New Study Reveals How Many Lbs Is "Too Much" For Your Bugout Bag?

[@christisking1193]

That ready hour kit takes 1.4 gallons of water to process, which means carrying more water or trying to source water and risking opsec. On a bugout I do not want to be building fires, shelters or trying to boil and source water.

[@hertechprep]

That's my main issue which is why I packed 2 MRE's. It adds weight along with the water but really no other option.

[@jeffgibson6164]

A majority of the folks who watch these videos are north of 50. Many have a lifetime of wear on them and are no longer as mobile as they once were. Even 26# is going to put a serious strain on a bad back or knees. Whatever you build, try it out.

[@veloxversutusvigilans4133]

Even those south of 50 if they've never carried heavy loads... they will over estimate their ability and under estimate the toll heavy loads take on fatigue levels and the toll they take on your feet (especially if you are wearing poor or new footwear). You can invest all the money and time you want into your gear... but if you aren't investing time and sweat into your fitness your building a house on foundation of Twiggs.

[@Warrior]

@@veloxversutusvigilans4133 Couldn't have said it better myself. Too many people build out this giant bag that's ready to go... and never actually strap it on to make sure it fits comfortably and they can carry the weight farther than their mailbox. Whenever we set out on a road march, our first break would be done early just for a quick adjustment of our gear so we didn't have to wait for an hour to get that nagging gizmo to stop poking us in the left kidney every time you step off on your right foot. hahahahaha.

[@veloxversutusvigilans4133]

@Warrior Life yeah its a pain lol. Too many chasing the latest greatest... only caveat there is buying a newer lighter version of a staple... the only thing I care to spend money on is footwear and cold weather gear.... after that... I'm cool with searching for quality on a budget...

[@jacqikohler4756]

Us north of 50 are very creative making something of nothing. I’m broken beyond repair but I survived lots in my life and I put my bob on wheels 😂

[@redstone1999]

@@jacqikohler4756 A garden wagon or a sled (if in winter). Have a hauling sled that fits my mini van. Not designed for summer hauling, but can be used for hauling a deer out of woods. The wear & tear on runners is worth the price of saving the body. I use a $ 25 garage sale kiddy's plastic wagon to haul stuff uphill and downhill from the gardens all the time. I extended the pulling handle to make it less stressful on body. As we age, the old saying of " Work smart, not hard. " carries a lot more value to us.

[@niesaforster9945]

Yup. My bag is pathetically heavy for a woman my size with my health. Yet I do train with it, keep it looking grayman, and have gone up mountains with it. Upgrades now focus on weight and bulk.

[@hertechprep]

Same here thats why I'm glad I found this video but I need water in my bag so I don't know what to do.

[@belligerentprisoner1959]

I walk with my bag to and from work every day. It helps to get used to it and change the contents when the season requires.

[@Warrior]

Great action BP! So few preppers ever wear their bob for anything past their living room so this is a great way to say "Warrior-Ready" and also adjust your bag's comfort points to reduce fatigue. Nice work! (I also think you'll appreciate the next 3 podcast episode streams I have coming up! 😉

[@christopherforster7293]

Sol sells a breathable bivvy, a poncho that doubles as a tarp is also readily available from multiple companies, wool clothing for cold and/or wet areas, snow peak sells titanium cups that hold fuel and a cooker in conjunction with mountain house for food in a small package, a water filter and 2-3 liter hydration bladder. Along with Mystery Ranch 45 liter Bridger along with a Silky saw and main knife. Total weight with water and other misc items 32 pounds.

[@nathanguilliams7255]

Freeze dried food makes no savings in weight if you do not have access to water. So now you are carrying more water. You just put the weight somewhere else. Also you have to have a way to boil water to reconstitute it. The MRE can be eaten cold. Every one you eat makes your load lighter.

[@LovingIdaho]

My bug out bag is around 40 lbs . It is for 2 adults and 2 dogs . I weigh 210 and have hiked over 300 miles with the bug out bag on . Just right for us .

[@Warrior]

#badass! Glad to hear you've put this much thought into it LI! Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@LovingIdaho]

@@Warrior , I have changed it and changed it many times in the last 40 years .

[@Warrior]

@@LovingIdaho Never stop improving, eh? Hallmark of someone who's looking at their gear for the functions it provides rather than a "trophy" or talisman! Inspirational, LI. Quick question (if you're willing to share)... what's ONE piece of gear you used to think of as useful, but eventually changed out to something else (and why)? I'd love to get some insights into the biggest lesson you've learned about a specific piece of gear from your years of experience.

[@LovingIdaho]

@@Warrior , biggest lesson ? Use your gear quite a few times . If it wont last , find something that will last .

[@treyconnor1859]

You sound like nun fancy

[@ThomasSapp]

This is great advice and I agree with your main point of being conscious of what you are carrying, however, IMHO, the main issue with most videos about bug out/in bags, I.N.C.H. bags, get home bags, etc is that they rarely recommend doing field testing. You need to take your bag and go for a 3-day hike/camping trip to see if what you have works or not. Even just going for a 5-10 mile hike with the bag will give you enough information to know if the weight is too much or if you need to replace/remove items. Another thing that you have to take in to consideration is what level of comfort are you willing to deal with? Me personally, I could ditch a lot of the creature comforts and go for the much lighter options that you mention here but I know some people are not willing to sacrifice a comfortable tent or sleeping bag. These types of things need to be taken in to account when building any type of emergency supply pack or setup. Again, these are my thoughts on the subject and I am always open to constructive criticism and discussion! 😊

[@Warrior]

All great points Thomas! I cover some of these in other streams/videos but I'll be focusing on these more in-depth over the next 3 weeks of streams I have planned. Really appreciate your input and experience! Thanks!

[@dr.galemyers147]

I agree with most of what you advise. I have a larger heavy bag with a smaller detachable bag. If I have to ditch my transportation I can take the light bag. It has everything I absolutely need.

[@outdoorslifesurvivecraft5078]

Great video. I'm glad someone is touching on this. It really helps, especially for people that are new to this kind of stuff. It gives then a different perspective on things. As a prepper, a bushcrafter and a survivalist, I see a lot of redundancy in peoples packs. 4 or 5 kinds of flashlights. 10 ways to start a fire. 2 or 3 other bags you can use to stuff other things in as you find them along the way. Or my favorite, a lightweight hatchet, a small saw, a small shovel, 2 fixed blade knives, 2 or 3 lock blade knives and a multi tool or 2. And of course all the extra things people carry to stay warm with while sleeping under a wool blanket, if they have no tent. As for a sleep system goes, my whole system fits in a sustainment pouch from my Molle 2 rucksack.Believe it or not, I have a tarp, 1 man bivy tent, wool blanket, fleece sleeping bag liner, inflatable matters pad, inflatable pillow and some paracord. Yeah, most of that is luxury stuff. However, I love this setup because I can attach it to my bushcraft slingbag and go out to the woods for a few days with it. I think that most people over think it and sometimes it hurts them. Like as in, I need a tool for this, a tool for that and all the what ifs. I need a backup for my backup. Better take another one just in case.

[@catherinewatson9234]

I like your set up

[@outdoorslifesurvivecraft5078]

@@catherinewatson9234 Thank you. I actually have 4 bags I set up depending on where, how long, what season and if it may storm or not.

[@phillipnunya6793]

Your kit would work for warm weather, but what about cold weather? A poncho and mylar blanket will not be enough for any real cold before it starts getting risky. Even with lots of clothes and jackets, any moisture buildup could quickly be an issue.

[@podsmpsg1]

I definitely wouldn't have sleeping gear in my bag. I also wouldn't have any food that requires cooking, I'd have protein bars instead, I can eat them with one hand, they provide enough calories and other nutrients, etc.

[@spatialinterpretations449]

It is not a military mission bugging out, there is no time limit, also there are very may options to get a carrier (bicycle, wheelbarrow, furniture trolly, hunting cart beach cart..). One is not going into a hot conflict when bugging out. It is more stealth and creeping around not seen. As a prepper you have your ear to the ground and leave early.... The more skills one has the more gear one should take:: why because you have the skills to use the stuff.. Ponds == Pain, dying of starvation is pain.

[@cherokeefit4248]

People have to accept you either have a bugout bag or a ruc sac. Each have different purposes and weight. Obviously the ruc is going to weigh more and if shtf happens and it’s that bad, you’re going to be rucking a lot. Best get in peak physical fitness or not make it.

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

I view it as the complete opposite.. a ruck is a basic kit for hiking over a terrain for a short pre decided amount of time where one can skim down the pack cause they will have resupply.. A bug out kit is for an undetermined situation for an undetermined amount of time.. therefore one has to carry more stuff cause you don’t know when you’ll be able to resupply or what you’ll encounter..

[@WillieMakeit]

Bug out/get home AND ruck sac

[@jesusmartinez4094]

I am going to do a dry run to see what works what I did use. I am 50 +

[@granitejeepc3651]

your assuming that these bags are being carried on back by foot......I've bugged out several times over 50 years due to hurricanes, fire, volcano, civil unrest etc. and no matter how bad each one was I carried bag from living room to vehicle then from vehicle into bugout location...never carried more then 100 meters....in the end if you need to shed weight then you ditch the excess...not a big deal or problem

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

That’s entirely not the premise of a bug out bag.. on any condition where you’re still be vehicle mobile then the best option would be to hunker down and fortify one’s home first.. only after the home falls would you bug out and at that point vehicle transport makes you a huge target with limited range.. you’ll not want to be on any road or even a common trailhead at that point.. so you’ll be carrying all your gear on your own unless you have horses or some other animal to do it for you..

[@ianslaby5703]

Have you ever hiked long distance in an alicepack or similar backpack with and without the frame? I have. It's like night and day. Those 2 lbs of weight are significantly worth the comfort. It adds rigidity to the pack, the gap between your back and the frame allows airflow and If you utilize the waist belt, it properly distributes the weight partially onto your hips. It has utility after you get to a second location for transporting loads without a pack. The frame is non negotiable. If you want to go for a pack with a simpler and lighter frame, that's fine, but removing the frame altogether for the sake of weight management is shortsighted.

[@michaelc.2599]

Want a more realistic, lighter weight approach check out long distance hikers, or "thru hikers" loads. Take it to the next level and check out ultralight long distance backpacking. Hiking the PCT changed my pack needs forever. Love the chanel, love the book!

[@Warrior]

Yeah, totally agree. I've learned a LOT from long-distances ultralight hikers. The other "boots on the ground" experience! hahaha

[@brixalpha]

Completely agree, these through hikers have put gear through thousands of miles, at days, weeks, months at a time and have sussed out what works and what doesn't. I have been watching a lot of ultralight hikers recently and their stories and experiences I find very valuable when it comes to picking out gear and what really matters in my pack.

[@Grizz_Bane44]

Not gonna lie i made a INCH bag. Its about 56 pounds. Ive went through it over and over again trying to take out whatever i can, but it is what it is. Its to sustain me out in whatever environment for months. its equipped with everything from hunting and foraging and trapping, tools for shelter building, major hygiene (washing clothes, showers, and lots of shits) problem is I rash easy so theres rubs and ointments and treatments i have to take or I might as well stay home cuz ill die from a skin infection. (Sucks I know) but back to the bag, it has a robust cooking and filtration section as well. Fire kit too. Small sleep system and clothes for both season extremes. A couple of gadgets and thats it nothing fancy but shit adds up. Like ya said. But I dont have a bug location to call my own and i live near Houston so im not staying home so its gonna be quite a trekk to my wifes uncles house. Could take weeks maybe even months to get there. Im not bugging out for anything less than totally collapse and obvious societal breakdown. Otherwise so by then i wont care to leave my house behind. So yeah Its weighty but im strong as hell and pretty darn fit too so ill take my chances with a heavier bag.

[@WillieMakeit]

Sounds like my kit. And weight. I made a kids stroller 3 wheels into a carrier. Spray painted camo, bought extra intertubes and a bike pump. I can put ammo extra dry food, dog food,, extra long arm. Even put the Ole lady on it if need be

[@veloxversutusvigilans4133]

It's a situation where more is not always better. Someone who's carried 50lbs over 13k in full battle rattle will understand this and the wear and tear it puts on your body and definitely your feet. If you can lighten the load... you'll be better off.

[@Warrior]

Amen!

[@libertycoffeehouse3944]

I like your video but a sleeping bag is important. It will take you 10 minutes to figure out in 30 degree weather that emergency bivy is worthless. Aegis Max has a sleeping bag just a little over a pound.

[@BushcraftEurope]

There is nothing more important then having a proper knife. Everyone knows that. I won't scrape tinder with machete. Also sleeping sistem. Tarp is a must, light, hammock is in my gear also. And no need for sleeping bag if I will be going around in summer. Just a simple under jacket will do. Folds to nothing, weight almost zero. I can only agree on food rations in this video. It's better to have a proper knife rather then machete, axe and a showel. Hope it helped someone seeing that heavy Maglite, that I also own, but never in my bugout or camping gear. There are superlightweight single AA batteries flaslights. That would save a pound.

[@Warrior]

Thanks for commenting Abenico. I carry a super small fixed blade on my belt for simple things (like cutting paracord, etc.) and it could also be used for scraping tinder. However a machete will still do that just as well. Also, I would only make a fire if life-dependent, but that's a whole other story. For sleeping system, tarps are overkill in my opinion, and too heavy. These mylar tube tents are so so small and the newer versions have grommets for anchoring corners. Far smaller, lighter and just as effective as a tarp in survival conditions.

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

I’d argue that as one would be bugging out for an undetermined amount of time one would need to prepared for all seasons. If conditions were to ever reach the point where you have to leave your home then it’s more or less a permanent and new reality of life type thing.. I live in Florida but I’ll be lacking all the wool I can.. at the time of having to big out I’ll have no idea why I have to.. where I’ll be trying to go, what that climate will be like.. for how long I’ll have to do it.. or if there would be any trading ecosystem along that path.. by the time one has to bug out all the worst thing possible have already happened and then some cause it’s 10c better to wait out almost any situation in your own home then to take limited resources on foot in an unknown environment and location.. by the time it gets that bad you’ll be wanting to be as prepared as possible for everything in terms of basic day ti day living.. imop where most bob tail is the premise you’ll need firearms and be loving some sort of red dawn type situation.. more then likely that was while you still had a roof and shelter.. when bugging out it will be about survival not security.. But a proper knife is a must. And it needs to be small enough to carry and large enough to batton wood and a blade lateral that is easy enough to sharpen while not being too soft as to bend easy.. it’s pretty hard to beat a basic kabar steel knife for all of these lol.. I like the dog head hilt cause it doubles better as a hammer if needed.. i laugh ar those who are putting all these high end ss or 405 steel or other composite big end blades in systems.. they are great for day to day stuff.. but the metal is too hard to sharpen with primitive methods and the material is wrong but brittle and susceptible to breakage with improper use.. knife making for general use is not what most petiole think.. the more basic materials are much better then the higher end ones for this..

[@kuntekinte6246]

I agree with these 72 hour load outs I see people pack. I mean come on three days? I still pack the same when I was younger as I do today. E tool , 4×6 tarp, extra socks and change of clothes,bar of soap,an IFAK, one sleeping bag, 6×6 plastic sheet, a couple of lighters, a folding saw, two bandanas, two bar towels,fishing line with hooks, one knife, 32 oz.container, .22 rifle 1,000 rounds. That's it and could last a month easily if necessary never weighed it but it can't be no more than 15-20lbs max. Eat all my food on a stick.

[@slickwillie3376]

One idea I've been tossing around is making custom items out of thin light weight plastic such as hay tarp. This material can be easily cut into pattern pieces, and the pieces "welded" together into custom ponchos, tarps, etc. A little experimenting would reveal a lot. The mylar material may have similar possibilities.

[@johnny56g]

I found your information to be very useful, the bonus being you didn’t try to push any gadgets for me to purchase that were given to you to sell to us. That being said I subscribed.

[@BobanMisevic]

Dress appropriately for weather, bring rain coat, Swiss Army knife ,strap handgun and 5 magazines, toothbrush, toothpaste,soap, wet wipes, put 5-10 k in cash in your pocket, 3 credit cards, get into your suv with full gas tank and drive away 1 week ahead of the event. Worked for me every time😂

[@keysersoze1537]

Bugging in is my thing biggest thing I did was actually move rural around farm lands I do have bug out gear for me and the family because you just never know, however everything I can cut weight off from I do slowly have upgraded to lighter gear because I don’t want to be held down and tired faster by weight of gear. Great vid great points

[@vickvelez1869]

Finally! Someone who speaks my language.

[@Wodens-Wolf]

Great video very informative, thank you.

[@raphmaster23]

I was one of those who grabbed some fruit and stuff at the chow hall. Maybe some jerky and one of those tuna and crackers, when my nco told us to grab an mre for lunch. I just didn't like the way I felt after eating an mre. I also was at fort drum and attached to Triple Deuce from 2012 to 2015.

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

Mre’s are scientifically based to keep one’s immune system working at 100% for an extended period of time.. that said they are one of the worst calorie per weight items one can pack.. two mre’s equal one sea ration brick which is something like 30x calories.. but as bad as mre’s can be to eat sea rations are sooo much worse lol.. it’s like eating straight lard in density and with zero flavor.. rations and peanut butter are the best combo.. it makes the rations edible in taste cause I don’t care how hungry you are you’re not eating sea rations lol.. but they are the most dense per weight calories you can lack out.. second to that is nuts and peanut butter..

[@KatilinaWRaven]

I would say interms of drinks other than water is to replace your Gatorade and stuff with pedialyte. It does the same thing but with way less salt, and if you need to have more water, watering it down doesn't make it taste bad.

[@HardcoreFourSix]

I am a retired Mortarman..as you might guess, my spine and lower extremities are all jacked up. Ounces = Pounds and Pounds =Pain/injury, and reduced effectiveness.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

I’ve been about weight for 15 years. My guess, with all of these kits on KZbin, is nobody ever Carry’s this stuff 😂

[@kevinboock7143]

I think 1 major oversight or misdiagnosis is that ppl will be hiking. False, most ppl will use a vehicle to get to a destination. If you have to hike, you can drop items to lighten the load. Additionally, most SHTF situations aren’t going to involve fire fights. Of course each situation is unique but not every situation is total anarchy. Just my humble opinion. With that said, thoroughly enjoyed the video. Just another view point for the comments section.

[@calibos3329]

I think it's rediculous to think in an actually SHTF situation you could find yourself in, you'll be driving. Think about it... One accident on the road can back up traffic for miles and hours. Now imagine a situation where you cannot get Gass, everyone is leaving at once, and there are no services to keep the traffic flowing - think hurricane conditions but possibly 10 times worse. You're foolish if you're plan on relying on a vehicle to get you where you're going.

[@redstone1999]

@@calibos3329 Vehicle Bugging Out is phase 1 of a bug out. The core is still the manageable backpack for foot travel.

[@zerokool-2058]

I see bugging out different. I believe you need to carry the basics. She keep it lite. Movement is survival.

[@marckuskane]

I built a 10 lb kit for my 68yr old mom that is manageable for up to 7 days. Could extend it to 14 days if she manages it. She lives 12hrs away so that should be plenty of time for me to get there. I have spent an extensive amount of time teaching her to use everything in the kit. I have also taught her how to improvise if need be. Always train with your gear,dont just have it and not use it.

[@sterlingwelch4528]

Only the new guys carried the full load. We left everything we knew we would not use.

[@a45456565]

Thank you😺

[@canadafree2087]

Gear light, food heavy. You can't eat your gear.

[@caroleecole3140]

GREAT VIDEO! I'm in the process of getting Bug Out Bags together for myself as well as my family members (who are all in denial) and I'm at a point where I could see the mass of stuff was going to be too much for any one person to carry and I was considering splitting the "stuff" between the bags, but then we would be too dependent on each other and could have problems if someone got lost or couldn't continue. I like your suggestions and I think I can get down to a smaller weight now, BUT: I'm also a Floridian and DO NOT LIKE TO SLEEP WITH THE CREEPY CRAWLIES, any suggestions to offset the creepy crawlies at night....PLEASE!!!

[@Warrior]

Thanks for commenting Carolee... a few things... I'm not big into trying to convince those in denial - just leads to arguments, even within the family. hahahaha. However, there's a great documentary that was just released this week with Dennis Quaid that will scare the pants off of ANYONE about how fragile our society is and how close we are to collapse. No tinfoil hat stuff... It's a GridDownPowerUp.com so I suggest checking that out and maybe that will convince them? (Super scary!). For the creepy crawlies, in Panama, there were all kinds of nasties on the ground. Snakes, tarantulas, giant armies of leaf cutter ants, etc. We would ONLY sleep in a hammock (in fact, it was military issued to use for this reason). I follow the same advice here in Florida. Many are super light and compact so maybe give that a try. 🙂

[@brailwolf]

Not only is it the weight you carry ,but the balance of the weight in your pack . I've seen peoples bags with a full size axe and hatchet . Me I carry a kukri knife instead , redundancies add to the weight you are carrying. Ounces lead to pounds, pounds lead to a whole lot of pain . Weigh your pack then go through it again to reduce your weight you will be carrying.

[@3106ghost]

Sir the frame does not load you too far away… most mor modern interior frame systems have ….SPACE FOR VENTILATION… their is a geographic difference also…flat land it better to be higher up, mechanical advantage, but internal frames are better for going up inclines through grown in foliage, the automatic assumption was wrong, MISSION SPECIFIC LIKE YOU SAID.

[@elijahhughes6455]

I went on a moose hunt with a large Alice pack that was only 34 pounds and it destroyed my back because I had to go through willow and crawl and lean to get through because the ergonomics were bad for the environment my back got so bad I couldn’t stand I had to take pain killers to just stand up

[@smiledr69]

Where can we buy an xbob bag?

[@garycase1790]

My son was in 10th Mt Division

[@theplaguedoctor_topic1067]

Great advice I only carry a 24hr pack my rush 24 by 511 and have compact and lightweight gear probably the heaviest thing I have in my bag is my HDR 24hr ration these people who carry 72hr bag are in trouble because it's alot more heavy than my 24hr bag they will always teach this in a survival school the one I went to taught us our bag should weigh under 15 to 20 pounds personally I go less than that so my advantages are greater but I also still have the gear food and water to keep me alive for 24hrs more than enough time to scabage if need be

[@thomgizziz]

Thanks for the explanation of average, Einstein. SMH

[@thomgizziz]

Yeah calling others tacticool when the bag infront of you is a camo alice bag... dude pull your head out.

[@thomgizziz]

5 minutes to get to the point? SMH

[@jeh966]

No study know what i can do