Bug out bag gear displayed on a table
Bug out bag gear displayed on a table

The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag

In the event of a wildfire, a hurricane, a flood, or any number of other emergencies, it’s essential to have a fully stocked go bag (also called a “ready bag,” “go bag,” or “bug-out bag”) of emergency gear. This way, you and your family can quickly evacuate to a shelter or other secure location armed with basic survival supplies and tools.

Things to know

Essential picks

  • When building a go bag, consider the recommendations here as a baseline.

Customization

  • Be sure to also consider your individual needs in an emergency, including medications.

Bag options

  • We’ve selected a durable inexpensive backpack as well as a pricier model for upgrading.

Pre-made bags?

  • We still don’t recommend them, but we understand their appeal and tested several.

For this guide we focused on gear that could be easily carried in a backpack, emphasizing lightness and portability wherever possible. For sheltering in place, we have a separate guide to the best emergency-preparedness supplies to help you manage at home for a period of time following a disaster that knocks out utility services or cuts off outside resources to your area. We hope both of these guides will help you be prepared with reliable and versatile tools that can help you manage whatever emergency you may face.

Continue reading the complete article written By Doug Mahoney and Joshua Lyon here

Media Mentions

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Zoe Gates
Editor at Backpacker

Media Mentions

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
Hiker

Media Mentions

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker