In times of emergency and disaster, a well-packed bug out bag could very well save your life. Take a minute or two to plan things out carefully and know exactly what to pack with our bug out bag packing list. Plus, we’ve added recommendations to help you get started. Click on the photo captions to learn more about each product.
1. Water
Water is one of the essential elements of survival. FEMA and the Red Cross recommend to store at least one gallon of water per day, in case of emergencies. On average, a moderately-active person drinks half a gallon of water a day. But that could change depending on the climate, level of physical activity and individual physiological differences.
Needless to say, it isn’t a wise idea to fit a gallon of water in bottles in your bug out bag. 1 liter of water weighs 1kg, making 1 gallon weighing about 4kgs or so. Lugging around that much water can only be practical and beneficial if you have the right water container for the job.
Hard water bottles are bulky and weigh quite a bit. Water packs are an option but they’re not as durable for long term use. This MSR Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir, however, is a different story.
MSR Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir, from $39.95 on Amazon
Made with tough 1,000-denier exteriors and BPA-free, food grade lining, this water container is built to last. It is completely collapsible and weighs 6.9oz to 10oz depending on the size (4L, 6L, 10L).
If you’re confident you’ll always have a decent water source nearby, you can also pack in portable water filters like.
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System, Single, Camo, $21.99 on Amazon
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, $14.99 on Amazon
Katadyn Hiker Microfilter, $52.64 on Amazon
2. Food
Make sure to pack enough ready-to-eat food or dehydrated food to last you 72 hours in your bug out bag. Ready-to-eat food that doesn’t require water or heat is best as it is important to use as little resources as possible in times of emergency and disaster. Your choice of survival food should be high-calorie and nutrient-dense such as:
Greenbelly Meal 2 Go, Variety, 3 Meals, $22.99 on Amazon
CLIF BAR – Nutrition & Energy Bar – Chocolate Almond Fudge, $12.96 on Amazon
And in case you don’t get help by 72 hours and have to get your own food from the wild:
Ka-Bar Tactical Spork Tool, $4.32 on Amazon
Gerber Swagger Knife, Assisted Opening, $25 on Amazon
Camping Cookware Mess Kit, from $16.99 on Amazon
3. Clothing
Keep a spare change of clothes including quick-dry underwear, a lightweight long-sleeve T-shirt, convertible pants, and if you can, a lightweight jacket. It is also recommended to pack in a rain poncho, which could double as emergency shelter. Our picks:
HOWON Multifunction Camouflage Waterproof Rain Poncho For Adults, $22.89 on Amazon
Vapor Apparel Men’s UPF50+ UV/Sun Protection Long Sleeve T-Shirt, from $17.26 on Amazon
Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Convertible Pants, from $39.87 on Amazon
4. Shelter
Shelter is the most important among the elements of survival, surprisingly more important than water and food. That’s why packing the right materials to put up a decent shelter to shield you from the harsh elements of nature like rain, wind, cold and heat is of utmost importance. There are a lot of choices out there like:
Hiking Rain Fly Tent Tarp, $39.9 on Amazon
Crehouse Hammock Tent, $99.99 on Amazon
Hammock Rain Fly Waterproof Tent Tarp, from $24.99 on Amazon
Snugpak Jungle Blanket, $32.86 on Amazon
5. Fire/Heat
Pick waterproof fire starters that don’t take too much space in your bag. It is also good to avoid fuel-based fire starters that only last a few uses. We recommend:
SE All-Weather Emergency 2-IN-1 Fire Starter & Magnesium Fuel Bar, $5.15 on Amazon
Survival Spark Magnesium Survival Fire Starter with Compass and Whistle, $6.75 on Amazon
6. First Aid
There are a lot of ready-made first aid kits on the market. The trick is picking one that has a little bit of everything. You will never know what will happen out in the wild! Another factor to consider is the size. The smaller, the better it will fit your bug out bag. Check these out:
Surviveware Small First Aid Kit, $34.95 on Amazon
First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Essentials Kit, from $12.06 on Amazon
7. Hygiene Products
Staying clean, especially after doing #2, is extra hard outdoors. Make sure you pack these essentials!
Lightload Towels, $7.95 on Amazon
Coghlan’s Packable Camp Toilet Tissue, $6.05 on Amazon
Adventure Medical Kits Adventure Bath Wipes, $5.20 on Amazon
8. Defensive Tools
It is very important to gear up enough to defend yourself from wild animals or whatever’s lurking out there. A pocket knife is your best friend but pepper spray could also come in handy.
TAC-FORCE EMT EMS Rescue Folding Pocket Knife, $7.25on Amazon
SABRE 3-IN-1 Pepper Spray, $6.99 on Amazon
9. Emergency Communication Devices
Calling for help in an emergency situation is easier when you have a whistle and a signal mirror. But that’s not all. Information is crucial to survival, especially in times of disaster. Luckily there are a few portable radios available in the market today. And if you have ham radio skills, you can even communicate to the world via some radio frequencies. You’ll have to get certified or try your luck with a few self-help books (no guarantee!).
Homey Product Extra Loud Whistles, $8.99 on Amazon
UST StarFlash Signal Mirror, Micro and Floating Models, $9.71 on Amazon
BaoFeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio, $24.90 on Amazon
The ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs; Volumes 1 & 2, $9.50 on Amazon
10. Lighting
Pack solar-powered lighting devices in your bug out bag. Lights that run on batteries will do too, provided you pack extra batteries.
Folding Clover Solar LED 100 Lumen Camping Lantern, $18.99 on Amazon
Survival Frog Pocket Light Collapsible LED Solar Lantern & Flashlight, $14.93 on Amazon
LED Camping Light, $12.99 on Amazon
Liked this bug out bag packing list? Shout out in the comments below.
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