Bug-Out Gear for Travelers
I travel a great deal in my work as a survival instructor. For much of my that time, I can easily pack up my truck and have enough gear to take care of my needs on the road for a week. At other times, I fly throughout the US or abroad and all of my well-laid plans for a bug-out bag modified drastically to comply with various federal and international restrictions.
I travel a great deal in my work as a survival instructor. For much of my that time, I can easily pack up my truck and have enough gear to take care of my needs on the road for a week. At other times, I fly throughout the US or abroad and all of my well-laid plans for a bug-out bag modified drastically to comply with various federal and international restrictions.
I think this is the case for many travelers who are
preparedness-minded. You have well-thought plans for handling a grid-down crisis
at home or evacuating your city during an urban disaster complete with bug-out
gear, a well-stocked vehicle, and contingency plans if the routes out of Dodge are congested. However, when you
fly with restriction on your gear, you are thrust into an unfamiliar world where
the location of medical resources, water, power supply capabilities, and major
highways are vague or unknown altogether.
Having a few critical items and plans in place prior to
boarding a plane or heading to another state can provide you with peace of mind
and enable you to handle a crisis away from home.
A Carry-On
Bug-Out Bag
I
like having a small US Palm or 5.11 daypack with me on trips. These are
built for rough use and are in the 2500-3000 cubic inch range allowing them to
store snugly under my seat. In this daypack, I carry my laptop, shemagh, rain
jacket along with extra food and clothes. These items are kept apart from the
small bug-out bag that follows.
Within this daypack I have a small Eagle
Creek Guide Trek Shoulder Bag that contains the critical bug-out gear. I have also
used Pelican and Otter boxes and BDU Wallets but find the shoulder bag to be
very compact and unobtrusive. There are also shoulder bags designed for tablets
that are ideal. Remember that in a true disaster, you may be donning your gear
for several days so purchase something that works for your body type and comfort
level.
The
diminutive Eagle Creek bag is kept within reach at the top of my pack. When I am
out and about in the city or any time I am away from my hotel, it’s with me---
no exceptions. This is in addition to the previously mentioned Everyday Carry
Gear in my pockets. This gear will at least allow you to deal minor emergencies
in the event of a grid-down scenario where you are stuck on the couch for
several days in Terminal Two.
The
following is what I carry in my kit. A detailed description of each item and the
reasoning behind it follows the list. I am already assuming you will have your
cellphone, cash, passport, etc...on you.
Bug-Out
Gear
Potable Aqua Chlorine Dioxide Water Purification
Tablets
2 N95 Dust
Masks
Adventure Medical Kits
Heatsheet Space Blanket
Leather
Gloves
Mini-Roll of Duct
Tape
3 Myoplex Meal
Replacement Bars
Spare Prescription
Glasses or Contact Lenses
Wet Wipes
Cellphone
Charger
Universal Power
Adapter
1-Person First-Aid Kit by
Adventure Medical Kits
Obviously a knife is left off this list as the
regulations vary tremendously from state to state as well as with international
travel. You will need to check with TSA or Amtrak on their specific regulations
and then for the given state or country you will be visiting. When I travel to
Latin America I often come back with several machetes in my checked luggage and
have never had a problem, even after an inspection. This is in addition to the
Mora knife, Spyderco Endura and Leatherman that accompany me in my
checked luggage. Any blades are secured in their sheath with a zip-tie or duct
tape to prevent an accidental opening during baggage handling.
Additional Gear to Purchase after Arrival
When you disembark a plane or train, you already have a
bug-out kit that will take care of a portion of your survival priorities. You
need to make a quick stop at a big-box or grocery store to cover the rest of
your needs.
Depending on the length of your trip, time of year and
geographic location, you may want to flesh this list out far more than what I
have here but this is a place to start for augmenting your existing gear.
Water
Three 1-liter bottles is a good place to start. In
addition to staying hydrated, you have a simple means of purifying water using
the Sodis
Method.
Visit their site and see for yourself how this low-tech method works using clear
plastic bottles and UV rays. It’s an excellent technique to file away between
your ears.
Sunscreen
A small tube, rather than a spray bottle. According to
the latest research, SPF 30 is all that’s needed.
Bic Lighters
Enough said! One of anything critical is a weak set-up so
I pick up two lighters and then leave them behind when I fly home.
Three Days of No-Cook Foods
Purchase some packets of tuna, jerky or freeze-dried
meals. I also add in bouillon cubes which are a great additive to hot water for
making a quick broth on cold days and it helps with replacing lost sodium. If
you are a fan of MREs then, by all means, bring some along. From past
experience, there is no way I am going to get that “food” down my gullet and my
menu reflects that. If you have rations in your kit, then try it out long before
you plan on using it. Some of the items on the market are comparable to chalk
and will be hard to gag down in a true crisis.
You want to strive for roughly 2000 calories a day. Yes, you can live on survival rations averaging 1000 calories a day, as the packages indicate, but that’s a road to mental anarchy. Survival is hard enough so don’t skimp on quality food when assembling a bug-out bag.
My usual menu is to purchase one packet each of tuna,
jerky and a freeze-dried meal per day. Even when I am traveling throughout the
U.S in my truck I have three days’ worth of this chow in my rig.
Preparedness Gear to Have in Your Rental Vehicle
When I need to rent a vehicle during a trip, I purchase
the following items (*) prior to leaving the city near the airport. The
remaining items are brought with me from home and placed in my checked
luggage.
2+ gallons of water depending on location and time of
year*
Can of Fix-a-Flat* Tire Repair Sealant
18 ounce Coleman Stainless Steel Mug for heating water,
melting snow, and more.