Bug Out Bag List Essentials

Types of Bug Out Bags  

Preparing a comprehensive and survival-ready bug-out bag should be atop a disaster preparedness list, but getting the right bag type is essential. A single man living in a large city won’t need a bug-out bag of the same size as a family of five living on a farm. Below are different bug-out bag types, so select one that fits your environment and needs the best:

WUSH

WUSH also stands for “Wake Up, Stuffs Happening bag is a small kit that lets you sleep out the night. In other words, it lets you pack things that last a few hours.

It’s typically grabbed when you need to leave your house quickly, for example, in case of a home fire. The bag has enough space to hold your phone, wallet, a spare set of keys, and some important documents and photos. There might still be some space left to put in cash, reading glasses, medications, flashlights, and batteries.  

EDC

EDC or Everyday Carry Bag is a bit bigger than a WUSH bag and can accommodate emergency essentials to fulfill your needs for 12 hours. You can keep it in your car or carry it in a backpack if you don’t own any. Things that can be included in it are bottled water, cutting, lighting, fire tools, small first-aid items, and some food items.

GHB

GHB or a Get Home Bag can accommodate oversized items necessary for survival, but an EDC bag can’t fit. Its capacity is enough to pack food, water, clothing, a first aid kit, basic shelter, sleeping needs, cutting tools, and lighting that keeps you safe and comfortable for up to 24 hours. It’s a small-sized backpack or a sling bag.

INCH

INCH or I’m Never Coming Home Bag is something you need when a major event like a hurricane, flooding, or something similar occurs, and you can’t return home for weeks or longer. In other words, it accommodates everything one needs to survive a long time away from home, including food, water, cooking tools, clothing, lighting, communication, power, etc. Keep these packed and stay proactive to evacuate quickly.

72-Hour bag

In a nationwide emergency, the government, FEMA, or first responders take around three days to arrive and help you out. You must prepare well by packing the essentials that help you and your family survive until institutional help is available. So, put things in a bag that fulfills your needs for 72 hours, including food, water, a first aid kit, clothing, tools, etc.

What Makes A Good Bug-Out Bag  

There are several things to consider while shopping for a bug-out bag, and the first step is to decide what you will pack. It, however, depends on the role it will fill and the bug-out bag gear list. Think of these beforehand to evaluate the size, number of compartments, and other features. Continue reading to decide better:  

Weight

The whole point of a bug-out bag is to survive on foot. To avoid discomfort, ensure your bag isn’t too heavy as you might be traveling distances and unpredictable terrain.

That said, when purchasing a bag, consider its empty weight. Although the bag weighs only a couple of pounds, it adds up when you pack the supplies. Look for a bag that’s light yet built strong, like made of fire retardant material.

Also, a simple Get Home Bag is much heavier than a WUSH bag, so consider what you’re packing. If you only need important documents, cash, or medications, anything larger than a WUSH bag would be an overkill.  

Features

Irrespective of which bug-out bag you choose, ensure it’s durable and made of strong material. When evacuating during an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is your bag failing.

Zippers need to stay functional, and double-bar stitching must be checked to ensure quality. Also, the bag must be designed intelligently to let you access your gear easily and quickly. Other features to look at in your BOB are:

• Water bladder and hydration tube
• Rain cover for protection from the rain
• Compression straps to keep your load in place
• Dedicated sleeping bag compartment
• Hip belt pockets

While choosing a BOB bag, consider padding on your shoulder straps and back part. It helps distribute weight across your shoulders and back, reducing pressure points and discomfort. Another feature you can consider is a space to store your self-defense equipment. Make sure the bag's design is designed to keep these items well concealed and easy to reach.  

Internal vs. External Frames

Backpacks have a rigid frame to direct the weight properly, and without it, there’s no form, and the bag hangs like an empty sack. Typically, there are two types of frames: internal and external. Most go with internal, in which the entire structure is sewn into the fabric, or removable inserts are stored inside.

On the other hand, external frames come separately, which you must buy and combine with the bag. That adds to the complexity of matching frames and bags, but they are more rigid than internals and can carry more weight. That’s not it. These get heavier than backpacks with internal frames, which aren’t recommended unless you’re comfortable with them through time in the military.

Size

The next thing to consider is the size of your bug-out bag, which is broken down into three levels:

• Level 1> 25 liters
• Level 2> 45 liters
• Level 3> 50 liters

Most of you will do well with a 45-55 liter bag, enough to carry essentials to survive more than three days without overloading. You can also get smaller 25-35 liter bags that are easy to carry, but they won’t fit supplies you need during an emergency. Also, it’s recommended not to get a bag heavier than 65 liters unless you have a backpacking experience with such loads.  

Other Considerations

Another thing to consider when investing in BOBs is if the material is breathable. It can get awfully hot when moving and carrying a heavy pack. Also, ensure your bag is waterproof or comes with a rain bag to prevent rain or snow from damaging the supplies inside.

Rule of Three

Consider the Rule of three when packing the emergency supplies and the bag accordingly. According to it, you’ll die in three minutes without air, three hours without clothing, shelter, and fire, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Consider the bag size that can at least get you through the minimum and invest accordingly.  

Bug Out Bag List

When making a bug-out bag list in PDF form, focus on your needs rather than wants. Consider the most important things first: water, clothing, food, first aid, and sleeping gear. Rest is there to support these five categories.

Although everyone has a slightly different bag and needs, here’s a template to give you an idea of what items to look at:  

Water

Having access to or making clean water is crucial in every situation. As per the rule of three, a human body can survive three days without water; at least one liter per person per day is highly recommended. Here is a list of recommended items:

• Drinking water (3 liters- per person)
• Hard water bottle
• Water filters
• Water purification tablets

Water, however, is a bit hefty, so carry the bare minimum. If there isn’t access to clean water at the shelter, use water filters or tablets to make it consumable.

Food

Next up is food items. During emergencies, the infrastructure storing food and open stores might be compromised, so keep food stock in non-perishable forms, i.e., canned and dehydrated. The power might be gone, and you can’t refrigerate the food to keep it fresh, so getting these seems like a smart decision. Or better, you can invest in a reliable battery backup solution like Jackery Solar Generator to power your portable freezer for hours.

Here’s what you need:

• One to two-week supply of non-perishable food items
• Food for people with special needs
• Multivitamins
• Baby food
• Pet food, medications, and water for one to two weeks

Cooking & Eating

Cooking here simply means boiling water, de-freezing the food, or roasting something you caught/found, so you’ll need bare essentials. It includes a hobo stove, a utensil, and a pile of sticks to build a concentrated cooking flame around.

There might be cases where you shouldn’t build an open fire, so you can carry an induction cooktop and use a Jackery Solar Generator to power it for hours. Here’s a summary of the critical items:

• Cooking utensils alongside metal pans and pots
• Manual can opener
• Disposable utensils, plates, cups, and napkins
• Camp stove or other means of cooking
• Salt and pepper shakers

Clothing

Clothing is also important to include in your bug-out list, as you might not want to have one or two clothes on your back for days. At least two changes of clothes ensure you always have a dry set to wear. Consider your climate, location, and other factors to decide which clothes to pack. Here’s what you must include:

• Lightweight, long sleeve shirts
• Working gloves
• Rain Poncho
• Underwear
• Footwear for work, relaxing, and protection from nails and broken glass

First Aid

Injuries are common when evacuating, and transportation disruptions make it difficult to access medical care. Packing a first aid kit is equally important as food, water or clothing to provide basic treatment and prevent further injury and severe infections. Here’s what you must include:

• Prescription drugs
• Non-prescription drugs
• Hygiene supplies
• Masks and gloves
• Bandages, scissors, and safety pins
• Thermometer
• Creams for injury, itch, or others

Tools

A multitool and field knife are the most important tools to include in a survival gear list. These help you survive and make your lives much easier during these emergencies. You can also include hand saws, sewing kits, fishing kits, shovels, etc.

Shelter

Many might think shelter isn’t as necessary, and tents, tarps, and others make your BOBs much heavier and difficult to carry along. But having a shelter and a place to rest well so you can stay mentally and physically fit is extremely important during tough times. You can create a shelter using a trash bag filled with leaves or a tarp, alleviating concerns about the weight of your bag. Here’s what you might need:

• Tarp
• Sleeping Bag
• Tent (Optional)
• Wool Blanket
• Ground Pad

Light

Extended power cuts and blackouts are staples during emergencies, so carry along a light to feel safe when it’s pouring rain or you’re struggling in the dark. Carry a headlamp for each of your family members to reduce accident risk. These are great as you can carry them, wear them, or set them somewhere. You can even hang them.

You can also carry a battery-powered lantern, candles, or standard LED lights, which you can run with your Jackery Solar Generator.    

Communication

Knowledge is power during any survival situation. A battery-powered radio is one way to obtain this knowledge or stay updated with the latest information. HAM and GMRS radios are the recommended ones. Also, provide one for your family and teach them how to use the radio to communicate. This way, they can contact you anytime if they aren’t together.

Summary of critical items:

• HAM radio
• Set of batteries
• Signal mirror and whistle
• Survival bandana

Navigation

Bugging out isn’t great if you don’t know where you’re going. It’s crucial to carry a local map downloaded on your phone if the network goes out midway. However, it’s better to get a physical map or a good compass if the map is taking up too much space in your backpack. Also, ensure the map is waterproof and covers at least two hours of drive area.

Here’s what you need:

• Paper maps
• Sighting compass
• Ranger beads
• Survival watch

Power

While it’s recommended to carry gear that doesn’t need electricity, most of the best gear out there requires power. So, having a way to charge your appliances and batteries can be helpful. The best way to do this is to carry a solar generator, and Jackery Solar Generators are the best in the space. It’s lightweight, portable, and can charge your appliances for hours.

Health & Hygiene

As mentioned earlier, carrying a first aid kit is vital when evacuating to stay safe and healthy. Other than that, there’s more that you can carry. To start with, get a respirator to protect yourself from contaminants in the air. You can also add other things to your backpack, which are as follows:

• Eyewear
• Feminine products
• N95 mask
• Wet wipes
• Condensed camping soap
• Nail clippers

Emergencies are also followed by mental stress, so protecting your mental health is winning half the battle. If you aren’t fit mentally, you won’t survive, irrespective of the gear you carry along. For that you can carry some board games, have fun activities, and communicate with others to stay relaxed and stress-free.  

Documents & Currency

Including important documents in your preparedness kit is also a must-do. You might need these to avail of any government schemes and insurance companies. Also, it might help re-establish your identity and access financial resources.

Now, you might need to purchase a few extra supplies on your way to a shelter, so carry a bit of cash as well. It’d be better to keep the cash in small bills ($5, $20, $100) and keep it in different places, so if one bag gets stolen, you still have some cash to survive.   

Others

It might be a good idea to store your gear in compartmentalized sacks or bags in your backpack. A Ziploc bag provides easy and quick access to the items and double water protection to your supplies. You can also use lightweight and versatile gorilla tape and zip ties to improvise and repair gear. Here’s a list of items you can carry:

• Waterproof pouches
• Gorilla tape
• Ziploc bags
• Pack straps
• Zip-ties
• Ranger bands
• Contractor-style garbage bags
• Luggage locks

Jackery Solar Generators for Bugging Out

Storms, floods, and other natural or man-made disasters can knock off power for days. It can disrupt refrigeration, communications, lighting, and other essentials. A portable solar generator lets you keep your portable freezer running to prevent food spoilage while keeping your lights on and charging your cell phone to stay connected.

Jackery is an award-winning manufacturer of solar generators, solar panels, and portable power stations. The Jackery Solar Generator combines Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels and Jackery Portable Power Stations, which collect and convert the sun’s rays into usable electricity and distribute them to power your appliances. With whisper-quiet operating noise and multiple charging methods, Jackery Solar Generators won’t disturb others in the shelter while charging your devices.   

Jackery Solar Generator 600 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 600 Plus is designed for residents who wish to have a portable and lightweight battery backup solution that can charge multiple appliances in a single go. With an operation noise of 30dB, it can run most of your equipment, like portable fans, portable refrigerators, HAM radios, laptops, and LED lights, for hours.

Appliance Running Time

• Portable Fan (100W): 5.2H
• Bluetooth Speaker (20W): 26.4H
• Portable Refrigerator (60W): 8.8H
• HAM Radio (100W): 5.2H
• Laptop (60W): 8.8H
• LED Lights (10W): 52.9H

Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus, weighing only 8.27 lbs, is an ideal companion for residents with an already loaded bag. Its high-performing battery can power smaller appliances like Bluetooth speakers, HAM radios, laptops, smartphones, CPAP machines, etc. With its built-in safety system, you don’t need to worry about extreme weather conditions or voltage fluctuations while charging your gear.

Appliance Running Time

• Portable Refrigerator (60W): 4.0H
• Bluetooth Speaker (20W): 12.2H
• Portable Fan (100W): 2.4H
• HAM Radio (100W): 2.4H
• Laptop (60W): 4.0H
• LED Lights (10W): 24.4H

Customer Review: “I bought the 300 Plus to have a source of power while camping with my son. Powering lights, Bluetooth speakers, and a fan throughout the night, along with other random charging and blowing up our air mattresses. We love it!”- Gregory Turner.

Jackery Solar Generator 500

Jackery Solar Generator 500 is a portable and lightweight battery backup solution that supports multiple appliance charging. Irrespective of where you take shelter, you can carry the solar generator and ensure that your navigation, communication, refrigeration, and other appliances never run out of power. With the battery backup solution in place, you don’t need to worry about getting disconnected from your family.

Appliance Running Time

• Portable Cooler (65W): 6.7H
• Smartphone (20W): 22.0H
• Laptop (60W): 7.3H
• Powerbank (15W): 29.35H
• Portable Fan (100W): 4.4H

Customer Review: “We purchased the Explorer 500 as a backup source for an oxygen concentrator in the event of a power failure. So far, it is operating as promised and will handle numerous other devices as well. It is very portable and operates intuitively. Would recommend a similar application.”- Kevin C.  

Level 1-3 Bug Out Bags

Depending on the supplies it can pack, bug-out bags are divided into three levels, which are explained as follows:

Level 1

These are pretty well-rounded bags that can fit in the essentials you need to survive when away from your home. For example, water, tools, first aid kit, and important documents. Built for standard emergencies, such as natural disasters that disrupt living for a few days, but provided you have the right survival skills, it can also handle serious emergencies.

Items you can fit in a level 1 bug-out bag are:

Level 2

You can add supplies to further your chances of survival in dire situations, such as solar chargers, sleeping gear, and other emergency appliances. Below is the detailed table of the items with respective weights of each:

Level 3

This is around the maximum weight anyone should carry and is the best way to prepare for long-term emergencies, probably a few weeks or months. To make your stay more comfortable, you can pack a tent, large tools, cooking utensils, and others.

Include the following items in your level 3 bug-out bag:  

Note: These approximate weights can vary with specific brands, materials, and sizes of items you pack in your bug-out bag.

Common Mistakes for Bug Out Bags

Bug-out bags are incredibly varied, and people make many mistakes while packing up gear or making a bug-out plan. Here are a few things you must avoid while packing and planning:

• People often create a bag to survive a certain timespan. However, emergencies rarely work on specific timelines, and this method isn’t recommended when packing gear. Hone your survival skills and keep a backup plan if things go sideways.
• Don’t assume your bug-out plan will work, as there is a high chance it won’t. So pack your bag to handle any situation as possible.
• Don’t get tunnel vision on a particular event. You might need to bug out for any other events, even if there are hurricane forecasts. Design your bag considering common weather patterns, terrain, and water access.
• People often assume they will harvest or craft everything. You might have access to food and water if you find a shelter, but there’s no guarantee. Practice some bushcraft skills ahead of time to survive a natural disaster if you move to a remote location.
• At the same time, carrying everything you need won’t be possible. You can take up a load that lasts three to four days at most and plan to scavenge everything afterward.
• Don’t go for premade kits. These might contain things you might not need and are often cheap. It’s better to pack the things you need.
• Don’t skimp on the cost. Cheaper bug-out bags tend to fall apart, which you can’t afford when evacuating during an emergency.  

Bug Out Bag List FAQs

What size of solar generator do I need for bugging out?

The solar generator size that fits perfectly to your bugging out needs depends on the number of appliances you need to run simultaneously and for how long. For example, you’re running a HAM Radio (100W), a smartphone (60W), a Bluetooth speaker (20W), and a portable refrigerator (60W) with Jackery Solar Generator 600 Plus.

Working Time = Capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances.

So, Working Time= 632.3Wh × 0.85/ 240W = 2.24H

Note: There is some power loss while charging the devices. Hence, we have multiplied the overall battery capacity by 0.85.  

What should be in a car bug-out bag?

A car bug-out bag should include essential items like food & water, shelter (emergency blanket, tarp, poncho, etc.), clothing, safety, tools, and a first aid kit.

What items should be in a go bag?

A go bag includes items for survival, communication, and personal needs, such as water, food, flashlights, extra batteries, maps, and important documents.

How big should a 3-day bug-out bag be?

A three-day bug-out bag must be large enough to hold 50 to 85 liters of supplies, depending on your build.

What is the best food for a bug-out bag?

You must carry non-perishable food, such as dried, canned, and frozen foods.

Final Thoughts

Bug-out bags are vital to ensure safety and survival when evacuating to a shelter during emergencies. Whether you’re bugging out for a few days or for a month or so, it’s highly recommended to stock up the supplies and equipment.

When preparing a bug-out bag list, make sure to include a Jackery Solar Generator. These battery backup solutions’ ergonomic design and compact size make them ideal to pack in your bug-out bag and ensure a safe stay. Since they are extremely quiet and don’t produce harmful fumes, you can take them anywhere.  

The unexpected emergencies make it essential to create a bug-out plan and a bag. Please let us know what you intend to include in your bug-out bag and how you plan to power your appliances. Your feedback will help us understand how you prepare your emergency bug-out bag.