Top 3 Hacks for Packing Your Survival Gear

Run! Sometimes that’s the only answer to life-threatening situations. At this point, there’s no telling what type of state the country will be in a year from now… or even in months. Complete anarchy? War? Rebellion? A collapsed economy? One can never really tell… Not to mention, there’s always the threat of the next big natural disaster, which can leave every man and woman to fend for themselves with what packing gear they have on them.

Regardless of what danger pops up next, it’s important that you are ready and prepared for the unexpected. Let’s review three effective tips for packing your survival gear in a bug-out bag or your car trunk.

Picture Source: The Bug Out Bag Guide

Tip 1: Kill Several Birds With One Stone. For those who love to over-pack, it’s time to tone it down. Practicality is our first main focus when packing. Items with two or more purposes are what you want to add to your bug-out bag or car trunk in case of emergency. Here are a few easy examples of how you can apply this:

• Clothes and Blankets: Experts suggest packing clothes and blankets for protection and warmth. Convertible, zip-off pants for adaptability and cargo pants with plenty of pockets for carrying items are two great examples. Other items can include working gloves, boots, thermal underwear and a waterproof jacket lined with fleece. In other words, pack strategically so that you will always find yourself at a comfortable temperature regardless of the weather conditions.

• Tools and Gear: Duct tape is versatile, so it can be very handy for emergencies. It can be used to repair a tent, to create a sharp weapon or even used to create a splint for injured limbs. (mini duct tape rolls) A few other great items to consider are superglue (seals small cuts and repairs broken equipment), aluminum foil (water containment, mirror signaling and food preservation), trash bags (rain gear, containers, homemade insulation blanket), mini binoculars (great for scouting food if hunting, and locating friends and foes), and bandanas (eye patch, dusk mask, ear muffs, sling).

Tip 2: Every Inch Counts. It would be great if, in an emergency, you could just pack up your whole house and take it with you. But it’s not that easy. With limited space in your bug-out bag or car trunk, you have to be strategic and creative. Here are a few quick tips for compacting items.

• Packing Tip 101: Roll your clothes instead of folding them. It takes up less space.

• Fill Your Shoes: Pack socks and any small items inside your shoes.

• Protection: Slip any breakables into your socks before packing them.

• Reuse Bottles: Reuse old medicine bottles to store cotton swabs and sponges that can be used for cleaning wounds.

• Case for Chords: Use an old sunglasses case to keep all of your electronic cords and charges in.

Tip 3: Easy Access. Another thing to pack in your bug-out bag is common sense. If packing an actual backpack, all of the less frequently used items should go at the bottom of the bag. Meanwhile, the heaviest items should go closest to your back, with the lightest items farthest from your back. From there, the most used items (maps, guides, cameras) should be placed at the top of your back.

The same concept applies to packing a car trunk. Keep things such as your tents, tent poles and sleeping bag deepest in your car trunk. Keep clothes and daily essentials more accessible, as you will need them more often.