Build Your Go Bag: Be Ready to Leave in 5 Minutes
By Lilly
Bug Out Bag
If you had five minutes to leave your home, possibly forever, what would you take?
Most people freeze the moment they realize their house is burning down. Or that a hurricane is coming. Disasters don’t wait for you to get organized, and having a bag prepared so you can live with less, on the move, can be the difference between barely coping and actually dealing with it head-on.
Luckily, this isn’t just a theory for me. I’ve spent over a decade testing what it’s like to live out of a bag, by choice. Living a life on the move teaches you real quick what matters, and what doesn’t.
Over the last 10+ years, I’ve lived a variety of minimal ways, from full-time camping, vanlife, tiny house living, and off-grid life. With all that experience, I’ve picked up a bunch of gear and knowledge that can help you put together a bug out bag/go bag/72-hour kit.
Whatever you call it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have everything within reach to live for a few days if you need to flee your home. Something that can be taken quickly if there’s a fire, flood, attack, hurricane, etc.
If you find yourself needing to flee in less than 5 minutes, how would you make sure you have the necessities for survival, or at least enough to get yourself safely to a shelter or your next destination? We’ll also chat about making sure yours is fine-tuned to your environment and needs.
I’ll divide this blog post into 4 categories with a few subcategories:
Choosing the right bag
Internal Frame
Tactical
Greyman
Essential Gear
Water
Food
Shelter
First Aid/Hygiene
Tools
Clothing
Security
Personal/Important Items
Tips for Success
Choosing the Right Bag
So let’s jump right in. When choosing the bag you want to use as the vessel for your gear, there are a few things to keep in mind—mostly your environment and how you might need to use your bag. The main categories are internal frame, tactical, or greyman.
An internal frame pack is designed for backpacking. It’s meant to carry a significant load in a comfortable, supportive way over long distances. If you think you’ll need to haul a lot of gear or travel far, this might be the pick for you. But keep in mind that in a city, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb. It can signal to others that you have supplies and could make you a target for those less prepared.
A tactical bag is designed for military or police. They often have MOLLE webbing, lots of compartments, and are super versatile with quick access to gear. But again, it could point you out as a target, showing that you're prepared and carrying valuable items.
A greyman bag is all about blending in. This may be best if you're in an urban environment and don’t want to advertise what you're carrying. This might be a regular backpack or commuter bag. They’ll usually hold less and may be less comfortable or durable than the other options, but they help you stay under the radar.
Essential Gear
I love packing cubes to keep gear organized. You can have them labeled based on the categories below or whatever way helps you find what you need when you need it.
Water
It’s recommended to plan for a gallon of water per person, per day in an emergency, considering drinking, cooking, and hygiene. But if you’re carrying your gear on your back, that’s not really practical. So plan to carry a portion and have the means to filter, purify, or catch more along the way.
There are lots of options here: iodine drops, purification tablets, boiling, or commercial items like LifeStraw, etc. Just keep in mind that filtered creek or rain water probably won’t taste like city water. Having flavored hydration powders like LMNT or Liquid IV helps for two reasons, taste and hydration.
Food
People often think canned goods for emergencies, but those are better for in-home prep. Not great for on the move. Instead, go for tuna pouches, freeze-dried ingredients, and prepared camping meals. Think energy-dense items like protein or meal replacement bars. These take up less space and fuel you well.
Canned food is out, freeze-dried is in! No-prep items are also great like jerky, nut butter, or anything you can eat on the go. Don’t forget the comfort items too: coffee, tea, candy, gum. A little morale boost goes a long way.
Shelter
Think about where you're most likely to flee from/to—urban, rural, or a mix.
Urban? You might need a lock-picking kit (if you know how to use it), plastic sheeting, duct tape, tarp, cordage, etc. Maybe you’ll be sleeping in stairwells or underpasses, so a good sleeping pad might matter more than a tent in an environment where shelter is more easily found.
Rural? You’re more in camping territory, bug nets, hammocks, mylar blankets, tarp, compact tent. You’ll want items to protect you from bugs and weather, not concrete.
Mixed? Bring a bit of both. Headlamps, contractor bags (great as moisture barriers), tarps, and cordage will all come in handy. Practice is key, if you can't use something when you're calm, it won’t help you in a panic. Also, think multi-use: a tarp for signaling or concealment depending on color.
First Aid/Hygiene
I always keep a “poo with a view” bag from vanlife and camping days. It's a small kit with TP, sanitizer, a shovel, and baby wipes. Urban folks might still want sanitizer and wipes for public bathrooms.
A basic first aid kit is essential, but add extras too: feminine products, meds like Benadryl or ibuprofen, nail clippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, chapstick, sunscreen, bug spray, small towel, reusable pee cloth. Customize to your body and needs.
Tools
Pick tools based on your environment. Start with a multitool, fixed blade knife, paracord, headlamp with extra batteries, fire starter, camping pot, backpacking stove, external battery, sewing kit, safety pins, mini pry bar (especially urban), and a non-digital compass.
Clothing
You don’t need a full wardrobe, but you want more than what's on your back. The goal is to stay warm, dry, and protected. Swap clothes seasonally or have two prepped sets you can switch out.
Bring a core outfit, extra layers, socks, underwear, puffer, weatherproof layer, hat. Extra socks = fewer blisters. Pack a sturdy pair of shoes, previously broken in, just in case disaster hits when you’re in heels or dress shoes.
Store clothing in waterproof compression bags to save space and keep dry.
Security/Safety
Security means knowing your skill level. Never handled a gun? Don’t pack one now. If mace isn’t legal, choose something else. Safety isn't just weapons though, it’s navigation, light, and visibility.
Think paper maps, a compass, headlamp, glow sticks, and lights with emergency flash. Solar-powered lights are great too, lightweight, compact, and effective.
Also, think about taking a self defense class or two to, practice is never not valuable.
Personal / Important Items
Could you call anyone if you lost your phone? Most of us only know one number by heart. Keep written contact info in your bag.
Have copies of IDs and important documents. This can help prove who you are in a crisis.
Stash some cash in small bills to buy what you need without drawing attention or needing change.
If you can, include backup medications, glasses, contacts, keys, and anything essential to your health or daily life.
Tips for Success
Practice. Practice. Practice!
Keep your bag light and practice carrying it. Bring it on hikes. Try grabbing it quickly with any other essential items.
Use your gear. Make sure it works and that you know how to use it. Update food, water, and gear a couple times a year based on weather and expiration dates.
Keep your bag easy to reach. Include a list of items you’ll need to grab in the moment, stuff you can’t keep packed like IDs, meds, or sentimental items. Knowing where they are will save you time and panic.
Think of items like: passport, birth certificate, prescription meds, insulin, jewelry, your kid’s favorite stuffy, custody papers, or concealed carry permit. Some you can keep copies of in your bag, but if there’s time to grab originals, do it.
At the end of the day, your go bag is all about giving you peace of mind. It’s not about having everything, it’s about having enough to get you through. Start small, build it over time, we often have extras that we can gather from the junk drawer or the garage, and most importantly, practice with it! You never know when you’ll need it, but you’ll be glad you were prepared. If you’ve got questions or want to share what you’re packing, drop a comment, I’d love to hear what works for you!
