Paracord Storage

Paracord Storage, Uses and Ideas

Paracord Storage

We have mentioned paracord as a bug out tool in several of our articles as being a resource of nearly limitless usefulness.  There are entire web sites and forums devoted to listing its many uses and it has attracted a following among preppers and DIY enthusiasts that approaches Duct Tape in reverence.  This is for good reason.  There are a great many situations in survival that call for a reliable, strong, and lightweight cord and paracord fits this profile perfectly.  In this article we will discuss why paracord is so great, some of its more practical survival applications, and proper paracord storage so that your tool is as compact and accessible as possible.

What is Paracord, why is it so great?

Paracord is also known as parachute cord and 550 cord.  Its origins are from the parachute suspension lines in WWII era parachutes.  It consists of a woven nylon core covered by a woven exterior sheath.  It is particularly well suited for many purposes because it is durable, small in diameter, lightweight and has a very high breaking strength for its size.  Paratroopers who had access to paracord quickly found that these qualities made it useful for a wide variety of applications such as affixing gear to their rigs or fastening camouflage netting.  From these simple beginnings paracord spread to all branches of the military as well as civilian use.

Paracord Storage

Paracord Storage Tips

So you understand the usefulness of paracord and have picked some up for your home, bug out location, and bug out bag.  A problem frequently encountered when dealing with any rope, cord, or wire in quantity is that it often gets tangled to the point that it is unusable.  Anyone who has opened up a tackle box to find a nice fat pile of knots knows exactly what we mean.  The way to avoid this is through proper paracord storage techniques.  We will go over proper paracord storage both at home and in a pack here:

Paracord Storage

A Paracord Jig

  • Paracord should never be stored without being coiled and wrapped first.  This can be done around your arm or using a jig (or chair legs as in the video below).  This is the first step in proper paracord storage as it avoids 90% of tangles right off the bat.  Take a couple extra minutes when you are done using your 550 cord to coil and wrap it.

  • When storing paracord in a bug out bag or box it should always be put inside a smaller container to avoid snagging on other items.  There are plenty on items within a BOB such as a hatchet or pry tool that are easily entangled with loose parachute cord.  Putting your coil in an empty water bottle, tupperware, or even a zip lock bag will prevent this from happening.  One of the features we discuss in our How To Pick The Best Bug Out Backpack article is having multiple compartments of various sizes to store and access your gear.  Following this rule will eliminate the entanglement factor from your paracord storage setup.
  • Another option for paracord storage is to wrap it around something.  This is an alternative to coiling and wrapping and is an even better manner of avoiding entanglement.  You may wrap your 550 cord around a tool, water bottle, or bundle of clothes.  If you wrap it tightly, there will be nothing loose to get caught on your other gear.
  • Also consider hanging your paracord coil off of the exterior of your bag inside webbing or attached to a carabiner.  This will enable you to rapidly deploy it if required.
  • No matter if you are planning your paracord storage for home or a bug out bag be sure to consider ease of access, prevention of entanglement, and quickness of deployment.

Uses for Paracord

One of the reasons why paracord use has spread so widely is that there are a great many situations that call for lightweight cordage.  In a survival situation paracord can be used for the following:

  • Affixing gear to a bug out bag
  • Lashing bags to a vehicle
  • Splinting a broken bone
  • Tie a sling to rest that broken bone
  • Tying on a bandage or making a tourniquet
  • Building a shelter
  • Lowering or raising equipment
  • Climbing or descending steep inclines
  • Restraining hostiles
  • Tripwire around your camp
  • Building a snare to catch animals
  • Making a fish trap
  • Make a hammock
  • A makeshift hinting bow string
  • An excellent string for a fire bow
  • And many more…

Additionally, the core and sheath components that make up a strand of paracord can be separated to be used for more specialized tasks:

The core strands can be separated to use for:

  • Fishing line
  • Sewing thread
  • Suture thread
  • Floss

The sheath by itself can be used for replacement shoe/boot laces or just about anything else that needs something without a lot of elasticity.

Paracord Ideas

With all these uses there are a lot of people out there that have a desire to carry a bit of paracord around with them regularly.  This may mean having a coil of it in the back of a vehicle or inventing creative ways to make lengths of paracord into unobtrusive wearable items.  People have woven paracord into replacements for or additions to a variety of every day items such as:

 

Paracord Bracelet

Paracord Belt

Paracord Gun Sling

Paracord Drink Coozies

Paracord Knife Handle Wrap

Paracord Dog Leash

Paracord Pet Collar

As you can see there are a lot of things you can create with paracord that make it easy to carry around with you.  If you want more ideas for projects you can check out YouTube further.  If you want a hard copy of project instructions with pictures to refer to check out this book and project starter kit:

Paracord Ideas BookParacord Projects Starter Kit
Paracord ideasParacord Projects Kit

Conclusion

A you can see there are a great many things that you can do with paracord to make it accessible when you need it in a survival situation.  Taking the time to address proper paracord storage will make it an asset instead of a liability when you need it most.  Whether you decide to wear a paracord bracelet or coil up a couple hundred feet in your bug out bag, having some on hand will come in handy when you least expect it.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have an innovative use for paracord that we didn’t cover here?  Do you know of a great paracord storage solution?  Please let us know in the Comments Section below!  If you thought this page was helpful please Like, +1, or Tweet it using the social media buttons at the top of the page, thanks!

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Best EDC Folding Knife

How to pick the folding best knife for a bug out bag

In the case of an emergency or a natural disaster, you should always be fully prepared and equipped with your very own bug out bag, also known as an emergency preparedness kit. These bags can be purchased online or through certain retailers in prices ranging anywhere from $35 up to $400. But, many safety experts highly recommend that you build your bug out bag from the ground up in order for it to suit your needs. Some of the top items in your kit should include non-perishable food products, a first-aid kit, matches, medical prescriptions, clothes, and a high quality pocket knife, which could be very useful during most emergency situations.

The Best Folding Knife for a Bug Out Bag

Obtaining a quality pocket knife should definitely be right at the top of your to-do list, along with the ultimate first aid kit and a few boxes of matches, when you are creating your custom bug out bag. A pocket knife is a knife with a folding blade that can be carried in an on-the-go fashion. It can also be a crucial piece to successful survival if you are ever thrust into any type of emergency situation. Therefore, it is very important that you conduct your research and have the proper knowledge when it comes to making the right selection for your needs.

Pocket Knife

There are several factors to consider when choosing the correct pocket knife for your kit. The most significant part of a pocket knife is the blade. This is where the action takes place. Therefore, your blade has to be made of the best steel and extremely sharp at all times. There is no point in possessing a knife if the blade is dull because it will be of no value to you or anyone else. Having a quality handle on your piece is also imperative. Water and other moisture elements need to be able to bounce off and not absorb into the knife. Remember, some of the best handles are made of Titanium. Design is also an important to look for when choosing the best pocket knife. You, as the potential owner, should have a special chemistry with your knife. The piece should properly fit into your hand and you should be able to comfortably maintain it with the perfect grip. Picking a single-blade or a multi-blade knife also comes into play when you are making your decision. Most multi-blade knives are used to perform very many tasks and are ideal for hunters and fishermen. But, a knife with a serrated four-inch blade is probably the best choice for your bug out bag.

Cost is another major factor that goes into selecting a great pocket knife that will stand the test of time. We all want to get a great value for our hard earned bucks without having to pay an obscene amount of money. Most pocket knife enthusiasts will tend to spend an average of up to $500 on a special trinket just to admire. But, when purchasing for safety, quality, and reliable use, you probably would have to spend somewhere between $40 and $100. It all adds up that old saying: “You get what you pay for.” Most pocket knives that are priced for under $35 are usually not made with the best material. You should never deny yourself a dependable knife by always looking for the cheapest version. Who would want a knife that would crumble under pressure if caught up in an emergency situation?

With many different brands out there on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to pick and why, especially if you are a pocket knife novice. There are a number of trusted brands that you should consider to ensure that you make the right choice. The Benchmade is a very trusted brand and the Benchmade Mini Griptilian is a model that is currently in high demand. It is great to use everyday while going about your daily tasks because of its lightweight ability. Another popular brand on the market is Buck. The Buck 110 is great for a heavier duty job. It has a longer blade that is contrived from a rust-resistant steel. And finally, the Spyderco Tenacious is popular with collectors and also great for tactical use. Plus, it possesses a smooth small blade that gets the job done. Most owners would say that it offers a great product for a reasonable price at right under fifty bucks.

Spyderco TenaciousBuck 110Benchmade Griptillian

The pocket knife is a very useful tool that can be extremely helpful in many emergency situations. It has been proven that having the right pocket knife at the right time can definitely be a life saver. So, when preparing your emergency bug out bag, do not let one of the most important items slip your mind. Make sure you pack your pocket knife.

About the Author

This article was written by James Petzke. James runs Knife Den, a site that is dedicated to providing top notch reviews and information about knives of all kinds.

Are you ready to build your bug out bag list?  Try our free tool using this button:

Bug Out Bag Interactive Packing List

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a go to knife for your bug out list?  Are there any features that you see as must have for a bug out knife?  Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks.  If you thought this article was helpful please Like, +1, or Tweet it using the social media buttons at the top of the page, thanks!

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best bug out vehicle checklist

Best Bug Out Vehicle Checklist

best bug out vehicle checklist

If you are one of the millions of people who own a vehicle you should seriously consider integrating it into your bug out plan.

However, this can be more complicated than simply throwing your bug out bag in your car and hitting the gas.

  • How can the particular advantages of a vehicle evacuation be maximized?
  • How can we eliminate any negatives?
  • What is the best bug out vehicle checklist to maintain?
  • What is the best bug out vehicle for YOUR survival situation?

We will walk through each of these points and demonstrate how to effectively incorporate a bug out vehicle into your bug out plan.

Bug Out Vehicle Advantages

1.  Greater travel radius

A vehicle will allow you to travel further faster.  This should be explored as part of bug out planning.  Is there a better location further away?  Just because you can travel further doesn’t mean you have to.  Take the best bug out location option, not the furthest.  If you can defend a closer location better or cache more supplies there, consider these factors.

2.  Carry more supplies

A vehicle can carry more supplies and survival tools than a person can lug.  This is great as a properly planned bug out vehicle checklist can make your ride a mobile bug out location.  However, it is important to avoid the temptation of packing EVERYTHING.  The goal is to find a balance.  Bring survival gear that will extend your independence and raise your odds of survival, not everything imaginable.  As always, focus on multi-use items.  Additionally, you should not consider even the best bug out vehicle to be a mobile bug out bag.  You should always have a full bug out bag packed and at hand in the vehicle in the event that you have to ditch it quickly.

3.  Additional shelter

Your vehicle can shelter you from rain and wind even if you are out of gas.  If it is running it can also provide heat or cooling as needed.  This makes it a powerful ally.  If a storm is hitting you can simply take cover in your vehicle rather than having to set up a survival shelter.  It can also be slept in with no additional modifications.  If you are in a pinch you can even cook on the hot engine with proper preparation (how to video below).  This will greatly raise morale and increase your odds of surviving.

 

Bug Out Vehicle Disadvantages

1.  Can create dependence

Planning to have the best bug out vehicle for your survival situation is fantastic but you should not consider it as an answer to all potential problems.  You still need to plan your bug out assuming that you are going to have to ditch your car, and all the niceties it brings at some point.  You may run out of gas or run into an impassable road.  Either way if you planned on driving the entire way to your bug out location you are going to need to improvise.  Even with the best bug out vehicle you will need to hone those survival skills and plan on hiking to your destination in order to guard against uncertainty.

2.  Not as versatile as traveling on foot

Foot travel is more energy intensive than driving but it is also more versatile.  Imagine you have your bug out vehicle checklist planned and packed and when SHTF you go on your merry way to find that everyone else has the same plan.  You are now faced with miles and miles of traffic.  Is this still the fastest way to bug out?  What if rubble and debris cuts off a vital road?  When planning your bug out route consider if going on foot is a more direct means of travel as you can cut through terrain rather than having to stick to a road or trail.

3.  Additional complications

Traveling by vehicle provides serious advantages as we mentioned above.  However even the best bug out vehicle also adds additional complications and costs in volume, weight, and money into your bug out plan.  Consider this addition as a whole when assessing what is the best bug out vehicle for your survival situation.

Best bug out vehicle

The Best Bug Out Vehicle

The ideal bug out vehicle would have the following qualities to maximize the advantages of a vehicular bug out while minimizing the challenges present:

4WD

A no-brainer when picking a bug out vehicle.  This will vastly increase your options when bugging out.  A non-4WD car will quickly break down if forced to drive off road.  Having a 4WD bug out vehicle will enable you to pass over far more terrain and reach safety faster.

Modular interior

Unless you are planning on bugging out in an RV you will want to modify the interior of the vehicle to be more suitable for survival.  This may mean taking out seating to allow more storage or making it convertible for sleeping in.  It is important to note that although you will want to customize the interior of the vehicle you want to do as little tinkering with the engine and drivetrain as possible.  Customization in these areas make repairs and sourcing replacement parts far more difficult.  Reliability is key with a bug out vehicle, having stock parts that you may be able to scavenge is an essential element of this.

Diesel engine

A diesel engine has many advantages over a gas model.  They are generally more fuel efficient for one.  Additionally, they allow far greater fuel flexibility, being able to run on home heating oil, kerosene, and some jet fuels.  This significantly increases scavenge potential while on the road.  Diesel fuel also has a far greater storage lifetime than gasoline.  With the addition of commercially available fuel stabilizers diesel fuel will last more than 10x longer than gasoline.

Good gas mileage

Having a gas guzzler for your bug out vehicle is a good way to shoot yourself in the foot.  Gas will surely be in short supply and you may not even have the time or opportunity to scavenge additional supplies while on the move.  Look for a vehicle that is rated for at least 23-27 MPG to ensure gas efficiency will not be a problem while making your evacuation.  Higher MPG would be better but may be hard to find for a vehicle that has good storage capacity.  Check out this site for a list of all car models with mpg ratings.

Easy to repair

Reliability is key with when trying to find the best bug out vehicle.  Having stock parts that you may be able to scavenge is an essential element of this.  Choosing a vehicle that is widely used and has commonly available parts is ideal.

Trailer hitch

This opens up options for including a bug out trailer as a part of your bug out plan.  A trailer allows more cargo space overall without sacrificing passenger seats, which is great if you have a family travelling with you.  Additionally, a trailer can be ditched once the supplies within have been used up to improve gas mileage.

Brush guard

This should be partnered with any vehicle you intend to take off-road.  It will save your front end and radiator from damage and also improves your ability to ram trees in the way or doors that need opening.

Manual transmission preferred

This isn’t required but it sure helps.  Manual transmissions increase reliability, improve gas mileage and are easier to fix and replace than an automatic transmission.  They also allow you to push start a car if an ignition is burned out or you lose your keys.

Bug out vehicle checklist

So what additional items would you want on your bug out vehicle checklist to increase your odds of success?  Note that this is in addition to your bug out bag, which you will be bringing as well!!!  Here is a list of items that will maximize the advantages present in a vehicular bug out situation:

  • Extra fuel containers

  • Siphon Pump

  • Tow Straps

  • Seatbelt Cutter/Window Breaker (see our comprehensive guide on these by clicking HERE) 

  • CB radio

  • Tire chains

  • Jumper Starter

POD-X1-img-small

 

  • Can of Fix-A-Flat

  • Basic tool kit – Pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, duct tape, stanley knife, cable ties

  • Power inverter – To charge any electronics you may have on the go

  • Winch

  • Extra oil

  • Spare keys

  • Spare tire – not a doughnut!

What else can I do to make my bug out vehicle great?

  • Beyond stocking up your bug out vehicle checklist be sure to service it regularly.  There is no point in having the best bug out vehicle in the world if it is unreliable or won’t run when you need it!

  • Make sure you have a reliable Jump Starter!  This is easy and can save your life!  This is the one I strongly recommend.
  • Practice driving your intended bug out route to see if your car is up to the task.  This will also help you identify any difficulties along the way and point out any modifications you may need to make to either the car or your bug out plan.

  • If you choose to use a manual transmission vehicle make sure all the adults in your bug out party know how to drive it.  As with any aspect of your bug out plan, redundancy is key.

  • Add vehicle inspection and testing to your regular bug out plan reviews to make sure your bug out vehicle still fits into your strategy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of options for finding the best bug out vehicle for your survival situation.  Understanding them and what works best is an important step towards adding a car or truck to your bug out plan.  Adding a bug out vehicle checklist to your bug out bag essentials will additionally help you maximize the advantages of bugging out in a vehicle.

It is important however to not depend on any one thing in your bug out plan for your survival, including a car or other means of transport.  Keep flexible and be ready to continue your bug out on foot if need be.  Please also check out our printable Bug Out Vehicle Checklist Graphic below which you can download and print to have with you when you are preparing your bug out vehicle:

Best Bug Out Vehicle Checklist

Your Thoughts?

Do you have any items you would add to this bug out vehicle checklist?  What do you think would make the best bug out vehicle?  Please let us know in the Comments Section below.  If you thought this post was helpful please Like, +1, or Tweet it using the social media buttons at the top of the page, thanks!

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survival pocket knives

Survival Pocket Knives – Our Top 10

survival pocket knives

Survival pocket knives can have many uses in a Bug Out Bag, survival kit, or as every day carry items. They are great tools that combine the nearly limitless utility of a knife with compact size and lower weight. Some people may choose to carry a survival pocket knife as a back up to a larger blade while others may choose to keep one as their main knife. Either way, having one can be a great addition to any kit.  Here we will look at a few survival pocket knives and explain what makes one great for your survival situation.

We will examine features, utility, and size, as well as take a closer look at a few that we chose as Our Picks for best in class.

Our Top 10 Survival Pocket Knives

We have created this helpful comparison chart of the best survival pocket knives out there.  Click on the images below to go to the Amazon page for more information on each of these knives.

KnifeLengthWeightSeatbelt
Cutter
Glass
Breaker
Gut
Hook
Smith & Wesson Border Guard 2 Rescue Knife

10"8.8ozYesYesNo
Gerber E-Z Out Jr Knife

5.5"1.7ozNoNoNo
SOG Specialty Knives & Tools Escape Knife
Survival Pocket Knives
8.2"4.8ozYesYesNo
Wartech 8" Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife

8"~8ozYesYesNo
CRKT Graham Folding Razel Knife

~8"6.1ozNoNoNo
CRKT M-21

6.6"4.8ozNoNoNo
GERBER Paraframe II Tanto Knife

9.5"4.3ozNoNoNo
Spyderco Tenacious G

7.76"4.8ozNoNoNo
Buck Knives Folding Omni Hunter Knife

9"4.6ozNoNoYes
CRKT Kommer Free Range Hunter
Folding Lockback

8.9"4.4ozNoNoYes

What Are Qualities of GREAT Survival Pocket Knives?

When I am researching survival pocket knives to add to my kit I search for the following qualities:

Compact and lightweight

I am most likely going to be carrying my survival pocket knife a lot.  It will be an alternative to carrying one of my larger knives and I will want to maximize the advantages present in this type of knife.  There is no point carrying around a pocket knife that is as heavy and takes up as much space as a fixed blade knife.  Because of this I look for folding survival pocket knives that are made of lighter materials such as strong plastics or have a skeleton design to save weight.  I also will want a knife that is 5 inches or less when folded so I can fit in in a pocket or on a belt.

One handed opening

This is a big one for me, I do not want a knife that I may need to use in a hurry in a survival situation that has a NASA-level of complexity for opening it up.

I want to be able to open the blade one handed with either hand.  The knife making industry has recognized the utility of this type of feature and has attempted to answer it in many ways. There is the large thumb hole present in Spyderco knives that many people like but my favorite is the “Carson Flipper” present on CRKT knives, including my EDC choice of the M-21. This is a nub on the back side of the knife that you press with your index finger that lets the blade pivot around the hinge and snap into place with a satisfying click.  It can be done instantly with either hand.  It is so fast in fact that I have a friend that insists on calling it an “assisted opening”, although there are no springs involved.

Be sure you can open your survival pocket knife with either hand when making your choice, you never know what you may need to hold (or hold off) with your other hand when accessing your tool.

Good locking mechanism

The downfall of cheap folders is that they can fail and close on their owner’s hand at the worst possible time.

A good locking mechanism is essential when selecting a survival tool that you are planning on relying on.  Once again, this need has been addressed in many ways by the knife making industry and there are a lot of options out there.  Most of the better survival pocket knives will have multiple, redundant locking mechanisms that will basically turn your folder into a fixed blade knife while engaged.

Save your hands and make sure you have a reliable, fool-proof locking mechanism in your survival pocket knife.

High quality construction

As with any survival tool spending a little more on quality goes a long way on improving your odds.  Name brand knives from quality manufacturers such as CRKT, Gerber, Spyderco, Buck, and SOG will hold their edge longer, be less likely to have their hinge bind, and stand up to dropping and banging better than the cheap pieces of garbage you see on eBay.  Signs of quality to look for are:

  • Components are screwed or bolted on, not glued together
  • Fluid opening and closing motion of the blade
  • Easy to sharpen, holds an edge well
  • Reliable locking mechanism
  • Ergonomic grip that is comfortable and discourages your hand slipping onto the blade
  • Good quality steel or composite metal, check out a comparison of metal types here.

Survival Pocket Knives

Other Features to Consider For Survival Pocket Knives

Finding a good knife with a simple straight blade is a great start and will be a good, reliable tool to have. My EDC knife is just this and has served me well for many years.  However, if you are interested in tailoring your survival pocket knife to your particular survival situation consider these options that are available from many manufacturers:

Survival Pocket Knife Features for Urban Survival

  • Seatbelt/line cutter – This will let you get out of a vehicle faster if you enter a survival scenario during your commute.  This is frequently incorporated by way of a narrow cutout on the back of the knife that is used when the blade is folded in that lets you slide materials in but is too small to accidentally get your hand or fingers in danger.
  • Glass breaker – This will assist your evacuation from a vehicle or building in an urban survival situation.  Easily shatter the glass and go.
  • Pry tip – This is usually a flat tip (instead of a pointed one) on thicker type blades that allows you to jimmy open doors and containers.  It is a tough trade off to make as you will be sacrificing the survival pocket knife’s ability to stab and poke but may be worth it if this is a secondary knife in your kit.

Survival Pocket Knife Features for Wilderness Survival

  • Partial serration – This gives the benefits of both straight edge and serrated knives if you go for a combo blade.  Serration allows for faster cutting of rope, hide, bone, and wood, all things you may be facing in a wilderness survival scenario.
  • Gut hook – This will speed up your ability to dress wild game that you catch.  Many hunting and fishing knives have this feature but if a survival pocket knife is going to be your go-to blade, including this feature will be useful for wilderness survival.

Survival Pocket Knives

Photo credit: – scott feldstein Flickr

Our Picks for Best Survival Pocket Knives

Any of the survival pocket knives listed above would make a great addition to any survival kit as either a primary or backup blade. However, Our Pick for best in class goes to the Smith & Wesson Border Guard 2 Rescue Knife for best urban survival knife and the CRKT Kommer Free Range Hunter Folding Lockback for best wilderness survival knife.  They both combine the essential features that we discussed for their respective survival scenarios with a great basic blade and very high quality.

Conclusion

Although there are a great many survival pocket knives on the market, you can see here that it is not hard to find the best one for your survival situation.  Be sure to consider essential features such as size & weight, ease of opening, quality, reliability, and tailor any special features to your survival scenario.  If you want to learn more about basic survival skills check out our post.  If you are ready to build your Bug Out Bag list, click here to use our free tool.

Your Thoughts?

Have you used any on the survival pocket knives that we examined here?  Are there any features that you look for when researching survival pocket knives?  Please let us know using the Comments Section below, thanks!

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Guest Post: Top 3 Bug Out Bag Items Most People Forget About

Top 3 Bug Out Bag Items Most People Forget About

When you hear the term, “bug out bag,” most people think of a whole laundry list of items that they believe must be in their bug out bags.

Here are the most common things people add to their bug out bags:

  • Weapons (guns, ammunition, knives, etc)
  • Ammunition
  • Food
  • Water cleaning equipment
  • First aid solutions
  • Shelter equipment
  • Paracord
  • Fire starting equipment

These are all very necessary when it comes to a bug out bag, but I think we’re missing a few key ingredients to a well mannered survival kit.  I’ve been the owner of www.SurvivalBlog.org for the last 5 years, and I believe that every bug out bag needs to contain these three items in addition to the normal survival gear.

Forgotten Bug Out Bag Necessity #1: A Meat Thermometer

I’m an avid hunter and constantly am using my meat thermometer for everything from chicken to wild hog – I never would leave home without one.

In a grid-down, survival situation, you’ll be needing to use this meat thermometer way more often than you would in the comfort of your own home.

Remember: just about all meat can be eaten once it reaches about 165 degrees, but here’s some more information on meat:

  • Fish – 145 degrees
  • Poultry – 165 degrees
  • Ground meat – 165 degrees

Forgotten Bug Out Bag Necessity #2: Remington Oil

Remington Oil (Rem Oil) is a huge necessity in the field – and lots of it.  Not only can you clean your firearms, but you can also maintain your other survival tools.

Remington Oil protects guns, knives, forks, spoons – or any other metal device.

Forgotten Bug Out Bag Necessity #3: Bring Your Papers

During a SHTF situation, you won’t know if there will still be records around.

You might need to prove you own your own property, are married, or anything else.

It’s important to have copies of birth certificates, wedding certificates, tax receipts, land deeds, insurance documents, and other papers during a survival situation. When law and order is re-established, you might need to prove your very existence.

 

Your Thoughts?

If you thought this post was helpful, please Like, +1, or Share it using the social media buttons at the top of the page!  Can you think of any survival items that are often overlooked?  Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

 

Author Bio:

Andy Hallinan is an avid survivalist and owner of the second most trafficked survival blog in North America. Check out more of his stuff at www.survivalblog.org

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