/// Vagabond Survival Prepping Method
I pack ultralight living out of a backpack as a vagabond traveling the world but I’m also actively survival prepping and this is how…
Survival in any form for any environment is an act of prevention and or recovery, best enacted by preparation.
-John Cain
Standard “prepping” is the practice of stockpiling pertinent supplies and the training of survival techniques to be used for a possible lifestyle altering, large-scale catastrophe or SHTF event.
The typical process is simple; slowly but consistently acquire food, water, weapons and other relevant equipment and store them in a singular central location such as a home or private “bomb” shelter. Just as important but far less utilized is the ongoing learning and practice of survival, defense and use of the prepped equipment.
Having everything in one location has one fatal flaw, however. It assumes that you will be at that very location at all times or it will always be easily accessible and nearby to your present location.
There’s no way of knowing when or where an “event” will take place. Meaning getting to your home base where all your survival prepping is stored may be impossible due to the nature of an “event”; mass gridlock traffic, land / infrastructure destruction, social panic and violence, restrictive martial law, vicinity containment, active combat / hot zones and public transportation collapse.
The average person commutes to work or school 5 days a week far enough that they need to take motorized transportation, public or private. Then there’s leisure, recreation and errands time at other homes and facilities as well as being away on vacation.
So all that survival prepping, across town or half way around the world can be lost or seized by another.
For more than a decade I’ve been doing the “vagabond survival prepping method” of which evolved from stashing small city-specific go-bags around the world as part of my former operative profession.
It wasn’t about survival back then but about professional utility and function. Equipment that wasn’t ideal to equip on my person at all times because of unnecessary baggage or non-permissive regulations.
As time went by and the more I returned to some of these “prepped cities”, the go-bags that were already stashed became better equipped and for more dynamic use such as urban / wilderness survival.
To this day, I manage these hidden go-bags whenever I happen to be in their respective countries. That’s my way of survival prepping while vagabonding.
These are located in a growing number of the cities I frequently visit in secure but relatively easily accessible spots such as; under a boulder access in New York’s Central Park, inside a tree stump in the Amazon Jungle and a derelict manhole in Bangkok – all of which have been my active stash spots for at least 5 years.
Unlike typical at-home-preppers, I don’t have the luxury of a long term address so I can’t hand pick the exact items I want off the internet to ship to. But this works out for me just fine as I build / upgrade my kits with readily available materials from the city I’m in.
So if an “event” does take place (which will often affect major cities first and most), I’ll have my prep kit close by no matter where I am in the world. Instead of having to rely on a singular base for my prepared survival needs.
Backpack, Duffle Bag or Dry Bag [?]
MRE’s, Canned Foods and Vitamins
Bottled Water and Energy Shot
Water Treatment Tablets [?]
Prescription Contact Lenses
Kevlar Vest or Shield
Climbing Rope and Gear
Euros and US Dollars
Gold and Platinum Bullion [?]
Urban / SERE Kit [?]
Wilderness Kit
First Aid / Trauma Kit
SD Card w/ Data
Smartphone
Gas Mask
Knife, Machete and other Weapons [?]
CB and Two-Way Radio
Full Change of Clothes [?]
Multi Tool and Pry Bar [?]
Flashlight and Chemlights
Sleeping Bag or Parka
Solar Charger
Some may consider renting a locker in a facility like train stations or self storage units. It’s not easy to maintain them for years at a time when you’re not even in the country for years at a time. Also, when considering an “event”, it’s logical to expect the loss of power grid, not to mention the mayhem in busy public areas.
So it’s best to stash them in a spot no one will look in an area that won’t be too hectic but not where it will be too difficult to reach with limited transportation options.
The vagabond survival prepping method isn’t limited to location independents and nomads, however. Consider your travel requirements of daily life and stash a go-bag in strategic spots accordingly; in your car, near your job, somewhere between your home and work, a friend’s place and near a hangout you frequent.
Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.
-Carl Sagan
Survival prepping doesn’t end with the acquisition of supplies and equipment, it only begins there and continues on with honing skills to survive and thrive.
Prep, learn, train… repeat.
The Vagabond Survival Prepping Method.
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Another brilliant idea! I don’t have the means or the patience to do it worldwide but your idea on doing this method locallly is friggen awesome.
I thought survival prepping on a global scale would cost too much to be feasible while reading this but then I Googled and found out some people spend almost every dollar they have on it at home. That got me thinking, what if some SHTF did happen and they wer’ent home??? All that loss.
I thought survival prepping on a global scale would cost too much to be feasible while reading this but then I Googled and found out some people spend almost every dollar they have on it at home. That got me thinking, what if some SHTF did happen and they wer’ent home??? All that loss.
I figure you use a whole variety of backpacks for your kits but what is it shown on this article?
It’s the Triple Aught Design Fast Pack Litespeed, I got the same one and it’s one of the best backpacks out there.
I figure you use a whole variety of backpacks for your kits but what is it shown on this article?
Not for everyone but definitely the most innovative and potentially useful survival prepping strategy I’ve read about. Bravo!