How to Pack for Evacuation — Go-Bags

So, with the growing threat of authoritarianism, many people who considered doomsday preppers to be the fringiest and most paranoid of the far-right are now cautiously sidling up to figure out what they should be doing to prepare.

Beyond modern homesteading and possibly gun ownership, everyone should have a go-bag (sometimes called a “bug-out bag”). This is the bag that is fully prepped and always close to hand in case shit hits the fan unexpectedly. It has everything you need and nothing more. If you drive, I generally recommend keeping your go-bag in the trunk of your car. Otherwise, keeping it in a hall closet may be your best choice. Just remember: in an emergency, you may not be able to go home to retrieve your bag (remember World War Z?).

Having a go-bag isn’t just for fleeing the country, either. It’s for emergency evacuations: a hurricane suddenly changes course, a tornado siren goes off, an air raid klaxon sounds, your neighborhood is flooding, or wildfires are sweeping towards your house — or any other number of emergencies. Every member of your family should have a go-bag. If a family member is too small to carry anything (<5 years old, generally), you will have to pack all of their needs into your bag, too.

It can be overwhelming to try to figure out what your pack should look like, especially if you are not an avid camper or outdoorsperson. If the last time you went camping was in elementary school, or you’ve never done any camping beyond car camping (that is, you camped within a short walk of your car and could therefore enjoy all sorts of luxuries), your bug-out bag may look a bit different from the enthusiastic overnight hiker or thru-trekker.

I’ve been a Girl Scout since I was a kid. I’ve gone camping all over the world, including three weeks of wilderness training in the Australian scrub, hiking parts of the Alps, two weeks on horseback in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and beach camping during what turned out to be a tropical storm (not recommended). I have been preparing to hike Te Araroa, which is a 3000km (~1864 mile) trail that runs the length of New Zealand. My hiking partner and I decided to go as ultralight as we could manage and so we have done an intensive amount of research into options for how to keep our packs at around 9 kg/20 lbs.

The first rule of doing go-bags on a budget is that the best item in a category is the one that you already own. If you own a 5 pound two-person tent, you don’t need to spring $300 on an ultralight 2.6 pound tent. Use what you have — within reason, of course. If you only have a heavy cloth sleeping bag (or no sleeping bag at all), you should really get something that is properly rated and as light as you can afford.

Lighterpack, by the way, is a fantastic resource for building ultralight packs. You punch in the data and it helps you organize and add up your totals. Helpful if you want to aim for a light weight goal.

This list is primarily a baseline guide, but it does have a particular focus on fleeing on foot— whether you’re fleeing zombies, Nazis, or a war zone, these are all basics you should endeavor to have.

Throughout this guide, I will endeavor to list different budget levels of any given category, as needed. At the end of the day, everyone’s go-bag will look different because we all have our own individual needs and situations to consider. I’ve put explanations, reasoning, and suggestions into various pieces of equipment for those who are totally new to this. This means the guide is long, but thorough.

The Bags Themselves

On some sites, they recommend a duffel bag. Do not use a duffel bag. These are inadequate; they will not have enough space, are hard to run with, get heavy really quickly, cut into your shoulder, and are generally a bad choice. Double shoulder backpacks are your best bet; you can choose whether to go for a frame pack, a military-style assault pack, or a sturdy backpack for school/work. You will want something that you can belt around your waist; this helps keep stress and weight off your shoulders. A chest strap is good, too, for weight distribution. If you have large breasts, you will want to ensure the chest strap either sits correctly for you or can be adjusted up and down.

If you opt for a frame pack, I strongly recommend going to your nearest REI or outdoors store to try a variety of them on. Find something that works for you. They have weights in the store so you can try out what it would feel like with 20–30 pounds in it. Make sure you take a lap around the store. Stick to the small-medium size bags (“Weekend” and “Multi-Day Packs”). I personally would stick to 50L-70L packs; anything more will tempt you to fill it up because you have the space.

Avoid bright colors if you can. If you end up on the run, you do not want to end up like Katniss in the Hunger Games, desperately rubbing mud on a vibrant orange pack just to keep from being highly visible. Earth tones are key.

I do recommend trying to get a bag with a hydration bladder. 2L is good, 2.5L is better, 3L is best. Hydration bladders let you drink while you’re on the move without a lot of wasted movement or energy.

For better balance and extra storage, you may want to consider having balance bags. These allow you to walk more naturally and give you an extra 12L of storage space.

As with many things, bags are as individual as we are; what works fantastically for one person may be uncomfortable and blister-causing for another. Find something that works for you — and don’t cheap out on your backpack.

Get a waterproof stuff sack. You can use a garbage bag if necessary; if possible, try to get the kind that are reinforced against sharp objects. You don’t want everything you own to end up soaked because you slipped while crossing a creek or a torrential downpour started.

Shelter

There are a lot of potential routes to go on shelter. As I mentioned above, if you already own a small tent, you don’t need to buy another one. You can if you’d like to shed a few pounds off your pack, but it’s not strictly necessary. Just make sure you have enough space for you and anyone you might be traveling with (only one person in your group needs to carry a tent; the others can all carry a ground tarp or rain fly in case you get separated).

Some tents to consider:

• a simple tarp (very easy on the budget and have multiple uses)
• tarp tent — these range from inexpensive to midrange to pricey
• traditional dome tent
• ultralight tent — 1 person, 2 person, 3 person. More than three people and you should consider having two shelters.

Standalone tents are more versatile than ones that require a tree or support.

NB: If you cannot afford a tent or worry about the weight, stick with two tarps and grab yourself an emergency mylar tent. It’s highly reflective (not good if you’re trying to hide) but it will keep you alive in cold temperatures. Not good for long-term survival options, but enough for a couple of nights in the woods.

Blanket/Sleeping Bag

First of all, unless you live in South Florida, you’ll want a bag that is rated for at least 10ºF/-12ºC — preferably colder. A bag should be rated for the coldest weather you’re likely to encounter. If you live in Minnesota, you may want to find a -40ºF/C bag. If you live in Texas, you probably don’t need to go any colder than 10ºF.

A good sleeping bag isn’t cheap. The four big ticket items are the shelter, the sleeping bag, the mattress, and the backpack. If you already own one of these, you can save yourself some serious money. Of all of them, if you need to dump something for cost/weight, drop the mattress first, then the shelter.

REI has loads of sleeping bags in the 1.5–3 lb category, which is where you should focus for the best balance of price and weight. They also have some good advice on how to shop for a sleeping bag. This is another thing you should go into the store to try out. Here are some higher-end quilted sleeping bags.

You can get an extra 5ºF of insulation/warmth with a silk liner. These can be a little awkward to wriggle into, admittedly, but they do a phenomenal job keeping you warm. They also keep dirt out of the inside of your sleeping bag — and can act as a summer sleeping sleeve if it’s too hot to sleep inside the bag.

If you like a little more room, you might want to consider a trekking quilt. (That linked article has some great advice on picking an ultralight sleeping bag/quilt. I highly recommend reading it.)

Air Mattress

This might seem like the height of luxury, but you will want to seriously consider carrying an air mattress (or, at the very least, an egg carton sleeping pad). If you’ve reached a point in your life where your back aches at the thought of sleeping on the ground or you simply want the luxury of not sleeping on the ground, you’ll want to get an air mattress. However, don’t buy one of those massive, bulky ones they sell for $25 at *mart. Get a sturdy, supportive mattress intended for hikers. I picked the one I linked because it was the right price and my back is not miserable in the morning — it’s thick enough for me as a side sleeper with wide hips. This is another item you can check out at REI/your local outdoors store.

Pillow

Don’t bother. Even a blow-up pillow is needless weight. You can rest your head on your jacket, your backpack, etc.

Fire-Making

There are a bunch of options available. You’ll want something that acts as a striker. Don’t bother with matches; you’ll eventually run out of those. Lighters are fine for short-term use, but you’ll eventually run out of fuel. Fire strikers are safer and work for ~1000 uses or more. I carry this, although I will soon replace it with this. I like multi-use tools; they cut down on the overall weight I carry.

Fire starters are good barter items. If you have the space to pack extras, do.

Water Filtration

Carry a small 1 oz bottle of unscented bleach in a dropper bottle. One drop of bleach goes into one gallon of water. Let it sit for 24 hours and it will be safe to drink. Some people like iodine tablets, since they are relatively fast (30 minutes), but you can only carry so many tablets — and only treat so much water. 25 quarts is a little over a week’s worth of water for a single person. It’s not sustainable — and sometimes, you won’t want to wait 30 minutes to be able to drink water.

Instead, consider using a SawyerMini (with optional water bladder quick fill) or a LifeStraw. These let you drink water from sources such as rivers or lakes without the worry of contracting giardia or other waterborne diseases.

Consider carrying an extra one or two of these, if you can afford to. They could potentially be used for barter.

A reusable water bottle (such as a Nalgene or Camelbak) is a good optional thing to consider. You could even get a LifeStraw water bottle.

Your go-bag should be filled with water ahead of time. You can set a reminder on your calendar to refresh the water once per month until you have to grab your bag and go.

First Aid/Medical

First of all, you should carry any necessary medicines with you. If you can get a stockpile going, it will help you sustain yourself down the road. A friendly doctor may be willing to up your prescription so that you can layaway meds. If at all possible, get antibiotic packs. These are invaluable. (NB: I am not a medical doctor and this is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about the shelf life of your medicine.)

You should carry a First Aid kit. There are plenty of pre-made first aid kits available; you’ll have to decide for yourself what the right balance of weight vs. supplies is for you.

My first aid kit includes: bandages, fresnel lens, sticking plasters/Band-aids, blister treatment, OTC painkillers (Aleve and Advil), gauze, etc. Make sure you have moleskin and blister treatments ready for any “hot spots” that may occur in your shoes. If you or anyone you are traveling with could end up with a vaginal yeast infection, you should carry at least one OTC 3 day yeast infection treatment. The one day version is not very effective and the seven day one takes too long (and most people are not diligent for seven days in a row).

Make sure you have hand sanitizer with you.

Multitool

Get yourself a good pocketknife or multitool. I personally carry a Leatherman almost everywhere and it is endlessly useful in my daily life.

Light

Get a solar light puff. They pack flat, weigh virtually nothing, and you can hang them off your bag during the day to catch solar energy. (Plus, that company does awesome work; they take their solar puffs to refugee camps and distribute them.) Don’t bother with a flashlight unless it’s a tiny Maglite. That’s basically useful if you need to have a small spotlight or need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Rope

You’ll want some paracord. Make sure it can hold your body weight (including your pack). If you want to spring for fancy, ultralight stuff, here’s a great option. You may want to consider making your paracord into a belt, bracelet, or necklace. You can also buy one outright if you’re not feeling particularly crafty. As always, stay away from bright colors if you’re not expecting to be in a rescue situation.

Clothing

Have one change of clothes in your bag. You’ll want two pairs of underwear (one on, one washed and drying) and two pairs of socks.

Socks

Spring for good socks. Cotton socks are downright terrible for long distances. If you’re not allergic to wool, I recommend SmartWool and Darn Tough socks (Darn Tough has a lifetime warranty!). Get something with good arch support. Medium weight is going to be your best all-around option; go for a hiking sock if you can.

If you are someone is allergic to wool or have feet that blister easily, consider Wright Socks (they’re naturally double layered) or Injijis (athletic toe socks). My hiking partner suffers from easily blistering feet and, after switching to Injiji socks, has been blister-free for nearly nine months. I cannot over-recommend any of these brands; they’re all fantastic.

Underwear

If you wear underpants, stashing comfortable cotton pairs is okay. If you want to spring for wicking underwear, you can. People who are prone to vaginal yeast infections from buildup of moisture may want to consider making sure they have wicking underwear available to reduce their risk.

If you wear a bra, you may want to consider keeping a sports bra in your go-bag. Pick something that breathes and that you can run in. I know sports bras are not cheap but it will be worth it to have it on-hand. You may also want to stash a bandeau bra for when you need to wash your sports bra.

Pants/Trousers

They may be dorky as hell, but lightweight convertible cargo pants are a fantastic choice. You’ll want to leave them as pants most of the time, but when you need to cool off or cross knee-deep water, you can save yourself a lot of discomfort and extra weight by wearing these.

You should also consider packing one pair of yoga pants or buttery leggings (LuLaRoe, Charlie’s Project, etc.). These can be what you wear to bed at night or act as an extra layer under your lightweight pants.

Don’t wear/pack jeans. They are heavy, bulky, weigh you down and make you cold when wet, and take forever to dry. They’re better than nothing, but I would not wear jeans in a survival situation unless I had no other choice.

Shirts

While I generally recommend that people stay away from cotton, I absolutely highly recommend Ably Apparel clothing. It wicks away sweat, neutralizes body odor, and is water repellant. I supported them on Kickstarter and ended up putting mine to the test in Big Bend. I hiked for a week, sweating plenty, and never changed my shirt (I know, gross. But I wanted to put it to the test!). I should have felt disgusting by the end, but my shirt felt as fresh as day one. Nothing I spilled stuck to it and I did not smell.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of feeling fresh when you’re in an emergency; it will do wonders for your mental well-being.

You may want to consider getting a long-sleeved shirt; in cool weather it will help keep you warmer and it will protect your arms on sunny days. I like Under Armor’s CoolSwitch shirts. Get something that wicks away moisture.

Layers

Dressing in layers is critical to your warmth and survival. When you sit still, it will feel approximately 20ºF cooler than it actually is. (e.g. if it’s 45ºF out, it’s going to feel like 25ºF to your inert body.)

Have a mid-weight insulating layer to wear over your shirt — this might be a flannel shirt, fleece, or a hoodie. Pick something decently thick but not too heavy. Stick to natural fibers if you can, unless you have something synthetic that is designed to wick away moisture. Depending on how cold your environment may be, you should consider getting a lightweight but highly insulated coat. If you don’t have the extra funds (who would, at this point?), whatever jacket or parka you have to hand is fine. Heck, if all you have is a wool cape with a hood, that works, too — so long as it’s big enough for you to cover your backpack with it.

Other Clothing Miscellany

• poncho or rain shell
• gaiters (if you’re inclined; they help keep detritus from ending up in your shoes)
• gloves, fingerless gloves, or flip top mittens
• hat — either a beanie-type cap or/and a sun protection cap, depending on where you are/time of year/what you expect to face. I know that sun cap is dorky-looking as heck but I own one and it is wonderful. It doesn’t whip around in the wind, since I can cinch it closed under my chin; keeps the sun off my neck and face; and the draping bit unsnaps in case you encounter another human.
• A Buff
• Boots — there are literally dozens of guides out there for picking good hiking shoes. Some people swear by sandals, others (like me) wear heavy hiking boots. For fleeing purposes, you want closed-toed shoes, something waterproof (or that drains/breathes well), and probably coverage up over your ankles. Good traction is important — and keep in mind that if you are fleeing in an emergency, these may be the only pair of shoes you wear for a long time. Sneakers will wear out faster than boots, but if they’re all you have, then work with that. I would avoid anything with shoelaces; if a lace breaks, your shoe won’t stay on (although your paracord could always substitute in easily enough). These are my favorite shoes and the ones I would likely be wearing in an emergency. A good pair of Doc Martens is not to be underestimated, either.
• If you don’t already use insoles, then get high impact insoles for your go-bag shoes. If you have to travel 10+ miles per day on foot, you’ll want the extra support.

Kitchen Supplies

• Titanium spork — if traveling with multiple people, everyone could have their own color.
• Titanium chopsticks — great for picking up potentially messy food that would not be spork-appropriate (e.g. potato chips)
• Alcohol camp stove (alcohol is preferable to gas canisters because the spirits needed are easy to come by)
• Small wood stove — doubles as a wind screen for the alcohol camp stove and packs flat. If you have to pick between the two camp stoves, get this one.
• collapsible mug
• single-walled large mug/soup tin (something you can cook in)

Toiletries

• toothbrush + steripod (the steripod acts as a toothbrush cover and sterilizes your toothbrush. Lasts three months.)
• baking soda (don’t bother with toothpaste; baking soda mixed with a bit of water gets the job done and is much lighter to carry)
• floss
• deodorant (lots of options here; try to bring something compact)
• microfiber towel
• Menstrual cup (if you menstruate, obviously)
• PStyle + carrying case (if you normally have to sit or squat to pee, this will let you urinate upright)
• small roll toilet paper
• biodegradable wet wipes — not just for TP, but for wiping down your body if you can’t manage a dip in water.
• Sunscreen. Your goal should be to minimize the amount of sunscreen you need to use (long sleeves and a good hat will go a long way towards this). Get SPF50 at a minimum. You can opt to carry it as it is or take smaller amounts in travel tubes.
• Condoms (unlubricated). Not just for intercourse!

Electronics

• an e-reader + charging cord. If you don’t already have one, consider getting one. You can load comfort reads, maps, and survival guides on there. Get a slim-fit cover to protect the screen.
• earbuds. Small luxury, but being able to enjoy your music will do wonders for your mental health.
• your phone, of course — although I suspect this is the one thing I can guarantee almost anyone would have with them. Keep this in a Ziploc/resealable bag. You can use the touchscreen through it and it will protect it from water (within reason, of course. If you drop it in the ocean, the bag won’t help for more than a few seconds).
• phone charging cord
• power brick + charging cord
• solar charger (some people prefer to integrate the solar charger with the power brick; that’s your call to make. I find those take longer to charge and don’t hold as well). I used to carry this one but have switched to this one.

Other

• Small moleskine journal — you’ll want to be able to document what’s happening.
• astronaut/write-anywhere pen (regular ball-point pen or pencil are okay, too, but this is good even in bad conditions)
• trowel — NOT a necessity, and you can use a tent stake or a stick if necessary, but this is for digging cat holes. (Make sure you read that link; it talks about how to defecate in the woods.)
• wallet — have a stash of cash available in your go-bag, if at all possible. You may need to pay for a place to rest or smooth a border crossing.
• passport — go ahead and get one if you don’t already have one. This should go with you everywhere. Consider it part of your everyday carry. You may want to consider getting an RFID-blocking holder for it.
• a couple of Ziploc bags (additional waterproofing)
• mylar emergency blankets
• USB drives or SD cards with critical family photos. You may want to consider a secure cloud service for this, too.
• A compass. Make sure you know how to use it.
• Fishing line. Bring 10–20 feet. Infinitely useful but can also be used to catch fish.
• Fishhooks. Bring a couple.
• Sewing kit. Make sure you have a curved needle; these are good for stitches in an emergency.

Optional, but recommended for certain situations:

Walking sticks. I use fancy PacerPoles. Unless you have to, don’t use a stick you found in the woods; it will heavy and impractical. You won’t want to be managing a hiking stick if you’re running, but if you have to walk long distances, a pair of hiking sticks can make all the difference in the world.

Pets

This section might be upsetting to face, but it needs to be discussed. You should have a plan in place for what happens to your pets if you have to suddenly leave. Do you have a friend or family member who could take them in (assuming they’re not also evacuating)?

You won’t be able to carry birds, fish, or most reptiles with you.

Dogs are generally easiest to manage on the trail; they’re used to being leashed and will tend to stick close to you. Dogs get stressed, but not as easily as cats do.

If you have a cat, now is the best time to start leash training. You probably won’t want to have to manage a freaked-out cat in a carrier. I personally have two cats; one is leash trained and the other is definitely not (she hisses if I even bring out the harness).

You might be able to manage a small mammal, but that’s a decision for you to make.

If you cannot bring your pet(s) with you, at least have a plan for them. Whether that’s the aforementioned friend/family member or a friendly neighbor who can come over and release them out into the world or take them to a rescue, make sure you’ve got something in place for them. Make sure they are microchipped, too. If anything happens, this would be the best way to be reunited.

If you can bring your pet with you, make sure you have a supply of food for them. Get a collapsible water bowl, too.

It can be devastating to have to leave a pet behind. They’re part of your family; make sure you have a plan for them.

Food

You should have enough food for 2–3 days. Expect to carry 2 pounds (~1 kilo) of food per person per day. You can ration it out to make it last longer, if necessary. Here’s a guide to backpacking food. You’ll want calorie-dense, nutritionally balanced food, but if you are stuck for options, get granola bars and dehydrated mashed potatoes. It’s one of your better food options. If you aren’t vegetarian/vegan, jerky is good for protein. Nut butters are good for those of us who avoid meat.

Powdered/dehydrated food is always lighter than liquid, which makes it a more efficient pack.

Make sure you pack a little salt & pepper shaker and a favorite spice mix, whether it’s Old Bay, Italian herbs & spices, a curry mix, or something else. A little flavor will make a world of difference.

You should make sure you have a guidebook that explains what is and isn’t safe to eat in the wilderness. Get a local book on foraging! Make sure it covers your expected escape/evacuation route. Get it in e-reader format, too, if you can.

Suggested Books

Speaking of books… in addition to foraging, you may want to pick up a bushcraft guide, or any number of survival guides.

Weapons

You may want an additional way to protect yourself. Whether that’s a handgun, a hunting knife, mace, or bear spray, it’s not a bad idea to have some protection. (Please be sure to check your local and state laws! Mace is not legal everywhere or may require a license.)

Communications

A cell phone or a burner phone is fine for most. If you have your ham radio license (per my guide here), bring some kind of radio and antenna with you. Whether that’s a HT or a more serious radio, make sure you have the means to charge it. No matter what, you’ll probably want some way to listen to NOAA or regular AM/FM stations.

Whew. You did it! You reached the end. I know it seems like an impossible amount to take in, but it can be done. You can do the research. Adjust your go-bag based on your situation — and you can update your bag as life moves along. Live in hurricane country? Prep with that in mind.

Make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with any product you purchase. Know how to put your tent up and take it down. Know how to re-stuff your sleeping bag. Know how to handle a pocketknife. You don’t want to discover you need to watch a YouTube tutorial when you’re five miles into the woods.

Every go-bag is different depending on your situation. My list is far from a hard and fast list. This is a guide to get people started.

In the end, I hope you never need your go-bag.