A 72-hour emergency kit helps you shelter in place. A bug-out bag is for the opposite scenario: you need to leave now — a wildfire, a flood, a gas leak — and you have minutes to get out the door.
The rule is simple: everything you need to survive 72 hours, packed in one bag you can grab and carry. Here's what earns a place in it, and why.
Water and food
- Water — at least a liter or two to start, plus a way to make more: a portable filter or purification tablets. You can't carry three days of water on your back.
- Food — calorie-dense, no-cook, non-perishable: energy bars, trail mix, peanut butter packets, freeze-dried meals. Aim for roughly 2,000 calories per day.
Shelter and warmth
- Emergency bivvy or space blanket — lightweight, reflects body heat, packs to nothing.
- Tarp or poncho — doubles as rain gear and a shelter roof.
- Change of clothes and warm layer — appropriate for your climate, sealed in a dry bag.
Fire
- Waterproof matches and a lighter — redundancy matters; carry both.
- Tinder — cotton balls in petroleum jelly, or commercial fire starters. Wet wood defeats good intentions.
First aid
- A compact first aid kit: bandages, gauze, antiseptic, blister care, pain relievers, any personal medications. See our first aid kits.
Tools
- Knife or multi-tool — the single most versatile item in the bag.
- Paracord (50 ft) — shelter rigging, repairs, a hundred other uses.
- Headlamp — hands-free beats a handheld flashlight when you're working.
Navigation and communication
- Printed local map and compass — know the routes out of your area before you need them.
- Whistle — louder and longer-lasting than your voice.
- Phone charger / power bank — charged and packed.
Documents and money
- Copies of ID, insurance, and key contacts in a waterproof pouch.
- Cash in small bills — card readers don't work in blackouts.
The two rules that matter most
- Keep it carryable. If you can't comfortably walk miles with it, it's not a bug-out bag — it's luggage. Pack it, put it on, and walk around the block. Cut what you don't need.
- Keep it current. Check it twice a year: rotate food and water, replace batteries, update medications and documents, and adjust clothing for the season.
You can assemble a solid bug-out bag from our gear in one order — start with a bag or kit and add the personal items from the list above. Pack it once, and it's done until the next check.
This is general preparedness guidance, not professional emergency advice.
