In our increasingly interconnected world, emergencies and disasters can strike without warning. From war, civil unrest and pandemics, there are various scenarios that may require a emergency evacuation better known as a Bug Out.
While we hope such situations never occur, being prepared and knowing how to respond is crucial.
If you're lucky, you have already fled the urban centers to your perfect Bug Out Location, however for many of us, urban survival is simply a fact that must be acknowledged and planned for accordingly.
Typically the best move is to make no move at all. To hunker down, to bug in and survive. However there are extreme cases where Bugging Out is the ONLY option.
Look at the current war in the Middle East. Imagine living in Gaza or Israel, always under the threat of destruction from rockets, bombs or artillery. Escaping is truly the FIRST idea that comes to mind. That's EXTREME Urban Survival.
In some cases, roads may be too damaged, clogged or dangerous to travel, which eliminates the four wheel option. Travel by foot could pose many issues, so the only option is two wheels.
Keeping this in mind, I created an Urban Survival strategy consisting of the bug out vehicle, survival gear and reconnaissance assets, namely a drone.
In this write up, we'll cover those components, a training evolution and a complete packing list.
The Kit
The 5 C's of Survival always apply no matter the environment, a survivalist will always need Cordage, Container, Cover, Combustion, and a Cutting tool. Then based on the mission, the survival kit will evolve accordingly.
1. Cordage: This is a vital asset that serve many purposes, I diversify my options with 100 feet of Milspec Paracord and Zip Ties. Depending on the mission, I may add bank line, climbing rope or related gear.
2. Container: In an effort to conserve space as much as possible, I ditched the standard stainless steel canteen for a collapsible bottle. When combined with the Sawyer Squeeze and the CNOC bag, I have the ability to filter large amounts of water and stay mobile in the process. As an extra layer of redundancy, I added Katadyn water purification tabs.
3. Cover: Shelter is a critical aspect of any proper survival kit and in this case I choose redundancy by selecting a poncho that doubles as a shelter. The tarp is ready for quick setup and tear down by keeping lines and stakes attached. Added bonus is the Mylar lining that hides the thermal signature and serves to reflect heat in cold conditions.
4. Combustion: When building a basic fire kit, I look to keep it simple with a Bic lighter wrapped in duct tape and ranger bands. The fire steel is good for 10k strikes and when combined with jute twine or Tinder Quik, a fire is a guaranteed. These items are stored in a airtight Loksack which is basically a Zip Lock bag on steroids. Pictured at the top is a general purpose tobacco tin that includes a sewing kit, compressed towels, batteries and more duct tape.
5. Cutting: Redundancy is key again for choosing the correct item(s) for this category. I chose my favorite current survival knife, the classic Spanish steel Aitor Jungle King. This blade is issued to Spanish special forces and is a gift from my late grandfather. Next to the blade is the Bahco Laplander folding saw and considering the urban context, a pair of Knipex wire cutters makes good sense.
Finally I added my two favorite EDC tools, the CRKT Utsidihi and Leatherman MHT multi tool (not pictured)
The BOV (Bug Out Vehicle)
The Rocky Mountain Growler is my go Bug Out Vehicle. when walking or driving is out of the question. By leveraging the bike, I can downsize the pack, distribute weight to a storage rack and ultimately be way better off than on foot. Maybe I'll upgrade to a dirt bike in the future....but what happens when you run outta gas?
I added a water bottle + cage, rack for the back, top tube pouch, trip computer and headlight. Nothing fancy for now until I go on longer expeditions..
The Drone
Arguably one of the most critical items in the bag, the drone. Excellent asset for obvious reasons, 30 minute battery life, tiny size and a very stable platform with an altitude cap of 4k meters.
Drones have leveled the playing field, giving anyone the ability to call in air support when necessary. Already on the black market, kits are showing up providing the ability to weaponize a drone to carry explosives.
Training Cycle
There is not enough knowledge that can possibly replace real world experience. Training is absolutely key to understanding your gear, the mission and how to execute on it successfully. Not training would be akin to purchasing a Formula 1 car and thinking that you are now magically a race car driver.
Listed below is the training strategy that enables me to be confident and aggressive in a real survival situation.
- Define mission scope
- Pack bug out bag
- Find and scout route
- Simulate bug out & be sure to have a 2nd goal of marking possible cache site.
- Mod survival kit and bag as needed.
- Return to cache the kit
- Simulate the scope of bug out 100% and pick up cache along the way.
Acquiring the experience is a process that requires physical endurance and high levels of intention and action. In a real escape and evade situation, physical fitness will play a big role in success or failure. The ability to remain calm and organized will have a big impact.
Overall, the correct gear, training and physical capability all factor in the survival equation.
It's important to remember that apart from tech-related items and specialized tools, the Urban list is basically identical to the packing list intended for Wilderness Survival.
Packing List
➡️ Technology
- USB Wall Plug: https://amzn.to/3jzsQtE
- Charging/Data Cables: https://amzn.to/3I4q2yT
- USB Armored Vault: https://amzn.to/3rZZ3vJ
- Power Bank (10k mAh): https://amzn.to/34MYdKj
🩸 Medical
- LTC Base Med: https://ltcreed.com/products/trauma-basemed-kit
- LTC Trauma Kit: https://ltcreed.com/collections/medical-kits/products/edc-pocket-trauma-kit
🛠️ Every Day Carry
- Paracord Bracelet: https://amzn.to/3i4A2xo
- Garmin Insight Solar 2: https://amzn.to/3s8Jp4g
- CRKT Utsidihi: https://amzn.to/476007I
- Eye Protection: https://amzn.to/2X5qe88
- Mechanix Gloves: https://amzn.to/351UpSd
- Condor Face Wrap: https://amzn.to/3Q58bd9
- Altima Maritime Assault Boots: https://amzn.to/3X0kNVg
- Condor Tactical Jeans: https://amzn.to/3Gcga3x
💦 Water
- Sawyer Squeeze: https://amzn.to/3Silkmb
- Vapur Collapsible Bottle: https://amzn.to/3FA1paL
- Katadyn Water Puri: https://amzn.to/3Sk1Opk
🪥 Hygiene
- Antiperspirant: https://amzn.to/2YQ3EAq
- Toothbrush/Paste: https://amzn.to/2LUo0mP
- Compressed Towels: https://amzn.to/2KM2Ryd
🔥 Fire
- Tinder Quik: https://amzn.to/3s0K6wB
- Light My Fire Firesteel: https://amzn.to/2KKt9kn
- 2xBic Lighter (Blaze Orange): https://amzn.to/3LOsY1R
⛺ Shelter & Protection
- Arcturus Poncho: https://amzn.to/3FxZXpk
- Arcturus Mylar Tarp: https://amzn.to/3FDdfRz
- Poncho Liner (Woobie): https://amzn.to/3ol24CV
- Large Trashcan Liners: https://amzn.to/3n87Aaz
- Shemagh: https://amzn.to/3hAFtiY
🎒 Packs & Pouches
- Haley Strategic Flat Pack: https://amzn.to/3QzqrwU
- SDS Molle II Waist Pouch: https://amzn.to/45LG7BD
🎯 Mission Specific Gear
- Binos: https://amzn.to/3pKgPzs
- FLIR Scout TK Thermal Monocular: https://amzn.to/2X2M3oZ
- DJI Drone: https://amzn.to/40djAMU
🧰 Tools & General Supplies
- Aitor Jungle King II: https://knivesaitor.com/en/product/jungle-king-2-3/
- Bahco Laplander: https://amzn.to/3IH3RNG
- Leatherman MHT: https://amzn.to/46OwLqf
- Knipex Wire Cutters: https://amzn.to/46SIBzx
- Milspec Paracord: https://amzn.to/3gVaLBL
🍴 Food & Cooking
- Jack Links Beef Jerky: https://amzn.to/3rMBe8D
- Mixed Nuts & Dried Fruit: Grab your favorites from the local grocery.
*pro tip: Brazil nuts mixed with dried fruit are nearly 800 kcals for two servings. - MREs (Field Stripped): https://amzn.to/3o2LVSh
- Organic Survival Bars: https://www.organicsurvivalbars.com/
- SIS Energy Bars: https://amzn.to/3hIdUnV
- Animal Proof Storage Bags: https://amzn.to/3VyuEQJ
🧭 Navigation & Mobility
- Suunto Wrist Compass: https://amzn.to/46UwdiI
- Field Book: https://amzn.to/3oVptNt
- Rite In Rain Pen: https://amzn.to/3WDbCKv
- Cyalume VisiPad: https://amzn.to/3GuOaJM
- Maps: Printed from AllTrails.com
🔦 Signal & Communications
- Petzl Headlamp: https://amzn.to/3naUOYC
- Cyalume Sticks: https://amzn.to/2LgwcQR
- Streamlight Protac Flashlight: https://amzn.to/3tR80Ls
The Survival Outpost can also be found on Youtube, Gab & Rumble.
