I’m the first to admit when I’m wrong…
So when any reader, listener, or viewer of our tips disagrees with a viewpoint, I LOVE to take a second look at my own plan to see if they have insights I may have missed.
That’s what happened this week when one of our livestream viewers, Dean Nocerini, took an alternative position on my stance on the topic of “get home bags” as part of your survival gear plan.
Well, Dean hasn’t changed my position… but his viewpoints are common “sticking points” for a lot of preppers out there so I took this as an opportunity to respond to his main arguments…
… and hopefully change his mind – and maybe yours – with some deeper explanations of “why” this advice can save your life in a disaster, collapse, or other crisis.
Responding To Listener Feedback On The Great “Get Home Bag” Debate
Here’s What You’ll Discover In This Week’s Episode:
- The absolute worst place to leave your bugout bag.
- One simple trick to keep your bugout bag hidden from prying eyes.
- How to know how many bugout bags you need.
- The easiest way to make yourself a target during an emergency.
- And much, MUCH more!
Hope to see you next week in Cl
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HMN
Jeff,
I have a “get home bag” that I keep in my truck in case I get stranded.
Aside from this, part of my edc I wear a multi pocket vest that contains a lot of my survival gear.
In my vest alone I have my pistol and extra mags, a small blow out trauma kit, fire making gear and a lifestraw. With what I have in my vest and in my pants pockets I should be able to get back to my vehicle where I have my food, water, AR7 survival rifle, and other gear to get me home to my big bug out bag.
I would need to get home to get my wife and kids since they are usually not with me when I’m out and about.
I should mention at this time that I am 69 and disabled.
Walking 1/4 of a mile is a challenge for me, and in the rural area I live in might be 20 miles from home. I rely on my vehicle to provide shelter as well as transportation.
As you said in your podcast that everyone’s situation is different, I just thought I would give you an idea of mine
I enjoy your podcasts so keep up the good work!
Tug B.
Bosun USMM Ret.
There’s so much emphasis on guns. What should people do who are in countries that do not allow carrying guns?
Look into “improvised weapons.”
Thank you for all of the help and information, and I do not think that you are wrong, but maybe, incomplete. Here is my question hoping for additional info. Everyone has different situations and different environments, but I can’t help but wonder how long do you normally keep any food in your vehicle, even if it is your survival food, I am sure that hot weather can shorten the useful life, before you need to cycle it out with fresher food?
JS
You are correct on food, meds too. I keep the main bag in the car but have small modular bag/s for perishable goods that go with me when I leave the vehicle.
I have concerns about those who are either not wealthy enough to have access to a vehicle, (one car per household and the other person uses the car) or live in/near a big city, and so uses the bus or the train to commute to work. Such a person has to have a bag that is more than an EDC, but less than a Bug-out bag.
Personally I put together a basic Bag of inexpensive gear in a normal backpack when I first started preparing years ago. This is the bag I keep in my vehicle and if it gets stolen it’s not a big deal because it was inexpensive. Over the years I’ve acquired more premium gear and that’s the bag that I keep in a more secure location. So, besides my EDC I typically have easy access to survival gear that will get the job done until I can get to a Bugout location.
Really appreciate such great insight and commentary. Like you, I hardly ever see any camo bags out there. I do see people wearing camo attire, but not back packs. Thanks again!
Retired law enforcement officer. Breaking into vehicles and stealing the contents is a common occurrence. A car prowler will usually either walk down the street trying door handles looking for an unlocked vehicle (many people leave their vehicles unlocked) or use a rock or simple tool to break a window. Very few use a device or tool to defeat the door locks. Once inside, they quickly search the vehicle looking for items of value and are in and out in under a minute. Most do not systematically search the vehicle and just simply grab anything of value in plain view (back pack, computer, bags, clothing) and search the glove box. They often sort through the loot at a different location and discard anything that is not of value (you may find some of some of your property dumped nearby). A car thief wants your car for simple transportation or to facilitate other crimes (shoplift, drug deal, robbery, etc). In either scenario, you are going to lose your stuff. Tip 1. Park in a well lit, open area. Tip 2. Hide your valuable or hard to replace bug out bag gear. A lot of what you have in your bag is inexpensive and not worth protecting. Remember, most car prowlers don’t want to spend a lot of time in your car. Where to hide: on the floor under the seats, attached with bungee cords to the underside of the seats, in the trunk, under/in the spare tire (if inside the vehicle), interior walls on some vehicles can be easily removed (plastic snaps) and offer open spaces for storage, create a false floor in the trunk. Tip 3. I like Jeff’s idea of hiding the bag in an unattractive box. Consider adding a false bottom and then placing junk on top to reinforce the illusion that it has no value. Leave the top of the box open so they can see there isn’t anything worth taking. Tip 4. Invest in a car safe. Many fit into the center console storage area. While any safe can be defeated eventually, in my experience the average car prowler doesn’t carry a lot of tools with them and breaking into a safe takes time they don’t have. Tip 5. Use a cable and lock to secure some of your property to a hard point on your vehicle. This doesn’t have to be a gigantic lock and chain. I use a cable trigger lock. Tip 6. Document, including photographs, the valuable property in your bag to give to your insurance company. Tip 7. Mark your valuable property so you can identify it later. You would be surprised how much property we recover. Some departments loan out tools to do this. Final thought: Will some of them take your car apart and search it thoroughly? Yes. No absolutes here. However, these tips may tilt the odds in your favor.