Here are some tips and tricks that may seem really elementary to some but others may be shaking their heads that they did not think of them first. Take a look, take notes, and take heart. Just by reading these you are already up on someone who has not prepared at all!
* Leave some room. You’re going to run across things while you’re out prepping and even once SHTF and if you don’t have room for it, you’ll have to either pass it up or dump something important. Leave some room for those items. Survival also depends on capitalizing on opportunities. Your bug out backpack needs to fit things that you find along the way or have to replace if they break. You may need to be moving through an area and pick up tinder or kindling to take to another area because it’s not always easy to find in a survival situation. If you don’t have room in your pack, you’ll be carrying it in your hands. This isn’t like luggage where you can hand it off to someone; you’ll have to carry it or wear it unless you have some kind of container for it that you’re wearing on your back.
* Things cost more than they seem. An important tenet to camping and survivalism is that everything has an opportunity cost associated with it. You only have so much room in your bug out bag, can only carry so much weight, and have only so much money. Choosing one thing means you’ve lost the opportunity to choose something else. Choose wisely and learn to prioritize by making a list and a bug out plan. You can’t have it all; where would you put it?
* Overlap your capabilities. You need to have duplicates of what you put into your different bags from each category but they don’t have to be exact duplicates. You may only have time to grab one bag so make sure your bases are covered. You don’t want to be stuck because your firestarting kit is in another bug out bag and you don’t want to have only way to do things by packing the same thing in every bag. You also don’t want your backup to be another lighter if lighters aren’t working due to weather, etc.
* Keep your bags ready to go. Have more than one bug out bag. You should theoretically have several but that may not be feasible. Consider also not keeping everything at your house. You may not be able to get to it if SHTF. You may want to keep some items at a friend’s house or even stash them, hidden somewhere in the woods where you can get them later. For instance, I have a 13 pound go-bag that I carry everywhere and then have a main backpack that I carry if I’m going on a search and rescue or if SHTF. Either one will work if I had to survive and they augment each other if I’m lucky enough to have both in a survival ages ready to go. Don’t have them lying all over the floor after you finish counting things or get back from a camping trip. It’s better to grab what you have at short notice than not be able to grab much because you didn’t have time. You’re trying to plan for worst case here and worst case is that you only have a few minutes to go. Don’t spend it packing.
* Dual-usage items cost half the weight and space. There are many solutions to each category below. Some of those solutions will also serve to fulfill what you need in other categories. Try to do this as much as possible. Survival is about creativity. Be creative and you’ll survive.
* Learning skills can mean less equipment you’ll have to carry. If you can make a field-expedient fishing pole, for example, you don’t need to pack a fishing pole. Learn how to do and make things in the wild. Skills can also be bartered.
Keep the right frame of mind, plan early, and stock up on quality supplies while not breaking the bank. Basically, be prepared for anything that may come your way.
There are more things to watch for and you can learn about them over on Graywolf Survival. But do not feel you are alone in all of this. There are many others with the same mindset as you. Share these tips and tricks with your friends, neighbors, and relatives. They may be hesitant initially but later they will thank you!
Bring Toilet Paper..
But what do you do when the toilet paper runs out, which it will? A full pack of nothing but toilet paper will only last a few weeks, what then?
The article is pretty good as far as it goes. One thing it doesn’t mention is picking simple multifunction gear. It talks about opportunity cost which is good but gives no direction in that regard. One example might be a poncho over a rain coat. It can be rain gear, shelter, a container of sorts for gathered material such as moving debris from where you found it to where you’re building a debris hut. Or when gathering edible plants or firewood. You could set it up as a wind break, etc.
There are many types of bags; Go bag, Bug out bag, 72 hour bag or survival bags. And each contain different supplies, amounts of supplies, and limited by size and weight. At this time, I am referring to “Go” bags or “Bug out” bags. How often do you check your bags? Check your batteries, rotate out food and snacks, swap seasonal clothes etc.. Similarly to changing fire alarm batteries during daylight savings time, I empty and repack my bags on 9-11 and then again on the first day of spring. Anyone else have a specific schedule?
I am by no means an expert, but have many years of primitive camping experience. The more I prep, more my mindset is what will have two or more functions. With some things like fire starting supplies, I use the two is one, one is none theory. Luckily fire starting gear is small, so I have several different methods. My wife’s bag is a near duplicate only with different supplies. I want her to be as supplied as I am in case we are separated. Word of warning…Prepping is addictive!!! Not only part of my way of life, it’s an enjoyable and very worthwhile hobby.