essential items 1st

[Guest AMERICAL]

:tinfoil:Pards: I need your help in starting a survival list, just in case. I've gone through the posts, and there is a lot of supplies to be had. Besides a weapon(s), what is the first thing to purchase? I am on a fixed income so I would have to purchase items as extra funds become available, thanks for your help.

[MacGyver]

I'll post a link to a good thread on this following this post. On my iPhone, so going backwards and forwards is tough. Start with level I so that you always have something on you and move up to level III.

Survival gear is just like your carry weapon. If it's sitting at home - it won't do you any good when it comes down to needing it. Man has an incredible capacity to survive - but a little gear goes a long way. If you are going to stare down the reaper and send him packing, you have to be prepared.

My kits are broken down on a graduated basis as opposed to just a bugout bag - what if I'm not at home when it all heads south. I need to have some gear on me as appropriate for any occasion.

These kits are broken down into levels pocket, I, II and III and are fully 'stackable' That is, if I've got Level III, then I also have Level II and I.

Here they are:

Pocket kit - this stuff goes everywhere - everyday - to church, the grocery store, wherever - this is what goes in my pockets:

Multitool (currently Leatherman Skeletool CX), Knife with locking blade (backup is good - currently a Benchmade axis folder - a big knife can do a little knife job, but not vice versa), small lighter, small flashlight (Streamlight Nano is AMAZING), lip balm, space pen, phone, wallet, carry weapon - usually IWB

Level I kit - this should fit into a cargo pocket comfortably - some people like an Otter box or something like that. If you are old school, this is your tobacco tin kit. Both are too bulky for me, so I fit it in one of those wallets for kayakers that looks like two heavy ziploc bags and folds in half. Contents:

· Flint Rod and Scraper – 1 ea.

· Butane Lighter – 1 ea.

· Betadine – 10% solution ½ Fluid Ounce Bottle -1 ea.

· Signal Mirror – 1 ea.

· 24 Fish Hooks & Split Shot

· Large Fish Hook – 2 ea.

· Spool of Tripwire – 1 ea.

· Sewing Needles (Large Eye)– 3 ea.

· Fishing Line (10-12 lbs.) – 40 ft.

· 550 Para Cord – 20 ft. 2 ea.

· Eze-Lap Diamond Sharpener – 1 ea.

· Space Blanket – 1 ea.

· First Aid Kit – Personal

· Button Compass – 1 ea.

· Fuel Tabs (Hexamine)– 2 ea.

· Freezer Bags – 2 ea.

If I'm actually in the field then my other cargo pocket usually has a MS2000 rescue strobe, a MSR steripen, a better compass and a Garmin Etrex loaded up with the maps of the operating area. If I am in a more civilized area, the Level I kit goes on the inside pocket of my suit coat and the extra gear in my briefcase along with a bigger light and some extra AAs. Both make it through magnetometers at the airport fine - the kit is so crowded it just shows up a one mass - that or the fine folks manning it just don't get paid to care.

Level II kit - carried in a small (500 cu. inch) ruck or buttpack - Always in the car. I'm always stuffing things in here. Thus, there are always some extra goodies, but the contents always include:

· Insect Repellent

· 550 Para Cord – 50 ft. - (You really can't have enough)

· Ranger Sighting Compass

· Flashlight (larger LED light plus LED Headlamp)

· Dehydrated Sponges

· Mini Cable Ties – 50-75 ea.

· Commercial Game Snares – (4 ea. Small, 1 ea. Medium)

· Animal Scent Lures

· Fishing Kit

· Small Frog Gig

· Sun Screen

· Hygiene Kit (Campsuds, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Small Roll AP Paper)

· Clear Plastic Trash Bags

· 9 Hour Candle – 1 ea.

· Medium Fixed Blade Knife

· Notepad (Waterproof) with Pencil

· Tubular Webbing – 1 Inch, 15 ft.

· Carabineer (Locking)

· Sling Rope – 15 ft.

· Mini Chain Saw

· Emergency Bivy (AMK makes a great one that's cheap)

· Trioxane Fuel Tabs – 4-5 ea.

· Emergency Strobe

· Global Positioning System

· VHF Radio with Weather Bands

· Extra Batteries – 6 ea. AA, 3 ea AAA

· Leather Gloves with Liners

· Watch Cap

· Rations – 2 Day (3 High Protein Myoplex bars, 3 Gatorade, Peanut Butter, Bullion Cubes, Tea Bags, Sugar)

· Nalgene Canteen (1 Liter) – 2 ea.

· First Aid Kit (Rapid Deployment Kit)

Level III kit - carried in a small assault ruck (~1500 cu. inch) - this one is for when you know that you might be stuck out for a while - I guess this one qualifies as the 'bugout bag' - and for me, it's truly that - by the time we get here, things have seriously headed south

· Water Purifier

· Game Snares – (3 small, 2 medium, 2 Large)

· Utility Pot

· Military Fuel Tabs – 5 ea.

· Gortex Pants and Jacket

· Nalgene Canteen – Large

· Sling Rope – 50 ft.

· Hydration System

· Large Fixed Blade Knife

· Small Shovel

· Whetstone

· Gortex Bivy

· Poncho Liner

· Stove with Fuel

· One pair clothes - matched to mission, environment, season

· Extra Socks

· LRP First Aid Kit

· Pistol with Extra Magazine

· Ammunition (matched to objective, but typically 40 ea. Hollow Point, 10 ea. Shotshell)

· Rations – 3 Day (5 High Protein Myoplex bars, 5 Gatorade, Peanut Butter, Tea Bags, Sugar, Bullion Cubes)

Beside the Level III kit is a Sabre Defence M5 with an EOTECH 552 - I occasionally think that I need to swap this out for something that draws less attention, but keep coming back here. It's fast, light, and if it really heats up, I know it won't let me down.

Parting notes -

Unless you have a specific mission need, ditch the military surplus gear and go commercial. It's generally lighter, faster and a lot more comfortable. That said, some of the companies selling new military, tactical gear make great stuff - BlackHawk, Tactical Tailor, etc...

[MacGyver]

Try this thread.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/survival-skills/14085-your-go-bag.html

[Guest SUNTZU]

First thing I would do is plan to spend $5, $10, or more dollars a week to your grocery list and start adding canned goods. Keep track of the expiration dates. Use a sharpie and maybe duct tape to label expiration date. Rotate your stock. Buy stuff that you actually eat. There is no need to try and get it all at once. It adds up pretty quickly.

Do you have a .22? Buy as much ammo for it as you can. I think its the most useful weapon for foraging. I don't know how you are fixed for firearms, but think of cleaning supplies as well.

Are you mobile? Do you have relatives or a place to get to if your home is gone? Make copies of your important documents and keep a set in a bugout bag. I have a large ALICE pack, but any backpack will do in a pinch. You're starting out, so don't go overboard.

You need to be able to store water. You can get Aquatainers from Walmart. I figure two gallons a day per person for drinking, preparing food, and cleaning. That's not a lot but adds up room and weight fast.

Do you have camping/cooking gear for when the power is out?

You can order mylar bags and oxygen absorbers to use with buckets and lids to store long grain white rice and beans for quite a while. Rice will last a long time stored properly and is a good addition to a lot of meals.

I see you are 62 and have military service. May I ask what branch and when? And thanks for serving.

[Guest Arko]

Holy crap. I'm just starting to gather stuff too, and that all seems overwhelming in terms of time to gather and money. Guess I'll start slow and cheap.

[Guest AMERICAL]

First thing I would do is plan to spend $5, $10, or more dollars a week to your grocery list and start adding canned goods. Keep track of the expiration dates. Use a sharpie and maybe duct tape to label expiration date. Rotate your stock. Buy stuff that you actually eat. There is no need to try and get it all at once. It adds up pretty quickly.

Do you have a .22? Buy as much ammo for it as you can. I think its the most useful weapon for foraging. I don't know how you are fixed for firearms, but think of cleaning supplies as well.

Are you mobile? Do you have relatives or a place to get to if your home is gone? Make copies of your important documents and keep a set in a bugout bag. I have a large ALICE pack, but any backpack will do in a pinch. You're starting out, so don't go overboard.

You need to be able to store water. You can get Aquatainers from Walmart. I figure two gallons a day per person for drinking, preparing food, and cleaning. That's not a lot but adds up room and weight fast.

Do you have camping/cooking gear for when the power is out?

You can order mylar bags and oxygen absorbers to use with buckets and lids to store long grain white rice and beans for quite a while. Rice will last a long time stored properly and is a good addition to a lot of meals.

I see you are 62 and have military service. May I ask what branch and when? And thanks for serving.

SUNTZU: Thanks for the advice: I served in the Army 1966-1973, Vietnam Vet, Americal Division, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, Duc Pho, Quang Ni areas.

[Guest Arko]

SUNTZU: Thanks for the advice: I served in the Army 1966-1973, Vietnam Vet, Americal Division, 11th Light Infantry Brigade, Duc Pho, Quang Ni areas.

Thank you all for your service!

[Guest AMERICAL]

I'll post a link to a good thread on this following this post. On my iPhone, so going backwards and forwards is tough. Start with level I so that you always have something on you and move up to level III.

Survival gear is just like your carry weapon. If it's sitting at home - it won't do you any good when it comes down to needing it. Man has an incredible capacity to survive - but a little gear goes a long way. If you are going to stare down the reaper and send him packing, you have to be prepared.

My kits are broken down on a graduated basis as opposed to just a bugout bag - what if I'm not at home when it all heads south. I need to have some gear on me as appropriate for any occasion.

These kits are broken down into levels pocket, I, II and III and are fully 'stackable' That is, if I've got Level III, then I also have Level II and I.

Here they are:

Pocket kit - this stuff goes everywhere - everyday - to church, the grocery store, wherever - this is what goes in my pockets:

Multitool (currently Leatherman Skeletool CX), Knife with locking blade (backup is good - currently a Benchmade axis folder - a big knife can do a little knife job, but not vice versa), small lighter, small flashlight (Streamlight Nano is AMAZING), lip balm, space pen, phone, wallet, carry weapon - usually IWB

Level I kit - this should fit into a cargo pocket comfortably - some people like an Otter box or something like that. If you are old school, this is your tobacco tin kit. Both are too bulky for me, so I fit it in one of those wallets for kayakers that looks like two heavy ziploc bags and folds in half. Contents:

· Flint Rod and Scraper – 1 ea.

· Butane Lighter – 1 ea.

· Betadine – 10% solution ½ Fluid Ounce Bottle -1 ea.

· Signal Mirror – 1 ea.

· 24 Fish Hooks & Split Shot

· Large Fish Hook – 2 ea.

· Spool of Tripwire – 1 ea.

· Sewing Needles (Large Eye)– 3 ea.

· Fishing Line (10-12 lbs.) – 40 ft.

· 550 Para Cord – 20 ft. 2 ea.

· Eze-Lap Diamond Sharpener – 1 ea.

· Space Blanket – 1 ea.

· First Aid Kit – Personal

· Button Compass – 1 ea.

· Fuel Tabs (Hexamine)– 2 ea.

· Freezer Bags – 2 ea.

If I'm actually in the field then my other cargo pocket usually has a MS2000 rescue strobe, a MSR steripen, a better compass and a Garmin Etrex loaded up with the maps of the operating area. If I am in a more civilized area, the Level I kit goes on the inside pocket of my suit coat and the extra gear in my briefcase along with a bigger light and some extra AAs. Both make it through magnetometers at the airport fine - the kit is so crowded it just shows up a one mass - that or the fine folks manning it just don't get paid to care.

Level II kit - carried in a small (500 cu. inch) ruck or buttpack - Always in the car. I'm always stuffing things in here. Thus, there are always some extra goodies, but the contents always include:

· Insect Repellent

· 550 Para Cord – 50 ft. - (You really can't have enough)

· Ranger Sighting Compass

· Flashlight (larger LED light plus LED Headlamp)

· Dehydrated Sponges

· Mini Cable Ties – 50-75 ea.

· Commercial Game Snares – (4 ea. Small, 1 ea. Medium)

· Animal Scent Lures

· Fishing Kit

· Small Frog Gig

· Sun Screen

· Hygiene Kit (Campsuds, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Small Roll AP Paper)

· Clear Plastic Trash Bags

· 9 Hour Candle – 1 ea.

· Medium Fixed Blade Knife

· Notepad (Waterproof) with Pencil

· Tubular Webbing – 1 Inch, 15 ft.

· Carabineer (Locking)

· Sling Rope – 15 ft.

· Mini Chain Saw

· Emergency Bivy (AMK makes a great one that's cheap)

· Trioxane Fuel Tabs – 4-5 ea.

· Emergency Strobe

· Global Positioning System

· VHF Radio with Weather Bands

· Extra Batteries – 6 ea. AA, 3 ea AAA

· Leather Gloves with Liners

· Watch Cap

· Rations – 2 Day (3 High Protein Myoplex bars, 3 Gatorade, Peanut Butter, Bullion Cubes, Tea Bags, Sugar)

· Nalgene Canteen (1 Liter) – 2 ea.

· First Aid Kit (Rapid Deployment Kit)

Level III kit - carried in a small assault ruck (~1500 cu. inch) - this one is for when you know that you might be stuck out for a while - I guess this one qualifies as the 'bugout bag' - and for me, it's truly that - by the time we get here, things have seriously headed south

· Water Purifier

· Game Snares – (3 small, 2 medium, 2 Large)

· Utility Pot

· Military Fuel Tabs – 5 ea.

· Gortex Pants and Jacket

· Nalgene Canteen – Large

· Sling Rope – 50 ft.

· Hydration System

· Large Fixed Blade Knife

· Small Shovel

· Whetstone

· Gortex Bivy

· Poncho Liner

· Stove with Fuel

· One pair clothes - matched to mission, environment, season

· Extra Socks

· LRP First Aid Kit

· Pistol with Extra Magazine

· Ammunition (matched to objective, but typically 40 ea. Hollow Point, 10 ea. Shotshell)

· Rations – 3 Day (5 High Protein Myoplex bars, 5 Gatorade, Peanut Butter, Tea Bags, Sugar, Bullion Cubes)

Beside the Level III kit is a Sabre Defence M5 with an EOTECH 552 - I occasionally think that I need to swap this out for something that draws less attention, but keep coming back here. It's fast, light, and if it really heats up, I know it won't let me down.

Parting notes -

Unless you have a specific mission need, ditch the military surplus gear and go commercial. It's generally lighter, faster and a lot more comfortable. That said, some of the companies selling new military, tactical gear make great stuff - BlackHawk, Tactical Tailor, etc...

MacGyer: Thanks for the Info: What is 550 Paracord and where do you find it?

[nightrunner]

security (guns, knives)

shelter (not just a house but a tent or similar, ideally have a bug out location)

food

water

water filtration ( your supply will run out sooner or later)

tools

communication

transportation

fire source

clothing

personal hygene

those are the basics, expand on those exponentially

[MacGyver]

550 Paracord is the cord used for rigging parachutes in the military. You want the mil-spec stuff as opposed to hardware store variety twine or cord because it has sever individual inner strands that can be separated from the outer core and used independently for fishing line, light lashing, traps/snares, etc... Most gun shows will have that guy in the back that has it. It is also available online. I buy it by the spool, as it's like duct tape - once you have some it's easy to find uses for it.

[MacGyver]

Don't let the amount of stuff get to you. I and many others have built our kits over time, and used or replaced almost every item in them as we've experimented or gone through different trials. Start with the basics, and build up from there.

What you can carry in your pockets is what you are going to have available most of the time. Start by making sure you are squared away there. The intent is that if you were to find yourself stuck with only what you have on you, you should be able to get back home.

Each level kit builds up from there. If I have a cargo pocket, or am carrying my briefcase, my level I kit rides along. If I'm in the car, level II is there, etc...

Couple that with having adequate preparation at home, and you should be pretty well off for most situations As Suntzu said spending an extra $5 on non-perishable foodstuffs and drinking water is a great idea, and one that is neglected by almost everyone. My kits are structued the way they are because I spend a lot of time in the field. We are prepared at home to last for a while, though.

The LDS folks have one thing right, in that they teach their believers that they should have one years worth of provisions for their family at any time. That may be a lofty goal that takes real planning and maintenance, but it's a great goal to reach for.