Survival Tip #10

Go Bag Part 2

Now for things you need to have in your Primal Age go bag, other than food and water, which were discussed in Tip #9. First thing of note, weapons should not be stored in your go bag but with your go bag, hence we will not be discussing them here. That being said your ammunition will be stored in the go bag, as well as a sharpening tool, but I’ll cover those when we discuss weapons. So for now, just know they should be included.

Ammo– To be discussed later

Sharpening tool- TBDL

Rope: As with most things, finding the right balance between weight and amount is crucial and I’m getting sick of being redundant, therefore I’m going to leave weight verses quantity to be assumed from this point forward. I’ll make a special note of when to disregard weight for an item. You want ten yards, at least, of a durable rope and there are many different options available to you. Boat rope, climbing rope, or para-cord are all good options. They are durable and tough. This is what you will use if you need to climb, or pull something. You want an additional ten yards of light rope. Check out bargain buys at any hardware store. This will serve as your multipurpose rope that you can cut into sections as you need it. Along with having rope make sure you know how to tie knots and I’m talking a bit more advanced than just your shoe laces.

Prybar: These come in all different weights and lengths. If you happen to use a full size bar as your close combat weapon, you should still keep a miniature in your pack. When choosing one for your pack, don’t skimp on weight, but do keep it to a foot or less. Think of this as your master key to a locked world. You’ll use it from everything from prying open a locked door to bashing in a vending machine (or skull).

Medicine: If you have any medications make sure your pack is well stocked. Who knows when, if ever, you’ll be able to resupply. Past that you should carry a large quantity of pain killers, decongestants, multivitamins, anti-inflammatories, and anything else you could find in a medicine cabinet. To save on space and weight, remove them from their boxes or bottles and double bag them in clearly labeled zip lock bags.

Writing supplies: You may consider a notebook, a few sharpies, couple pens, and a box of pencils to be a waste of weight, but trust me it’s worth the weight. Look for pocket sized moleskin notebooks; they weigh next to nothing and take up very little space. You’ll be able to log important information, such as landmarks, observations, and where you’ve found signs of people. The amount of information you will encounter in a day is limitless and something that seems insignificant today might save your life tomorrow. Document as much as you can. You’ll want a pen because it won’t fade like a pencil, you’ll want the pencils for when you’re out of ink. The sharpie is for labeling gear, or objects. This is a good way when you are lost to find out if you’re going in circles. Your total weight in writing supplies should not exceed half a pound in your pack. You should be able to scavenge supplies rather easily as most people will not value them.

Utility Knife: The more gadgets the better. This is not a place to skimp on quality. A better knife will have more gadgets, less weight, and higher durability. Make sure it has at least a can opener and pliers.

Screwdriver: I suggest one of two options here. Either and eye glasses set, which is extremely light weight and has around ten options, or a socket/screwdriver combo. Husky makes a great small and light combo set.

Hatchet: One side hacks, one side pounds. Go light but strong.

Saw: Again I have two options for you, either a folding camp saw with a spare blade, or the Gerber machete that has a serrated back. My recommendation leans towards the camp saw because it is far lighter, but if you were already planning on a machete, go with this one.

Shovel: Small and plastic. It’ll come in handy for a number of things and doesn’t weight much.

Head lamp: This is your most important light device. It allows you to see in the dark hands free. Make sure you get one with a red light function; this will protect your night vision. Also, make sure you have back up batteries, and a second head lamp.

High powered flashlight: This is what you will use for signaling or investigating something beyond the range of your head lamp.

Cheap light: Rule of threes. This is going to be extremely light weight, and hardly enough for telling ghost stories by. The batteries inside should weight more than the plastic around it. If you need a light while in camp this is the one you want to use. It will preserve the batteries or your other ‘torches’ and won’t cast enough light to be seen from too far away.

Fire: Rule of threes. You want a butane lighter to use when you need something with a little extra kick. A normal lighter for when you need something quick. Water proof matches for whenever possible. Save your lighters for when they are necessary, do not be wasteful with fuel. In rules of three store them in separate compartments to protect your options. It also never hurts to have a packs of folding matches around, as they weight nothing and are easily acquired.

Fire Starter: There are tons of these in stores, however your best value, and weight is found within most households. Dryer lint is virtually weightless, highly flammable, and free. Keep at least three different zip lock bags of this in your pack.

Sleeping bag: lighter the weight the better. Know your climate as they are graded based off of temperature. Most packs will have an external area to clip this on so make sure the sack is water proofed. Synthetic vs. Down comes down to personal preference unless you are allergic to one. If I have to tell you not to use the one you are allergic to, you really should be bothering with the Primal Age. Try to keep this to 3lbs or less.

Sleeping pad: There’s a multitude of options in this department. High price doesn’t always mean better quality. It depends on what you find most comfortable. Even if you can sleep comfortably on the ground without the extra layer I still recommend it as it will keep your sleeping bag from absorbing moisture when the ground is wet. Less than 1lb.

Sewing kit: Hotels have great travel sewing kits which are small and light weight. You’ll use this for repairing fabric or skin.

Toilet Paper: Small comforts go a long way.

These are the things you need to have in your go bag. Always focus on the lightest option that will be strong enough to get the job done well. Also keep in mind that moisture is your enemy. Sealable bags go a long way in protecting the longevity of your belongings. If you think I missed something feel free to make a suggestion.