I have read a few more forums, posts, updated lists and similar, so I updated my Bug Out Bags (BOBs).
Again, they do not include food, water, weapons and ammunition, tools (like shovel, pick axe, big saws, hammers, etc.) which I would also grab in case I would need to escape from home.
INTERLUDE ABOUT FOOD: hey, do not complain if I am jumping around as I am thinking at different things ... ramdom thoughts, remember?
After trying a few choices and in consideration of other points like storage space and expiration, I would stay away from the military MREs. They are relatively pricey, even if they have all that you need inside, but with approximately 7 years expiration from manufacturing date and especially because of the CRAPPY new gourmet selections, they do not stand a candle to other choices.
Apparently the "chefs" that choose the recipes for the MREs are rejects from a school cafeteria. All fancy names for literally CRAP. Give me the old Tuna and noodles of old days past or the old beef stew. Have you tried the vegetable hamburger? Yeah, first of all an oxymoron in itself.
Why do I know? the 2 boxes of MREs I had were going to expire, so I start sampling one pouch here and there. They mostly went to the trash. I kept the little packets of salt, toilet paper, plastic spoon, heater... LOL.
Now, I am not endorsing any company and I am not paid by any of them, but definitely the freeze dry choices are much better. With a shelf life of 25 to 30 years they are cheaper in the long run. I tried a few from Mountain House and Augason Farm and they are much better than the MREs by a LONG shot.
In summary, I am sold on the freeze dried foods for their shelf life and decent taste.
BACK TO THE LIST OF EMERGENCY ITEMS IN THE BOBs
Below is my updated list for the BOBs:
| RED BAG | BLACK BAG | |
| 100 hour candle | Toilet paper | |
| 9 hour candle | Sanitary Napkins | |
| Earplugs | Soap bar | |
| Fire tabs | Dental Floss | |
| Notepads | Dental Picks | |
| Small pocket notepad | Mouthwash | |
| 3x5 cards | Toothpaste | |
| Black pens and refills | Toothbrush | |
| Sharpies | Baking Soda | |
| Color Pencils (Box of 30) | Vaseline | |
| Camping Mirror | AA battery | |
| Crayons (box of 20) | AAA battery | |
| Snap light | C battery | |
| Small Flashlight (with batteries) | D battery | |
| Scissor | 9V battery | |
| Solar emergency radio w/ crank | Small Flashlight (with batteries) | |
| Plastic gloves | Solar charger for AA and AAA | |
| Instant cold pack | Pocket Weather Alert Radio | |
| Surgical masks | 100 hour candle | |
| Trash bags (large) | Stove-in-a-can | |
| Contact Solution | Fishing set + line | |
| Alcohol | Ziplock bags (quarter) | |
| Peroxide | Aluminum Foil | |
| Cotton Squares | Ziplock bags (gallon) | |
| Work gloves | Zip ties (different sizes) | |
| Folding Saw | Emergency Water filter | |
| Camp Axe (small 14-17 inches) | Magnesium fire starter | |
| Duct tape | Strike-a-Fire Sticks | |
| Paper towel | Stormproof matches | |
| Face towel (small) | Flares signal / fire starters | |
| Paperclips | Sterno candles | |
| Baking soda | Waterproof small box | |
| Water purification tablets | Chainmate survival saw | |
| Emergency water filter | Blunt scissors (small) | |
| Military straps | Blunt scissors (large) | |
| Flares signal / fire starters | Plastic canteen (small) | |
| Fuel Gel | Space (weather) blanket | |
| Sterno candles | Green bendages | |
| Space Blanket | Combat dressing first aid | |
| Hand warmers | Surgical tape | |
| Buterfly wound closures | ||
| QuikClot | ||
| Cohesive Flexible Bandages | ||
| Salt and Peeper set | ||
| Salt (sea + iodine) | ||
| Red Pepper (crushed) | ||
| Oregano | ||
| Basil | ||
| Parsley | ||
| Sawing needles | ||
| Homecraft needles | ||
| Thread | ||
| Journals (notepad) | ||
| Pocket notepads | ||
| Black pens and refills | ||
| Mechanical pencils and refills | ||
| Color Pencils (Box of 30) | ||
| Crayons (Box of 20) | ||
| Pencil erasers | ||
| Playing cards deck | ||
| Bowie Knife | ||
| Pry Bar | ||
| Thermometer | ||
| N95 face mask | ||
| Neck straps (cold when wet) | ||
| SWAT Goggles | ||
| Goggles (sun, wind, dust) | ||
| Earplugs |
Add tweezers and nail clippers, but I keep those in the first aid kit, so they are not listed under the BOBs.
The bags I am using are like gym duffle bags, not the biggest, but not the smallest either. They weight quite a bit relatively speaking, but the plan is to thrown them in the back of a vehicle.
Other things I keep in the Storm Closet and would grub are the following:
| Wipes |
| Crank flashlight |
| Tea Lights Candles (Because you need some atmosphere as you shelter from a zombie horde) |
| Emergency Radio CC Solar Observer |
| 2-Way Radios |
| Fire extinguisher |
| Survival Seeds Vault |
| Water Bob |
| First aid kit |
| First aid kit - Hunter |
Couple of notes.
These will be items in an emergency and you want them to work, not just break the first time you use them. Of course you do not have to buy everything in one go. Just purchase things a little at a time and collect some quality items. I am not talking about cotton balls either, buy the cheap ones of those.
But for example, for a small camping axe, spend some extra money and get a good quality one, not the $7 cheap soft steel from your favorite discount store. And not one with a 5 inch handle, you would have no hitting power. COMMON SENSE DUDE (and dudettes).
Second, invest in a good first aid kit. The $12 from Wally World may be ok for scraps and little cuts and a headache. Build your own with what YOU need. Yes, it is relatively expensive, but I started with a hunter kit from Adventure Medical (again, I am not endorsing anything, just saying what I found decent). I believe it is now called the Bighorn kit. Of course I added some items to make it more "complete" for my needs.