You know how lots of folks are into Bug Out Bags and how convenient they are to be when faced with survival situations. In some “bugging out” instances, when you have to leave the house ASAP and go to another place, a backpack full of necessary things will help a lot.
But what if things don’t go according to plan and you are short on gas, get into a car accident, or find that the location you are planning to camp out in has been compromised? It’s impossible to say for sure that you had already planned your escape perfectly well from this type of situation, the consequence is most likely you will spend weeks or months without a roof looking for some new shelter—while having to remember you are getting short on your supplies.
In order to cope with these situations, you will need an even larger and more equipped bug out bag which is called an INCH bag.
What is an INCH Bag?
INCH is an acronym for I’m Never Coming Home. This is a great survival bag that has all the necessary tools and equipment you will need for long term survival while you are finding a new place to settle and call home.
The INCH bag is designed to maximize your survival chances in the event of a nature/manmade disaster or other kind of emergency that will leave you with no other choice but to leave home and with no hope of return. Whether it’s a storm, war, chemical leak, nuclear explosion, terrorism, civil unrest, or any other disaster, the INCH bag is basically your ticket to survive for a long period of time. Unlike smaller bug out bags, INCH bags will weigh between 40 and 70 pounds depending on the things you will fill it with.
Main Difference Between an INCH bag and Bug Out Bag
Although they may seem incredibly similar due to their purpose, a bug out bag is designed to be smaller than an INCH bag and a bug out bag is designed to carry just enough supplies and equipment to help you survive for at least a week or two.
An INCH bag is designed to get you packed up with tons of necessary supplies and equipment that can help you survive forever.
The average bug out bag typically weighs 25 to 30 pounds when filled with survival equipment. An INCH bag usually weighs 40-60 pounds when filled with survival equipment and other necessary supplies.
Importance of INCH Bags and How to Choose One
The news is getting tougher and tougher to watch with everything going on these days, and you never know when or where another disaster might strike, so you better be at least prepared for it. An INCH bag is an alternative to a bug out bag when your home is uninhabitable or is not suited for an extended “SHTF” case.
Unfortunately, the INCH bag is going to be a pretty big bag. As mentioned before, INCH stands for I’m Never Coming Home, and the bag is made for just that— never coming home. Near the top of your list should be a set of tools and equipment to help a group of people survive anywhere along the road, in case a bad situation arises.
However, the INCH bag will prepare you for the worst case scenarios that none of us ever wanted to happen. The fact is that you have no idea what kind of natural or manmade disaster might happen in or nearby your area can make you survive outside your comfort zone.
INCH Bags are basically bug out bags that are made bigger because they can contain more tools and essentials for survival. If you are one of those people who never thought about leaving your home and going off someplace else for little while, now’s probably the good time to change that mindset. We are here to tell you everything you need to know about INCH bags and how to choose one.
Many people think that the best way to get ready is to buy a ready-made INCH bag, and while that seems like a great plan, there are many things to consider for maximum comfort during times of stress. There are many ready-made bags that you might want to buy, however this may not be the best option for you and your family.
Also, some of these bags may look pretty, but they end up with inferior quality materials, and while they may be cheap, they are definitely not safe.
Here’s what to consider when choosing:
Weight – As you can imagine, it comes with a variety of essentials, so it’s usually not the lightest luggage, so everyone should consider lugging the pack around for days when filling their backpacks. You might end up walking to safety for a long time- you need to be careful when choosing the size and weight of the backpack.
Don’t jump on one that might be too big for your size. Always look for a backpack that weighs no more than 25% of your body weight, as any more can be heavier than most people can handle.
Quality – Of course, when you think about survival, you cannot imagine cheap, low-quality products that cannot survive in all environments. This is a serious preparation that requires more serious measures. When shopping for a cheaper backpack, we recommend considering quality used backpacks before cheap, newer ones.
Don’t rule out the need for a waterproof backpack, as it is important to the survival of the essentials you will carry with you. You must be prepared for any environment, have an open mind about anything.
Support – Considering the previous points about the importance of taking extra care with INCH bags, one point comes to mind, and to be precise—does it have enough support to lighten your load enough to carry? You need something that is built for emergencies and has personalized support to help you. Backpacks with frames are a great option for INCH bags.
Your back will need support when carrying a heavy load. A bag with an outer frame that keeps your back straight and evenly supports the weight is a good choice.
This means that the weight will be concentrated not only on your shoulders, but also on your hips. In addition, the straps of the backpack should be padded and straps are recommended for added security. These additions will help preserve your energy during the day of hiking or trekking and make sure that your body does not wear out quickly.
Compartments – Of course, a good bag should have enough pockets and compartments to accommodate a wide variety of the tools and supplies that you will carry around, but don’t buy a bag that has too much space. You won’t be able to fill it, but if you do, its weight would be too hard for you to manage. On the other hand, keep in mind that some things will need separate spaces for easy access when you suddenly need them.
If you only have one large bag and a few small ones, this can mix materials and make them difficult to find later. Preparation involves organizing, if that’s a skill you’re not known for, don’t worry, you can learn it with some easy practice.
Camouflage – Nobody says that you will be hiding, but the prepping mentality is to prepare for all possible situations. Considering all possible scenarios, the color of the backpack is important. If you have a backpack in a bright color, it will expose you to wildlife at best and make you an easy target at worst.
So we recommend choosing a color that is more suitable for survival in the wild— green, brown, black, also camouflages. After all, you are not getting ready for a fashion show out there!