Survival Equipment- Bug-out Bag
In a disaster situation, one of the first things you're likely to do is try to get out of your immediate area. While bugging down, hunkering in to your location is the ideal survival strategy, not all of us possess bunkers or retreats capable of allowing us to survive. In many cases, your position could be overrun by sheer numbers or a violent groups of criminals, or simply destroyed by whatever disaster occurred, such as flooding or a hurricane, which could wash away your entire home. Thus, planning for the eventuality of having to bug-out is quintessential to any survival strategy, and a potential option that might occur. For some, it is the only viable option in a disaster.
Unfortunately, bug-out bags can only last an individual so long. You can only carry so much fresh, clean water and food on your person, as well as other equipment. With weight being your biggest limitation, and being on foot being an eventuality you want to plan for, you need the lightest weight equipment possible. A gallon of water is about 8 pounds, and you need at least 6 pounds per day; a day's worth of food is at least 1-3 pounds. Thus a day's worth of food and water is usually at least 9 pounds, with containers; this means roughly 27+ pounds for 3 days worth of food or water. 30 days, or a month, is about 270 pounds. Water alone would be at least 180 pounds. Expecting to be able to carry all of your equipment is fairly unreasonable; even with a bike, wagon or car, you can only carry so much equipment, and may need to abandon it, eventually. Thus, you need to plan for the eventuality of going out on foot; whether you've reached your location and are walking around, or this is your only option to survival, lightweight, survival equipment that can be used to gather resources from your environment is the best option for the long term. While fresh clean food and water can get you to your location, it can't be used in the long term to be able to survive.
Fundamentally, the goal should be to have equipment that both allows you to take resources from your environment, and augment capabilities that are difficult to find or replicate in nature. Certain things are incredibly hare to find in nature, such as things that are clean or sterile, containers ideal for holding on to way or other materials, needles, processed steel or electronics. Even if you had the resources available the ability to process them in the wild would be almost impossible. Because it's safe to assume you will lack basic amenities in these types of situations (running water, electricity etc.) survival then will hinge on augmenting or replacing basic necessities. Living off the grid is in general, significantly more difficult than on it. While skillsets are the priority in a survival situation, basic equipment in which to apply these capabilities can significantly enhance your abilities, or in some cases fundamentally change them. Where as a lighter or match helps speed up your ability to make a fire, a gun allows you to taken down game from a distance, or a compass allows you to know what direction you are going. In some cases, you cannot do without this equipment; small shavings of wood, booby traps and a host of other things can be achieved with a knife, where as they are almost impossible without; making clean cuts can be extremely difficult without one. Things we take for granted every day such as high-grade steel will be nowhere to be found when you're out in the environment. Anything which is available will have to come from an unreliable source, as stores or businesses will be ransacked and have their resources stolen. To ensure survival, being prepared before hand is essential.
Temporary
-Food
-Water
-Extra Batteries
-Cellphone
-Flashlight
-First Aid Kit
Long Term
-Knife
-Shovel
-Hatchet
-Sand Bag
-Water purifier
-Hygiene
-Wood and Fuel stove
-Gun - Self Defense
-Compass and Map
-Lighter, matches, magnesium fire starter, steel wool
10 C's
-Cutting Tool
-Fire Starter
-Emergency Shelter
-Container
-Cordage
-Illumination
-Compass
-Duct Tape
-Needles
