When it comes to survival kits, you’d think more is better, right? But that is not always the case. Let me explain. Let’s take the Bug Out Bag, for example. It is large enough to carry tools, shelter, food, and fire-making equipment. But can you take it all everywhere? Can you take it to your office every day?

You may be able to last longer with a larger pack. But you will not be so mobile. Also, the largest package will be limiting. So is it that practical?

And that’s where the fanny pack comes in. The main reason for a fanny pack is mobility. And when you bring the right combination of gear, you’ll be able to travel far with minimal weight.

So what I’m going to do is give you four tips for choosing and filling your fanny pack with the right features and gear. Afterwards, you’ll have the simple frame for your own Every Day Carry or EDC in Fanny Pack format. Then let’s get started!

FIRST ADVICE FOR THE WAIST BAG – Compartmentation

Fanny packs make sense. That’s because you’re packing all your stuff into a small space. Plus, it’s compartmentalized and gives you easy access around your waist. Two examples of packs that fit this model are the Maxpedition and the Sabercat. Both have this compartmentalization feature. And with compartments, you have the ability to specialize. Specialization gear can include any of these items:

• water purification/hydration equipment
• make fire
• communications equipment
• lighting equipment

Speaking of compartments, it would be nice to have internal cargo pockets. Other types of compartments to consider are:

• external push pocket
• side outer pocket
• reinforced zippered pockets
• Fleece lined anti-scratch sunglass pocket.

So far we have talked about smaller items. But don’t think you can’t have a shelter compartment. With ultralight space blankets and tents, you can have a shelter compartment in your fanny pack. It’s comprehensive, organized, lightweight, and gives you the essentials. So let’s dig a little deeper into what those essentials are.

TIP FOR THE SECOND WAIST BAG – Features to consider

While compartments are important, construction is key. Your fanny pack has to accept the abuse that she is going to receive. It cannot break down in the middle of a buging out. Otherwise, her hands will be full carrying all the contents. So the goal of a 1-person emergency kit (even if it’s a large fanny pack) around your hip is to make your life hands-free.

So let’s take a look at some features of good strong emergency survival bags.

• An adjustable waist is essential. After you have been walking for a few hours, the belt will need to be adjusted.
• Built-in hip pads wouldn’t hurt. That’s in case your backpack gets heavy. (Paladin has the Mission Pack belt made specifically for this type of use.)
• Another feature to check out is the shoulder strap. The SOTECH Go Bag’s shoulder strap is worn tactically over one shoulder or around the waist. This gives the operator access on the go by turning the bag back and forth and quickly accessing the contents of the bag.
• Pack features to look out for are the large YKK® zipper pull cords for quick opening and fabric made from 1000 or higher Denier nylon.
• If you can get a PUx2 water repellent coating on the main body and inside pocket flaps, that’s even better.

Finally, think about name tags and reflective tape to give you high-visibility markings. IR or GLINT tapes are perfect for infrared night visibility. This will allow EMS and emergency services to find you. Now that we have the basics of the backpack, let’s look at some essential items to include inside your fanny pack.

THIRD FANNY PACK TIP – Essentials to Include

Often people ask “how to build the perfect bug bag” or “what to put in your bug bag”. Big question. That’s because without the right things, you’ll be stuck focusing on the wrong things at the wrong time. So what are the “right” things to focus on when it comes to a fanny pack survival kit? The right material should be lightweight, multi-purpose, and great at doing the job. So let’s talk about some items that fit that bill right now.

• Water/Food/Hydration/Food Preparation Waist Bag: With water you have two options. Bring your own or clean up whatever you find. With the “bring your own” option, water packs are the best option. The downside is that you won’t have much water. That’s because there isn’t much in each package. One way around this would be with water tablets to purify any water you find. They are perfect because they are compact and lightweight. Another hydration option is to carry a SteriPen UV water filter. The SteriPen takes up little space and removes hazardous substances from the water. But you will need a silk cloth or something to filter out the rocks, dirt and sand. The SteriPen will do the rest. Eliminates more than 99% of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that cause waterborne diseases. Another advantage is that it can make 16 ounces of water in less than 50 seconds. They even have a rope model.
• Shelter/Bedding: Space and weight are the keys here. Remember, all this has to fit in your fanny pack and leave room for other things. So what is the solution? Tyvek. Tyvek makes a great shelter because it is so lightweight, waterproof, and durable all at the same time.
• Along with the Tyvek, you’ll need string to tie the corners or attach to a tree. So a paracord bracelet will provide you with all the line you’ll need. One tip, if you can put grommets in the corners of your Tyvek tarp, it will make it easier to attach to things.
• Another item to add to the shelter/bedding compartment would be a medical grade self-warming blanket. The Heat Treat® Self-Warming, Disposable, Medical Grade Blanket is your ticket. It has been developed from efforts among acute care people and is the world leader in self-warming products. The Heat Treat® is a self-contained heating blanket that gives you critical heat up to 104F once exposed to air. It keeps it there for up to 12 hours. This blanket has come its own way with hospitals and doctor’s offices.
• Fanny Pack First Aid – Band-Aids are pretty simple to figure out, right? But what happens when someone in your group receives an injury that is more than they can handle? QuikClot® Combat Gauze™ is the answer. QuikClot has helped first responders, security teams and the military save many lives. It has stopping power like nothing else. QuikClot is also easy to use. No mixing or measuring. It has some disadvantages. But in an emergency, it can save lives.
• For hygiene, here are some great ideas that are compact and lend themselves well to a fanny pack. mini towel tablets, canned clothes, paper shampoo, pocket shower
• Fanny Pack Lighting/Lighting: It’s one thing to bring a flashlight. But what happens when the batteries run out? What if you could recharge them… with your body? Or with something as common as water or urine? There is a battery called AquaCell that runs on water. Forget about solar energy or recharging things. AquaCells come in double or triple A sizes.
• Fanny Pack Communications: I think the best thing you can do in communications would be a HAM radio. And the Yaesu VX8R is the winner. It is handheld and fits easily in your backpack. Also, it is submersible. So water won’t be a problem with this baby.
• But let’s say you don’t have a HAM license. And you don’t have a radio. So what? The SAR eclipse signal device will be something to check out. It is a mirror with features that allow you to fine tune where the mirror is illuminating. It can point to people 10, 20, 50 miles away on a sunny day. Aircraft pilots have been known to see signal mirror signals from 100 miles away.
• Fanny Pack Fire/Tools: You can’t have a survival kit without the ability to make fire. Two items that I will never be without are the BlastMatch and WetFire blocks. The BlastMatch is a one-handed, fire-steel device made for all-weather use. It will light up in the wind, rain or snow. A stream of high-heat sparks is put out. And when you pair it with WetFire Tinder, you can start a fire in the middle of a heavy rain. Another addition to bring is Camping Matches. These are unique in that they stay lit underwater. That’s how it is.

Alright, so we’ve got our list of fanny pack essentials. What’s next?

TIP FOR THE FOURTH FANNY BAG – Examples to review

Again, no one package has all the features I’ve just covered. But here are the best ones I’m picking.

• Rothco’s Nylon Hip Pack is simple and durable, with water-repellent fabric and tie-down straps.
• Fanny Pack Survival Kit
• Remora Gearslinger is not really a fanny pack. It’s a sling package. But it is loaded with almost all the features I listed above.
• The Sabercat Versipack is big, but believe it or not, it can be used as a fanny pack. It has a lot of compartments, molle straps, zippers, etc.
• Proteus Versipack is a slightly smaller version of the Sabercat Versipack with a very similar construction.

When I think of a survival kit, I usually think of something that I have to carry. But when I looked at these fanny pack designs, it became clear to me that keeping my hands free when I go out is a big deal. A backpack can be too much in some cases.

An idea would be to bring a fanny pack and a backpack. So you can quickly drop the backpack and move with the fanny pack for excursions. But still, these things are pretty impressive. Especially the Remora Gearslinger.

This week, visit Walmart or KMart and see what they have. Buy a cheap fanny pack just to experiment. Try to incorporate some of the equipment in this article.

Once you have your fanny pack, start putting items and supplies into your kit. A great start would be the BlastMatch. And when you check it out, give me a shout!