Bug Out Bag

What is a Bug Out Bag: A bug out bag (commonly abbreviated as BOB) is a complete short term survival kit used for emergency evacuations, typically packed in a durable backpack for quick access and ease of transport. This essential preparedness tool provides you with the basic tools of life and enables you to survive the critical first hours and days when you're forced to leave your home or workplace during catastrophic events such as Flooding, Fire, Hurricane, Tsunami, Earthquake, Civil Unrest, Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD), Military Conflicts, Nuclear Incidents, or any other Large-Scale Emergencies.

These life-saving kits are known by various names in the prepper community: Emergency Go Bag, Evacuation Kit, GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) Bag, 72-Hour Kit, or Quick Response Pack - but they all serve the same vital purpose: providing a portable survival system for emergency situations.

A Bug Out Bag is meant to be deployed quickly, at a moments notice, so it is important to have them prepared ahead of time and stored in easily accessible locations.

They are generally not meant to be used for long term off-grid living, but rather for short-term periods, so they are designed to be small enough and lightweight enough to be carried on on a persons back.

Before you start prepping a bug out bag, consider your plans and priorities first.

Where would you go if forced from your home, and had to leave town? What would you need there for the first 3-4 days or even a week? 

For the vast majority of people, this means either staying with family or friends, in a hotel, or in a storm shelter. 

You shouldn't be planning on living like an outlaw in the woods when putting together a Go-Bag or Bug Out Bag if you can avoid it, but, you can still be prepared to deal with that type of situation just in case. Your Bug out bag should always allow you to have have several back-up plans, so should things really go south you can still purify water, cook, and stay comfortable in the wilderness as a last resort.

Tips for Packing Your Bug-Out Bag(s):

Keep It Light: It's really easy to get carried away and want to put everything you can inside of your Bug Out Bags, but they can wind up weighing about 70 pounds which you couldn't even wear for more than a few minutes at a time without hurting your back (Keep it under 20% of your body weight for mobility).Layer Items by Priority: Essentials should be easily accessible (top/front pockets).Use Waterproof Containers: Protect sensitive items (documents, matches, electronics).

Essential contents for your Bug Out Bag(s):

1. Water & Hydration

• Water bottles (1-3L capacity)

• Water filter (e.g., Sawyer Mini, LifeStraw)

• Water purification tablets 

2. Food & Nutrition

• Energy bars, MREs, or freeze-dried meals

• Utensils & collapsible bowl

• Compact stove with fuel (optional but useful)

3. Shelter & Warmth

• Emergency space blanket (Mylar)

• Tarp or compact tent 

• Sleeping bag or bivvy sack 

• Poncho for rain protection 

• Extra clothing (thermal underwear, gloves, socks, hat)

4. Fire-Starting Tools

• Waterproof matches 

• Ferro rod & striker 

• Lighter

• Fire-starting tinder (cotton balls with petroleum jelly, fatwood, etc.)

5. First Aid & Medical Supplies

• Basic first aid kit (bandages, antiseptic, gauze, etc.)

• Prescription medications (3-day supply)

• Pain relievers (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen)

• Tweezers, scissors, safety pins

• Tourniquet & Israeli bandage (for severe wounds)

6. Tools & Multi-Use Items

• Multi-tool or survival knife 

• Fixed-blade knife 

• Paracord (50ft) 

• Duct tape (wrapped around a card or small spool)

• Folding saw or hatchet 

• Fishing kit (hooks, line, small lures) 

7. Navigation & Communication

• Compass & physical maps (topographical and road maps)

• Whistle

• Signal mirror 

• Hand-crank or solar-powered radio

• Notebook & waterproof pen 

• Fully charged power bank 

• Emergency contacts & important documents (laminated or in a waterproof case)

8. Lighting & Visibility

• Headlamp

• Flashlight (LED, rechargeable or battery-powered)

• Glow sticks 

• Extra batteries

9. Personal Hygiene & Sanitation

• Toilet paper 

• Wet wipes 

• Hand sanitizer 

• Soap & small towel 

• Feminine hygiene products 

• Toothbrush & toothpaste 

• Portable trowel for burying waste 

10. Self-Defense & Protection

• Pepper spray 

• Personal alarm 

• Firearm & ammunition (if legally permitted and trained)

• Self-defense baton or kubotan 

Optional (But Useful) Bug-Out Bag Items

If weight and space allow, these can be valuable additions.

• Extra cash (small denominations)

• Solar charger for electronics

• Gas mask or N95 respirator

• Binoculars

• Compact stove & fuel 

• Small camp cookware (pan, pot)

• Slingshot with extra bands 

• Portable bidet (for hygiene) 

• Survival book or pocket guide 

• Collapsible water container 

• Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses

• Glow-in-the-dark tape (for marking trails at night)

• Portable HAM radio 

• Small pry bar 

• Hand warmers 

• Camouflage face paint (for stealth)

• Emergency fishing net 

• Inflatable raft (for flood-prone areas) 

1. Weight Management: Keep it under 20% of your body weight for mobility.

2. Layer Items by Priority: Essentials should be easily accessible (top/front pockets).

3. Use Waterproof Containers: Protect sensitive items (documents, matches, electronics).

4. Regularly Rotate Perishables: Replace food, meds, and batteries periodically.

Maintaining Your Bug Out Bag

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

• Keep canned or dried food in a cool, dry place.

• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.

• Replace expired items as needed.

• Re-think your needs every season and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Bug Out Bag Storage Location

• Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.

Most Importantly: Don’t Wait!

Have a Bug Out Bag ready to go NOW ! Please, Please, Please, don't put yourself and your loved ones in a pickle when a disaster sneaks up on you, be prepared! You can turn on the news any given night and see disasters happening across the country and all around the world, they can happen anywhere, anytime, and on very short notice. If you have a busy schedule and can't make the time to assemble your own bug out bag (or if for whatever reason you choose not to) there are many suppliers that can ship you a ready-to-go fully assembled and stocked Bug Out Bags. They are available in many different sizes and prices to suit your budget and your needs, ensuring you're prepared for whatever challenges arise.