Prepare, Adapt & Overcome
Planning a successful Bug Out is complex and should never be taken lightly.
Below you'll find Skilled Survival's best bug out related articles laid out in a systematic approach.
We'll share all of our best articles in the following bug out topics:
Editors Note: Before reading on, you might want to take a second to bookmark this webpage. Putting together a successful Bug Out takes time.
You'll want to come back to this page often as you progress towards your ultimate goal of creating the perfect bug out plan.
Plus, we update this page often as new articles are published.
It all starts with finding a good bug out location. Here are our in-depth articles covering this topic in detail:
While this article does not cover bug out locations specifically, it's looking at the safest regions in the country to relocate or bug out to.
It including the following strategic factors:
This article provides important factors to seek out and ones to avoid when scouting out bug out locations.
Plus, it gives specific examples of how to find and purchase an actual bug out property in your chosen region.
A must-read for anyone actively pursuing a remote bug out location.
Once you've got a location locked down, you should spend time planning and preparing it to sustain you when the time comes to use it.
This article covers all facets of finding and creating your own survival retreat.
It including:
This article deep dives into the nitty-gritty of planning a bug out location or homestead for long-term survival.
It covers:
After you've figured that out, you need to research information on good bug out bags and also decide what gear to put in it.
Selecting a poor quality bug out bag can put your entire bug out in jeopardy. But what features and specifications make for a quality bug out bag?
That's what this article is all about.
Plus, at the end of this article, we give you our best bug out bag recommendations.
This is our flagship bug out bag gear article.
It's one of our most popular articles on our entire site. Why? Because it provides a high level of detail to help you build out your perfect bug out bag.
We not only tell you what gear to put into your bug out bag but we take the time to tell you why you should add it. Because the why matters more than the what.
This article is NOT about building a bug out bag, it's about building a get home bag.
Most people leave their bug out bags at home, ready to go in an instant. But what if you're all the way across town with SHTF? What if the freeways are on lockdown and you have to walk home?
Everyone and I mean EVERYONE, should have a get home bag. It's a smaller bag with some key survival supplies to help you get back to home base.
This bag build is the opposite of the get home bag, it's an INCH bag. I.N.C.H. is an acronym that stands for I'm Never Coming Home.
So it's a huge bag that you pack with survival gear that will allow you to live off the land. To live a nomadic survival life after a widespread collapse.
This article is for those who are serious about getting out of dodge and staying on the move permanently.
Most peoples bug out bags end up being way too heavy. Why? Because it's hard to stop adding useful survival gear.
As you build your bag, you keep thinking of more and more gear you want to take with you. But all that extra gear comes at a heavy price.
So this article provides target bug out bag weights and tips on how to reduce your load.
Here's another bug out article on weight management.
One of the best ways to figure out what you really need and what you can leave behind is to go camping.
But not car camping or RV camping, to go minimalist camping.
Documents are not sexy and they're not exciting.
However, for emergency survival situations, they're critical.
So this article tells you all the critical documents you should take with you when you bug out.
You'll also need to work on your actual bug out route paths - which must include at least one back up route. Your routes should include strategic rest locations with natural water sources.
Not everyone can relocate to a safe region of the country today. Instead, you may need to bug out from an urban city.
This is a must-read article if you're bug out plan includes leaving a large urban environment.
High-density urban environments add an extra level of danger when SHTF. Getting out takes a unique set of escape and evasion techniques.
A survival cache is a bundle of survival supplies you hide for future use.
This bug out article provides all the necessary skills related to utilizing survival caches along your bug out route.
It includes critical information such as were to bury a cache, how to bury a cache and what survival supplies to put in a cache.
This topic is for anyone who plans to bug out OR stay put. But if you intend to drive to your bug out location, you sure as hell better have a fuel storage plan.
One that includes stockpiling enough fuel to get to your bug out location. Don't assume you'll be able to fill up before you leave or while on your route.
If the grid's down and all hell breaks loose, gas stations will not be online.
Maybe bugging out on foot is not an option or not your first choice. Now what?
You should consider some alternative bug out transportation options.
I'll be honest, bugging out on foot sucks.
As an avid backpacker I know it's slow, it's tedious and it's an insane workout, especially if you're talking days of walking.
So why not bug out with a vehicle? Heck, a vehicle is my primary bug out choice.
Sure, you need a backup plan in case vehicle travel is not an option, but if it is, then you need a bug out vehicle up to the challenge.
If you plan on having a bug out vehicle it only makes sense to pair it with a bug out trailer.
A trailer allows you to bug out with a ton of survival gear and supplies.
Getting a bug out vehicle/trailer setup in place is not cheap. But for those who can afford it - it's an ideal bug out setup.
Another smart alternative bug out option is using a bike.
Now doing this right takes some serious planning. You need to get a bike worthy of bugging out and deck it out with saddlebags and a small pull behind trailer.
For some people, a bug out bike makes a lot of sense. Don't knock it until you see some of these bug out bike setups.
Finally, we have several articles related to specific bug out gear and food we recommend you pack.
These items will give help make your bug out more efficient and up your odds of success.
Survival shovels are excellent multi-functional survival tools. They can dig, chop, cut and many also have other survival tools built-in as well.
Tools such as fire starters, saws, compasses, etc.
Making them a smart choice to add to your bug out bag.
Every bug out bag should be packed with a few calories. But there's a lot of options for adding food to your bag.
We think Mountain House is the best option, here's why...
First, freeze-dried food has an extremely long shelf life and its lightweight. Both of those factors make Mountain House a wise choice.
However, what makes Mountain House better for bug out bags than other freeze-dried meal companies is its pouches.
You can cook the food (by adding boiling water) right in the pouch itself.
This saves you from having to pack a separate stove which saves you precious weight.
Most people think some future widespread emergency will be full of chaos and excitement. But the reality is, there will likely be a lot of downtimes.
You need a plan to deal with boredom- so you should stash a set of playing cards in your bug out bag.
So get a deck with useful survival information on them.
Again, you may want to take a second to bookmark this webpage. Putting together a successful Bug Out takes time and is never 100% complete.
You'll want to come back to this page often as you progress towards your ultimate goal of creating the perfect bug out plan.
Plus, we update this page often as new bug out articles are published.
I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying,
“Never bring a knife to a gunfight?”
And while it holds a seed of truth, it’s an incomplete and misleading statement.
There’s more to it than that.
Sure, I get the point it’s trying to make; how dumb it would be to show up to a gunfight with just a knife (and without a gun).
No arguments here – that would be stupid.
However, you should absolutely show up to a gunfight with a gun AND a tactical knife.
Here’s why: [Read more…]
The Ultimate Guide To Inflatable Fishing Boats
When I was a kid, our fishing options were limited.
We could fish from the bank or drag our old aluminum Jon boat from the barn out to the pond.
And if our aspirations took us farther than the farm pond, we had to get help.
It took at least two strong adults to lift the boat to the top of my parent’s minivan and strap it down for the ride.
Once we arrived, it was time to wrestle the boat out to the water.
By the time we finished loading and launching, we’d made enough noise to scare all the fish in the lake.
Every time, I thought, “there has to be a better way!” [Read more…]
The Ultimate Guide To Building, Finding, and Deploying Survival Shelters
There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
And they’re even more ways to find, build and deploy survival shelters.
But only if you know what you’re doing.
In this guide, we show you our 10 favorite simple-to-build survival shelters.
And we don’t just show you, we teach you with how-to videos.
So in this article, we’ll cover the following survival shelter topics: [Read more…]
The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Portable Stove For You
A portable stove is both lightweight and compact.
We’re talking light enough to transport from place to place with ease.
The critical word here being; “ease.”
Sure, “technically” you can move your kitchen stove, but not with ease.
Portable stoves are the kind you can pick up, pack, and store in a vehicle or backpack without hassle.
For it to be genuinely”portable,” it must be extremely small and lightweight. [Read more…]
Investing in a tactical watch shouldn’t be about looking cool.
(Although that is definitely a side benefit).
It’s about wearing a real piece of survival gear.
It’s a legitimate tactical device.
One that’s ready deploy at a moment’s notice.
The uses of a tactical watch go way beyond merely telling time; especially newer models.
The latest ones are full of sensors and technology.
The best tactical watches are small wrist computers.
They provide critical data in survival situations or outdoor adventures. [Read more…]
Everyone should carry at least one non lethal weapon.
Yes, even if you already carry a firearm.
Why? Because not every conflict calls for a lethal response.
For example:
Does a pickpocket deserve a bullet in the head?
Sometimes a non lethal weapon is the right answer.
It’s a calculated means to deter, intimidate, or stop a threat.
Or maybe you just don’t want to carry a gun. In this case you need a different method for protection. [Read more…]
The Complete Guide To Finding And Using A Ferro Rod
A spark is an insanely powerful thing to carry in your pocket.
For most of human history, starting a fire was an epic and important challenge.
It was no laughing matter. It was serious for survival.
To combat this challenge, ancient travelers would carry embers around with them.
Because it was far easier to start a fire with a smoldering ember vs creating a new one.
After all, using stones to knock out a spark IS NOT EASY.
Nor is using a stick to pop an ember out of a plank of wood. [Read more…]
Call it what you like –
Medical Kit – First Aid Kit – Survival Medical Kit
The name doesn’t matter.
What matters is you have one in a time of need. And it’s ready at a moments notice.
Ready when misadventure strikes.
If you’re unprepared to handle a medical emergency, things can quickly go from bad to worse fast.
Having a functional medical kit is essential for survival.
That’s why everyone needs to build or buy a medical kit. [Read more…]
How To Find The Best Water Filter For Survival
If you had to list the most critical resources in your survival plan, water will always be in your top 3.
Just think about all the ways you use water in your daily life:
These are tasks we perform EVERY single day!
Now imagine for one minute, it’s gone. Taps dry…
You couldn’t flush your toilets. You couldn’t bath.
But more importantly, you couldn’t quench your thirst. [Read more…]
The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Neck Knife For You
Before sheaths and folding blades, our ancestors had to come up clever ways to carry a blade.
Back then carrying a sharp blade without getting stabbed was a real trick.
One clever and timeless solution to this ancient problem was the neck knife.
By tying some cord around their blade’s handle they could wear it around their necks.
A safe bladed weapon close at hand.
It’s both a simple and brilliant. [Read more…]