With over 30 years of emergency preparedness under our belt, we know all there is to know about building the ultimate emergency survival bag.
Unlike most articles, we’re not here to tell you what the best bug out bag is, or how to build your own.
Instead, we’re going to show you and fully guide you through the process of building the ultimate bug out bag just for you.
Knowing what to look for in a bag and how to build it is the most important aspect of survival and preparedness. For an emergency bag to be of any use to you, you need to be familiar with it like an old friend.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Earthquake Bag | Best Overall |  |
| Ready America 70385 Deluxe Emergency Kit 4 Person Backpack | Budget Pick |  |
| Emergency Zone Stealth Tactical 2 Person Bug-Out Bag | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Complete Earthquake Bag
Pros:
- Comfortable to carry backpack
- Has a book to make you more prepared
- The backpack is made from strong nylon making it ideal for long term use
This emergency backpack provides a lot of essentials that will help you to survive in a natural disaster. It provides 3 days supply of food and is equipped with camping and survival essentials that will get you through the emergency. It is a cheap but reliable product that even comes with a simple to read book on surviving in an emergency.
This earthquake survival kit backpack is extremely light and portable, making it ideal for carrying in a car in case of emergencies. It is durable and can hold a lot of essentials. As a bonus, you will get a bright lantern, which extends the use of the backpack. The pillow is soft and the sleeping bag along with tent can be quickly hung and set up.
2. Ready America 70385 Deluxe Emergency Kit 4 Person Backpack
The Ready America Emergency 4 Person Deluxe Kit seems to be one of the best bug out bags in 2020 for all your disasters needs. This kit comes with three packs for 4 people and has many of the things you will need in case of emergency.
Each family member will have their own bag and supplies, so it is easy to distribute the contents and stay organized. Your backpack has a nice shoulder strap and has a comfortable padded back.
On the front are straps, so you can secure it to your pack for portability. If you are not going on a hike or trek, but are going to be camping, you may be able to use the hand and waist straps.
3. Emergency Zone Stealth Tactical 2 Person Bug-Out Bag
Pros:
- Waterproof and dustproof
- Extra storage area for food or clothes
- Lots of pockets
- Epically durable
Cons:
- Bulkier than some other choices
- Not necessarily the best choice for short trips
This versatile 3 Day Bug Out Bag with Waterproof Covering & Dome Tent & Hydration Bladder is made from high-quality durable nylon and is equipped with a bucket stash pocket and weighs around 25 lbs. It has a heavy-duty metal zipper and a heavy-duty metal clasp for the shoulder strap. It comes with a tranquil green camouflage printed design for additional wilderness safety.
This Emergency Zone is one of the most popular Bug Out Bags, and it comes with everything you need in the wilderness.
It has a multi-purpose first aid kit, a 16,000 BTU power inverter, a LED light with 3 setting, a pocket blanket, and it even includes a dome tent that stuffs into its own pocket. It comes with three hydration pouches, a waterproof pillowcase, and a whistle. It also has two red LED lights AND two MOROV four-watt white LED lights.
4. Emergency Zone 4 Person Urban Survival 72-Hour Bug Out/Go Bag
Pros:
- Very reasonable price
- Lifetime warranty
Etc.
Emergency Zone is a company based in the US state of California that specializes in emergency preparedness equipment. The Emergency Zone 4 Person Urban Survival B.O Bag is designed to last for 72 hours, and features a number of innovative features that make it a must-have for your bug-out bag.
The emergency kit weighs only 12 lbs, and includes emergency food, water, first-aid and medical supplies, warm clothes, survival tools, and other multipurpose tools.
5. 2 Person Supply 3 Day Emergency Bug Out S.O.S. Food Rations
Looking for the best survival kit in the market? You won’t go wrong with B.O.B. Ready gear. In fact, they use the word best in their name, which is a bold statement.
The B.O.B. Ready 2 person emergency disaster kit is packed with everything you need to survive in the wild. The kit includes a machined 2-person tent, a sleeping bag, waterproof backpack, first aid supplies, emergency food bars, LED flashlight, headlamp and a LifeStraw personal water filter.
You may be wondering why the word Ready is in their name. The company is based out of Ventura, California, which is below the threatening flames of the Thomas wildfire. This particular disaster hit the populace hard, but the Ventura people are some of the most level-headed people in the world and have plenty of Wildland firefighting experience and knowledge. They also have had experience with the wrath of Mother Nature and earthquakes. So when faced with the threat of the flames of the Thomas fire, they decided to take action and prepare for whatever disaster came next.
6. Food Insurance 2-Week Bug Out Bag
Pros:
- Provides a ton of food that will see you through two weeks
- Sweet and savory flavors
- Can be conveniently eaten straight from the pouch
- Extremely nutritious
- Kit includes a nice array of food items
- Contains freeze-dried food
Though this kit would cost twice the cost of most competitors, it provides twice the food. It won’t provide enough food to keep you alive indefinitely, but it will certainly keep you alive for a period of time.
This kit contains food items that will not only keep you alive but nourish you. Although the meals do not have the different textural and flavor components of freeze-dried food, they taste great and are versatile. They could be used as is or mixed with real food to increase the flavors.
The kit is packaged in small reusable plastic pouches that can be used to create meals. The pouches are lined with special desiccant packets that keep your food from spoiling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best bug out bags?
The best bug out bag is going to come down to a few factors:
What color should my bug out bag be?
How important color is in a bug-out bag can be disputed among many people. For some, the color is unarguably associated with the condition of the bag. If it’s orange, ensure that the bag is waterproof. If the bag is red, the bag is specifically made for fire or search and rescue purposes. Some would also say that colored bags could be hard to locate in case they’re lost. However, keeping in mind the color of the bag is actually more of a personal preference. It’s ideal to get a bag that’s easy to spot, which is where the red bags and orange bags come in. Orange and red are bright colors which are easy to spot under conditions of little to no lighting. This scenario is actually pretty common in wilderness survival situations.
How heavy should a bug out bag be?
Pick a Bug Out Bag that's as light as possible while still including everything you need for survival. For example, even though a 15-pound weight limit is fairly low, it's still higher than you could carry on foot — 8-15 pounds is as high as you should go for a Bug Out Bag.
However, you will also need to assemble your Bug-Out Vehicle, which will have its own weight limit.
If you have multiple people in your Bug Out group, you might want to set a lower limit for individual Bug Out Bags, as this will still allow each person to carry some of the weight from the Bug Out Vehicle.
Do you really need a bug out bag?
We live in an increasingly unstable world. If you’re not happy with your situation, the answer to this question should be a glaringly loud YES!
The knowledge that you can keep yourself and your family safe is empowering.
A bug-out bag is a kit that you put together as a preparation for whatever disaster befalls you in the wilderness. Some of the items you’ll need in your bug-out bag include first aid kits, shelter, clothing, food, water, tools, and weapons.
Conclusion
A bug out bag is a bag that you have pre-packed with supplies that will help you survive in the wilderness and get back home when you find yourself off-grid.
A bug-out bag is different from a survival kit because it is more extensive and contains items that are designed to help you survive an urban disaster. The content varies from an emergency kit, which is usually carried by a car driver, to a 72-hour kit, which will typically be kept in a backpack, and finally to a bug-out bag, which is meant to last much longer in a serious survival situation.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Earthquake Bag | Best Overall | |
| Ready America 70385 Deluxe Emergency Kit 4 Person Backpack | Budget Pick | |
| Emergency Zone Stealth Tactical 2 Person Bug-Out Bag | Upgrade Pick | |