Author: op40k

The 7 Biggest Bug Out Bag Mistakes People Make

A Bug Out Bag is a survival kit that allows you to evacuate quickly and safely in the event of a disaster. It should be packed with everything you need to survive for at least 72 hours, including food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies.

The 7 Biggest Bug Out Bag Mistakes People Make

Unfortunately, many people make critical errors when packing their Bug Out Bags, which can jeopardize their safety in a real emergency. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the 7 biggest bug out bag mistakes people make—and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not Packing the Essentials

The first mistake people make when packing their Bug Out Bag is failing to include the essentials. Your Bug Out Bag should have enough food and water to last you for at least 72 hours, as well as a first-aid kit, a flashlight, and a phone charger. Other essential items include extra clothes, a blanket, and a map of the area.

Water is essential for survival, yet many people underestimate how much they need to pack. A good rule of thumb is to pack one gallon of water per person, per day. This will ensure that you have enough to drink, cook with, and clean in an emergency situation.

If you’re worried about lugging all that water around, consider packing a water filter so you can purify water from natural sources like lakes and streams.

Like water, food is essential for survival. When packing food for your bug out bag, choose items that are high in calories and easy to eat on the go. Pack enough food for each person in your group for three days—and then some.

And don’t forget about snacks! Energy bars, trail mix, and dried fruit are all great options for satisfying hunger pangs while on the move.

No matter how carefully you plan or how prepared you are, accidents can happen. That’s why it’s important to pack a first aid kit in your bug out bag so you’re ready for anything. Be sure to include items like bandages, gauze pads, tape, scissors, pain relievers, antiseptic wipes, and a first aid manual so you can properly treat any injuries sustained during your evacuation.

woman in blue sleeveless dress sitting on bed

Mistake #2: Overpacking

The second mistake people make is packing too much stuff. Remember, you’ll have to carry your Bug Out Bag on your back, so you don’t want it to be too heavy. Stick to the essentials and pack only what you need.

It’s important to pack only the essentials in your bug out bag. This includes items like food, water, shelter, clothing, and first aid supplies. Anything else is just extra weight that you’ll have to carry around with you. Be sure to carefully consider each item you pack and ask yourself if it’s truly necessary for your survival.

Mistake #3: Underpacking

On the other hand, some people make the mistake of underpacking their Bug Out Bags. They think they can get by with less food and water than they really need, or they forget to pack essential items like a flashlight or a first-aid kit.

Don’t let this happen to you—make sure your Bug Out Bag is fully stocked with everything you need before you head out.

expired food

Mistake #4: Not Checking the Expiration Dates on Food and Water Supplies

The fourth mistake people make is not checking the expiration dates on their food and water supplies. Make sure all of your food and water are fresh before you pack them in your Bug Out Bag—you don’t want your survival kit to be full of expired products.

Granted most shelf-stable freeze-dried food has a 25-year shelf life, but it is the smaller things like medication, granola bars, etc that really suck if they are expired. Who wants to bite into a rancid granola bar?

Mistake #5: Forgetting To Pack Clothing for all Climates

In an emergency situation, you may have to walk long distances or spend a lot of time outdoors. That’s why it’s important to pack clothes that will keep you warm, dry, and visible.

Avoid packing cotton items like jeans or sweatpants, as they will absorb moisture and take forever to dry. Instead, opt for synthetic materials like nylon or polyester that will wick away moisture and help you regulate your body temperature.

too many clothes

And don’t forget to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes!

A huge mistake people make is forgetting to pack clothing for all climates. If you’re bugging out in the middle of winter, for example, you’ll need to pack extra clothes and blankets to keep yourself warm.

Conversely, if you’re bugging out in the summer heat, you’ll need light clothing that won’t weigh you down. regardless of the season, make sure your Bug Out Bag has appropriate clothing for the weather conditions you might encounter.

Some people choose fashion over function when packing their Bug Out Bags. they pack impractical items like high heels or jewelry that won’t do them any good in a survival situation. stick to functional items that will actually help you survive

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Pack Entertainment

People often forget to pack entertainment. When bugging out, you may find yourself with some downtime, so it’s important to have something to keep your mind occupied. Pack books, a deck of cards, or anything else that will help pass the time and is lightweight.

a card game

Mistake #7: Not Having a Plan.

Last but not least, one of the worst things you can do is bug out without having a plan. Where are you going? What’s your route? Who are you going with?

Answering these questions ahead of time will help ensure that your bug out goes smoothly and that you don’t run into any unforeseen problems along the way.

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Final Thoughts on Bug Out Bag Mistakes

These are just seven of the most common mistakes people make when packing their Bug Out Bags. By avoiding these mistakes, you can be sure that your Bug Out Bag is properly packed and will meet your needs in an emergency situation.

Kids Bug Out Bag: What You Need to Know

As an adult, it’s fairly easy to make your own bug out bag.  After all, you know what you’ll need to survive for a few days.  Your kids will also need their own bug out bags, and they have slightly different needs. 

Kids Bug Out Bag : What You Need to Know

It’s important to pack not only the essentials but also some fun items to help them feel safe and to prevent boredom.

Why Kids Need Their Own Bug Out Bag

Kids need their own bug out bags with their own items in case of an emergency.  While you’ll be focusing on survival items, you’ll also want to include some times for comfort.  If there’s a situation in which your child will need to use their bug out bag, your child can become scared and confused.  It will help them to have familiar items packed in their bags.

Letting your child have his or her own bug out bag will also help your child feel important and like they have a sense of power during a stressful and confusing time.  It will give your child a sense of comfort to have their own items.

Why Kids Need Their Own Bug Out Bag

One thing to remember when creating a bug out bag for children is that the essential survival items will be in the adults’ bags.  Therefore, there isn’t as much emphasis on safety as there is comfort.  While an adult will want a utilitarian black or dark-colored flashlight, for example, a child may prefer a fun flashlight with a design or bright color.

Kids Bug Out Bag Designs

For your kids’ bug out bags, you can choose from a few different designs.  Depending on the age of your child, you might try a backpack, a bag with a handle, or a bag with wheels.

Kids Bug Out Bag Backpacks

While you’re looking for utilitarian bags for adults, children don’t need an expensive military-style bag with a lot of pockets.  Depending on the age of your child, you may want to consider using a backpack with their favorite character.

This backpack is lightweight and has plenty of pockets and compartments for stashing items.

Kids Bug Out Bag Backpacks

Kids Bug Out Bag Backpack With Handles

If your child is little, then you may want to use a bag with a handle.  This can make it easier for you to grab your child and the handle of the backpack or your child can grab the handle and carry the bag.

This basic backpack is available in several fun color combinations that children will like.  It’s inexpensive, and it has a handle for easy carry.

Kids Bug Out Bag Backpack With Wheels

If your child’s bug out bag is heavy or your child is young, then you may want a bug out bag with wheels.  This rolling backpack has several compartments.  The handle is just over three feet long, so it’s comfortable for older kids to wheel around.

Kids Bug Out Bag Checklist

You’ll be packing the essential oils for survival in your own bag, so you want to focus on your child’s needs and add a few items for comfort to their bags. 

You’ll want to pack at least one change of clothes in the bag.  This should be a pair of long pants, shorts, a shirt, and a sweatshirt.  Also, pack a few pairs of underwear and socks in case they get wet.  You’ll also want to pack a hat, jacket, and vest for children.

Kids Bug Out Bag Backpack With Wheels

Depending on the age of your child, if you have girls you will want to pack feminine hygiene items.  If your daughter is over the age of 10, it’s a good idea to pack these even if she doesn’t need them right now.  It’s something that’s easy to overlook, and you don’t want to forget it in an emergency.

You’ll likely have a large first aid kit in your own bug out bag, but you can add a small one in each child’s bag.  This first aid kit is small, and it has the basics that your child might need.  Hopefully, you won’t get separated, but if you do, your child will have access to basic first aid supplies.

You’ll also want to pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other hygiene items.  Your child will want soap, shampoo, and deodorant, depending on their age.

It would be a good idea to pack a fishing kit in a tin.  These are small and don’t take up a lot of room, but they will allow each person to have their own fishing kit to catch food.

You’ll likely have a big tent for the family, but you can pack small tents in your child’s backpack.  Depending on their age, they may want some privacy and time to themselves at night.

Finally, pack some comfort items in your child’s bug out bag.  You can pack a deck of cards or other small games that don’t need batteries or electricity.  Older kids may like a puzzle book or a copy of their favorite book to pass the time.  You can also pack some of their favorite snacks, but remember to rotate these every few months so they don’t expire.

Practice Using a Bug Out Bag

Practice Using a Bug Out Bag

Hopefully, your child will never need t

o use a kids bug out bag.  However, it’s important that your child learns where their bag is and how to use it.  Store the bag where they will see it and not tucked away in a closet.  Let them take the bag camping or even to grandma’s house so they are familiar with using the bag.

You may want to get out the bag and go over the contents with your child every few months.  This helps your child remember what’s in the bag and how to use the items in the bag.  Then help your child pack the bag and put it away so it’s always ready for when they need it.

Don’t forget to take inventory for your child’s bag a few times a year.  Their needs change, and you may need to pack bigger clothes or different snacks as they grow and their likes change.

Other articles for kids you may find helpful:

What You Need to Know About A Prepper Convention

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced prepper, prepper conventions are a great way to get more information.  At the convention, you’ll find people who share in your lifestyle.  You’ll also learn about new gear and tools that can make your life easier and increase your chance of survival.

What You Need to Know About A Prepper Convention

Prepper conventions are a great way to learn and grow.  You’ll find people with a wide range of skills, and you can gain valuable knowledge by spending time with other like minded people. 

What You Need to Know About A Prepper Convention

Although most people think that living as a prepper means every man for himself, that’s isn’t the case for conventions.  Many preppers enjoy coming together to learn new techniques and gain valuable knowledge about survival and other important life skills.

What Is a Prepper Convention?

Prepper conventions are large events that are held annually.  They usually have respected experts who speak at the events so you can learn about new techniques and ideas to use.  There are usually vendor tables with gear and equipment so you can learn what’s new.  It’s a great way to see the equipment before you buy it, and sometimes you can get great deals.

However, the best part about attending a prepper convention is that you’ll meet like-minded people and families that you can learn from.  Although you may not live close to each other and may have different goals and needs, you can still learn from each other and help each other grow.

What Is a Prepper Convention?

Although you may be looking for a prepper convention that is specifically for preppers, there are only a few of these held in America.  However, there are several conventions for emergency preparedness and homesteading that will have a lot of overlap with prepping.

The following are the larger conventions related to prepping, survival, and homesteading.  These conventions often attract thousands of people from surrounding states and even all across the country.  However, you can usually find small prepping conventions that may not have as many vendors and exhibitors, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find valuable information there.  

Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo

The Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo is held in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, in September each year.  It’s not one of the most well-known prepper conventions, but it is a great one to attend. 

This convention has information about communications, gardening, cooking, first aid, and more.  It has a variety of topics that will appeal to preppers of all levels.

Although it is a smaller expo, there are several training classes and demonstrations available.  There are also vendors so you can see new products and tools.

Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo

Prepper Camp

Prepper Camp offers peppers the full prepping experience in the Appalachian Mountains. .  It features living off-grid, homesteading, camping, survival, and preparedness.  It focuses on hands-on training with demos so you can learn more than you can at just a speech.  

Other expos and conventions provide information from speakers, but Prepper Camp lets you do things.  You’ll learn from the experts who not only tell you about it, but they also show you.  You’ll also get to participate and gain valuable experience.

Lodging isn’t an issue because you can camp on site.  You can also hike and boat while you’re there.

Survival, Gun, and Outdoor Show

The Survival, Gun, and Outdoor Show is held in Rock Island, Illinois.  It’s a large convention with 100s of vendor tables.  You’ll find gear and equipment for prepping, defense, fishing, outdoors, and more.  

In addition to vendors, there are seminars and classes for attendees to learn more about preparedness.  

Survival, Gun, and Outdoor Show

PrepperCon

PrepperCon is held in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It covers first aid, survival, prepping, gear, defensive training, and food storage.  There are just under 100 presentations and classes offered.  They have trusted experts who have extensive knowledge to share.  This is a family-friendly convention, and many people bring their children.  

Sustainable Preparedness Expo

The Sustainable Preparedness Expo is held in different locations around the country.  It focuses on self-reliance and preparedness for natural disasters.  Although the focus is on survival, it teaches valuable life skills for preppers and homesteaders.

Homesteading Life Conference

The Homesteading Life Conference in Missouri is geared towards homesteaders, but there’s a lot of overlap for preppers and survivalists.  It focuses on day to day life rather than a disaster.  You’ll learn how to grow food and how to preserve the food that you grow.  It also has information on off grid living, herbal remedies, and how to protect your homestead from predators.

National Preppers and Survivalists Expo

The National Preppers and Survivalists Expo is held in Jacksonville, Florida.  It is a two-day event where attendees will get hands-on experience for survival skills.  It has classes and lectures about survival and emergency preparedness.  

Prepper Convention Books

Prepper Convention Books

These prepper conventions are sprinkled throughout the country, so you may not find one close to you.  However, there are several smaller shows in many areas of the country, so do a quick Internet search to see if there’s a smaller show near you.  

If traveling isn’t an option, then you might consider looking at books and other resources for prepping.  Although you won’t get to talk to other people like you do at a convention, you will be able to gain knowledge from home.  

You may also want to read homesteading or prepping blogs.  These blogs are written by people who are living this life, and they will have tips and tricks as well as general knowledge to help you learn and grow.

When you’re prepping, there’s always new information to learn.  Attending a convention is a great way to learn from experts through talks or through hands-on demonstrations.  In addition, you’ll also be able to browse vendor tables to see the latest tools and equipment available to purchase.  

Attending an expo is also a great way to get to know like-minded people.  Although these people may not live close to you, you can exchange information and keep learning from each other long after the convention is over.

Other articles you may find helpful:

Prepper Dating: Everything You Need to Know

When you’re a prepper, you’ve living a lifestyle that may not make sense to other people.  This can create problems in relationships, especially new relationships, if the other person isn’t used to or accepting of the lifestyle.  For this reason, you may want to look for a potential partner who is also a prepper.

Prepper Dating: Everything You Need to Know

Since traditional dating sites and apps don’t list prepping in their list of criteria, it can be difficult to find a partner who is into prepping. 

Prepper Dating: Everything You Need to Know

However, there are some dating apps, sites, and events that can help you find a partner who is also a prepper.

Prepper Dating History

Dating websites have been around for a few decades now, but they mainly focus on using interests for compatibility.  Until 2010, there wasn’t a site or app that would help preppers find other preppers for relationships. 

Survivalist Singles was one of the first dating sites just for preppers.  It caters to survivalists and aims to match preppers with other preppers. 

However, there are other ways for preppers to meet besides using dating apps and dating sites.  Sites made specifically for dating are perhaps the most popular way to meet someone who is interested in dating, but there are other ways to meet like minded people.

Prepper Dating History

Prepper Dating Ideas

If you’re a prepper, then you probably don’t discuss it when you meet someone new due to safety concerns.  After all, you don’t want everyone knowing what you have because that puts you and your property at risk in a time of emergency.

This can make it difficult to find like minded people to befriend and to date.  There are several ways to meet other preppers, and not all of them are for the sole purpose of dating.  

Prepper Dating Apps

There are a plethora of dating apps available, but none are made specifically for preppers.  However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find fellow survivalists on dating apps. It will make it more difficult to find someone, but you can use the interests to narrow down the dating pool.

Prepper Dating Apps

Prepper Dating Sites

Survivalist Singles is perhaps the most popular dating site made just for preppers and survivalists.  Although it’s not a large dating site, everyone there will be like minded so you won’t have to wade through potential matches to find someone who shares your values and lifestyle.

The site also has a blog, classifieds, events, and groups.  Even if you don’t find love, you may find friendship and companionship.

Some survivalists are having luck with Farmers Only or Christian Mingle.  These dating sites aren’t devoted to preppers, but there is some overlap and you may have some success at one of these two sites.

Prepper Dating Events

Prepper Dating Events

Survivalist Singles has some events listed, but they are not all for dating.  You can also find dating events at Meetup or try Facebook to search for local events.  Although Meetup isn’t specifically about prepping, there are preppers who use it to advertise local events.

Meetup lets you select distance, so try searching for prepping, prepper, or survivalist in the search bar and selecting how far you are willing to travel.

Prepper Dating Blogs

Although there aren’t any blogs devoted to prepper dating at this time, there are some blogs that have some posts dedicated to dating.

However, don’t discount blogs as a way to meet a potential date.  Many bloggers have communities for their readers.  These could be Facebook groups or private bulletin boards, and this can be a great way to meet other preppers.  

You can also follow your favorite bloggers and interact with them on social media.  Who knows, you might find love in the comments of a blogger’s post.

Prepper Dating Books

Prepper Dating Books

Unfortunately, there aren’t any books devoted to prepper dating.  However, you can read general dating books and apply the knowledge to your search for a partner.

Prepper Dating for Seniors

Prepper dating for seniors will be difficult.  I recommend using a larger site like Farmers Only or Christian Mingle to find people your age.  

Prepper Dating Tips

Don’t think that you’re limited to just using sites devoted to dating to find a life partner who also loves prepping.  You might find someone at a prepping or preparedness event, even if the event is focused on education and fellowship and not just prepping.

If you are religious, church can be a great way to meet like minded people since there’s some overlap between the two communities.  You may also want to find local preparedness and interest groups. 

Good groups to look for are emergency preparedness groups, homesteading groups, gardening groups, and even hunting or outdoors groups.

Prepper Dating Ideas

Prepper Dating Ideas

If you’re looking for fun and unique date ideas, try one of these ideas:

  • Cook dinner powerless.  Get creative and plan a several-course meal without using any power.  You’ll practice your skills and maybe learn something new while you enjoy a delicious meal.
  • Go camping.  Spend a night or two in the wilderness.
  • Go fishing.  It’s a low-cost date idea, and you’ll have plenty of time to talk while waiting for the fish to bite.
  • Take a nature walk.  Look for wild edibles while you take in the beautiful scenery during your walk.  Depending on where you are walking, you may be able to forage for food to use to make a meal at home after your walk.
  • Go hiking.  Pack a lunch to enjoy on the trail while you practice your survival skills for the day.
  • Go to the range.  Practice your skills while you spend time together.
  • Make jam.  Go picking for fresh fruits and then use them to make jam to preserve.  You’ll have fun spending time together, and you’ll have delicious food to enjoy for months.
  • Build something.  There are several DIY preparedness projects that you can make at home.  

Finding someone who shares in your love for prepping and preparedness can be difficult because preppers don’t share that they are preppers.  Although there are not a lot of options for dating sites and apps, if you think outside of the box, you can meet like-minded people for companionship and hopefully love.

Other articles you may find helpful:

Prepping Your Arsenal for Personal and Home Protection

Prepping Your Arsenal? We all know that we are vulnerable to crime in our day-to-day lives. Staying prepared with the necessary tools and knowledge is the key to successful personal protection. Stocking up a proper arsenal for personal and home protection can be complicated, but there are some basic guidelines you should follow when deciding what items will best suit your needs.

Prepping Your Arsenal for Personal and Home Protection

When the SHTF, you will be more than happy that you have taken a few measures to prep your arsenal so you can protect not only your loved ones but everything else that you have prepped.

Stocking Up a Proper Arsenal

I’ve broken this down to five separate tips to try and keep it simple for you. Bear with me as some of these seem like more than one actual item.

Choose Guns with Common Calibers

Picking guns with commonly available ammo is a much better choice than choosing something obscure because you may not be able to find more of it around if you run out. Why is this important? Having a gun that you can use to protect yourself is important but being able to actually find ammunition for that gun if need be will make all the difference.

Even it if gets to the point where you have to swap with people to get more ammo – having a rare kind of caliber will make it difficult.

The last thing you want to do is to advertise that you have guns, have ammo, or even worse, that you are out of ammo and can’t protect your home.

Buy Sturdy, Quality Guns

If this is a hobby or something that you really want in order to protect yourself from day-to-day crime, then buy guns that will last for years and not need to be replaced every few months.

Prepping Your Arsenal

Try to buy guns that are made from quality materials and not cheap plastic or other breakable components. Your life may depend on it in the future, so you want a gun that is going to work when needed without breaking down easily.

Get Some Diversity in Your Arsenal

One gun won’t always do everything you need, preferably you’ll have at least three: a shotgun for hunting and defense, a rifle for ranged defense and larger game hunting, and a pistol for times you can’t carry a long gun.

The shotgun is the one weapon that you should have in your arsenal if possible.

Shotguns are great for self-defense because they can go through doors, locks, and other obstacles with ease – but also because of their widespread shot and how easy it is to hit someone at close range with them.

The rifle would be a perfect choice too as it can take out most of the smaller games and then have enough ammunition to be used for self-defense.

The pistol is a good weapon if you’re going into areas where long guns are not allowed, but it should never be your only choice because they don’t do as much damage as other weapons like shotguns or rifles would.

Prepping Your Arsenal

Don’t Choose Something Underpowered

Trying to fight off attackers with birdshot or a .22 rifle isn’t impossible, but using something like buckshot and a 5.56mm is much easier.

The first shot you take should do enough damage, and the criminals will know this as well. They’ll also know that they can’t get away with stealing your belongings because if it comes down to it, you would be ready to fight back or make a last stand.

Get Plenty of Practice

All that firepower is wasted if you can’t hit your targets. If you have no experience shooting, start off on a .22 and work your way up, then practice plenty with the guns you own to get a feel for them.

You should also practice regularly to make sure you are still on target and can use your firearms when needed to protect yourself.

If you don’t know where to practice, find a range or shooting club near you – some are even open to the public. A good place to start is to ask the gun shop that is selling you the weapon.

Often those places have someone who can give you hints and tips on how to use, clean, and shoot that weapon.

Prepping Your Arsenal

Proper Arsenal Maintenance is Key

Storing firearms and ammo improperly can result in them malfunctioning more often or even not working at all, which would be deadly in a sudden defense situation.

To prevent rust or even worse, you’ll want to make sure the guns are stored in a dry and cool place. Storing them inside of safes is also a good idea as it will keep children out of them more easily without needing an alarm system. Make sure that all your ammo storage containers are locked up if they have keys so that children can’t get into them.

If you don’t want to be tempted by the gun, then store it away from where you sleep. Storing guns and ammo together is never a good idea because that way they are more likely to get stolen or taken as well.

This should be your first step in preparing for personal and home protection – but you need to do more than just that! Stocking up on other weapons, ammunition, food supplies, medical equipment is all important too so make sure you take care of those as well!

If you follow these steps, you’ll have a proper arsenal for personal and home protection.

Other articles you might find helpful for protection and preparation if you liked prepping your arsenal:

Preparing Your Homestead for Survival: Don’t Overstock Your Homestead

Preparing Your Homestead for Survival: Don’t Overstock Your Homestead

Don’t leave anything dear to you

always a risk of things being stolen or lost from your homestead, so if it’s important to you, keep it at your regular home

Avoid stocking up too much food

(having food and water there is important if you have to be there in a pinch, but leaving too much food there may end up being a waste if it all goes bad)

Homestead pantry staples

Too many supplies can attract outsiders

(whether it be looters thieves, or even animals, lots of supplies and food in one location can attract a lot of unwanted attention while you’re away)

  • Many predators can be scared off (by making yourself look big and making noise, many predators will take you for something large and dangerous and not want to mess with you)
  • Know your local animals (if you have brown bears around and you try to use tactics that work with black bears, you’ll very possibly end up dead. Know the differences in your local predator populations)
  • Keeping Predators Away (things like fires will keep predators away from where you’re sleeping more often than not, as they’ve usually learned to fear fires)

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