Escape and Survive: A go-bag checklist for safely exiting urban areas

As preppers, one of the most forefront priorities in our minds is maintaining a diverse bug-out-bag, which will aid us in a plethora of unexpected situations and crisis’.

We carefully consider which items to include in our pack, what set of circumstances we are most likely to encounter, and how our tools can best ensure our safety and survival.

This is a list of what I’ve packed in my bug-out bag, and have tailored it for the upcoming winter months of Colorado, a volatile post-election season, and a means to safely get to my safe location.

This layout is best fit for those living in populated urban areas, and who have access to a nearby wilderness or national park they can temporarily flee to.

The items on this list are moderately affordable, easily obtainable, and intended for those living on a budget like myself.

If any of these items are out of your price range, you may want to consider something similar but more affordable.

I personally don’t have limitless funds to purchase the most up-to-date gear, so I’ve acquired many of these things on sale, through second hand, or just over the years.

I’ve included links to my pack’s inventory for quick reference, and have only provided quality items which I personally trust.

Let me know what you think in the comments section below, as new pack list suggestions are always helpful.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CARRY SYSTEM/ Approx. 60lbs

• PACK: Mountainsmith/ 70L/ cross country 3.0
• COVER: Sea to Summit/ rain cover

WEAPONS/UTILITY

• KNIFE: KA-BAR/ serrated 5012 foliage green
• SLING: Black Diamond/ 18mm nylon runner (suspends sheath from shoulder)
• CARABINER: Black Diamond/ Litewire (controls runner slack)

• PISTOL: Ruger/ 357 revolver
• HOLSTER: Galco/ combat master belt
• AMMO: Hornady/ personnel x100
• AXE: CRKT/ woods chogan t-hawk

LIGHTING

• HEADLAMP: Black Diamond/ ICON 700
• FLASHLIGHT: Night Rider/ lumina 1200 Boost
• rechargeable/ ultrabright
• SOLAR LAMP: Goal Zero/ crush light chroma

NAVIGATION & COMS

• GPS: Garmin/ e Trex 22x
• RADIO: Cobra/ LXT600VP3
• COMPASS: Brunton/ truarc 15
• MAP: Immediate & surrounding area, size 1:36000

MEDICAL

• FIRST AID KIT: Sportsman Warehouse/ sportsman 200
• sam splint
• tourniquet

COOKING SYSTEM

• STOVE: MSR/ whisperlite
• FUEL BOTTLE: MSR/ fuel bottle
• FUEL: Crown/ white gas
• POT: Evernew/ ceramic pot 15/
• CUP: GSI Outdoors/ enamelware
• BOWL: Sea to Summit/ Delta bowl
• SPORK: Light my fire/ utensil
• CLOTH: Generic/ dish cloths x2

FIRE

• FLINT STRIKER: Gerber/ bear grylls
• LIGHTERS Bic/ x2

HYDRATION/PURIFICATION

• BOTTLE: Nalgene/ bottle 1400 ml
• BLADDER: Camelbak/ crux 2l resevoir
• FILTER: Lifestraw/ water filter
• IODINE: Portable aqua/ purification tablets

HEADWEAR

• GAS MASK: Honey Well North/ 5400 series s
• GAS MASK FILTER: NIOSH/ CL/HC/SD/HF/HS (escape)/ CS/CN/P100
• GOGLES: Smith, ski
• BALACLAVA: Underarmour/ coldgear
• BASEBALL CAP: Patagonia
• SUNGLASSES: Oakley/ square wire
• WINTER CAP: Mountain Hardware/ dome perignon

UPPER BODY

• PARKA SHELL: US military surplus/ snow cover
• RAIN JACKET: US military surplus/ gore-tex, woodland
• THERMAL UNDERWEAR: US military surplus/ Level 2 waffers
• SHIRTS: Underarmour/ synthetic x4
• GLOVE SHELLS: Outdoor Research/ mt baker modular
• GLOVES: Rab/ mountaineering, guide 2
• GLOVE LINERS: Outdoor Research/ vigor heavyweight sensor
• WORK GLOVES: Mechanix/ specialty 0.5mm Coyote

LOWER BODY

• OUTER CONCEALMENT: US military surplus/ snow cover
• PANTS: US military surplus/ gore-tex, woodland
• THERMALS: US military surplus, lvl 2 waffers
• SOCKS: Duluth/ winter socks x3
• UNDERWEAR: Underarmour/ synthetic boxers
• BOOTS: Asolo/ goretex hiking
• BOOT GAITERS: Outdoor Research/ rocky mountain high

SLEEPING SYSTEM

• SLEEPING BAG: Mountain Hardware/ –30f synthetic lamina
• STUFF SACK: Sea to Summit/ eventcompression dry sack
• BIVY COVER: US military surplus/ gore-tex bivy cover
• MATTRESS: Legit Camping/ inflatable
• MATTRESS 2: Therm-a-Rest/ z lite sol
• (proper heat insulation for snow requires x2 mattresses)

MISC

• FIELD REPAIR KIT: Gear Aid/ seam grip
• WHETSTONE: Eze-Lap/ diamond sharpener
• BATTERIES: x6 AAA, x6 AA
• STRING: 550 CORD, generic
• TOILET PAPER: Wet Wipes x1 small pack
• BAR SOAP: x1 antibacterial
• FOOD, freeze dried, beef jerky, power bars, ect.

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Thanks for reading,

-Michael