Whether you’re in the military, a survivalist, or an outdoor enthusiast, you need a bugout bag for emergencies. While it’s an admirable skill to survive with little to no supplies, you don’t want to be caught in that situation when it’s the difference between life and death.

Creating a survival kit or bugout bag can help you prepare for emergencies, ensuring you’re prepared to survive tough conditions. In this guide, you’ll discover what to pack, how to pack efficiently, and why choosing the right bag for survival is critical.

Top 10 Critical Items for Your Bugout Bag

Survival packs are only as good as what you bring. You might pack a bugout bag for temporary evacuations, so you might not think of packing long-term survival supplies. However, you can get caught in unpredictable scenarios, and your bugout bag should handle any instance.

While we haven’t created an exhaustive list, and you might want to pack additional items, the list below indicates the most important things you should include to survive in every situation.

1. Fire-Starting Kits

No matter where or why you’re evacuating, you should always have a fire-starting kit in your bugout bag. Fires are critical in survival situations since they keep you warm while providing a place to cook food. Your kit should include waterproof matches, tinder, and either a striker or flint and steel. These items are lightweight and make it easier to start fires than if you were using traditional methods.

2. Medical Supplies

Medical supplies are a must for every bugout bag. You never know what situation you’ll run into where you need first aid. However, you don’t want to pack everything. Too much medical supplies can weigh down your bag and make it harder to carry in emergencies. You’ll want to stay light on your feet to move quickly when necessary.

Medical supplies you should consider bringing include:

●Necessary prescribed medications

●Bandages

●Alcohol or iodine

●Pain medications

●A suture kit

●A tourniquet

●A hemostatic agent

●Broad-spectrum antibiotics, if possible

You generally won’t need more supplies than what’s listed above. You’ll have everything you need to treat wounds, minor illnesses, and any pre-existing conditions you might have. However, you should account for what situations you might encounter in specific emergencies so you can plan and pack accordingly.

3. Emergency Blankets

An emergency blanket will help you stay warm if you’re exposed to the elements. Many of these blankets are durable enough to prevent punctures or tears so you can trap your body heat for the most warmth. Generally, emergency blankets are sized for a single person, so consider packing more than one if you know someone else will be with you.

You can also find emergency blankets in high-visibility colors so you’re easier to spot by rescue teams if you find yourself in a survival situation. Consider where you might need to use your bugout bag and how visible you want to be while using your blanket.

4. Canteens

Having a water supply is crucial, so having a canteen will give you a way to store and carry water everywhere you go. You can choose from different sizes and even find collapsable models if you want the canteen to take up minimal space when it’s empty.

5. Hand-Crank Radios

You’ll want to stay on top of broadcasts and other critical information in emergencies. Battery-powered radios can be useful, but you’ll need plenty of replacement batteries.

Instead, consider a hand-crank radio. These devices work by using an internal generator powered by the hand crank, which creates a current. You can eliminate the need for extra batteries, freeing up room in your bag. Keep in mind that these devices can be bulky and quite heavy, so you only want to carry one when necessary. Depending on your expected needs, you may not need a radio, but it’s worth considering.

6. Survival Knives and Multi-Tools

Survival knives have many useful applications in emergency situations. Cut cords, defend yourself, skin game, craft tools, and more. You should look for a survival knife that’s durable, sharp, and can hold up in extreme conditions. While the best survival knives can come at a higher cost, you’ll thank yourself for splurging when you’re in your time of need.

You’ll also want to consider a versatile multi-tool that can handle multiple tasks. Many of these tools work as knives, screwdrivers, can openers, pliers, bottle openers, eating utensils, and more. Having one tool to complete multiple jobs can save a significant amount of space in your bugout bag.

7. Water Purification Tablets or Water Filtration Straws

If you’re in a survival situation, you don’t want to drink water directly from a freshwater source. Fresh water can contain harmful bacteria and organisms that can make you sick. Make sure you pack plenty of water purification tablets or a filtration straw. These products eliminate harmful contaminants in your water supply so you can stay healthy until you can find a purified water source or return home.

8. Rations or MREs

Every bugout bag should have a supply of nutritious, non-perishable rations or MREs. You’ll need a reliable food supply to stay energized and healthy. You’ll also need to eat if you can return home for multiple days at a time.

Carrying rations is vital since you won’t know what food you can forage or hunt. Prioritize rations or MREs that are lightweight, calorie-dense, and non-perishable. Examples of rations to pack include:

●Peanut butter

●Dried fruit or nuts

●Canned foods

●Crackers

●Trail mix

●Granola bars

9. Signal Mirrors

Signal mirrors are useful for manipulating sunlight to start a fire or signaling to others where you’re located. Since this survival tool is small, you’ll have no problem storing it inside your bugout bag.

10. Rope or Cordage

Rope, nylon, paracord, or strong thread will be immensely helpful in emergencies. You never know what you’ll need to tie, haul, sew, or climb, so having access to reliable rope or cords ensures you’re prepared for various situations.

Tips for Packing Your Bugout Bag

The best way to pack a bugout bag is to use all the available space in the most efficient way possible. While there are many ways to pack a bugout bag, you can use the following tips to help you make the most of your space:

●Distribute weight: Pack items based on weight, starting from medium to heavy to light. The heavy weight in the middle will balance your bag and make it easier to carry.

●Categorize items: Group supplies together in a specific compartment, such as food, fire-starting tools, or ammunition and a CCW. This process will make things easier to find in critical moments.

●Organize your items: Use the outer and accessible compartments for items you’ll need to access quickly. Consider a bag with easily accessible pockets without having to remove or adjust the bag. Items you might pack in these pockets include ammunition, water, flares, or tourniquets.

●Secure loose items: You can use zip ties or cords to secure loose items inside your pack so they don’t shift while you travel and make it harder to find what you need. You can also put smaller items into containers if you don’t need access to them. Consider securing bigger items that you keep outside of your pack too, like rope or bed rolls.

●Save space: Consider rolling items, like clothes or blankets, so you can reduce how much space they take up inside your bag. You can even roll blankets and clothes in one unit and tie them with twine or rope so they’re more tightly packed.

You should practice packing and unpacking your bugout bag regularly so you’re able to quickly find items when the moment arrives. Consider inspecting the contents of your bugout bag regularly since you may not need your pack for long periods and some items may wear or become damaged.

Remember to replace expirable items, like food or medications, so everything inside your bugout bag is in the best condition possible.

Choosing a Bugout Bag

You have many options for bugout bags, and you’ll want to choose the best one for your applications. As you’re shopping around for different bags, you’ll want to consider the following factors:

●Sizing: Ideally, your bugout bag should be comfortable, which means looking into a bag that’s the right fit for your size. Consider your height when choosing a bag. For example, if you’re 5’4”, you won’t want the same bag as someone who’s 6’5” since your torso sizes vary. Instead, look for a bugout bag that’s got plenty of room, but won’t wear you down or cause an injury during long treks.

●Durability: Your bugout bag should be durable enough to withstand extreme environments. The last thing you want is for your bag to fail in critical situations, forcing you to carry everything or losing valuable supplies. Look for bugout bags with heavy-duty fabrics, such as rip-stop nylon, canvas, or Cordura. Make sure the seams are capable of withstanding the toughest conditions.

●Features: Look for desirable features when choosing a bugout bag. For example, if you want a bag with zippers, ensure the zippers are high-quality so they can hold up in tough conditions and against frequent use. You might also look for features like hydration bladders or hidden CCW compartments based on your forecasted necessities.

●Storage: Another factor to consider is how much storage space you need. Bugout bags can come in a comprehensive range of sizes, so you have options. Consider how many items you’ll be packing and what space you want to have available for other items you might need for specific emergencies. You can find bags that can carry a single day's worth of items or bags with multi-day carrying capacities.

Find Premium Bugout Bags From Military Luggage Company

Bugout bags are an essential survival and emergency tool, ensuring you’re prepared if you spend a lot of time in the wilderness or need to suddenly evacuate. With the right bag, you can store all your emergency essentials and more so you can handle any challenge that comes your way.

Military Luggage Company stocks a wide selection of bugout bags so you can feel confident and prepared to tackle your next emergency. Shop our selection of bugout bags, or you can check out the other luggage options we offer for various uses and applications.