Bug-Out Bag Checklist: The Complete 72-Hour Pack List
A bug-out bag (BOB) carries everything you need to survive 72 hours away from home. Federal readiness guidance recommends every household keep a go-kit ready. This checklist follows survival priority: water, shelter, fire, food, first aid, tools — with realistic weights.
1. Water (priority #1)
2 liters per person per day minimum. A squeeze filter (e.g. Sawyer Squeeze, ~90 g) plus two 1-liter bottles covers filtration and transport without carrying 6 kg of water.
2. Shelter & warmth
Emergency bivvy or space blanket (under 100 g), rain poncho, and a base layer. Hypothermia is the fastest killer outdoors.
3. Fire & light
Ferro rod (works wet), stormproof matches, headlamp with spare batteries.
4. Food
No-cook, high-calorie: energy bars, nut butter, jerky. ~2,000 kcal per person per day. Skip anything needing cooking water.
5. First aid
Trauma-focused: pressure bandage, tourniquet, gloves, your personal medication (7 days).
6. Tools & documents
Knife, paracord (15 m), duct tape, cash in small bills, copies of ID/documents, phone power bank.
Weight targets
Day pack (25–35 L): 7–9 kg total. Larger 72h pack (40–55 L): 12–15 kg. Above 20 kg you will not move fast — cut items, not categories.