The Bug Out Bag is one of the most valuable assets a prepper can own, which is why I plan to discuss it in a multiple part series. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting articles that highlight the key components of the Bug Out Bag. It’s an elaborate and extensive topic, and I plan to cover a few subtopics at a time, so check back often for additional content!

Why should I assemble a Bug Out Bag?

The Bug Out Bag is one of the best ways to prepare for any occasion that would force you to leave your home for an extensive period of time. Some say that the Bug Out Bag is a “72-hour Bag”, meaning that you can survive with supplies out of the bag, and nothing else, for that long. I think this can extend further. Although certain packed items, like food, may only last you for 72 hours, it doesn’t hurt to think about how you can get added longevity out of the supplies in your bag.

When I pack my bag, I keep the mindset that I am not sure when, or if, I’m going to return home. This does sound daunting, and hopefully will never happen, but it’s certainly better than being underprepared.

The Bag

The most important thing to consider when choosing a bag is to pick one that’s right for you. It should hold all your supplies with a bit of room to spare, fit your body comfortably, and provide proper back support with an internal frame. Backpacking backpacks are best for a Bug Out Bag. If possible, it’s best to try one out in person before purchasing to get a feel for how easy or difficult it will be to carry.

My Bug Out Bag

My backpack is a Chums Springdale 50 Men’s Backpack. Yes, it’s a “men’s” backpack and I’m a woman, and yes, it looks like a rainbow exploded all over it, but it works for me, and I couldn’t resist its individuality. It fits my frame, has plenty of room (50 liters), and can be loaded with gear from the top or the front. Two access points into the main compartment is always a good feature to have to avoid having to take all of your supplies out to find something at the bottom. That being said, there are packing methods you can follow to keep your most used items closest to the “surface” of the bag, which I will discuss later. Nevertheless, quick and easy access to supplies is crucial.

Top Opening

Front Opening (not essential, but nice to have)

Bag Size & Weight

I personally recommend buying a 45 liter backpack or higher. My bag has 50 liters of space and has a little bit of room left when all of my supplies are in it. I keep this extra room here in the event that I need to gather supplies or need extra room for any reason. You never know what you may need to find and carry with you along the way (food, kindling, etc.).

As for weight, the rule of thumb is that your Bug Out Bug should be no more than 30% of your body weight. This does, however, depend highly on your fitness level and/or any physical limitations you may have. If you are an avid fitness buff, 30% should be no problem. If you are out of shape and live a relatively sedentary lifestyle, you may want to lower your bag weight to 20% of your body weight. I can’t stress enough that this depends on your needs and what you are comfortable with! After packing your bag, try it out by taking a walk or a hike. I’ve done this a few times, and it truly gives some insight into what my body can manage to carry.

General Packing Rules

There’s a famous saying that says it very well:

Two is one and one is none.

This means that if you only bring one of something, you may as well have none because you may lose it, it may break, or it may otherwise become rendered useless. It’s important to keep backups of certain things, especially those which do not occupy too much space or weight down your bag too much. This means that supplies like medicine, bandages, matches, etc. are good to pack extras of, but a second extra set of clothes, maybe not so much.

Another thing to consider is the functionality of each item you pack. An item that serves two purposes is generally much more valuable than an item that only serves one. Consider the tasks you need to perform and what tools or supplies will help you accomplish that task. If a supply you want to pack does not serve a purpose, it may not belong in your Bug Out Bag.

Packing your bag requires patience, research, and a delicate balance of volume, weight, and function, but it’s all worth it. The peace of mind you’ll have after packing a bag that’s ready to go in minutes is worth the work you put in, and could even end up saving your life!

Supplies

These are the supplies I have in my Bug Out Bag, broken out into categories by function.

Water

Water is one of the single most important things to have when you’re on the go for an indeterminate amount of time. In addition to having some water that’s ready to drink (or cook with), it’s a must-have to pack purification devices that will allow you to filter, purify, and consume water from unpure sources.

Nalgene, prefilled with clean water

Potable Aqua purification tablets and neutralizing tablets

Coffee filters (for course filtration)

Collapsable silicone cup

Filtration Straw – I used to keep a Lifestraw packed (which is an excellent filtration straw) but I recently upgraded to the Etekcity Portable Water Filter. The Etekcity straw comes with a water collection pouch that screws onto the end of the straw, making it easy to collect extra water to carry with you and filter later. It also comes with its own backwash cleaning device. Plus, it has a filter volume of 500 liters more water than the Lifestraw!

Fire

Fire-starting supplies are necessary for both heat and cooking. Make sure you have a variety of ways to start a fire – don’t make the mistake of relying on just one.

Bic lighter

Waterproof matches in floating waterproof case

Flint fire starter with magnesium strip

Fuel tabs

Small candles

Cotton balls (for tinder)

Pencil sharpener (to make tinder from sticks)

Clothing & Shelter

I keep an extra pair of clothes in my bag, as well as supplies to create a makeshift shelter. Everything is packed in a sturdy and waterproof dry bag.

Clothing

Poncho

Hat

Work gloves

Microfiber towel

Long underwear

Non-cotton camping shirt

Convertable/zip-off pants

Socks (multiple pairs)

Underwear (multiple pairs)

Sports bra

Bandana

Paracord bracelet (with whistle in buckle)

Hand and foot warmers (not pictured)

Shelter

Sleeping bag (attached to exterior of bag, not pictured)

Bungee cords and canopy ties

Emergency tent

Lightweight tarp

Mylar rescue blanket (2)

Duct tape

Paracord

Self-Defense

Pepper spray

Handgun and ammo (ammo not pictured)

Knife (see Tools section)

Tools

There are likely going to be a lot of tiny things, such as screws and safety pins, that you’ll want to carry in your bag. I’ve found that packing small items in film cannisters is a convenient way to store these kinds of supplies. If you have any lying around the house, I suggest keeping them for this purpose. For larger items, I use a hard shell electronics case that works quite well.

Swiss army knife

Multitool

Mora Knife – I strongly recommend this brand. These knives are well-made, versatile, and best of all, inexpensive!

Flashlight (not pictured)

Knife sharpener

Paracord

Outdoor Knots guide

Hand saw

Sewing kit

Fishing kit

Kevlar rope

Coated copper wire

Compass

Extra carabiners

Silcox key

Various small tools Screws Safety pins Screws Clothespins Rubber bands Gear ties Eye screws



First Aid

It probably goes without saying that your Bug Out Bag needs an extensive first aid kit. A complete kit should include supplies for all sorts of first aid issues, including both injuries and illnesses. Be prepared to take care of a wide range of afflictions, whether internal or external. Digestive problems are common when out of your element and are an often forgotten ailment during Bug Out Bag planning. Pack supplements and medicines especially for digestive issues to keep your system running smoothly.

Step-by-step First Aid guide

Elastic bandage

Vinyl gloves

Bandaids

New-skin liquid bandage

Sterile pads

SteriStrips

Moist towelettes

Alcohol swabs

Cotton swabs

Vaseline

Gauze pads

QuikClot

Instant cold compress

Medical adhesive tape

Antibiotic ointment

Burn gel

Aloe vera gel

Anti-itch cream

Monistat anti-fungal cream

Moleskin

Tweezers

Tick reference card

Dental repair kit

Medications and supplements Ibuprofen Pepto Bismol Benadryl Multivitamins Muscle relaxants (prescription medication) Pain killers (prescription medication) Anti-anxiety pills (prescription medication) Antibiotics (prescription medication) Fiber pills Immodium Ranitidine Alka-Seltzer Prilosec Caffeine pills Oscillococcinum Cold/mucus relief pills DripDrop hydration powder iOSAT Ammonia inhalants (smelling salts) Charcoal pills (used to treat poisoning)



Toiletries

This part of the bag is comprehensive under the assumption that you may find yourself in unpredictable conditions, which can strongly effect your health and personal hygiene. There may be environmental constraints that prevent you from washing your hands, showering, relieving yourself discreetly, or even sleeping. I’ve packed this part of the kit with all of this in mind.

Toilet paper

Citronella camp soap

Tissues

Deodorant powder

Sunscreen packets

Cotton swabs and cotton balls

Razor

Coconut oil – This stuff has so many uses, which is why I keep an 8 oz. bottle of it in my bag. Not only is it a great vaseline substitute, but it can be used for treating skin conditions and cooking too!

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Comb

Hair ties

Antibacterial hand wipes

Antibacterial hand gel

Bug spray

Bobby pins

Nail clippers

Salonpas pain patches

Tiger Balm

Medicated Blistex

Blindfold (to aid sleep in bright places)

Earplugs (to aid sleep in loud places or for ear protection when using a firearm)

GoGirl

Tampons and pads

Washable reusable menstrual pad – Ladies, I definitely recommend these for a bug out situation. They are highly absorbant, reusable, and comfortable, which is perfect if you’re potentially on the go for a while.

Food & Cooking

Many people consider a Bug Out Bag to be a “72-hour Bag”, so by this standard, it’s best to pack food to last you for up to 3 days. I pack a combination of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and meals I’ve packed myself. Each meal contains at least 500 calories and consists of a variety of foods, including Pop-Tarts, tuna, instant oatmeal, drink powders, etc. You can pack whatever suits you, but make sure that each item is high in calories in relation to its size, doesn’t weight too much, and is fairly easy to prepare (or better yet, requires no preparation). Also, make sure to check your stock every few months and rotate out food that is soon to expire.

MREs (5)

Pre-packed meals (4)

Cook set (all supplies fit inside stainless steel container) 2 cups Esbit folding titanium stove Aluminum foil Seasoning blend Can opener Culinary multitool (with fork, knife, spoon, and peeler)



Communication/Electronics

Waterproof 2-Way Radio – I chose the Motorola MS350Rs because they are durable and waterproof. My boyfriend keeps the other one in his bag.

Portable cell phone charger

Solar charger

Hand crank radio with charger

Phone charging adapter cables

USB brick

Sharpie

Pen

Chalk

Red glow sticks (for high visibility)

Waterproof note pad

Map of my local area – in case GPS isn’t available

Collapsable LED lantern/flashlight

Waterproof phone case

Folding binoculars

Headlamp

Extra batteries

Miscellaneous

SAS Survival Guide

N95 masks

Hospital masks

Bag repair kit Super glue Seam Grip Electrical tape Duct tape Tenacious tape

Waterproof playing cards – A little bit of fun can give a big morale boost in a tough situation!

Wallet with extra cash and copies of identification

Packing Tips & Other Considerations

Packing Order

Packing items in a logical order by importance and frequency of use will help you get the most out of your bag. You’ll want to keep certain items easily accessible, while others can be packed away at the bottom. Take your first aid kit for example. Keeping it in an outer pocket is best in case the need for medical attention arises. You may not have time, or the ability, to search through your bag for it. On the other hand, supplies like shelter building materials and clothing can be packed away, as they are usually less critical to have at hand urgently.

Packing for Others

You may find yourself needing to prep for others when packing your bag, such as children or pets. Keep this in mind as you are shopping for gear, but remember to pack for yourself first and others second. If the people or animals in your care are able to carry their own bag, they should. At the very least, those who are able can carry their portion of the food supply.

If you’re interested in learning more about prepping for dogs, I’ll be posting a Dog Bug Out Bag article in the near future. Dogs will likely leave with you in a bug out situation and have their own set of needs to prepare for.