I’ve been part of the prepping community for quite some time now, but I feel like I still have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to bugging in. I’m sure you’ll agree when I say that bugging out and heading for the wild in a crisis should be a last resort. No one wants to leave everything behind and risk their lives out there.
I’ve picked up a ton of tips along the way, but something I’ve always struggled with is building my own stockpile. What exactly do I buy? How much do I need? Where do I get it without breaking the bank?
A friend suggested I check out A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide by Joel Lambert. He told me this book includes a chapter titled “How to Gradually Build Your 3-Month Stockpile,” which breaks down exactly what to buy, how much of it, and where to find it at an affordable price and even includes a 90-day meal plan with recipes.
Given Joel’s background—a decade on the Navy SEAL teams and as a lead instructor at BUD/S—I figured he’s probably qualified to write a book like this.
I ordered A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide, and to my surprise, it arrived in just three days, even faster than it said on the website. Right away, I appreciated how straightforward and easy it is to read and follow. The content is packed with practical advice, and the book is well organized with clear tables, high-quality color photos, and helpful illustrations.
Joel talks about The Life Pie and details how each piece of the pie covers everything you need to know if you want to be successful when bugging in.
There are ten pieces in the Life Pie, and here are some that caught my attention immediately:
How to Make Your Property Looter-Proof:
This one is an eye-opener. It points out some security mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making around my property. For example, I had no idea how vulnerable my windows were or how important silent traps and alarms could be. 
On top of that, it teaches you:
- How to safely clear your house room to room when you think you’ve got an intruder.
- How to make your house invisible after SHTF.
- Ingenious, violence-free ways to keep looters off your property.
- What hiding places looters never check.
- SEAL home survival tactics for the next civil war.
Essential Medical Pills and Supplies:
It’s like the ultimate guide for stocking essential medical supplies when you’re bugging in. It has a checklist that helped me organize my first aid kit, covering everything from minor cuts to serious emergencies. Before this, my medical supplies were a bit scattered, but now I feel much more prepared for any medical situation. 
Here are a few other things you’ll learn about:
- The 10-cent pill everyone needs in their cabinet.
- What happens if you take expired medications.
- “Nature’s Amoxicillin” and dozens of other natural remedies that can save you once pharmacies run dry.
- The only four antibiotics you need to stockpile for when SHTF.
- What happens if you mix raw honey with activated charcoal.
- The powerful painkiller that probably grows in your driveway.
Deadly Water Storage Mistakes to Avoid:
Water storage is something I thought I had under control, but this chapter made me realize I had some gaps in my plan. It stresses the importance of having enough water not just for drinking but also for things like watering gardens, maintaining personal hygiene, and bathing. I learned about common mistakes to avoid, like improper storage that can lead to contamination. The book provides plenty solutions, like:
- How to stockpile a ton of water for 365 days.
- A simple and cheap device that can filter huge quantities of drinking water.
- How to harvest atmospheric water.
- How to test your water to see if it’s still safe to drink.
- How to desalinize water using a device that costs only $4.
And that’s just a glimpse of what I found inside. Each chapter offers useful, hands-on advice that actually helps me get ready for the next crisis.
After a thorough review of the stockpile chapter, I wasted no time and got straight to work. I used the book for guidance every step of the way. I even brought it along as a shopping companion. I made sure I bought everything listed in the book, and then I even made some of the homemade survival foods Joel recommended, like pemmican.
While my stockpile isn’t complete yet, I’m closer than I’ve ever been to having a complete three-month supply.
In the book, I also stumbled upon a neat DIY project called “The Pressurized Backyard Well,” aimed at providing a constant water supply. It seemed a bit intimidating at first, but the instructions were clear and the QR codes made it super easy to gather the materials and tools needed.
If I have one critique, it’s that the DIY projects chapter is a little bit shorter than expected. It would’ve been great to see more projects, perhaps categorized by skill level, especially since all of these projects are very practical and handy when you’re bugging in long term. Hopefully the author will consider expanding on this in a second edition, but other than that, the book is great.
Overall, A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide has truly been a gamechanger for me. If you’re looking to build your survival stockpile and learn the skills you need to be prepared for whatever comes your way, I highly recommend grabbing a physical copy.
Here’s the link to Joel’s official website, where I bought A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide.
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