11 Best Bug Out Bags in 2024

A critical part of everyday carry is the right gear for the right situation. And if you’ve ever researched how to use EDC gear to prepare for emergency preparedness, you might already know how important it is to assemble a bug out bag (also known as a go-bag or a bail-out bag). By packing the right essentials, you’ll have a grab-and-go bag that will help keep you and your loved ones safe as you evacuate from an emergency situation. But what goes in your bag is just one part of the equation. The bag you pick to rely on to store and haul your emergency supplies and first aid kit is also essential. Selecting the wrong bag for that critical task can render all the effort you spent gathering the right gear to put inside of it moot. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you DIY and pick the right bug-out bag for your needs. Each bug out bag in this guide has its own features, capacity, and carry style, giving you plenty of options to get you started with your emergency go bag that you can depend on in a crisis.

Our Top Picks

The Best Overall Bug Out Bag: Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 [Buy]

The Best Bug Out Bag on a Budget: Condor Tactical Response [Buy]

The Bug Out Bag With the Highest Capacity: Kelty Coyote [Buy]

The Best Bug Out Bag for Bad Weather: Sitka Drifter [Buy]

The Most Premium Bug Out Bag: Kifaru 357 Mag [Buy]

Mystery Blitz 30	Condor Tactical Response	Kelty Coyote	Sitka Drifter	Kifaru 357 Mag
$$$$	$	$$	$$$	$$$$
Materials: 500D	Materials: ‎Polyester	Materials: Polyester	Materials: Nylon	Materials: N/A
Capacity: 30L	Capacity: 8L	Capacity: 60L/65L/85L/105L	Capacity: 25L	Capacity: 54.75L
Key Features: Removable webbing waist belt	Key Features: Two adjustable side pockets	Key Features: Many size options	Key Features: Top and side padded handles	Key Features: Extremely modular and organized
Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

The Best Bug Out Bags

The Best Overall Bug Out Bag: Mystery Blitz 30

Purchase

Key Features

Removable webbing waist belt

Flexible side and lower compression straps

Padded floating laptop sleeve

Specifications

Materials

500D

Capacity

30L

Weight

3.8 lbs

EDC Rating

Just released

Price

$$$$

The Blitz 30 is the latest in Mystery Ranch’s line of hard-use tactical EDC bags and packs. With a full 30 liters of space and durable 500D CORDURA fabric construction, the Blitz 30 is built tough. The framed harness and low-profile waist belt with PALS webbing make for a comfortable carry even when packed with emergency essentials like duct tape and MREs. The body panel offers a quick access YKK zipper, and for more effortless loading and unloading, the whole horseshoe main compartment opening makes that task easy. And because bringing along a laptop or tablet is frequently becoming an important part of making sure your digital life makes it through an emergency, it’s excellent to see a padded floating laptop sleeve built into this bug out bag.

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The Best Bug Out Bag on a Budget: Condor Tactical Response

Purchase

Key Features

Main compartment with removable divider

Two adjustable side pockets

Two pen pockets

Specifications

Materials

‎Polyester

Capacity

8L

Weight

‎2.1 lbs

EDC Rating

89 ratings

Price

$

When you search for images of a bug-out bag, chances are you see the Condor Tactical Reponse Bag as the top choice, and it’s easy to see why. Everything about this tactical shoulder go-bag is meant for quick and easy access to big and small emergency essentials. It starts with two external pockets, held together with elastic and hook and loop. These work great for small water bottles. The smaller external pockets work well for carrying small electronics and other emergency gear. And the spacious interior works well for any filters, sleeping bags, or emergency shelters you may lug around. This bag can be used as an EDC tactical briefcase, but its small size is great for keeping in your house’s entry closet or the storage space trunk of your car, so you’re always ready to go.

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The Bug Out Bag With the Highest Capacity: Kelty Coyote

Purchase

Key Features

Two front zippered pockets

Many size options

Amp Flow ventilated back panel

Specifications

Materials

Polyester

Capacity

60L/65L/85L/105L

Weight

4.10 lbs

EDC Rating

760 ratings

Price

$$

The Kelty Coyote Bug Out Bag is a giant bug out bag you can purchase today, and it’s available in both 60 and 105-liter capacities, depending on your emergency loadout needs. The Coyote hiking backpack is made for extended wear, with enough space to fit enough gear for multiple days out in the field headed to safety. The ventilated padded back panel makes it comfortable even in the heat, and the torso fit adjustments make it easy to carry large amounts of gear with this bag. The top lid buckles onto the bag, adding weather resistance in bad climates. A remarkable stand-out feature of this bag is the dedicated sleeping bag pocket, which helps you bring shelter and warmth wherever you take this bag. It’s something you don’t find in most bailout bags, making it a stellar choice to have in a pinch.

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The Best Bug Out Bag for Bad Weather: Sitka Drifter

Purchase

Key Features

Zip-secure and padded laptop sleeve

External stretch mesh side pocket

Top and side padded handles

Specifications

Materials

Nylon

Capacity

25L

Weight

2.25 lbs

EDC Rating

10 ratings

Price

$$$

If you need to plan for dealing with inclement weather as part of your emergency plan, you need a TPU-laminated bug out bag like the Sitka Drifter. This super durable 450D ripstop pack features a durable water-repellent exterior and a design that keeps water out of your bug out gear that you pack inside. The top and side padded handles make retrieving this bailout bag from the back of your car or an overhead compartment easy to do. The Sitka Drifter’s unique balance of comfort and durability makes it especially good for use in emergency conditions.

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The Most Premium Bug Out Bag: Kifaru 357 Mag

Purchase

Key Features

Multiple grab handles top and bottom

Extremely modular and organized

Two internal mesh pockets

Specifications

Materials

N/A

Capacity

54.75L

Weight

4.42-5.5 lbs

EDC Rating

22 ratings

Price

$$$$

The Kifaru 357 Mag is one of the most premium military-style high-capacity bail-out bags you can prep for EDC today. It features a massive combined 54.75 liters of space when you add the bag’s main compartment, side pockets, and lid. The internal frame helps with weight distribution when the bag is filled to the brim and when you’re running light. That’s because the hiking backpack frame keeps the rigid shape of the bag, meaning that it’s less likely to crumple and shift its weight balance when you move around. This bailout bag is compatible with hydration bladders to help keep you going on long emergency treks, and you can fit a sleeping pad inside as well. The tall nature of the bag also makes it a good choice if you need to bring long tools along for hunting for food in the wild.

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Eberlestock Switchblade Bug Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Interior pockets for hydration bladder

Loop-velcro PALS webbing

Detachable harness

Specifications

Materials

Ballistic nylon

Capacity

28L

Weight

3.60 lbs

EDC Rating

154 ratings

Price

$$$

The Eberlestock Switchblade is a CCW-compatible bug out bag with internal pockets for organizing small survival essentials and ammo. It also has a dedicated space for up to a 17-inch laptop or a hydration bladder. And despite its ergonomic combat-ready design and military ballistic nylon construction, it retains a low-profile design that integrates PALS webbing throughout the pack’s exterior that isn’t immediately apparent to the untrained eye. That avoids the telltale design that can make you stand out in the worst way as a target for people who have not prepared as much as they should have before a disaster.

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5.11 RUSH 72 2.0 Bug Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Water-resistant

Roomy main storage area

Highly modular

Specifications

Materials

1050D

Capacity

55L

Weight

5.5 lbs

EDC Rating

846 ratings

Price

$$$

The 5.11 RUSH 72 2.0 bug out bag has been one of the community’s favorite backpacks for emergency prep for years. It’s the bombproof construction that makes this bag. It’s made out of highly abrasion-resistant 1050D ballistic nylon and has oversized and sturdy zippers that can handle more than a few rough openings and closings throughout its life. The extensive MOLLE and PALS webbing throughout the bag makes it great for tactical customization. While the 55-liter capacity makes it an excellent choice for three days or more of emergency wildfire planning, the RUSH 72 can be combined with other 5.11 bags in the line to further expand capacity for extended use.

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Helikon-Tex Bail Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Four external carry loops

Four inner mesh pockets

Innovative ventilation system with 3D mesh

Specifications

Materials

Nylon

Capacity

25L

Weight

4.6 lbs

EDC Rating

97 ratings

Price

$$$

Helikon-Tex is a European military surplus retailer and tactical gear manufacturer based in Poland. They’ve put together a purpose-built bag for low-profile urban bug-out missions. Their Bail Out Bag features a low-profile, 25L-capacity design that forces you to pare down to what you need in an emergency. Its YKK-zippered flat opening allows complete access to the interior, making packing and unpacking your survival gear a simple task. The suspension system built into the mesh back of the bag and the shoulder straps make carrying your gear long-term less of a burden than with other bags. What’s unique about its design is its ability to transform from a backpack profile to a wide-open attachment platform. With a MOLLE/PALS-compatible interior panel and mesh pockets, there are a lot of customization options to segregate and organize your essentials. A large top handle lets you get a hold of the bag for quick movement without needing to put it on or zip it up again as a backpack, and if you find yourself in a vehicle, the bag transforms into a seat-back organizer for your essentials.

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GORUCK GR2 Bug Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Inner compartment with 3 pockets

4 rows of external and internal MOLLE webbing

Extra padded straps

Specifications

Materials

500D / 1000D

Capacity

26L

Weight

3.5 lbs

EDC Rating

848 ratings

Price

$$$$

The venerable GORUCK GR2 finds its design inspiration from U.S. Special Forces first aid kit medic packs that are designed to open up completely flat. That design makes it easy to load and unload your gear from the bag, and the PALS webbing on the exterior shell makes it extensible. It’s also available in three different sizes, the smallest being a 26L daypack, a 34L medium bag, and a sizeable 40L rucksack built for hauling the heaviest loadouts. The GR2 sets itself apart from the popular GR1 by integrating a front compartment with a built-in field pouch into the bag’s capacity. The military inspiration for this bug out bag extends to its hard-use construction. It’s made out of 1000D CORDURA ballistic nylon and comes with a lifetime guarantee against defects in workmanship or materials. GORUCK will even fix or replace their bags or packs if you wear them out over time.

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GWA Citadel Gen.3 Mk2 Bug Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Tweave Durastretch

Built-in HDPE framesheet

Dual bottle pockets

Specifications

Materials

500D INVISTA CORDURA nylon

Capacity

24L

Weight

2.6 lbs

EDC Rating

Just released

Price

$$$$

The GWA Citadel can be hard to find because of the limited-run nature of the production of this bag, but the wait can be worth it. It took seven years to plan the design of this bailout bag, and three different iterations have made this one of the best bailout bags you can buy today (when it’s in stock). The main zippered compartment is lined with velcro, making it compatible with smaller bags and pouches for a structured bug out carry. The reverse-type zippers help prevent snagging and zipper failure in critical situations. The water bottle pouches can fit up to a 40oz container for all your hydration needs. And its made-in-the-USA design, construction, and materials make this one of the best-crafted bags you can rely on for bailout use.

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Condor 3-Day Assault Bug Out Bag

Purchase

Key Features

Hydration-pack compatible

Body contour shoulder straps

Heavy-Duty carry and drag handle

Specifications

Materials

Nylon

Capacity

50L

Weight

‎2.5 lbs

EDC Rating

1838 ratings

Price

$$

The Condor 3-Day Assault bag is the best choice for budget-minded emergency preparation. For its affordable price tag, you get a spacious 50-liter 3-day bag made of ballistic nylon that can stand up to rough use, especially in an emergency. With four side compression straps, you can secure the bag and prevent items from flopping around when the bag isn’t fully loaded. The foam padding on the back panel is generous and helps with handling heavy loads on your back all day. And while the bag is inherently water-resistant, grommets are integrated into every storage compartment to allow for drainage in case water gets in from outside (or if a water hydration bladder or water filter punctures inside the bag during use).

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What makes a bag good for use as a bug out bag?

Before jumping into our recommendations, here are a few considerations for picking out the best bug out bag for you.

1. How big should a bug out bag be? A good bug out bag should have enough modular space to fit your gear without being too big or bulky to become cumbersome. Bags that are too small mean you leave necessary life-saving tools behind. And bags that are too big don’t hold the gear inside well, making them unbalanced and hard to carry while you’re getting out of dodge. If you prefer a fast and light approach, you can opt for a bag of around 5-10L in capacity. A fuller go bag that lasts an entire 72-hour evacuation period might hover around the 12-24L mark or larger.
2. Durability: You need a survival bag that’ll handle more than a few scrapes. If you use a fragile bag to bail out, you might find all of your gear on the ground after it rips and tears, which you’re not going to want to happen. Look for bags with high denier ratings or ripstop technology that keeps small tears from being critical failure points for the bag itself.
3. Easy access: The whole point of having a go bag is to use the items inside. If the bag you pick for the task requires you to stop and unpack everything just to get to the item you’re looking for, it’s not a good choice for your emergency EDC. Some good options have high contrast and high-visibility interiors, so it’s easy to identify gear at a glance when you’re in a rush.
4. Versatility: There should be plenty of pockets and organization space available to keep your emergency gear organized, whether your items are big, small, or somewhere in between. Many bags in this category are compatible with load-bearing PALS webbing and hip belts, letting you further customize them with pouches and other accessories.

Bug Out Bag List

There are plenty of guides out there and tons of things like paracord that you can buy to fill up a pack and call it a bug out bag, but the key thing to understand is that you are not going to want to pack everything save for the kitchen sink when you have to leave quickly. Having a huge bag of a survival kit will slow you down and tire you out, and it might also make you a target for people who weren’t smart enough to pack their gear in the first place. In the guide below, we’ll introduce you to a few essential items you should consider picking up when putting together a go bag of your own. Just make sure to tailor it all to your own needs, and keep safe out there.

18 EDC Items for Your Bug Out Bag

Bug Out Bag FAQ

What is the ideal weight for a bug out bag?

Durability and capacity are the most critical parts of a good bugout bag. A survival backpack will deal with more scrapes, scratches, and extreme use than your standard EDC bag. Features like good organization space and tactical features like a hydration bladder pack and PALS webbing are also important. Stability is also important, so look for a sternum strap.

What is a 72-hour bug out bag?

A 72-hour bug out bag is also known as a 3-day assault pack. It’s a larger capacity bag at usually 50 liters. It’s made to let you fit the EDC bugout essentials you need to keep going for 72 hours, which is usually the time you need to get to safety in an emergency.

What is the most important thing to have in a bug out bag?

Water is the essential thing to have in a bug out bag. You can go without food in your belly for quite a while, but dehydration will disable you within days. The ability to purify and filter water (like a Lifestraw or water purification tablets) is vital to replenish your supplies when you’re moving.

How we picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Why you should trust us

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.