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Traverse Backpack
30 days of Survival Tablets
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I want to start with these 2 items because they are the best examples at explaining my current situation and how it may change during an emergency. First, you should probably know I live in the Midwest. Oklahoma to be exact. I like to refer to it as "The Land of Many Guns". Oklahoma is loaded with lakes and flat land. A whole host of insects (Ticks are the worst), snakes, tarantulas and turtles. And nearly everyone has a large gun collection.
So, imagine there's no more power. No water at the tap. Gas stations are shut down. Grocery stores no longer stock the shelves. Many of the neighborhoods are abandoned and Scavengers have moved in. Now it's getting too dangerous to stay in your home... It's time to go.
You've prepared for this day, and everything you have (or don't have) on you means life or death.
To explain what's on the list, it's best that we start with the second item, Survival Tablets. So let's say that you've looked into this list and figure, Survival Tablets aren't for you. Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) is more your speed. And in the interest of competition, you've decided you need 30 days worth as well. And you are willing to sacrifice the $699.96 required for one month (135.9 lbs, 48 Servings, 5 year shelf life). And, of course, that's only for one person. Sorry about your significant other. 😥
You will also need to take into account the shelf life of a MRE is only 5 years. Meaning, you'll have to eat and replenish all of that food every 5 years (Reminder: The tablets have a 25 year shelf life).
The day has finally come. You grab your gear, throw the food into your truck (because it's too heavy to carry) and you're on your way (because you also have that stash of gasoline too). Unfortunately, you live in "The Land of Many Guns". And you are shot and killed 💀 before you get to the end of your block for that tasty, food and supplies... Oh, and gas to be sure.
The 30 days of Survival Tablets fit easily into your bag. They have a shelf life of 25 years and cost under $100 for a months supply. They do work! Are they going to keep you from getting hungry? NO! But if you eat one tablet every hour for 12 hours a day, they will give you all of the nutrients your body requires to survive. There are plants and animals to keep you from being hungry. These are for keeping you from dying of malnutrition and starvation.
Like the Survival Tablets, the Traverse Backpack does the same. I chose this pack for it's stealth and support. It has a waist belt to keep all of the wait off your shoulders and looks as innocuous as a book bag. Remember that a Large Camping pack, complete with a support frame and all of the bells and whistles will look to scavengers as tasty as a truck full of food and supplies. The idea here, is whether you leave on foot or by vehicle, you want to appear to "NOT" be worth the trouble to rob.
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| 2 Tarps 8' X 9' & 5' X 7' |
Only one tarp is "needed". However, I like to be spoiled. So I have two. The reason I have no price for them, is that I got them free from Harbor Freight. They were having a give away. With one Tarp I can easily make a quick tent, lean to, or shelter. However if you do a little research on youtube, you'll find some really interesting ways to make quite an elaborate tent. With two tarps, I can make something akin to a condominium. 🤣 |
| Schrade Knife SCHF36 |
You're on your own now. You've stepped into the wilderness of either trees or concrete. Now you need to rely on the skills you have and develop the skills you don't. Bushcraft will be the most important set of skills you'll need to develop. And you can't do that without the right knife. Your basic Bushman will have a very expensive knife. One that can be used to shave his face as easily as cutting down a tree. Keeping in mind that these knives are hundreds of dollars, I wanted to find a Bushcraft quality knife that wouldn't make me cry as I put on a shelf for the next 25 years. The Schrade Knife SCHF36 is that 🔪knife. At the low cost of about $30.00, it features a full tang (For those who are unaware, full tang means that it is made from a single piece of metal from tip to handle butt) 5.05" black powder coated 1095 high carbon steel drop point blade and TPE (TPE is heat resistant plastic that feels like soft rubber to the touch) Handle for Outdoor Survival, Camping and Bushcraft. |
| Silva Starter #1-2-3 Compass |
If, like me, you're new to the compass🧭. Then you're going to want to get something simple, that is Map friendly. I mean let's face it, Google Maps won't be there to help you. The Silva Starter #1-2-3 Compass is what you're looking for. This is a compass built for someone that is just learning. Light weight, small, durable and reliable. |
| Arcturus Survival Blanket - 5’ X 7’ |
Unlike one of those cheap Mylar Emergency Blankets that folds up small enough to fit in your wallet, the Arcturus Survival Blanket is durable, water proof and can double as a tarp/lean-to shelter. If used as part of your lean-to it will reflect the heat from your campfire and direct it into your shelter. (That doesn't mean it's fire 🧯 proof) |
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Stainless Steel Mess Kit - 1 Pan, 1 Saucepan, 1 Plate
Folding Stainless Steel Fork, Knife, Spoon
Stainless Steel Collapsible Cup
Can opener
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Your Mess Kit is as important as your ability to make fire. A cheap Mess Kit made of aluminum may not last past your first meal. The low melting point and softness of the metal not only could destroy your meal, you can get injured as well. A stainless steel copper coated set may be expensive, but it'll stand up to the rugged treatment, wash easily and heat evenly. Yes, you're having to rough it, but you don't need to suffer. A good set of utensils are equally important. When asked, any Bushman will show you his knife in answer to "what kind of utensils do you use". I selected this set for their compactness for ease of storage. As well as the Collapsible Cup. It stores easily in my mess kit and I won't have to drink out of my cupped hands. Remember also, chopsticks 🥢 are easy to find in the woods too. 😂 |
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3 mini BiC lighters
Box of 25 stormproof matches
Ferro Rod
80 bundles of Tinder
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🔥FIRE!🔥 Naturally I can't emphasize enough the importance of being able to build a fire. If this is a skill you don't have, I suggest NOW is the best time to learn. And I would make it a family learning event. This is a REALLY important skill to have. For my part, I've included 3 mini BiC lighters, a box of 25 stormproof matches and a Ferro Rod to my pack, as to guarantee I can get a fire built.
To this end I've "made" 80 Tinder bundles to ad to my kit allowing long lasting high heat starter bundles for my campfire. You may notice that the listed bundles are linked to a product very close to my recipe. This is so you can buy a comparable item instead of making your own. Below you'll find the recipe for making your own.
Ingredients:
- Heat the Candle Wax to a liquid. I prefer clear, but any color is fine.
- Soak the Candle Wick till it's permeated with Wax. Straighten it out and let it cool/stiffen.
- Take your cotton square and cut it in half and set one half aside.
- Using your finger, coat one side of the remaining half of the cotton square with Vaseline (The Vaseline will be your fuel).
- Cut a piece of Candle Wick the width of the cotton pad (short width).
- Place the candle wick at one end on the coated side of the cotton pad and role it up into a tight bundle. It should be the size and shape of a cigarette butt.
- Using the liquid Candle Wax, seal the end and apply a coating to water proof it.
DO NOT SOAK the bundle in wax. Just coat the outside. When you are ready to use it, just break the bundle apart and fluff out the cotton before lighting your spark, and that's it... Now just do that 79 more times 🤪
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500ml/16oz Tote+Able Water Canteen
Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filter with 500ml/16oz Pouch
Coleman Water Purification Tablets Potable Aqua with PA Plus
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'Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.'💦
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) has a haunting reality to it. Because water is so important to our survival, and so very heavy to carry gallons of it around, it's a good idea to keep the ability to get clean water at any reasonable source you can find it. The SP128 mini water filter will filter up to 100,000 gallons. That means I can fill my 16oz Tote+Able Water Canteen 800,000 times.
So you ask, what if I'm in a town or city that has no running water? Where can I find water? What if I'm in a desert area? or there's only salt water?
First off, don't panic! Just put a little thought into it. There are a couple of ways to desalinate salt water (Boiling the water and collecting the vapor or by pushing it through special filters). Fresh water can always be found in an urban environment. Just check hot water heaters. You'll find a plentiful supply there. If you're in a desert, then plants such as cactus🌵 will be your savior.
If however you find black murky water that your filter can't handle, that's when you pull out the Water Purification Tablets. 🌊
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Schrade SCAXE10 Full Tang Hatchet
Fiskars 7" Folding Saw
Steel Folding Shovel
Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool
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The art of Bushcraft. 🌲🌳🌲⛺🚶♀️🌳🌲🌳
What is Bushcraft? Bushcraft is the act/art of living off grid and off the land. Building your own camp, cabin or compound by using the materials at hand. Included in this pack are the various tools and provisions necessary to do just that. A folding saw and wire saw to cut large limbs. A hatchet to carve or prep wood for fires or furniture (also good for cutting meat). A shovel for digging holes, trenches, fire pits, latrines or furrows. Gloves to protect your hands, hats to protect your head, mosquito net to protect your face and socks to protect your feet. Paracord, tent stakes, and tarps to build your shelter and bed. There's also tape, nails, bandana, sewing kit, multi tool and a pocket knife.
The Schrade SCAXE10 11.1" is a Full Tang Hatchet (meaning solid steel running from tip to handle butt) with 3Cr13 stainless steel. Weighing in at under a pound and a half, this is an easy carry. I chose this because of it's light weight and durability.
When building an "A" frame for your hammock or tent, you'll likely want to use logs made of stouter stuff, the hatchet may not be the right tool. Well, the 7" Folding Saw will make light quick work of it.
Enough can't be said about having a reliable Shovel on hand. If there's mud, you can build anything, from a clay oven to a rabbit🐇 trap. Heck, if you have the time... Swimming pool maybe?
Gerber makes some of the best Multi-Tools on the market. But even if you're a Leatherman fan, a good Multi-Tool can't be beat.
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CHOETECH 19W Solar Charger
USB LED Flashlight
Quansheng UK-5R HAM Two Way Radio
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Electricity and Electronics
One of the constraints to the Bug-Out bag is shelf life. If the world does come to a cataclysmic end, it's likely not going to be tomorrow. So a long shelf life is important. My Bug-Out bag has a shelf life of 25 years. Meaning, the most perishable item will need to be replaced in 25 years. Unfortunately batteries don't have that kind of shelf life. Even the best rechargeable batteries can only be stored for about 10 years. Keeping this in mind a battery bank is on the Evac list. While in the "bush" it'll be best to get that emergency information, have a flashlight available, possibly have a charged phone. That's where solar comes in.
The CHOETECH 19W Solar Charger has a USB type A connector to charge that USB battery bank to keep your devices charged.
The USB LED Flashlight has a 3W LED max beam range up to 150 feet. Because of it's unique design it can be plugged into any USB Power Bank and turn it into a flashlight.
Plus, this Quansheng UK-5R HAM Two Way Radio can be charged via USB type C. Making this an excellent choice for your short wave needs. Of course if you decide to get a short wave radio, you'll want to program in the local repeaters. You can find a listing here at repeaterbook.com.
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One thing I noticed when researching a proper first aid 💊 kit is no matter the size, complexity or cost 💵, the actual useful items are about ⅓rd of the contents. Meaning I just wasted a LOT of money buying trash 🗑 I will never use. I have 2 first aid kits. One for the house, and one for my truck. In the kit for my house I have ointments for bug bites and sun burns. Band-aids and other household like medical emergencies. In my truck, my first aid kit is focused more on auto accidents. Chiefly because I'm in a vehicle that is on the road.. You know, where I'd find a car accident (or be in one). If I brought my household kit to an auto accident, it would be a little like bringing a knife to a bazooka fight. Messy!
So, with this knowledge in hand, my first aid kit has items "I" know how to use and would find useful to survive. So, yes. It's a custom first aid kit, filled with those items I would find useful. When putting yours together, be sure to do the same. Include those items you know how to use.
Another point that should be made is, if you are on a prescription drug of any kind, be sure to bring your supply.
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