A bug-out bag — also called a 72-hour kit, go-bag, or BOB — is a pre-packed bag that lets you leave your home quickly and survive for at least 3 days without resupply. Whether you're evacuating from a wildfire, hurricane, chemical spill, or civil unrest, having one ready means the difference between controlled departure and chaotic scrambling.
Here's the definitive checklist, built from 20+ years of emergency preparedness experience.
The Core Categories
1. Water (Top Priority)
- At minimum 1 liter of how much water to store per person in your bag
- Water purification tablets or a compact filter straw
- Collapsible water bottles or a hydration reservoir
2. Food (72 Hours Minimum)
Your bug-out bag food should be lightweight, calorie-dense, and require little to no cooking.
- Freeze-dried meal pouches (just add water)
- Energy bars and trail mix
- Individual servings of nut butter
👉 72-Hour 1-Person Emergency Food Kit – 42 Servings, Ready to Eat
👉 72-Hour 4-Person Emergency Food Kit – 176 Servings
3. Shelter & Warmth
- Emergency thermal/mylar blankets (pack 2 per person)
- Lightweight rain poncho
- Small tarp or emergency bivy
👉 Emergency Thermal Blankets – Pack of 10, Compact and Windproof
4. First Aid
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- 7-day supply of any prescription medications
- N95 masks (2+ per person)
- Nitrile gloves
- Tourniquets and hemostatic gauze
5. Light & Communication
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Hand-crank or battery emergency weather radio
- Whistle
- Glow sticks
👉 Emergency Weather Radio – Hand Crank, AM/FM/NOAA, Solar Powered
6. Fire Starting
- Waterproof matches (in a sealed container)
- BIC lighters (2+)
- Ferro rod fire starter
- Tinder (cotton balls with petroleum jelly)
7. Tools & Navigation
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
- 550 paracord (50+ feet)
- Paper maps of your local area and evacuation routes
- Compass
- Duct tape
- Work gloves
8. Documents & Cash
- Copies of IDs, passports, insurance cards in a waterproof bag
- $200–500 in small bills (ATMs may be down)
- USB drive with digital copies of important documents
- Written list of emergency contacts (don't rely on your phone)
9. Hygiene & Sanitation
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper (compressed camping rolls)
- Biodegradable soap
- Feminine hygiene products as needed
Weight Guidelines
Your bug-out bag should weigh no more than 20–25% of your body weight. Test it by wearing it on a 30-minute walk. If it's painful, remove non-essentials. Comfort = sustainability.
One Bag Per Person
Every adult in your household should have their own bag. Children (8+) can carry a smaller version with their own snacks, a stuffed animal for comfort, and their own rain poncho. Don't put all your supplies in one location.