RS Recommends: The Best Bug-Out Bags to Have on Hand for Emergencies

With everything from natural disasters to communicable diseases to civil unrest threatening our day-to-day well-being, it’s important to have some basic supplies on-hand to ward off both literal and metaphorical storms.

That’s where the best bug-out bags come in. Essentially a portable emergency kit (the name supposedly comes from the backpacks Army pilots took with them when they were directed to “bail out” or “bug out” of their planes), bug-out bags are an easy way to keep survival tools and supplies in one place.

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What Are the Best Emergency Survival Kits and Bug Out Bags?

The best bug-out bags (or BOB for short) are designed to hold basic essentials that can help you survive for up to three days without power, food or water.

The exact contents of a standard bug-out bag vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but at the very minimum, the bag should have some first aid tools (I.e. bandages, rubbing alcohol), survival gear (think: pocket knife, flashlight and a fire starter), and some way to get food and water. We’ve listed bags that include energy bars and pouches of water, along with kits that throw in a water filtration straw or water purification powder. The three basic essentials, as recommended by the American Red Cross, are food, water, and emergency blankets for shelter and warmth, and all three are included in most of our bug-out bag recommendations.

The latest bug-out bags are all designed for easy carry, whether as a backpack or pouch. Look for bags made from tear-proof, water-resistant fabrics, as well as bags with extra rings and handles, so you can attach a water bottle, keys and other small accessories. We’ve found options with well-organized compartments and zipped pockets too, so you can safely store and access your belongings. While all of our picks come pre-stocked with emergency essentials, they all have room for you to stash your wipes, hand sanitizer and big-ticket items like your laptop, phone and wallet as well.

Bug-out bags aren’t just used for emergencies, they can also make great camping or hiking bags. The newest bug-out bags include items for personal hygiene — like soap, shampoo and toothbrushes — and some come with sleeping bags and blankets too.

A multi-purpose 72-hour survival kit, bug-out bags are a no-brainer when it comes to staying prepared and having peace of mind. We recommend keeping one in your car, (at least) one at home and one at work, so you are never left stranded. Make sure you keep the bags somewhere that’s easy to access, so when an emergency hits, you’re ready to safely grab and go.

1. Judy Mover Max

Editor’s Pick

Emergency Kit brand Judy rose to fame after an endorsement from Oprah and has since become lauded means of preparing for the worst. The brand’s classic product is this Mover Max backpack, which showcases how Judy recognizes that your emergency kit’s container is equally as important as what’s inside.

The backpack itself is water-, rip-, and puncture-proof, and features sturdy shoulder straps with chest and waist buckles for security. This means you can strap on the pack without worrying about the contents being damaged or lost.

Inside the Judy Mover Max is three cartridges that organize your supplies by needs: water and food, safety and warmth, and tools and first aid. You’ll find everything from a 101-piece first aid kit to meal-replacement food bars to a hand-crank radio. Overall, it’s enough supplies to sustain a four-person group for 72 hours.

Judy has also expanded its product lineup to include larger kits, as well as survival kits with included power stations which we highly recommend.

Buy Judy Mover Max $195

2. Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bag

best 4-person kit

Unlike some bug-out bags, which are big and bulky, this backpack from Emergency Zone is no larger than a school bag, which is great if you need to dash out quickly.

There’s enough here to sustain a family of four for at least 72 hours, including U.S. Coast Guard-approved energy bars and filtered water pouches to keep hunger and thirst at bay. A water bottle, filter straw, and water purification powder let you always have drinkable water on hand. This backpack also includes two reflective sleeping bags, a roll-up tent, and hand warmers, in case the heat goes out.

A well-stocked first-aid kit includes two N95 face masks (industrial strength) and more than 100 types of bandages, wraps, etc. There’s also a personal hygiene kit that includes two toothbrushes, toilet paper, feminine pads, soap, and shampoo. Basic survival tools like a flashlight, multitool, light sticks, and rope are also included.

The backpack is super heavy-duty and carries all your items with ease. Reinforced shoulder straps and a wrap-around chest strap keep the bag close to your body at all times. With six different zippered compartments, everything is neatly organized. There’s enough room for other essentials too, like your ID, wallet, phone, and even your laptop.

Be aware that this bag weighs 25 pounds with everything in so it might be heavy for some. Also: food bars and water last for five years; you’ll want to replace them if you have the bag for longer than that.

Buy: Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bag $201.59

3. Yiderbo First Aid Survival Kit

best first-aid kit

Even if you already have a comprehensive emergency supply kit — or you’ve chosen one from this list — it’s not a bad idea to get a supplementary first aid survival kit to boot. We like this best-seller from Yiderbo, which delivers 274 pieces in a portable, 1.7-pound package. The portable case is also decently rugged and waterproof in case of a drop. Inside is a huge range of first-aid essentials including bandages, ice packs, medical scissors, and wipes.

Buy: Yiderbo First Aid Survival Kit $23.99

4. Ready America Emergency Kit

Best 2-person kit

Ready America’s emergency kit contains enough rations to sustain two people for up to three days. Basic essentials include two, 2400 calorie food bars and 12 emergency drinking water packets. The bars can withstand temperatures between -22ºF to 149ºF while the water withstands temperatures from 40ºF to 230ºF.

The backpack also holds a 33-piece first-aid kit, emergency blankets, two face masks, and two glow sticks, that get you 12 hours of light. Each kit also contains gloves, emergency ponchos, and pocket tissues.

Everything is housed in a lightweight, bright red backpack that helps you stay visible in case you need to be rescued. It also makes the bag easy to spot, so you can grab and go if time is of the essence. Our suggestion: keep one of these bags in the car, one in the closet, and one at work, so you’re always prepared.

What we like: the bag and kit are assembled in the USA by a company with more than 25 years of emergency preparedness experience.

Everything is housed in a lightweight backpack that’s easy to carry. The nylon material stretches so you can fit larger items in the bag as well.

Buy: Ready America Emergency Kit $38.66

5. EVERLIT Survival First Aid Kit

best for outdoor survival

In serious emergencies, we would trust this comprehensive survival kit from Everlit. It boasts a U.S. Coast Guard-approved emergency food and water supply that can comfortably sustain two people for 72 hours, comprising two packs of 3600 calorie food bars and water packets. If you run out of water packets, the kit also has enough water purification tablets to purify 25 quarts of water.

You also get a bevy of tools and first-aid equipment. You’ll find essentials like a multi-tool, thermal blankets, and 100 feet of paracord, plus more serious gear like a survival shelter, work gloves, and protective goggles.

The whole kit comes neatly packaged in a weatherproof 600-dernier nylon backpack with separate pockets and reliable zippers for easy access. Weighing 21 pounds, it is on the heavy side, although not too heavy considering how much gear you’re getting.

Buy: EVERLIT Survival First Aid Kit $159.99

6. Sustain Supply Co. Emergency Kit

Best food Kit

Food and water are obviously key elements in any emergency supply, and it might even be worth getting a standalone, portable nourishment supply kit like this one from Sustain Supply Co. Although it comes with a great selection of survival food and a stove for heating things up, the kit also has other emergency staples like a knife, a lantern, emergency blankets, and fire starter.

The kit’s food contents — which should sustain two people for three days — include twelve servings of freeze-dried food, collapsible bowls, and cutlery. On the hydration front, you get two bottles of drinking water and a capable water filter straw for finding water in the wild. The whole thing is super lightweight, making it a great choice for stashing in a car or keeping handy anywhere around the house.

Buy: Sustain Supply Co. Emergency Kit $199.00

1. Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bag

Unlike some bug-out bags, which are big and bulky, this backpack from Emergency Zone is no larger than a school bag, which is great if you need to dash out quickly.

There’s enough here to sustain a family of four for at least 72 hours, including U.S. Coast Guard-approved energy bars and filtered water pouches to keep hunger and thirst at bay. A water bottle, filter straw, and water purification powder lets you always have drinkable water on-hand. This backpack also includes two reflective sleeping bags, a roll up tent and hand warmers, in case the heat goes out.

A well-stocked first-aid kit includes two N95 face masks (industrial strength) and more than 100 types of bandages, wraps, etc. There’s also a personal hygiene kit that includes two toothbrushes, toilet paper, feminine pads, soap and shampoo. Basic survival tools like a flashlight, multitool, light sticks and rope are also included.

Buy: Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bag

2. Monoki First Aid Survival Kit

This 241-piece set includes everything you need to stay safe indoors, plus a few tools to help you survive if you find yourself stuck outdoors, too.

The tactical-style pouch is made from a fully waterproof, army-grade nylon, with a wide handle for easy carrying. Inside, find FDA-approved first-aid supplies, that includes everything from basic bandages to items you need to treat a wound. There are a number of survival tools in the pouch as well, from a folding knife and flashlight, to an emergency blanket, fire starter and pliers. Great to have on-hand for a camping or hiking expedition, this bug-out bag also includes a fishing kit and saw.

The internal pockets keep everything neatly organized and within reach. The pouch is small enough to fit into your backpack or to keep in the back of your car.

Buy: Monoki First Aid Survival Kit

3. Ready America Emergency Kit

The backpack also holds a 33-piece first-aid kit, emergency blankets, two face masks and two glow sticks, that get you 12 hours of light. Each kit also contains gloves, emergency ponchos and pocket tissues.

What we like: the bag and kit are assembled in the USA from a company with more than 25 years of emergency prepardness experience.

Everything is housed in a lightweight backpack that’s easy to carry. The nylon material stretches so you can fit larger items in the bag as well.