My Bug-Out Bag: Part 3 of Many

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Part 1
Part 2

Sorry for the delay between parts, dear readers, but the holidays happened. Now, on to Part 3, where I show you what I have in the side and back pockets.




Both side pockets are for items I am likely to need quickly and do not want to root around for.  The left side pocket is for heat, light, quick shelter, and knife maintenance.

• Razor knife by Derma-safe
• Pack of tissues (can be used for blowing my nose, wiping my bottom, as a hasty wound dressing or as kindling)
• Mini LED Maglite with strobe and candle function
• 44-hour candle with matches
• SOL 2-person survival blanket (I have raingear in my pack, so this is more for warmth than for dryness)

• Firestarting tin with 2 rolls of duct tape, 1 box of waterproof matches, 1 hexamine tablet, 1 packet of tinder-quik, and 2 sheets of folded aluminum foil
• Disposable lighter
• 25 feet of FireCord
• Ferro Rod with striker
• Chapstick (protects lips AND serves as fuel)
• Lansky knife sharpener
• Speedy Sharp
• EZE-Lap diamond file
• Rust Eraser
• Pen of WD-40 (lubricant, metal cleaner, and combustible)

The right side pocket is mostly for hygiene and quick access to important tools, with some stuff from the left side that wouldn't fit.

• Two bottles of 5-Hour Energy drink
• Two folded aluminum foil bread pans
• Hobo tool
• Sillcock Key
• Biodegradable wet wipes (even if they dry out, they're still good as toilet paper)

• Dental floss
• Bottle of camp soap (can be used to wash my body as well as dishes)
• Hand sanitizer
• Wash cloth
• Scrubby dish cloth

Finally, the small back pocket contains snacks, important personal documents, and some items that won't fit anywhere else due to their size and shape (and which I don't want in the main compartment).

• Vacuum-sealed beef jerky from House of Jerky
• Chocolate "Prep Shake" (basically a liquid meal -- just add water)
• Nite-Ize Knotbone -- 550 cord connectors/tie-downs
• Repair kits for tents, air mattresses, etc

• Parabolic mirror for starting fire
• Pouch with punk wood and jute twine
• Survival snare kit (1 big, 1 small)
• Two Speedhooks
• Not shown for purposes of operational security: ziploc bag full of important documents, like a copy of my birth certificate

Next week: What's on top?