# You're on the run from zombies. What items in your house RIGHT NOW do you take with you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177 "2014-10-22T18:44:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/1 "2014-10-22T18:44:57Z")
So the dead have risen and started chomping on folks in your city. Maybe they’re supernatural types, corpses reanimated because Hell is and Heaven is closed; maybe it’s an improbable virus that leaves the laws of thermodynamics in question. It doesn’t matter, because you’ve just barely managed to overcome four or five who attacked your home, and you have good reason to believe there’s an enormous coming at you from hte north, so your priority right now is to get the fuck to the south. The zombies are fifteen minutes away. You have [this empty bag](http://www.amazon.com/Northstar-Diamond-Ripstop-14x30Inch-Blue/dp/B002ON3PDA/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=aUTF8&qid=1414003366&sr=1-3&keywords=duffle+bags) to fill with usefuls, but no other luggage. Restricting yourself to items currently in your house, what do you fill it with before leaving? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/2 "2014-10-22T18:51:13Z")
Two handguns 40 cases of ammo machete first aid kit case of bottled water all the turkey jerky in the pantry police scanner batteries ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/3 "2014-10-22T18:57:07Z")
Meds, my two Leatherman tools, some wire, duct tape, cans of food, pair of shoes, a hammer, prybar, boxes of nails. For good measure, I’ll grab one of my wife’s blunt theatrical swords, a file and a whetstone. My 15min are up, I’m out! running back in to grab my cell phone and charger, and a flashlight. whew! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/4 "2014-10-22T18:58:54Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Meds, my two Leatherman tools, some wire, duct tape, cans of food, pair of shoes, a hammer, prybar, boxes of nails. For good measure, I’ll grab one of my wife’s blunt theatrical swords, a file and a whetstone. > > My 15min are up, I’m out! > > running back in to grab my cell phone and charger, and a flashlight. whew! Um…if a herd of zombies is 15 minutes away, you don’t have fifteen minutes to pack, unless you’re leaving by transporter. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/5 "2014-10-22T18:59:52Z")
Cricket bat, head to the pub and wait until it all blows over. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/6 "2014-10-22T19:04:27Z")
I’ll pick up a sword and coat and gloves and my bag that’s pre-packed for travel, add in a firestarter kit and a water bottle, and be gone 10 minutes early. I’ll use that 10 minutes to alert my brother and parents. But this question is discussed in detail over on the Zombie Squad forums. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/7 "2014-10-22T19:07:46Z")
But why don’t we just get in that running car? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/8 "2014-10-22T19:11:13Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Um…if a herd of zombies is 15 minutes away, you don’t have fifteen minutes to pack, unless you’re leaving by transporter. Poetic license, I’ll take 14min to pack and drive away in my car. Now, where did I put those keys… ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/9 "2014-10-22T19:17:32Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > But why don’t we just get in that running car? You ARE going to the car. The question is what you take TO the car FROM your house or apartment. Which is why I’m not taking meds or a first aid kit, incidentally. We have three disaster kits-- one kept in the apartment, one in each car–and those are stocked with medical supplies, as well as flashlights and radios. I’m grabbing the guns and ammo, a hatchet which I borrowed from my dad and keep forgetting to return, several sturdy kitchen knives and as much food as I can shove into the bag, and some duck tape. Duck tape has unforeseen utility. 😃 > [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Cricket bat, head to the pub and wait until it all blows over. Fool of a Vulcan! The zombies are coming from that direction. What you describe is EXACTLY how Surak got killed. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/10 "2014-10-22T19:23:57Z")
I already have a bag filled with guns and ammo. Very convenient for just picking it up and heading for the range. Besides, I don’t know that I have to go anywhere. That simply increases your chances of an encounter. I’m in a third floor apartment. Assuming I can barricade the door (and I have enough crap to do it and/or can manufacture enough deactivated zombie corpses), I just sit out on my deck and shoot them as they mill about. Besides, Winter is coming. I’m in Minnesota. They’re Zombiecicles very soon. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/11 "2014-10-22T19:25:32Z")
My short sword Baseball bat Bottled water dry food(rice, pasta, etc\>) Underwear socks two sweatshirts and one pair of pants box of matches my copy of the Max Brooks book The Zombie Survival guide rope All the painkillers I have ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/12 "2014-10-22T19:31:07Z")
Water filter Machete Leatherman tools BioLite camp stove iPhone w/ear piece Flashlight Butane lighter Zippo lighter 1 extra pair of wool socks 1 pair of river sandals 1 pair of shorts 1 extra long sleeve shirt I’m out the door. Truth be told, I already have a kit with all that and more packed and in my Blazer. Any shit comes down, I can literally just drive away. (The kit was for times when I might find myself stranded or unable to continue temporarily; it has come in handy for myself and my passengers on numerous occasions.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/13 "2014-10-22T19:31:08Z")
Socks, boots, gloves, knit cap, all the sharp kitchen knives and quick sharpener, pistol and ammo, first aid kit, sleeping bag, rain coat, Polartec jacket, extra clothing, bag of rice, bag of beans, small cooking pot, matches, candles, camp ax, propane lantern and gas canisters, multi-tool, pain pills, binoculars, portable CB radio & batteries, [Yacht Boy](http://www.radiomuseum.org/images/radio/grundig/yacht_boy_230_215001.jpg) multi-channel radio, coil of rope, two rolls duct tape, toothbrush & paste, soap, bottle of rum. Throw the bag into the RV, which always sits with a full tank of gas, a full tank of propane, and a full tank of water, and bye-bye Portland. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/14 "2014-10-22T19:32:35Z")
I’ma stand fast and turn the lights out. I’ll simply put out a buffet of “stuff zombies like to eat” from the list of ideas [here.](http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/halloweengames/a/blhfeelbox.htm) Hey, they fool eight-year olds; zombies aren’t _THAT_ much smarter than eight-year olds. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/15 "2014-10-22T19:37:44Z")
Why should I run from my undead minions? 😕 \*\*DrDeth. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/16 "2014-10-22T19:40:58Z")
My plastic tub of bug-out gear, my plastic tub of ammo, .22 rifle, 12 ga. shotgun, .357 magnum revolver, and plastic tub of food. I can GTHOD in less than 5 minutes, I know because I’ve practiced. I’m not all that paranoid, but I do live in an area prone to hurricanes. My tub of gear has stuff subdivided into plastic bags, so I can fill my backpack quickly after the Family Truckster runs out of go juice. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/17 "2014-10-22T19:43:59Z")
My insulin pens and various meds A good knife, a small wrench and a screwdriver A jacket Some quick energy snacks (crackers, raisins) A couple bottles of water I would carry my baseball bat over my shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/18 "2014-10-22T19:47:21Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > My insulin pens and various meds > A good knife, a small wrench and a screwdriver > A jacket > Some quick energy snacks (crackers, raisins) > A couple bottles of water > I would carry my baseball bat over my shoulder. You’re WALKING away? Because nothing in the OP says you can’t drive. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/19 "2014-10-22T20:28:25Z")
This all depends on what canon of zombie you follow, I suppose. In my head they are the slow shuffling determined type. They won’t leave if they know there are brains in a building. I’d grab Tool bag (wrench set, gauges, valve fittings, hack saw, etc) Multi-tool Lighter All the canned meat I have (tuna, spam) Gloves and Hat Hunting knife Cell Charger Several bottles of alcohol and rags (oh yeah) Old “how to survive in the woods” guide I’d head AWAY from the city and into the mountains. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177/20 "2014-10-22T20:42:20Z")
If I can drive away, then I’m not really limited to what will fit in that duffle bag, right? It’s also whatever fits in/on/hitched to my car. We have a travel trailer that also substitutes as a guest house, it’s got lots of hidey-hole type areas for storage. I’ve got about 2 weeks worth of emergency food for the family in there. I would fill the water tank and grab the axes and pitchforks from the barn while the rest of the gang grabs the guns and diapers from the house. Back up the crossover, hitch up and go. We’re out of there in 10 minutes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-on-the-run-from-zombies-what-items-in-your-house-right-now-do-you-take-with-you/702177.md?page=2)