Bug Out Bag
Being Prepared for Emergencies

by Steve Nicolini

A bug out bag, or GOOD (get out of dodge!) bag, is a pre-packed bag or backpack that contains essential items for short term survival in an emergency. The bag usually has enough rations for a person to survive unattended, for 72 hours.

The bag itself should be medium-sized. It should be something that you can comfortably hike with on your back.

When choosing the items to put in the bag, one must consider survival priorities. One thing that helps me remember the survival priorities is the rule of threes. A person can generally survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without a regulated body temperature, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.

There are basic items that should be included in the bag that will help one achieve all survival priorities.

Bug Out Bag:

Basic Items

• Rope (tying shelters, setting snares, hanging food)
• Knife (carving trap parts, splitting wood, skinning game, protection)
• Multi-tool (can do just about anything!)
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency whistle
• Compass
• Map of surrounding area (preferably a topographic map)
• Ziploc sandwich bags (waterproofing items, collecting food, rationing food

In most survival situations, the first priority of oxygen will be met easily. A gas mask is not common in these bags because of its size, but it is something to consider.

Our next priority is regulating our body temperature. Staying warm and dry is vital to short term survival. The bag should contain multiple items that perform this function.

Body Temperature Regulation

• Tarp
• Poncho
• Sleeping pad (insulation from cold ground)
• Emergency blanket
• Extra clothing (material dependent on climate)
• 3 different ways to start a fire (matches, lighter, etc. in waterproof containers)
• Dry tinder/fire starter (vasoline soaked cotton balls work great)

Water is a must in your bag. Water is heavy and takes up a lot of space. To carry 3 gallons on our back along with our other gear is asking a lot of someone. The bag should have some water (1-3 liters), but we need to be able to get water on the go.

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Hydration

• Stainless steel canteen (full, water can be added and boiled in these)
• Water purification tablets or droplets (such as iodine)
• Pump filter

Once we are warm, dry, and hydrated, then we will want a warm meal to eat. Bug out bags should have food that is easy to pack, light, and preserved. The bag should also contain items that will allow a person to get food by hunting, trapping, fishing, or foraging if necessary.

Food

• A bag of rice
• Tuna fish (packaged)
• Freeze dried Meals Ready to Eat (M.R.E.)
• A small cooking pot
• Fishing lures and line

These are what I consider essentials in a bag, but none of them are worth their weight unless a person knows how to use them.

There are a lot of other optional items to pack in your bag (e.g. radio, sunscreen, bug repellant, reading material, etc.). Just remember that the more items in the bag, the heavier it will be.

The most crucial emergency survival item, however, is not listed above. It cannot be put into your bag. The best tool one can carry with them into a survival situation is survival knowledge and training.

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Additional Resources:

Bug Out Bag - Gray Wolf Survival

Related Courses:

Wilderness Survival School Courses

About the Author: Steve Nicolini is an experienced permaculturist and wilderness skills instructor. He taught at Alderleaf for several years. Learn more about Steve Nicolini.

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