Your bugout bag, INCH bag, or get-me-home bag should not resemble Mary Poppins’ purse. The bottomless pit the British nanny packed around would be way too heavy to carry in real life. Miss Poppins may have subscribed to the prepper “one is none” mantra, but the beloved caregiver certainly did not consider the dual-purpose nature of basic survival items; she would have needed Popeye’s muscle to pack that big dang purse of hers.
In theory, we all know that carrying out BOBs for many hours, over long distances in possibly rugged terrain will take a physical toll. But, have you actually conducted a field test to determine exactly how difficult carrying your pack would be during a disaster?
While practicing my preps this summer I started carrying my get- me- home bag while walking two or three miles at the old school track with our wild dingoes (aka Jovie and Ruger, the Blue Heeler pups), and it was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. My prepper hubby, Bobby, got the dingoes their own canine BOBs as well. Since they are not quite seven months old yet, they are still carrying them empty to get used to the movement and weight of the packs.
Although I always packed my trusty handgun during our walks, – I don’t go anywhere my Ruger SR40c cannot go as well. When switching from carrying my pistol sling to packing my full GMH bag, I quickly realized the weight increase was substantial. The sling bag contained just my handgun, two extra magazines, and my wallet. In Ohio, you must have both your ID and CCW card on you at all times.
After one walk adorned in my cowboy boots and sundress (always good to practice in your preps in your typical attire) I could hardly wait to get home and dig through the bag and see how I could scale down my survival gear and go even more lightweight and dual-purpose to reduce the strain on my shoulders and back.
While I did not have everything I owned tightly organized in my get- me- home bag, there was still room for improvement. A few months ago when Bobby convinced me to switch to a smaller pack, I was sure there was no way I could carry the preparedness basics in anything but my big backpack. The smaller military-grade pack the hubs convinced me to try relieved my durability concerns. The other pack I had was a big- box store standard issue “back- to- school” type carrier.
Well, fellow preppers, I have to admit that it tasted a little bit like vinegar when I had to acknowledge that a man was right and a woman was wrong, when all truly necessary survival supplies did indeed fit in the smaller pack.
Finding dual purposes or off-label uses for disaster preparedness supplies has now become a bit of a quest. I love to search for the ultimate BOB, INCH, and get-me-home bag items. I bring the topic up when it when talking to my non-prepping friends and relatives to encourage their interest in self-reliance. I view every little advance in getting my loved ones to carry some potentially life-saving items in their purses, school backpacks, and their vehicles – as a big win. My outdoorsy pals and kin are always the most receptive to my not-so-gently nudged suggestions.
Any item you can use by wearing during any type of weather, or tie off on your pack, should immediately be considered for inclusion in your survival bag. Bandanas are extremely lightweight and should be put in the same “always great to have around” category as duct tape.
Top 20 Bandana Survival Uses
- For use as a dust or wind mask.
- To signal others who may be looking for you or to mark your path to prevent going in circles when traversing unfamiliar terrain.
- As a lightweight scarf to help hold in body heat.
- During the warm weather months a bandana could help protect your neck or head from getting sunburnt.
- Cool yourself off during a long, hot hike to safety, or use to cool an injured person in your group who has spiked a fever. Soak the bandana in cold creek, lake, or stream water and apply.
- Use the bandana as a makeshift tourniquet.
- During a disaster looking for loved ones might be a top priority. Use a bandana over an open fire to send smoke signals.
- Tie the ends of the bandana together to make a sack to collect berries and other wild edibles when using the bandana as a sack with the ends tied together making it resemble a pouch.
- Pre-filter water using the bandana. While it will not remove all the germs, it is a great strainer to use during the beginning of the filtration process because it will trap gravel, leaves, and other large items.
- Use the bandana as a sling for an injured arm or shoulder. Remember, one is none. Pack two bandanas; they are super lightweight and take up very little space.
- If traveling with others and taking sleeping shifts or walking only at night for safety reasons, use the bandana as a mask and cover your eyes so you can sleep during the bright hours of the day.
- Use the bandana as a hanky to cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread (or capture) of germs. If a massive pandemic has hits, do your part to protect both yourself and others from getting or spreading , the illness.
- Use the bandana as a sling to cast stones.
- Tie items you want to keep handy to your BOB, INCH, or get- home bag with the bandana.
- A bandana can quickly become cordage when cut into long slices.
- A travel- size gun oil/cleaner kit and a bandana are likely all that you will need to make sure your firearms stays in proper working order while you walk home or to a bugout location.
- Use a bandana as a wash cloth or use multiple bandanas for a makeshift modesty body covering while you are warming cold clothing over a fire or dipping dirty clothing in a creek to clean.
- Bandanas also make great bandages, providing they are clean. Covering a wound to keep it dirt-free will help prevent infection. Even a small infection can quickly become deadly during a long-term disaster.
- Although they are lightweight, bandanas are still durable. If a strap on your pack breaks or your belt falls apart, tie a bandana to the damaged ends to help secure your pants or pack – or your pants.
- Check wind and help gauge increased velocity simply by holding a bandana in the air. . If you feel, see, or maybe even smell, that rain or a storm is on the way, check changes in the wind to help you determine if bad weather is looming on the horizon and prompt you to take take shelter.