Have you done a dry run?

     On the surface, preparing for when SHTF may seem rather simplistic – just throw some survival gear into a bag and then take the bag with you when it’s time to bug out. The reality, however, is that it’s not quite that easy. A bug out bag can be extremely heavy depending on what you decide to store inside of it, and traveling with it from point A to point B isn’t exactly like taking a leisurely stroll through the park. That’s why it’s important that you routinely test your bug out bag for when SHTF.

     First and foremost, you have to make sure that your bug out bag is an appropriate weight – on the one hand, you don’t want it to be so heavy that you’re struggling to carry it, but on the other hand, you don’t want to risk leaving something important out just to keep the weight down. In order to create a bug out bag with an appropriate weight, make a list of all the essentials, and avoid packing items that you could do without in a survival situation.  As noted by UrbanSurvivalSite.com, things like sleeping bags, plateware and utensils, toiletries, extra pants and medications are all examples of things that you can do without. (Related: Here are ten affordable survival items that you can stock up on now without breaking your wallet.)

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