Let me tell you something about bug out bags: No one gets it exactly right the first time. If you think you can assemble a bug out bag once and then forget about it forever, you are gravely mistaken. There are bound to be a few crucial items missing. That’s why it’s important to regularly look over and update your bug out bag.
Most preppers focus on the obvious stuff: a knife, fire starter, first aid kit. But it’s the overlooked items that tend to bite you when things go sideways. The difference between a good bug out bag and a great one often comes down to a handful of small, cheap items that never made the list.
If you haven’t updated your bug out bag in a while, or haven’t even built one yet, check out this list of 15 items you might have forgotten. These items are commonly overlooked, but they’re the kind of thing you’ll desperately wish you had when you need them.
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This list comes from the YouTube channel Survival Know How, and it’s spread across two videos. Here’s the list:
1. Anti-Diarrhea Medicine
Dehydration is already a serious threat in a survival situation, and diarrhea can turn that threat deadly fast. A small pack of Imodium takes up almost no space and could save your life.
2. Sewing Kit
Gear fails. Clothes tear. A basic sewing kit lets you repair a busted pack strap, patch a jacket, or fix anything else that takes damage when you can’t afford to replace it.
3. Water Filter
You can survive weeks without food, but only days without water, and most natural water sources are contaminated. A compact filter like a Sawyer Squeeze gives you access to safe drinking water almost anywhere.
4. Bandana
Don’t underestimate this one. A bandana can work as a pre-filter for water, a dust mask, a tourniquet, a signal cloth, or a way to keep sweat out of your eyes on a long hike.
5. Road Map
Your phone dies. The grid goes down. A paper road map of your area never needs a battery and never loses signal, and knowing your routes in advance could mean the difference between getting out and getting stuck.
6. Bug Spray
Mosquitoes and ticks carry diseases that can put you down hard in a grid-down situation where medical care isn’t available. A small bottle of DEET-based repellent is cheap insurance.
7. Emergency Radio
When the internet and cell towers are gone, a hand-crank or battery-powered emergency radio is how you stay informed about what’s happening and where it’s safe to go.
8. Camouflage Change of Clothes
A fresh set of clothes has obvious practical value, but going with camo specifically helps you blend into a natural environment if you need to move without being seen.
9. Oral Hygiene
Dental problems can be debilitating even under normal circumstances. In a survival situation, a severe toothache or infection can be mission-ending. At minimum, pack a travel toothbrush and some floss.
10. SAS Survival Pocket Guide
Even experienced preppers can blank under stress. A compact survival reference like the SAS guide covers shelter, navigation, fire, first aid, and more, and takes up almost no space in your bag.
11. Cash
In the early stages of a crisis, cash still works when cards don’t. Keep small bills on hand. People are less likely to make change during a disaster, and smaller denominations are more universally useful.
12. Copies of Personal Info
Think ID, insurance cards, emergency contacts, and any critical medical information. Store physical copies in a waterproof bag so you have them if your phone is dead or lost.
13. Enough Food
Most people underestimate how much food they actually need when they’re moving under stress. Aim for calorie-dense options like energy bars or freeze-dried meals that don’t take up much room.
14. Fishing Equipment
A small fishing kit weighs almost nothing but opens up a reliable long-term food source if you’re near any body of water.
15. Toilet Paper
It sounds obvious until you realize you forgot it. A compressed travel roll or a few feet of TP wrapped around a small cardboard tube takes up minimal space and makes a rough situation a lot more bearable.
Watch the videos below to learn more about these items. You can also check out the description below the video on YouTube for links to his recommended products.
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