Say the words “go-bag” and images of “preppers” pop into the minds of most folks. I urge you to drop those images and wipe the slate clean when it comes to “go-bags”.
The case for a Go Bag.
You only have to pick up the local newspaper or a national newspaper on any given day to understand why giving a “go-bag” another chance may be in order. How many reports of house fires, neighborhood evacuations, gas leaks, and railroad derailments have you heard about in the last few months? Twelve, ten, five?
Think for a moment about what you would do if the police knocked on your door and told you that you had five minutes to grab your stuff and get out of your neighborhood due to a dangerous gas leak or a toxic cloud of chlorine gas heading your way due to a train derailment 30 miles away.
Think for a moment if you woke up to the screams of your children and you rush to them and find flames and smoke creeping down the hallway.
What are you going to grab when you have minutes or even seconds to get out of your house? If you planned ahead you may only need to grab one bag, your “go-bag”.
Having a “go-bag” is the equivalent of having a spare tire in your car or a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Things happen in this world and it’s best to be prepared for them. So, if you’re now thinking of putting together a “go-bag”, I’ve outlined some general principles to guide you down a successful and efficient road.
So you’re going to need a bag…
So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. First you’re going to need something to put all this important stuff into; overnight backpacks (generally between 2,000 and 2,999 cubic inches) are a great place to start. They’re small enough to fit in most places and they’re large enough to carry the necessities. Remember we’re not planning an Everest expedition here; we’re just trying to keep you and your loves ones alive and comfortable.
I personally recommend packs that don’t scream either, “I am a tactical super-secret ninja,” or “I make enough money to buy the lower-half of Manhattan.” Why you may ask, well the reason is simple, you may find yourself with a group of people that you don’t know and you always want to fly under the radar, blend-in, and don’t draw attention to yourself, your loved ones, or to your gear. Find a pack that fits and fits well, you may be carrying it for a while.
The rule of three.
I am going to caution you against packing everything, including the kitchen sink, into your go-bag. Use the Rule of Three (R3) as your foundation – the human body can survive three minutes without air, three hours without shelter (think of running out of your house in a snow storm only in your pajamas), three days without water, and three weeks without food.
If you keep R3 in mind, you’ll be well on your way. Next, think of weight. The average human can carry a load of 20% of their body weight for an extended period of time and distance. If you’re a Ranger or an elite athlete load tolerances will vary but, 20% is a great reference point.
What goes in the bag? Shelter.
Now that we have a bag; we need to fill it with important stuff. Using R3 as your baseline, shelter should come first. Remember a shelter can be as simple as an emergency space blanket or as advanced as a $750 Arc’teryx Theta SVX jacket. Shelter is designed to keep you out of the elements; being warm and dry is the priority.
You’ll probably also want to pack some extra clothing, even if you are dealing with a house fire, having a fresh under-shirt and a change of underwear can make life a lot more comfortable. In regards to shelter, I pack the following in my “go-bag”: an SOL Escape Bivvy, an Arc’teryx Alpha SL jacket, a pair of Kuhl Revolvr pants, an Icebreaker 200 weight Oasis long sleeve half zip shirt, an an Icebreaker 200 weight Oasis short sleeve crew shirt, two pairs of Icebreaker Anatomica boxers, and two pairs of Smartwool socks.
You’ll notice that I like wool, the reason is simple, “wool saves and cotton kills.” Wool is a much better fabric for keeping you alive, dry, and warm than cotton or most synthetics. Wool is naturally water repellant, can absorb 36% of its weight in water, insulates while wet, dries quickly, and is naturally antibacterial. As a bonus wool clothing doesn’t stink after extended use, something those around you will be thankful for.
What goes in the bag? Fire.
When thinking of shelter, I also advise thinking of fire (i.e. warmth) in this area and I usually recommend a few things. Throw in a piece of fatwood with a hole drilled through it and a 10” piece of para-cord tied through that hole. Fatwood is a great fire starter and you only need to shave off a little to help get a fire going.
Add in some emergency matches and a fire starter, such as the Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Mini and you’ll be able to start a fire in almost any conditions (assuming you can find fuel). I also recommend throwing in a small ground tarp – this can keep you off of the ground and can also be used as rain tarp with some para-cord.
To be Continued!
Now that you are warm and dry, start thinking about water and food in relation to R3. In the next two articles I will dive into these and other subjects all related to getting your “go-bag” up and running.
[…] in your vehicle overnight? For the purposes of this article we’re going to assume that you have a go-bag in your vehicle. If you don’t have one…go put one together now…we’ll wait for […]