So you’ve started prepping and you know that you need a bug out bag. But, where do you start? Our Ultimate bug out bag checklist will give you a baseline of the items you should consider carrying in your kit.
Please remember: as we have stated a number of other times, each person has different needs for the contents of their bug out bag. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Only you can determine what those needs are.
There are many checklists out there, but we aim to cover the most essential items you need while paying close attention to weight limitations.
Our bug out bag checklist is to be used as a starting point to you building the best bag for your particular situation.
Free bug out bag checklist
what is a bug out bag?
Before explaining what a bug out bag is we should tell you what “bugging out” actually means. Bugging out is one’s decision to abandon home in response to a disaster situation either natural or manmade.
When leaving home in an emergency scenario you need to have essential survival equipment with you to give you the best chance of survival.
Also know by the acronym BOB, a bug out bag should contain everything that you need to survive for 72 hours minimum.
Bug out bag
You want to have the highest quality bag that you can purchase for your dedicated bug out bag.
It does you no good to skimp on quality in this area. This is the bag that will carry everything that you need to survive a disaster. Would you put your life in a low quality cheap bag manufactured overseas?
Of course you wouldn’t!
My personal choice for a bug out bag is the 5.11 RUSH 72. It is the highest quality bug out bag available and is as durable as they come.
Whatever bag you choose, make sure that it has the MOLLE webbing system built in. This allows you to customize your loadout and carry more items. Check out the video below for more about what MOLLE is all about.
For tactical options check out our tactical bug out bag list.
For more detailed information on the 5.11 RUSH 72 and more, check out our bug out bag buyer’s guide.
Once you have your bag you can start planning on the items you want to carry in it. Let’s get building!
*NOTE* This bug out bag checklist lays out the basic categories of items you will want to carry, with item suggestions for each major category.
It is not intended for you to add every item to your bag as it would get far too heavy.
For a downloadable and detailed bug out bag checklist please join our tribe here.
Water filtration and hydration
You cannot survive without water. Plain and simple. It is no wonder why water is the first and most important consideration in any survival scenario.
The problem with water is that it is extremely heavy to carry large amounts. This is why you need to have methods to collect water along the way and consume it safely.
The first thing you need is a way to carry some water along with you. Most bug out bags, including the 5.11 RUSH 72, are designed to carry a hydration bladder. I suggest the Platypus Big Zip 3L hydration bladder.
You may also want to carry a collapsible water bottle that you can fill to drink from. 
These collapsible versions are lightweight and take up little space. We suggest the Nomader collapsible water bottle.
Isn’t it unsafe to drink water from unknown water sources? Yep. That is why you need a personal water filter to remove bacteria and waterborne viruses. Our favorite pick is the Sawyer Mini personal water filter.
It is lightweight, versatile, and outperforms the rest. You could also try a Lifestraw, but we believe the Sawyer to be the best option. Check out our comparison between the two.
In addition to water filtration you will want to have a way to purify water. Filtration removes impurities and purification removes any other toxins that cannot be removed. We recommend Potable Aqua purification tablets for this reason.
You can also boil water to purify it. You need a metal container to do that and we carry the Stanley Adventure Camp cookset for the task. It is very lightweight and will last forever.
Food considerations
You can definitely survive without food longer than you can without water. But food is also essential to life, and just as importantly, morale.
In a bug out scenario you will need to fuel yourself with a high calorie diet. Just like water though, it can be really heavy. You need to pack lightweight high calorie foods.
I suggest throwing a Mountain House 72 hour food supply in your bug out bag. These are no joke, the best tasting freeze dried meals I have tasted. Small in size, lightweight, easy to prepare, and an easy choice.
Coming from a military background I have eaten more Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) than I care to discuss. They are a great choice as well, but are a bit heavier and bulkier than the Mountain House meals. And if I’m being honest, they don’t taste as good either.
Another food you may want to consider carrying are high calorie food bars such as the SOS Emergency food ration. These bars are high in calories and lightweight enough to be carried.
You also need a way to prepare your food. Again I suggest the Stanley cook set for the best option for cooking and boiling water.
You will also want to carry a lightweight backpacking stove for preparing meals. The best option here is the Etekcity Ultralight stove. It is very lightweight due to its aluminum construction. Just remember that you will also need to carry the fuel that this stove uses. Luckily, they are also extremely lightweight and small in size.
shelter and environmental protection
In any bug out situation it is important to have some type of way to protect yourself from the elements. The items you should be considering to assist you with this is protective clothing, heat, and shelter items.
One of the absolute most valuable items you should have in your bug out bag is a shemagh. These head and face coverings protect you from the sun, sand, heat, and wind. These versatile head wraps can also be used as a sling for an injured limb, a tourniquet, or other type of covering.
Fire starting items are important to quickly and efficiently provide warmth, cook, heat water for cleaning, etc. The Gerber Bear Grylls fire starter is one of the best fire starters on the market. Lightweight and easy to use, I carry one of these in my own bug out bag and everyday carry. You also want to carry waterproof matches, a windproof lighter, or a fire starting kit to round out your fire starting capabilities and provide redundancy.
Shelter should also be a primary concern. In an effort to keep weight down and take up as little space as possible I suggest you go with an emergency shelter like the S.O. L. emergency bivvy. This emergency shelter reflects 90% of your body heat back at you to keep you warm and protected from the wind. 
The weather can get brutally cold depending on the location you live. If you are in a cold weather location your bug out gear will have to include clothing items intended to keep you warm.
communications
Communications are really important for staying in contact with your team if you need to separate for any reason. It is also important to have a way of receiving emergency communications about weather or recovery efforts. Our choice for communications is GXT1000VP4 walkie talkie set from Midland Radio.
For more communications options be sure to check out our list of the best walkie talkies for a bug out bag.
It is also vital to have the ability to receive communications from government and emergency response groups. The best option for doing this is an emergency weather radio. One of the best options here is the 5 way solar emergency weather radio by Kaito.
For even more great options you can take a look at the best emergency weather radios in our bu
yer’s guide.
Lighting
Lighting is an absolute must for any bug out emergency situation. I am a big fan of hands free options like a headlamp. My favorite headlamp for my bug out bag is the Black Diamond Storm by Petzl. The obvious advantage to a headlamp is that you can free up both hands to work or carry items.
In addition to a headlamp you may want to carry a tactical style flashlight as well. Tactical flashlights are extremely bright and usually have other features such as different colored lenses for night vision or map reading.
They are also very lightweight and small in size for maximum portability and limited impact on the weight of your bug out bag. Our favorite choice for a tactical flashlight is the J5 Tactical V1-PRO. It is extremely bright for its size and not very expensive. For more options check out our list of tactical flashlights under $50.
first aid
First aid is probably one of the most important items to keep in your bug out bag. The chances of suffering an injury is high when you are bugging out during an emergency situation.
Depending on the scenario you may have to navigate long distances over rubble and uneven terrain. This can lead to ankle and knee injuries or cuts, scrapes, and bruises. A quality first aid kit or trauma kit will take care of most minor injuries and potentially save lives when there are serious trauma type injuries.
We recommend this small first aid kit by Surviveware. It is lightweight and has most of the items that you need to take care of any emergency. We also think that you should have an israeli bandage as part of your bug out bag first aid kit. Check out our list of first aid kit options for your bug out bag here.
multi-purpose tools
Tools are a vital part of your bug out bag equipment because you are bound to come across situations that require them.
One of the most important tools for any bug out bag is a mini shovel. Whether you need to dig a fire pit, improve your shelter, or even defend yourself, a mini shovel is up for the job. The SOG folding shovel is barely larger than your hand and extremely lightweight and durable.
A good quality muli-tool is another must-have item in your bug out bag. A good multi-tool should have pliers, screw drivers, bottle opener, wire snips, etc. Think of it as your home tool box in one item. My absolute favorite is the Leatherman Surge. It is a bit on the more pricey end but you are talking about a tool that will do it all.
No bug out bag is complete without paracord as well. Paracord or 550 cord is durable lightweight cordage that can be used for a variety of things. Use it to create snare traps, tie equipment, and string up tarps for shelter.
Some other muli-use items you may want to consider are duct tape, crowbar, and a survival hatchet.
self defense
No matter your view of the world, the fact is, you need to have a way to protect yourself from other humans and animals. During a disaster situation and especially when people are hungry, they can be driven to attack others.
A good knife is necessary equipment for a lot of reasons including self defense. We recommend a quality folding knife for safety such as the Kershaw Blur.
The Blur is a tanto blade knife that is easy to open with one hand and is easy to grip even in wet conditions.
Another less-than-lethal self defense option is police strength pepper gel mace.
how do i know what bug out gear is right for me?
With all of the different options and scenarios out there it can be a really difficult task to decide exactly what items you want to carry.
Keep in mind that you cannot carry everything so you need to be practical with the items you carry and they should all have multiple uses if possible.
Our downloadable bug out bag checklist ensures you take every item into consideration so you don’t waste time or money with items you don’t need.
