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10-10-2008, 12:43 AM
This month's guest article comes courtesy of member Raoul Duke and provides a comprehensive look at considerations surrounding the assembly of a Ready Bag. For more information on what the heck a Ready Bag actually is, read on.
A concise conventional description of a Bug Out Bag: “A bug-out bag is a portable kit containing all of the items one would require to survive for seventy two hours after evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72 hour kit, an emergency kit, or a disaster supplies kit."
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_1.Bagfront.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/1.Bagfront.jpg)
If you’re reading this, you’re likely familiar with the idea of a Bug-out Bag (BOB), or as I prefer, “Ready Bag”. Perhaps you even have one in play or currently in development. Filled with critical items necessary to persevere in adverse situations, a thoughtful Ready Bag is an indispensable element of emergency preparedness. Conversely, an inefficient and/or insufficient Ready Bag, like the survival plans of the unprepared, can quickly become a repository of ill conceived and poorly executed ideas, expensive equipment gathering dust, and cheap solutions to the wrong problems. Ultimately you want to build and maintain a capable, efficient situation management tool, while avoiding the pitfalls of waste, under preparation and under-utilization that plague the average HABOB (Half-Assed Bug-Out Bag). Luckily, it’s easier than you think, though it’s not cheap. There is no “final cost;” it’s always a work in progress. What you spend will be dictated by what you already have on hand, what you can afford, and what (in your estimation) is vital to your existence. With a moderate investment of time and capital, you’ll be surprised just how synergistic a properly prepared bag can be once integrated into your life. You may in fact be so grateful you that you subsequently choose to forgive me for using the world synergy.
Whether you’re a practicing survivalist waiting for the world to catch up to you, or a newcomer to the concept of personal preparedness, I want to offer you a different approach to the well-worn concept of the Ready Bag. You’ll implement some, all, or none of my suggestions. That is well enough. I don’t aim to convince you that my solutions are “correct.” for you. In fact, a few core items aside, local climate, availability, and family structure will dictate the contents of your Ready Bag. Thus, my goal is simply to help you begin think about your own preparation (or lack thereof) and begin to shape a response that fits your needs.
Throughout this article you’ll notice that some products are specified by name. In this case, I am recommending not only the product category, but also the particular model and producer indicated. I rarely shill for an individual commercial product. There are often many that will do a particular job well. But, in 20 years of outdoor adventures, I’m come to find that some items stand above the rest. These are recommended in this manner.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_4.Open_Top.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/4.Open_Top.jpg)
Also included in this bag is a small waterproof document case not pictured for security reasons. This small packet holds photocopies of my passport, driver’s license, firearms license, medications and medicinal allergies, bank account information, social security card, insurance and other such personal papers. Because of the highly sensitive nature of these documents, I do not carry this pouch with me daily, rather it is kept at home under lock and key. It’s a trade off and I run the risk of not having it with me when I need it however, the risk of having these documents lost or stolen outweighs their value on an average day.
The final item to address before we begin discussing the bag’s contents is the thorny issue of firearms. There are many different opinions about the use, efficacy and legality of firearms. It’s beyond the scope of this article to tackle these weighty questions. Suffice to say, the author believes strongly that our right as Americans to keep and bear arms is explicit within Second Amendment and thus the 2nd is leverage with which all other rights are secured.
The author is duly licensed by the state of Massachusetts to posses and carry concealed, the firearms pictured. The author is strongly against the illicit use or possession of firearms by criminals, but assumes that they aren’t likely to listen to him. Nonetheless, the author recommends that you take personal responsibility for researching, understanding, and adhering to the laws of your state and locality, recognizing that they can and do change frequently and that ignorance of even local ordinance is no excuse in the event of an interaction with law enforcement. So ends the warning.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_20.Extra.Armament.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/20.Extra.Armament.jpg)
Let’s begin with the very name of the bag. I prefer the term “Ready Bag,” instead of Bug-Out Bag for several reasons. The Ready Bag is a multi-tool, a solution to a wide range of potential problems. From minor daily incidents, to extreme weather events and even social upheaval, a proper Ready Bag will help you handle almost anything that comes your way until you can arrange for a permanent solution. While the typical Bug-Out Bag is aimed at “getting’ out of Dodge” (town) in the event of an emergency, my Ready Bag is designed to get me “home” in one piece where, presumably, I will re-stock, re-asses and prepare for the next step. But it’s more than a survival tool. In fact, I utilize my bag almost every single day in far more mundane situations. This brings us to the first key element of the RB system.
Proper integration leads to regular use of your Ready Bag, which has the following benefits:
A faster rate of return on the bag
A higher likelihood that you’ll have your RB on hand in a crucial moment
A better chance that you’ll have the right tool for the job in your Bag
Fundamentally, an effective Ready Bag is about more than just the gear you stuff inside. Efficient development requires a thoughtful mission and a solid overarching operating practice that guides the myriad decisions in the design process. Here are my principles:
1. Acknowledge The Mundane ROI (Return on Investment).
Properly employed, your bag can actually save you a lot of money. Indeed, the slightly obsessive among us will monitor this return and identify the moment when their $X (cost of the bag/contents) investment pays for itself with what I call the “Mundane ROI.” Here’s how it works. In addition to carrying the things I need to survive a temporary emergency event, I also carry a less prosaic line of cargo, things that I’ve need for frequently and which I might purchase away from home. These convenience items represent negative value for many reasons including:
Convenience Cost
While even in bulk, a quality nutrient bar may cost $2, the typical snack food option at a convenience store will likely cost more and almost certainly return less in the form of useable, healthy energy. If you prefer to have your snack food hot it’s half the cost of a burger and friends from the Golden Arches. Further, with your beverage in hand, you won’t spend additional money on beverages. I used to spend a dollar and half on water thinking nothing of buying a bottle or two a day. That’s about $80/month in water or $960 over the course of a year. In concert with other savings achieved by Ready Bag contents, your Bag easily pay’s for itself in less than a year. Quickly becoming profit. Real revenue. Were talking about real potential savings here and the best part is, you generally have exactly what you want.
Time/Travel Cost
This may seem negligible but it adds up. By not stopping for emergency food, toiletries, or beverages, you can choose when/where to stop saving time, allowing you to choose a more ideal spot (perhaps a safer location?). Essentially you regain a certain amount of control in your trip, allowing you to get to that interview or date on time without forgoing necessities because you didn’t want to be late.
Adverse Diet Implications
A snack item from a convenience store/gas station or a fast food restaurant is bound to be less healthy than the high-protein “Cliff Bars” I pack. Naturally, something like fresh fruit would be optimal but we’re talking survival and “natural” energy bars, like Cliff and their ilk, offer a great compromise when you might otherwise consider fast (unhealthy) food. I’m not getting kickbacks from Cliff mind you; I’m just saying that their products tend to be the most palatable in my estimation.
Each of us has a unique set of predictable needs and expenses. There is no magic in purchasing for predictable needs in bulk, and at your leisure. But, if you track these expenses you’ll find that you can save anywhere from $10 - $200 each month when you use incorporate other items which allow you avoid necessity purchases away from home when your purchasing power is at its weakest.
2. 1.Frequency Of Use is Directly Related to Potential Accessibility.
You know that getting the most from your bag requires using it as often as necessary to meet existing and emerging needs. But there’s another, more fundamental reason for integrating the bag and using it regularly. Quite simply, the more often you use it, the higher the likelihood you’ll have it at a critical moment. That is, after all, the primary reason for its existence. Stay on top of the simple log procedure and you won’t be out of key items at critical times. But remember, the point of using it regularly is to make sure you have it with you when you need it. If you don’t have it when you need it, you’re going to feel aw-shucks-dumb as you’re dying of thirst by a dry riverbed, or as your femur separates from your pelvis because you forgot the shark repellant. Silly you.
3. Inefficiency is Waste. Waste is bad.
Even if money is not your primary concern avoid waste. Whether it’s wasted space in a bag, causing you to hump unnecessary things, or wasted food that spoils uneaten. By regularly rotating perishable items like preserved food, nutrient bars, water, even disposable lighters and batteries, you can use your supplies efficiently. I recommend having a small area, perhaps a shelf in your home, dedicated to storing extra items that you purchase in bulk. For instance, don’t buy 3 Protein bars, buy a case of 30 and keep 3 in the bag. If everything is stored conveniently, you can easily refill your bag in seconds, carry only what you need, and enjoy the savings of buying in bulk.
4. A Ready Bag is a Perpetual Work in Progress
You’ll notice I mention several items on my list facing imminent substitution for any of a number of reasons. That is because I am constantly updating, refining, and re-considering the bag’s contents as I learn from experience what works, what doesn’t, and what will meet the challenges in my life. Such continual use also allows me the opportunity to quickly assess what I have, and what can be accomplished using the tools on hand. Things come and go. By the time you read this article I will likely have changed 3 more things.
5. Pod Design Works
Rather than pack each item separately, I use a series of pods or kits that can be re-assembled to suit my needs in less than two minutes. For instance, my Ready Bag itself is actually three bags. The primary bag is the First Responder Bag pictured. There is also a smaller shoulder bag is used for minimalist preparation and a 5500 Cubic-Inch internal frame pack which provides a more suitable overland on-foot bag. Regardless of which bag I use, the series of 8 pods of interrelated items allows me to quickly and easily assemble, pack and later locate, each item in the bag.
6. It's Personal
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_10.UP.Right.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/10.UP.Right.jpg)
I’ve found what works for me and I am always re-evaluating. You need to identify and then obtain the equipment that best suits your needs, location, and your situation. Sure, there will be overlap. Everyone needs a first aid kit, soap, fire implements and cutting tools. But in the end, you’ll decide what makes your challenges unique and prepare accordingly.
7. Remember, you may actually have to carry this bag.
It’s incredibly easy to over-pack as you’re assembling the contents of your Ready Bag. Faced with the need to reduce weight, you may struggle with what to retain and what to ditch. Because the bag will spend the bulk of its life in your car, you can afford to pack more than you might if you had to carry it everywhere. Still, extra weight is waste and chances are you’ll want to bring the bag into your house each evening for security reason. Bear that in mind as your choose a Bag to work with. Some people require more than others and while I recommend have a 3 or 4 bag system, you can certainly start with one mid-size bag.
I’ve now shared my philosophy about Ready Bags and their development. They you’re your posterior in a jam, save your schedule when time is tight, and save you money every day. You know why a Ready Bag is a more comprehensive tool than a Bug Out Bag, and why it’s vital to actively integrate your bag into your life to get the most out of your investment. Now you want to know, “what’s in the bag?” Well, fair enough.
---------------------------------
Note: This article is the first section of a much longer work available to download in printable PDF from 230grain.com's Manual Repository (http://230grain.com/repository.php). You'll need to register to get it, but registration is free, so the information is guaranteed to be worth it.
Direct article link - My Ready Bag Can Beat Up Your Bug-Out Bag (http://230grain.com/repository.php?catid=81&linkid=10221)
A concise conventional description of a Bug Out Bag: “A bug-out bag is a portable kit containing all of the items one would require to survive for seventy two hours after evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72 hour kit, an emergency kit, or a disaster supplies kit."
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_1.Bagfront.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/1.Bagfront.jpg)
If you’re reading this, you’re likely familiar with the idea of a Bug-out Bag (BOB), or as I prefer, “Ready Bag”. Perhaps you even have one in play or currently in development. Filled with critical items necessary to persevere in adverse situations, a thoughtful Ready Bag is an indispensable element of emergency preparedness. Conversely, an inefficient and/or insufficient Ready Bag, like the survival plans of the unprepared, can quickly become a repository of ill conceived and poorly executed ideas, expensive equipment gathering dust, and cheap solutions to the wrong problems. Ultimately you want to build and maintain a capable, efficient situation management tool, while avoiding the pitfalls of waste, under preparation and under-utilization that plague the average HABOB (Half-Assed Bug-Out Bag). Luckily, it’s easier than you think, though it’s not cheap. There is no “final cost;” it’s always a work in progress. What you spend will be dictated by what you already have on hand, what you can afford, and what (in your estimation) is vital to your existence. With a moderate investment of time and capital, you’ll be surprised just how synergistic a properly prepared bag can be once integrated into your life. You may in fact be so grateful you that you subsequently choose to forgive me for using the world synergy.
Whether you’re a practicing survivalist waiting for the world to catch up to you, or a newcomer to the concept of personal preparedness, I want to offer you a different approach to the well-worn concept of the Ready Bag. You’ll implement some, all, or none of my suggestions. That is well enough. I don’t aim to convince you that my solutions are “correct.” for you. In fact, a few core items aside, local climate, availability, and family structure will dictate the contents of your Ready Bag. Thus, my goal is simply to help you begin think about your own preparation (or lack thereof) and begin to shape a response that fits your needs.
Throughout this article you’ll notice that some products are specified by name. In this case, I am recommending not only the product category, but also the particular model and producer indicated. I rarely shill for an individual commercial product. There are often many that will do a particular job well. But, in 20 years of outdoor adventures, I’m come to find that some items stand above the rest. These are recommended in this manner.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_4.Open_Top.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/4.Open_Top.jpg)
Also included in this bag is a small waterproof document case not pictured for security reasons. This small packet holds photocopies of my passport, driver’s license, firearms license, medications and medicinal allergies, bank account information, social security card, insurance and other such personal papers. Because of the highly sensitive nature of these documents, I do not carry this pouch with me daily, rather it is kept at home under lock and key. It’s a trade off and I run the risk of not having it with me when I need it however, the risk of having these documents lost or stolen outweighs their value on an average day.
The final item to address before we begin discussing the bag’s contents is the thorny issue of firearms. There are many different opinions about the use, efficacy and legality of firearms. It’s beyond the scope of this article to tackle these weighty questions. Suffice to say, the author believes strongly that our right as Americans to keep and bear arms is explicit within Second Amendment and thus the 2nd is leverage with which all other rights are secured.
The author is duly licensed by the state of Massachusetts to posses and carry concealed, the firearms pictured. The author is strongly against the illicit use or possession of firearms by criminals, but assumes that they aren’t likely to listen to him. Nonetheless, the author recommends that you take personal responsibility for researching, understanding, and adhering to the laws of your state and locality, recognizing that they can and do change frequently and that ignorance of even local ordinance is no excuse in the event of an interaction with law enforcement. So ends the warning.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_20.Extra.Armament.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/20.Extra.Armament.jpg)
Let’s begin with the very name of the bag. I prefer the term “Ready Bag,” instead of Bug-Out Bag for several reasons. The Ready Bag is a multi-tool, a solution to a wide range of potential problems. From minor daily incidents, to extreme weather events and even social upheaval, a proper Ready Bag will help you handle almost anything that comes your way until you can arrange for a permanent solution. While the typical Bug-Out Bag is aimed at “getting’ out of Dodge” (town) in the event of an emergency, my Ready Bag is designed to get me “home” in one piece where, presumably, I will re-stock, re-asses and prepare for the next step. But it’s more than a survival tool. In fact, I utilize my bag almost every single day in far more mundane situations. This brings us to the first key element of the RB system.
Proper integration leads to regular use of your Ready Bag, which has the following benefits:
A faster rate of return on the bag
A higher likelihood that you’ll have your RB on hand in a crucial moment
A better chance that you’ll have the right tool for the job in your Bag
Fundamentally, an effective Ready Bag is about more than just the gear you stuff inside. Efficient development requires a thoughtful mission and a solid overarching operating practice that guides the myriad decisions in the design process. Here are my principles:
1. Acknowledge The Mundane ROI (Return on Investment).
Properly employed, your bag can actually save you a lot of money. Indeed, the slightly obsessive among us will monitor this return and identify the moment when their $X (cost of the bag/contents) investment pays for itself with what I call the “Mundane ROI.” Here’s how it works. In addition to carrying the things I need to survive a temporary emergency event, I also carry a less prosaic line of cargo, things that I’ve need for frequently and which I might purchase away from home. These convenience items represent negative value for many reasons including:
Convenience Cost
While even in bulk, a quality nutrient bar may cost $2, the typical snack food option at a convenience store will likely cost more and almost certainly return less in the form of useable, healthy energy. If you prefer to have your snack food hot it’s half the cost of a burger and friends from the Golden Arches. Further, with your beverage in hand, you won’t spend additional money on beverages. I used to spend a dollar and half on water thinking nothing of buying a bottle or two a day. That’s about $80/month in water or $960 over the course of a year. In concert with other savings achieved by Ready Bag contents, your Bag easily pay’s for itself in less than a year. Quickly becoming profit. Real revenue. Were talking about real potential savings here and the best part is, you generally have exactly what you want.
Time/Travel Cost
This may seem negligible but it adds up. By not stopping for emergency food, toiletries, or beverages, you can choose when/where to stop saving time, allowing you to choose a more ideal spot (perhaps a safer location?). Essentially you regain a certain amount of control in your trip, allowing you to get to that interview or date on time without forgoing necessities because you didn’t want to be late.
Adverse Diet Implications
A snack item from a convenience store/gas station or a fast food restaurant is bound to be less healthy than the high-protein “Cliff Bars” I pack. Naturally, something like fresh fruit would be optimal but we’re talking survival and “natural” energy bars, like Cliff and their ilk, offer a great compromise when you might otherwise consider fast (unhealthy) food. I’m not getting kickbacks from Cliff mind you; I’m just saying that their products tend to be the most palatable in my estimation.
Each of us has a unique set of predictable needs and expenses. There is no magic in purchasing for predictable needs in bulk, and at your leisure. But, if you track these expenses you’ll find that you can save anywhere from $10 - $200 each month when you use incorporate other items which allow you avoid necessity purchases away from home when your purchasing power is at its weakest.
2. 1.Frequency Of Use is Directly Related to Potential Accessibility.
You know that getting the most from your bag requires using it as often as necessary to meet existing and emerging needs. But there’s another, more fundamental reason for integrating the bag and using it regularly. Quite simply, the more often you use it, the higher the likelihood you’ll have it at a critical moment. That is, after all, the primary reason for its existence. Stay on top of the simple log procedure and you won’t be out of key items at critical times. But remember, the point of using it regularly is to make sure you have it with you when you need it. If you don’t have it when you need it, you’re going to feel aw-shucks-dumb as you’re dying of thirst by a dry riverbed, or as your femur separates from your pelvis because you forgot the shark repellant. Silly you.
3. Inefficiency is Waste. Waste is bad.
Even if money is not your primary concern avoid waste. Whether it’s wasted space in a bag, causing you to hump unnecessary things, or wasted food that spoils uneaten. By regularly rotating perishable items like preserved food, nutrient bars, water, even disposable lighters and batteries, you can use your supplies efficiently. I recommend having a small area, perhaps a shelf in your home, dedicated to storing extra items that you purchase in bulk. For instance, don’t buy 3 Protein bars, buy a case of 30 and keep 3 in the bag. If everything is stored conveniently, you can easily refill your bag in seconds, carry only what you need, and enjoy the savings of buying in bulk.
4. A Ready Bag is a Perpetual Work in Progress
You’ll notice I mention several items on my list facing imminent substitution for any of a number of reasons. That is because I am constantly updating, refining, and re-considering the bag’s contents as I learn from experience what works, what doesn’t, and what will meet the challenges in my life. Such continual use also allows me the opportunity to quickly assess what I have, and what can be accomplished using the tools on hand. Things come and go. By the time you read this article I will likely have changed 3 more things.
5. Pod Design Works
Rather than pack each item separately, I use a series of pods or kits that can be re-assembled to suit my needs in less than two minutes. For instance, my Ready Bag itself is actually three bags. The primary bag is the First Responder Bag pictured. There is also a smaller shoulder bag is used for minimalist preparation and a 5500 Cubic-Inch internal frame pack which provides a more suitable overland on-foot bag. Regardless of which bag I use, the series of 8 pods of interrelated items allows me to quickly and easily assemble, pack and later locate, each item in the bag.
6. It's Personal
http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/thumb_10.UP.Right.jpg.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/bob/10.UP.Right.jpg)
I’ve found what works for me and I am always re-evaluating. You need to identify and then obtain the equipment that best suits your needs, location, and your situation. Sure, there will be overlap. Everyone needs a first aid kit, soap, fire implements and cutting tools. But in the end, you’ll decide what makes your challenges unique and prepare accordingly.
7. Remember, you may actually have to carry this bag.
It’s incredibly easy to over-pack as you’re assembling the contents of your Ready Bag. Faced with the need to reduce weight, you may struggle with what to retain and what to ditch. Because the bag will spend the bulk of its life in your car, you can afford to pack more than you might if you had to carry it everywhere. Still, extra weight is waste and chances are you’ll want to bring the bag into your house each evening for security reason. Bear that in mind as your choose a Bag to work with. Some people require more than others and while I recommend have a 3 or 4 bag system, you can certainly start with one mid-size bag.
I’ve now shared my philosophy about Ready Bags and their development. They you’re your posterior in a jam, save your schedule when time is tight, and save you money every day. You know why a Ready Bag is a more comprehensive tool than a Bug Out Bag, and why it’s vital to actively integrate your bag into your life to get the most out of your investment. Now you want to know, “what’s in the bag?” Well, fair enough.
---------------------------------
Note: This article is the first section of a much longer work available to download in printable PDF from 230grain.com's Manual Repository (http://230grain.com/repository.php). You'll need to register to get it, but registration is free, so the information is guaranteed to be worth it.
Direct article link - My Ready Bag Can Beat Up Your Bug-Out Bag (http://230grain.com/repository.php?catid=81&linkid=10221)