The Chinese have a curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Welcome to interesting times! Whether it is and causing chaos at airports, or (seriously), . Trump spamming executive orders Venezuela’s economy going from number one in South America to utter collapse Russia voting to decriminalizing wife-beating 380–3 reality is now threatening to put the Onion out of business The most popular article on Medium in 2016 was . The TL;DR? We’re about to go through one of “those stupid seasons humans impose on themselves at fairly regular intervals” a.k.a. mass chaos and destruction. History Tells Us What Happens After Trump and Brexit So what’s an American with a little disposable income supposed to do? Build a badass bug out bag of course! What’s a bug-out bag you ask? It’s a backpack filled with emergency supplies. Some people call it a go bag. You stuff it with all the essentials like food, water, medical supplies, tools and anything else you might need in a crisis. If there’s a fire, a riot, coup (trial or otherwise) that you need to escape from, this is the first and sometimes only thing you can grab besides pets and loved ones. Perhaps, you’ve already , started a daily meditation practice and purged your Google Now of politics, but you’re running out of options? You need something else to cope with the surge of fear, uncertainty and doubt. I can think of no better tonic than taking time to build an awesome bug out bag. unfollowed everyone on Facebook Luckily, I caught bag fever a few years ago and I’ll share my hard earned wisdom with you, my faithful readers. Now, I have to be honest. At the time I built my bag in 2013, even I had trouble justifying it to myself as anything other than a little nutty. “You’re never going to use this,” I kept thinking. Today, on the other hand it’s looking like I bought gold for $1 a bar at a flea market. Not me. The universe can happily recycle my DNA and bring me back in less interesting times. To be clear, I’m not interested in prepping for total doomsday. Frankly, if the world is going out in a blaze of nuclear fire, I don’t want to survive. Have fun playing Fallout 4 for real. Fallout 4 available now. Just look outside your window! But there’s a lot to be said for basic preparedness. A good emergency bag can really help with everyday disasters like a fire or earthquake or a protest that turns into a riot. Think more along the lines of the Boy Scout motto “Always be prepared” vs Doomsday Preppers canning up six years’ worth of supplies. I once saw an episode of Doomsday Preppers where . If you want to chat with Filipinos, I encourage you to learn that beautiful language but I’m just thinking “how can I escape ?” a couple learned Taglog so they could coordinate better against intruders a riot in, say, Berkley So let’s get to it! Bug Out Bag Blueprint First off, you’ll want a how-to guide. I bought a few, but I’ll save you some trouble: Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag is all you’ll ever need. Here’s the key advice from the book: Don’t buy a pre-made kit! They suck. They may be cheaper, but they’re filled with useless crap that won’t help you in a real crisis. Get the best you can afford. If you ever really need this thing, the last thing you need is for it to be a pile of junk. Hand pick each item carefully. The second bit of advice is to keep it up to date. Check it every six months or so and replace expired food and medicine. It’s no good if that food is rancid.So take care of your bag and it will take care of you. First Things First Let’s start with the big pieces, like a backpack, food, medicine and tools. I’ll mix in some fun pieces too, because, well, they’re fun! I’m going to show you all the things I bought for my kit. You can find equivalent pieces for less money if you can’t afford everything on this list. Do your homework for each part. Don’t assume you have to spend a ton of cash to get the best of the best. But there are a few pieces you don’t want to cheap out on. Backpack The number one piece to not to go budget special on? You guessed it: the bag. If your bag is no good, you’re in a world of hurt. It needs to be durable, hold lots of stuff and balance your weight. . This thing is a beast. Tons of pockets, weight distributing straps, weatherproof — you name it. It kicks ass. I ended up getting the Gregory Mountain’s Baltoro 65 Backpack Whatever bag you pick, do your research! Spend as much time as you need on this because it’s the foundation for everything else. If you’re stumped, you can check out . this guide to the most killer backpacks of 2017 for camping and hiking Machete OK, I admit it, this one should not be number two on the list but man I love this thing! Destroy all Zombies! Whenever the wife needs me to hack some ivy on the side of the house or chop some hedges I’m ready with . Trimming the hedges with an electric saw is for suckers. Go at that thing like a world-hopping adventurer of old! my trusty Ka-Bar Your machete skills will serve you well when it’s your turn to lead a ragtag band of survivors across the apocalyptic wasteland. Hack through the zombies in style with your onyx black mini-sword! And look cool doing it. . If it’s good enough for Danny Trejo, it’s good enough for you Hunting Knife The most important tool in your bag is . That means it’s one solid hunk of metal all through the handle. It won’t break, no matter how much punishment you throw at it. a knife. And not just any knife: a full tang blade Draw First Blood (R)! . Feel like Rambo when you pull it out. Hell you can even ! The Ontario Black Bird K-5 sounds like the final upgrade for a video game arsenal and it’s fantastic get an official Rambo Bowie knife I also keep a little . I use it all the time. I like it so much that when I took it to the airport by mistake one time, I took the option to mail it to myself rather than throw it away! folding knife that clips to my pocket or belt It’s good for cutting open all the freaking packages you’ll be getting from Amazon if you decide to do this thing. Med Kit You need a with antibiotics, bandages, burn cream, etc. Stuff it with personal medicines, pain killers, whatever. med kit Don’t forget any pet medicine too! You can also get if you do plan on surviving the nuclear holocaust. A little goes a long way too. potassium iodide tablets aspirin And, of course, always remember the . A small cut can be a nightmare with no medical personnel on the way. Bacitracin Duct Tape You read or saw right? If is good enough for a scientist trapped on Mars, it’s good enough for you. The Martian duct tape Approved by Matt Damon Duct tape can fix anything from torn clothes to busted antennas to a gaping wound. You can make a sling with it or even a pair of shoes in a pinch. Nobody has invented anything better in the last 100 years. Hydro Flask and Pure, Clean Water with the Berkey Look, even if you never build a bug out bag, . They’re insulated and keep liquid cool or hot all day. You can fill it with cold water in the morning, leave it in your hot car in the middle of summer and still drink cool, life-giving water when you crack it open. I carry a smaller version of this with me wherever I go. get one of these Hydro Flasks Seriously just get the Berkey because it rocks! You’ll also . Tablet-purified water tastes pretty horrible, though. There is a much better alternative. want something to purify water, like these tablets It’s a gravity filter that cleans everything from heavy metals to viruses. Nothing gets past it. It kills the competition. Most purifiers (like the one that starts with a B that everyone had in college) don’t filter much. They even enhance some heavy metals! Get this one and taste what water was supposed to taste like before we poisoned every river on Earth. The absolute best water purifier on the market is the Travel Berkey . We have the Big Berkey at home and use it every day . Water Speaking of water: You’ll want water to stay hydrated. . Better to carry a Travel Berkey and a Hydro Flask instead. Water is heavy, so make sure you carry just enough Emergency Rations pack a lot of power into a compact space. I have to admit: they are not fun to eat. In fact, they taste a little like cinnamon-flavored cardboard. But in a pinch you need a lot of food without a lot of weight. These 3600-calorie bars Food? There are plenty of other smaller foods to bring along that taste better, so do your research. But make sure to get these high-calorie monsters. Fire Fire is crucial in the wilderness. If you can’t light a fire you can’t signal anyone, cauterize a wound, cook food or keep warm. Get a variety of ways to start a fire. should be your first choice. The can light 3000 fires and it’s got a built-in whistle! Storm-proof, strike anywhere matches Swedish FireSteel It’s Swedish so it has to be good! Get yourself like you’re playing D&D and fire it up with Swedish fire! Just in case it’s raining, get some too. some tinder tinder that works when it’s wet You can also grab a and use it just like you did when you were a kid burning army men (or ants). small magnifying glass Army men vs magnifying glass Know Where You’re Going In an emergency you won’t have Google Maps to get you where you need to go, so grab yourself a good map. If you have to fight your way across the wasteland of a crumbling America, to help you stay off the main roads and avoid armed militias. Rand McNally is your new best friend A compass will help you escape packs of roving marauders and the undead. Get a good one, like . this clamshell one that’s served the military for decades Signal When You’re Lost If you lose your way, use that you’re still alive and need help. help light the way as well, and they look good at Burning Man. this mirror to signal people Glowsticks A Light in the Dark Speaking of power, you’ll want . They’re amazing for working on projects of all kinds. I regularly use mine when working my computers or DIY projects. It’s also useful for hiking at night. a head lamp You can also get a good and some . old-fashioned lantern long-lasting candles Wipe your Ass or you’ll be wiping your ass with leaves. Not fun. Apparently , aka ones coated in a potent neurotoxin. It hurt so much he offed himself. Do NOT be that guy! Don’t forget tee-pee someone in Australia wiped his ass with the wrong leaves Poison Ivy ( Do Not Wipe Ass with This ) Speaking of plants, maybe you’ll want to pick up this so you don’t pick the wrong ones and end up a statistic. Field Guide to Edible Plants Books That brings us to books. You should already have your friend Rand McNally with you and the Field Guide to Edible Plants. You’ll also want this Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. And please don’t buy the Kindle version. If you run out of juice on the run you’re out of luck. Get a good old fashioned paperback. It never runs out of batteries and it has a perfect brightness setting. Waterproof Document Bag You’ll want to pack up a map, your passport, birth certificate, and other crucial papers in . Don’t lose documents you can’t replace. Think ahead. this handy little waterproof carrier Boonie Hat NOT a Boonie hat My wife hates my , but I love it. It makes me feel like an extra in . I wear it everywhere, especially when walking during hot days. It’s great protection against the sun and rain. Boonie hat Tropic Thunder Hand Crank Radio keeps going even when it has no batteries as long as you can crank it. If there’s an emergency you might not be able to Google, it but you’ll need to tune in to any emergency broadcasts or news. It also has a built-in LED light. This radio A Pad Never underestimate . Get a good pad or two and some pens and pencils. With no working phones, leaving someone a note might just save your life. the need to write something down Sleeping Bags For my wife I got the and the for myself. Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree sleeping bag Kelty Dualist mummy bag Mummy bag. Great for camping and eating. You can augment these with that help retain heat in the freezing cold. won’t hurt either. heat sheets A few pillows Tent There are a huge variety of tents. I just need one for me and my wife and my cats. Get a bigger one if you have kids. This did the trick. Easy to set up, sturdy and warm. Luxe Tempo two-person tent Pet Carrier Speaking of your little buddies, don’t forget a pet carrier and . The food and water kit fold up, and so does . It also works on planes, so you’re good to with it. It’s also very stylish for trucking them to the Vet. a portable food and water kit this carrier from OxGord travel Don’t forget me! Cooking If you want to cook, you’ll need a number of supplies. Some , , some (who doesn’t love saying that word?!?!), a stove, , and . pots and pans a cup sporks fuel for the stove something to hold those pots up Gas and Water Jugs You’ll want a place to store gas and water. This is a no brainer and doesn’t require a heck of a lot of research. Just pick and too. some plastic jugs for gas one for water Clothing It helps to have a good pair of that won’t get soaked. Cotton is a killer in emergency conditions because it soaks up water, so get waterproof clothes with lots of pockets to carry things. Preppers call it wicking fabric. tac-pants Call of Duty flashbacks! Some will keep your hands from getting jacked up when you’re slicing through zombies with your machete (or when hacking hedges for the wife). Some will keep you dry. work gloves ponchos Lastly, as Lieutenant Dan reminds us in Forrest Gump, you need good and hiking boots. Oh and pack some extra undies, man. support socks Generator This one won’t fit in your bag, but it could go in your car or truck. It’s good to have a little power wherever you go and a is the answer. This little baby even has a “reverse polarity” indicator, so if you need to fix the warp drive you can just reverse the polarity! gas powered genny Solar Power In an emergency, solar power is key. The tech has developed rapidly over the last few years, so do your research. I picked up two different solar chargers: the and the . Instapark Mercury 27 Solar Joos Admittedly they’re not perfect. You won’t be powering a laptop so you can finish working on your . You also won’t be rapid charging your cell phone in five minutes, but a good portable solar panel might mean the difference between getting just enough juice to call 911 and not. Fallout 4 Wasteland Workshop Gun This one is controversial. Do it only if you feel comfortable. I won’t link to any weapons here, other than the machete. There are no shortage of weapons sites on the web, so look around. Not everyone keeps a gun, but I go with the mantra of it’s better to have a gun and not need it rather than to need a gun and not have it. A 9-mm, a .45, a revolver are good choices. True Romance However, if you want to go seriously sci-fi than you need . Strap it to your arm so you can swing it out. See the linked clip from the original Terminator for tips. a trusty sawed off shotgun Do not mess with Granny. She got a scope on that rifle! Miscellaneous You might want to pick up some to wash yourself and some . Get various kinds of . Bugs bite, so get . Campsuds mini towels batteries some bug spray An can keep your family from spreading germs. I wore mine every day when I was in China researching my epic sci-fi civil war saga, , and fighting to stop coughing in the insane Beijing cyberpunk pollution. N95 hospital mask The Jasmine Wars That’s it. I know, it’s a lot of stuff. Even if you can’t afford it all at once, invest in a few key pieces and build it over time when you have some disposable income. The key pieces to get first are: Bag Food Water Med kit Knife Machete (Just kidding. Sort of.) If you can get it all at once, do it. I was lucky at the time as I had a nice bonus that helped cover it, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch, but that hasn’t always been true for me in my life. No matter what you do, just have fun with it. Enjoy the process of researching everything. Get the good stuff and take care of it. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. Hopefully you won’t need it. But maybe, just maybe… it will save your family’s lives one day. ############################################ If you enjoyed this tutorial, I’d love it if you could hit the little heart to recommend it to others. After that please feel free email the article off to a friend! Thanks much. ########################################### A bit about me: I’m an author, engineer and serial entrepreneur. During the last two decades, I’ve covered a broad range of tech from Linux to virtualization and containers. You can check out my latest novel, an epic Chinese sci-fi civil war saga where China throws off the chains of communism and becomes the world’s first direct democracy, running a highly advanced, artificially intelligent decentralized app platform with no leaders. Lastly, you can You can get a FREE copy of my first novel, The Scorpion Game, when you join my Readers Group. Readers have called it “the first serious competition to Neuromancer” and“ Detective noir meets Johnny Mnemonic. ” join my private Facebook group, the Nanopunk Posthuman Assassins , where we discuss all things tech, sci-fi, fantasy and more. ############################################ I occasionally make coin from the links in my articles but I only recommend things that I OWN, USE and LOVE. Check my . full policy here ############################################ Thanks for reading

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The Cure for Uncertain Times: Build a Badass Bug Out Bag

The Cure for Uncertain Times: Build a Badass Bug Out Bag

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