You’re enjoying a meal with your whole family after a long time since you last had one together.
Without warning, the dishes resting on the table commence to tremble. Before comprehending the situation, the walls begin to oscillate and the lights swiftly flicker off. An earthquake has occurred! You must evacuate your home without delay.
When faced with such situations, there is typically limited space available for essential items to be packed, which is where bug-out bags become useful. This article focuses on the top pre-assembled bug out bags and the reasons behind their importance.
The Best Bug Out Bags
5.11 Tactical RUSH72
What’s not to like about the 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 backpack? It’s huge, comfortable, and modular.
With its MOLLE webbing, the RUSH 72 enables you to carry not only all the necessary items for a 72-hour survival in the wilderness but also additional supplies.
The bag consists of a significant main compartment, a substantial front pocket, two side pockets, an admin pocket, and a hydration compartment. Additionally, there is a fleece-lined pocket located at the top of the bag specifically for storing glasses.
All of your gear is held close to your center of mass by compression straps.
I value the organization features of this 72 hour bag, which include internal pockets with both YKK zippers and elastic. These compartments allow you to easily access small items like flashlights, emergency sleeping bags, and multi-tools when needed.
Evatac Combat Bag
The Evatac Combat Bag is constructed from durable 600D polyester material. It offers 10 pockets/compartments for storage. Along with comfortable shoulder straps, it also features a chest strap. Furthermore, the bag is waterproof and includes a padded laptop pocket.
Moreover, it is available at a price that is less than half of the cost of the 5.11 Rush 72.
The Evatac is a sturdy bag designed for challenging circumstances. With ample storage space and organizational features, this bag can conveniently hold all your survival gear and emergency items.
At a price that is affordable for everyone, it accomplishes this task. If your intention is to equip your entire family, they provide advantageous bulk discounts, such as a 40% reduction when purchasing 3 bags.
Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical
The Kelty Redwing Tactical is essentially a regular hiking backpack; however, it is constructed from tougher materials and designed to withstand an intense sandstorm.
The backpack was specially designed for hiking or technical purposes, prioritizing long-term comfort, which is beneficial for individuals who tend to pack excessively.
Although this bag does not have an “internal frame,” it does feature a “single light beam aluminum stay” which serves as a stiffener to enhance the manageability of bulky and cumbersome loads.
If you are not already acquainted with the Kelty brand, they produce exceptionally durable gear, and the Redwing Tactical backpack is no different.
This bag is designed with attention to detail, such as the double stitching of the seams and the sewing of YKK zippers from the inside out, which enhances its resistance to dust and water. Additionally, the bag’s exterior is made from durable 500D Kodra nylon material, ensuring its durability and longevity.
Condor 3 Day Assault Pack
The Condor 3 Day Assault Pack is offered in various tacticool colors and provides ample MOLLE space to customize it according to your preferences.
Even if you don’t add your own pouches, this bag has enough compartments and space to hold the necessary gear in the appropriate locations.
In addition to that, there are document pockets, pockets for radios, holsters for pens, and not just one but two pockets for 3-liter hydration bladders.
To prevent the gear from shifting, compression straps, as well as sternum and waist straps, are utilized. If necessary, the waist strap can also be removed.
The quick-release retention straps in the large main compartment aid in securely locking down your gear and do not hinder your access.
The bag is equipped with heavy-duty drag handles on three sides, allowing you to pick it up regardless of its position. This feature proves valuable in urgent situations where you may need to swiftly release the bag.
REEBOW GEAR 3 Day Assault Pack
For a reasonable price, REEBOW GEAR’s 3 Day Assault Pack is capable of containing a significant amount of gear.
By following this approach, you compromise on quality to some extent. The durability of the fabric used for these pants is higher compared to office pants, but it falls short when compared to the rest of the bags mentioned in this list.
However, this bag is designed to withstand moderate use.
If you’re looking for a container that can store supplies for 72 hours, this one is ideal, although it may not be suitable for long-term survival.
The REEBOW Pack includes MOLLE/PALS webbing, various compartments that include a hydration pocket, as well as compression straps.
The primary shoulder straps possess padded mesh and a cinching strap, although they are somewhat thin.
In addition, you will receive a blackened American flag patch as an extra perk.
Essential Items to Have in Your Bug Out Bag
Consider all types of potential emergencies when looking at the bug out bag list. Go through each category to find out what is relevant to your situation.
Air
If a person does not have enough clean air, they can only survive for a maximum of three minutes on average. So, it would be wise to have some air filtration masks on hand for emergencies that might prevent you from accessing clean air. The most suitable masks for bug out emergency kits are the ones that can effectively filter out particulates.
Water
Water is the second most important item to include in your survival kit. Although you can go without food for weeks, you cannot live for more than three days without water. It is recommended to have at least one gallon of water per person for five days in your bug out bag. This water should be stored in durable pouches that can withstand harsh conditions and prevent contamination. Additionally, it might be wise to pack water purification tablets in case you encounter uncertain water sources.
Shelter
Regardless of whether you find yourself stranded in a remote wilderness or forced to evacuate due to a storm, the necessity for immediate shelter remains constant. A few essential survival tools that can be utilized to construct temporary shelters are:
- Tent: While you may not fit traditional tube tents in bug out bags, you should have survival tents to protect you from harsh weather conditions. Find a waterproof survival tent that can retain heat to keep you warm. We recommend tents made of Mylar. If the weather is too adverse, you can stack grass or leaves against the tent for extra protection.
- Emergency blankets: The most common ones are space blankets made of light metal-coated sheets that retain heat. You can also tie the survival blanket with a paracord and attach it to a trunk/limb for additional rudimental shelter.
- Sleeping bag: A lightweight sleeping bag that retains heat and doesn’t occupy too much space can perfectly complement the survival blanket. It should be water-resistant.
Clothing
Make sure to include clothing for all potential weather conditions in the grab bag. The bug out bag should contain the following types of clothes:
- Gloves: Cold weather gloves will keep you warm in low temperatures. If they’re sturdy enough, they will enhance your grip when moving debris and protect your hands from blisters, cuts, and contaminants that may cause infection.
- Extra clothes: Have at least one extra pair of clothes that you can change into. Even in survival situations, you don’t want to walk around sweaty and feeling dirty.
- Jackets: Like gloves, jackets keep you warm. If frequent rainfall is a concern in your area, you should consider packing a waterproof jacket.
- Headgear: Pack a few beanies or caps to provide head warmth. They should be thick enough to retain heat.
Food
In emergencies, it is necessary to have food in order to have the energy to endure difficulties. However, a problem that arises is the limited space available in your bug out bag to store a large amount of food. The solution lies in carrying compact and precise food rations. One such example is the Datrex emergency rations, which are small in size to save space yet contain enough calories to sustain you for three days. If there is a chance that the emergency may occur close to a body of water, it would be beneficial to have a basic fishing kit (consisting of bait, string, and a hook) with you.
Lighting
It is impossible to predict when emergencies will occur. Therefore, it may be beneficial to carry a flashlight, headlamp, chem light, or LED lanterns in your bag in case you find yourself stranded during the night. Lighting is crucial for providing basic illumination, deterring animals, and seeking assistance.
Navigation Tools
Even if you are knowledgeable in the area, it is important to include navigation tools in the bug out bag. The choice of tools, such as a compass, map, or GPS tracking system, depends on the survival situation. If you opt for the GPS tracking system, be prepared to have a solar charger or spare batteries. Additionally, it is wise to pack an emergency whistle, which can be utilized for seeking assistance and guiding rescue teams to your whereabouts.
