Not Just Another Day Bag
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Hey Flatlanders, it’s another beautiful day here in the Midwest, and the heat of summer is passing, giving way to my favorite time of the year. Fall is my favorite. With the cooler weather and nightly temps dropping once more into the 60s and below, the potential for fun is there. This is the time I begin altering my day bag for quick adventures outside. Here is a helpful list if you are trying to make that fall bag for your next adventure. This particular rig is best for bushcraft, but much of it is applicable to any day bag.
Standard takes (things I can’t live without)
-Snacks
-Coffee
-1 full water bottle
-50ft of rope (or consider a small ball of jute)
–Knife
-Fire Kit
-Water Filter (location specific)
–Rain Poncho Tarp
I will provide links as I go in case you see something you need for your bag right away.
Let’s talk about the first aid kit. Keep it short and sweet. If you are going out for a long period of time, maybe go more in-depth on this one, but in general I like to take a couple of bandaids, a package of bleed stop, 2 large gauze pads, a handkerchief, and a small thimble of needle and thread. Super glue is not a bad option to add in here either.
For the snacks, it is a preference of mine to bring some kind of fruit option for an immediate snack. Peanut butter cliff bars make for a tasty option, and I am in general a peanut butter-holic. Meat is important, and most people who know Dan know that he will have bratwursts on most adventures, but I do like a good Jacklinks Barbeque Jerky stick or two in my bag.
1 full 20-ounce bottle usually gets the job done for hydration, and perhaps some salt tabs or Nuun for strenuous adventures that get a little too wild.
The rope is for tying up whatever you need, and I prefer the bank-line cord you can get here. It is a very light option. The second equally amazing option is jute or twine. The jute can be burned as tinder in a dire situation like a rainy day in the woods and can be the difference between getting that cup of coffee and wishful thinking.
The rope is for tying that Rain Poncho Tarp up, too. You can wear it, and throw it up as a shelter. Practice this before you go. If you haven’t checked out my video about setting up a Poncho Tarp fast in extreme situations you can see that here. Practice, practice, practice!
The knife and fire kit go hand in hand for me as a bush crafter. You can check out my bushcraft fire kit here, to see what is inside mine. Knife choice is 3% about how much you like it because if it ain’t cool you aren’t likely to carry it. The remaining 97% is about utility.
For the perfect combination of both, I suggest the Morakniv Garberg for a pricier option and the Morakniv Companion for a more affordable solution. You can find the Garberg here, and the Companion here. I own both and use both regularly. I also lose my Companion occasionally or give it away, so I think you can guess which one I like to carry more.
Water filters make total sense if you are somewhere the water is filterable. Be careful, if there are pesticides in the water or high reports of disease-infested waters then this may not be an option. Always do your research. When I go to Minnesota I feel pretty comfy with my Sawyer Squeeze or my BeFree. Both have great flow rates and can be a weight saver if you are somewhere with lots of filterable water.
We would love to hear from you! What is that item in your day bag you can’t live without?
Enjoy the summer while it is still here, but keep your eye on the Fall. It’s comin’!
– Ed