Essential Items Your Ultimate Bug-Out Bag Should Have

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A Bug Out Bag, also known as a BOB or a survival kit, is a backpack that contains essential survival items. It is intended to aid you in case you urgently need to leave your home or stay inside due to a natural disaster. Bug out bags generally consist of everything necessary for surviving the initial 72 hours of a natural disaster. This implies being outdoors without shelter or being stuck indoors without electricity or external assistance, but your BOB is designed to assist you throughout this period.

List Of Essential Bug Out Bag Supplies

Take a look at what you need to include in your BOB and what purpose each item serves.

1. Air Filtration Mask – In case of a dust storm or a tornado, you can’t get clean breathable oxygen without an air-filtration mask. When buying one, take care to choose a model that also has particulate filtration.

2. Waterproof Tent – Mylar tents are specially designed to trap heat and keep water out. You must have one in your BOB.

3. Survival blanket – These blankets are light, thin as sheets, and coated with metal to help retain a lot of heat. Space blankets can also be used as makeshift shelters if needed.

4. Water filtration device and Water Bottle – Needed for making and storing clean water, while keeping contaminants away.

5. Food Bars – The rations you carry should be energy-dense. There are several manufacturers that sell military-approved food bars that have a long shelf life and are specifically designed to sustain yourself in harsh environments.

6. Gloves – Durable gloves will not only strengthen your grip but also save your hands from getting bruised and infected.

7. Waterproof jacket – If your area has unpredictable weather, you must carry a rugged jacket.

8. Knife and Pepper spray – Knives can be handy for self-defense and as a tool in tough situations. Additionally, a can of pepper spray will help you ward off attackers or wild animals.

9. Flashlight – A powerful but compact flashlight should be part of every BOB. You can supplement it with a glowstick as they stay lit for about twelve hours and are easily visible from afar.

10. First-Aid Kit – A well-rounded first-aid kit is a must for every BOB and should include antibiotic ointment, painkillers, bandages, sunscreen, wipes, antiseptic lotion, painkillers, gauze, and a tourniquet. Take some time when packing these to read up on how to properly self-administer first-aid in an emergency situation.

11. Maps and a Compass – Disasters like earthquakes can alter the landscape of your surroundings, making even local navigation difficult. A map and a compass will help you determine exactly where you are and where you may need to go to stay safe or get help.

12. Multi-Purpose Tools – Include a mini-shovel in your BOB to dig trenches, carve out firepits, and for self-defense when outside. You should also carry paracords for fishing, hunting, and securing your shelter. Finally, duct tape, a whistle, and a portable battery are great items to round out your bug-out bag.

13. Sleeping Bag – Having a lightweight and compact sleeping bag can bring some level of comfort if you are forced out of your home. Or even if you are sheltering in place, a sleeping bag can be useful if you are unable to sleep in your bed.

14. Cold Weather Gear – If you live in an area that experiences harsh winter conditions, ensuring that your BOB contains items like extra layers of protective clothing, gloves, beanies, blankets, and hand warmers is essential.

15. Glow Sticks – Serve as a great source of additional lighting as well as to signal for help.

16. AM/FM Radio – There are reasonably priced battery or crank operated radios. Having one can keep you well informed during a natural disaster if cellphone service goes down.

17. Duct Tape – This is one of the most versatile and useful survival essentials to any BOB or kit. There are countless uses for duct tape and you will be happy you have it in case of an emergency.

18. Water Bottle – Having a reusable and durable water bottle is essential in any survival situation.

19. Waterproof Matches and/or Fire Starter – These will make life exponentially easier if you are in a survival situation and need to make a fire, especially if you do not have training or experience making fires with primitive tools.

20. Paracord – Another one of those extremely versatile and essential tools to have in your BOB. Like the duct tape, there are endless uses for this rope in a survival scenario.

21. Water Purification Tablets – In many natural disasters, you may not have access to pure drinking water. Having these tablets in your BOB allow you to purify your water on the go.

22. Eye Protection – Googles and sunglasses are great additions to your BOB. You may not have time or you may not remember to grab your sunglasses in an emergency situation, so have an extra pair in your BOB.

23. Medications/Prescriptions – Many survival kits and BOBs come with the most essential survival gear, tools, water, and food. But be sure to customize your BOB by including medications and prescriptions and any other personal items that you would need in order to survive.

Recommended Brands

1. The Bag Itself

The Scree 32L Backpack from Mystery Ranch is designed with step-by-step thinking to ensure all information is maintained without any additions or removals.

Despite lacking some fancy features found in other brands, these products also lack unreliable buckles that cannot be repaired when chaos strikes. Personally, I have been using the Scepter 35 Pack for a year and even dropped it off cliffs without any issues. If you’re looking for a survival bag, the Scree 32 Pack mentioned above is a great choice, as it has a spacious opening and sturdy build that allows easy access to necessary items while avoiding unnecessary accessories.

2. Solar Panel + Power Bank

The solar panel named Goal Zero Nomad 5 is being considered.

In order to stay updated with news and information, it is important to ensure that your phone remains charged. The Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Kit is an excellent option for achieving this, even during periods of power outage. It is not cumbersome or bulky, but consistently provides sufficient power to keep my devices functioning while outdoors.

3. Radio

If you find yourself in a situation where you need half of the items listed below, it is not advisable to depend on your phone for communication. It would be more practical to use a traditional radio to stay updated on news. The Midland ER210 is a hand-cranked device that does not require sunlight or batteries, and it can receive AM, FM, and NOAA radio broadcasts. Additionally, it can charge your devices and has an LED flashlight.

4. Headlamp

If the power goes out, it’s important to have the ability to move and perform tasks during the night. The Biolite Headlamp 200 is designed to maintain a long-lasting charge and is extremely comfortable and user-friendly when worn.

5. Watch

The watch named Marathon General Purpose Quartz Composite is designed for various uses.

The Marathon General Purpose Quartz Composite Watch is capable of fulfilling all the functions you expect from a watch during a crisis. It possesses a water resistance of 30 meters, provides self-illumination in the dark, and is lightweight and dependable. In case of a first aid emergency, it enables you to document the time of injury as well as monitor and communicate crucial vital signs such as heart rate and respiratory rate to a first responder.

6. Protective Face Mask

The Under Armour UA Sportsmask is being considered in a logical manner, considering each step to follow.

One can utilize a mask to deal with various types of airborne particles, including those present during a forest fire. The favored choice from Under Armour, which is comfortable, flexible, and reasonably priced, has been popular for a long time. However, there are numerous other reliable options available.

7. Goggles

The goggles that are used for safety purposes have been colored for easier identification and organization of learning resources.

When there is a fire or other air contamination, it is important to cover your eyes. The pack of Learning Resources Colored Safety Goggles, which includes six, can protect your eyes from harmful substances while also helping you distinguish them from your friend’s goggles. Just ensure they can be worn over your prescription eyewear if needed.

8. Dehydrated Meals

The 5-Day Emergency Food Kit, provided by Good To-Go, should be thought about in a step-by-step manner.

Good To-Go offers dehydrated food for situations requiring long-term survival. The 5-Day Emergency Food Kit from this brand consists of five breakfasts and 10 entrees, each with a shelf life of two to five years. Patagonia Provisions is another preferred choice for dehydrated meals that are both delicious and sourced organically and sustainably, providing a triple win according to our perspective.

9. Meal Bars

The ProBar Meal Bars 6-Flavor Variety Pack offers a range of flavors for customers to choose from.

If you’re looking for something to eat without cooking, your best choice would be calorie-dense bars. ProBar provides tasty and diverse bars that come in packs of twelve, which I could survive on for multiple days, and might have actually done so.

10/11. Water Filter

The MSR Guardian Purifier System is a product that can be condensed while retaining all of its original information. Another possible rephrasing: The MSR Guardian Purifier System is a system created by MSR that purifies water.

LifeStraw is a product that enables individuals to drink water directly from contaminated sources, such as rivers or streams, by purifying the water as it is being consumed.

The LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Filter System has a capacity of 8L.

The MSR Guardian is among the limited number of portable filters capable of removing viruses, bacteria, and protozoan pathogens. Additionally, for a more affordable alternative, we recommend considering Lifestraw’s 8L Gravity Filter System and Peak Series Straw Filter.

12/13. Water Bottles

The water bottle called Hydrapak Flux has a capacity of 1 liter.

The text below cannot be rephrased step by step or by maintaining the same meaning as it only consists of the brand name “Hydro Flask.”

The standard mouth Hydro Flask has a capacity of 24 ounces.

To transport the filtered water, Hydrapak manufactures excellent collapsible bottles that are compact when packed, do not leak, and do not spill while drinking. Personally, I am fond of the 32-ounce Flux model, although there are different sizes to choose from. Additionally, I recommend having a solid water bottle filled with hard water. The Hydro Flask’s 24 oz. Standard Mouth bottles are durable and will fulfill the purpose effectively.

14. Fire Starter

The Wolf and Grizzly Fire Set consists of a compact and portable fire pit and grill grate.

Lighting a fire can significantly improve morale, provide warmth, and facilitate cooking. Personally, I have utilized kindling and logs on numerous occasions to salvage otherwise unpleasant outdoor experiences. The striker produced by Wolf and Grizzly is exceptional, generating a spark exceeding 54,000 degrees. This compact set can be easily nested together and remains functional for approximately 20,000 strikes, offering countless nights gathered around the campfire. For additional information, a comprehensive list of the finest fire starters currently on the market is available for further perusal.

15/16. First Aid

Rephrased: The Backpacker Medical Kit from Adventure Medical Kits, when considering each step, should be thought through systematically without adding or removing any information.

When you are in a survival situation, similar to being in the backcountry, you must deal with the consequences of getting injured without assistance. The Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Backpacker Medical Kit, in combination with Wilderness Medicine training from NOLS, can provide the necessary support to ensure your safety and the ability to help others. The convenience of the kit’s fold-out design and well-labeled compartments make it easy to access supplies. If you are assembling your own bag, remember to include a week’s worth of any personal medications, such as insulin, as well as a cooler to preserve their effectiveness. Regularly check the expiration dates on the medicines in your kit every few months.

17/18. Soap + Cleanliness

Pure-Castile Soap from Dr. Bronner’s

The Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes 36-Pack is a product that allows you to clean yourself while in the wilderness.

A small bottle of Castile soap can be used for various purposes like cleaning pots, pans, clothes, and hands. It is also possible to use the peppermint flavor as a toothpaste alternative. Additionally, it is beneficial to have a 36-pack of Sea to Summit’s full-body wipes for convenient cleansing.

19. Sunscreen

The sunscreen Eco Sunscreen, also known as Skinnies Sungel, has a newly formulated SPF30.

Sunburn can quickly make you feel weak. Skinnies Sungel is highly effective, as a small amount the size of a pea is sufficient for your head and neck. It is not greasy and provides protection throughout the day, making it an excellent option for extended hikes or survival scenarios.

20. Multitool

The Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool remains unchanged in terms of adding new information or removing any information.

The Leatherman Signal is practically a pocket survival kit. It includes pliers and a blade, along with a can and bottle opener for accessing stored food. Additionally, this tool is equipped with a safety whistle, a fire starter, and a diamond-coated removable sharpening rod for maintaining blade quality. It also boasts a hex bit driver that aids in various repairs and a hammer for straightforward smashing purposes.