
A baseball cap to fend off the sun and a winter cap for warmth.

Several pairs of surgical gloves for first-aid use and a pair of tactical gloves for hand protection and warmth.

Wearing it over you and your VBOB keeps both dry and conceals your VBOB from envious eyes. Ponchos also make great improvised shelters, ground cloths and additional layers for added warmth.

These amazing Mylar blankets are about the size of a pack of cards when folded and weigh only a couple of ounces. They hold heat very effectively and are also great for signaling and catching rainwater.

A simple cloth can be used as a do-rag, a neck wrap for warmth, a dust mask, a water filter, a sling for an injured limb, etc.

The large lawn-and-leaf-style bags with drawstring closures make great dry bags for the contents. Cut holes for your head and arms and you’ve got improvised raingear. Put one over each leg and you’ve got emergency waders to cross a stream. Fill them with crumbled newspaper or dry leaves for insulation and you’ve got a survival blanket.

Invest in a good LED flashlight with low and high settings so you can use only as much light as necessary but still have the power to signal from a distance.

Twelve-hour chem-lights are great for lighting the interior of your car or other shelter. Clipped to you, they allow you to be visible on dark roads. Tied to a short piece of cord and swung in a circle, they make great signaling devices.

Keeping your hands clean and germ-free is still a priority.

This amazing bottle features a built-in, two-micron filter that removes 99.9 percent of aesthetic, microbiological, chemical and dissolved solid contaminants. That allows you to draw water from questionable sources, yet drink it with complete safety.

This can be used to pre-treat water before putting it in the Seychelle bottle or to store clean water after filtration. Clear bottles can also be used for solar disinfection, i.e., using the sun to kill microorganisms in the water.

Useful for heating/boiling water to make coffee or tea, and to scoop or collect water.

Paper coffee filters are a simple way of filtering out particulate matter from natural water sources and getting the water into a bottle.

Although primitive fire-making skills are cool, a lighter gives you fire on demand.

Vaseline-smeared cotton balls, dryer lint, or similar quick-lighting tinder make the fire-starting process much easier.

Knowing which direction you’re going—or need to go—is a useful thing.

The shortest, and safest, route between point A and safety might not be your usual driving route. Get an actual topographic map and learn to use it with your compass.

Military parachute cord can be used as is or “gutted” to remove its internal strands.

One of the greatest do-everything resources, it’s also great for securing improvised splints on injured limbs.

In addition to the usual Band-Aids, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape, get some hemostatic pads like QuikClot Sport, some Z-Fold Gauze for wound packing, compression or Israeli bandages, and a good tourniquet. You should also have a pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen, an anti-diarrheal like Imodium and some Benadryl to cope with allergic reactions.

Concentrate on lightweight, individually packaged foods that store well in extreme temperatures. Examples include military MREs, chicken or tuna in foil pouches, protein bars, nuts, crackers, etc.

Added to water in your clear bottle or cup, these provide a source of B-complex vitamins that will increase your energy. They also improve the taste of your water.

These are great for keeping the elements of your kit well organized. They can also be used to keep unfinished food fresh and for the solar method of water disinfection.

Clean socks and underwear help you maintain personal hygiene. Take care of your feet, especially when they’re your primary transportation.

One of the most useful and versatile tools on the planet, it’s great for everything from removing a splinter to improvising shelter.

The other most useful tool on the planet. Make sure to get a quality brand with good needle-nose pliers/wire cutters.

A lightweight but capable fixed blade is an invaluable tool that can double as a defensive weapon.

Focus on a good supply of small bills. Include some change in case the buses are running or you find a vending machine.

Top the battery off with a vehicle charger before you leave and have either a solar charger or an external battery to keep it going. Bring the AC charger as well and top off every chance you get.

Yes, it’s bulky, but once you’ve had to improvise you’ll never want to be without it.

You may have to defend yourself and your gear. Have the tools to do it effectively.










































5 Ways To Load Up A Bug-Out Bag With Your Survival Items
The purpose of a vehicle bug-out bag (VBOB) is to allow you to survive for a short period of time—roughly three to five days—during a period of temporary turmoil or while you’re making your way to secure shelter away from the turmoil.
While all good bug-out bags should share common elements to satisfy several basic needs, the exact contents of your kit should be determined by the situations you are most likely to encounter. You should follow a similar logic in planning your vehicle bug-out bag (VBOB) and adjust the contents accordingly.
Vehicle Bug-Out Bag Additional Items
You should also supplement your VBOB with additional items stored in your car, but not necessarily in the bag itself. For example, if you typically wear a suit and dress shoes to work, but need to be prepared to walk 10 miles home, keep extra clothes and appropriate shoes in your car.
Here are some items for consideration when making your vehicle bug-out bag.
Sign-up today!
I have read the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy, and I hereby agree to those terms. For purposes of clarity, I consent to Athlon's collection, storage, processing, and transfer of my Personal Data and Non-Personal Data (as defined in the Privacy Policy) for the purpose of signing up for the email newsletter.
DIY: How to Build a Three Tiered, Raised Garden Box (plans included)
Tight on space? Hit the strawberry or herb trifecta with these plans for a...
by J. Wayne Fears / Jan 8, 2019