This is one of a series of posts on some commonly held prepping beliefs, and reasons why they may be wrong and possibly dangerous to you and your loved ones.

Note: Myths 5 – 10 were taken from a post by a so-called prepper expert providing advice while dispelling “myths” about prepping and bugging out. I thought the advice to be so outrageously idiotic and dangerous that I felt the need to respond to this guy before he gets people killed.

Their Myth Reasoning (not me talking/writing) – There have been more posts and comments about this than any of the other myths. Anytime someone makes a forum thread and shows their BOB, there are always people who make a comment like “Good luck carrying that”. I always wonder where these scoffers are planning on bugging out to. Me? I plan on driving. If there is some type of event that keeps me from driving, I can think of five ways to carry my BOB and other gear as well.

Maybe they plan on heading to the deep woods? For 95% of people, that is a bad idea. Even if you are a primitive skill master and can make do with a knife and a dirty look, what about your family?

Since the events that you actually need to bug out for are severe and you don’t know when you’ll be able to go home, what will you do in the woods when your supplies run out?

My thoughts are that if I do have to bug out there is a pretty serious reason. Since I don’t know how long I might need to be away, I want to make sure I have enough gear to take care of my family. I’m more concerned with making sure I have what we need than I am with the weight of the pack. On the very slim chance I can’t drive and have to carry it, I can find five means to negate the weight.

My Opinion –  Well-intentioned but horrible reasoning and advice. This guy is showing his utter lack of understanding of the most basic of preparedness concepts.

First, if you are going to drive, then there is no “BOB”, there is a BOV (Bug Out Vehicle). But he keeps referring to a BOB, as in “bag”, so he is way off base once again.

Second, Then he makes fun of those that comment on the bag’s weight when referring to people who challenge him on the weight. Well, those folks are 100% right and the “adviser” is 100% wrong. If you must carry a BOB, which is the whole underlying premise, then weight means everything. Actually, the concept of “weight and space” means everything. A concept that this so-called adviser is unaware of. Which then leads me to believe that this adviser is a novice at best.

Third, he infers that he can negate the weight of his burdensome BOB in at least five ways, yet doesn’t mention a single one, let alone the benefits and drawbacks to each.

Fourth, He comments about being away from home for a long time and that he needs to have “enough gear to take care of my family.” But he doesn’t mention a single piece of gear that he would take, or a system/process by which to identify what gear to even consider. That is a rookie mistake, let alone poor advice. And then he makes the audacious statement that he is not concerned about the weight of his pack containing “enough gear to take care of his family.” What a mistake!

Sorry, but as I read this guys’ advice to counter prepper myths I get infuriated with him. It is this kind of “expert” that will get people killed by the droves. He may talk pretty, saying key words, feigning some level of expertise – but he is utterly void of any substantial, practical, workable advice. This guy is a danger to preppers!

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