In a survival situation, a small backpack that can transform to different uses besides simply carrying items will help your odds of survival. Here are instructions for making a lightweight and durable multi-use survival bag.
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Step #1:
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- Collect all required materials.
Step #2:
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- Lay out all the material and lay the cotton towels with the edges overlapping to form the shape of the tarpaulin layer.
- Sew the edges of the towels together to form one large cotton sheet.
Step #3:
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- Lay out the tarpaulin lining and draw a 5.5 foot diameter circle.
- You can cut a 2.25 ft length of rope, pin one end to the center of the fabric, and then create a 5.5 ft diameter circle.
- Cut the circle out of the material.
Step #4:
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- Using the tarpaulin as a blueprint, draw similar circles on the cotton, emergency blanket, and plastic liner layers.
- Lay the fabric in this order from bottom to top: tarpaulin, cotton, emergency blanket, and plastic liner.
- Line up the layers then drop the rope on the edges.
- Roll the material over the rope and hold down the edge material with clips.
Step #5:
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- Carefully stitch the inner portion of the folded edge using a sewing machine.
- Ensure that you leave a space where the rope loops out of the fold.
Step #6:
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- Flip the material over with the tarpaulin liner on top.
- Find the center of the circle and draw a 9 inch radius circle about this point.
- Lay the velcro on this circle and hold it down with duct tape.
- Sew the inner and outer edges of the velcro (i.e., inner and outer edges of the velcro circle). Ensure that stitching is through all the layers.
Step #7:
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- Cut 8 strips 6 inches in length from the backpack strap material.
- Approximately a foot from the edge of the circle, sew one of the strips in a loop fashion onto the fabric.
- Repeat the process above for 7 more loops and maintain an equal distance between loops (approximately 6.5 inches on the outer diameter of a circle with a foot smaller diameter than the larger circle).
- Cut 2 strips 4 feet in length from the backpack strap material.
- Loop the cut strap through one of the loops and then sew the ends together.
- Repeat the process above using a loop adjacent to the one previously used.
Step #8:
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- Using the knife, cut small holes every 2 feet on the outer edge of the folded edges.
- Use these holes to pull the rope through and scrunch the material to create a bag-like appearance. This will require some strength and time.
- Using the materials listed in this guide, the bag will stay slightly open.
- Cut another 10 foot length of rope. Thread this section of rope through all the loops.
- Tighten the rope once it is through all the loops.
- This should create a closed bag.
Step #9:
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- The survival bag has multiple uses, the first of which is an actual back pack.
- If the ropes are cut, the bag can open up and become a blanket or sleeping bag.
- Utilizing the existing straps and rope, a makeshift shelter can be built by tying the ends to objects in the environment. The layers reflect back body heat and also have insulating properties, and this will provide a very lightweight and durable shelter.
Step #10:
- Flipped over, the reflective material can be used as a long-distance solar signal.
- If a hole is cut along the inner velcro circle, a person can place their head through it and a warm waterproof poncho is created.
