Like many others on this board, we are concerned that all is not well in the world, and certain situations may force us to leave our homes to go live in the wilderness, fight to protect our homes, etc etc. I have compiled a list of basic equipment someone would need to survive on there own.

Basic Clothing
Includes 2 pairs of BDUs, socks, underwear, t-shirt, athletic shorts, boots, hat, and sunglasses; BDU pattern depends on environment, extra cloths are stored in main backpack.

Pistol Belt
Two 1-Quart canteens w/ cover, fixed blade knife, dump pouch, buttpack

Buttpack: Notebook w/ pen or pencil, 3 MRE entree meals, sharpening stone, hygiene kit, survival kit.

Hygiene Kit: Comb, sunscreen, lip balm, multi-vitamins, foot powder, nail clippers, face towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

Survival Kit: waterproof matches, magnifying glass, magnesium fire starter, lighter, mirror, whistle, finger buzz saw, sewing kit (various needles and thread), fishing kit (various sized hooks and weights, line and small bait container), signal flare.

MOLLE Vest
Binocular w/ pouch, flashlight, multi-tool, GPS/compass w/ pouch, Power bar/Misc pouch, 3 Quart water bladder, First Aid Pouch *flashlight and multi-tool share the same pouch **Water bladder mounted on the back of vest *** NVG optional

First Aid Pouch: Adhesive bandages, gauze dressing, burn dressing, tourniquet, iodine topical solution, water purification tablet bottle.

Main Backpack
Tent, collapsible shovel, poncho, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cookware w/ utensils, alcohol stove w/ alcohol squeeze bottle, MRE entree meals, 50' - 100' of rope, extreme cold weather gear.

Extreme Cold Weather Gear: thermal shirt and pants, gloves, waterproof parka jacket and pants, scarf, wool head cap, balaclavas.
-------------------------

Minus the backpack, all that gear should allow you to survive for either 1 or 3 days, but you have no shelter equipment. With the backpack you have all essential living gear, and enough food for 3-5 days (light) or 14 days (heavy) - all depends on how much your willing to carry. At minimum though, a light backpack configuration should be made.

All of this equipment is based around Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols performed by special operation units, who often have to operate and survive behind enemy lines from 1 week to a month, with only what's on there backs.

In addition to all this, weapons and ammo must be carried: Anywhere up to 1,000 rounds of ammo, 7-12 magazines for the weapon, cleaning kit, spares, etc. The magazine would be mounted to either the vest or the pistol belt, and the extra ammo carried in the backpack - cleaning kit and misc items in the buttpack.

Hope this list is helpful to people here. Being prepared is the best course of action right now. If nothing happens, at least you'll have all the stuff you need to go camping But if something does happen, you'll be ready!

[Edit] Almost forgot to mention... while this list is meant for someone that would leave the area they live in, please understand that this should only be done is you absolutely have to! Otherwise, be smart, and plan to survive for 3-6 months at home for a worse case scenario situation - Plan in advance! You have far more to work with in an urban area (material/resource wise) then you do in a rural area (natural resources). Learn basic survival & first-aid skills, get maps of your area and mark key areas, plan an evacuation route and rehearse... etc etc.

[edit on 15-11-2009 by Halzman]

7-12 magazines for the weapon

how bored do you really think your weapon is going to get while youre out trying to survive? why do you not bring any magazines for yourself



thats a lot of stuff. if i were you i would make sure its not to much to haul around (i.e. gear up and walk around the house, go up and down the steps, jump a few times) my main concern is too much stuff will be too heavy and/or too difficult to access in a hurry if need be

[edit on 15-11-2009 by ELECTRICkoolaidZOMBIEtest]

Greetings ATS! Long time follower, first time poster! Please excuse my noobiness...

I agree with Aliensun that knowledge has to be a TOP priority when it comes to the subject of over-all preparedness. I live in a bigger city, so aside from a bug-out bag that I keep in my trunk I also have four different escape plans depending on the situation. My wife thinks I'm paranoid, but I'd rather deal with the ridicule now than the alternative.

I would also like to ad to the OP's list some light body armor. If you really do have to leave your area and are concerned about gunfire then you might want to consider it. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it would be more valuable than the extra ammo. In this type of situation (i.e. rioting street gangs) you are better off moving fast and quietly without drawing unwanted attention.

Haha this list is a joke. This is what we make the privates carry in basic training and this is what we preach is needed in combat HOWEVER it sucks. Take it from somone that carried all this crap in Iraq and more this is hardly a good list.

IN FACT I would go to a civilian hunting store to get my survival gear before I went to military crap. Our ACUS, BDUS, DCUS what have you are sooooo inferior to civilian camo! This is just one example. I wouldnt even use military weapons. I carried a M-4 with M203 and a EOTech with a 9mil barretta in iraq. The only thing I might even think of keeping of this setup is the EOtech. I personaly carry a XD45 when im off duty as a concealed carry. There are tons of CHEAP AK variations you can buy that are acurate enough to hit your target, offer all the same attachments as a M4 and also has a bigger round which = bigger punch, and longer distance.

You want a soldiers advice? DONT USE MILITARY CRAP! BUY CIVILIAN! LIGHTER, MORE ADVANCED AND CHEAPER!

I personally spend 7-10 days on outings.

I am not going to list my carry on luggage, but 50 rnds ammo and I always have 40 or so left, I am not on some hunting expidition looking for enemies.

In short I have less than half of that stuff and last twice as long, maybe its a military way of thinking? I have never understood!
Not to mention the stuff I take is still not evan needed, they are creature features/for comfort. Not for survival!

But yes in short I do hope that there are lots of ppl with tons of cash tied up in gear=weight that I can use as discarded/stolen from the slow heavy gearheads, as they pass through my territory.

Went by combat load of 210 rounds in Iraq 1000 rounds hell no's. If you have all you have listed ready to toss into you SUV or other such vehicle than all you have is plausible. A bug-out bag imo should get you from point A to point B to point c To final destination. If you have chaches set at point A B and C for resupply along the way much better than shoulders to sore to hold a weapon steady.