Bug Out Binder
Recommended Supplies
Everything we actually use to print, assemble, and organize the binder system. These are not generic suggestions — they are the specific supplies that have held up through thousands of pages of printing, regular handling, and real use.
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Printing
The printer and ink matter more than most people expect. Color printing for the card collections and guide covers looks completely different on a good printer than a basic one. These are what we use.
Canon PIXMA G3270
The printer behind thousands of pages of color in the Bug Out Binder collection. MegaTank ink system means you fill the tank rather than replacing cartridges — dramatically lower cost per page for high-volume color printing. Handles cardstock well and produces clean, rich color on guide covers, herb illustration cards, and foraging cards.
Canon MegaTank Ink
The ink for the G3270. Using the correct ink matters for color accuracy and longevity on printed cards. Linked on the storefront alongside the printer.
Paper
Different sections of the binder benefit from different paper. Here is what we use for each.
Cardstock
For the card collections — herb illustration cards, remedy cards, recipe cards, and reference cards. Cardstock gives the cards substance and makes them durable enough for regular handling. Standard 65lb or 80lb works well in most home printers.
Rite in the Rain Paper
Weatherproof paper for sections of the Bug Out Binder that may need to hold up in rough conditions. Emergency contacts, medical information, and survival skills sections are good candidates. Writes and prints like standard paper, survives rain and moisture.
Standard Printer Paper
For guides, planners, and any section you'll keep indoors. Most of the expansion library guides print beautifully on standard 20lb paper. No need for anything special unless you are printing the card collections or outdoor-use sections.
Binders
Each binder in the system has a recommended size. See the printing and assembly guide for full details on how to organize each one.
3-Inch 3-Ring Binder
For the main Bug Out Binder. Large enough to hold the core file and essential supplemental sections while still being practical to grab in an emergency. A sturdy binder with a clear cover sleeve is ideal — the included cover pages slide right in.
2-Inch 3-Ring Binder
For the Natural Health Binder. Gives you room for the full guide collection, card collection in photo pages, and planners, with space to grow as you add notes and new sections.
1.5-Inch 3-Ring Binder
For the Old Fashioned Recipe Binder. Keeps the kitchen binder manageable for daily use while still holding the full recipe collection, blank cards, and kitchen system pages.
Binder Organization
The supplies that make the difference between a binder that stays organized and one that doesn't.
Sheet Protectors
For high-use sections — emergency contacts, first aid, and any page you'll reference frequently. Look for the fold-over top style, which creates an extra layer of water resistance over standard sheet protectors. Good for medical information pages in the Bug Out Binder.
Tab Dividers
For navigation between sections. The binder system includes both premade printed tabs and editable tab files you can customize. These dividers hold the printed tabs or work on their own for a clean section break.
3-Hole Punch
For any pages you print that need holes added before going into the binder. A heavy-duty punch handles cardstock without effort. The one linked on the storefront has been used through hundreds of pages without issue.
Card Collection Supplies
For the Natural Health Binder card collection specifically. The cards are designed to fit these exact insert sizes — using the right pages makes the collection look finished and holds up to regular handling.
3.5" x 5" Photo Album Refill Pages
For the remedy cards and smaller reference cards in the Natural Health Binder. Cards print 4-up on a standard sheet, cut along the trim lines, and slide directly into these sleeves. These pages fit standard 3-ring binders and hold the cards securely while keeping them visible and accessible.
7" x 5" Photo Album Refill Pages
For the herb illustration cards and larger recipe cards. Same approach — print, cut, and slide into the sleeve. The larger format gives the herb illustrations room to show the detail they were designed with.
Folders and Display
Beyond the binders, the system extends into how you organize and display everything. These are the supplies that make the expansion library guides and individual topic collections look considered rather than just printed.
Black File Folders
For organizing expansion library guides by topic — beekeeping, adobe building, sheep farming, canning, and so on. The editable card file in the collection prints 4-up on a standard sheet. Cut the cards, write or print the topic name, and glue or tape one to the front of each folder. The result is a labeled, organized reference library that looks intentional on a shelf.
Beyond the Binder
The editable tabs and cards in the system extend well beyond the binder itself. These are some of the ways the supplies get used outside of printing and assembly.
The editable tab files print on standard full-page label paper and can be used for almost anything. Pantry jars labeled with the herb or grain inside. Oil infusions labeled with the plant and date. Tinctures, teas, spice jars, seed packets — anything you want labeled in the same visual language as the binder system. The tabs were designed for binder sections but they work anywhere a clean, consistent label is useful.
All of the supplies above are linked in one place on the Bug Out Binder Amazon storefront. Browse by category or see the full list.
View the Full Supplies List →Affiliate disclosure: purchases made through these links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.