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This is the overview for miscellaneous equipment for your bug out bag. These are tips and ideas. You don't have to have absolutely everything and you might have use for other things I haven't mentioned. As I mentioned in the bug out bag overview you don't want too much stuff to keep you weighed down.

This guide isn't complete. I will update it periodically.

1. A knife is really useful. There's no telling when you might need to use a knife. I carry a pocket knife on me all the time. Should I lose my pocket knife for some reason I keep another one inside my bag. For bigger and heavier knife use I have a bowie knife. I've also got a hunting knife, and a small hatchet. Those blades are all stored elsewhere rather than directly on the kit because chances are I won't need all those blades and won't need all that weight. If I'm traveling with someone else and they need a knife they can add that to their kit.

2. Walkie Talkies are good if you're in a group. If someone gets separated from the group you have a means of communication. If you're all alone you probably won't have much use for that.

3. Light is important. Don't settle for one of those cheap LED keychain lights that sells for a buck at the gas station. You don't need a big heavy mag light either, but a decent light is still good to have. I really like the 9 LED mini flash light. I've seen them for less than $5 at Autozone. Harbor Freight has them and lots of other stores have them too. They use 3 AAA batteries and are just a good little flash light to have. They will light a path very well so you can see where you're going. Some of them have a narrow tube but it tapers out to a wide head. I don't especially like those kind because they don't fit in a pocket very easily but other than that they work just as well.

My kit has an LED Headlamp. I couldn't find the brand name because it's not labeled on the device but it's something I got for Christmas. It's got 3 LEDs on it. It has two bright LEDs which are good for lighting a path. The middle LED is a red lamp for reading. The super bright ones are great for walking a dark trail but for reading something up close they're too bright and can strain the eyes. I like the headlamp because it's hands free. It attaches to your head with an elastic strap. It also has a magnet on it to stick it to something metal and a clip to clip it on to something so it's versatile in how you can use it.

Glow sticks are a popular source of light that doesn't require electricity. Most of the kind found in stores aren't a very reliable source of light though. The kind you buy in bulk for parties glow bright enough so people can see you in the dark, but not enough for you to see where you're going. Still if you want to signal a location in the dark for others I suppose they could have a purpose. Sporting good stores have special glow sticks that are more expensive. I assume they glow brighter for more practical use though I haven't been able to test that yet. It's important to remember to keep your glow sticks in the packaging until you're ready to actually use it. Glow sticks use hydrogen peroxide in the chemical reaction to make light and hydrogen peroxide is light sensitive. Once exposed to light the peroxide begins to break down so down the road when you try to use it the glow stick won't work and you just wasted your money. The second thing to remember is to handle glow sticks with care. If you can store them in some sort of tube you can help keep them from snapping. Just haphazardly cramming everything in your bag can pop the sticks.

4. Batteries are a must for electronics. LED lights use less power than traditional lights but the batteries can still die. Walkie Talkie batteries will need replacement too. Basically any electronics you bring with you should have spare batteries. I would suggest at least one spare set of batteries per device, but ideally two or three sets especially for the walkie talkies.

5. Ziplock bags are so useful. I pack almost everything in them. They keep the equipment water resistant, they can help keep things separated and organized, in a pinch they can hold extra water, if you find berries or medicinal plants along the way you can pick them and store them for later, there are all kinds of things you can use them for. If you do pick berries make sure you know they're not poisonous. If you aren't certain they're safe leave them alone.

6. Knowledge is power. My sister gave me a couple of laminated pamphlets that show what animals in the area are dangerous and how to deal with them. They also show what plants are poisonous, which ones are edible, and which ones can be used for medicine. In addition to the pamphlets she got a small journal to include even more plants and animals that weren't listed. It's important to know your environment.

7. A multi tool can serve many purposes. I grew up watching reruns of MacGyver. He could fix just about anything with his swiss army knife. The series has been over for more than 20 years but the name is still iconic and symbolizes the ability to improvise. Sometimes you need a bottle opener, sometimes you need a screw driver, maybe wire cutters, maybe a saw. A multi tool can serve many purposes and still fit in your pocket. Gerber and Leathermen are probably the two most recommended brands I hear. You can get a cheap one with a flashlight, but if you want a dedicated tool you can depend on I would suggest getting a good one.

8. Paracord. You never know when you might need to tie something up or have some other use for a line such as dragging or making some sort of counter balance. Rope is heavy and bulky. Paracord is basically the stuff they use to make parachutes. It's pretty strong stuff but reasonably compact. Pretty much anything you might need a rope for you can use paracord instead.