Do You have your bug out bag essentials packed and ready to go?

You hear a knock on your door. Someone is there with a warning. You are in danger and you need to get out now. You have 30 seconds to get out. Nobody knows if you’ll be able to get back inside your house any time soon, if at all. What do you grab?

I was faced with just this situation. I was living in an apartment and a truck hit the big apartment gas meter that fed the whole building. Natural gas was coming out like crazy with no way for the average Joe to shut it off. It sounded like a jet engine. The truck just drove off without telling anyone, so gas had been filling the air around for a few minutes. Lots of gas, and any spark and emergency personnel said the whole area would have been a massive fire ball. What did we grab?

What Happened?

There was no time to grab any family heirlooms. We grabbed our daughter and our bug out bag and got out of there. We spent several hours in a neighboring grass yard about 100 yards away, entertaining our baby, along with all of our other neighbors in the area. The bag had food. We had water. We had diapers and formula. There was even a blanket to put down on the grass, and cards to play games with. We were taken care of, and we were able to help our neighbors.

The gas company was able to shut off the gas to our street and resolve the issue. After about 3 hours we could return to our house. We’d learned a good lesson though.

Where does the term “Bug-Out Bag” come from?

Most sources agree that the name bug out bag came from the military’s bail out bag carried by pilots. The phrase changed to bug out during the Korean War. A tactical retreat was referred to as bugging out during the conflict, and has become the go to term for military units since then. The words “bug out Location,” and “bug out bag” are also used by the military. Preppers have expanded it further with the phrase bugging in, which really just means sheltering in place, and not bugging out. While we’ve used the phrase in this way as well, the term bugging out is more about escaping danger.

Bug Out Location

What will be essential for your bug out bag will depend on where you live and what geographic challenges are around you. Do you live in the desert? Do you live in extreme heat or an area with a varying climate? Is there a high likelihood of civil unrest in your area? You’ll need to pack your bugout bag with all of that in mind.

You’ll also want to identify where you’ll bug out to, which will also inform your bugout bag decisions. Are you going 5 miles? 50 miles? 500 miles? What obstacles could come up while getting there? When there was the gas leak, our first bug out location was 100 yards away. Our second bug out location was a quarter mile away. Our final bug out option was 10 miles away, with family. We weren’t able to get our car because an internal combustion engine operates by burning things. We were on foot with nothing other than what was in our pockets and what was in our bugout bag.

I recommend checking out our Bug Out Location Checklist for helping to determine where you want to bug out to.

Being Prepared with Your Bugout Bag

It’s important to be prepared but forty eight percent of Americans don’t have the emergency supplies for use in the event of a disaster situation according to a recent poll. That’s about half the country. This isn’t to say that people have good emergency supplies, or know what they have. This was an opinion based study. People might think they’re prepared, but not have all the essentials they need. You need to take a good hard look at what you’ll actually need in a bug out bag.

Bug Out Bag Essentials

There’s always the option to buy a Pre-Made Bugout Bag. A premade bug out bag has most of the bare bug out bag essentials. These essentials aren’t the top of the line, but are generally effective. They obviously won’t be as customized for your needs as one you build yourself, but it is so much easier.

A pre-made but out bag is generally more cost effective. If you fall in the category of wanting to put more effort and resources into bugging in instead of bugging out, this is a good option for you. We recommend adding copies of personal documents, comfortable clothing, local maps, and any medications or prescriptions you may need.

Argument Against Bugging Out

There is an argument that of you are preparing for an emergency, and you’ve turned your home into your fortress, why leave it? There is something to be said for this. If you’ve got your bunker, perhaps you don’t need a bugout bag. You may instead just want to have a Get Home Bag in your car or office. Our plan A is always to Bug In, but when it all comes down to it, we aren’t going down with the ship. You can see our Bug In Essentials Checklist as well though to prepare for that.

It’s great to be prepared, but there is always the possibility of a fire, or if we want to get more extreme, there’s always a chance of war and other major violent events. A bomb or nuclear fall out could destroy your lodge in the blink of an eye. You always need a plan B, and we suggest having a plan C and D as well.

Why should you have a bug out bag?

As I mentioned, you could face a forest fire, land slide, gas leak, or any other number of emergencies that could make your home unlivable. It’s possible though that your living situation means you should put MORE effort and resources into bugging in, but you should still have a bug out bag.

If you’ve decided to make your own, or want to check one you’ve purchased, below is our bug out bag essentials checklist. In order to make sure you’ve got everything you need in a bug out bag, we’ve split our bug out bag essentials checklist into the following 10 categories:

Bug Out Bag Essentials Checklist

We recommend that you have everything on the list below, but recognize that cost or circumstance may mean that you don’t need or don’t want everything, or aren’t able to get everything at once.. We have marked certain items as –Bug out bag essentials- to help you realize what you really shouldn’t try to leave out.

Food

When flooding starts or bombs start exploding, you’ll want enough food to last three days at least. These essentials will help you get through those crucial first moments, and give you the energy needed to tackle whatever you encounter.

• Meals:-Bug out bag essentials- You won’t have endless room in your bug out bag so we recommend MREs. That way you can have hot meals without needing a stove. It’s what our military uses for on the go rations. Check Price on Amazon→
• Child snacks: Only a parent knows the power of the fruit snack. It can keep children happy allowing you to think clearly, and may even help them to cooperate. Fruit snacks also have more nutritional value than other sweets.
• Fishing kit: There are bodies of water all over the country. Being able to supplement your diet with some fresh meat can really raise morale, and increase your capacity to survive.  Check Price on Amazon→
• Snares: Snares are the simplest form of trap. It’s essentially the old slip not, but made from good solid cable. They’re easy to use and so effective that some states have banned them for being too efficient. That makes it just the type of item I want in my bug out bag. Check Price on Amazon→

Water

The CDC recommends storing a gallon of water per person per day. While we recommend having water on hand, having at least 3 gallons of water per person is 24 lbs. You might not be able to carry all that with your other gear. You need safe water, but you also need the ability to make water safe. The best bug out bags contain these things:

• Water filter: –Bug out bag essential- Your bug out bag needs to have a good water filter. Check Price on Amazon→
• Water bottle/bladder:-Bug out bag essential- If you want to have water, you’ll need a way to carry it, and to keep it safe, either from contaminants, or from loss. Check Price on Amazon→
• Water purification tablets: –Bug out bag essentials- This is a vital backup. It is also important to kill bacteria and giardia which this does, while also improving taste. Filters can be compromised or break so you need a foolproof backup. Check Price on Amazon→

Shelter

If you only use a shelter for sleeping, at 8 hours, that’s still 1/3 of a 24 hour period. Don’t skimp on your shelter. After food and water, its the most important, and probably gets used more than anything in your bug out bag.

• Tent: –Bug out bag essential-Protection from wind and rain. 
• Backpacking Tarp: These tarps are extremely light weight and keep the rain off of you. If you want to be more minimalist and cut the tent, this will keep you dry and can keep wind off of you as well. If you want to go minimalist and don’t want a tent, get one or two of these. Check Price on Amazon→
• Space blanket:-Bug out bag essential- Light weight heat that still works if it gets wet. It’s not the most comfortable, but they work. Check Price on Amazon→
• Sleeping bag: This is your first layer of comfort. A good sleeping bag is the first upgrade I would make to a basic bug out bag.
• Sleeping Pad: If you actually have to sleep with your bug out kit, you’ll be extremely glad you have this. We recommend an inflatable option both for comfort, and because it’s light weight and can collapse down really small. Check Price on Amazon→

First Aid

Accidents happen. A well-stocked first aid kit is essential for any disaster scenario. Pack your bug out bag with the following must-haves:

• Premade First Aid Kit:–Bug out bag essential- A premade kit will have most of the options below. A first aid kit is a bug out bag essential must. We strongly recommend that you buy an easily recognizable kit. If you get hurt, you’ll want a good Samaritan to be able to recognize the life saving equipment you may need. Check Price on Amazon→
• Baby wipes: Cleaning hands, wounds, or, you know, for babies.
• Hand Sanitizer:–Bug out bag essential- germs and infections can kill you. Keep your hands sanitized.
• Painkillers: –Bug out bag essentials- Tylenol and ibuprofen. I like to have Benadryl as well.
• Gauze pads: –Bug out bag essentials- Have bandages, and keep them clean.
• Sunscreen: This may be an essential depending on how easily you burn and on where you live. I live in the desert and my wife is a red-head. The sunscreen flows like rivers here.
• Medical gloves: –Bug out bag essentials- You don’t want to touch someone else’s bodily fluids if you can avoid it. Also, don’t get latex gloves if you have a latex allergy.
• Bandages and Band-Aids: –Bug out bag essentials- Have all sizes of bandages and band-aids.
• Burn gel: A burn can leave you with ongoing pain, and can quickly become infected.
• Antibiotic ointment: –Bug out bag essential- Keeping infection away is vital.
• Antiseptic wipes: Less versatile than baby wipes, but very convenient for cleaning wounds.
• Prescriptions: –Bug out bag essentials- It might not be feasible to put all your prescriptions in your bug out bag. If nothing else, have a card reminding you to grab your prescriptions on the outside of your bag in case you need to get out in a hurry. Don’t forget glasses or contacts.
• Tourniquet: –Bug out bag essential- If there’s a major injury, you need to stop blood flow or you risk bleeding out. A tourniquet is vital. Check Price on Amazon→

Safety

• Air Filtration Mask: You can only survive for three minutes without clean air. Especially after this pandemic, this must-have bug out bag item. especially if you live in a more urban setting a full respirator is a bug out bag essential. Check Price on Amazon→
• Face Mask:–Bug out bag essential- A KN95was considered the gold standard during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Safety Glasses: Maybe there’s a dust storm, or you could be using tools. Protecting your eyes is a must.

Clothing

The clothes on your back could be the thing to save you in a survival situation. Make sure you have access to the following clothing items in your bug out bag.

• Cold weather work gloves:-Bug out bag essentials- Fingers are some of the first places to get frostbite. You also use your hands for almost everything. Whether is cutting wood, dealing with broken glass, or working with a fire, you’ll need to have good gloves. Check Price on Amazon→
• Waterproof jacket:-Bug out bag essential- Make sure you’ve got a jacket that keeps you protected from the elements, especially if inclement weather is a concern in your area. We recommend for bugging out a good outer shell. Add layers as needed for your climate. Check Price on Amazon→
• Hat:-Bug out bag essential- It’s important to have hats that can provide head warmth or sun protection, and you may want a hat for each function. Match your gear to your surroundings though. You don’t need the same hat in Hawaii as you do in Alaska.
• Change of clothes: Having a second set of clothing is crucial, especially if you get wet.
• Socks: Socks are generally the first thing that get wet. Wet socks can lead to hypothermia, blisters, foot fungus, or just stinky feet. If you’re bugging out with other people, they’ll be grateful that you’ll have multiple socks for yourself. I pack a pair of wool socks and a pair of lighter athletic socks in my bug out bag.
• Diapers: Have a few disposable always, but we also recommend getting some reusable diapers. We hope we never have to use these, but still want to have them just in case. Check Price on Amazon→

  Note: Clothing takes up a lot of space. Only carry what you need, and consider vacuum packing it to condense space, and to keep it dry. 

Heat

When disaster forces you out into the elements, it’s important to have heat sources on-hand to warm up. These bug out bag essentials ward off hypothermia and frostbite.

• Hand warmers: Hand warmers provide almost instant heat, and can be carried with you if you are evacuating. Check Price on Amazon→
• Matches/Ferro rod: Most people know how to use matches, but they aren’t as space efficient as a Ferro rod. There is more of a learning curve with Ferro rods, but its what we recommend over matches if you know how to use one.  Check Price on Amazon→
• Lighters:–Bug out bag essentials- There are a lot of fancy fire starters, but there aren’t many or as universal as a Bic lighter. They’re popular because they just plain work.
• Fire Starter: You need fire most when its wet and cold, but that’s when its hardest to start one. Having fire starter, like the Blackbeard Fire Starter can save your life. Even if the fire starter gets wet, it will still light. Check Price on Amazon→

Tools

These tools have a number of uses in a bug out or survival situation.

• Machete: A machete can clear paths, chop wood, and be used as an effective defensive weapon. We would pick a machete over an ax for our bug out bag. Check Price on Amazon→
• Multi-Tool:-Bug out bag essential- You don’t have a lot of space in your pack, so a tool that can just about doo it all is vital.  Check Price on Amazon→
• Paracord:-Bug out bag essential- Having cordage is great for a wide variety of uses, from obtaining food to building storage and much much more. Check Price on Amazon→

7 Best Machetes on Amazon

• Duct Tape:-Bug out bag essential- MacGyver would be upset if this wasn’t on your list. This is your do it all material. Check Price on Amazon→

Lighting

• Headlamp:-Bug out bag essential- Check Price on Amazon→
• Flares: Flares can alert others to your location if you need to be found. They also make decent fire starters.

Navigation

• Map of area:-Bug out bag essential- We keep an atlas map of our entire state in our bug out bag. Your bug out plans may need to change, and having physical maps can save your life.
• Compass: –Bug out bag essential- A map can get wet, a GPS can fail, and phones can run out of battery, but north is always north.
• GPS tracking system: a GPS tracking system like the Garmin InReach can be a lifesaver. Electronics can break, so still have a compass and a map, but a GPS can make things much easier Check Price on Amazon→

Optional:

• Crowbar: If a machete intimidates you or you live in an urban environment, you should consider a crowbar. It can also be used defensively, but is great for getting through urban obstacles.
• Folding saw: A folding saw is a great and compact tool to have. It opens a lot of options for building shelters, clearing brush, and solving whatever problems you may face. Check Price on Amazon→
• Axe:  An axe is great for chopping wood and for self defense. If one person in your bug out party is carrying a machete, I’d have the second person carry an axe. Check Price on Amazon→

Defense

We strongly suggest that you have a firearm for your defense in a bug out situation. This may not be possible for you, or you may be uncomfortable with the idea. If this is the case, we recommend that you look at our article on the best alternative weapons and pick one or more that you are able to use and are comfortable with.

• Knife:-Bug out bag essential- Every survivalist knows that a knife is an absolute must have. There are thousands of options, but we go with the tried and true Buck Knife with a good sheath. Check Price on Amazon→
• Pepper spray: Pepper spray is a great option for people who prefer nonlethal confrontation. Pepper spray is also great for pests and dangerous animals. Check Price on Amazon→

Communication

• Battery pack:–Bug out bag essential- Have a battery pack for charging your cell phone. We like ones with built in solar panels and high capacity. Check Price on Amazon→
• Phone Charger Cables:–Bug out bag essentials- Make sure you have a charging cable in your pack. I like to keep both android and apple cables with me in case I come across another type of device. I want to be able to use all my resources. Having to rethink my bag if I ever end up changing phones also creates the likelihood for mistakes.
• Ham Radio: Get a small radio. If cell service goes down, this is a reliable backup. Check Price on Amazon→
• Whistle:–Bug out bag essential- A whistle is a simple device that says- here I am. It’s much easier on your lungs and vocal chords than shouting.
• Small Mirror: A mirror can be used to signal to air craft, or to people who are really far away.
• Addresses and phone numbers of loved ones:-Bug out bag essential- About 42% of cell phone owners  don’t have family members phone numbers memorized. Even if you do, in the stress of a bug out situation you might forget. Write them down.

Turn Your Car into a Generator

Miscellaneous

Expect the unexpected and prepare for anything with these miscellaneous must-haves.

• Repair Supplies: After duct tape, our next favorite repair supplies are zip ties, super glue, and WD-40. If you’ve got space in your pack, you won’t regret having these things.
• Sewing Kit: From a ripped tent to a ripped pair of pants, a sewing kit is extremely useful.
• Copies of Important Documents: Titles, birth certificates, contracts, deeds, etc.
• Passport: If you may need to cross a boarder, having your passport is essential. Included on my reminder list on my bag is- grab passports.
• Emergency Fund: –Bug out bag essential- We have a reminder note on our bug out bag to grab our cash emergency fund as we head out the door. Having a few hundred dollars can make a world of difference, especially if the entire world isn’t in a bug out situation.
• A Deck of Cards: If you’re bugging out, almost all modern forms of comfort and entertainment will be gone. Having a deck of cards to distract yourself, or little ones, can make a world of difference.

Bug Our Bag Essentials Reminder Note

Our bug out bag essentials reminder note is laminated and stuck to the top of our bug out bags. It reminds us to grab the following:

• Keys
• Prescriptions
• Emergency Fund
• Passports
• Firearms and ammunition
• A couple family heirlooms (time and space permitting)
• Lock the doors behind us (if you have time)

The Bug Out Bag Itself

You’ve got the bug out bag essentials—now how are you planning on hauling it? We recommend you pick one of two options depending on your physique for the bug out bag itself—either a good backpack or a suitcase with wheels.

Backpack Bug Out Bag

A backpack is the best bug out bag option. You can take it on all terrain, and its easier to keep track of, because its on your back. The negatives are obviously that you’re carrying all that weight. If you’re older or have physical limitations, you may want to look at the other option.

Essential Features for Backpack Bug Out Bags

• Durable and well made
• Built to handle weight
• Padded hip straps
• Water-resistant
• A good assortment of pockets
• Hydration system

Suitcase Bug Out Bag

A suitcase bag with wheels can be rolled along on relatively smooth surfaces. This makes a suitcase a good option for people bugging out from an urban environment. Its also a great option for people who might not be able to pack all their essential gear around on their back for whatever reason.

Essential Features for Suitcase Bug Out Bags

• Durable
• Water-resistant materials
• Strong handles
• Not flashy
• Lockable
• Hard Shell

Keep Learning

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