Survival Tip #11:

Go bag Part III

Things you should consider having in your go bag

Cooking:

10 ft of folded tin foil was suggested for cooking purposes. There are many options available out there. Most of your go bag food should be comprised of food that can be eaten cold, as you don’t want to rely on a fire or cooking supplies to eat.

So you have to decide what will work best for you. If you only plan to cook over a fire the tin foil is an efficient route to pursue. Another option in this venue is those fancy mess kits that have a ton of different inter fitting pots, pans, and bowls; take the largest pan and leave the rest behind.

Then there are camp stoves, which run off some form of fuel. Jet Boil and Pocket Rocket are two reputable brands. What they allow you to do is have a warm meal without the hassle of a fire. So, if you’re packing some Cup of Noodles, you can have your water heated up and ready to go in a few minutes. The downside is you give up room in your pack, plus you need to carry extra fuel.

Sticking with camp stoves, search on Youtube “how to make a camp stove out of a soda can”. Long story short, you put the butt end of two cans together and drill some holes in it. This is as close to weightless as you will get, takes up very little room, easy to make a new one, and the kicker; it runs on rubbing alcohol. Remember always look for dual functionality.

Figure out what works for you. I suggest either fire cooking or the homemade stove.

Hygiene:

Hand sanitizer has a great secondary use. Due to the alcohol content it makes a great fire starter. However the one drawback to hand sanitizers (both now and then) is they kill 99.9% of all bacteria, which means the good bacteria as well as the bad. Therefore prolonged use can make you more susceptible. So a good addition to a bag, but whenever possible use good old fashioned soap; not at the cost of drinking water though. Hand sanitizer and soap are both logical additions to a pack.

Gloves and surgical masks. The problem with the cheap light ones is they are only really good for one use. Given you can carry quite a few of either before the weight adds up but remember it’s just as contaminated, if not more so, than your own skin after used once. Not high on my list, but worth considering.

Bags:

So far the recommended bag has been clearly labeled zip lock bags. Overall I don’t think you can find a better option. However, I do want to bring attention to Bivy Sacks. They are water proof, clip sealed, durable, and light. Worth considering, but still suggest the cheap option. Don’t underestimate the value of bagging the loose items in your pack. Bag similar items for faster access.

Spare Clothes:

Two pairs of socks, and one pair of underwear. A spare upper body inner shell can’t hurt either if you have the space. Also if you have weight to spare, a set of sandals or shoes are a handy addition you can attach to the outside of your pack. If you need to cross water, it’s better to use your spare than your primary.

Satellite GPS:

This is a gamble and very close to the list of don’t bring. It takes batteries and has weight, as well as only works as long as satellites, but it could be invaluable in the short term. If you take it, be prepared to dump it.

Walkie Talkies:

Doesn’t hurt to have two in your pack. If you plan to start with a team or happen to meet someone along the way, these are a little more effective than a can on a string. Don’t forget batteries.

Batteries:

Use rechargeable and bring the charger. Batteries do weigh a significant amount for their size. Ideally you want one spare for every one that is in a device, but trim down to 50% if you can.

Radio:

Emergency radio’s with hand crank that has cords to charge devices is a great pick if you are going to go with them. Do not get a battery powered radio. These are getting sophisticated enough that they rival utility knives in their versatility(some even have utility knives in them). Go for the bells and whistles.

Pepper spray:

Good for deterring predators, whether they are human or animal. Plus it can add flavor to a bland meal. Just remember it won’t work on a zombie.

Snake bite kit:

If you’re going to be in an area with poisonous reptiles get one.

Bear bell:

This is literally a jingle bell to attach to your bag. The noise when you walk is unnatural and scares away predatory animals. Draw back also draws the attention of people and zombies.

EpiPen:

If you need it better have it packed.

Bag liner:

A good liner for a sleeping bag can improve the lowest temperature by fifteen degrees and can be used as its own sleeping bag on warm nights.

Shelter:

There are two options I am going to suggest; tent or hammock. I suggest a hammock if you are traveling alone. It might be scary, but you can hook yourself high enough in a tree to be out of reach of animals and zombies. The reason I don’t suggest a tent when traveling alone is you are trapped inside and have no lines of sight. If traveling in a group a tent is more feasible because someone can be on watch while the others sleep. Obviously the tent will give you more protection from the elements, but the hammock provides security of elevation. Be sure you are comfortable with either of these, before you set out. There is nothing wrong with the sleeping bag on a ground pad. Don’t buy a cheap tent or hammock, for security, safety, and weights sake.

 
Entertainment:

Deck of cards or a game of dice can help keep spirits up, also a book isn’t a terrible idea, but watch the weight.

Money:

This will become useless fast, but in the very beginning this could be the difference between having to steal something you need and being able to buy it. A country wide break down of law enforcement won’t happen the same moment an outbreak takes place. Stealing runs the risk of being arrested, being arrested means being locked up, locked up means trapped and waiting to die. So keep some cash and a spare credit card in the bag.

Identification:

If you have a passport, this isn’t a bad place to store it. After all there may be safe places in the world, and they’ll probably want ID.

I can’t possibly give you every piece of equipment you might want to consider bringing along. Just keep in mind how practical an item is and how much it weighs. Use common sense or post it in a comment and it can be discussed.