How to Put Your Bag to the Test
Howard Ruff once said, “It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” This quote has truly shaped the way I view everything in life.
Preparedness is far too important to ignore for a second longer. If you don’t have your ark built, or rather, your survival bag ready to go, your life can be in danger.
By now you should have a decent bug out bag, and now it’s time to make sure it is ready for its task.
Think about if we ever get attacked (especially with the policies of some of those lefties in congress), how well will your bug out bag hold up?
This is not something you want to find out partner, so always make sure your bag is up to the task.
To get a good idea of how well your bag works, go on a weekend camping trip. Try to be out there for at least 72 hours, but even just a night or two a month can help a ton.
You don’t have to go full survivor (as fun as it sounds), but take it slow at first. You’ll gain more experience each time, and maybe have a little fun with it as well.
The aim of the trip is to use everything in your bag, to identify any problems you may have, or if you are missing anything important. It will also help you see if there is anything you might not need.
Trips like these have shown me things I would have never thought of before. I remember a good example when I was out west hunting a few years ago. I hunted all day (killed my biggest deer ever that day), and pitched a tent that night.
Now, some of you may know how cold those desert nights get. Naturally, I decided I needed to start a fire. Well, turns out my flint fire starter did not work, and the lighter I bought from the damn gas station didn’t work either! This was the trip where I learned that matches are also a key to survival!
To make it a bit easier for you, I made a list of things I always do each time I am out in the hills:
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- How is the weight of the bag? Is it too heavy, or can you add more?
- Does my water purification work correctly?
- Is the amount of food brought sufficient?
- Do all my fire starters work correctly?
- How easy is my shelter to put up/take down?
- How is my endurance? (a.k.a am I in shape)
- Have I tested each item in my bag, or are there items I can take out?
Being prepared is the key to your survival. I don’t think I can stress this enough. Please continually check your bag compadres, and always keep looking for ways to improve it.
Remember to have fun out there though, as this can also be a great time to enjoy the outdoors and live life a little.
Take a fishing pole out there too, and catch a few fish for your pal Jules.
Defend, Survive, and Prosper!
Jules Courtney
P.S. – Writing this post has given me an idea. I’m going to grab my bug out bag, and take a week long hiking trip. I’ll be taking notes each day, and I’ll write a post soon to detail the experience! Stay tuned!