Should You Bug In or Bug Out? Let’s Do the Math.

For years, the prepping community has debated one core question: When disaster hits, do you stay… or do you run?

Most answers are emotional. Some people romanticize bugging out — hiking into the wilderness, living off the land, surviving on grit. Others insist staying home is always best. But what if we stopped arguing opinions and started looking at numbers?

In this video, we break the decision down into four measurable categories:

1. Carry Load — How much weight are you physically hauling?

2. Calorie Math — Can your body sustain the energy burn?

3. Mobility & Range — How far can you realistically travel?

4. Exposure & Risk — How vulnerable are you on the move?

Then we apply weighted scoring. The result? Bugging in wins most scenarios — often by a wide margin. That doesn’t mean bugging out is never necessary. There are cases where staying means certain danger: wildfire, chemical spill, direct conflict. But for the average American household, in the average disruption scenario, the math strongly favors staying put.

If you want to see the full breakdown and scoring system, watch the video and decide for yourself because when the moment comes, you won’t have time to debate it.