How heavy should a survival bag be?

Thru-hikers and backpackers use the general rule that your pack should be no more than 1/4 of your body weight.

primalsurvivor.net - Cut Weight from Your Bug Out Bag with These Tips - Primal Survivor

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It is exciting to pack your first Bug Out Bag. You know you are taking steps to secure your and your family’s safety. Pat yourself on the back! You should feel good about what you are doing! But let’s get serious for a minute: the contents of your bag are what you will be relying on in an emergency survival situation. If just one item is missing, it could mean death. But, if you pack too much, it could make your pack too heavy and slow you down… which could be a disaster in itself. That is why this post is going to be about how to cut weight from your survival backpack. If you don’t know what to pack in your BOB, check our bug out bag list. BUG OUT BAG CHECKLIST Get organized fast with our completely free checklist. Download Checklist

The Ideal Bug Out Bag Weight

It might seem small and lightweight when you first pack your survival bag. But I urge you to carry that pack around with you for 5 hours.

Does it still feel light?

Now I encourage you to put it on and try to run with it. How is that going for you?

Thru-hikers and backpackers use the general rule that your pack should be no more than 1/4 of your body weight. But backpackers don’t need to flee, run, or hide. So, a Bug Out Bag should be even lighter! I was able to get my Bug Out Bag down to just 22lbs without having to sacrifice any comfort or gear. Here are some tips on how you can get your pack lighter too.

Every Ounce Counts!

Growing up, my dad always took us backpacking. He cut the handle off of his toothbrush to cut back on weight. At the time, I thought he was crazy. It wasn’t even an ounce! But now I realize that there are just 16 ounces in a pound. If you cut one ounce from 16 items, you’ve shed a pound from your survival pack! Here are some of the ways you can shave ounces from your gear:

Cut off your toothbrush handle or buy a camping toothbrush

Use toothpaste powder instead of toothpaste

Cut the edges off of your maps

Cut the labels off your clothes and gear (seriously! This all adds up!!!)

Tear covers off of any guide/survival books you carry

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Remove the cardboard from toilet paper

Repackage sunblock, bug spray, etc., in plastic bags or smaller containers

Repackage medications in plastic bags instead of the prescription bottles

DRILL HOLES IN STUFF. Seriously. If you can drill a hole in something without destroying its functionality, do it!

You Don’t Need That Many Clothes

I’ve seen some people pack 3 days’ worth of clothes in their survival bags. I know that we sometimes call them “72-hour bags,” but it doesn’t mean you’ve got to have clothes for 3 days! All you need is ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHES. And this is only in case your original set of clothes gets wet. You don’t die if you wear the same underwear for 3 days in a row. The one exception to this rule is socks. I always bring an extra pair of socks with me.

Having wet feet means you are going to get blisters.

Blisters mean you won’t be able to stay mobile well.

Immobility could be your death.

So I pack two pairs of wool camping socks (or other fast-drying socks) in my survival bag.

Pack the Right Survival Food

One of the biggest mistakes I see with Bug Out Bags is that people load them with canned food. Yes, canned food does have the benefit of being nonperishable, but it is heavy as heck! It is also usually loaded with water, which means lots of extra weight. A 16oz (1lb) can of beans only has about 300 calories, which is only about 1/6 of what you should consume in a day. You’d have to pack 18 cans of beans – 18 lbs – to feed yourself on canned food for 3 days. First, let me clarify: YOU DON’T REALLY NEED FOOD IN YOUR SURVIVAL BAG! The human body can go up to a month without food. But no one wants the stress of being hungry when SHTF, so go ahead and pack some survival food in your pack. Just make sure you pack the right stuff!

When choosing survival food, look for these qualities:

Caloric Density: Divide the number of calories by the number of ounces. You want to find the foods with the most calories per ounce. Nuts are particularly good. So is jerky. Divide the number of calories by the number of ounces. You want to find the foods with the most calories per ounce. Nuts are particularly good. So is jerky. Dehydrated or Freeze-Dried Food: Did you know you can dehydrate foods like refried beans, pasta sauce, and even marmalade? With the moisture removed, you can carry a lot of dehydrated food without a lot of weight. Did you know you can dehydrate foods like refried beans, pasta sauce, and even marmalade? With the moisture removed, you can carry a lot of dehydrated food without a lot of weight. Fast Cooking: If food has to cook for a long time (like dried beans or rice), you will have to carry more fuel and water. Instead, choose foods that can be made instantly, like these instant survival meals (Amazon Link), which are cooked in the pouch by adding boiling water.

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Here’s a list of the best bug out bag food.

And here’s some more in-depth information on emergency food.

Swap Your Tent for a Tarp

A tarp is my ultimate favorite multipurpose survival item. You can make a survival shelter with just a tarp and some paracord. Want to learn how? Read this post about survival shelter designs. A tarp can also be used for multiple purposes, like collecting water and making a stretcher, as a signal. You can even throw out your backpack (which probably weighs 5+ pounds) and make a Yukon Pack out of your tarp instead! Simply swapping your tent for a tarp could save 1-6 pounds from your pack (depending on the weight of your tent).

Choose Multi-Function Gear

Do you need a spoon and a fork when you could just pack a spork? (Amazon link)

Today, there are all sorts of multi-function survival gear available.

For example, don’t bring an emergency radio, flashlight, and charger when a gadget like this (Amazon link) does all three things.

Knowledge Instead of Gear!

With the proper knowledge, you won’t even need any gear to survive in the wilderness or a disaster situation.

Don’t wait until a disaster happens to learn survival skills.

Now is the time to learn skills like how to make your own water filter, how to make a lean-to shelter, how to identify edible plants, how to eat bugs for survival…. How much does your bug out bag weigh? Let us know in the comments.

primalsurvivor.net - Cut Weight from Your Bug Out Bag with These Tips - Primal Survivor