Your Bug Out Bag
One of the most important things in your bug out bag is your bag itself. When you’re up against a SHTF situation, you don’t have time to decide which items you need to gather for survival. You need to be able to concentrate on leaving with your supplies already packed. You’re going to be carrying plenty of supplies, likely over long distances.
You need a bag that’s comfortable, high capacity, and durable. If your bag’s straps fall apart halfway through your excursion, you’re going to be in trouble. You don’t want to use something that’s going to be digging into your sides or causing you back pain – especially not when you’re walking for miles on end. And of course, you want to be able to actually fit all of your bug out products in your bag.
The Teton Sports Scout 3400 is a great internal frame backpack – and an even better candidate for a bug out bag.
Internal frame backpacks are preferred to external frame backpacks for going off trail, because they keep all of the weight close to your body, preventing excessive swaying. It’s important to note that when packing your bug out bag, the heaviest items should be the closest to your body while the lighter items should be on the outer edge of your bag. If you have all of the heavy items far from your body, they’ll make the bag sway and twist while you’re walking.
Unloaded, it weighs about 4.5 pounds, so you’re not lugging around anything massive or bulky. It has plenty of exterior loops and straps so you can attach things like mess kits.
It has two slots on the side for water bottles, which are tight at first, but get easier to use with time. The design of the Sports Scout 3400 makes it extremely comfortable to wear. It’s fully adjustable to fit your torso perfectly, with foam support pads on your back and straps that attach around your front to alleviate stress on your shoulders and back from the bag’s weight.
There’s also an attached rain cover, so the contents of your bag won’t get soaking wet. This bag is also quite durable. With the interior frame being made from aluminum, they can bend freely while still providing support. This is a bag that you can take just about anywhere, without fail.
The 5.11 Rush 72 Back Pack is another great choice. You get plenty of space with this water resistant bag and it’s easy to keep items organized with all the pockets.
It also has a MOLLE system. You get a hydration compartment and wide zippered compartments as well. The bag offers a space for your sunglasses that’s lined with fleece to prevent scratches on the lens. The bag has compression straps for easy carrying. Extra attachment points makes expanding the bag a breeze.
The 5.11 Rush 24 Back Pack is a great size for children to carry and offers plenty of room. It’s made of strong nylon and is water resistant. You’ll get 2070 inches of room.
Thanks to the wide compression straps, carrying this bag will be easy on the back and shoulders, plus the sternum strap is adjustable for added comfort. There are drainage grommets and easy pull tabs.
You get plenty of side pockets along with the bigger interior storage space. There’s also a hydration pocket. Thanks to the MOLLE platform, you can expand the bag as needed.
The bag is water resistant to help it stay dry in inclement weather. It has 2 big compartments that offer a variety of smaller spaces you can zip and store things in.
Plus, it has front pockets and a roomy hydro pocket. These pockets are fastened with two way zippers. The straps for the shoulder are easy on the back and shoulders thanks to the thick padding and the ergonomic design.
The back is padded for extra carrying comfort and with the compression straps, you can add gear. You get plenty of MOLLE straps to enable you to get the bag ready the way that you want it. It offers a 36L capacity.
It’s made of strong nylon and has a center compartment that at 20″ by 12″ is perfect for carrying a bigger load. There’s a padded waist belt and compression straps. You get double zippers so that you can get into the bag quickly if needed. The bag is compatible for use hydration bladders.
Another great bug out bag is the Tactical Assault Military Army Style Backpack By Monkey Paks. This one has a water bladder inside it that can hold 2 liters. The material of the bag is made of tough nylon that resists water. You get plenty of compartments to keep your gear separated. Four of the compartments have zippers so you won’t have to worry about stuff jostling around.
The main compartment has plenty of space because it’s a roomy 18″ by 12″. The total space that you get is 1831 inches. There are also compression straps, which enable the bag to be expandable – plus it has a vented panel on the rear of the bag. You get adjustable straps and it will work with MOLLE as well as PAL
