I’d always known that war was going to break out sooner or later.

Despite the advantages that come with living in a community, I always thought I’d be safer living out on my own.

I wasn’t interested in joining the Saviors and participating in their barbarism. I wasn’t willing to kiss the ring over in The Kingdom.

And as for the Hilltop tribe or the people living over in Alexandria, I knew it was only a matter of time before they would be drawn into an all-out war.

The Saviors had been pushing their luck. Because of their numbers, they started to believe they were untouchable.

Out of my desire for self-preservation, I kept out of those communities and conflicts. But now, it’s getting harder and harder to avoid.

To survive these kinds of hellish scenarios, facing starvation or slaughter between warring factions, it is essential to pack the right supplies.

Here, as I rest in the backseat of an abandoned car, I’m writing down some of the things I’ve learned when building my bug out bag to survive the post-apocalypse.

These tips have served me well:

CHOOSING A BAG

First of all, you’re not shopping for a Gucci.

Your bag should be easily gripped and easily hidden.

It should be small enough to make maneuvers, whether dodging walker herds or scrambling over fences.

I suggest a bag with comfortable straps and not those cheap, school-bag cords that will cut into your skin during a 50-mile hike.

Use a comfortable rucksack, small, but spacious with plenty of pockets.





Pockets should provide quick access to knives, guns, energy bars, cords, water, lighters, or grenades.





Stay lightweight; you could opt for a chest belt to even out the load.

CLOTHES

I’ll tell you now; you need socks. Lots of socks.



A sturdy pair of water-repellant boots and durable sneakers.



A couple pairs of pants. Don’t wear shorts and leave your legs vulnerable to walker bites.



A couple shirts, one long sleeve and one short.



Long Underwear.

You also need several pairs of underwear; don’t tell me you don’t get rashes in awkward places when everything starts to rub after twenty miles.

If you can find some talcum powder, take it. It’ll help.

FOOD

A rifle for shooting game would be the best food provider in other circumstances. The problem is that gunshots will draw unwanted attention from survivors as well as the dead.

If you’re not as fortunate as Daryl Dixon to have a crossbow and great aim, you might want to develop your trapping skills. Snagging the occasional fox or rabbit will help stave off hunger on those desperate nights between bigger meals.

Another tip I want to impart: be careful with canned goods. Though they are still coveted goods among the Saviors and the neighboring communities, remember that you can still get food poisoning from eating old fruits and vegetables. Canned meat, on average, lasts longer, but check the date.

Of course, you’re probably not going to run into many Army Ration packs, but the best possible choices are freeze dried meals that you simply add boiling water to. Protein bars are also great for long journeys and will help you keep up your speed of walking.

WATER

You’re already aware of the necessity of water, but it’s getting harder and harder to find the bottled stuff. I’ve tried finding streams with water unpolluted by dead bodies, but it isn’t easy. I haven’t been brave enough yet to try and harvest moisture from dismembered walkers.

I did find a well at one time. I tried to get some water out of it, but there was a body thrashing about in the water at the bottom.

This is why I recommend carrying a collapsible drink container, or when appropriate, using a waterproof poncho as an overnight rain catcher.

Remember that 1 liter of water a day is the bare minimum you can survive on. To assist with that, you’re going to need some kind of water purification system. You could either carry a water filter, or boil some water with some iodine tablets. Coffee filters can be helpful for extending the life of your water filtration unit.

TRANSPORTATION

It’s really interesting to me that vehicles are still running on the roads of Georgia, as gasoline generally goes bad in under a year.

I was hiding by the side of the road when I saw Rick and the rest of the Alexandria people heading over to attack Negan’s headquarters.

They were riding in cars armored with aluminum metal sheets.

I’m not sure how well those protect against gunfire, but I supposed with their uncanny luck, they’d probably survive.

They’d been through worse.

USE A RADIO

Another item that you may want to pack is a handheld transceiver.

Listening to the Saviors chatter to each other , I was usually able to anticipate their positions in advance.

Sometimes they would try to use a kind of code to refer to different locations, but occasionally someone would get lazy and openly discuss a situation over the air, uncaring whether someone was listening or not.

Thanks, lazy people.

KEEPING WARM

One tip, you can keep your matches waterproof by dipping them in nail varnish.

Take the time to learn how to build a fire. There are several different ways you can do so.

I did manage to find some lighters while scavenging, but not all of them worked. I used to have a light smoking habit, but it’s funny how quickly I lost it after the first week of desperation and the constant cardio.

When you wake up before dawn, and you have to flee into the freezing dark because survivors have zoned in on your hiding spot, exercise can go a long way to warm you up.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve had to move in the middle of the cold night, sleep deprived and starving.

While it might not be convenient depending on your location, I also recommend going to sports clothing shops to look for multipurpose fabric.

You should look for items that are windproof, waterproof, and lightweight. Stocking multiple layers is the best way to keep warm.

Take a bandana along. A bandana has multiple uses for protecting your face from the sun, it can act as a sling, and it can be used as an aid for purifying water.

Fingerless gloves are helpful for completing tasks without getting too cold.

PROTECTION

I used to think that an ax and hunting knife would be all I need to protect myself from walkers.

But after watching Morgan from afar, practicing his Aikido with a staff, I could immediately see the value that kind of weapon.

Who knew that a long stick could be so useful? I would recommend using either a wooden bow or an extendable baton.

A staff and a knife together can be used as a killer combo to quietly pick walkers off; the staff can be used as a tool to create distance. The knife can be used to incapacitate, with a quick jab in the skill.

As for armor, it goes with without saying that you’ll want something that will prevent walker bites from penetrating.

Amazing how dead people can have so much strength in their jaws.

The unfortunate part of wearing armor is that it slows you down when mobility is key. I recommend wearing a thick Gore-Tex coat. It’s difficult for walkers to bite through, but believe me, they’ll try.

OTHER ADDITIONS

You might find aluminum foil helpful.

You can use it to build a slow oven to prepare meals. With aluminum foil, you can create a kind of solar oven. You can also use it as fish bait.

But it’s no substitute for a small pot or large cup for drinking and freeze dried meals. A small backpacking stove and some fuel is the best choice.

You’re also going to want an E-tool: an army shovel.

Not only can you dig with it, but you can also use it to penetrate walker skulls. The square blade and handle make a great weapon.

You can use it to dig up insects, bait for fishing, or edible roots.

It’s also helpful for covering up your tracks on the run, should someone decide to follow you and try to pinch your stuff while you’re sleeping.

You can dig a hole for your campfire.

You can dig an entrenchment to hide in when hostiles get too close.

There are a lot of different uses.

Another item to consider is a camouflaged poncho. It has its uses to protect you from the elements. If you use two of them together, you can make a kind of tent.

You can easily fold them and fit them in your bag. They can be used to deflect wind while cooking, and as I said before, you can use them to catch rain water while you’re resting.

CONCLUSION

I hope whoever reads these tips finds them helpful.

As I’m writing each of these things down, I feel it’s pretty lucky that I’ve survived as long as I have. I feel the important thing is to let go of creature comforts and stick with the gear that works.

Chances are if you pack your bugout bag stocked just as cautiously as I have, you’ll be able to keep out of the war between survivors and come back to pick up the scraps after they’ve finished picking each other off.

Shit, I just heard another gunshot, and it wasn’t far off.

That’s all for now …