The 13 Must Have Multi Gear

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THE 13 MUST HAVE MULTI-USE ITEMS TO PACK IN YOUR BUG-OUT BAG When it comes to bugging out, space and weight are at a premium. For this reason it’s paramount that you consider packing as many multi-use items as you can to ensure you’re making the best use of that space and weight. This guide will show you the 13 must-have multi-use items that should be part of your bug-out bag. Many of these items are small and light which also adds to the ease of which you can carry them:

ITEM 1: CONTRACTOR-GRADE TRASH BAGS Trash bags, especially the heavy duty contractor-grade ones are the first of the many multi-use items that should be part of your bug-out bag. There are so many uses for these bags but here is list applicable to bugging out: · Warm Shower: Fill your trash bag with water, tie it up above your head and let it sit in the warm sun. The black color of the bag will absorb the sun’s rays heating up the water. Once the water has reached your desired temperature, poke some tiny holes to enjoy a nice warm shower. *Note: Some trash bags (not so much with contractor bags) are lined with chemicals on the inside to prevent odors and mold. It’s not a bad idea to turn the bags inside out if using them for the next three uses. ·

Food Transporter: Whether you just took some game while bugging out or if you’ve opened your packaged food and need a clean place to put it in, a trash bag makes for a great container for transporting and protecting game meats, opened food, etc.

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Water Container: Besides a one-time use shower, a trash bag can make a decent way of transporting a fair amount of water if you’ve lost or don’t have a water container. Here’s where having a contractor bag would be idea given their strength. Water Collector: Dig a hole around 2 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep, tear open your bag so it’s one large piece and lay it over the hole to set up a makeshift rain water collector or container. Poncho: Trash bags make for excellent ponchos. Just rip a hole in the bottom of the bag for your head and two on the side for your arms and it will do a fine job at keeping the wet weather at bay. Waterproof Leggings: Take two trash bags and place one foot with your shoes on inside each. Tie up the bags around your ankles and calves with some duct tape or cordage (both of which aren’t bad ideas to have in your BOB). Now you have some decent waterproof leggings to temporarily cross through shallow brooks or streams or traversing over deep, wet snow. Gear Protector (Dry Bag): You can use the bags to keep your gear stored in your BOB dry while traveling in wet conditions. In addition, you can enclose your entire bug-out bag with the trash bag (cutting slits for your backpack straps to get through) for a makeshift poncho for your bag. Makeshift Toilets: If you happen to have bugged out to an urban area and there aren’t many places to dig a latrine, trash bags make for excellent makeshift toilet liners (like in a 5-gallon bucket or in a non-functioning toilet if the grid’s down). Comforter and Pillow: Large trash bags filled with leaves or other light debris make for great expedient comforters that can be placed on top of you when it’s cold out. In addition, a smaller bag (or a large one only partly filled with leaves) will work pretty decent as a pillow (it would be best to place a piece of cloth on it (like a Shemagh or bandana) for your face to lie on for more comfort. Although less than ideal, you could also partially inflate the bag for a pillow (but it will be less comfortable than leaves or other soft debris).

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Strong Rope: Yes, trash bags can actually make surprisingly strong cordage and rope when braided correctly. Here’s a video of me demonstrating this braiding technique. Ground Cloth: One thing that’s very important when setting up a tent or other makeshift shelter is laying down a ground cloth to keep the moisture from coming up from the ground into your shelter at night. A trash bag cut open and laid out will help in this way. Makeshift Shelter/Lean-To: While obviously not ideal, a trash bag can work as a fair shelter against wind, rain and the sun’s rays. Just stretch it out and tie it off as you would with a standard lean-to shelter. Life Preserver/Flotation Device: While certainly not Coast Guard approved, trash bags can be blown up with air like a balloon, tied off, and be used to provide flotation while crossing bodies of water. A few of these can also be tied to a makeshift raft to aid in ©2015 TacticalIntelligence.net -- 2 --

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buoyancy. Again, the stronger the bag (like a contractor bag) the better to prevent tearing and puncturing. Arm Sling: Similar to how the boy scouts use their neckerchiefs for slings, you can follow the same approach to sling someone’s arm if recently injured. Bandage Protector: If you’ve just finished bandaging up someone’s wound, you can use a strip of a trash bag to wrap over the bandage and tie it off to further protect the bandage and wound from getting dirty. Bug Out Washing Machine: For extended bug-out travels you can place your dirty clothes in a bag, some soap scrapings (or if you packed small amounts of detergent) and some water, twist or tie off the bag and vigorously shake the bag for a few minutes. Drain the dirty water, replace with clean water and repeat for the rinse cycle. Window Black Outs: While at your bug-out location or when bugging in, you can use trash bags to cover your windows at night — preventing a “light signal” to those lessthan-friendly people looking for occupied residences. Again, it’s best to use contractor bags here since some thinner bags will require multiple layers. Cold Compress: Trash bags can be filled with snow or ice (if available) to provide for a makeshift compress for treating inflammation caused by injury.

ITEM 2: FOAM SLEEPING PAD Foam sleeping pads are another great resource to have as part of your bug out bag. Since these are generally tied to the outside of your bag, and are especially light, they shouldn’t be an issue as another addition to your BOB. Beyond the obvious use as a sleeping pad, here are some of the many uses:

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Camp chair/recliner: unravel your foam bed roll and lean half of it up against a tree for a comfortable camp chair. Insulation: when wrapped around the core of your body, foam pads make for good insulation to protect you against the cold. Floatation device: when rolled up and hugged, it will act as an effective floatation device when crossing small bodies of water. ©2015 TacticalIntelligence.net -- 3 --

ITEM 3: DUCT TAPE Be sure to find opportunities where you can wrap duct tape for additional storage. For example, you can wrap your lighter, your water bottle (like a Nalgene bottle), your flashlight and so on. Duct tape is so versatile that you should implement it. ·

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Bug-out Spear: wrap the handle of your knife (you did pack one of those right?) around the end of a long stick for a very effective spear. · Make a rope: Twist one or several lengths of duct tape into a cord or rope. Of course paracord would be a lot better and you do have some of that, right?) · Gear repair: whether it’s your tent, your sleeping bag, clothing or any of the number of other things you’ve packed for bugging out, duct tape does an excellent job at mending and fixing most anything. · Reseal your food packages: Your partially consumed food packages you open while bugging out can be easily sealed with duct tape (it even does a fine job at sealing up opened canned goods). · Cordage: duct tape when twisted on itself the long way makes for a strong and effective cordage. Medical: Duct tape works well as butterfly bandages, a supportive wrap for sprained wrists or ankles, finger splints, wound dressing wrap and many other uses. Make handcuffs: Duct tape can be an effective wrist and ankle wrapping for field expedient handcuffs in case you meet any un-friendlies (or someone from your own party has gone a bit loopy) – just hope they haven’t learned the escape.

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ITEM 4: PARACORD Paracord, with the exception of duct tape, is one of those items that has so many potential uses we probably don’t have enough space here in this section to go over them all. Part of the reason is that genuine militaryspec paracord consists of 7 inner strands and an outer sheath. Each inner strand has 25 lbs. of tensile strength (a combined 350 lbs.) and the outer sheath 200 lbs. (for a total of 550 lbs. – hence the 550 nomenclature). This combination of available cordage and overall strength allows for a variety of uses. As it relates to bugging out, here are some of the most useful: · · ·

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Shelter lashing and building: Whether you’re setting up tents or constructing natural shelters, paracord can go a long way in helping you build these. Clothesline: Depending on how long you have to bug out for, you may need to wash and dry your clothes. Paracord would work great as a clothesline. Hang a bear bag: If you’re out in the wilds while bugging out, food can become a real problem in bear country. Before retiring for the night you’ll want to tie up your food in a sac (possibly your bug out bag) and hang that between some trees. Be sure to do this away from your camp to keep the bears away. There are plenty of resources online to teach you how to string up a bear bag. Shoelaces: Paracord makes for effective shoelaces (in fact, all my shoes shoelaces I’ve replaced with paracord). Tie up a person: Again, you never know who you might meet (or who among your bugout party) that’ll need to be restrained. Paracord makes for a very strong binding. Animal snares/traps: Whether it’s a Piute trap or snares, the paracord inner strings are really effective for these implements. Dental floss: Use the inner strands for this unless you have REALLY large gaps in your teeth. ©2015 TacticalIntelligence.net -- 5 --

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Trip wire: String these up along with some improvised early-warning devices (could be as simple as a bunch of cans clanking together) to warn you of intruders entering your camp. Improvised hammock: There are a number of resources online that teach you how to make a hammock out of paracord. Bowdrill fire: Typically, the most time consuming portion of a bow drill kit to make from scratch is the cordage. Save yourself some time by using paracord. Fishing line – trot lines: Use the inner strands for these. Fishing net: Again, use the inner strands for this. Tie downs: Keep your gear attached to your BOB with some paracord. Bug-out spear: Lash your knife to a long pole for an effective spark. Tourniquet: Yes, using paracord would be painful but as a last resort it could save a life. Escape from duct tape/rope restraints: Take a length of paracord and make two loops on either end (you can get this paracord from your shoes – see above). Throw this cord over your bindings and place one loop over each foot. Kick your feet in a bicycle motion to burn through duct tape or rope restraints. Firewood bundling: Carry bundles of firewood much easier by tying them up with some paracord. Sling: Think “David and Goliath” Garrote: You never know who you might need to take out in a SHTF situation. Rope: Reverse wrap it to make a bigger, stronger rope Bowstring: The inner strands, when reverse wrapped, make a serviceable replacement for your bow (i.e. bow & arrow).

ITEM 5: TARP

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Shelter: This is probably the most common survival use for a tarp. It makes an excellent canopy when draped over a central rope, or angled as a lean-to. Ground cover/moisture barrier: It protects against sharp debris when laid under your tent and functions as a moisture barrier to prevent ground moisture from coming up into your tent or other shelter. Hammock: By rolling a golf-ball sized stone in opposite corners of the tarp, you can provide an anchor point to secure the “tarp hammock” to two trees. Wind break: stake it up vertically (supported by upright sticks) makes an effective wind break. Rain catch: string up a tarp to catch rainwater that can be funneled into a container or line a small dug-out pit with your tarp to act as a container. Emergency stretcher: by rolling two long poles three or four times over itself on either edge of a tarp, you will have a very functional stretcher to carry an injured person.

ITEM 6: CONDOM Condoms are one of those items you wouldn’t think you would have much use for other than…well, you know… In fact, condoms are surprisingly useful as a survival tool because they are so stretchable and waterproof. Here’s some examples (be sure to pack the non-spermicide versions):

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Water container: When placed in a sock, filled with water and tied off, a condom is a decent water container. Tinder container: Stuff your fluffy tinder and other fire making materials inside a condom for moisture protection. Fuel (for fire): When lit with an open flame (a match, lighter) a condom will burn for some time giving you extra time to get a fire going.

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Fire starter: Yes, a condom can be used to start a fire much like a magnifying glass. Just fill it with water, until it resembles a spherical shape, and use it to focus the sun’s rays onto your char cloth, tree fungus or other ignitable tinder. Sling shot: Condoms are very elastic just like standard sling-shot tubing. They can be used for the same purpose. Firearm (muzzle) protection: Servicemen and women often cover the muzzle-end of their barrel with a condom to prevent dirt and other debris from entering. Fishing bobber: Tie off a small air bubble or pack the condom with light, buoyant materials to make a makeshift fishing bobber. Tourniquet: Although not ideal, a condom could be used as a tourniquet when nothing else is available. Gear protection: Encase and tie off your cellphone or other small electronics and gear with a condom to protect it against water and other elements.

ITEM 7: MULTI-TOOL

The reason a multi-tool was created is to provide you with multiple tools in a single, easy-tocarry format. No explanation needed here but definitely worth adding to your BOB if you don’t have one already.

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ITEM 8: BANDANA/SHEMAGH The Shemagh is a traditional Middle Eastern headdress fashioned from a square scarf. Although issued to British soldiers since WWII, they really became en vogue when U.S. Special Forces units started wearing them in Iraq and Afghantistan. They are fantastic when used to protect your face and head in arid conditions and as a bonus they have so many other survival uses:

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Cooling head wrap: Soak in water, wrap around head in hot temperatures. Nose and mouth cover in dusty climates Washcloth Water pre-filter: This won’t filter out small biological organisms like Giardia or E-coli, but it does a great job as an initial pre-filter to remove debris from water. Potholder: Fold it over itself a few times before using. Medical Purposes: Use as a bandage, sling, to tie a splint, etc. Cordage: Cut into thin strips and tie together.

ITEM 9: SURVIVAL HATCHET (ONTARIO SPAX)

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Despite trying to focus on generic multi-use items, one brand-specific tool that I’d feel remiss not to include here is the Ontario Spax. This tool has a knife blade for carving and cutting, a chopping blade to make quick work of small trees and limbs, a pick to dig latrine holes or chop through ice and makes for an intimidating weapon if need be. And as an urban bug-out tool, this will also allow you to lift manhole covers, break through doors and walls and even open fire hydrants. Its relatively small size packs real nice in or attached to your BOB and I highly recommend it.

ITEM 10: EMERGENCY “SPACE” BLANKET

Beyond their standard use, emergency blankets have other survival uses as well: · · · ·

Waterproof body wrap: retain heat and protect yourself from the elements by wrapping it around your body. Ground tarp: Not only will it prevent moisture from coming up from the ground but it will reflect your body heat nicely as well. Waterproof gear cover: Drape it over your gear for a waterproof cover Emergency signal: Cut up long strips and tie it up in a tall tree. The reflective strips will wave in the wind and reflect the suns light during the day for an effective emergency signal. ©2015 TacticalIntelligence.net -- 10 --

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Fire reflector: Prop it up vertically by tying it to two vertical poles stuck in the ground. Build a fire in front of it for an excellent heat reflector.

ITEM 11: SURGICAL TUBING

Surgical tubing, with its stretchable, hollow and straw-like format allows for many uses. Here are some: · · · ·

Tourniquet: Surgical tubing has been used in the military as an improvised tourniquet before the one-handed tactical ones available today. Siphon: Access the fuel from abandoned vehicles by creating a siphon with the tubing. Slingshot bands: Commercial slingshots use a product almost identical to surgical tubing. These become excellent bands for making your own field-expedient slingshot. Drinking straw for hard to reach places (make sure you didn’t use it as a siphon already though)

ITEM 12: SANITARY PADS/TAMPONS

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Much like a condom, it’s hard to get the real use of this item out of your head. But images aside, it does have a variety of survival uses: · · · ·

Fire tinder: Pull out the cotton wad and fluff it up to make a great tinder for your ferro rod’s spark. Candle: Use the tampon’s string as a wick in combination with rendered animal fat or pine sap for an effective field-expedient candle. Blow-dart fletching: Wrap the tampon’s cotton on the end of a carved wooden dart with the tampon’s string for a tampon-fletched blow dart. Gauze: The cotton in a tampon makes for a sterile, ultra-absorbent gauze for excessive bleeding due to puncture wounds etc.

ITEM 13: HEAVY DUTY ALUMINUM FOIL Aluminum foil is one of those items that is widely recognized as a multipurpose tool. In survival circles this is no different. In fact, even in the 1980 edition of the U.S. Armed Forces Survival Manual (ISBN 0-8129-0956-9) it has it listed in the appendix as a component in their survival kits. Here’s some of the survival uses: · Fishing Lures: Whether you’re using a bait and hook or you only have a hook, aluminum foil works excellent as · ·

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an attractant for fish. Water container / cooking pot: Similar to molding a bowl from clay, fashion a cup or small pot to boil water for cooking or purifying. Make char cloth: Wrap small pieces of cotton (e.g. from your t-shirt) in foil and place in a fire. You’ll start see the foil smoke and when it finishes you’ll be left with char cloth that can be used as an excellent tinder for future fires. Cook food: You can also wrap a sheet around a large “Y” stick to make a small frying pan. And for those scouting enthusiasts you’ll likely remember the delicious “tinfoil ©2015 TacticalIntelligence.net -- 12 --

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dinners” you can make by wrapping your food with foil and placing it on a bed of hot coals. Emergency signal: Similar to the emergency blanket example listed above, strips of foil can be hung in strategic areas to attract attention if you need help.

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