A bug-out bag, also called a go-bag or 72-hour kit, serves as your portable lifeline when you need to leave home quickly. Building one effectively requires balancing completeness with portability, ensuring you can actually carry what you pack.
The fundamental purpose is enabling 72-hour self-sufficiency while remaining mobile. FEMA defines this as "a collection of basic items your household may need in the event you must evacuate quickly." The key word is "basic", this isn't about carrying your entire household, but rather the essentials that keep you safe and functional for three days.
Weight management determines everything else. Adults should carry no more than 20-25% of their body weight, typically 15-20 pounds for most people. Since water alone weighs 8 pounds per gallon, smart packing becomes essential immediately.
Choosing your bag wisely
Your bag itself matters more than you might realize. Look for backpacks with multiple compartments, padded shoulder straps, and water-resistant materials. A 40-45 liter capacity works for most individual kits, providing space without encouraging overpacking.
Avoid wheeled luggage unless your evacuation scenarios guarantee smooth terrain. External attachment points let you secure sleeping bags or other bulky items without consuming internal space.
Essential items
Water is your highest priority — one gallon per person per day means three gallons for a 72-hour kit. Water purification tablets or portable filters reduce weight by letting you treat found water sources. Pack some water bottles for immediate needs, then rely on purification for refills, if you can't carry three gallons with you.
Food should require no cooking or refrigeration. Energy bars, peanut butter packets, crackers, and dried fruits provide calories and nutrition without preparation. Include manual can opener if packing canned goods, though lightweight options work better for portable kits.
MREs, or "Meals Ready-to-Eat," are calorie-dense individual meals normally used by military forces that are easy to prepare, often only requiring hot water. They are a great option for bug-out bags but can be expensive and difficult to find depending on your location. Camping ready-meals are similar to MREs but less energy-dense. They are easier to find and much cheaper, our teenage daughter lived off them during her Duke of Edinburgh expedition and loved them.
Documents require waterproof protection — insurance policies, identification, bank account information, emergency contacts, and copies of prescriptions.
Clothing follows layering principles - complete change of weather-appropriate clothes, extra socks and underwear, sturdy walking shoes, and emergency blankets. Pack for the worst weather your region typically experiences, not current conditions.
A compact first-aid kit forms your medical foundation. Include adhesive bandages in various sizes, sterile gauze pads, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers (both acetaminophen and ibuprofen work differently and serve different purposes). Pack personal prescription medications with at least a one-week supply in original containers with clear labeling. Before leaving home don't forget to add any specialized medical equipment your family members require (inhalers, EpiPens, glucose tablets). Consider anti-diarrheal medication and antihistamines for stress-related digestive issues and allergic reactions common during evacuations.
Battery-powered or hand-crank radios keep you informed when cell networks fail. The Red Cross specifically recommends NOAA Weather Radios for emergency broadcasts. Include extra batteries for all electronic devices, or choose hand-crank combination units that eliminate battery dependence.
Multiple communication methods matter — include a cell phone with both car and wall chargers, plus a whistle for signaling at minimum. Consider adding walkie-talkies since cell service frequently fails during disasters. Avoid relying exclusively on smartphones.
Essential tools
A quality multi-tool or Swiss Army knife handles countless tasks from food preparation to gear repair and basic first aid. Include multiple fire-starting methods: waterproof matches in sealed containers, a reliable lighter, and fire starter cubes or tinder that works when wet. Fire provides warmth, cooking capability, water purification, and signaling for rescue.
Additional essential tools include: a reliable flashlight with extra batteries or hand-crank capability, basic sewing kit for gear and clothing repair, duct tape for emergency repairs and gear modifications, and work gloves for handling debris or rough materials safely.
Scenario-dependent survival items
Shelter needs vary dramatically by evacuation conditions. If you might need to sleep outdoors, include a lightweight sleeping bag rated for your region's coldest temperatures, or at minimum an emergency bivvy sack.
Cooking and food preparation equipment includes a portable camping stove with fuel tablets for areas where open fires aren't safe, lightweight pot for boiling water and cooking, plastic utensils, and collapsible water containers for additional storage capacity beyond your basic supply.
A sturdy tarp serves multiple critical functions: emergency shelter, ground cover, water collection surface, signaling device, and gear protection. Choose reinforced grommets and waterproof material. Include 50 feet of paracord for securing tarps, hanging food, gear repair, and emergency rescue applications.
Navigation and signaling tools become critical when GPS fails: waterproof maps of your area with multiple evacuation routes marked, compass for navigation, whistle for attracting attention, and signal mirror for long-distance communication with aircraft or rescue teams.
Budget-friendly building strategies
Start with items you already own like flashlight, batteries, some clothing, and basic first aid supplies. Add one new item each month rather than purchasing everything simultaneously. Shop end-of-season sales for camping gear that doubles as emergency equipment.
Thrift stores and garage sales often yield quality backpacks, tools, and clothing at significant savings. Military surplus stores provide durable, tested equipment designed for harsh conditions. Share bulk purchases of emergency food or supplies with neighbors to reduce individual costs.
Storage and maintenance systems
Keep your bug-out bag in an easily accessible location known to all household members. Don't store it where disaster damage might block access, avoid garages in earthquake zones or basements in flood areas.
Every six months, inspect and rotate perishable items. Replace expired food, update seasonal clothing, test electronics, and confirm all family members still know the bag's location. Practice carrying your loaded bag to ensure weight remains manageable.
Create multiple smaller bags rather than one giant kit for families. Each person capable of carrying should have their own appropriately sized bag. This distributes weight and ensures everyone retains essential supplies if the group gets separated.
Avoiding common pitfalls
The heaviest mistake is overpacking. Many people create bags they couldn't actually carry in an emergency. Test your loaded bag by walking several blocks, if you can't manage that comfortably, reduce contents until you can.
Failing to customize for your family's specific medical and practical needs creates expensive inefficiency. Don't pack infant formula if no one in your household has babies, but absolutely include prescription medications, glasses, mobility aids, and tools appropriate for your likely evacuation scenarios.
Including unfamiliar tools or equipment compromises safety. Every item in your bug-out bag should be something you've practiced using. Fire-starting equipment, camping stoves, and multi-tools require familiarity to operate safely under stress. Practice with your gear during calm conditions, not during emergencies.
How Survivalist can help?
Survivalist helps you organize your supplies into caches that are categorized by purpose (pantry, bug-out-bag, vehicle-kit, etc.), it enables you to track inventory quantities, expiration dates and how many estimated provision days your cache has. It also alerts you when items in your caches are about to expire. If you haven't already, you can start your prepping with Survivalist today for free, no trials, no credit card and no user accounts.
Start with a template - Survivalist Pro members can download and import our Bug-Out-Bag template file and save time.