How to Find the Right Bag for your BOB

When people think about a BOB, they tend to forget about the actual bag. I mean, they don't forget, but it's generally not as talked about as the contents of the bag.

The picture above is what one of our BOB's look like. We got the suggestion to buy that bag from one of our team members, Noel, who loved the bag. It's a cheap bag, too, it was only $30 (but it looks like it'd cost more, right?).

We've had that bag for years now and it's been one of the best bags that we've ever had. It can take a beating and it still looks brand new. It's really well made and has the perfect amount of pockets (not too many, not too little).

The $30 bag is just proof that the bag you choose doesn't have to be expensive to get quality.

Before we bought that bag, we had a messenger bag, which was absolutely terrible as a bug out bag. It might work for some people, but it just didn't work for us and we knew we had to change it.

It's OK to experiment with different bags to see which ones work best for you.

Here are some tips on finding the right bag for you:

Size: Size is a huge thing to look for when deciding on a bag. If you're a bigger/taller person, you'll possibly be able to carry a bigger bag than someone who's more petite or short. Don't try to carry a bigger bag if you're a smaller person, because then you'll want to carry A LOT of stuff which means the bag itself will overwhelm and exhaust you.

Price: Of course, price is always an issue for the majority of us. Just keep in mind that just because something is cheap, doesn't make it bad. But on the flip side, just because something is expensive, doesn't mean it's great. Don't disregard buying something just because it seems cheap to you. We were skeptical about our $30 bag, but it's the best bag we've ever had.

Recommendations: Do your due diligence in reading reviews, going to forums and asking for reviews, Googling for reviews, get recommendations from friends, etc. Just keep in mind that everyone will have their own opinion and their opinion may not directly relate to you. For example, they might say that the bag felt too small for them, but they're a bigger person so that review may not relate to you. Just keep an open mind and in the end, make an informed decision based on what feels right to you.

Buy from someone reputable: When you go to gun shows, you can find bags galore. But are they good bag? Are you buying from a reputable dealer? If you're looking at a bag from someone you're unfamiliar with, really look at the bag. Look at the stitching, make sure the zippers are fully functional. Make sure the clips don't look like they're half-assed put on their. Make sure the fabric is thick. If you buy the bag from a reputable dealer who sells quality items, then the price won't matter because you know that you won't get a crappy product.

Outside Accessories: Make sure that the outside has the appropriate amount of pockets or clips or hooks or straps or whatever you feel that you'll need in order to feel comfortable with your BOB. The outside of the bag is almost as important as the inside, because a lot of times you'll be wanting to attach things to the outside of the bag.

Those are our basic tips on how to find a bag for your bug out bag. When it all comes down to it, it's all about personal preference. It's A-OK to buy a bag online, but it's nice to actually be able to feel and look at the bag before purchasing. If you can find the bag in person before purchasing online, then that's highly recommended. You don't want to have to spend so much money on going through so many different bags trying to find the right one, ya know?

Are you still searching for the right bag?

Survival Myth or Fact: Can a crayon really stay lit for 30 minutes?

Does this meme look familiar?

It should because no matter what prepping website or social media platform you go to these days, you seem to see this meme telling us that we can light a crayon and it'll stay lit for 30 minutes.

Sounds awesome, right?!

I don't know the origin of this meme, if I did, I'd love to ask them how they got a crayon to light and stay lit.

So is it fact or fiction that a crayon can stay lit for 30 minutes?

Watch the video below to learn the truth straight from experimentation.

5 Ways to Travel During Any Disaster...even the Zombie Apocalypse

Guest post written by: S.G. Lee hails from the city of Philadelphia but presently resides in North Central West Virginia. Lee’s “Journal of the Undead” zombie series is currently being shopped to publishers. In the meantime, blogs about zombies, horror, or random musings are posted to sgleehorror.blogspot.com or Twitter @sg_lee_horror and on Facebook.

The great transportation debate; nearly as impassioned as “The Best Weapon” argument, can draw heated and vastly varied responses depending on personal preference. I’ve witnessed grown men going nose to nose, battling over the finer points of Tanks versus Armored Cars. Let me point out that neither of them had access to either of those vehicles so they might as well have been quibbling over the benefit of riding a Saber-Tooth Tiger over a Wooly Mammoth. Sadly, I’ve borne witness to that debacle as well but we’ll save that for another day.

Personally, I feel that the “right” transportation depends on the job at hand. Are you trying to outrun a zombie horde? Have solar flares wiped out our power grids? Terrorist attack? Natural disaster? The list is endless. So, let’s talk about modes of transportation that have the most crossover potential.

1. Walking: The advantages, assuming you’re physically capable, are obvious. You’re not dependent on electricity or petroleum products. You can maneuver through varied terrain and it is great cardio exercise. The negatives are directly linked to the distance you must travel, the weight of any objects you must carry, and the speed you need to maintain.

2. Bicycle: Again, you’re not hindered by dependence on electricity or gasoline. A bicycle is great for individual travel. You can achieve faster speeds for longer distances and, assuming you’re wearing a backpack or you’ve attached a basket, you can even transport a light load. The drawbacks primarily pertain to your skill and physical comfort but can also be terrain related. Traveling in groups or with children can also be a challenge.

3. ATV or Motorcycle: Without a doubt, you’ll increase your speed and you won’t have to exert much physical energy either. With the engine doing all of the work, you’ll also be able to increase the load you’re carrying but there isn’t a great deal of room so you’ll have to economize. The biggest deterrents would be its dependence on gasoline and limited cargo space. Certain types of terrain and inclement weather could pose a threat to one’s safety, particularly to novices. Additionally, you’d need to know a good mechanic to keep it running or learn to do repairs and maintenance yourself.

4. SUV/Truck/Jeep: Even with speed, roominess, and protection from the elements on your side, there are always drawbacks to a motorized vehicle but an SUV is one of your best bets, assuming it has four-wheel drive. Should fuel become difficult to come by, an SUV can be fitted with a bike rack so you’ll have an alternate mode of transport if you run out of gas along the way. A lot of off-road vehicles also come with diesel capability and with a vehicle running diesel, you're able to use alternative fuel options would could keep your vehicle moving forward longer.

5. Horseback: I would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention riding horseback; however, I would strongly advise against it in an immediate disaster situation. Horses can scare easily and inexperienced riders might be thrown, resulting in severe injury or even death. But in the aftermath, a horse could be ideal in all sorts of activities, from leisure to manual labor.

One last tidbit about any type of transportation that you decide to use; make sure that you have a plan! Make sure that you know the back roads, make sure that you know where the disaster exit routes are (and avoid them if you can) and make sure that you have a rendezvous point for your team/family. Having transportation is great, but you need to understand your area and your city and make sure that you won't come across anything that could delay your safety.

Remember that you should only bug out if you absolutely have to.

My best recommendation is to have access to more than one mode of transportation since you never know when the zombies might rise up or Mother Nature decides to throw a tantrum. And by all means if you end up with access to a tank, armored car, wooly mammoth or saber tooth tiger, take advantage!

February Giveaway: Car First Aid Kit

This kit is originally made to strap onto a roll bar of a Jeep Wrangler. However, this kit is valuable to have in any vehicle and you don't need to own a Jeep to win it. We have many of these kits and they've come in very handy on many occasions.

We're giving away JUST the kit, it does NOT include any first aid items inside of it. It's up to you to fill it with first aid goodies, but we will be adding a list of first aid items that we suggest that you put in it.

Want to win this?

Post in the comments below with why you'd like to win this and what vehicle you'll be keeping it in.

Contest ends February 28th. One winner to be announced on March 1st.

One entry per person.

Good luck!