Backpacks

Regardless you and your family are having to bug out or going on a hiking trip, a good quality backpack can mean the can be the difference between a pleasant trip and a not so pleasant experience.

When choosing a pack, its important to pick the right one for your needs. Packs range from the buttpack for a day hike, all the way to packs big enough for a week long excursion.

When looking at a pack, take some things in mind. What will the pack be used for? Is it for a day hike, overnight trip, 2 day trip or week long excursion? There is no need in buying a 5,000 cubic inch pack and using it for a day hike.

When looking at a pack, take some things in mind. What will the pack be used for? Is it for a day hike, overnight trip, 2 day trip or week long excursion? There is no need in buying a 5,000 cubic inch pack and using it for a day hike.

Buttpack (also called fanny pack) – are good for day hikes when the person does not want to wear a backpack. Fanny packs are also a good option in hot weather. Instead of being worn on the back and trapping heat, the pack is worn around belt line. For people with back problems, this also gets the weight off the spine and puts it on the hips or waist line.

Daypacks – These are usually a little larger then the typical buttpack, worn on the back and when packed carefully can be either an overnight bag or a daypack. Packs this size are usually big enough for a hammock, water bottles, first aid kit, rain poncho, GPS, compass, topo map, Muilt-tool, paracord,,,,, – just enough gear to get you through an overnight camping trip. If your bringing a bed roll or a one man tent, it might have to be strapped to the outside of the pack.

With some experience, its very possible to pack just about everything a person would need into about 1,500 cubic inches for a pleasant warm weather / hot weather overnight trip. If the trip is going to be in cool or cold weather, then take those needs into consideration.

But for the most part, a daypack is designed for just that – a day hike.

Suggested Daypack Contents:

Snacks or MRE
Water bottle or canteen
Water filter or water purification tablets
GPS, compass and topo map
First aid kit
Rain poncho
cord
matches / fire starter
Signal mirror
Knife / multitool
Bandana

This video about the Maxpedition Falcon II Pygmy goes over some of the items in an overnight warm weather pack. Take out the sleeping gear, and you have a daypack.

2 day pack – The next size packs are the overnight bag or 2 day pack. These are usually a little larger then your typical daypack, and will sometimes have attachment points on the outside of the pack. The attachment points are for extra gear to be attached to the outside of the pack. An example of this would include a sleeping bag pad, or a bed roll that would not normally fit inside the pack.

The 2 day pack is usually large enough (and designed for) enough gear for a overnight trip. Most of the time there is enough room for a one man tent, or a hammock (depending on your camping preference), ground cloth, rain poncho, food, water, water filter, first aid kit, GPS, TOPO maps, compass, camp stove, eating utensils. Most hikers and campers that do not want to travel with the bare essentials usually pick a 2 day pack.

Some recommended packs:

Maxpedition Vulture II
Maxpedition Kodiak
Maxpedition Condor II
Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II
Maxpedition Noatak
Maxpedition Sitka

Bug out bag contents:

The Texas Department of State Health Services urges Texans to make sure they have grab-and-go items gathered in case evacuation becomes necessary.

People should bring the essentials, including:

* Food and water
* Cash
* First aid kit
* Phone chargers
* Hand sanitizer
* Extra clothes, shoes
* Pet supplies
* Prescriptions and backup medications
* Baby items
* Blankets, pillows
* Maps

People should also gather important documents and other items, including:

* Photo IDs
* Social security cards, birth certificates or proof of citizenship
* Computer files (hard drives, CD, DVD, USB drive, etc.)
* Medical records, X-rays, benefits documents, etc.
* List of medications with dosages, doctors’ phone numbers
* Duplicate prescriptions from doctor
* List of important phone numbers (family, friends, etc.)
* Financial statements, insurance and property documents
* Wills
* Copies of important keys