In order to safeguard ourselves against various threats such as natural calamities, contagious illnesses, and social unrest that may jeopardize our daily lives, it is crucial to possess essential provisions that can protect us against both physical and metaphorical turbulences.
The best bug-out bags, also known as survival kits, play a crucial role in this situation. These bags essentially serve as portable emergency kits, believed to have derived their name from the backpacks Army pilots carried when instructed to abandon their planes. As a convenient solution, the best bug-out bags allow individuals to have all their survival tools and supplies conveniently stored in one place.
What Are the Best Bug-Out Bag?
Bug-out bags, also known as BOBs, are specifically designed to contain essential items necessary for survival for a maximum of three days in the absence of power, food, or water.
The contents of a standard bug-out bag may vary among manufacturers, but at a minimum, the most effective survival kits contain first aid tools (such as bandages and rubbing alcohol), survival gear (such as a pocket knife, flashlight, and fire starter), and provisions for obtaining food and water. We have compiled a list of bags that include energy bars and water pouches, as well as kits that also provide a water filtration straw or water purification powder. According to the American Red Cross, the three essential items for emergencies are food, water, and emergency blankets for shelter and warmth, all of which are typically included in our bug-out bag recommendations.
All the top bug-out bags are specifically designed for easy transport, either as a backpack or a pouch. Seek out bags constructed from tear-proof, water-resistant materials, along with bags featuring additional rings and handles for attaching a water bottle, keys, and small accessories. Furthermore, we have identified choices with well-structured compartments and zippered pockets, enabling secure storage and convenient access to your belongings. Despite already including emergency essentials, our selected options also have space for stowing items such as wipes, hand sanitizer, and valuable possessions like your laptop, phone, and wallet.
Not only are bug-out bags utilized for emergencies, but they can also serve as excellent camping or hiking bags. The finest survival kits contain essential items for personal hygiene, such as soap, shampoo, and toothbrushes, and certain ones even encompass sleeping bags and blankets.
Bug-out bags are a great choice for ensuring preparedness and peace of mind, serving as multi-purpose 72-hour survival kits. To avoid being stranded, it is suggested to have at least one bag at home, in your car, and at work. Ensure the bags are stored in easily accessible locations to quickly grab and go during emergencies.
1. Judy Mover Max
Judy, an Emergency Kit brand, gained popularity after receiving an endorsement from Oprah and has now become a highly regarded method of preparing for worst-case scenarios. The Mover Max backpack, the brand’s flagship item, highlights Judy’s understanding that the container of your emergency kit is just as crucial as its contents.
The backpack is resistant to water, rips, and punctures, and includes strong shoulder straps that have chest and waist buckles to provide security. This allows you to secure and wear the backpack without concerns about possible damage or loss of the contents.
The Judy Mover Max contains three cartridges that categorize your supplies based on needs. These cartridges include water and food, safety and warmth, and tools and first aid. Within these cartridges, you will find a range of items such as a 101-piece first aid kit and meal-replacement food bars, as well as a hand-crank radio. In total, the supplies present are sufficient to sustain a group of four people for 72 hours.
Judy has also broadened its range of products by adding larger kits and survival kits that come with power stations, which are strongly recommended.
2. Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bag
This backpack from Emergency Zone, unlike certain bug-out bags, is compact and sizeable just like a school bag, making it ideal for speedy departures.
With enough resources to support a family of four for a minimum of 72 hours, this package contains energy bars and filtered water pouches, approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, to prevent hunger and thirst. Additionally, it provides a water bottle, filter straw, and water purification powder to ensure a steady supply of drinkable water. Furthermore, the backpack includes two reflective sleeping bags, a roll-up tent, and hand warmers as a precautionary measure in case of a loss of heat.
A comprehensive first-aid kit consists of two N95 face masks (industrial strength) and over 100 varieties of bandages, wraps, etc. Additionally, it contains a personal hygiene kit with two toothbrushes, toilet paper, feminine pads, soap, and shampoo. Furthermore, basic survival tools such as a flashlight, multitool, light sticks, and rope are also part of the kit.
The backpack is extremely sturdy and effortlessly carries all of your belongings. The bag remains close to your body at all times thanks to its reinforced shoulder straps and wrap-around chest strap. All your items are neatly organized with the six different zippered compartments. Additionally, there is sufficient space for other essential items such as your ID, wallet, phone, and even your laptop.
If you have the bag for longer than five years, make sure to replace the food bars and water as they have a lasting period of five years. It is important to note that this bag weighs 25 pounds in total, which may seem heavy for some individuals.
3. Uncharted Supply Co. Seventy2 Pro System
If you are preparing for a potential natural disaster like a hurricane, earthquake, or wildfire, consider purchasing the Seventy2 Pro System survival kit from Uncharted Supply Co. This bug-out bag is extremely robust and includes additional tools, as well as a durable and easy-to-carry packaging system. True to its name, it is specifically designed to sustain two individuals for 72 hours during the most dire circumstances.
Beginning with the backpack itself, the capabilities of the Seventy2 Pro System originate from its construction utilizing 600D dual-coated tarpaulin. Despite its lightweight nature, the backpack is sufficiently spacious to accommodate all the contents of the kit. Additionally, it is equipped with waist and chest straps to enhance security during transportation.
The backpack contains various supplies for handling disasters of any size. These include essential items such as a first-aid kit, water filter, survival blankets, and food bars. Additionally, there are more specialized items like a shovel/pickax, chem lights, RZ M2 air masks, a survival tent, and a crank radio/flashlight/charger. Weatherproof work gloves are also included, which, when combined with the shovel/pickax, pocket knife, and multitool, allow for significant work to be done if the emergency extends beyond three days.
4. Yiderbo First Aid Survival Kit
If you already have a comprehensive emergency supply kit or have chosen one from this list, it is still a good idea to also get a supplementary first aid survival kit. We recommend the Yiderbo best-seller, which comes in a portable package weighing 1.7 pounds and containing 274 pieces. The portable case is rugged and waterproof, making it suitable for accidental drops. Inside the kit, you will find a wide variety of first-aid essentials such as bandages, ice packs, medical scissors, and wipes.
5. Ready America Emergency Kit
Ready America’s emergency kit includes enough rations to support a pair of individuals for a maximum of three days. Essential provisions comprise two food bars, each providing 2400 calories, as well as 12 packets of emergency drinking water. The food bars can endure temperatures ranging from -22ºF to 149ºF, while the water can endure temperatures ranging from 40ºF to 230ºF.
In addition to that, the backpack contains a first-aid kit consisting of 33 pieces, emergency blankets, two face masks, and two glow sticks that provide 12 hours of light. Each kit is also equipped with gloves, emergency ponchos, and pocket tissues.
The whole package is contained in a lightweight, vibrant red backpack, which ensures that you remain noticeable in case you require assistance. Additionally, it facilitates easy identification of the bag, enabling quick retrieval when time is crucial. To ensure constant preparedness, we suggest maintaining one of these bags in your car, another in your closet, and one at your workplace.
We appreciate the fact that the bag and kit are put together in the United States by a company that possesses over 25 years of expertise in emergency preparedness.
The bag, which is lightweight and easy to carry, contains everything and has a nylon material that stretches, allowing for larger items to be accommodated.
Other Items To Add To Your Bug-Out Bag
In addition to your pre-made emergency kit, ensure that you include these items in your bug-out bags as well.
Water Purification Tablets
No matter the amount of water you prepare, you will eventually exhaust your supply.
If there is a situation where you need to obtain water, it is important to consider the need for water purification. It is crucial to avoid consuming water contaminated with bacteria in order to prevent illness, especially during an emergency.
To accomplish that, water purification tablets will be necessary.
Fire Starting Equipment
In order to be prepared for any situation where a fire could be useful, it is important to have a wide range of options available to initiate a fire.
Flashlight
If you find yourself without electricity, a flashlight will be your most dependable companion.
Apart from its inexpensive price tag, the outstanding feature of this one is its compact size.
If possible, you want to minimize the inclusion of large and space-consuming items in your bug out bag.
You can attach this flashlight to the side of your bag or pocket, which will allow more space in your survival kit.
Emergency Radio
The radio will be the most important item in your survival kit in majority of emergency scenarios.
When you are in a situation where you might be trapped during a natural disaster, your connection with the outside world becomes crucial.
During wars, it will serve as your guide, providing you with instructions and directions.
Having a good radio is crucial.
Maps
In scenarios like Nuclear attacks, there is a possibility of all electronic devices being destroyed. Consequently, it is advisable to possess a map in case you require to undertake a journey. In the event of being lost, relying on google maps won’t be possible, which is why reverting to a traditional paper map would be necessary.
It is advisable to obtain a map specifically of your locality, rather than a large map encompassing the whole planet. Ensuring that the map covers your area and the destinations you intend to visit would be sufficient.
Documents
It is crucial to carry your passport with you during an emergency, something that even dedicated D-day and apocalypse/end of the world preppers often overlook.
Having proof of your identity in situations like war can determine whether you receive assistance from the army or are abandoned. It is crucial to possess substantial evidence of your identity and belongings as it holds significant value in war-related circumstances.
Particularly with regard to returning to normalcy, it is important to think systematically.
Extras
Alright, now that we’ve covered all the crucial information, let’s move on to the following items. These are the things I strongly suggest, although they are not absolutely essential. It ultimately depends on the level of preparedness you desire and your individual circumstances.
To obtain a basic bug out bag, acquire all the items mentioned above. For a more dependable bug out bag, acquire the aforementioned items as well as the following additional items.
Cargo pants
Although cargo pants may not be the most stylish, they offer ample pockets, zips, and are made of lightweight material. Including them in your survival plan will prove to be a wise decision.
This applies to both women and men, and the same rule applies to both.
Hiking Boots
One more trendy item to contemplate is a high-quality pair of boots.
Something that provides comfort, allows you to climb, walk long distances, and run with the added benefit of keeping your feet dry.
Walkie Talkies
If you are in a pair or group, it is advisable to stay connected so that you can remain in touch in case there is a need for separation due to any circumstances.
If that is the case, you will be needing high-quality walkie talkies that are waterproof and have 2-way radio capability.
Portable Stove
It is evident that cooking food without difficulty is a given in this case. However, water is also essential.
Once you exhaust your water supply and run out of purification tablets, you will need to cleanse the water you obtain from another source by boiling it in order to eliminate any harmful bacteria.
In order to accomplish this, a reliable heat source is required.
If you are outdoors and have confidence in your ability to make a fire, there is no need for this.
If it has been raining, you will encounter difficulty. Additionally, if you are indoors, you cannot safely ignite fires within a building. Therefore, having a portable stove will be beneficial.
Pepper spray
During an emergency, all of us would prefer to believe that we will stay in the coziness of our own homes and wait for the situation to resolve itself.
However, regrettably, there may come a time when you find it necessary to adopt a defensive stance, which is not limited to situations related to warfare.
It is common for individuals to panic during an emergency and it’s possible that your neighbors might attempt to break into your house to access your survival supplies. It is advisable to acquire a means of self-defense in preparation for such situations.
It is important to devise a plan that entails compelling individuals to leave, but without causing any lasting damage or utilizing any weapons.
Deck of cards
An additional aspect that is often overlooked when preparing a survival kit is addressing your mental wellbeing.
If you can envision yourself ready for a six-week emergency situation, with no activities to engage yourself except pondering over the circumstances, then you require a diversion. And a flawless solution to mitigate this predicament would be a deck of playing cards.
If you have a family, the last thing you want is for everyone to be stressed out the whole time. Although it may not be enjoyable, you can at least make the time go by a little faster by including a low-cost deck of playing cards in your survival kit.
Books – foraging books x2
Focusing primarily on mental stability, a good book will serve as a means of diversion, taking your mind off any current situations or issues.
In addition to mental stability, a book can play a critical role in many emergency scenarios, potentially determining life or death outcomes. For example, picture a situation where you lack food and need to cover a substantial distance, relying on gathering resources from the environment.
It is impossible to use Google to determine the safety of consuming that plant. However, if you possess a foraging book, you could consult it for verification.
If you are unsure whether you have correctly identified a plant from the book, you can cross-reference it to avoid making a mistake. It is important to verify the safety of a mushroom before consuming it, as ingesting the wrong one can be fatal.
To alleviate your concerns, simply acquire 2 books and cross-reference them, excluding any emergency that may have caused you to scavenge initially.
Sewing kit
It is always beneficial to have these items with you as they can be helpful when you encounter situations such as tearing your clothes or requiring a makeshift shelter or face mask.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is an incredibly useful item to have, as it can be used for numerous purposes. Quick fixes and duct tape are closely associated, as it can be used to fix a broken pipe or mend ripped clothes.
Imagine, if you can, a scenario where there is an emergency situation, specifically a nuclear attack. It is crucial to prevent any radiation from entering your surroundings. Unfortunately, windows can typically have tiny openings that allow air to seep in. However, by utilizing duct tape, you can effectively seal off each window and air vent within your residence. This simple action of creating a complete shelter against radioactive substances can be accomplished in a surprisingly short period of time. How long, you may wonder? In less than 5 minutes.
If, unfortunately, you find yourself with a nasty cut, you should wrap it in something clean and then secure it in place by wrapping duct tape around it.
Feminine Hygiene
If you are a woman, it is important that you ensure you have an ample supply of feminine hygiene products. In the event of an emergency occurring during your menstrual cycle, not having any assistance available will result in extreme discomfort.
