This is a sort of re-write of an older post on specialized items and ideas for your Bug Out Bag (BOB) or other survival kits. Sometimes we need to think outside the box, or plan for real life disasters that could happen during an evacuation. Obvious things like a flat tire could slow you down or not so apparent things like spare house keys for someone arriving after an event. Do you really want to leave your doors unlocked or have to break in to get a forgotten item? Other things are for counter-surveillance, repairs, or often overlooked items. Planning for the unknown is as important as planning for known hazards. Weather, chemical hazards, earthquakes and the like are more common scenarios….but what else can happen? Terrorist attacks, riots, psychotic gunmen, looters, even roving groups of refugees; many things happen that people do not plan for.

Please post your unconventional or specialized survival kit items as well. No illegal gear please.

• Spare Keys to Home, Car, & Work- It is really expensive to call a locksmith in the middle of the night, let alone a huge disaster or evacuation. Spare keys to home, cars, and businesses will save hassle, and possibly help someone arriving late or bugging out in a separate vehicle. Keep keys on person, hide them, or lock them in a special outdoor box.
• Fix a Flat- This stuff works pretty well. It isn’t the same as a spare tire, but it usually takes less time and gets you pretty far. It may just get you to a safer place to repair the tire or put on a spare.
• Camouflage Netting- Need to hide a car fast? Netting is much faster than using cut bushes and branches. Also works well to hide a tent, or other make-shift shelter. Why hide? Looters, beggars, bad-guys, the unprepared, etc may be out to take your stuff. This item isn’t for everyone, but those by wooded areas, or remote areas could benefit from this item.
• Digital Voice Recorder– Note ideas or routes during emergency, record message to loved ones (on route, important items, where things are, where you will go, etc), and keep a sort of journal of events. Usually they are somewhat cheap $30-$100 and fit in a pocket. They are about the size of a pack of gum. Stash it in a place only you and family members know about at home, work or cache site.
• Rechargeable Spotlight- Many of these recharge with a 12v lighter adapter, and use bright bulbs. Many are waterproof, and some come with the built in tripod. Have used these hunting, searching for addresses, and for signaling. Most are $20-$80.
• Night Vision- This can be anything from a hand held scope to a pair of military goggles. Night vision is cheap these days; you can find decent scopes online @ Cabela”s, Harbour Freight, and Wal-mart. Most run on regular batteries. Prices around $80-$1000 depending. Most inexpensive digital video recorders have built in night vision or low-light of some kind.

• Set of basic hand tools- Just get a selection of pliers, hammers, screwdrivers, and other hand tools. Most of us include a multi-tool of some type, but real construction grade tools can make a big difference. Hard to replace a drill, socket set, or crowbar with a multi-tool. Many times just getting a bunch of spare tools from the garage will suffice. Usually due to weight, this type of addition to a kit is for vehicular use, but not always.
• Binoculars, monocular, spotting scopes, etc- Self-explanatory but the ability to see far away is pretty advantageous. You can get cheap binoculars starting around $12 and go up from there. Rugged rubberized or armored sets are better, especially those that come weatherproof.
• Directional Listening Device- These are illegal in some area’s so check laws. Basically this is a sensitive listening device to hear things far away like animals, bad guys, etc. There are also heat sensing devices, blood tracking lights, etc that are more specialized for counter-surveillance preparedness. These types of items vary greatly in price and can be easily found online.
• Car Battery Jumper Kit- This is usually available at Sears and other hardware or automotive stores. Basically it is a 12v battery that comes with built in cables to jump  a dead car battery. Very handy! Also some models come with hazard signal, radio, spotlight, and power inverter. The power inverter is very hand to power communications equipment, recharge batteries, run power tools, and the like. Usually these run $60 and up.
• Insulated Coveralls- Carhartt makes this type of clothing, so do many manufacturers. What I really like about these is that they quickly go on OVER the clothes you are wearing, including boots. Fast to put on, warm, and usually somewhat weather-proof; this is a great addition to your kits. The only downfall is the bulky nature of the clothing when stored. Being able to don your coveralls with out getting undressed will save time. Usually they sell these in camo, brown, and black. Some are reversible as well. Many brands are out there and start at $20 and go up.
• Laptop Computer- These are very important for communication, news, and storing personal info. Spare batteries are nice, but expensive. Strangely, many accounts during Katrina show people ONLY able to contact family by email instead of cellular or land lines. Great for watching movies, and other entertainments especially when children are there. You can get used or refurbished laptops for anywhere from $150-$400.

• Pets & Pet Food- Don’t leave your little buddies behind! It may take a while to get back to rescue them. Bring food, water, etc. Dogs will be handy for carrying gear and some are good for an early warning system. Dog backpacks are available so Rover can carry his own food and treats. There are also rubberized dog boots for paw protection. For smaller pets you may need pet carriers…especially to board any type of transportation other than the family car.
• Misc. Personal Necessities- Can’t live without your special neck-pain pillow? Orthopedic devices for daily function? Can you only use certain soaps, lotions, or other hygienic agents? Seriously, many folks need specific items to be able to function on a daily basis. Personally, I have a few that would make my time a mess if I were bugging out without them. This also includes things like spare contact lenses, spare eyeglasses, prescription medications and the like. I have a buddy that gets migraines and if he doesn’t pack his meds, the stress of an evacuation could render him helpless and/or useless to his family.
• Map books, GPS, State Maps, Recreational Maps- Get these things now before you need them. If you intend to bug out to another city or state, get maps to these areas. Plan out an escape route, then plan a 2^nd and 3^rd. Map these on Google Maps or the like, and give copies to family. You can also keep them in your car, in your safe or safety deposit box at the bank for others to claim later. GPS is very convenient, fast, and cheap but keep paper maps as a back up. I like to coat maps with waterproofing, or have them laminated. Some companies sell pre-laminated map books as well.

Keep this gear with other emergency gear to grab fast. Keep near the door, in a car, or cached for emergency access. Other survival kit basics such as food, water, shelter, signal, fire, and defensive gear should be kept there as well.

The Wild fires in CA are a good example of needing to go in a moments notice. Some things cannot be taken, or are too bulky….Home fire safes are good for family pictures, jewelry, and important documents such as ID, wills, deeds, and other banking information. If you live in a fire danger area get the highest fire rating possible. Most quality safes are rated for a 1 hour burn time. Cheap safes are only rated for ½ hour. All safes should be screwed down, or bolted to the floor to prevent easy removal by a thief. Keep safes hidden or low-profile in the home.

Copyright 2009 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

I wanted to write a pretty in-depth article on this but just have not had the time. This is the short to the point version!

Over the years I have spent what I consider a substantial amount of my preparedness budget on clothing for EDC. “Every Day Carry” is what you have actually on you every day…. not a kit you can grab but actually what you are wearing and what is in your pockets.

This is the most basic but also very important gear and very overlooked. Most say “I can grab my kit and go” but many times it is what you have on you that counts. EDC Clothing is the clothes you wear every day for preparedness that doubles as preparedness gear/ what you wear to work, play, etc.

One thing to mention is that since I own my own business and travel a lot, this gives me the freedom to wear whatever I want but also makes what I have on me pretty important. I travel all over the state at all times of the year and at all times of the day/night. I work outside a good portion of the time so the clothing needs to be tough and protective. I prefer cargo pants to jeans for the pockets, but have to wear a nice shirt so that I am presentable to my clients.

3 to 5 years ago

I started wearing Propper Tactical Polos, 5.11 Original pants and Merrell Hiking boots.

This is all season basically unless it snows really heavily in which case I add waterproof insulated boots (off brand), and expedition weight thermal undergarments. (Normally I wear 100% cotton everything as I have very sensitive skin which hates pretty much any synthetic material.)

At first I really liked the Propper Tactical Polo shirts but found them to fade quickly and be too warm for summer here in Colorado. Also, the no wrinkle collar inserts actually cut through the collar and stick out making them look funny. I ended up removing the inserts. The shirts are good for winter however, and besides the fading and collar issue have not torn. They do however stain. In the end for these reasons and also the $35 to $50 per shirt; I gave up on them overall.

Same deal with the 5.11 100% cotton tactical pants. Costly! Not only that, but the 5.11″s also seem to rip in the knees about 2 years out and they are very restrictive in the hips. The seem to aggravate my back condition which I found strange. They are too warm same as above, and stain easily. Another thing I disliked about the 5.11″s is the cargo pocket size and irregularity. I would buy a pair same size, and the pockets were dramatically different sizes or irregularly stitched. Even buying them online on clearance from $20 to $50 a pair they just didn”t work.

I love the Merrell hiking boots however! They are comfortable, long lasting and well made. I wear the Ventillator version for summer, spring and fall; they work great unless there is a very cold day or snow/water. I need shoes that breathe due to my skin, and I easily get foot fungus from shoes that do not breathe. I also had good experiences with Wolverine steel toe leather work boots but they stopped making the version I liked; also the quality seemed to take a dive. The only problem with the Merrells is the cost really. About $120 a pair… but again they last about 2.5 to 3 years.

Other shoes I have tried with moderate success is the Survivor Brand of boots for work. They are very affordable (Wal-Mart or online), and middle of the road overall, and are pretty comfortable. However without fail they do NOT breathe and can allow my feet to overheat or sweat too much. Sweaty feet means fungus and blisters for me; therefore I would wear them only on occasions where I need steel toe protection during work. I also have tried a few of the “tactical” boots out there like Bates. Same deal, decently made but not breathable. I wanted to try the Converse brand but no one carries them in my area so I could never try them on. I did try the 5.11 boots, Danners, and the store brand for Outdoor World but they all felt horrible on my feet.

Currently

Since my preparedness budget is limited I decided to give less expensive EDC clothing a try. First I tried LA Gear Tactical Polos. They are nice! They do not wrinkle or stain; nor do they fade! They are inexpensive at about $15-20 per shirt, they are cut for concealed carry, and although they are not 100% cotton, they are close enough for my skin and they are fairly cool in the summer. Better than the Propper Tactical Polos for sure hands down. They have a pen pocket on the sleeve which is really nice, and they have a treatment that sheds water and stains. They are great and I hope they keep making them. 2 years wearing the same 3 shirts and they show zero wear and tear.

For pants I tried to upgrade to Vertx pants which are not 100% cotton; they have some spandex in them. Big mistake! I had a allergic reaction to the spandex (latex is my kryptonite)…. and also to the price. They run about $45-$60 a pair. They have lots of neat features, are comfortable in general but I can only wear them in my dreams sadly. Then at Wal-mart I saw some rip-stop 100% cotton cargo pants by Wrangler. They are amazing! $18 a pair but better made than the 5.11″s or the Vertx! They have large cargo pockets with velcro closures, rip-stop design, and they breathe nice. They accommodate my CCW belt and holsters just fine. Also, they have not ripped or stained. They also seem to wrinkle less than the 5.11 pants. They do not mess up my back or hips either as they are cut roomy. They also have a neat pocket for a cell phone between the legs and the cargo pocket. Great for spare mags, flashlight, etc. Another winner!

For shoes this fall I decided to try another pair of Survivor boots from Wal-Mart; the “Commander”. They are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned! They were on clearance for $32 which is a crazy low price for tactical boots. They are black leather and nylon with side zip. They are made of waterproof materials, and have anti-foot odor treatment that prevents foot fungus, and they have nice inserts that breathe and wick sweat. The soles are the best feature as they have a tread design that does not collect tiny rocks like the Merrells do. Also, the soles are comfortable…. they feel like you are wearing tennis shoes they are so soft. They are also light-weight! They do not have steel toe protection which is good for the winter here. The side zipper makes them fast to put on and take off. They also polish up very nice!

Summer and Winter variations

In summer I generally wear the Wrangler cargo shorts or pants, LA Gear Polo, and the Merrell Ventillators. I always have a baseball cap on for work, and a bandanna to protect my neck from sunburn. This last summer I got bites on my legs so much that next summer I will just wear pants the whole time. I am outdoors so mosquitoes, biting flies, and who knows what else gets my ankles and legs. One time I even got an infection and had to go on anti-biotics! Also this summer, I had a reaction to a mosquito bite that seemed to match the symptoms of West Nile Fever, a milder form of the West Nile Virus.

For winter I have experimented a lot. I bought a few jackets including the military type and ultimately decided on Carhartt. I have a hooded insulated winter jacket, and an insulated vest. I did buy some insulated bib type pants from Wal-mart but decided that I will upgrade to Carhartt due to the quality difference. A side note is that it is much easier to add outer layers than it is to add insulated under-layers. Therefore when I”m on the road I carry outer layers in my truck unless I put insulated undergarments on at the beginning of the day.

Also for Winter I use layers of clothing. I have a Scottevest hoodie, a Carhartt insulated vest, and a wind breaker Mossino wind breaker (Target brand). The Scottevest is really neat; it has pockets galore! iPad pocket, cell phone pocket, ear bud pocket, magnetic pocket closures etc. It was expensive at $50 but is cotton and is generally well made. When it wears out I will replace is with a Carhartt insulated hoodie. You can”t beat Carhartt for cost and ruggedness period. In the pockets of my vest I carry a synthetic insulated cap, and wool fingerless gloves. Then in the wind breaker I carry a second set of wool fingerless gloves. With all this on me I can add or remove layers for almost any temperature in the winter. I have worn this on 15 degree nights and been good for 1 hour outside. The hoodie and wind breakers both have hoods so with the cap I have 3 layers for my head! This system works by trapping warm air in the different layers.

Again, since I own my own business and work outside I need ruggedness and yet can get away with looking mostly “blue collar”. This system for winter layering has worked really well. If it does get colder I do have the bib pants in my van, a insulated polar Carhartt hooded jacket, and an extra set of winter gloves, hat, scarf, and wool socks. I also have waterproof gaitors but want to upgrade them to actual Gore-tex black colored ones from REI. Like I said earlier, if it is snowing and cold when I get ready for work I will wear Polartec insulated underwear, wool socks, and a thermal shirt.

Strategy for EDC Clothing

My strategy is to have clothing that allows me to work outside/inside, carry EDC gear, have my CCW handgun, and still look non-tactical. I don”t want to look like a “doomsday prepper” just walking around! I want to be invisible and fit in; yet have my gear at the ready. I want the clothing to hide my gear, be comfortable, protect me from the weather, and allow me to do many activities. I also want the clothing to be easy to mend, stay wrinkle free as possible, and look presentable for my clients when I need to meet with them. The system I am using looks blue collar and fits my activities nicely…. it also keeps the survivalist side of me happy.

I don”t wear any camouflage clothing, shirts with political or gun slogans, and I don”t wear anything with NRA or the like to draw attention. If there was a emergency or disaster of some type I just want to look like a blue collar guy NOT Rambo or Mr. Survival Man. In Colorado they say “if you don”t like the weather wait 15 minutes”. Our weather can be extreme in any direction you can think of. So I always wear layers even in summer. I wear cotton socks 2 pair, and a cotton t-shirt under anything I am wearing regardless of the season. This wicks sweat but also gives me extra clothing I can use to make tools, head coverings, bandages, or make-shift bags for gear or food. I always have a bandanna in my back pocket as well as Oakley sunglasses to protect my eyes. Oakley sunglasses are known for their ballistic protective properties as well as their “thermal nuclear” protective lenses for UV/UB rays. I can wear them on the shooting range, working with power tools or just for driving.

Lastly, I have a “Wilderness Belt” or riggers belt I use for my CCW handgun. It is very stiff so carries gear nicely, but it also has a second use as a makeshift rappelling belt. It has a strength rating and caribiner attaching loop in the integral design of the buckle. It is 1.5″ wide and will accommodate a IWB holster or OWB holster, plus my other EDC gear.

Hopefully this article motivates other members here to share their EDC gear and clothing, and reviews of brands. Also maybe some folks that are not using EDC as part of their survival/preparedness planning will be inspired to do so. I have kits also for survival which I have written about in the past here: BOB”s, vehicle kits, Hunker down kits, etc including my EDC. If you do a search in the posts you can find them. If anyone is curious I can write an article on my actual EDC gear but since that is what most people write about I thought I”d touch on something less discussed and maybe just as helpful.

Copyright 2012 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.