Go bag & Bug out bag

What is a Go bag or a Bug out bag?

A Go bag is intended to cover your needs from one location back to your home. It could be from your workplace, a temporary location, or while traveling. Examples of situations that might create the need for a Go bag include a massive power outage, a natural disaster, or even an invasion. Under such conditions, public transportation is likely to stop, and roads may become impassable. A Bug out bag follows the same principle, but with the difference that it is designed for leaving your home quickly. You may need to reach a shelter, a cabin, or simply a less populated area for some time.

What should a Go bag or Bug out bag contain?

The contents of a bag can vary greatly from person to person and are largely determined by personal preferences. What is universal, however, are our basic physical needs: warmth, water, food, and rest. These are fundamental and cannot be ignored. So at a minimum, the contents should cover these. Beyond that, the environment you are in and your own physical abilities and knowledge play a role. Whether you need to move through forests and terrain or through urban areas, and whether it’s winter or summer – all these factors affect the contents, even though the core needs remain the same.

One idea is to build your bag in modules that can be swapped out or supplemented depending on the circumstances. In other words, a base bag that can be complemented with a winter kit or extra gear for outdoor terrain. A Go bag can quickly become a Bug out bag, although the latter often requires more space for a longer period away from home.

One of the most important components in both emergency kits and Bug out bags is always knowledge and self-awareness. It may be a good idea, under safe conditions, to try walking home from your workplace instead of driving. Get to know the route and terrain, identify which areas could pose risks in a stressful situation and which could be an asset. Understand the physical demands, and learn your own limitations as well as what is possible. Most of the time, you are capable of more than you think. If nothing else, it’s good for your body, your mind, and the environment.

For convenience, we have composed ready-made bags. Our bags are built on the same fundamental needs as our emergency kits. Warmth, water, and food are essential, and these needs should be covered. Access to information can also be important. The difference between an emergency kit and a Go bag is that the former is designed for the home, while the latter is for getting back home. A Bug out bag, on the other hand, is designed for leaving home. While the contents of the two bags are largely similar, a Bug out bag usually requires a bit more equipment. You can find our ready-made bags here.