When it comes to everyday carry, being prepared is important. That goes for your daily carry, but also for less-normal emergency situations where lives are on the line. And when seconds count, having to made an ad-hoc pack of things to get you through rough times is less than ideal. That’s why EDCers often put together a bug out bag (also known as a bail-out bag or go bag) filled with survival kit essentials that’ll help you keep you and your loved ones safe as you evacuate from disasters either natural or man-made. And even for the less earth-shattering situations, it’s good to have these essential items on hand for say a power outage or getting stranded in your car somewhere inopportune.
There are plenty of guides out there and tons of things 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 own gear in the first place. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to a few essential items that 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.
Multi-tool: Leatherman Signal w/ Firestarter
PurchaseKey Features
19 tools in one
25-year warranty, made in the US
Includes survival firestarter rod
Specifications
Brand
Leatherman
Model
Signal
The Leatherman Signal includes the standard knives, drivers, and pliers that most butterfly-style multi-tools sport, the Signal also includes bailout essentials like a firestarter, emergency whistle, and a handle that can be used to hammer things down when necessary. And it puts all of these tools into a small footprint that’s much more portable than carrying around dedicated full-size tools for every task you might encounter.
Civilian Radio (AM/FM/SW): Tecsun PL-360
PurchaseKey Features
AM/FM/SW
High-sensitivity antenna
Easy tuning mode
Specifications
Brand
Tecsun
Model
PL-360
The Tecsun PL-360 allows you to receive the whole gamut of civilian radio broadcasts in an emergency situation, from AM to FM and even shortwave station compatibility. Its high-sensitivity antenna allows the unit to pick up stations where lesser commercial devices like your car or a Walkman would struggle, especiall in the backcountry. And its tall and thin profile allows it to slot easily into the bag, webbing, or holster of your choice when you bug out.
Power Bank: RAVPower Solar Power Bank
PurchaseKey Features
20,000mAh capacity
IPX4 rating
Built-in solar panel
Specifications
Brand
RAVPower
Model
RP-PB183
With so much of modern tech and even EDC essentials relying on USB to recharge, you’re going to want a battery with high capacity on hand when the going gets tough. This RAVPower battery sports an impressive 20,000mAh capacity, which is more than enough to recharge your cell phone more than once. Its rugged design is also able to keep up with some scratches and scrapes, and it’s even IPX4 water resistant. But the best part is that it integrates a 5V/300mA solar panel directly into the design. It won’t recharge as fast in the sun as it would if you were able to plug it in, but when you’re off the grid it’s way better than nothing.
Water Purification: Sawyer Squeeze System
PurchaseKey Features
0.1 micro inline filter
Comes with two 32oz BPA-free collapsible plastic bottles
Attaches to standard thread water bottles
Specifications
Brand
Sawyer Products
Model
SP129
Water is essential for life, but when your only options are questionable for your health due to contamination, you’re going to want something like this Sawyer Water Filter System to get through to safety. Unlike some filter systems that only let you sip water where you find it, this one allows you to collect water quickly into bags and then squeeze out 99.9% bacteria and protozoa filtered water for drinking as you need it. With the right attachments you can even make the filter a part of your hydration bladder ecosystem, building it into the drinking straw for safer water on the go.
First Aid: Adventure Medical Kits Hiker Kit
PurchaseKey Features
1-2 person kit
Waterproof and quick ID bag
Trauma pad, bandages, scissors, and medication
Specifications
Brand
Adventure Medical Kits
Model
Hiker
It can be easy to go overboard when prepping a first aid kit for bug out situations. If you’re prepping to take yourself and maybe someone else in an emergency, you don’t need to take a huge kit made for like 20-30 people that’ll weigh you down when you need it less. This Mountain Series kit is made for 1-2 people traversing the outdoors, with 67 pieces of essentials including bandages and medication in a water resistant and organized case. At just 0.65 lbs, it carries what you need without being too bulky, and it even comes with a trauma pad for the absolute worst case scenarios.
Fire Source: UCO Stormproof Match Kit
PurchaseKey Features
25 matches
Windproof, waterproof
Built in striker on the waterproof, durable ABS case
Specifications
Brand
UCO
Model
Stormproof Match Kit – Orange
The best way to ensure you’ll have fire in an emergency situation is to keep a bunch of stormproof matches in a waterproof container like this UCO kit. These are easy-to-light matches that’ll work even if they’ve been submerged in water on accident (let them dry out first). Unlike what you can get at the dollar store, these matches burn for longer and they’ll burn even when the wind picks up and puts out lesser options. And unlike traditional lighters, they don’t have fuel that can dry out or starter mechanisms that might fail; the kit comes with a strike surface on the side for easy operation.
Utensils: Snow Peak Ti Spork
PurchaseKey Features
Titanium one-piece construction
Lightweight
Corrosion-resistant
Specifications
Brand
Snow Peak
Model
SCT-004
So you’ve bugged out, and you’ve gotten out of immediate danger and it’s time to open a can and recharge before moving on. Problem is you’ve forgotten eating utensils, and digging food out of a can with your dirty fingers just isn’t the best option. Avoid this situation by packing Snow Peak’s lightweight 0.6 oz titanium corrosion resistant spork in the color of your choice so you can chow down with ease no matter where you are. And cleaning the spork is as easy as rinsing and wiping it down, and you can even boil it for a bit to make sure it’s extra clean before your next use.
Cookware: Esbit Camping Cook Set
PurchaseKey Features
Alcohol-based stove system
24 fuel tablets
Hard-anodized aluminum hardware
Specifications
Brand
Esbit
Model
CS585HA
The Esbit camping cook set solution gives you a lightweight solution for being able to cook a warm meal on the go, even during an emergency. This gives a substantial morale boost after subsisting on less-than-ideal dry goods for a while. The system consists of a 585mL pot that comes with a lid and a fold out handle and an alcohol-based fuel stove system that’s easy to light and will keep aflame even in high wind. The Esbit fuel tablets can also double as a quick way to start a fire: just place it in some kindling and some larger burnable fuel and light it up.
Emergency Food: Korean Bibimbap
PurchaseKey Features
Rice, dried beef, vegetables
Cook with hot water
Made in Korea
Specifications
Brand
Kimbyengjang
Model
SG_B01MS8N1VV_US
There are two general options you can spring for when it comes to emergency food. The first is with dry calorie bars like the SOS food bar, which is sealed in a 3 day package with 3600 calories total that can be eaten as you go to keep you going until you get to safety. With a five-year shelf life, you can toss them into your emergency kit and just change it out when you need to.
But let’s face it, dry calorie bars just aren’t the most palatable thing, and you’re also probably going to want to sub in some more-normal food into the equation if only to keep your hopes up when the going gets tough. Usually these meals require hot water to get things going, but once you have that sorted you can enjoy something a bit fun like this Korean Bibimbap meal consisting of rice, dried beef, and vegetables. If you’re feeling adventurous you can spice it up with the red pepper paste. And unlike calorie bars, meals like this are a nice solution if you want to toss in a few when you’re out backpacking and lives aren’t on the line too.
Flashlight/Headlamp: Nitecore HC35
PurchaseKey Features
Flashlight/Headlamp combo
High 2700 lumen max output
Multi-fuel
Specifications
Brand
Nitecore
Model
HC35
Reducing the number of things to carry is important for your go-kit considerations, and Nitecore’s HC35 allows you to have both a handheld flashlight, right-angled for convenience, with a headlamp system that lets you operate hands-free while you work. It sports an impressive 2700 lumen max output from its 4 CREE XP-G3 modules, but you’re going to want to tone things down for longer run time. At its low 40 lumen output, it’ll last for 52 hours and put light out to 9 feet in front of you. In dire emergencies, the light can go down to a single lumen and last you for weeks on end. When the 21700 battery finally runs out, you can charge it via micro-USB, and you can toss in other batteries you have on hand like 1x 18650 or 2x CR123A batteries in a pinch.
Sleeping Bag: Klymit KSB 20F
PurchaseKey Features
20F three-season sleeping bag
3.1 lbs total
14″ x 9“ pack down size
Specifications
Brand
Klymit
Model
13KHRU20C
It’s easy to think you’ll get to safety soon when you bug out, but you might have to sleep in the rough more than once before you get to where you’re going. And even when you’re at your destination, having your own warm bedding can really help you out when the going gets tough. That’s why packing a light sleeping bag like the Klymit KSB is a choice you should make. It’s a head-to-toe mummy style sleeping bag with 650 power fill down and synthetic batting that’ll keep you warm down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It weighs only 3.1 lbs, giving you impressive weight to warmth ratios and it packs down to a compact 14 x 9 inches in your bug out kit.
Survival Essentials: Suunto MCB Compass
PurchaseKey Features
High grade steel needle with jewel bearing
Floats in water
Built-in signal mirror and whistle
Specifications
Brand
Suunto
Model
SS012277013
When GPS signals die out and your phone loses signal, you’re going to have to rely on more traditional methods of finding your bearings. The best way to do that is with a handheld compass like the Suunto MCB. Tuned for North Hemisphere magnetics, the MCB allows you to take accurate bearing readings and also plot a course when you pair it with the sighting hole and a good quality map. It closes into a compact package for transport, and the internal mirror can also work for signaling for help.
Sanitation: Combat Wipes
PurchaseKey Features
100% biodegradable
Textured cloth for comfort
25 wipes in a single pack
Specifications
Brand
Combat Wipes
Model
SG_B074DDCW8B_US
One of the few things people talk about when it comes to bug out emergencies is how you’re gonna deal with things when nature calls. Simply put, if you have nothing to wipe yourself clean after your dirty business, bad things can result. And the last thing you need is to contract disease due to poor personal sanitation when excrement hits the fan, so to speak. Do yourself a favor and pack something like the Compbat Wipes, which are 100% biodegradable and gentle on your skin.
Cordage: Atwood Rope 550 Paracord
PurchaseKey Features
550 tensile strength
7 strand durable nylon core, 8z, 100ft
Made in the USA
Specifications
Brand
Atwood Rope
Model
MFG 550
The sheer number of things you can do with a good amount of 550 paracord is astounding. From the obvious tying of things together to keep them secure to use as ad-hoc grips for tools, tourniquets for wounds, and kindling for fires, it’s a no-brainer to take a bundle of paracord with you in your bug out bag. And make sure it’s the real deal, as this Atwood cordage is made in the US in Ohio and strictly made to spec so you can rely on it when the going gets tough.
Fixed Blade: TOPS Knives El Chete
PurchaseKey Features
12“ blade length
1095 steel 56-58 RC
Micarta handle, Kydex sheath
Specifications
Brand
TOPS Knives
Model
El Chete
When it comes to emergencies, it comes time to put away your daily driver EDC folding knife and reach for the big tools. Take something like the TOPS El Chete for instance, a large 12″ full tang 1095 steel machete-style blade that’ll make short work of anything that gets in between you and safety, whether that be debris, downed trees, or softer targets. It has a durable canvas Micarta handle for a sure grip and the included Kydex nylon sheath lets you attach this large blade to your gear for easy transport.
Duct Tape: Duck Max Strength
PurchaseKey Features
High tensile strength
Waterproof backing
Aggressive adhesive
Specifications
Brand
Duck Tape
Model
240867
Duct tape is one of those ultra-versatile bits of kit that work well so long as you have it on hand, from clothing and tent spot repair to general reinforcement and protection. We recommend you don’t take a full roll, but pick one of these max strength rolls up and wrap it around itself on a bit of plastic to make for a more compact carry in your bug out kit.
Zip Ties: Flurhrt 12″ Heavy Duty
PurchaseKey Features
12“ length
50 pieces
Nylon
Specifications
Brand
Flurhrt
Model
4330221844
When duct tape or rope won’t do, you can use cable zip ties to hold things fast. The uses are endless, but it can be as simple as keeping cordage and gear organized in your go bag so it doesn’t unpack itself as you rush out the door. You’re also going to want higher-quality stuff, and these particular cords are wide and thick and made of plastic that won’t go brittle if things get too cold or too hot.
Document Holder: Magpul DAKA Document Holder
PurchaseKey Features
Weather-sealed polymer construction
Clear TPU panel for quick viewing
Anti-slip material
Specifications
Brand
Magpul
Model
MAG894-245
Everyone says you should bring your most important documents with you like birth certificates and other forms of ID when you bug out but how are you going to keep it safe from the elements as you escape? You do it with something like the Magpul DAKA Window Document Pouch, which is made out of a sturdy polymer with a fully-sealed construction that makes it water impermeable. The clear TPU window allows you to show the contents to people without pulling out of its safe container, and it can also double as a way to keep a map safe from the elements when you’re on the go.
What’s in your bug out bag or emergency kit? What do you pack that’s not on our list? Share it with us in the comments below!
