Iran Mines the Strait of Hormuz

Last year, a friend called me at 11 PM because her building had a gas leak and she had to leave immediately. She grabbed her kids, her phone, and nothing else. No change of clothes. No medications. No charger. They spent the night at a hotel eating vending machine snacks.

She’s not careless. She just didn’t have a bag ready. Most people don’t. Here’s how to fix that.

Your 72-Hour Kit: What Actually Goes In It

The idea behind a 72-hour kit is simple. If you had to leave your home with ten minutes’ notice, what would you grab? The answer shouldn’t require thinking. It should already be packed.

Seventy-two hours is the standard because that’s roughly how long it takes for organized help to reach most areas after a regional disruption. Flooding, wildfire evacuation, extended power outage, whatever it is, you need to cover your own basics for about three days.

The internet will give you packing lists with 80 items. Ignore most of them. A kit you can’t carry is a kit you’ll leave behind. Start with the fundamentals: water, shelter, food, light, communication, and documents.

For water, pack one liter per person per day plus a filter or purification tablets. That covers drinking without weighing you down. For shelter, a compact emergency bivvy or a lightweight tarp works. You’re not building a cabin. You’re staying warm and dry for a couple of nights.

Food should be calorie-dense and require no cooking. Granola bars, peanut butter packets, dried fruit. Fancy isn’t the point. Calories are the point.

A headlamp beats a flashlight because it keeps your hands free. Pack a portable phone charger. Pack copies of your ID, insurance cards, and prescriptions in a waterproof bag. If you take daily medications, keep a 72-hour supply rotated in the kit.

The pack itself matters less than people think. A school backpack works fine. A duffel bag works. Whatever you already own that you can sling over a shoulder and walk with for a mile. Spend your money on what goes inside, not what holds it.

One more thing: put the bag somewhere you can grab it fast. A hall closet, a hook by the door, in your car. A kit buried in the garage behind holiday decorations isn’t a kit. It’s a project.

Build it this weekend. Imperfect is fine. You can upgrade later.

Grab a backpack and put three things in it: a water bottle, a flashlight, and a phone charger.

That's not a complete kit. But it's a started kit, and a started kit is infinitely better than a planned kit. Set it by your front door. You can add to it over the coming weeks.

Hit reply and let me know how it went. I read everything.

Major shipping carriers have suspended operations in the Middle East following the Iran strikes and Strait of Hormuz mining. Extended transit times and rate increases are expected across global supply chains, particularly for goods routed through the Persian Gulf.

Source: Air Cargo News

Creek Stewart is the founder of Willow Haven Outdoor survival school and the author of Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag. He's spent years teaching people how to pack for emergencies, and his biggest piece of advice might surprise you: don't start with a list. Start with your specific risks.

If you live in tornado country, your kit looks different from someone in earthquake country. Stewart recommends sitting down for ten minutes and writing out the three most likely reasons you'd need to leave your home. Then pack for those. A kit built around your actual life will always beat a generic one pulled from the internet.

Iran Begins Mining the Strait of Hormuz; US Sinks 16 Minelayers

Iran has started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world’s crude oil supply. US intelligence sources report a few dozen mines have been placed using small craft capable of carrying two to three mines each. Iran retains 80% to 90% of its mine-laying capacity. US Central Command responded by eliminating 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels on Tuesday.

What it means for you: Gas prices and heating fuel costs are likely to rise in the coming weeks. If you use propane or kerosene for backup heating, consider topping off your supply now. This is also a good reminder to keep your vehicle’s tank above half, a habit we covered in Issue 1.

Source: CNN, Bloomberg, Haaretz, OilPrice.com

Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault Pack

I've been running this as my go-bag for about six months now. The 27-liter capacity hits the sweet spot: big enough for 72 hours of essentials, small enough to not slow you down, looks like a regular backpack, and has zippers that won’t break easily. The three-zip design lets you access the main compartment from the top or either side, which matters when you're digging for something in the dark. Runs about $249, which is steep for a backpack, but the build quality is legitimately military-grade and will last a very long time.

Budget alternative: Kelty Redwing. Around half the price, comfortable for long carries, and more than enough room for a solid 72-hour setup.

Overrated: Pre-made emergency kits. Most are stuffed with cheap gear you'll never trust. You're better off building your own, one quality item at a time.

Underrated: Zip-lock bags. They organize gear, waterproof documents, separate clean clothes from dirty ones, and weigh nothing. Pack a handful in every bag you own.

ThePrepared.com: Bug Out Bag Guide. The most thorough go-bag checklist on the internet. Start here if you want detail.

Ready.gov: Build a Kit. The government's take on emergency kits. Simple and solid.

PackConfig.com. Bag organization and packing ideas. Useful for getting your kit dialed in.

Animated Knots. Every knot you'd ever need, animated step by step. Surprisingly useful.

We're talking about water. Specifically, how to store it at home so you're not buying 40 cases of bottles from Costco. There's a smarter way.

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PS: If you already have a go-bag, I'd genuinely love to know what's in it. Hit reply and tell me your best or weirdest item.