Category: Phillosoph

Survival Library: Chapter 9, Jack-Knife Cookery

Post author By losophyp
Post date 12 April 2025

Roll back to the start of this century, and you would have found me practising cookery in a mountain hut in the middle of Iceland.

I had found myself part of an impromptu group hiking over the mountains.

While most of my companions tucked into their freeze‑dried rations, I busied myself cooking my dinner in my Kephart‑inspired cook kit.

I do not remember exactly what I was cooking, but it was based around some rice. Among the foodstuffs I carried was included rice, flour and “Alpen” (a brand of muesli).

Cooking a meal from base ingredients was considered to be somewhat eccentric by my fellow hikers. It was, however, admitted that my meal looked far more appetising than theirs! I was probably carrying less weight of food too.

The following day, a beautiful German girl scrutinized by every move with great interest as I improvised an Alpen bannock, cooked in my home‑made folding handled frying pan.

Carrying flour and knowing how to make use of it on the trail I can attribute directly to my acquisition of “Jack‑Knife Cookery” by James Austin Wilder.

Not to be confused with an inferior book of similar title by the “Woodsman’s Thong” (!)

The real Jack‑Knife Cookery book was first published in 1929, but has undergone several reprints. My copy dates from the twelfth printing from 1965.

Written for boy scouts, this book begins by proposing a scenario where you have only flour, raw meat and a jack-knife. How would you go about feeding yourself?

The reader is then introduced on how to cook “twister” and “kabobs”, both of which may be cooked on green sticks over a “plug‑hat hole” fire.

From here, Wilder introduces the reader to cooking dampers and other foods, cooking on or in coals, “Imu” cooking, how to cook vegetables without a pot, mixing without a bowl, how to cook in a billy, making stews and many other useful subjects.

All of this is illustrated with Wilder’s own drawings and anecdotes/“yarns”, so is clear and highly readable.

Having fed the inner (young) man and grabbed the attention of the reader, Wilder moves on to discuss camping and related topics.

This is 1920s’ style, of course, so of interest to anyone who understands that they may have to survive outdoors without Goretex, GPS and freeze‑dried rations.

The third part of the book logically drifts into survival and emergency advice, peppering it with additional recipes and cooking techniques, including fun stuff such as boiling water in a glass bottle.

One oddity is Wilder’s alternative to Morse Code.

The section on friction methods for starting fires is entertaining, if not as technical as that in “Northern Bushcraft”. This section includes a story about using a fire‑plow/fire‑plough, a technique many survival manuals do not bother to include. There is also a “sawing” friction method using sections of bamboo which I do not recall often seeing in other works.

This book has been a great influence on many young outdoorsmen, myself included.

To this day, I may sometimes be found in the kitchen mixing flour and sultanas together when I feel peckish.

Jack‑Knife Cookery is a great book. I treasure my copy, which sits in pride of place on my shelves next to “Camping and Woodcraft”. I thoroughly recommend adding a copy to your survival library.

Now the bad news. I have been unable to locate an on‑line or Kindle copy of this book. The only search engine hits I get are dodgy sites with bad English that want your credit card details first, so steer well clear of those.

Printed copies may be found, although on‑line prices tend to be high. I have seen copies offered for as little as $30, so shop around before you part with hard‑earned cash.

If ever a book should be preserved on Internet Archive, it should be this one! If anyone reading can make that happen, make it so.

Phillosoph

Survival Library: Chapter 8, John Wayne

Post author By losophyp
Post date 4 April 2025

Trivia: I share my birthday with John Wayne. Some years, a TV channel will schedule a day of his films. Good, unpretentious entertainment! That is me sorted for the day!

I once watched something where a character declares “I try not to have high expectations. I am, therefore, seldom disappointed. Occasionally, however, I am pleasantly surprised!”

That is not a bad philosophy, and I was reminded of this when I began to read “The Official John Wayne Handy Book of Bushcraft”.

This could be really bad, have hidden pearls, or just be a bit of a giggle.

Firstly, I will answer a question I usually save until the end of these reviews. This book should NOT be used as a primary survival guide. Some fields are omitted, others lack adequate detail.

Some of the content was useful. There is a section on dealing with a riptide, which is not a topic I have seen in many manuals,

Each section is only a few pages long, so I expect much of this content was originally an article in “The Official John Wayne Collector's Edition” magazine.

Many of the sections only deal with a single topic or subject, such as a single type of knot or a particular type of campfire. That works well for certain topics and is a presentation style I may experiment with.

In other places, the treatment of the topic is rather brief, and in a few places additional illustrations would have been useful. The latter is odd, since in general the book is quite well illustrated, both with drawings supporting the text and photos from Wayne’s films.

Tools

The book starts with a section on how to make a variety of tools using primitive means. No mention is made of the risk of silicosis from stone knapping. Improvise a nose and mouth covering when making stone tools. Eye protection, if you have it, is also prudent unless you are a big Rooster Cogburn fan.

Several places in the text you are told to hit the back of an axe or knife blade with a stick or stone. Do not use a stone! The technique is called “batoning” for a good reason.

If you made yourself a stone knife as suggested at the start of the book, hitting it with another stone will waste hours of your careful work!

The section on making a whistle was disappointing. Acorn cups may be quite hard to find in certain seasons and regions.

The section on making a bow shows the first finger hooked over the top of the arrow, which must result in considerable friction.

Correctly, the book advises that hunting with a sling requires a vast quantity of practice. Incorrectly, it says the weapon is also called a “slingshot”. [Wikipedia also gets this wrong!] Sling and slingshot are quite different weapons using quite different principles.

Knots

The chapter on knots deals with one knot per section.

In some of these sections more information on the application of such knots might have been useful.

For example, the Alpine Butterfly knot is covered, but no mention of the quick and handy way this may be tied.

The section on the half hitch actually shows two half hitches in the illustration.

Food and Water

The chapter on food and water mentions water tapping from trees, which some survival manuals neglect.

Distilling water using sun, a bottle and a soda can

The edibility test is described in detail, but no mention is made of prioritising the test for foods that are most abundant in the area.

There are sections on line and rod fishing and fish trapping, but no mention of night/trot lines. The latter section could have used some illustrations of various fish traps.

There is a section on “knife hunting” with a caution on how dangerous it will be and the high likelihood of injury.

Use the knife to cut a stick and make a spear. If in terrain where there are no sticks, you are unlikely to get close enough to use a knife, anyway.

Fire

The chapter on fire I thought was quite good. Some fire‑lighting techniques not often covered, with some useful illustrations.

Some discussion of various types of campfire. Uses for charcoal, and emphasis on properly extinguishing your fire.

Wet rocks in a fire may explode into fragments, not “shrapnel”, which is a different thing.

I would still recommend reading the fire discussions in Kephart and Northern Bushcraft, however.

There is a section on using a Mylar space blanket as a reflector for your fire. This is a legitimate application, but perhaps some mention should have been made that a higher priority use for such an item is waterproofing your shelter roof or wrapping yourself.

Shelter

The chapter on shelters was much less satisfactory. It starts with a description on how to cut down a tree because it may be where you want to make a camp! Camp somewhere else, yahoo!

You are told to hang a hammock using a figure eight knot, but no real explanation nor illustration.

Building a raised bed suggests using logs for the short side. Two long logs with shorter sticks between them seems far more practical.

There is a description on how to make a five foot diameter teepee. Not sure what for. I could not lay down in such a space, let alone someone John Wayne’s height!

One of the illustrations incorporates ideas such as using natural windbreaks such as rocks, but seems to show the bed laid perpendicular to the fire.

There is a lot about this chapter I feel could be improved.

One error that really has me scratching my head is that in several sections the authors describe shelters made with “poncho liners” when they clearly mean ponchos.

You would think a retired Green Beret and a SERE course graduate would know the difference.

You would think that the editorial staff of the magazine might have picked this error up.

You would think some of the readers of the magazine might have written in about this obvious error the first time it appeared.

To confuse a liner with a more external layer is itself a really bizarre mistake for native English speakers to make!

“Make a map” could have mentioned that birch bark or similar and charcoal could be used to make a portable map.

The section on tying a tourniquet talks about an overhand knot, but clearly shows either a reef/square knot or a pair of overhands.

Another objectionable section is the recommendation to shoot any snakes on sight!

You should not kill anything unless you have a legitimate reason. This saves ammunition, if nothing else.

As a later section notes, most snakes will not bother you if you leave them alone. If there is a danger of stepping on a snake, carry and use a walking staff.

At the end of the book is an advert for a survival training school where both authors work. The various points raised above do not really form a recommendation.

After finishing this book, I started browsing “The Official John Wayne Handy Book for Men”. This begins with some bushcraft information. I found this description of making a bow and arrows better written. Some of the other articles on the same topics are also superior.

It mucks up the illustration of how to identify the North Star, however.

Tags book, book review, bushcraft, library, survival, survival library

Phillosoph

British Army Mess Tins

Post author By losophyp
Post date 30 March 2025

Many decades ago, back in my student days, I was cooking something one weekend. I had decided to make a sauce to go with my meal, so I needed to brown some flour.

Running short of pans, I put into service a set of British Army mess tins I had with my collection of camping items.

As the flour browned, there was a sudden flash of silver. What looked suspiciously like molten solder appeared at the bottom of a pan! British Army mess tins

Needless to say, I decided to do without my sauce, and the mess tins too.

It was many decades before I even considered getting another set of British Army mess tins. Authors such as Kephart had sold me on the wisdom of having a cooking vessel you could hang above a fire when needed.

I was in no hurry to get a new set, since I don’t actually rate the design that highly.

One website gloated that a design that has been in service for 70 years must be good, oblivious to the fact that they had already noted the 37-pattern replaced a design that had been in use for 150 years. Sadly, armies often keep bad stuff in service for a long time too!

About the only virtue of the British Army mess tins was they were a good shape to fit inside a pouch or rucksack side‑pocket.

Given the tendency of many soldiers to overload their belts, that is a questionable virtue at best.

However, I felt that my series of articles on mess kits was not really balanced unless these the British Army mess tins were included.

The British Army mess tins were introduced as part of the 1937 pattern equipment. Prior to this, the British soldier had used a D-section pail-type mess kit much like that which continued to be used by most other armies.

Interestingly, the mess tins were originally intended as a pack-carried item rather than belt kit.

Early issues of the 37 pattern were aluminium.

During the Second World War, a version made from tin-plated mild steel was issued to conserve aluminium reserves for other purposes such as aircraft manufacture.

Around 1944, aluminium mess tins began to be issued again, and this is the material that has been used for post-war issue.

There are minor differences between the pre-1944 and post-1944 aluminium, but for convenience I will call both 37/44 pattern.

When researching this blog, I came across someone trying to sound clever saying they preferred the stainless steel version when they could find them. There was no stainless steel British Army 37/44-pattern mess tin issued.

Many British Army influenced nations copied the design.

The Indian version was oval and had the handles on the longest side. This may have been more practical with respect to handling and cleaning.

Another notable variation was the Australian version, which had sideways-folding handles and was shallower. Australian mess tins

Copies, often of less quality materials, were also manufactured. For many years I assumed that this was the explanation for my melting example. Now I learn more about the topic, I wonder if I had purchased some wartime tinned examples. I seem to recall they may have had “fullers” in the sides.

I recall reading that the way to identify a “knock-off” was to try to push in one side. If it popped out again, it was legit. If the dent stayed, it was not.

Tales from the Supply Depot is a good source for the variations between different models. He offers the advice:

“These tins are very easily available, having been made continuously for over seventy years, and can be bought for a few pounds- the metal is far thicker and better quality than the cheap copies sold in camping shops so even if you are not a collector it is more sensible to invest in a second hand military set rather than a new civilian set as these are almost indestructible!”

Tales from the Supply Depot

Description

The 37/44 pattern consists of two rectangular pans with folding handles and rounded corners. One pan is slightly smaller than the other and will fit inside the larger. The smaller pan may be carried either bottom up or bottom down.

The pans actually look larger and bulkier than I recalled. The smaller one will comfortably hold a litre of water. The larger pan also takes a litre. You can squeeze nearly 200 mls more in, but the water level will be impractically close to the rim.

The capacity of my set is actually less than the capacity quoted by some vendors.

The two tins nest, although that is not so welcome if you do not have time to clean the outside of the smaller one.

Sometimes the larger tin was carried in the large pack and the smaller tin in a belt pouch or in a smaller backpack.

Some soldiers just made do with a single tin.

Supposably, the metal of the thin handles is a poor conductor of heat, so may be held without the need for gloves or bandana. I would be very cautious trying that.

The handles have no locking mechanism. If moved in certain directions, the handles of the mess tin will suddenly fold, usually dumping the tin’s contents.

Use

In the field, the mess tins were mainly used as simple water boilers.

They were either used to make tea, or to heat up the canned items from the 24 hour “ratpack”. For the latter duty, the cans were placed in the mess tin, water poured into the remaining space and brought to a boil for a few minutes. Using the hot water to make a drink was not recommended since it was contaminated with whatever was on the outside of the cans.

While I was shopping for a set of mess tins, I was bemused to see some vendors claiming they were “easy to clean”.

Many an old soldier would dispute that!

The corners were hard to get clean and the issued hexamine stoves often left the bottoms sooty and covered with hard to shift partially burnt fuel residue.

While “nesting cook kit” sounds like a good feature, the outsides of the inner vessels need to be very clean otherwise they contaminate the insides of the outer pots. You can wrap the inner vessels up, but this may make them too bulky to nest.

Using the mess tin just for water did cut down on some of the cleaning.

This was not the case when a unit was fed from a field kitchen. The mess tins were often the only receptacle available.

Some interesting culinary combinations were experienced as dessert was piled on top of the remains to the main course. Irish stew with custard, anyone?

The mess tins are probably a little large for the uses they were actually put to. That may be why the Australian model was of a lower capacity. The side-folding handles of the Aussie version are a clue to another flaw of the original.

The 37/44 mess tins cannot be hung over an open fire, like the “European”-style pails. The European mess tins are effectively small buckets, while the British mess tins are awkward to carry tea or water any distance.

The British Army mess tins are mainly designed to be used on stoves.

There are ways to use them over an open fire.

Flat‑topped rocks may be employed, although likely to be wobbly.

Bricks or logs with the top hewn flat are another possibility.

Three or four 6 inch nails can also be used.

If you let your fire burn down to coals, pots may be placed directly on the coals.

Digging an L‑shaped hole in the side of a bank and building the fire at the bottom is another option.

Lids for Mess Tins

Combined with the Esbit cooker, the mess tin was not noted as particularly efficient.

The black build up on the bottom of mess tins was common, which may suggest incomplete combustion from using too much fuel.

Often the smaller tin was used as the boiling vessel and the larger tin placed over it to act as a lid.

It was not long before some companies started offering purpose built lids that could be used with the issue mess tins. These could also be used as frying pans, some examples even having non-stick coatings. One company even went as far as offering the mess tins with non-stick interiors too.

Back around the 1980s, many soldiers and survivalists regarded the mess tin lids as an essential bit of kit.

It is rather surprising that such lids are now hard to find.

I have seen a non-stick set of mess tins, but it is not clear if these have the same size and proportions as the issue items.

Lids are much harder to find. I have only found one place offering them. The price was actually quite reasonable, so I purchased an example to test out for this review. Modern mess tin lid

The interior has a black coating, which may be non-stick. I have yet to cook with this item and find out if this is the case.

I got distracted by trying to fit the lid on the mess tins. It would not fit. The lid actually seemed to be a different shape to the large tin.

Careful measuring confirmed that the lid is exactly the same length as the large tin!

The rim of the lid was actually irregular. Perhaps it took a few dings going through the post, but the length of the bottom is still too small.

My current mess tins lack any numbers or identifying symbols, so may not be actual army issue, despite what the seller claimed. On the other hand, they appear brand-new rather than used. Their dimensions seem correct, however, so I suspect the fault is with the lid.

Careful use of a ball-peen hammer reshaped the lid rim so it is slightly bigger than the large tin. This also removed some of the black coating near the edges.

I can fit the lid over the large tin, but when the smaller tin is packed inside the lid will not stay in place unless packed inside a snug 85-pattern water bottle pouch. The handle of the lid is also very tight, and scores the outer surface of the lid when it is pulled out.

Definitely room for a better executed version!

Conclusion

Many regard the British mess tins as a classic. I am not one of them.

Personally, I think the British Army 37/44 pattern mess tin lacks versatility as a field cooking vessel and is somewhat oversized for the uses it is put to.

They are a good illustration of how the needs of a soldier may be very different to a camper or prepper who lacks a comprehensive support infrastructure.

There are some similar smaller cooking vessels that are commercially available, some with lids that fit!

I notice certain vendors are offering “Crusader Mess Tins”. This is an oval shape so hopefully easier to clean. It consists of a single pot with a lid/flying pan. I don’t know if these have become an official issue. The name is an obvious attempt to associate it with the Crusader canteen cups.

Mess Tin Survival Kit

In the first of my Survival Library posts, I recommended Lofty Wiseman’s “SAS Survival Handbook”.

As well as describing the tobacco tin-based survival tin, Wiseman also suggests a “survival pouch”, one of the main components of which is a mess tin into which most of the other components are packed.

Many readers will know that I have a number of criticisms of the traditional survival tin.

I don’t like all my eggs in one basket, nor do I want to carry emergency items by a means I am likely to be separated from. Jackets get taken off, bags get put down. That is why a certain proportion of my gear is in my trouser pockets and pouches on my trouser belt. This is more comfortable than a lumpy tin crammed in a pocket.

One of the criticisms of the survival tin is that the useful stuff it does have, it does not have enough of.

You could do worse than empty the contents of the survival tin into a mess tin, then add greater quantities of the useful stuff. You will need more than a handful of fishing hooks and matches. Why not join the 21st century and carry a lighter rather than matches? A space blanket, whistle, signal mirror, candles and a fresnel lens are all good additions. A mess tin in a pouch can pack a lot of genuinely useful emergency gear.

A mess tin can heat-treat a genuinely useful quantity of water.

The downside of this idea is that a mess tin-based kit is of no use if you stow it in your pack. You have to keep it on your person, and since it is somewhat bulky, this may not suit many of you.

Tags camping, cook-set, cooking, equipment, mess kit, mess tin, military, survival kit

Phillosoph

Debugging Your Bug-Out Bag: 4 Other Stuff

Post author By losophyp
Post date 29 March 2025

So far, this series has dealt with shelter, sleeping, clothing, food, water and cooking.

In what will probably be the final part of the series, I am going to look at a few other considerations.

Many of my other recommendations will echo those in my articles on foundation survival kits.

Making a List, Checking It Twice

In Part 2 I mentioned grabbing fresh food from the kitchen and adding it to your bag.

Realistically, it is not likely that everything you will want will be ready packed in your bag.

There may be important documents or personal items you will want to take with you.

There may be things you will want to do before you leave, if time permits. Turning the gas and water supply off will reduce the damage to the house that might occur while you are away, for example.

Sit down, and make a list of things you will want to do before bugging out. List things you will want to add to your bag, and their location. Then leave your list for a day or so. Other things are bound to occur to you.

Then reorganize your list by location. In the kitchen, you will need to do this, and this, and take this, for example.

Once you are happy with your list, sleep on it, then add anything else that occurred. Print it out in large font.

You may be stressed and hurried if you have to use it. Make it clear and easy to read.

Radio

Many BOB lists suggest having a radio receiver so that you may listen to weather reports and other emergency broadcasts.

For obvious reasons, such a radio should not be too heavy or bulky.

Examples that use a hand crank power source and/or solar charging are available. Many of these also act as flashlights and phone chargers.

If the device has solar charging, you may want to come up with a way to carry it where it gets its required dose of sunlight.

Make sure that any design you buy can receive the emergency broadcasts for the region and country that you will be operating it in.

Flashlight

You may have brought a 1000 candlepower “special forces” tactical flashlight that can survive a nuclear blast and immersion in the Marianas trench.

It won’t be much use if the battery is flat.

At least one of your light sources with your bug out bag should be hand cranked.

Fire

Have a fire kit in your pack. This will supplement the fire kit you carry on your person, some of which will be part of your EDC.

Hexamine blocks have a very long shelf life, so having a pack in your bag as firelighters or as an alternative fuel is a good idea.

The alcohol gel for your stove may also be used for firelighting.

Tools

Your survival knife(s), penknife etc should be carried on your person. The small pouch in the photo above contains a sharpening stone and a fire kit.

A hiking pole or staff is worth having.

The pack carries tools that are less often needed. Unless you are in the jungle, your machete will likely ride in or on your pack until needed.

If you live in the colder, wooded latitudes, an axe may be more useful than a machete. A three quarter or Hudson Bay model is often suggested as a good compromise between utility and portability.

Digging tools are carried in the pack and only transferred to one's person when use is expected.

A crowbar is useful in urban areas, and makes a passable digging stick.

As advised in Part 2 of this series, carrying some lengths of cordage of various types and sizes is prudent.

Wash Kit

Since we are talking about a 72 hour scenario, our wash kit should be very basic.

Toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, half a bar of soap, one razor, perhaps a small plastic mirror and a microfibre flannel.

That is all you really need in a 72 hour emergency scenario.

All this will fit in a small drawcord mesh bag.

Fit the bag in a small sandwich box and you may use the box as a wash bowl.

A tenugui or microfibre towel rides elsewhere in the pack so that it can dry.

We are trying to keep our load light, so consider a children’s toothbrush, a cut down adult brush or one of the travel toothbrushes. Some of the latter come with a really tiny tube of toothpaste!

No shaving foam, you can use the soap. It is debatable if you actually need the razor in a 72 hour emergency scenario. You probably won’t be attending any job interviews!

You can survive 72 hours without shampoo (or use the soap!)

A stick of deodorant, however, may be appreciated if you share your shelter!

A supply of feminine hygiene items may need to be included in your BOB. These have alternate uses such as fire lighting or as wound dressings.

First Aid

Suggestions for first aid kits for bug out bags often go over the top.

I have seen recommendations that a bug out bag include a full stainless steel surgical kit, a couple of reference books on medicine and surgery (680 pages between them!), diethyl ether, saline solution, a thermometer and so on.

Your first aid kit is mainly there for cuts, grazes, sprained ankles and such.

My own travel kit, which I have used for trips of more than three weeks (504 hours!) is shown here. The lice comb may not be necessary for a 72 hour kit. I hope to never need it!

Some disposable gloves in a Zio‑lock bag and a CPR face shield might be useful additions.

Robert dePugh stated that the basis of a good first aid kit was water purification tablets, aspirin, soap and a toothbrush.

In addition to pain relief, aspirin can treat fevers, inflammation and cold and flu symptoms.

Soap is in your wash kit. It is a far better antiseptic than hand‐sanitizer or most other things you are likely to have available.

Use Soap and Water
Yes, Soap Is Better than Hand Sanitizer
No, Soap Is Not Infectious!

The toothbrush is probably also with your wash kit.

Some water purification tablets should be carried on your person, others with one of your water containers.

To that list I would recommend adding some plasters, alcohol wipes and a roller bandage.

A twisted or sprained ankle is no fun when you have a backpack, hence the roller bandage. In addition to conventional plasters, have a few feet of elasticated plaster tape that is useful for the minor cuts to the fingers that accompany careless knife use.

A little tin of Vaseline is also useful for chaps and chaffing.

Both the Vaseline and alcohol wipes may assist in fire lighting.

A snake bite kit should be carried where venomous snakes are a likely hazard. Have a bee-sting kit if anyone in your party is allergic.

If you expect combat, you should have shell dressings, a CAT tourniquet and an CI-IFAK kit, but these items are more useful carried on your person, not in your pack.

I am of the opinion that any activity that involves knives and hand tools should have some plasters readily available.

Likewise, any activity where guns or bows are involved should have some shell dressings and similar nearby.

If you take any personal medications, place them on your list and add them to your bag or clothing pockets when you bug out.

Your “internal medical kit” should be “fully stocked”. Ensure all relevant vaccinations are up to date.

Paperwork

Have a roll or two of toilet paper.

Put each in a Zip‑lock bag to keep them dry and carry a tube of hand‑sanitizer with one.

Your hand‑sanitizer should be 60 to 95% alcohol, both for its antiseptic properties and to ensure it is flammable. Sanitizer and toilet paper are both possible aids to fire lighting.

In addition to the items in the bug out bag, have a Zip‑lock bag with a number of paper napkins or sheets of toilet paper on your person. I have this in the right cargo pocket of my trousers.

Books

Whether to take any books in your BOB is up to you. Most books claimed to be “ideal for your bug-out bag” are nothing of the kind.

My travel emergency kit does include a pocket edition of the “SAS Survival Handbook”. Greenbank's “The Survival Handbook” or “AFM 64-5” are good alternatives.

A book on identifying edible plants in your area might be considered.

Repairs and Spares

Repairs and Spares were described in the article on rucksack packing.

You do not need the bulky “housewives” offered by some merchants.

You just need a couple of needles, already threaded with a metre or so of invisible thread. A couple of safety pins. A couple of rucksack buckles. A few metres of electrical and duct tape. Perhaps a couple of buttons, a neutral-coloured cloth patch and a tube of super glue. All these fit in a little Zip‑lock bag.

No need for folding scissors. I have a penknife with scissors on my belt and another on my keyring.

For heavier repairs I use dental floss. I have a reel of this in my EDC and also some in my wash kit. Ensure one of your needles has an eye large enough to take dental floss and thicker materials you might improvise.

Other items to include in your bug out bag: spare compass, goggles/sunglasses, spare glasses, plastic mirror for signalling, whistle, ear plugs, notepad, sunscreen, insect repellent.

Some of these items are backup or spares for items carried on your person.

A few extra space blankets may prove useful. Find room for several large plastic bags (clear are most versatile), and some additional Zip‑lock bags.

To Part One

Tags bug-out, bug-out bag, fire kit, medical, medical kit, survival kit, survival knife, survival tools, toothbrush, wash kit

Phillosoph

Survival Library: Chapter 7, The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide

Post author By losophyp
Post date 28 March 2025

Today’s review is for “The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide” by J.Wayne Fears.

I had not planned for this to be the next review. I got looking at a copy and burned right through it.

One of the merits of this book is that it is highly digestible. I read through it in a single (admittedly extended) lunch break.

This book is written specifically for outdoorsmen who might become lost in the woods. The premise is that such individuals are most likely to be found within 72 hours of the search being initiated.

Preparation

The first few chapters, logically enough, deal with preparations before your trip to ensure that a search is conducted should you not return by an expected time.

Give an itinerary to a responsible individual [or better still, several!].

A similar account of your intentions might be placed in a plastic bag and left under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle you used to reach the woods. Give it a label such as “For Attention after 24th April…”

A list of useful advice to include is given, including giving the make and sole pattern of the footwear you are wearing, which will be useful to trackers.

Although not suggested in the book, this idea might be extended by including a photograph of your actual boot soles. (Putting a worn sock in for the tracker dogs may be going too far, however!)

There is a brief summary of how a search and rescue may be conducted. I found the version of this in “Desert Survival” better.

Later in the book, how to deal with a member of your group going missing is covered, which is a subject many books do not cover.

Survival Kit

The section on survival kit does show some originality and fresh thought. He advises that one prepares for three unexpected extra days to any trip.

Fears’ personal, “two pound” kit is given as:

◦ (Coghlan’s) Tube tent

◦ Strike-anywhere kitchen matches in waterproof match safe

◦ Flashlight

◦ Fire starters [hexamine fuel blocks?]

◦ Signal mirror [Star Flash]

◦ Police whistle [actually a Fox 40 is suggested in the text]

◦ MPI Emergency Space bag

◦ Parachute cord – 50'

◦ Aluminum foil – 36" x 36"

◦ Insect repellent [sachet]

◦ Water purification tablets

◦ Pocket Survival Guide [Fears’ book]

◦ First Aid Kit

◦ Gallon Ziplock bag.

These items are in addition to a belt knife, map and compass, GPS, water canteen, personal medication and cell phone/two-way radio.

How this kit is carried is not made clear, other than it is packed inside the gallon zip-lock bag, which may also be used as a water carrier. [I suggest you reinforce the seams with duct tape]

The bulk of the kit would suggest that it is in some form of daypack. Some emergency items are best carried on one’s person should the daypack and survivor part company. A lot of my basic kit is in my trouser pockets or on my trouser belt.

The somewhat misnamed “tube tent” is an item not often included in survival kit lists. It seems to be a reasonably priced and useful item.

There are variants that have silver Mylar lining, and/or doors at the end. The silver-lined versions should probably be turned silver-side out in desert conditions.

Since the plastic is impermeable, condensation in these tube tents may be an issue if there is not a flow of air. However, one would want to partially block the ends to reduce draughts on the sleeper(s).

Leaves or similar could be piled underneath for more padding and insulation when sleeping.

Drip-wicks added to the suspension cord are recommended.

Fears echoes my own view that an emergency is no time to rely on gadgets or primitive skills to provide you with fire.

Fears suggests replacing the matches often since they “have a short shelf life”. This is not a concern that I have seen in other books.

My kitchen drawer has matches that must be more than fifteen years old and that still light. Perhaps out in the damp woods it is different, but a match safe that is genuinely waterproof should have some influence.

As regular readers know, I prefer a butane lighter or two and some candles for no-nonsense fire lighting.

While the Star Flash mirror is recommended in the book, other items will serve just as well without the high price tag.

Water purification tablets and insect repellent are sound additions, although oddly he only packs a single sachet of insect repellent alongside a whole bottle of purification tablets.

A small bottle of insect repellent would last several nights, and be very welcome should your stay be extended. Some insect repellents may be used for fire-lighting, remember.

The space bag is like a Mylar space blanket, but a closed bag. These used to be fairly common, but nowadays it is hard to find anything except the foil blanket.

A space blanket or two is a good substitution, and a blanket is somewhat easier to vent.

Heavier foil lined bags with a green or orange outer are on sale. These resemble an All-Weather blanket I have carried one of the latter in my daysack for decades. The blanket configuration is probably more versatile. It can be made into a cloak against the rain, for example.

Fears’ suggestions for a personal pocket first aid kit are much more practical than those in some other publications. I would suggest adding some aspirin and alcohol wipes. Aspirin may be used to reduce inflammation, reduce a fever and reduce the symptoms of colds or flu. Used alcohol wipes may be used for tinder.

In accordance with the book’s basic premise, there is no attempt to teach the reader navigation.

Wandering around can greatly hinder the efforts of a search party.

Fears notes that topics such as navigation and first aid are better learnt on a course or by deeper study than can be provided by a book such as this.

STOP

STOP, as in “Sit, Think, Observe and Plan” is advocated for readers who become lost or encounter a similar emergency.

While other books have different translations of this acronym, it remains sound advice.

As I was once told, “Don’t just do something, sit there!”

This section works well with the later section on dealing with fear and panic.

There is also some lip-service paid to “will to live” and “positive attitude”, but no real practical advice on this topic.

Signalling

The section on signalling has some good advice, such as avoid noisy areas such as waterfalls if you intend to use your whistle. If static, I would see what objects around the camp may be used as improvised drums.

Instructions on how to use the signal mirror reproduce those on the back of the Star Flash (which neglects to mention that you should move your forward hand as you move the mirror to aim it in a new direction!)

There is also an illustration of someone lying on their back and using a mirror, with no explanation of why this is being done. See here and here for information on the use of heliographs. Using a Heligraph

Fears notes that a CD/DVD may be used as a reflector and already has a sighting hole. I am sceptical as to whether a sighting hole is really needed in a heliograph.

Most of us have some CDs or DVDs that have stopped working or that we do not want (remember AOL?). These can be cut to a pocket-size and shape by placing them in a freezer or warm water for ten minutes before cutting. Cover the back with some duct tape, since they may be fragile.

Glue a pair of CDs label to label for a more robust item that is mirrored on both sides.

The book also claims the “X” is the universal ground to air signal for help. Most other sources give the meaning of this symbol as “unable to proceed”, “unable to move” or “require medical assistance”.

“V” is more commonly used for “require assistance”, and easier to construct on the ground than “SOS”.

Too Brief in Places

While the book is easily digestible, some of the sections could have been greatly improved by one or two more lines.

For example, there is a section on removing ticks, but no mention of saving them in a plastic bag for later identification and testing to assist in prevention of any long term consequences of bites.

A photo caption describes using “your knife to get into the dry wood found in the center of a damp log”, but there is no explanation that what is being shown is a stick being used to baton the blade into the log.

The section “When There Is No Repellent” could have used some mention of materials such as pine oil that may be used as improvised insect repellents.

Similarly, the sections on fire, sleeping and shelter could have used some additional passages.

While a rock overhang can provide shelter, heating from fires underneath have been known to cause rockfalls.

The section on snow shelters could have used some mention of some of the improvised digging devices a survivor might use: vehicle hubcaps, plank of wood split from a log, digging stick, snowshoes, frying pan, billies etc.

Water

The chapter on water I had the most issue with.

Carrying plenty of water purification tablets is sound advice, although it is odd the same kit that packs a whole bottle of tablets has only a sachet of insect repellent to last the whole unplanned stay!

We have the flawed advice about boiling water for ten minutes, complete with the old chestnut complaining that boiled water has a flat taste. That is not going to be one of my major concerns if stuck in the woods for a couple of days!

Halazone and iodine are no longer recommended for water purification in the field since they do not affect certain organisms.

It is also claimed that water filtration devices make water safe to drink. They don’t! Viruses are too small for these devices to filter out, so chemical or thermal treatment of the water is still needed.

It would also have been appropriate to describe the Indian/Seepage well in this section.

Food — Not a Necessity

The book does not attempt to teach trapping, fishing or identifying edible plants, since Fears points out a few days without food is not likely to be fatal.

The plant edibility test is reproduced, but lacks the stipulation that this should only be used on plants that are abundant in this area.

It is worth bearing in mind that “most people found within 72 hours” requires the outdoorsman to be overdue or authorities to receive some other notification before a search is launched. If your plan was to be in the woods a week or more, you could be roughing it for some time before anyone starts looking for you. Some of the stories in the book used for illustration have the survivor being in the woods for much longer than 72 hours before being found.

Tending a trot-line and building some traps may be a good way to occupy yourself while you are waiting. Animals often shy away from human activity and recent disruptions to their environment, so it may be some time before your traps get anything. Better to make them before you get hungry!

And if you are stuck in the woods, it is worth learning which trees have edible inner bark or can be harvested for sap.

The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide is a quick read, and has some useful content.

Its chief strength is that it makes a survivor aware of their obligations in a rescue operation. These may be summarized as “Stay Put”, “Make Yourself Comfortable” and “Make Yourself Visible”.

It is, however, overly brief in certain sections, and in some places out of date.

You will need a lot of the knowledge in the books previously reviewed for this series to make best use of the content within.

Tags book, book review, books, cold weather, survival library, survival manual, woodcraft

Phillosoph

Survival Library: Chapter 6, Northern Bushcraft

Post author By losophyp
Post date 25 March 2025

The taiga or boreal forest is the Earth’s largest land biome.

Many of my readers probably live in this area, so some recommendations for survival in these regions is warranted.

With this in mind, the next book reviewed for the Survival Library is “Northern Bushcraft” by Mors L. Kochanski.

Note that this book may also be encountered simply entitled “Bushcraft”.

Some copies include a section of colour photographs at the end of the volume.

I was actually surprised to reach the end of the book and discover Kochanski was a Canadian. The early chapters seemed to have a Scandinavian vibe.

In my previous review I commented that many survival manuals are “much of a muchness”. Many seem to be clones of FM 21-76 with a few embellishments by the author.

Northern Bushcraft is another book that takes a different approach. It does not cover as many topics as a typical survival manual, but those it does cover, it covers in greater depth than is usual.

Logically enough, the book begins with firecraft.

Most survival manuals mention the friction fire drill. Some even suggest that you cannot be a “proper” survivalist unless you can light a fire with this device.

Kochanski goes into much greater detail regarding this device. He discusses how different components require different properties and which woods are most suitable for their construction. There are numerous other useful tips and advice on this subject.

If you have struggled with friction firelighting, or just want to get better, this chapter is well worth a read.

Various other fire-related topics are covered. Particular emphasis is given to ensuring a fire is really extinguished and will not ignite long after you have left the area.

“Stone Rimmed Fire Places. A common, though unnecessary practice, is to ring open fires with stones. This practice is based on the claim that the stones confine a fire and make it safer, yet many forest fires are in fact traced to such fireplaces. There are, however, justifiable uses of stones in a fire: to store warmth in a closed shelter: to support pots when no other means arc available: and to produce steam for a steam bath or a steam cooking pit. Rocks used without good reason arc needlessly defaced and, unless they are scattered after use. leave a permanent marker of the campfire. A stone fireplace also requires more effort to cool, and the stones that are not moved aside can harbour hot spots that may start a forest fire.”

An interesting tip on cutting fish along the backbone rather than the belly for grilling.

The following chapters are on Axecraft, Knifecraft and Sawcraft, and each treats its subject in considerable depth.

Bearing in mind he also packed a full-sized axe or a hatchet, Kochanski recommends a small fixed blade knife. “One of the best methods in preventing the loss of a knife while carrying it is to use a deep sheath and wear it around the neck to be constantly aware of the knife’s presence. When the knife is not in use the sheath is tucked in the shirt.” Kochanski was to become a fan of Moras.

The chapter on “Bindcraft” mainly deals with constructing cordage from natural materials.

The Sheltercraft chapter returns to some of the ideas introduced in the first chapter.

Sleeping outside at minus 40 (Centigrade or Fahrenheit, minus 40 is where the two meet!) requires an understanding of both fire and shelter construction!

As a change of pace, the next chapters discuss the various uses that many of the common trees and shrubs in the northern forests may be put to.

The final two chapters discuss the moose and the varying (aka snowshoe) hare. The trap designed to prevent the hare biting through snare lines is not one I have seen in most other books. It has the merits of being both simple and ingenious.

The colour section is nice enough, although I have some reservations about the text where it mentions medical uses by indigenous populations. These things are often romanticised. If tinder fungus really is a remedy for cancer, I think we might have heard more about it!

In my previous review, I noted that “Desert Survival” contained many ideas that were useful even if you were not prone to venture into dry sandy places.

“Northern Bushcraft” is similar, in that it includes many skills and topics of information that have more general applications.

“Northern Bushcraft” is a recommended addition to your survival library.

Several copies of the older edition of the book are available on Internet Archive.

Tags book, book review, books, cold weather, desert, survival library, survival manual, woodcraft

Phillosoph

Debugging Your Bug-Out Bag: 3 Clothing

Post author By losophyp
Post date 23 March 2025

Conceivably, the need to bug out may occur when you are in the shower, or snug in your bed.

You will need to wear something other than your current garb! (Although admittedly pyjamas seem to have worked well for the Viet Cong!) Polycotton Long-Johns

In previous articles, I have talked about having an outfit to bug out in. These may either be kept with your bug‑out bag (BOB), or in your BOB and changed into when there is time.

At the very least, you should have a good coat and pair of boots near your bag. Packing these items in your bag will take up space you could use for other items.

Your boots should be in good condition, but broken in.

It is not a bad idea to have a pair of socks with them, ready to put on. Socks may be used to form a “nightcap” over the top of boots to hinder the entry of scorpions and other critters. A plastic bag over the top keeps the moths from feasting on your good wool socks.

It is wise to give your boots a good shake before putting them on anyway.

I suggest a good coat rather than a jacket. I intend to use my desert parka, adding the warm liner if needed.

Some books suggest your main coat or jacket be a breathable waterproof. These may be insufficiently breathable or hot in warm weather. If you wear your waterproof all the time the chances of it getting damaged are higher, and they tend to be very expensive!

In anticipation of its use, various useful items are already packed into the pockets of my parka. These are not EDC items, but supplements to the EDC items I carry in/with my trousers.

Parka contents include: neck-gaiter/headover, scrim scarf/veil, merkalon gloves, compass with sighting mirror, plastic mirror/heliograph, wire-saw, space blanket, cotton string/tinder, butane lighter. On a neck cord with a ferro-rod and striker are a whistle, snap-link and photon light.

Typically a warm hat, bandana and keffiyeh is nearby.

Various items from the BOB are likely to migrate to the parka or trousers so they are more accessible.

Also with the bag I have a hip‑belt with my kukri, Mora, sharpening stone and a small fire kit mounted on it.

Clothing

This topic of clothing to keep with your bug-out-bag I have previously discussed in my blog on “Dressing for Bug-Out”.

This blog will concentrate on what clothing to have in your bag.

A bug‑out bag is intended to support you for 72 hours, so you will not need that many changes of clothing.

On the other hand, wind, rain and sun can kill you in a few hours if your clothing is not suitable.

How much clothing to carry when travelling light?

Opinions differ here.

My theory is that you should have at least one complete change of clothing, since you should expect an unexpected dunking.

Some soldiers wear one set of clothing during the day and change into their alternate set to sleep, letting the day set dry and air. Kephart suggested a similar strategy.

Have a Change of Clothes

It is not practical to carry a spare parka, but a spare shirt/tunic and trousers will take little room inside a pack.

You should have two sets of undergarments, a “wear and a spare”, appropriate for season and climate.

Thermal underwear is great when it is really cold. Under most conditions it will have you sweaty and miserable. Have intermediate options.

Socks

One of the first clothing purchases for your bug-out bag that you should make is to invest in three or four pairs of good quality woollen socks. You will get nowhere without your feet.

Four pairs let you change into a drier pair whenever necessary. You may double up if it is unexpectedly cold. Two pairs of medium weight socks will be warmer than a single extremely thick pair.

A couple of extra (cheaper?) pairs of socks are worth the weight and may be tucked into various locations to pad other gear, stop things rattling etc.

For very cold conditions, have two pairs of boot insoles and alternate them. One pair airs and dries while the other pair is worn. Punch a hole in them so you can tie them to something when airing.

Similarly, sew loops of ribbon to your socks so they may be tied to the outside of your pack while drying.

Rain Poncho

Have a rain-poncho or two. If your poncho is in a pouch or has a pocket, keep a couple of lengths of paracord with it. These will be handy when rigging your poncho as a shelter.

If it is very windy, one of these cords may be used as a belt for your poncho.

I always have a couple of spans of bootlace or cord in my left trouser pocket, and these may be used with the poncho in the same fashion.

Accessories such as hats, scarf and gloves may make the difference between comfort and catastrophe. Have spares!

Gloves

You should carry protective gloves and warm gloves. Glove liners are useful when you need more dexterity or it is especially cold.

When the wind is high or the mercury low, losing a glove can be serious. Have a spare set of gloves may save you using spare socks as mittens.

Sew a loop of ribbon, webbing or elastic to each of your gloves. You can attach them to your coat cuffs using a safety pin. This is probably more secure than the clips sold for the same purpose.

Or tie the gloves to a cord run down your sleeves and across your shoulders.

Headwear

Hats are another item it is wise to carry spares of. Extra woolly hat or headover in the cold, extra hat with brim in sun. In some parts of the world you may want a rainhat!

Pack a watch-cap with your sleeping gear as a nightcap.

Don’t let the wind steal your head-coverings! Buy a metre or two of elastic and add hat-straps to the hats that do not have them.

Carry several bandannas (some on your person) and a spare keffiyeh or scarf, depending on climate and season. Bandannas are another practical way to stop gear rattling, and serve as water filters, havelocks, oven gloves etc.

Eye Protection

Your bug-out bag should include goggles and/or sunglasses. In some environments these will be very important, so have spares. In such conditions carry one set on your person and your spares in your bag.

Hi-Viz

I prefer my clothing to be neutral or natural shades.

There will be times when you very much want to be seen, however.

A hi-viz jerkin with reflective tape weighs little and packs up small. You cannot really use this while wearing your poncho, so I would also recommend an orange or red cap or woolly hat.

There are hi-viz rucksack covers that increase your visibility when viewed from the rear. These might not fit if you have a lot of gear on the outside of your pack. In this case, have a panel of hi-viz material and reflective tape with ties that may be knotted around your rucksac straps.

This panel may be used as a flag to attract rescuers to your camp site.

If walking along roadways, walk on the side of oncoming traffic.

Part 4

Tags boots, bug-out, bug-out bag, bug-out outfit, clothing, keffiyeh, poncho, poncho-liner, rain-poncho, survival kit

Phillosoph

Survival Library: Chapter 5, Desert Survival (Lehman)

Post author By losophyp
Post date 13 March 2025

“Desert Survival” by Charles A. Lehman was one of the first books I thought of including when I began the “Survival Library” series of blog posts.

Not surprisingly, this book concentrates on survival in a desert environment!

There is, however, plenty of sound advice relevant to other environments, so you can only be commended if you are flicking through a copy sitting in a hut near one of the poles.

Two Priorities

Lehman gives the survivor two priorities:

The first is “looking after your body”.

Secondary to this is “getting rescued”.

The primary threats to your body in the desert are identified as hyperthermia, dehydration and hypothermia. Some of these are, of course, concerns in other environments.

Chapters on shelter, clothing, fire-lighting and medical emergencies, among others, all relate to looking after your body.

Advice on getting rescued includes a useful account of how a search and rescue (SAR) operation will conduct a search, and steps a survivor may take to help (or unintentionally hinder) an effort.

This is information not included in most survival manuals, so the book is worth reading for this section alone.

Survival Kits

Another very good section is the advice given on putting together your own survival kit.

His advice is similar to what I have been repeating on this blog for decades: Avoid gimmicks and gizmos, don’t put all your eggs in the same basket, and have some vital items on your person, not in a pack or jacket you might put down “just for a moment”.

The survival kit/outfit suggestions are more practical than many I have encountered. I would recommend the addition of some space blankets and a compass to the personal items. To the suggested vehicle kit I would also include some duct tape, since it is more effective for certain tasks than electrical tape.

To my mind, the section on shelter was a little brief, and I feel some mention of double canopy shelters would have been appropriate for a book about surviving deserts.

Sun, wind and rain can kill you quicker than thirst.

Like many authors, he recommends the use of woollen clothing, with little consideration given to just how high a price tag often comes with such an outfit these days. Some discussion of alternatives might have been given.

While I no longer have enough hair to really justify carrying a comb, apparently I can use one to remove cholla cactus!

Pilot Outfitting

Advice given for pilots includes:

“Diversity of environmental problems complicates the "What to Wear" problem for pilots and passengers in light aircraft. Fortunately, there are some ways to cope with it. One of the easiest answers is to wear a flying suit like military pilots do. The utter utility of multi-pocketed coveralls is hard to beat.

With a good quality flight suit as an outer layer, even a business suit becomes an acceptable survival garment for moderate temperatures. If you fly over really cold areas, carry a set of the quilted type of insulated underwear. They weigh very little and offer super protection.

In really hot weather the suit will protect you from the sun and scorching rocks or sand. Try to find one that has side zippers, as well as the one in front. They allow you to ventilate the suit better.

With a flying suit, insulated underwear, and a good hat, you are nearly prepared for a survival situation, but you will need boots. This is the only clothing item that's really a weight problem. If pounds are critical in your aircraft, I would recommend wearing boots instead of shoes when you fly. That way the additional weight is insignificant. There are sturdy boots available that are dressy enough to wear with a business suit.”

To echo another desert survival manual (Air Ministry Pamphlet 225): “always fly in the boots in which you intend walking home.”

The medical section is clear and simple, grouping likely problems under eleven headings, distinguished by means of treatment. This would be a good section to photocopy and carry with a first aid kit.

A minor criticism is that the illustration of pressure points (aka “digital pressure”) seems to omit many of the points on the limbs. Add a copy of a better diagram, such as in “SAS Survival Handbook” or FM 4-25.11/FM 21-11.

Some of these medical sections are very brief, so the would-be survivor should have done some background reading about each topic.

The chapter on playing “What If?” nicely rounds off the book.

This book would not be my sole read for survival, even if my particular priority was desert survival. It is never wise to trust a single source on any subject.

The book is very much orientated towards North America, so some additional background reading would be advised if heading to sandy places elsewhere in the world.

I would recommend adding this book to your survival library, since it nicely supplements the titles suggested in Chapter One.

Many survival manuals can be “much of a muchness”, which makes them rather a chore to review, if nothing else.

Desert Survival is highly readable, and the different approach of this manual is refreshing, which probably helps you retain more of the information.

A very nice feature of this book is that it crams in a lot of useful information into just 81 pages. That is very welcome, given so many manuals run to hundreds of pages and can be heavy going.

This book is available to borrow at Internet Archive. Please support Internet Archive!

Tags book, book review, books, desert, desert survival, survival library, survival manual

Phillosoph

Debugging Your Bug-Out Bag: 2 Sustenance

Post author By losophyp
Post date 8 March 2025

Food and Cooking

A bug-out is not going to be three square meals a day with a choice of ice cream flavours!

For a bug-out bag, most of the food should be capable of being consumed without cooking. A significant part should be food you can consume on the move.

Long shelf-life without the need for refrigeration or freezing is a priority.

MREs are an expensive and somewhat bulky way to stay fed for 72 hours. You will also be lugging around weight and junk you do not need such as multiple spoons, instant coffee and chewing gum.

Soldiers often strip down their MREs before a patrol. Vast amounts of fuel and money could be saved if many of these items were not included in the first place!

Stripping down the MREs for a bug-out bag beforehand is not really practical since you will violate the packaging and affect the shelf-life.

Possibly the best feature of MREs is the provision of flame-less heating pouches.

There are lots of other foods that meet the above criteria, many of them available down the supermarket. I suggest you read DePugh’s comments on food selection.

Some possible things to provision your BOB include:

Dried or semi-dried food such as sultanas, apricots and banana flakes.

Matzos.

Rolled Oats/Porridge: One of the few grains that can be eaten without cooking.

Cured or smoked sausage.

Tinned meats such as Spam, corned beef etc.

Trail mix (has a relatively short shelf life, but use it if you have it).

Home-made Jerky (a good stock of the store bought stuff may be expensive, so make your own!)

Cereal bars.You can make your own.

Lifeboat Biscuits.

Pinole (easily made from polenta).

Parched rice.

Malt barley.

Note that many of these are “go-foods” which may be consumed on the move.

If you are not in immediate danger, add fresh foods you may have in the house. Priorities are fruit, cheese, bread, jams, butter, and cooked meats.

Carbs, fats and sugars: The end of the world is no time to keep to the diet!

Carry a bag of hard candy/boiled sweets. One of these can give you a quick boost when you are flagging.

Don’t waste space and money on vitamin supplements. Vitamin deficiency is not going to be a major threat in 72 hours!

While carrying a bug-out bag and its contents will consume energy, many reading this will be used to eating larger meals and more frequently than they need to. You can go a lot further on less than you might think.

In addition to the above, you may wish to put together a “brew kit”. In certain conditions hot liquids are much more than just a morale boost.

Have tea bags and coffee bags. If civilisation is ending you don’t want the last thing you drink to be yucky instant pseudo-coffee!

Add some variety such as hot chocolate mix, stock cubes, packet-soups and even some blocks of instant noodles.

If water supplies are a concern, sugars and starches take less water to digest than fats. Eating tends to stimulate thirst. Eating less food if water is restricted is usually prudent, and appetite is often reduced in vary hot weather, so the quantity of food may be reduced in favour of more water.

Many of us are carrying extra weight around our middles, so a couple of days on light rations will not harm us. A couple of days without adequate water will!

Boiling Water

Even if you do not carry a brew kit, some means to heat water to render it safe to drink will be needed.

This is another area where bad advice is common. I have seen recommendations to boil for twenty minutes and allow to stand for another twenty! The WHO standard specifies a rolling boil for ten minutes.This is not a strictly scientific criteria and is deliberate overkill. (This criteria may have been updated since I was educated!) Ten minutes is not really practical if your fuel supply is limited.

Generally, your actual requirement is to pasteurize your water (kill pathogens) rather than sterilize it. This may be done by heating water to 65°C for six minutes. More practically, since the pasteurization process is exponential, bringing water to a rolling boil (100°C) for a few seconds has the same effect. That is how humans have been pasteurizing water (and making tea) for thousands of years.

I am a qualified microbiologist (be it an old one!), but don’t take my word for it, do some research of your own. Many sites on solar cooking have information on water pasteurization and SODIS, and may have links to scientific papers on the topic.

A European mess kit is a better choice for cooking and boiling than a canteen cup. It will treat a more useful quantity of water and may be hung above a fire. It may also be used as a bucket to fetch water, collect berries and similar.

The interior of your mess kit may be packed with your brew kit and other items.

I would not recommend carrying your stove and fuel inside your cooking vessel, even if bagged up.

A mess kit or canteen cup is a pack item, not belt-kit.

Stove

A stove will be needed for when a fire cannot be used.

Alcohol gel stoves are probably the best option for your bug-out-bag.

Some of these resemble small paint cans with a pot stand. Other models of stove, such as the Crusader cup stoves, mini-Trangia and Trangia Triangle will work with either alcohol gel or solid fuel blocks. The Trangia stoves and the Esbit folding stoves can be modified to use gel by adding a metal dish for the fuel. Some solid alcohol blocks work with the standard Esbit stove.

Solid fuel blocks or gel may also be used to help light more traditional fires.

Other designs of stove, pot support or burning dish are easily constructed.

You may use your stove while the pot handle hangs from a stick or other support. This is useful when your cooking space is not totally level, or your pot is likely to get knocked.

Air Ministry Pamphlet “Desert Survival” 225:

Paragraph 11. “The following items, in addition to water, should be carried if possible: heliograph, signal pistol and cartridges or flares, a small reliable compass, maps (indicating roads and sources of water if possible), tinted flying goggles or sun glasses, head covering, knife, matches, salt tablets, a minimum of concentrated emergency rations, first aid kit, anti-burn cream, torch, warm clothing (for use at night), and.a pair of strong boots. A useful maxim to bear in mind is “always fly in the boots in which you intend walking home”.

Water

You will need some means to carry water, the quantity depending on climate and availability. In arid and semi-arid conditions water is one of your priorities. In the jungle or Pacific Northwest there may be more water around than you care for.

Water consumption should not exceed water loss. When water supplies are a concern, minimize water loss. “Ration Sweat”. Cover your head and exposed skin. Stick to the shade. Hike or work at night.

When water is scarce, priority is for drinking rather than washing or cooking. Washing should be restricted to washing wounds and cleaning the hands before eating or medical procedures.

Each litre of water you carry will weigh one kilo/ 2.2 lbs, not including the container.

A water bladder with a drinking tube is recommended, since it allows you to drink on the move without needing to remove or unpack your pack. Stay hydrated!

A hydration pack is a water bladder with carrying straps, so it can be worn as a small pack when you are not wearing your rucksack. The hydration pack should either fit in or onto the outside of your rucksack when you are wearing the latter.

You only really need one bladder with a drinking tube in your bug-out-bag. The rest of your water may be carried in containers such as large soda bottles, which saves a few pennies. Refill your water bladder from the soda bottles as needed.

There are various pros and cons regarding keeping the water bottles in your bug-out-bag already filled.

Firstly, any water kept for an extended period should have a few drops of unscented bleach added to it. This sterilizes the water and harmlessly decays down into water and hint of salt over time. I would not keep water in water bladders when they are not in use.

Plastic components leaching into the stored water has been raised as an objection. According to scientific studies this is a very minor worry. If a nearby volcano or the local nuclear plant is about to blow, this may be fairly low on your list of worries!

There may not be time to fill-up your water bottles before you go. The mains water supply may have been cut off, or toxic waste dumped into the water supply by your friendly local industry may be the reason you are evacuating.

Filling the bottles in your bug-out-gear in a supply of water you stored for the purpose has been suggested. Presumably some people intend to use non-plastic bottles. Finding non-plastic storage bottles larger than a litre may be difficult. That may be a lot of bottles you will need to find room for!

Obviously, if storing water long term, use water that is as clean and clear as possible. Preboil it if possible. Reoxygenate it as described on the SODIS protocol before topping up and adding bleach or purification tablets.

Leaving the filled and sealed bottles standing in strong sunlight for a day or so will not hurt.

While most of your water should be in your pack, you should have a reserve on your person to carry when you are away from your main pack.

Hydration packs or canteens with slings are good, but there will be temptation to put them down. Slings or carrying straps may get caught on undergrowth and branches.

A canteen in a belt pouch may make sloshing noises that will give your presence away or alert game. A water bladder in a belt pouch may be a better option.

Smaller bottles, such as the US pilot’s flask (One US pint) can be carried in a large pocket.

With your water supply you might decide to carry a dew-sponge, length of plastic tube, and a bandanna/cloth to be used for initial filtration.

Your bug-out-bag should have a good supply of water-purification tablets for instances when you cannot heat treat your water. Get the sort intended for travellers, where a single tablet treats one litre of water. Some varieties treat 5 or 200 litres per tablet!

Water purification pumps are possibly not necessary for an individual travelling light in a 72 hour scenario, but useful for a squad or group or for a longer trip. Such water will still need chemical or heat treatment. Filtration will remove many harmful organisms but cannot remove all viruses.

Recommendations for trapping and fishing gear for a bug-out bag can also get quite extensive.

In many bug-out scenarios there may not be time or suitable conditions for trapping and fishing. Trapping and fishing involves staying in an area for some time, when in a bug-out travelling may be a priority.

My EDC includes a six-span length of braided fishing line and 22 hooks on nylon. If I was expecting to venture into the wilds, I might add some additional gear to my EDC. I will talk about that another day. Today I am discussing what to carry in your bug-out-bag.

Brass wire suitable for making snares may be used for repairs or for other purposes, so a ten metre coil has a place in your bug-out bag.

A generous amount of braided fishing line also has many other applications. You might as well pack whatever was left on the reel once you had constructed your EDC fishing lines.

Some advise to also have a spool of light monofilament or flurocarbon line for when fish are shy of a braided or heavy line. All my hooks are on nylon and in a survival/bug-out situation I am most likely to be night fishing, so I expect line visibility will not be a major problem.

It is not a bad idea to fill the nooks and crannies of your bag with various types of cordage: ball of cotton string, bundle of bankline, hank of paracord.

Fishing hooks and lures cost little and take up little room, so have a good supply. They will be no great burden even if you do not have a chance to use them. All should already be tied to nylon leaders or fitted with snap-swivels.

A bundle of wire leaders will be useful if you find yourself lucky enough to be fishing for bigger, sharp-toothed fish. Long leaders may also be used as snares.

I am a little dubious about carrying fishing rods and other items intended for active angling. There are easier methods for catching fish. If travelling the most likely technique will be setting a night line while sleeping.

A fishing gig and a net are useful if you are certain that you will be fishing.

Most gigs I have seen have a screw fitting. You will need to modify this so you have a socket that may be mounted on a stick.

In Brazil, my girlfriend would use a net she called a “pulsa”. Her description sounds like a circular lift net, but it would be thrown out over the water like a frisbee and then hauled back, effectively trawling. Similar nets fold up to a size compatible with a large pack.

As far as active hunting goes, you may not have time if the emergency requires you to move fast or travel far.

All the chaos and human activity may make game shy, or they may have bugged out themselves before humans woke-up to the danger.

A hand catapult takes up little room in a bag, although you may have little opportunity to hunt with it. It could be useful in driving off aggressive dogs.

A .22 hunting rifle may not see much use either.

In a 72 hour bug-out scenario, other human beings are likely to be more of a problem than hunger. This should be figured into what firearms you decide to take with you.

Part Three

Tags bug-out, bug-out bag, fishing kit, food, hunting, mess kit, mess tin, survival kit, water, water purification

Phillosoph

Debugging Your Bug-Out Bag: 1 Sleep Tight

Post author By losophyp
Post date 7 March 2025

There are literally hundreds of books and websites telling you how to put together a 72 hour kit/Bug-Out Bag (BOB).

Generally I have tried to address less common topics.

Having recently seen just how bad some of these BOB suggestions are, I now feel inclined to share some thoughts and suggestions on a few topics.

If you are putting together a Bug-Out Bag (BOB) I suggest you first have a read of Robert DePugh’s observations on food and gear.

Then have a browse of Kephart’s Summer and Autumn Outfits. Several chapters of Kephart’s book are well worth a read before progressing.

Kephart’s mentor Nessmuk has several passages that provide further insight of what could be achieved more than a century ago:

"Fine woolen cassimere of medium thickness for coat, vest and pantaloons, with no cotton lining. Color, slate gray or deadleaf (either is good). Two soft, thick woolen shirts; two pairs of fine, but substantial, woolen drawers; two pairs of strong woolen socks or stockings; these are what you need, and all you need in the way of clothing for the woods, excepting hat and boots, or gaiters."

"My own load, including canoe, extra clothing, blanketbag, two days’ rations, pocketaxe, rod and knapsack, never exceeded 26 pounds; and I went prepared to camp out any and every night." [Including canoe!]

"I made calculations on losing the trail the first day, and being out a full week. The outfit consisted of rifle, hatchet, compass, blanketbag, knapsack and knife. For rations, one loaf of bread, two quarts of meal, two pounds of pork, one pound of sugar, with tea, salt, etc., and a supply of jerked venison. One tin dish, twelve rounds of ammunition, and the bulletmolds, filled the list, and did not make a heavy load."

AFM 64-5 (1952) advises:

Don't overload; a 25-30 pound sack should carry all you need except in the Arctic in winter. Try to carry as many of the following items as possible: matches or lighter, candle, compass, necessary maps, airplane first-aid kit, notebook and pencil — all in waterproof containers — machete or stout knife, water, food, signal mirror, sunglasses, watch, small bottle of gasoline, gun and ammunition, wire or shroud lines, extra socks.

Arctic: In the winter, in addition to the essentials recommended above, carry a sleeping bag, parka, mittens, snowshoes, or skis, and mukluks. In summer don't forget mosquito netting and repellent, extra clothing (socks especially) and shoepacs. Wear sunglasses when sun is high on snow surface. Keep feet dry, summer and winter.

Desert: Water is the most important factor in desert survival. Carry along all you can — even at the expense of leaving behind some food and other equipment. Take along a piece of parachute to serve as a sunshade during the day; carry some extra clothing for the cold nights.

Tropics: The most useful aids to travel in the tropics are a machete, to help cut your way, find food, make a raft; a compass, for maintaining direction; a first aid kit, to keep you going in the face of fever and the risk of infection; stout shoes, that will save your feet and enable you to walk out; and a hammock.

Greenbank also recommends a 30 lb load, although he may have been influenced by AFM 64-5.

The US DOD definition of “manportable” is that an item is less than 14 kg/31 lbs. Of course, many soldiers get lumbered with several “manportable” items along with a heap of other gear!

Your bag may be heavier than this, but it is a good target to aim for.

How to pack a rucksack I have described previously. Ideally, you want a large pack, packed light. The sleeping kit suggested belowis bulky, but relatively light. The mass of denser items carried above it helps compress it.

I will work on the common premise that a bug-out-bag is designed to keep you going for 72 hours until you reach safety or an emergency response has been organized.

I will limit myself to bag contents. Elsewhere I have discussed what to have with your bag..

Sleeping and Shelter

If you do not already have a rucksack you intend to use, it may be prudent to assemble your sleeping and shelter gear before you purchase your rucksack.

Your goal is a roomy pack, lightly packed.

How much room your sleeping and shelter gear takes up, and how you carry it will influence how much other stuff you take with you.

I hear of soldiers and some outdoor types omitting their sleeping gear and resigning themselves to being uncomfortable and having a bad night's sleep. This is not really advisable.

We spend at least a third of our time sleeping. Not getting a good sleep may very adversely affect our performance when awake. You may need to be at your best!

Poncho Liner or Blanket

At the very minimum, you will need a blanket or poncho-liner. These may also serve as a warm garment, and may be modified to better serve in this role.

A blanket or poncho-liner may be combined with other sleeping items for additional warmth.

In a tactical scenario a blanket or poncho-liner will keep you warm but may be immediately discarded if necessary.

Many soldiers who “rough-it” could have simply thrown a ponch-liner over themselves.

This conjures up a nice image of the first sergeant doing his rounds and tucking in exhausted grunts. Aww!

Sleeping Bags

Unless you live in the tropics, you will need to have a 1 to 2 or 2-season sleeping bag and a 2 to 3 or 3-season bag for colder conditions. Select which best suits the anticipated conditions.

Which to buy first? Let the current season be your guide.

When it is colder, the bags may be used in combination with each other, and/or with the poncho-liner/blanket.

If you want your BOB ready to go at a moment’s notice, have the sleeping bag appropriate for the current season packed in your rucksack while the other “rests” uncompressed. This will prolong the life and performance of your bags.

Supposably, down bags pack smaller and are more tolerant of being compressed for long periods of time.

If you live where it is more often wet than cold, a synthetic bag may be a better choice.

Select according to your budget and local conditions.

A sleeping bag liner keeps your bedding cleaner. There are silk and fleece versions that may increase the temperature range of your sleeping system.

Your sleeping kit should also include a pair of sandbags or similar. If you have to sleep in your boots, cover your boots with the sandbags.

Have a woolly hat or headover to serve as a nightcap.

Kip Mats

The ground will probably be cold and wet at night. A kip mat costs little and will make a big difference to your comfort.

There are alternatives such as self-inflating mattresses. It is debatable if the expense is justified if the item is permanently to be kept in a BOB.

A rolled kip mat does not need heavy duty straps. I used a couple of polyester ribbons and buckles for one of mine. If you know your basic knots as you should, you can use a length of cord. The cord may be put to other purposes while the mat is in use.

Kip mats are often rolled and carried strapped to the outside of a bag. Unless kept in a camouflage sack, they compromise your camouflage.

They are also somewhat vulnerable in this position. Many soldiers do not bother carrying them since they are likely to be ripped away while the rucksack is hung on the outside of a vehicle.

A rucksack that is large enough to accommodate a foldied kip mat is obviously an advantage. The mat provides additional padding against the back.

If you do lose your kip mat, try stuffing a bin-bag full of leaves or similar. Your rucksack should have half a dozen large bin-bags. They have numerous uses.

Bivi-Bags

Bivi-bags seem to get much less attention than they used to.

A bivi-bag will keep you dry and a little warmer when it is not possible to rig a shelter. The variants with a lengthwise opening are probably a little easier to exit in a hurry. For the same reasons, I do not recommend “hooped bivis”, which are actually tube tents.

When on the move, stick the bivi-bag in the bottom of your rucksack and cram your sleeping bag(s) into it.

Most bivi-bags are green or green dominant camouflages. They seem to spend a lot of this time on brown forest floors!

Poncho/Basha

When practical, you can use your bivi-bag in combination with a poncho or basha.

This keeps the rain from pooling on your bivi-bag and gives you some shelter when dressing or cooking.

You will also need pegs, some cordage and/or bungees. If it is really windy, you may need to peg down your kip mat and/or bivi-bag, so have enough pegs.

You will need some support poles for when Mother Nature neglects to provide conveniently located trees.

In the desert, or very cold conditions, use a double canopy above you for added insulation. A space blanket, spare poncho etc may be used.

Hammocks

If your evacuation will take you through jungle or wooded areas, a lightweight hammock may prove handy.

Potentially, a net hammock can be used to fish, although the holes are on the large side in many examples I have seen.

Nets may also be used to catch rabbits if you can “smoke” them out of their warrens.

Twisted, a hammock may serve as an emergency rope.

Locations where you might use a hammock often also require mosquito netting. Biting insects can be a concern in colder latitudes too, however.

Tents

A poncho shelter gives you good situational awareness, which is prudent if bad people might try and take your stuff or do stuff to you. Emergencies are likely to bring out both the best and worst of humanity!

In some climates or seasons a tent is necessary.

Single person tents tend to be cramped, so you will probably end up rigging a poncho shelter in addition.

Crawling in and out of a small tent can be a slow process. If you need to exit a bivi-bag quickly, stand up and let it drop.

“One Plus One” tents are designed to be roomier for a solo traveller, yet can accommodate two people if they get on well.

If you intend to bug-out as part of a group, two-person tents may be warranted.

Dividing the components of a tent between two people is generally not a good idea. If a pair are separated neither has a complete shelter.

The exception to this are tents made from military shelter halves. Each half may be used as a lean-to.

One person should carry the full two-person tent while the other carries individual emergency shelter items. The tent carrier’s load may be lightened by their partner carrying a greater proportion of the food or water.

Part Two

Tags bug-out, bug-out bag, poncho, poncho-liner, rain-poncho, shelter, sleeping, sleeping bag