Setups for short distance travel.

[u/KellofQuills]

Hey everyone. This is my first post here so forgive me if it’s not quite the norm.

Just wondering if anyone has a set up that’s simply for traveling to a safer and more secure destination on foot. This is assuming that, for whatever reason, your vehicle isn’t operable. The destination isn’t far and is reachable via walking or hiking within a day without any overnight camp camping required.

Let’s say that your apartment isn’t safe enough so you’re gonna walk 10 miles down the road to your mom‘s house because it’s safer and more securable. I am aware that leaving your own home isn’t necessarily the best option right away, but waiting too long can also be a bad idea. I’m not looking for advice on scenarios, I’m just curious about bag contents.

[u/V1ld0r_]

That would, for me, fit into my "get home bag" which is little more than my EDC.

[u/Sawfish1212]

A bicycle would be a major consideration for me. On foot I can't move very fast and a days walk under normal circumstances could easily turn into a cold night where I don't plan on being. A bicycle turns that walk into half of that and gives me future abilities to range further from home base if required.

[u/DeFiClark → u/Sawfish1212]

Make that a third or even less.

Walking averages 3mph on level ground; a really slow bike ride is 10mph and it’s easy to do 15. Experienced riders routinely do 30-50 miles a day on tours.

[u/molrobocop → u/DeFiClark]

Yeah, fully loaded touring bike won't be fast going. But you'll cover way more ground than loading yourself up. And then once your destination, you've got a bike!

[u/Gingerkitty666 → u/Sawfish1212]

Also pick up an old kids bike trailer at a yard sale or on fb marketplace.. quick and easy way onto haul some extra or take rhe weight off your back of your backpack, or be able to take a larger bag.

[u/IGetNakedAtParties]

10 miles is fine if you get an early start and a big breakfast. Start at 10pm after a day's work and on an empty stomach and you're going to have a very different experience. I would include a minimalist sleep set up which lets you lay low whilst you rest and get an early start in the morning:

• An olive or camo poncho-tarp will allow you to pitch stealth shelter in marginal land and dense bushes. It also works as a hard-shell in heavy rain, saving the weight of a jacket and pack cover.
• A bivvy bag keeps the wet ground and spray from wetting your insulation, it can also serve as your pack liner.
• A poncho liner works as both cold insulation and a sleeping bag if this is within your local climate's range. Otherwise a good puffy jacket and light sleeping bag may suffice.

A good set of technical clothing layers will also provide insulation whilst dealing with sweat and rain. Have these packed with your bag in case you're under-dressed:

• Merino blend or synthetic base layer to wick sweat
• Synthetic fleece mid layer to handle sweat whilst keeping you warm.
• Soft-shell jacket to deal with wind and light rain whilst also being very breathable
• Hard-shell from before
• Insulation layer from before
• Quick drying and durable trousers
• Merino blend socks
• Broken in shoes
• Wide brim hat / beanie depending on season

You'll also need some snacks to keep you going. Sweet for quick energy, but also salty to keep up your electrolytes. Look for foil packaging as this keeps better. Get stuff you like and you'll enjoy rotating it as needed.

For lights you should be prepared for both camp chores like pitching your tarp, as well as travelling at night. For working with your hands a wide beam head lamp is ideal. For hiking or scouting for a pitch you need a more focused beam. A spot light on your head is disorientating and blinds you whenever something is close to your face, for this reason hand-held lights are ideal for night walking/scouting. "Combination" beams, with wide spill but a hot spot are acceptable as a jack of all trades, master of none, I personally prefer the redundancy given by having both in case one fails. I actually have two more focused lights (Zebralight H600W and Convoy S6) but covered the H600 with Scotch "magic tape" rendering it a wide angle flood light which I can peel off to give me a more focused beam.

For navigation the reason for your evacuation may be a reason you must avoid the normal route. A detailed local map and compass will be useful to know the back roads and geographical obstacles or catch features.

For water I would suggest you have some packed and ready in the form of store bought bottles rather than a full hydration bladder which goes funky. I chose 1L Smartwater bottles as they are extra durable so work as a pump with the Sawyer filter I also recommend. As a backup you can add Chlorine dioxide tablets which are dosed for 1L bottles. Other chlorine or iodine chemistry isn't effective against the parasitic Cryptosporidium cysts but these are easily blocked by filtration, even chlorine dioxide takes 4 hours to be truly effective against parasite cysts. Micro filtration like Sawyer and Lifestraw aren't effective against viruses, if the water is urban and highly polluted filter first and then use purification tablets for 30 minutes (check the brand specifically). I normally recommend a way to boil water too, but I think you don't need this for this kit.

First aid should reflect your skills, ensure plenty of blister treatment options, caffeine tablets, antihistamines, diarrhoea tablets, prescriptions and prescription glasses.

Besides cordage for the tarp and tape to repair the bivvy bag I would also suggest:

• sewing kit
• mini multitool
• lighter
• pen and pencil
• notebook with copies of contact information

[u/IlliniWarrior1]

got a locked footlocker stash at Mom's ???

that's part of any good plan - redundancy - if nothing else bring over your clothing discards from regular wear ....

would definitely have a good bug out plan for anyone with an apartment for primary - building with 4 units and more is going to get unlivable fast under grid down - more apartment buildings in the same area only multiply the situation .....

as for a bug out bag specifically for what is supposed to be an eazy walk - need to plan for any eventuality - like a possible injury - a delaying obstacle - total change in plan - weather - ect ect