A bug out bag (BOB) is a pre-packed bag with everything you need to survive 72 hours away from home. Whether it's a wildfire evacuation, flooding, extended power outage, or any scenario where staying home isn't safe — this is the bag you grab on the way out the door.
You have two options: buy a pre-built kit or build your own. We'll cover both approaches, starting with the best pre-built kits for people who want to be prepared without researching every individual item.
Pre-Built vs Custom: Which Approach?
Buy Pre-Built If:
- You want to be prepared TODAY, not next month
- You don't want to research individual gear
- You need kits for family members who won't build their own
- You want a baseline to customize later
Build Custom If:
- You have specific gear preferences or medical needs
- You want higher-quality individual components
- You enjoy the process of researching and testing gear
- You already own some survival/camping equipment
Our recommendation: Buy a pre-built kit, then upgrade individual components over time. A $150 pre-built kit in your closet TODAY is infinitely more valuable than a $500 custom kit you're still "planning to build."
Best Pre-Built Bug Out Bags
1. Sustain Supply Co. Premium 72-Hour Kit — Best Overall
Sustain Supply Co. Premium Emergency Survival Bag
72-hour · 2-person or 4-person options · Tactical backpack · Food, water purification, first aid, shelter, fire, tools · US-made food
$249 (2-person) / $399 (4-person)
Check Price on Amazon →Sustain Supply consistently delivers the best-curated pre-built bug out bag on the market. Unlike cheaper kits stuffed with dollar-store components, Sustain uses quality items across every category: Aquamira water purification (the same brand used by the military), US-manufactured freeze-dried food, a UCO stormproof fire starter, and a comprehensive first aid kit.
The tactical backpack itself is a quality piece — heavy-duty nylon, MOLLE webbing for attaching additional gear, and enough capacity to add personal items. Many competing kits use bags that fall apart under load.
What's included: food for 72 hours (2 people), water purification tablets + filtration straw, emergency shelter (tarp + thermal blankets), fire starters, first aid kit, multi-tool, flashlight, whistle, rope, and a comprehensive emergency guide. What's NOT included: clothing, medications, personal documents — you'll add those yourself.
2. SEVENTY2 by Uncharted Supply Co. — Best Premium
SEVENTY2 Survival System
72-hour · 1-person · Waterproof hardcase backpack · Premium components throughout · Designed with FEMA input
$349
Check Price →The SEVENTY2 is the Tesla of bug out bags. Every component is premium: Sawyer water filter (not purification tablets), SOL emergency bivvy (not a flimsy mylar blanket), Exotac fire starters, and food bars with actual calories. The waterproof hardcase backpack protects everything inside even in torrential rain or a river crossing.
At $349 for a 1-person kit, it's expensive. But open a SEVENTY2 next to a $75 Amazon emergency kit and the difference is immediately obvious. Every item in the SEVENTY2 is something you'd actually buy individually. Every item in a $75 kit is something you'd throw away and replace.
3. Ready America 72-Hour Kit — Best Budget
Ready America 72-Hour Emergency Kit (2-Person)
72-hour · 2-person · Basic backpack · Food bars, water pouches, first aid, blankets, lightsticks
$74.99
Check Price on Amazon →If your choice is between a $75 Ready America kit and no emergency kit at all, buy the Ready America. It covers the absolute basics: 3,600 calories of food bars per person, water pouches, basic first aid, emergency blankets, and lightsticks. The backpack is mediocre and the components are basic — but they exist, and they're packed and ready to grab.
This is the kit we recommend for family members who "aren't into prepping." Give it as a gift. Put one in each car. Keep one at the office. At $75, the barrier is so low that there's no excuse for not having one.
Building a Custom Bug Out Bag: The Essential Loadout
If you prefer to build your own, here's the category-by-category breakdown of what you need:
The Bag ($80-$200)
You need a 40-65 liter pack with a hip belt, adjustable torso length, and durable construction. Avoid military surplus bags — they're heavy and lack modern ergonomics. The 5.11 Rush 72 ($170) and Kelty Redwing 50 ($120) are our top picks.
Water ($30-$60)
- Sawyer Squeeze filter ($30) — Filters 100,000 gallons, weighs 3 oz
- 32oz Nalgene bottle ($10) — Durable, fits Sawyer inline
- Aquamira water treatment drops ($15) — Backup to the filter
Food ($40-$80)
- Mountain House meals × 6 ($40-$60) — Just add boiling water
- Clif Bars × 6 ($8) — No-cook calorie backup
- Instant coffee packets ($5) — Morale matters
Shelter ($40-$80)
- SOL Emergency Bivvy ($20) — Breathable emergency shelter, reusable
- Lightweight tarp ($30-$50) — Rain protection, ground cover
- 550 paracord, 50 ft ($8) — Shelter building, repairs, endless uses
Fire ($20-$30)
- BIC lighter × 2 ($3) — Simplest fire starting tool
- Ferro rod ($12) — Wet-weather backup
- Tinder tabs or cotton balls/vaseline ($5) — Reliable fire starters in any condition
First Aid ($25-$50)
- Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 ($25) — Comprehensive, compact
- CAT tourniquet ($25) — Serious trauma tool. Learn to use it BEFORE you need it.
- Personal medications (7-day supply) — Non-negotiable if applicable
Navigation + Communication ($30-$60)
- Local topographic map + compass ($15) — GPS fails when phones die
- Emergency weather radio (hand-crank) ($25) — NOAA alerts without power
- Whistle ($5) — Signal rescue; carries further than shouting
Tools ($30-$60)
- Leatherman Wave+ multitool ($100, or budget: Gerber Suspension NXT at $30)
- Headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) ($25) — Hands-free light
- Duct tape (wrapped around water bottle) ($0) — Repairs anything
Total Custom Bug Out Bag Cost: $275-$520
A well-built custom BOB costs $300-$500 with quality components. More than a pre-built kit, but every item is hand-picked and tested. The key advantage: you know every piece of gear because you chose it.
Maintaining Your Bug Out Bag
- Every 6 months: Check food expiration dates, replace batteries, update medications, verify water purification supplies
- Annually: Swap out clothing for correct season, test all electronics, replace any degraded items
- After any use: Immediately restock everything consumed. A half-empty BOB is a false sense of security.
The Bottom Line
The Sustain Supply Co. Premium Kit at $249 for two people is the best pre-built bug out bag for most families. If budget is tight, the Ready America at $75 covers the basics. For enthusiasts who want the best possible kit, build your own using the loadout above.
The worst bug out bag is the one you don't have. Start somewhere — even a basic kit — and upgrade over time. For emergency food to pair with your BOB, check our emergency food supply guide. For portable power solutions, visit our friends at EmergencyEnergy.co.