Including all the essentials from the fanny pack bug out bag, there's quite a few more items that I'd be sure to have in a prepacked life saver. A backpack can hold more survival gear and the overall weight of the backpack bug out bag is spread out over your center of balance making it easy to transport a large number of items for a longer distance.

550 Cord - This common outdoorsman rope has many uses including its inner strands that make the whole a lot stronger. Having rope, cord, twine or even nature provided lashing material will make your survival situation a lot easier to endure. Whatever you can do to make life better is a step in the right direction.

A common use of cordage is to secure your shelter. When you get a poncho, get one that has grommets along the edges or get a kit and make them yourself. This way you'll have holes already there so you can attach your rope and more easily secure the poncho into a shelter. 550 cord is good for traps, fabricating tools and weapons, and has so many other uses. Be sure to have 550 cord in your bug out bag.

A light weight mini folding shovel will fit right in your backpack bug out bag and has an obvious usefulness to it. Dig out a fire pit, create a trench around your sleeping shelter to keep rain from getting inside, chop the head off a snake, or use it as a hatchet. It has many light work uses. And the lighter it is, the less weight you'll be carrying in your pack.

A cord saw allows you to cut logs into smaller logs or can even be used to cut down a small tree. They don't take much space and will help you get work done quicker in the field. (Be careful not to overheat the wire saw. It can break.) Efficiency in getting work done allows you more time to get other things done. These are compact and lightweight, earning them a spot in your backpack bug out bag.

Everyone that's with you should be aware of the equipment available and how to use each survival item. Survival in a group setting is dependent upon each person doing their part. By yourself, all work needing to be done has to be done by you. If you have more than yourself, be sure to keep everyone occupied doing something constructive. This keeps their mind going and adds a sense of accomplishment toward the ultimate goal - Survival or Rescue.

As a leader, it is your responsibility to maintain the well being of all who are with you. This is more than feeding and watering them. People react differently to situations and as a leader you have to be aware of emotional needs as well. A couple words of encouragement can keep them motivated to get the job done thus improving your chances of survival. Showing you care also earns trust. If someone is confident you know what you are doing, they won't be completely consumed about whether they are going to live or die. They will do their part knowing that it's helping the overall effort.

Keeping a fullly stocked bug out bag is essential to survival in the dire circumstance that you may need it. Ideally, you will never have to use a survival kit. However, it's such a low cost insurance policy on your life that it's negligent not to have one. Especially if you have a family or others who depends on you.

The bug out bag is not something you figure out when an emergency happens. It's a survival kit that is already filled with life saving and sustaining gear and is easily accessible. If you have to get out of Dodge immediately without any time to prepare anything, your bug out bag can save your life.

Or, say a catastrophic event occurs and you do have time to get some things together. In an emergency, time is valuable. The first thing you'd want to grab is your kit. Anything else is icing on the cake.

Other survival items that can easily fit in a bug out bag can be varied. If you do any reading at all on this subject, at least one consensus will tell you this. Each kit ought to be personalized for the individual utilizing it. If there is anything else that should go into your survival kit, you are responsible for adding it. An example would be medications. Over the counter or prescriptions meds are an individual choice or responsibility. Be sure to think of this prior to bugging out.

Chem lights are essential items for light. If a fire just isn't getting started, you can still have light available. Bend, snap and shake the light stick and you're good for up to 12 hours. I always like to have extra of these for the kids. Their own personal light keeps them from being frightened and can be a source of entertainment for them. (Personal Success Hint - when there is a storm at home and it's bedtime, we give the kids their own light stick and let them sleep with it. They stop being scared of the thunder and lightning and they do go to sleep.)

Tissue packs are modern conveniences that won't last long but sure do add to personal comfort.

A candle is a source of warmth and light and can really lift your spirits. All alone on a cold rainy night, a single candle under your shelter goes a long way. If your shelter is enclosed, a candle will take the bite out of the chill. By providing a small light source, you can make tools, eat, and plan your next move in relative comfort.

More survival items for your kit