EDC2Bug v2 (2023)
Disclaimer: I’ll only provide links to products I personally have in my system. I’m not sponsored by anyone, and I don’t get any kickbacks. I’m just sharing what I use.
Philosophy
I read a bunch of various posts about bug out and go bags, and it seems like everyone has their own theory on a hierarchy of survival needs. I of course, decided to come up with my own. I wanted to prioritize always having a good minimum set of supplies, but also being able to scale up to a full bug out bag if needed. I also enjoy tech, so this pack includes my general tech carry.
What do I have?
My first thought is to layer my supplies based on what I have.
- My body and mind
- Phone + Wallet
- Clothes
- A backpack
- My Car
- My Home
Each layer assumes I have the previous, and include increasingly more supplies.
I always have my mind and body, and 99% of the time I have my phone and wallet. If I have clothes on, I hopefully have at least one pocket. If I have a backpack, I can carry more supplies. If I have my car, I can carry even more supplies and store a proper bug out bag. If I have my home, I can load my car with the max supplies.
What do I need for survival?
My second thought is to layer my supplies based on what I need. My own hierarchy of needs (based on various others too numerous to list) is:
- Air
- Defense
- Shelter
- Fire
- Navigation
- Water
- Food
- Tech
- Fun
My thought process is that I can make it 3 minutes without air, max, so that is priority number one. Next, in a situation with hostile people, I need a way to defend myself in the short term. Once those have been handled, in extreme environments, I need shelter and heat within 3 hours. If I can stabilize to that point, I can navigate to safety if possible. If not, I need to find water within 3 days and food within 3 weeks. Finally, I need to keep myself sane and entertained if my situation is going to last longer.
On top of these needs, it is also helpful to have some tools that make certain tasks easier, such as light, writing, sewing, and cordage.
The Kits
My Body and Mind
What if I’m stranded naked on a desert island? I need to be able to survive with nothing but my body and mind. This mostly comes down to knowledge. Take a first aid course, do a wilderness survival lesson. Figure out some basic foraging in your area and learn basic knots as well as how to make basic cordage from natural resources.
Phone + Wallet
- Phone
- Offline Maps
- Offline Survival Guides (Knots, Foraging, Shelter, SERE, etc.)
- Offline Wikipedia
- Offline Language Dictionaries
- Offline First Aid
- Wallet
- Cash Cash Cash
- ID
- Card Multitool
- Bandaids
- Cordage
- Sewing Kit
- Notepad
Clothes
Assuming I have at least one pocket, what should I ALWAYS carry.
- Organizer (ALPAKA Zip Pouch Pro)
- Fits in a front pocket, running belt, etc.
- CPR Mask (Pocket Version amazon)
- You never know…
- Multitool (Leatherman Signal amazon)
- Knife, pliers, saw, firesteel, hammer, etc.
- Flashlight (Olight i3T EOS amazon)
- Little guy
- Pen (Fisher Space Pen)
- Writes upside down, in space, and underwater] amazon)
- Notepad (Rite in the Rain amazon)
- Lighter (BIC amazon)
- Cordage
- Little Paracord or just some twine
- Glue stick
- Thin gauge - great for bonding little things
- Superglue
- Bonding or cuts
Backpack
What if I have a backpack? What should I ALWAYS carry.
- Backpack - I use a GoRuck GR1
- First Aid Kit - HomeStockPlus Medium amazon
- Water
- Nesting Steel Cup - GSI
- Wrap the Nalgene in some Duct/100MPH tape to make the cup stay on under friction.
- Tissues
- Face Mask
- Rain Jacket (Frogg Toggs Mens Womens)
- Gloves (warm) - Northface amazon
- Gloves (work) - Mechanix amazon
- Light beanie - EMPIRELION amazon
- Heavy Beanie - Carhartt amazon
- Buff amazon
- Compressible Puffer Vest or Jacket (32 Degrees - Mens amazon Womens amazon)
- Microfiber Towel - Rainleaf amazon
- Headlamp Black Diamond Spot 400
- Earplugs
- Sunglasses
- Paracord
- Laptop
- USBC Charger - Anker 747 amazon
- Power Bank - Sharge 100 amazon
Car
Car Stuff
- Jumper Cables
- Tire Iron
- Straps
- Road Flares - Slimk amazon
- Duct Tape
- Fuses
Bug Out Bag
- Backpack - I use a 5.11 Rush 72
- Knowledge
- Pocket First Aid, Foraging, Knots, Bushcraft
- Tools
- Air
- Respirator MIRA CM-6M
- Shelter
- Tarp (REI Quarter Dome SL Tarp - seems discontinued)
- 550 Paracord (I have 2x25’ 1x50’ 1x100')
- Stakes (x8)
- Sleeping Pad (Thermarest NeoAir Xlite)
- Sleeping Bag (REI Magma 15 or Swagman Roll)
- Life Bivy - amazon x2
- Fire
- CottonBall + Vaseline Tinder
- Firesteel - Holtzman Ferro Rod amazon
- Lighter
- Matches
- Survival Candle
- Clothing
- 2x Socks
- I like wool
- 2x Liner Socks - Wigwam Coolmax amazon
- These are great for preventing blisters.
- 2x Underwear
- I like merino wool or specifically airy synthetic
- 2x T-Shirts
- 2x Underlayer - I prefer wool
- 1x Hiking pants
- 1x Hiking/UV Shirt
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- 2x Socks
- Navigation
- Compass
- US Map
- Notebook (Rite in the Rain amazon)
- Pens
- Sharpies
- Water
- Sawyer Squeeze
- Grayl
- 48oz Nalgene (w/nesting cup)
- Iodine Tablets - Aquatabs amazon
- Food
- Ration Bars
- Dehydrated meals
- SAS Takedown Recon Bow and 3x Arrows
- Fishing Kit - Best Glide Compact Kit amazon
- Snare Kit
- Medical
- Big First Aid Kit
- Tourniquet
- Israeli Bandage
- Hygiene
- Camp Soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste tablets
- Wipes
- Tissue
- Squeeze Bidet - FOOFOO amazon
- Chapstick
- Anti-Chafe
- Big First Aid Kit
- Fun
- Cards
- Rubiks Cube