Bug Out Bagz Bill Burke edition - a close up look

[Brian McVickers]

A few weeks ago I got a new ditch bag, the Bill Burke Edition Bug Out Bagz.

The first thing i did was take absolutely everything out of the bag, eliminate any unnecessary packaging and reorganize it to my own preferences including a few additions to the gear list.

I must say that one of the things that stands out to me about this bag is the comfortable functionality of the bag itself. I put it to the test with a two mile hike after it was fully loaded and its a great hiking pack, the kind that you forget you are carrying.

So here is what comes with the pack:

The hip belt is nice and wide and it has a chest strap and secondary adjustments high on the shoulder straps.

A branded medical kit made by Adventure Medical Kits

A nice inflatable mask

Some light reading

Several other Adventure Medical Kits products

 

[Brian McVickers]

Hot & Cold

Some insta-juice!

A Swiss Army rescue tool

Pelican Light


Some Super Winch gloves - after all this is the Bill Burke edition

Dust masks & safety glasses

 

[Brian McVickers]

It comes with a pocket-stove, which I replaced

Water bladder

Toiletries - to stay fresh and looking good!

and a bag of bags with multiple uses

 

[Brian McVickers]

I then decided to add a few bits of gear that I figure would be useful to have in a bug out bag.

An MRE

Water filtration


My favorite, the LifeSmoke MK5 - a 3 minute smoke signal!


I replaced the tablet stove with this Vital Stove which is fueled by the organic fuels found in the field from twigs to dried dung.


A dual-band handy talky with a AA battery solar charger

A bear bell and a signal mirror

Multi-tool, fire, light and mosquito protection

and the essential comforting distractions for our kids should they ever have the unfortunate experience of needing our bug out bag! Notice we selected a rescue chopper and a SAR Land Rover Defender for good measure!

There may be a few more bits of gear added to it over time. I would like a more significant shelter option as well as an insulated bag of some sort. For now it sits happily between and just behind the front seats where I hope it remains unused!

Brian

 

[thecriscokid]

This is very nice and very important thing to have. Off the shelf convenience no less!
I am currently updating my overnight bike gear set up (ultralight if you will) that will double as bug out bag.

That Emergency dental kit gives me the heebie jeebies after knocking out a tooth on my MTB this time last year :sombrero:

 

[xcmountain80]

This is very nice and very important thing to have. Off the shelf convenience no less!
I am currently updating my overnight bike gear set up (ultralight if you will) that will double as bug out bag.

That Emergency dental kit gives me the heebie jeebies after knocking out a tooth on my MTB this time last year :sombrero:

No crap I busted off a piece of mine on some hard candy and )^#)*^#*^@(*^@(* was what I said, I then needed a root canal anyway apparently but some instant filling would have been oh so nice. Anyone remeber the article in OJ about the guy and the piece of rock in the trail mix?

Aaron

 

[jcbrandon]

...There may be a few more bits of gear added to it over time. I would like a more significant shelter option ...

Nice find, Brian. For shelter, consider a space blanket, the reuseable kind. I've got one in my ditch bag and find myself pulling it out more often than I would have guessed. That and some paracord and you can keep yourself dry and warmer, if need be. And I've gone with the firestick-and-dryer-lint plan for firestarting. And consider adding a sam splint to your medical kit.

 

[I Leak Oil]

With all the stuff you added or replaced do you think it would have been less expensive to start from scratch? Yes, you get a neat bag with a logo but what really matters is inside. Not being critical, just thinking outloud.
Jason T.

 

[kjp1969]

As the father of three, I'd suggest rubberbanding a lollipop or two to each toy. Your kids will thank you.

I don't have a proper bug out bag, but I keep a few in the first aid kit.

 

[ryguy]

Very thorough kit, I can't believe it all fits in that bag

 

[robert]

It's a good start and something most people don't think about. I'd add a few things including:

• Some water purification tablets (yeah, they make the water taste funny even with the second pills, but they last a decent time IF the bottle remains unopened and they take up less space than a water filter/purifier). Polar Pure is one brand.
• I also prefer 550 cord; it's light and strong yet has tons of uses. Make sure you get the military grade stuff with the seven inner strands.
• Some sort of cup/pot to cook in. I bought one of the Snow Peak titaniums to save weight (and because I had a gift certificate).
• I keep a Photon brand LED light clipped to each of my packs as well as a small LED headlight in each of them. Petzl makes several small models that include a strobe feature- a great idea since this is for emergencies.
• Spare batteries (keep these in a small bag in case they decide to leak; the heat here kills batteries left in the truck).
• I like the Light My Fire Scout brand fire steels and keep one of those in each bag also.
• A fixed blade knife such as a Mora. Good quality light weight fixed blade knife for under $20 (ex. Frost Clipper).
• A bandana- a multi-use item

I really like that tiny stove but I have a military surplus Esbit in my bag with a couple of trioxane bars. They don't require any maintainable (like me forgetting to check the batteries Doh!) and the trioxane fuel is stable in its foil wrap and also lights/burns when wet. You can crush the fuel and easily start camp fires with a flint and steel too.

I'd toss the pocket mask to save space; AHA is pushing CPR w/o ventilations now. If you want to do the ventilations, there are more compact barrier devices that will work in an emergency (Google keychain pocket mask).

You mentioned wanting more shelter- Campmor sells nylon "Ultralight Backpackers tarps" that are lightweight and fold up more compact than traditional tarps.

Instead of bulky MREs, you might look into freeze dried if you carry enough water to spare. Mountain House is now making vacuum packed versions too that take up less space. Even cheaper is to take those cups of soups/pasta/whatever that you add boiling water to and repackage them yourself using a vacuum packer.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[Bighead]

Instead of bulky MREs, you might look into freeze dried if you carry enough water to spare. Mountain House is now making vacuum packed versions too that take up less space. Even cheaper is to take those cups of soups/pasta/whatever that you add boiling water to and repackage them yourself using a vacuum packer.

Just my two cents worth.

My concern with the freeze-dried only option is the water needed to reconstitute it. If he is operating in an area with ample water sources I can see doing freeze-dried only but that is not something I would personally rely on.

Personally, I keep a couple of broken down MREs in my bag and keep the Mountain House in the vehicle where I would typically have a large water supply.

 

[robert]

Hence my caveat about carrying enough water. It is a very big point though. I live on the east coast (the OP lives in AZ) so water isn't nearly the concern for me - usually plenty around, I just have to purify it. When I'm out west I carry more than I expect to need in case I hole a radiator or break down. I'm usually alone or with one other person so weight and space aren't as big a concern as it is for someone with a family or a smaller vehicle.

 

[TOTJ]

Very nice kit.
I use as water purification is Aqua Tabs. Hard to find here in the US because
they are not EPA aproved but you can find them if you surch hard enough.
They leave no taste in the water and it does not color the water. I also pack a few coffey filters to strain out silt. A good idea also if you use a water filtration system so it wont plug the filter. I also have water pouches.
I use emergiancy foodbars from Mainstay. No cooking, Just eat.
I look at these bug out bags as a last resort. Just the basics. If I have to
Hike it out I dont need a bunch of weight. Most of what is in most kits I already have in the vehicle so I designed my bag if I have to leave the vehicle. Most off road trips I take are eather near a population or Im with
other vehicles. On the other hand if Im in Long Beach or LA and a major
eartquake takes place I may end up having to abandon the jeep and start heading home on foot. I always keep cash and a roll of quarters in my kit.
The quarters are for a pay phone because in a disaster the cell phones wont work but pay phones are put back into service befor resedential or corperation phones. I have a USB drive in each kit with all the Lic. Insurance documentaion that I may need along with current pictures of family members, our cars and the house inside and out. (password protected). Also a good 3M dust mask, I have a small ETON crank/solor am/fm/weather band radio/flashlight so I can hear news. I have a old pair of glasses and some personal meds. Lastly I keep a small water proof notepad and pen. In my note pad I have out of state contacts that my family and I have pre aranged to call. Its normaly easier to get a out of state call the in state after a disaster. My family are all equiped like I am w/ the exception that I carry a firearm and every one else carries Peppr Spray.
Im realistic, My chances of being stranded w/ out help when Im wheeling is far less then a disaster while in city.

 

[James86004]

I keep a fair amount of cash in mine. I figure if we bug out and end up depending on the good graces of others, having cash will make life easier.