There is WHAT in your Bug Out Bag?

Gaye Levy
Activist Post

Finding practical uses for ordinary items has always been a hobby of mine. It all started when I had my first apartment way back when and I used toothpaste to patch up nail holes left in the wall as I was hanging posters using the trial and error method. After that, there was no looking back. I was hooked on using household items in unusual ways.

It has been my experience that most preppers have this same penchant for wanting to use ordinary items for extraordinary purposes. Myself? I feel pretty clever in this regard. But today I have to tell you, Above Average Joe has me beat. Who would have thought that pantyhose could be put to practical use in a bug out bag?

Read on from Above Average Joe:

My BOB Has A Secret…And It Isn’t Pretty.

If you are heading out for a weekend camping trip or a disaster is on its way and you need to hoof it on foot to get out of dodge make sure you always have a few pair of these in your gear:

That’s right the secret weapon in my Bug out Bag is pantyhose… er maybe I should call them Man-tyhose.

It might not be a very manly thing to carry, and I get a few funny looks when I step up to the counter at CVS with a pair of pantyhose … but this is survival planning and you looking manly is trumped by being prepared.

Not only are these cheap to buy but there are dozens of alternative uses for them and they take up practically no space. Check out the list below for a small sampling of what these can be used for:

• You can wear pantyhose as extra layer beneath your normal clothes to keep warm in cold weather.
• Use pantyhose to prevent bites and stings. Wear pantyhose under your shorts or pants to protect against chiggers, ticks, and other biting insects.
• If you are going to be trekking through water, wear them to protect yourself from jellyfish stings and leaches.
• Stretch a pair of pantyhose over a “Y” shaped branch or stick and use as a skimmer or a fishing net. You won’t catch a 10lb catfish in this, but you may be able to pick up a few smaller fish to eat or use as bait for a larger fish.
• Use pantyhose to secure bait while fishing. Place bait in the pantyhose and secure it to a tree or anything sturdy in order to to keep from losing bait while fishing.



• Use pantyhose as a pouch or bag to carry things.
• Use pantyhose to fasten or bind things together instead of twine or bungee cords.
• You can use pantyhose as a belt to keep your pants hiked up.
• In first aid, you can utilize pantyhose as a tourniquet or to hold and/or secure a bandage or hot and cold pack.
• Use pantyhose as a first round filter to strain any collected water. The water will still need to be treated or boiled but this first line of defense will help to clear the water of any large particles.
• Use pantyhose to prevent blisters. I saw a lot of comments in one of my previous articles about using pantyhose to keep your feet blister free and I just wanted to highlight it again here. Cut the feet off of a pair of pantyhose at the ankles and wear them under your socks. They will help cut down on the friction between your shoe and your foot, thus reducing the risk of blisters.

Pantyhose look terrible on men … plain and simple, but they were never designed for us; but the great thing about them is that they are extremely stretchy and most have a sizing guide so that you can take a guess at the size you should buy.

I’m not saying that these should be worn on a regular basis, but in a survival situation the benefit of having those in your pack outweigh any blow that your pride may take when purchasing them. And if you really can’t break down and buy a pair of them for yourself, I’ve actually seen a few places that sell them in camouflage for the real manly man.

Or if you have the extra cash you can always buy underarmour, but when you can get 10 pair of pantyhose for the cost of 1 pair of underarmour, I would rather save my money for something else.

These are just a few examples of what a little ingenuity can bring you in a survival situation; can you think of a few more that I may have missed?

About Joe

A little about me (‘Above Average’ Joe): I am just an average guy with a passion for learning . . . I am excited to share the things I learn with you but I am most interested in learning from you. Survival Life is more than just one man. It is a growing and living community of individuals; all with the desire to be prepared to survive and thrive no matter what this world throws at us. I want to welcome you to the Survival Life community and look forward to growing with you! Thank you, Gaye, for inviting me to share the Survival Life with your readers!

THE FINAL WORD

Who would have thought it? This is quite the secret!

Now surely when the Survival Husband reads this he may protest and say whoa! not me. On the other hand, no one says anyone – man or woman, has to actually wear pantyhose. For a buck a pair at the dollar store, it seems to me there are plenty of other reasons to keep a few pairs on hand. Heck, even old worn out holey-ones will work.

Thanks, Joe, for a great idea!

Read other articles by Gaye Levy here.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye started Backdoor Survival to share her angst and concern about our deteriorating economy and its impact on ordinary, middle-class folks. She also wanted to become a prepper of the highest order and to share her knowledge as she learned it along the way. She considers her sharing of knowledge her way of giving back and as always, we at Activist Post are grateful for her contributions.

If you would like to read more from Gaye Levy, check out her blog at http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/.  You can also visit her Facebook page or sign up for updates by email by clicking on Backdoor Survival Updates.