I've been visiting this forum for awhile now but have just registered. I've also noticed that we've had a bit of a spurt of new members here as well. So I wanted to ask a question to everyone:

When beginning to put your first kit together is it better to make a 72 hour type of kit, a small Altoids tin type of kit, a coffee can/water bottle type of kit, or just focus on general stockpiling in the house?

I've got a bunch of different ideas but I seem overwhelmed and can't quite figure out the best way to get going with some gear.

Since most people that have become interested in preparedness are already upping their readiness level at home, I'd suggest the first real 'kit' be a 72-hour kit, set up for a temporary bug-out in those situations where staying home is not safe or extremely uncomfortable (lost of power in winter).

From there I'd suggest more home preps and then go for longer term bug-out situations. Staying home is by far the best choice in most disasters, in my opinion, but there are those cases when evacuation is the only sensible action.

After that all aspects of prepping can be gradually improved.

Just my opinion.

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Jerry D Young

I'm just a newbie to all of this, but the first kit I put together was a get home bag.
It seemed simple enough to be able to pull together quickly and boost my confidence with all this, and it also seemed to be what I might need to use the soonest.

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If better is possible, then good is not good enough!

I actually have 2 kits that I use.

The first is in a hunting back pack that I keep enough supplies to hold me for 24 hours. This goes hunting with me, or in my car when I am doing my everyday running about.

I also have my BOB that I also use as a get home bag. I keep enough supplies to keep me for 3 days real comfortably and 4 if I am careful. Since I travel extensively for work, this is kept in my work van and will allow me to get home if I can't drive back. I also have this packed with the gear necessary to hunt and gather food, Purify and carry water, and provide for basic shelter, fire and cooking needs if I had to Bug out with only what I can carry on my back.

The first one I put together was my BOB. I decided to make a smaller pack for when I am close to home because the BOB isn't comfortable carrying while hunting and such. Another great trick is I have found the way to attach my day pack to my BOB which will allow me even more carrying capacity should I need it.

One other item I use with my BOB is surplus military LCE gear, that consists of a pistol belt, suspenders, canteens with metal cups, ammo pouches, and other small pouches to carry my compass and other small items. This adds 1/2 gallon of water in addition to what I have in my BOB and I can carry other items that I need more often without having to remove my BOB from my back and get into it.

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Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Handgun and Personal protection in the Home.
V.F.W. Life Member
NRA Member
U.S. Army Veteran

Hey BlueSky - How is your first kit coming along? Keep us posted.

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Please don't take my avatar to seriously. I'm really not a bible thumping armageddon prophet.

My suggestion is to use whatever you currently have on hand to make your starter kit. For example, I made my vehicle bag out of an old college backpack. I simply stuffed it with stuff I had on-hand until I could acquire more things. As my list of supplies increased over the weeks and months, the usefulness of my kit increased. Don't wait until you have your complete kit to assemble and start carrying it. My kits are always works in progress, ever-evolving, ever-changing. If your starter kit ends up being a completely different kit several months from now, that's ok! The important thing is to take steps now, no matter how minimal, to increase your chances of survival.