The Ultimate Bug Out Bag

Wikipedia defines a Bug Out Bag as:

"A bug-out bag is a portable kit that normally contains the items one would require to survive for seventy-two hours, when evacuating from a disaster, however some kits are designed to last longer periods of time than just 72 hours. The focus is on evacuation, rather than long-term survival, distinguishing the bug-out bag from a survival kit, a boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit. The kits are also popular in the survivalism subculture.

The term "bug-out bag" is related to, and possibly derived from, the "bail-out bag" emergency kit many military aviators carry. In the United States, the term refers to the Korean War practice of the U.S. Army designating alternate defensive positions, in the event that the units had to displace. They were directed to "bug out" when being overrun was imminent. The concept passed into wide usage among other military and law enforcement personnel, though the "bail-out bag" is as likely to include emergency gear for going into an emergency situation as for escaping an emergency.

Other names for such a bag are a BOB, 72-hour kit, a grab bag, a battle box, a Personal Emergency Relocation Kits (PERK), a go bag, a GOOD bag (Get Out Of Dodge) or INCHbag (I'm Never Coming Home)."

Well, if all I have to take a bag, or there is two of us and we get two bags, I am going to need more than to survive for 72 hours. If the Zombie Apocalypse, the Zompocalypse, the you know, occurs, I'm betting Rick et al. would be much appreciative of something with a little more than a water bottle and a med kit.

My parameters:

(1) Must be light enough to carry;

(2) Must be compact enough to not getting in the way when in an all-out run;

(3) Must have any and everything I, or a small group, could need to survive.

Assumptions:

(1) I will not be alone, at the least, my fiancee will likely be with me, and her bag will contain almost entirely clothes. The bag will thus be lighter in weight and allow her more freedom to move. I do not mean this in anyway saying that men are more fit than women, or anything like that. I am a former Div. I track runner, in the balance, I can take more of the weight. If your companion (assuming 2-person deal here) is the more fit for moving fast person, regardless of gender or age, they should carry this bag, and then you should carry the clothes.

(2) Along the way we would be able to pick up food supplies. Food and water are the first to run out, but with enough water treatment, ways of catching food, and ways of cooking it, the strength comes in the versatility of your supplies and how they move.

NB: Some items are doubled-up on (fire starters, etc.), for those items, in a larger group, would be distributed so that only one is held per person so if there are any issues, at least one of those items survives.

With that, I give you ... The Ultimate Bug Out Bag.

See pictures, here is The List (in no particular order...circular around the main picture):

1. Dehydrated towelettes
2. Padded aluminum splint
3. Seam Seal (repair tents/jackets)
4. Lumora LED lantern/flashlight
5. 1-person hammock
6. Pocket snare trap
7. Glow sticks
8. Tarp poncho (nylon)
9. Mini-bungees
10. Helpful reading*
11. Book on identifying edible wildlife of my particular area (color pictures are key)
12. Microfiber towel (a couple of these)
13. Pocket SAS Survival Guide
14. Folding survival stove & fuel pellets
15. Solar-powered LED flashlight
16. Hand-crank powered LED flashlight
17. Camping toilet paper
18. Waterproof tube vaults
19. Water
20. Role of athletic tape
21. Powerbar (for dire need)
22. Silk sleeping bag
23. Chlorine-based water treatment
24. Mini-crowbar
25. "Special Forces"-style folding knife
26. Zipper-pull that hides secret handcuff key
27. Handcuff shim
28. Small Bic lighter
29. Boot knife
30. Glow-in-the-dark compass
31. Brass flint wheel sparker
32. Quickdraws and sling
33. Collapsible water bottles
34. Headlamp
35. LifeStraw (emergency water treatment)
36. Electrolyte tablets
37. Additional fuel pellets
38. Machete (because, you know)
39. Hand-held slingshot (with additional sling)
40. Darts for the crossbow
41. Quik Clot (for blood clotting)
42. The Emergency Bandage (for stopping serious wounds)
43. Israeli tourniquet (bandage and tourniquet in one)
44. Hand-crank radio/flashlight
45. UST Sparkie fire starter (with magnesium, can start with one hand)
46. Old school can openers
47. 200-lbs strength kevlar cord
48. Adventure Medical UltraLight & Waterproof medical kit
49. Multi purpose EDC 20 Dram containers
50. Compact ponchos
51. Orange gaffers tape rolled up on itself
52. Bow string wax
53. Dual threaded lids for dram containers (can interlock 2 containers, as pictured)
54. BodahPak folding cups
55. Xtreme tape (silicone stretch wrap)
56. Fake blood (hey, you never know. for the humor alone it has value)
57. Self-cocking 80-lbs crossbow
58. NATO camouflage face paint
59. Decoy blow-up brain (mainly for humor...the biggest threat we have in an apocalypse is each other...humor diffuses situations)
60. Survival kit in a sardine can (some fun additionals...can give to that person in your group who is completely unprepared)
61. Reusable hand warmer (put in boiling water to reset)
62. Aviation cable key ring (insanely strong)
63. Pocket knife sharpening tool (a couple of kinds)
64. Waterproof magnesium/flint fire starter (useful if you are in saltwater areas to prevent damage to use)
65. Pico grappling hook
66. Screwz-All 4-in-1 tool ... various screw drivers in compact form
67. Survival wire saw
68. Hand chainsaw
69. Goal Zero Nomad solar charger and accompanying 4 rechargeable AA battery pack. [USB plug included]
70. **Black molle tactical one-shoulder pack
71. Grimloc locking molle carabiners
72. Waterproof sleep bag sack (to store anything that needs to be kept dry)
73. Homemade beef tallow candles
74. 2-piece, springless tarp clamps
75. Another magnesium fire starter
76. Tea lights wrapped in tinfoil
77. Eat'N tool (spork & multi tool combined)
78. Titanium spork
79. Camping compact cooking pot and bowl [detachable handle]
80. Mylar sleeping bags
81. Length of paracord
82. Fire Fixins fire starter aid
83. Mosquito head covers
84. Breacher bar
85. Deet bug spray
86. & a NiteCore P12 flashlight

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING listed fits inside or onto the pack. It is snug, but not overly bulky.

Plan-B Evac Sling Pack (http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f03e/)

Click the link for product specifications, but roomy, can carry a hydration bladder, and numerous details that makes this both lightweight and great for adding small extras and includes molle coverage, 2 small exterior pouches on the back, and different zipper access points for ease of access to items. The bag also has side straps and pockets that fit the machete and crowbar snuggling so an all-out run is possible.

One shoulder strap, but a second connector that comes across from the other side to secure the pack in place. You can change the shoulder side, if desired as well. Very secure clips and connection points.

Weighed fully packed (no water added in hydration bladder): 25 lbs even, without mini-crowbar. Just over 25 lbs with crowbar.

There is never a moment where you can no longer improve on what you have.

My goal is for this Instructable to lead to intense discussion on what is deemed extra weight or items to be added.

There are a number of small "survival kits in Altoid tins" or the like that I have seen posted that would be great additions -- though my survival kit in a sardine tin likely has a lot of those (though is a one-time open and was a gift).

Please (1) Vote for my Instructable, but more importantly, (2) Drop a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts. This is the evolved version of the first bug out bag I had, in which I recorded a teardown of it with another enthusiast friend that I will one day post as a podcast, if I can make the time to figure out how to do that.

Enjoy!