I have many layers of planning in place (as should you). Not one "kit" or "strategy" fits every situation or circumstance. I have developed an overlapping plan which includes various "kits".

I approached every kit the same way...

1) Evaluate my needs;
2) Evaluate my environment;
3) Develop a strategy;
4) Develop a kit to help implement the strategy.

Everyone wants to jump from "I need to plan" to "build a kit" which is actually fine, because unless you live or travel in an "extreme" environment all of our needs are basically the same...

1) Tools = gun, spare mag(s), knife(s), basic gun maintenance kit, knife sharpener
2) Fire = 2x lighter, ferro, tinder
3) Water = stainless bottle, purification tablets, filter
4) Shelter = poncho, trash/contractor bag, space blanket, wool (hat, socks and gloves)
5) Cordage = 325 and 550
6) First Aid = CAT, QuikClot, moleskin, antiseptic, duct tape, sterile dressings
7) Navigation = LED flashlight with extra battery(s), compass
8) Food = prepackaged emergency ration, 22 firearm and ammo, fishing kit, snare kit

If you still have room in your kit add...

8) Luxury = polypro under clothes, gore-tex rain gear, improved shelter (to possibly include a gore-tex bivy bag and insulated blanket), more wool socks, mess kit, titanium utensil, additional flashlight batteries, additional food rations, expanded fishing kit.

Restated my concerns in EVERY environment (city to country) from a small black out to a full scale break down or invasion is....

#1 = Personal Defense
#2 = Exposure
#3 = Dehydration
#4 = Injury
#5 = Escape & Evasion / Travel
#6 = Nutrition

Since we can't carry a GHB, BOB, INCH around every day you have to prioritize your needs and start with the largest kit you can COMFORTABLY CARRY EVERYWHERE and build increasingly larger kits. For me this means...

EDC = knife, gun, spare mag, lighter, flashlight

Briefcase Kit = bigger knife, knife sharpener, lighter, space blanket, compass, suck-thru survival straw, water purification tablets, 325 cordage, small stainless tin, etc.

GHB = knife(s), basic gun maintenance kit, knife sharpener, 2x lighter, ferro, tinder, stainless water bottle, purification tablets, water filter, poncho, trash/contractor bag, space blanket, wool (hat, socks and gloves), 325 and 550 cord, CAT, QuikClot, moleskin, antiseptic, duct tape, sterile dressings, LED flashlight with extra battery(s), compass, prepackaged emergency ration, 22 firearm and ammo, fishing kit, snare kit.

Here is something we may all one day be able to carry as another "Layer" to keep us or someone else alive. First time I have ever heard of these.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown...its-first-soldier/#.V09YH9FHVWw.facebook

Gary, what do you personally prefer for the prepackaged emergency ration?

I've checked out Datrix, Mainstay and Mayday. For me, it comes down to which ones come packaged in the smallest portions when opened.

Mainstay.

I hate coconut, and most ER have a coconut flavoring. Mainstay tastes like a cheap lemon cake...which is completely acceptable.

I buy the 3600 calorie Mainstay, because it's broken into 9 squares. Each square has 400 calories ... Meaning you can eat one square for breakfast, lunch and dinner and satisfy the minimum safe caloric intake for a day (1200). Obviously you'll like be burning through 3x this amount in a survival situation, but at least you'll prevent systemic problems by consuming a min.

Keep freezer quality ziplock bags with your ERs. This allows safe storage after the foil has been broken. Think about losing 3 days worth of food because you slipped into a contaminated stream!

My intention is to keep two cases (consisting of 12 Mainstay 3,600 calorie rations each) in our SUV. This provides over 30 days of minimal caloric intake for my wife and I.

Every five years I throw out the cases, and replace. I threw away my last two cases in August 2015, but have not replaced them.

Mainstay Emergency Rations are heat stable, meaning the heat of getting cooked in a car won't cause them to spoil. I've eaten one after storing it in a black SUV for 4.5 years. It tasted like oily cheap lemon cake, but no ill effects were had by me or Mrs. Architect.

ETA: If the packaged doesn't look "vacuum sealed" then throw out the bar - it has been compromised.

Many people will say or think "1200 calories is about 1/3 of what you need". They are correct, but they've also not offered a better solution for long term heat stable calorie storage.

1200 calories from an ER coupled with a 22 rifle for hunting, a fishing kit, and foraging = staying alive for a long time.

I keep a minimum of 3x 3600 calorie bars in our "BOB". This means we can each go 9 days without any sort of outside caloric supplements. Add fish, game, and forage and this would equal my current daily intake of about 1,500 calories.

The physical exertion required during an emergency would greatly exceed my current somewhat static office life, but we're talking about survival not weight gain programs.

Interesting product!

Thanks Gary. I have leaned toward the Mainstay myself for the taste. I can handle coconut but Patty doesn't really like it, but we both like lemon cake. I had didn't realize the freezer bag thing (that's all we use) would take care of the problem of opening up a pack. AND with 9 "Sections", sounds like a winner to me!

BUT I wonder if we would be better served with the 2400 packs.
That way one pack would last the two of us for a day. OR if the situation demanded one pack would suffice for one person for one day.

Sharing a 2400 ration makes sense, but be sure to alternate between using a ration from each other's pack...this way if one person or pack goes down the other isn't disadvantaged.

Here's a checklist titled "The Ultimate Survival Checklist" in PDF format. Just to give Y'all some additional thoughts.

https://survivalcache.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SurvivalCache-Survival-Checklist.pdf

That's a good check-list Randy. Folks can adapt it to their personal living situation and modify it into a portable emergency kit.

Haha, yeah, if I just had a way to print off a couple copies. We don't have a printer!

Yes, our's is on the "fritz" as well.

I guess I could always copy it and paste it into my notes on my phone. I may give that a try.

Just save it to you phone.

Your phone should be able to open a PDF.

I just downloaded it mysel. Thanks for posting!

Not a problem lazi.

And I just downloaded it as well.

You techni-geeks are SO cool! LOL

That's cause the Air Force is Tech savy.

I guess so! LOL

Like when a B-52 crew had accidentally transported six nuclear missiles from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana? Seems like a lot of technical stuff went wrong there.

Nah, wasn't anything TECHNICAL wrong Ray, just stupidity.

Just went there and evidently they are still in business. BUT it is PRESCRIPTION ONLY! RevMedx XStat

In the video(s) they show them being injected INTO a penetrating wound. Might also work for a deep knife wound where there is a large cut opened up. Not sure it would work for any other kind of wound.

After SOME thought, and I need to do a lot more thinking on this, I THINK in a bug out situation I would take the following firearms.

My Beretta 9mm PX4 and Beretta 9mm CX4 Carbine AND my Weatherby Assault Shotgun for our HFTH (Head For The Hills) guns. Both Berettas use the same 20 round magazines, of which I have a few. I based these choices on my thinking of self defense, which is good. BUT in a prolonged "Bug Out" situation, where they COULD possibly be needed, perhaps even more useful would be the lowly 22 rimfire. There isn't a critter around here worth eating that you couldn't kill with a 22. Might take several shots, but you COULD do it (thinking hard to kill hogs here, deer not so hard).

All I can say is IF it ever comes to it, that we can drive the 10 miles or so to our destination. I would sure hate to "Shanks' Mare" it all the way carrying a ton of stuff.

What I listed above is perhaps MORE than needed for an "Emergency" Kit, but then again, what is a Bug Out Situation if not an emergency.

In actual combat you really only need one weapon i.e. rifle, anything more is extra weight. Unless you plan on loading up your wife like a mule to haul everything.

[quote=Private Klink]anything more is extra weight. Unless you plan on loading up your wife like a mule to haul everything. [/quote
Been there. Done that. Got the ribbon.

Figured I could carry the Carbine and Shotgun with ammo along with my "regular" pack items. That would leave Patty carrying her "regular" pack load along with the 22 and pistol with ammo for each one. AFTER we get to our BOL (Bug Out Location). I would be "armed for Bear" with the full 9mm kit and possibly possibly the shotgun with a bandolier of extra shells. Then again, depending upon the situation, we WOULD know if anyone was coming and I might go with the shotgun. We've got a built in GREAT "ambush" site (an old cellar) that covers the non noisy access point. IF we were bugging out by vehicle I would throw my AR-15 in the Jeep along with it's dedicated ammo. Also included would be all the ammo for 22, 9mm, and the 12ga.

Well alrighty then. After much searchin, thinking, trial and error, thinking some more I have finalized the blades I will be housing in my new Spec Ops Combat Master (short) sheaths. Got them from a really good dog that is letting go of an Outhouse load of gear and I was able to snag just what I needed.

OK. In one I have after MUCH deliberation my 411. It is just right for my as the handling and blade length and thickness is I feel the best overall "Bushcraft" AKA Every Day Woods Carry or EDWC knife. In the Other one I have my Scrapper 5. I handled both quite extensively in a multitude of hand positions and for me at least the 411 won out even though I think the S5 will make a better piercer the 411 just felt better in MY hand. I even considered the Wardog but it already has a couple sheaths it will fit in so I didn't put to much consideration to housing it in one of the Spec Ops sheaths.

Now for a larger knife, I have considered several. The 711, B8, Bullnosed Regulator and the Lean Cut Chophouse. As far as "Choppers" go, the Lean Cut is by far the winner. BUT I want a sort of dedicated chopper or one that can chop but also lends itself more to other duties as well easier thatn the LC? I thought long ago I had this all figured out, but now that I have finally gotten a couple good sized packs (one 33 liters and one 38 liters) I am rethinking my bladeware, again. I DO know one blade that will be on my pants belt, the Muppy. The others are still sort of up in the air, but the 411 is leading the pack as far as "Regular usin knives" go.

I also have I guess three really robust folders that two of which will be finding new homes. I have the Gingrich Folder (large), the ZT 0909 and the emerson Rendition. Any of the three would make for a good additional backup blade for Just in case.

And as I stated earlier, I just now have to figure out what will be going on my "Secondary Belt". I plan on having an EDC fixed blade, POSSIBLY two plastic USGI canteens, a small boo boo first aid kit and I'm not really sure what else.

Do I really think I need to do all this, actually no, EXCEPT for emergencies of the Mother Nature Variety. But with that being said, things are getting bad closer to Podunk Missouri what with the three shootings in less than 8 hours we had just 25 miles from here.

Once I get my new Kelty pack in and load er up I need to set my Molle vest up the way I THINK I want it and see how it plays with the new pack and make adjustments where and in what ways are needed, IF I use it at all. Decisions like this make my Brain hurt, and in my case it sure don't take much.

But on a lighter side, I finally have all the FAK stuff I need, I think. Patty had squirrel holed (sorry DT) some stuff from when I had my back surgery. It's never been opened, so should be good to go.

It will all work out. May take some time but I'll get it done how I want.

Randy, for an actual bug-out situation don't overlook plenty of water and easy to prepare food, and cooking tools with utensils. An easy to set up shelter (tent) and a couple of blankets will go a long way for comfort, along with fire-making supplies. For weapons, a shotgun, AR-15 and pistol of your choice would be good if you are bugging out in your vehicles and not trying to carry everything in a couple of packs. The packs and bins of supplies would be alright carried in vehicles.

I just returned from Walmart and they have removed all guns and ammo from the floor due to concerns of possible violence. So far we have been lucky around here, and I hope that it stays peaceful. Here in the boonies EVERYBODY has at least a deer rifle and shotgun and wouldn't hesitate to use them to protect their families and property. Much like the sixties, this is a sad time for America.

Tom, I SHOULD have the water covered. I have:
2 - 40oz SS single wall water bottles
1 - 40oz SS canteen with military style cup and stove (pathfinder canteen/cookware set I bought several years ago at SMKW
2 - 32oz SS single wall water bottles
2 - 32oz USGI Plastic canteens with cups
1 - 3liter water bladder with carrier

So we have the water carrying part covered. I have some Sawyer filters and Frontier and am really considering on getting this
http://www.gearassistant.com/survivor-filter-pro-review/

On the Firearm side, IF in a vehicle it will be:
My Weatherby SA-459TR Shotgun
Beretta PX4 9mm pistol and CX4 Carbine with the 20 round mags
AR15
10-22

If hoofing it, the 10-22 for sure. After that it's still up in the air about the 9mm combo and or Shotgun and POSSIBLY the AR. Still have to do a lot of thinking on this one.

On the shelter side, we've got it covered, sort of. We have:
10x20 tarp
10x12 tarp
8x10 tarp
We also have some wool blankets and a couple of those "All Weather Emergency Blankets". Ours have "Pockets" sewn for your head and one for each hand. They work surprisingly well. I have been looking at some small tents lately and am considering one of those as well.

Food, we have a couple weeks worth of Mt. House freeze dried along with normal canned foods along with rice, pasta etc.

We're working on it, still have a ways to go but we could make it if we needed to, not as comfortably as someone like you and of Course Gary. but as I said, we're working on it.

Got my Kelty Map3500 in today so maybe tomorrow I can load it up with some stuff and get it adjusted and see how it fits. I also need to do the same thing again with my TT 3 Day Assault bag. I think I am gonna concentrate on making my Malaga into a dedicated FAK with extra supplies and just outfitting the IFAK with bare essentials. I THINK I may regulate the new PF II along the lines of a GHB, always carry with us from Vehicle to Vehicle like I now do with the Malaga. Still thinking this one over, but we'll come up with something.

Careful Randy. Pretty soon you’ll be humping a ruck like a Marine!

Haha, nope. I'm to old for that. This is just for a last resort, TEOTWAWKI, or when the toilets back up. Which ever happens first.

In all actuality, IF it were ever to come to this, we would only need to travel about 10 MAYBE 12 miles to a place with a "Cabin" setting at a 3 acre "Lake", WELL off the highway and not all that easy to get to.

Was just looking through my "Stash" of always available, on your body, never without blades and came across my original pre production version of the Benchmade Nimravus Cub. The ONLY thing I would rather not have is the serrations. BUT It is still I think my all time personal favorite edc type fixed blade knife. I didn't realize they didn't make it any more as I was considering on buying another. I DID find one in New Jersey, for TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTY FIVE DOLLARS! Nope, ain't gonna happen. I might have to set it aside for a while and carry (If I want to carry a fixed blade) CRKT Polkowski Kasper fighter. I actually have all three in the set, the fixed and both the large and small folders.

All the stuff I mentioned above is a WISH list. I know that we actually couldn't carry all that stuff. But it's a place to start. Our main concern would be low lifes that know about "the Lake" and would maybe come by to see how well "stocked" anyone there might be. Ordinary folks wouldn't even know of its existence. On three sides it's nothing but mile after mile of nothing but woods. On the fourth side, the road is about a half to three quarters of a mile away over some very poorly maintained "Logging" road. Meaning it's got rocks out the wazoo and deep water cut "gullies".

It's gonna all be trial and error (along with looking over Gary's list again and again) situation. We shall see.

I have probably posted this somewhere but can't find it. PLUS not sure if I have posted it or not, so here goes.

WE have a dozen cans of the (Walmart) Propane Fuel bottles (the green 1 pound ones) we bought when they were predicting a loss of power here for possibly several days (for our Big Buddy heater). Anyway, what stove (think Walmart here, or Amazon) would bolt up to these bottles? Oh we also have the accessory hose that can bolt up to a 10 pound (or larger) bottle as well.

Thanks Guys.

I have two of these. I think Walmart sells them also.
https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Bott...=9Q533FDFTB0JT8JYT6PX&th=1&psc=1
I think MSR stoves are higher quality but they are pricey and I have no personal experience with them.

Thanks Ray! I don't care what Tom says, you're all right. I mean he IS a Marine.

And don't you forget it!!! LOL

Even if you have a good BOL you will still need plenty of clean, ready to drink water. A case of bottles is three gallons, and I would suggest taking several with you in a vehicle. Don't forget things like TOILET PAPER, soap, towels, and sanitizer. You will need these items even if your "cabin" is a deluxe, high end retreat.

Haha, no worries there! the lake is spring fed (a REALLY slow spring). But we could get relatively clean water from it. IF it starts to look grim we will be buying more bottles but for now a dozen should be OK. TP soap towels and sanitizer, Check.

Oh and it's NOT the Waldorf Astoria. Just one of those prefab "sheds" that has been insulated and has a small wood burning stove in it. Oh and a bed, well almost like a trundle bed but built for 2.

You might consider an extra 12 volt battery, power inverter, solar panel and some form of lights. LED's are best and energy saving, and don't forget a couple of GOOD flashlights. You MIGHT have to check out things that go bump in the night.;)

By the way, everything I have suggested is what I have here at home. I don't really see us bugging out, but I DO have some bags packed and the other items I mentioned ready at hand.

We're like Y'all. Not planning on goin anywhere but you never know. We got all the stuff we need here, food, Water, lighting a grill but need something better/gas and or wood (cooking type stoves) Oh and TP! I've been looking at SORTA portable solar panels but haven't done any serious research, yet.

It's tough to beat a Coleman two burner stove for portable cooking, The solar panel is to keep the 12 volt battery charged; hook up a power inverter to it and you have portable electricity.

I was looking at the coleman 2 burners, AND just a single burner. What solar array do you like? Oh and inverter. We have been looking at gas generators as well.

A gas generator is good, but they are loud and need plenty of gas. They will immediately call attention to you; not desirable for a bug-out location. A solar panel is quiet and just needs the sun. You can buy power inverters at Walmart that will work well at providing you with a couple of outlets for electrical items. For super-sensitive items like computers you should get a true sine-wave inverter; they provide "clean" power similar to your present household current.
When the big ice storm knocked out power a few years ago, we were able to watch television for the news as well as entertainment using a 12 volt battery and inverter. I never had to charge the battery using a solar panel before the power was back on, but I am set up to do so if needed. We have a propane cooktop so I didn't need one of my Coleman stoves, and used the grill or Brinkman propane oven for baking. Something you might consider is a Camp Chef; it has a couple of burners as well as an oven. You can find them on eBay or at Sportsmans Guide. It's a cooktop and oven in one single unit, and you can hook up a 20# propane tank to it.