What’s Your Go-To Item for Bugging Out Fast?

[EchoTangoFox]

If I need to bail out quick, my HT (handheld transceiver) always goes in the bag first. Reliable comms mean I can get intel, coordinate with my group, or call for help if needed. I’m curious—what’s the one item you grab every time, no matter what? Not including the bag itself—let’s hear about that one key piece you never leave behind. Looking for ideas to fine-tune my kit.

 

[CeruleanScribe]

If I need to bail out quick, my HT (handheld transceiver) always goes in the bag first.

A good handheld transceiver is definitely smart—communication gets overlooked way too often, and you never know when cell towers might be down. Do you have a specific model you trust? I’m curious how much range you actually get in hilly or wooded terrain, since that’s an issue where I am

 

[OrbitJazz21]

If I need to bail out quick, my HT (handheld transceiver) always goes in the bag first.
A good handheld transceiver is definitely smart—communication gets overlooked way too often, and you never know when cell towers might be down. Do you have a specific model you trust? I’m curious how much range you actually get in hilly or wooded terrain, since that’s an issue where I am

I’m with you on how overlooked comms are—folks think a smartphone will save them, but those fall flat fast when things get rough. I use a Yaesu FT-60 for my HT, and in hilly terrain I still get a couple miles, sometimes more if I hit a repeater. Trees can eat up the signal though, so I pack a roll-up J-pole antenna just in case. Have you tried extending your range with an external antenna, CeruleanScribe, or just sticking with the stock rubber duck?