How To Find The Best Bug Out Bag To Put All Your Gear In
So you want the “best”?
Well, I wish it was that easy…
The truth is, it’s not that simple, but stick with me and we’ll get pretty darn close.
I’m going to go over in detail all the things you need to choose your bug out bag.
And then I’m going to share with you what I think is the best bug out bag on the market today (at the end of this article I’ll share with you 6 of my favorite bug out bags).
So let’s just jump right in…shall we?
Your best bug out bag is one that is:
- Ridiculously durable
- Intelligently designed
- Customized to your specific body dimensions
- Durable because if straps tear, zippers break, or cloth rips mid bug out, you’re gonna be sorry. Your bug out bag and you are about to become best friends and nobody wants a wimpy best friend.
- Intelligently designed so that you can access your most critical survival gear fast.
- Having the right bug out bag size so that it won’t slow you down or wear you out, due to body fatigue.
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Purpose of a Bug Out Bag
Now that you know the basic criteria it takes to be considered a Best Bug Out Bag. Let’s recall what our bag is REALLY for, so we can make wise choices.
It’s NOT intended to be a mini house and it cannot hold all of your unnecessary “Stuff”.
Too much, “gear” will slow you down.
A good rule of thumb when selecting your survival bag is to decide what you absolutely need before buying the pack itself.
Make a List of Your Bug Out Bag Essentials
Before settling on a bug out bag, figure out what you plan to put inside of it. This bug out bag checklist can be adjusted later, but this exercise helps to narrow down your options on overall pack size.
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What’s your ultimate goal? Is it a 3-day bug out or do you want a full-fledged INCH bag (I‘m. Never. Coming. Home.)
Do this before you make a purchase because it’s no fun to find out you don’t have enough room once you have your bag.
Carefully consider which tools, gear, and survival supplies will be the most useful to YOU on the go.
Your choices should be based on important factors such as:
- What survival gear you know how to use
- Your current survival skill level
- Your regional weather conditions
- What obstacles you may face
- Density population of your county
Also, keep in mind that your initial checklist of items may change over time as you acquire more survival skills.
However, don’t let that keep you from doing this worthwhile bug out planning today.
So What’s The Best Bug Out Bag Size?
The proper bug out bag size is based on your torso size. Measure yourself from your neck to your hipbone.
Some manufacturers sell bug out bags specifically for men, women, and children to make it easier to find the right torso size.
Bottom line your bug out bag must fit comfortably on your hips. Here are some basic torso size guidelines to help (always double-check these figures with the bag manufacturer before purchasing):
- Extra small (for torsos up to 15 1/2 inches)
- Small (for torsos from 16 inches to 17 1/2 inches)
- Medium (for torsos from 18 inches to 19 1/2 inches)
- Large (for torsos 20 inches and up)
Plenty of Bug Out Bag Storage Space
Regardless of what brand of backpack you choose, you’ll want one with plenty of storage space.
Extra storage space is typically not a bad thing as long as you don’t feel the need to fill every space just because “it’s there”.
Having a little bit of extra space helps with future expansion and gear swaps but again watch the overall weight!
The Best Bug Out Backpack Include Separate Compartments
The best bug out bag designs includes several zippers, pouches, and other visible and hidden storage options.
Unlike a duffel bag, a bug out bag shouldn’t be randomly stuffed as full as possible.
In real-world survival situations, you won’t have time to dump all your supplies out on the ground to find what you need. Instead, look for a bug out bag with lots of separate compartments for food, clothes, and gear.
That way you’ll be able to access those items quickly and efficiently.
The more zippers, loops, pockets, and straps your bag has, the more organized it will be when you need to find something fast.
If you decide bigger is better and opt for a larger bag, you’ll be able to fit a ton of stuff, just don’t forget that you’ll have to carry all that gear. A good pack will typically have the following design components:
- Compression straps
- Top Lid
- Hydration tube
- MOLLE System
- Hip belt pockets
- Water bottle pocket
- Dedicated Sleeping bag compartment
Lightweight and Comfortable
While there are advanced military bags that include very large capacities, there’s no point unless you’re preparing for a military-style bug out (think lots of guns and ammo).
Most military personnel are trained to carry bags weighing upwards of 70 pounds or more on their backs for many miles.
If you don’t have this type of training, you’ll want to keep your bag lightweight and comfortable. Honestly, your bag weight could get you killed. It’s easy to think of many life-threatening scenarios if your bag is slowing you down.
If you’re not sure how much weight you can comfortably carry, take your bag on a hike or camping trip.
Here’s a chart I made to give you an idea of how much your bag should weigh fully loaded based on your size.
Keep adding items until you reach a point where more weight will significantly slow you down and make it difficult to walk (starting to get the hint?…weight matters).
Best Bug Out Backpack Color
You’ll want to stay away from any bright colors and other features that could attract unwanted attention. Stick with neutral/muted colors to blend in with your surroundings.
Consider a camouflage bag if you live in a rural wooded area. If you’re in a crowded urban area, you’ll want a bag that pretty much looks like an ordinary backpack or oversized book bag.
The less conspicuous, the better.
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An Ultimate Bug Out Pack On a Budget
If you want to prepare but can’t afford large bags with all the bells and whistles, there are options that can still keep you prepared for a bug out situation.
Some less costly smaller bags can be found with a MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system.
Purchase a smaller, more affordable pack with MOLLE and pack it with the bare essentials mentioned above.
The latest generation MOLLE is made out of laser-cut cloth to eliminate stitching that may compromise the integrity of the bag.
The point of MOLLE is that you can hang gear from the outside of the bag instead of packing everything inside.
You simply place the items you’ll need most on the outside of your bug out bag with this system.
This type of bug out bag is an ideal choice if you’re on a budget but you still want the ability to add easily attachable pouches over time. Items you might want to hang from MOLLE are:
- Survival Knives
- Ammo Pouches
- Canteen Pouch
- Radio Pouch
- Medical Pouch
- Small Axe
The options are truly endless.
Where Are You Planning to Go?
One often overlooked aspect to bugging out is…where are you headed?
You need a plan, you need a location. If you have a location sorted out already…kudos to you.
If not..it’s time to decide but that’s a topic for another day.
As it pertains to your bug out bag, you’ll want to match the distance to your pack. If your safe spot is your Dad’s house about an hour away, a very small survival go bag will work.
If you have many miles and a few nights to bare, then it’s better to have space for more “just in case” stuff and you’ll want a military-grade tactical bug out backpack.
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Ultimate Bug Out Bag Recap
- Take stock of what you plan to carry. This gives you an idea of the size you’ll be looking for and helps to keep you from getting swayed towards a more expensive purchase with space you’ll never use.
- Take key body measurements so that you know what the right bug out bag size is for your body type. This is essential to ensure comfort.
- Once you get your bag and all your gear. Pack it. Make certain everything fits and what the best location is for all the gear.
- Take your bag for a test run. This could be on a local hiking trail, at a nearby park, or some other place where you’re able to walk around.
The idea is to determine if you can walk and comfortably carry your new bug out bag. If you find yourself stopping to rest frequently, you probably have a bag that’s a bit much for you.
However, if you remain comfortable carrying your bug out bag during the entire test run, you may have just found your best bug out bag.
At the end of the day, your best bug out bag is really one that fully fulfills all your personal storage and survival needs.
The Best Bug Out Bag On The Market Today
It’s time to share what I believe are the best bug out bags available on the market today.
First I’ll share my all-time favorite Bug Out Bag (the one I personally own). Then I’ll share a few more quality bug out bags you might be interested in.
The Combat Bag From EVATAC (top recommendation)
This tactical backpack is as tough as they come.
It’s made from 600D polyester, has durable zippers, padded shoulder straps, a chest strap, and enough compartments to keep all of your survival gear properly organized.
This bag includes a generous 40L storage capacity. Making it the perfect size to fit all your gear but yet small enough for everyday use.
It’s made from thick, durable 600D Polyester.
It comes with heavy-duty clips and zippers. Because your bug out bag is only as good as its zippers and clips.
Padded shoulder straps and back panel for maximum comfort. A comfortable bag is essential – especially if used for long bug-outs.
It has a quick lock chest strap to keep the bag secure even when running or scrambling.
This prevents the bag from bouncing off your shoulders while on the move!
All compartments are waterproof, which is a must-have feature for high-quality tactical bug-out bags.
It includes a total of ten separate carry compartments for maximum organization!
Heck, it even has a padded laptop section to keep your fragile items safe and secure from bumps and knocks for everyday use.
Similar bags with all these features sell for over $159 (some as much as $229 in many outdoor specialty stores).
But at the time this post was published, you could get The Combat Bag From EVATAC at a fraction of those lofty prices.
Click here to see if this amazing deal is still available on this excellent bug-out bag.
Interested? Check out my full review of The Combat Bag from EVATAC:
Interested in this bag? Click here to check out the affordable price of this quality bag.
Remember: Prepare, Adapt and Overcome,
“Just In Case” Jack
P.s. Are you ready for the tough times ahead?
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