Some catastrophes and natural disasters are so damaging that they require you to evacuate your home for an extended duration, and a bug-out bag simply won’t do the trick here. An INCH bag is designed to contain all the essentials you need for longer survival out in the wilderness or if your home has been completely razed to the ground by a wildfire or a tornado.
When you decide to evacuate your home for longer durations, you will need some form of power supply to keep your devices powered up, and this is where a Jackery Portable Power Station can help. Since the portable power station has a compact body, you can take it with you wherever you’re going without having to worry about being disconnected from your loved ones or rescue services.
Key Takeaways
- INCH stands for “I’m Never Coming Home,” and an INCH bag contains all the supplies needed to stay months away from home.
- Your INCH bag must be durable, comfortable, modular, and have adequate pockets and compartments to store different items systematically.
- You must carry all the tools and equipment you need to be self-sufficient.
- A Jackery Portable Power Station can charge most small—to mid-sized appliances and is also easy and portable to carry.
What is the INCH Bag?
The word INCH in the INCH bag stands for “I’m Never Coming Home,” and while it seems like a kit that’s prepared with the intention of never returning home, eventually, you will come back. However, what this means is that the bag is designed to last you for months away from home if it’s been destroyed by a natural disaster or any other calamity.
The key purpose of this bag is to ensure that you’re self-sufficient and resilient when you’re surviving without any support and have no idea when you’ll be able to return home. So, some essentials your INCH bag should ideally contain to make you self-sufficient include plenty of food, water, clothing, tarps, a stove, tools, batteries, lights, and sleeping gear.
Who Needs the INCH Bag?
Unlike a simple bug-out bag, an INCH bag requires specialized skills to be qualified to use all of its contents. This is mainly because you need these skills to survive out in the wilderness for extended durations without letting it break your resolve. While this isn’t mandatory, designing your INCH bag in a manner that proves helpful when you’re in a group is helpful.
An INCH bag is useful to those who:
- Possess the skills and knowledge to make use of the bag’s contents effectively
- Travel in groups, especially when evacuating an area and moving out into the woods
- Are headed to a place that offers an abundance of food sources
INCH Bag vs. Bug Out Bag
If you’re wondering how an INCH bag differs from a bug-out bag, the latter is designed to help you survive for shorter durations, between 24 to 72 hours or even a week. But an INCH bag is stocked in a manner that can help you survive for months together. Here are some of the key differences between these two kinds of survival bags:
- Situation:A bug-out bag is used when you need to leave home for a short duration and survive, but an INCH bag is made to help you survive for longer durations when your home has been completely compromised.
- Duration:A bug-out bag is designed for the short term or at least 72 hours, whereas an INCH bag must keep you going for the entire duration you “need” to survive in the wild.
- Items to Include:A bug-out bag contains enough food and water, along with a few basic tools, to survive a few days away from home, but an INCH bag must contain a stove, sleeping gear, tents, tarps, and so on, as you’ll need these to sustain yourself for longer durations.
An INCH bag differs from other bags, such as a get-home bag or an everyday carry (EDC) kit. These differences include:
- Get-home Bag: A get-home bag only contains the essentials you need to get back home or to a safe location.
- Everyday Carry Kit: An everyday carry kit only contains a few basic tools and other supplies that ensure daily preparedness, but it isn’t designed to sustain you for a longer duration.
How to Choose the INCH Bag
Since an INCH bag needs to last you for a much longer duration, which could be several months, some factors are crucial in deciding which bag to choose. These factors and qualities are described below.
Durability and Quality
You’ll need a strong and durable INCH bag if you need it to survive harsh conditions without giving up on you. Choose a bag that’s water resistant and has reinforced stitching so it can carry heavier loads.
Capacity and Storage
When deciding how big a bag you’ll need, you must assess how long you intend to be away from civilization. The longer the duration, the bigger the capacity you’ll need to ensure you can carry all your essentials with you. The bag should also have many pockets to organize your gear and allow you to easily access it when you need to.
Comfort
Since you’ll be carrying your INCH bag over longer durations, it should be comfortable and fit well. Look for a bag with wide, padded shoulder straps, a supportive back panel, and lots of adjustability so you can get a comfortable position.
Accessibility
A bag that offers easy accessibility with multiple openings is ideal so you can access the gear you need without constantly taking your bag off. The bag should also feature top loading and front panel access, so you don’t have to unpack all your gear to access the things you need at any point.
Compatibility
If you can get a modular bag, you can add other attachments to maximize its utility when going away for longer durations. Some bags offer MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) webbing or other attachment points to which you can hook up other accessories and expand your bag’s capacity when needed.
Weight
While your bag should be strong and durable, you should also ensure it’s designed using lightweight materials so you don’t tire yourself of heavy loads daily. However, you must remember not to compromise on the bag’s quality and durability, which will keep you going for months.
Design and Color
While the design and color of your bag seem like more of a point of preference, you should ideally choose a color that camouflages well with your environment. If you will be in the wilderness or forests, you should choose a bag in shades of greens or even a camo print, as this will blend in and not draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
INCH Bag List
If you need to be self-sufficient out in the wild for months at a time, your INCH bag will need several essentials. This section will describe all these INCH bag contents in detail so you know what to carry.
Shelter
The first and most important part of your INCH bag list will be some protective and comfortable shelter. A tent sturdy enough to sustain strong winds is a good place to start. You’ll also need a sleeping bag or a thermal blanket rated to keep you warm in the temperatures you’ll be dealing with while you’re away.
You can also invest in a sleeping pad that keeps you insulated and warm at night when temperatures are prone to drop significantly.
Water and Food
Water is critical to your survival during extended periods away from home, and unlike a bug-out vehicle, it won’t be practical for you to carry hundreds of bottles of water. So, you’ll need a portable water filtration system that can purify water for you to drink when you find a river or a stream.
You’ll also need to carry durable, BPA-free water bottles or a bladder to store water for the day or until you find another water source if you’re on the move. It’ll also be a great idea to purchase a collapsible water container if you can find one, as this allows you to carry large amounts of water in one go.
You’ll also need to carry cooking gear such as a portable stove, cookware, and utensils to cook meals on the go. You should carry meals that are easy to heat, protein or energy bars, rice, canned meats, fish, nuts, and dried fruits, among the many food items.
Fire and Light
If you’re out in the wild, you’ll need to know how to start a fire, and a fire-starting kit that includes waterproof matches and lighters can be extremely helpful in such situations. You should also carry a headlamp and a torch with ample batteries so you can see what you’re doing once it gets dark. A headlamp can be a good option, as you can keep both hands free without compromising visibility.
You’ll also need to carry some form of power supply so you can keep your devices and torches recharged. You can consider using a small portable generator or a Jackery Portable Power Station, as it’s portable and easily fits into your INCH bag. On the other hand, if you were permanently living off the grid, you could’ve chosen an off-grid generator.
Tools and Equipment
Self-sufficiency will be the most important skill when you’re out on your own or even in a group, and this requires you to carry all the essential tools and equipment you could need over a few months. Some examples include a multi-tool that can perform various functions, a fixed-blade knife for cutting and chopping, and a paracord or rope that you can use to secure your gear or build a shelter.
First Aid Kit
You should always have a comprehensive first aid kit that contains the items you need to treat wounds and other illnesses, such as stomach pains, fevers, headaches, and so on. If you take prescription medication, you should also carry an adequate supply of it so you don’t run out at any point.
Clothing and Personal Protection
When you pack your clothing, you should ensure enough clothing based on the weather conditions in the area you’re going to. Warm, thermal clothing is crucial in cold areas, and you must also make sure to layer up your clothing to keep yourself warm and protected from the elements.
You should also carry a hat and gloves as both can be handy in different kinds of weather. You should also have adequate personal protective equipment such as N-95 masks, safety goggles, and work gloves so you can do every possible activity safely.
Personal Hygiene and Sanitation
Essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and so on are absolutely crucial for remaining hygienic no matter where you are. You should always carry any sanitation-related items and waste disposal bags with you.
Miscellaneous Items
Other important gear you’ll need to carry in your INCH bag are a compass, a whistle, some self-defense items, emergency cash, photocopies of all your important documents, communication devices, and spare clothing. You should also carry a fishing kit to catch fish if you need a protein-rich food source. You can rely on fly fishing forums for discussions and more information.
Jackery Portable Power Stations Explained
When you look for the best manufacturers of solar generators, portable power stations, and solar panels, you will find Jackery to be one of the leading brands. The Jackery Solar Generators combine the Jackery Portable Power Stations and the Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.
When you place the solar panels under direct sunlight, they absorb solar energy from the sun’s rays falling on them and convert it into DC electricity. This is passed through the pure sine wave inverter in the portable power station to convert it to AC electricity.
The Jackery Portable Power Stations are an excellent emergency and even a CPAP battery backup option since you can easily carry them in your INCH bag or even on a flight and keep most of your essential devices and appliances charged.
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station is a portable power station with more than enough capacity to charge most small—to mid-sized appliances. Because of its compact design, you can carry it wherever you go during an emergency, and it can also easily fit into your INCH bag, so you’re never left without a source of power.
These qualities make this one of the best portable power stations you can buy in the event of an emergency so you can always stay connected.
Appliances Running Time:
- Smartphone (29W) = 8.4H
- CPAP Machine (40W) = 6.1H
- Laptop (60W) = 4H
- Ventilator (20W) = 12.2H
- Rechargeable Headlamp (10W) = 24.4H
Customer Review:
“I bought the Jackery 300 after Hurricane Beryl left us without power for several hours. I found out that we need a power source to keep our routers, phones, and laptops charged, so we can stay informed about the development of any future emergency and be able to take necessary actions.” - Jose.
Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station is one of the most compact portable power stations you can find. It’s small enough for you to carry on a flight. You can use this mini portable power station to charge your smartphone, laptop, or even a rechargeable USB light when you’re away from home during an emergency. At 965 grams, this portable power station is really compact and portable, so it will easily fit into your INCH bag without becoming too heavy to carry around for longer durations.
Appliances Running Time:
- Smartphone (29W) = 2.9H
- Camera (8.4W) = 10H
- Laptop (60W) = 1.4H
- Emergency USB Light (5W) = 16.8H
- Rechargeable USB Headlamp (10W) = 8.4H
Customer Review:
“Works really well so far. Charge my phone multiple times with plenty of charge left. Holds its charge. Will definitely use it during hurricane outages.” — Nicola.
How to Maintain and Pack Your INCH Bag
While you might have packed all the essentials in your INCH bag, it’s just as important to know how to pack these to ensure you can easily access each item when you need it on the go. This section will show some key tips to help you pack and maintain your INCH bag well.
Packing Your INCH Bag Efficiently
When packing all your clothes, ideally roll and fold them so they take up as little space as possible. You can also use compression bags to remove any excess air and make the most of the space in your bag.
You should also pack all your frequently used items, such as a rain or wind jacket, right on top so that you can easily take it out to protect yourself in a storm. Doing this will ensure that you won’t have to remove all the other things just to access your protective clothing. Don’t pack duplicate items unless absolutely necessary, such as socks and underwear.
Balancing and Distributing Weight
When you pack your bag, you must make sure that the weight is equally distributed on both shoulders so that it is easier for you to carry it over a longer duration. The heaviest items should be closest to the back and higher up so that your bag is more stable and does not strain your back too much.
If your INCH bag has become heavier on the bottom, you should also consider packing it with lighter items at the top so that the weight is counterbalanced across the bag’s height.
Use Compartments and Sections
You should categorize all your items and store them in the same compartment to easily remove them without mixing up the others. Items like your food should go in one section, whereas your first aid kit should be easily accessible in an outer compartment.
You can also use internal dividers and nets to separate and compartmentalize the items in your bag. When you’re out in the wild during an emergency, you could encounter many situations in which time is of the essence, and being able to easily access the items you need quickly can be life-saving.
Regularly Check Your Bag and its Contents
One of the biggest parts of maintaining your bag is regularly checking all the straps to ensure they’re not coming loose. You should also have a basic sewing kit with you if you ever need to reinforce any section that you think might become a weak link.
Additionally, you should check all the items stored inside your bag, such as your food, to ensure you consume it before it expires. Everything you carry is valuable, and you can’t afford to let any food or water go to waste, so you should keep checking them and consume them based on when they were first opened.
You can also create a rationing schedule to ensure that you have a fresh supply of food in your INCH bag and that you don’t miss out on your meals because you no longer have any.
INCH Bag FAQs
What size solar generator do I need for an emergency?
The right size of the solar generator you need for the items in your INCH bag will depend on what you’re carrying. For example, if you’re using the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station to run your smartphone (29W) and a rechargeable headlamp (10W), here’s how you can calculate the working hours:
Working Hours = Battery Capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ Operating Wattage of the Appliance = 288Wh × 0.85 ÷ 39W = 6.2H
Note: The 0.85 is the power conversion factor multiplied by the battery capacity to account for power loss when charging the appliances.
What is the size limit for checked bags in inches?
The most common limit for checked-in bags is 62 linear inches, but if you pay an additional fee, an airline will typically allow you to carry overweight or oversized bags.
How to prepare your INCH bag?
When you prepare your INCH bag, you should carry all the essentials such as food, water, a multitool, a fire-starting kit, cooking utensils, a first aid kit, prescription medication, and a Jackery Portable Power Station.
What are the best bug-out supplies?
The best supplies for a 3-day bug-out supply include freeze-dried food, energy bars, rice, noodles, plenty of water, medicines, and a fishing kit if you ever need to source your meals out in the wild.
What is the best food for a bug-out bag?
Your bug-out bag should contain plenty of drinking water, easy-to-heat meals, energy and protein bars, noodles, tinned fish and canned meats, dehydrated meals, and soups for colder weather.
Final Thoughts
If your home has been destroyed by a natural calamity and you need to survive in the wild for an indefinite period, an INCH bag will be your best companion. This bag should contain food, a water filtration system, medicines, a fire-starting kit, and a Jackery Portable Power Station, among several other things that you should compartmentalize and pack in sections for easy access.
You should also consider that you might be out in a group, and it’ll be important to have certain skills such as starting fires, hunting and scavenging, stitching, and so on, so you can be self-sufficient no matter how long you must stay away from home.
Have you already considered preparing an INCH bag to be ready for an emergency? Tell us some of the essentials you’ve packed in the comments below!
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