The Bug Out Bag

Before I really get into zombies, I have to cover the basics. First I want to start with the BOB, or the Bug Out Bag. If you don't already know what this is, it's a bag packed with emergency supplies. Even though I'm writing this tongue and cheek, this one's very practical. For example, Hurricane season here in Florida just wrapped up. We've been very lucky the past few years to not have an absolutely devastating storm come through. In prior seasons my home has fared pretty well, but if it were the case I had to leave in a hurry it would be great to be prepared right?

This is where this comes in. A BOB, is your pack of emergency supplies for when you need to "Bug Out" quick. This is for an escape, evacuation. Don't think you're gonna live off of this more more than a couple days. I don't have one made up at the moment, but I'm going to pull out some supplies and gear to show you what I'd personally bring.

Firstly, your bag can be anything; whether it's a backpack, a rucksack, duffel bag or whatever. As long as it holds the supplies you need and is easily transportable then you're good to go. This here is my Fox Tactical 3 day assault pack in ACUPAT. An assault pack is a small bag designed to hold your essential supplies for short term trips. One of the things I like about this is the MOLLE system (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment, pronounced Molly). You can slap any number of attachments on there for extra carrying space like this canteen pouch on the side. This one also has a place for a hydration pouch which is an absolute must. I took this one on a 3 day FTX and got by just fine.

The number one thing on this list is water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Let me emphasize this for you. Hydration is the most important thing in your life. Hydrate. HY-FRICKIN-DRATE. Drink Water. I have a Camelbak here that I'd bring with me. I'd either strip it and place the bladder inside my pack, or wear it as is. Also as mentioned before I have the canteen pouch hanging off the side. Bring as much water as you can without being too excessive. (Not that you can be but for carrying purposes). You'll find a way to make it without your iPhone or a shower. I'd carry 1-2 gallons personally. Don't buy into the 8 cups a day deal. Your body likes water, and the second you start to become dehydrated, it panics.

Next I'd recommend a first aid kit. If something were to go wrong with you or a friend you'd be an idiot not to have one. What if you fell off of your bike and skinned your knee? Then you'd be bleeding, zombies would be on you like white on rice. A standard first aid kit is fine, but additional items I would bring would be any medicine you personally need such as allergy meds and additional things like tylenol, aspirin etc. You can grab these off of the internet at a number of places. Heck they even make kits already packaged to work with a MOLLE system! Type in "tactical first aid kit" in Google and you'll see what I mean.

The next thing you want is some food. Non-perishable items are better. MRE's (meals ready to eat) work great. A few at most would work, remember this is evac not long term. I hate MRE's though. I find them disgusting. A lot of people, like Tonion in the previous entry geek out about MRE's. Now and then they're not bad. When you eat them for an extended period of time, they're disgusting. My first MRE experience was, "Hey! This is pretty good." The last MRE I ate was, "Oh God, this is disgusting I never want to eat again." MRE's back you up too just a word of warning.

Hygene! Bring an extra change of clothes, and whatever products you need. For males deodorant, baby wipes and dental. Ladies, see the previous and y'all know what y'all need.

So the last thing I'm going to mention are the few miscellaneous things. Batteries, flashlights, tools, knives, etc. Whatever you think you need. Remember this is a light pack, you're not going to be living out of it. Paracord is one thing I'd bring. Good for securing things, plus you don't know when you need something like this! 550 Paracord is rated for a 550lb breaking point. Dig it. Lastly, one thing I own which I love is this waterproof bag. Put your items that cannot get wet inside of it, then stick it in your BOB. You'll thank me later.

There are plenty of articles online and plenty of people dedicated to things like this, so I'm certain someone has covered this subject much better than I have. I just hit the basics. Let me know what you think in the comments. Pretty soon, I'm going to start showing some cool things like conducting recons and we'll shoot some guns for you. :)

It's for zombies..

I'm a walking oxymoron. I enjoy spending my days around people, but goshdarnit if I'm not antisocial. I like movies that make me examine man's morality, especially the deep questions. Of Mice and Men is one of my favorite books, and I really enjoyed the movie adaptation. You can watch it for enjoyment, but when you begin to pick apart the story you find so much of a deeper meaning. Stating that, I find enjoyment from Michael Bay films. Transformers was one of my favorite series of films. I enjoy mindless robotic violence, but I also grew up on Transformers.

I've come to terms that I'm a rather complex individual. Naive in the ways of life, yet I carry a mature wisdom you wouldn't find with most people my age. But with all my complexities I like it simple. I have a few close friends who I trust emphatically, and like to limit the things that draw my time. So for such a simply-complex individual like myself, I have a rather eclectic list of hobbies. One of them being shooting.. Some people don't like guns, and some people LOVE guns. Me, well, I love them. Either way I respect everyone's opinion. BUT there's one thing I don't wrap my head around. I can just anticipate all the right-wingers now in there head "Liberals... Liberals.. SAY IT!!" Nope, I'm cool with them. I find it easy to get along with everyone even when we have some very different opinions.

It comes from my camp, Gun Lovers. I was in a local gun shop a few weeks ago looking at Glocks. I love Glocks very much. I think most people that know my firearm preferences will tell you I'm hardcore Team Glock. The Austrians make a phenomenal machine. But to my left is a rather large individual. He's got me beat by a little less than half a foot (I'm 5'9" so I'm not exactly a short fella). He does have me beat in girth as well. This man must have weighed well over 400 lbs. Given the frame of reference though he'd probably weigh about 200 skinny. We'll call him the Texas Tonion (like the Longhorn appetizer). This man looked like he had Callofdutytude, in other words he buys guns and likes to talk about combat and fighting because he's compensating for something; in the same sense he's all talk and obviously no walk.

I get a good look at him and I see good ole Tonion is probably a few years older than me, no more than 25. At no point in his life has this man had military experience the way he's talking, but I hear him talking to the salesman behind the counter who's rather eager as he realizes he's about to make a bunch of cash off Tonion. I kid you not, he's getting two AR15's styled like M4's. If you're not familiar with these, the M4 is a variant of the M16 platform. An AR15 is a civilian variant which only has semi-automatic firing capabilities. The M4 is more "functional" version of the platform and allows more customization and well.. function than the M16 due to the rail systems. Like the Daniel Defense here to the right. Very nice gun, they did a great job with it.

Now brand new high quality to milspec civi M4 is going to run you about 'fiteen hunnerd. So he's at $3000 before tax. Tonion then begins to pick out the standard accessories, like foregrips, railguards and extra magazines. So I'm gonna put him at about $3500. I'm curious at this point to this man's reasoning then I hear him ask the salesman, "I want each gun to serve a different purpose, so I'd like to start with this one. This is gonna be my CQB (close quarters battle) gun. What kind of sight would you recommend?"

WUT. What did this man just ask the salesman? I'm trying to contain my laughter. I can see this man at home when his mother is gone. He's decked out in tactical gear. Running from room to room playing counter terrorist.

"GET ON THE GROUND NOW!!!" he'll yell to the dog. "OH MY GOD THIS IS JUST LIKE CALL OF DUTY!" So the salesman pulls out some red dot sight about $500. 4 G's now before taxes. I no longer have a reason to be in the store. I was window shopping but I start looking at accessories, holsters, stuff I just don't need. I was attempting to avoid detection while eavesdropping on this exchange.

Wait for it... "This one is going to be my zombie gun." Now, there's a joke in the gun community. Most will recognize they have firearms that don't serve a practical purpose, it's just owned for sport. One does not NEED a full auto MP5 for home defense, but owning and shooting one is fun. As long as you're responsible I don't very much care what you own. So for these and others a lot of us would say, "for zombies" in a tongue and cheek manner. But Tonion kept a straight face, and I could tell he was being serious.

What was my reaction? "What an idiot.." Nope.. Well yes, but not in the manner you'd think. My real response, "Tonion you fat sad man, you're an idiot of you think you're going to survive zombies. You have little chance." Why? Because Tonion's life experience does not exist outside his parent's home and community college.

So I dedicate this blog to zombie survival, limited gear reviews, and general humor. Just because. Tonion if you're reading this, grab a pen and paper and write this stuff down. Theinternet won't be here when zombies come.