of Pittsburgh and I'm looking to purchase a bugout camp. I'm considering the general areas of Tionesta, Leeper, Kennerdell or in that general area. It is a 1 to 2 hour drive for me to get there from home (1 hour for Kennerdell, 2 for tionesta).

Any thoughts on this?

My second option is to buy a homesteading property (fulltime living location) in the area of Portersville/Ellwood City PA but I'm concerned that the population density is still to high in that area.

Possibly stupid question here, do you pack something fun into your bugout bag assuming it will help pass time when your bugging out and keeping your mind straight. Thinking like a pack of cards, handheld video game, whatever you find fun

https://twitter.com/ControlledPairs/status/1845156538958201079?t=qNBKeJoRgpZSeiEn_qKXSA&s=19

Thank you all in advance for any info you can share with me. Here's my deal. I live in NJ and I want to build a BOB. I have a wife and baby so not sure if it should be for me or for three. I drive to work, it's about a 3/4 day's walk away from my house if I had to. I'm debating on building a get home bag just for me so in the event my car is no longer an option I have what I need to get to home base. Or should I build a full-on bug out bag just in case I'm driving far away from home and need to ditch the car? So what kind of bag should I buy and what do I put in it? I'd love a Mystery Ranch but I'm not open to spending $300+ on the bag alone. I'd like to be at $300-$400 all-in. Thanks!

https://youtu.be/jFuXI6esaHU?feature=shared

I want 2 weeks worth of dog food for a large, medium, and small dog. I know there are 30 pound bags you can get at the store, but I really don't want to carry 30 pounds + some gear on my back. Any ideas for dog food I should get?

Preface: I know this is going to read as an ignorant post thats because it is.

*I know nothing about this stuff. Here it goes!

Thinking about some of things Ive read it seems that Gold has a limited use case in a societal collapse type situation. It would be awesome for someone knowledgable to create a free trade list in the order of when those things would be useful and when they wouldn’t.

Example:

First day of Societal Collapse - (Fiat currency is no longer valuable) Gold and Silver would be the default valuable currency for trade of goods.

Second Month of Societal Collapse - (Gold and Silver is no longer the most valuable currency for trade) Generators and fuel become the most valuable currency for trade.

6 Months of Societal Collapse - (Generators, and fuel are no longer the most valuable) Weapons and ammo are the most valuable currency for trade.

1 Year of societal collapse - ( Weapons and Ammo are no longer the most valuable) Food and Water are the most valuable currency for trade.

Can someone tailor this to be even remotely accurate or speak to it. I find this fascinating to think about.

Before I start, I'm writing the disclaimer of bug in as my first and 2nd and maybe third plan for most scenarios. Living in Western NY I have bugged in multiple time in my life for extreme snow, and lose of power. In high school I spent just over a week without power in sub freezing conditions and helping neighbors along side my dad, and as a kid, we got stuck for 3-4 days 25 miles from home due to an extreme snow event, and where lucky enough to have a hotel take us in. In that storm the hotel housed 4 school buses full of kids and by the last day they were running out of food for the kids and guest, and employees stranded.

Just some background on my experiences and mind sets. I do have some scenarios where buging out would be the base case, or a last resort as well.

Questions:

First, for those who are using tactical molle style bags, what size are you using and what molle attachments do you find make sense for your use as a BOB / Camping weekend pack?

I have a Mystery Ranch Blitz I plan to make into my go bag / BOB but also use it for camping trips ect. And I'm curious with the molle where it is located (upper sides) and on the back pockets what is even smart or useful to attach there? To increase efficiency or ease of carrying something / or adding more usable space.

Second,

I'd love resources to dig into, or advice on how best to pack your bag. Seems like a decent amount of supplies to fit into a limited space. The more I look at my list, and gear ect, the more I'm like do I throw it all in the High Sierra 90L bag? lol

Lastly, non bag related, but what are people prepping for pets if they do need to bug out, as a last resort? We have a small, medium and Large dogs and its wears on my mind that if we had to gtfo on short notice it may be hard to pack and accommodate for their additional needs. In the bug in scenario's I'm starting to have a few options like buying extra bagged food and rotating it so I have a bag always, and having canned food to supplement with rice / oats ect if we get to that point.

Thanks and looking forward to learning some stuff from other who may have more experience, or time and thought into these subjects.

Recommendations for safe/firebox/etc that will fit legal size paper.. yes, I could fold it but really trying not to if avoidable

I'm wondering if capacitor batteries designed as a 12 volt replacement is a better option to have with a 100w solar panel. Having no knowledge of batteries or energy storage. I bought an unused 100 watt solar panel from a garage sale and started thinking about a battery to use for it from what very little knowledge I have, I am of the understanding that capacitors Store energy quicker as they have less resistance than regular batteries. Hence the cost difference.

My thinking is with a capacitor battery I will be able to store power quicker and be able to use it Better than a conventional battery.

Hi— new to this, looking into things I need for BOB if on the go, or sheltering in place. Any recommendations for how to secure a glass sliding door if sheltering in place? Everything I can find online is a security bar but I’m looking for how to secure the glass itself.

Any other advice, tips for a newb are greatly appreciated as well

TYIA

I was wondering what the best way to store non rechargeable and rechargeable batteries was I know it’s probably best to always go for rechargeable batteries but I do get regular batteries for free there usually used in a clock for a few hours or maybe a day or 2 but that’s it they’re supposed to be changed every break/shift change at this location and I was wondering what a good way to put them up and save them would be to where they keep more of there charge longer also how the healthiest way to store a rechargeable battery both battery packs and regular recharge conventional style batteries like AA-AAA ETC was should they be fully charged half charged completely drained and dead? I’ve always been taught that would ruin them so I’m not sure the best way

so I just bought a mollie med pack didn't come with medical supplies. eh wasn't planning on getting the 1 cent med supplies it provided. but as I stood in target and Walmart looking at the wrap bandages, compresses sterile non stick bandages, waterproof tape, anti inflammatory pastes and creams and the like I started thinking that these are unsanitary if used on anyone with an infection or general one time use. so I was thinking of my jobsiteed box and the single use packs of some of these items and thought that may be a better acquisition than the store bought big tube's or boxes... thoughts and if so where would be a good place to buy the latter please don't say amazon I hate amazon

I've been working on a personal project that I'm pretty excited about, and I thought I'd share it with you all to get your input and maybe inspire some of you to create something similar.

The concept? A "digital go bag" - essentially, a custom Linux gaming/gpu laptop loaded with 4TB of critical offline information and tools that we usually rely on the internet for. ( all works without any internet) Here's what I've included so far:

1. Offline AI Models: Latest open-source LLM AI models (Llama 3.1, Gemma2, Phi, Mistral) running locally on GPU. ( and uncensored)
2. Knowledge Base: Full offline copy of Wikipedia, including images.
3. Navigation:
   • Worldwide street-level maps with topography and navigation
   • Marine navigation charts for all US waters
   • Database of all US airstrips
   • VFR maps for the entire US
4. Communication: SDR tools for monitoring UHF and VHF frequencies, including ADSB aircraft tracking, AIS ship tracking, and satellite weather images.
5. Survival Library: Collection of out-of-copyright survivalist books, fully searchable.
6. Auto-Update System: Custom software to pull updates for all components when internet is available.

What do you think? What crucial offline resources am I missing? Has anyone else built something similar? I'd love to hear your ideas and experiences!

If you're interested in the technical details or want to chat more about building your own, feel free to ask.

What do you guys recommend for bugging out when far from home and going through TSA? I have been getting into prepping lately and occasionally fly to far away cities. I have a 2 day trip coming up and wondering if anyone has an airport friendly kit recommendation, as well as ideas on how to get home if they grid goes down and you're a 17 hour drive from home. I'm thinking if cars don't work, bike would be the best way but its very long/far and would I have enough time to get out of the city (without drawing much attention) on a bike?

I know that's a lot but it's been on my mind so I thought I'd post here to see what more experienced people would think.

For those who are following that post but live outside of the aforementioned area of concern, this link will take you to a site that you can punch in your specific area and pinpoint right down to your neighborhood how far above sea level you are...
Those from other countries can use the dropdown box to select their area...

https://en-us.topographic-map.com/place-c9c9m/United-States/

I'm assuming most people in this sub know about "the big one" up/out here in the Pacific Northwest. The big one is a major pressure release of the Juan de Fuca plate that is subducting underneath the North American Plate.

• Geologists put a 9.0 or higher Cascadian (Cascadia being another name for the PNW) earthquake happening in the next 50 years at 37%. It's not a question of if, but a question of when.
• The director of FEMA said "everything west of i5 will be toast" in the event of a Cascadian suduction zone earthquake
• If a building or bridge was built before 1994, it does not meet earthquake codes unless it has been retroactively upgraded to be earthquake resilient
• In Portland Oregon alone, there are about 1,600 unreinforced masonry buildings in the city and around 1,300 have not been retrofitted
• The Casciadian mega quake will be the worst natural disaster in the history of the USA, and FEMA says the region will be without resources (water/power/food) for up to 2 weeks, especially the Oregon coast, which might be without resources for many MONTHS.

So, there is basically a 1 in 3 chance this earthquake will happen in my lifetime in the city I live in (Portland).

If I survive, hunkering down might not be an option. Even if my house survives the quake enough to still be safe and livable,I won't have water or electricity and I SERIOUSLY DOUBT emergency services and government will have services restored in two weeks. Last winter,we had a major ice storm and there were entire neighborhoods without power for weeks. How is the government going to get services back for an entire region of the USA in two weeks?

It won't.

So, that leaves me with the option to try and survive in my house for months, while my neighbors and city starve and fall into chaos, or BUG OUT!

I'm thinking I'd be safe once I get to Boise, Idaho. Boise should be relatively unaffected by the earthquake. It's the biggest city east of me that will be safe. From there I can get help and my family can get to me.

But how do I get there? My car will be useless. All the highway bridges will have been destroyed and mountain roads will have areas of landslides. That leaves me with a bicycle and my own damn legs. I adon't know how to operate a motorcycle and thus, don't own one.

It's a seven day walk to Boise. Probably longer considering road conditions and I'm assuming Google maps doesn't factor in sleep or rest time.

• Is it possible for a relatively healthy 41 year old man to grab a bag and walk/possibly bike from Portland to Boise? Just me, by myself.
• What would I need to take?
• Can I even carry enough water to make it?
• Can I carry enough food to make it?
• What if it's winter? Can I make it over the Cascade mountain range without freezing?
• Should I carry a weapon or is that unnecessary weight?
• What route should I take?
• What else am I not taking into consideration?
• What would YOU do?

Hello,

does anyone know a good 45-60L Bag in the 80 to 150 Euro range that is not Military or has any bright color like most trekking/ hiking backpacks have? preferably with a couple organization compartments

I curently have a Mardingtop 50L that I mostly bought because i looked cool but it probably makes more sense to have something that is a bit less eye catching in an urban inviroment, especially since the main bug out senario i could find myself in is geting kicked out/ being homeless for a while.

all sugetions are apriciated.

Has anyone ever seen a waterproof spiral atlas map book? If so where did you buy it?

I want to carry heavier backpack so I have been trying to find a better way to do it. I had to take a look into hiking community because I couldn't find any videos about it in preppers/bug out community on youtube. Hell, there is no post about it in our community as well !

So the point of trekking poles is that they reduce the load on your hips, knees etc ... and they would help you walk longer with heavier loads, even in flat terrain. Basically the longer you walk the more benefits that you get, also help with going up and down in rough terrains as well.

4 points of contacts/supports is definitely better than 2, especially if you want to walk for greater distance with heavier load. The downsides are you would need to get used to it and it would turn eyes from some ppl especially if you are young and healthy, but if I have to bugging out then I don't really care anymore.