Bug Out Bag Checklist (Free) Ultimate Guide and Essentials

It's the bug out bag that I personally use for all my outdoor adventures.

This bad boy contains all of the best features a solid bag needs.

It's constructed of 600D Polyester which makes it very durable and tough.

The padded shoulder straps make carrying this bug out bag very comfortable. The bag also includes a chest strap that cinch down to keep it tight when moving.

Your water bottle matters.

It's important to have a reliable device to store your water supply.

Fill your water bottle today with safe, clean water and stash it in your bug out bag.

That way you can start your bug out with a full bottle of clean water and then refill and boil/filter/purify as needed on your route.

Not to mention, you can also use the water bottle strap to attach it to the exterior of your bug out bag to save space.

I'd highly recommend you get a mini water filter. Not only is it small to pack and lightweight, it can also filter 100,000 gallons of water!

This little water filter is ideal for both travel and a worst case survival scenario.

What makes the Portable Filter so powerful is it's inline design capabilities.

Use it as a straw or an inline filter to remove 99.999% of harmful bacteria.

Here's an entertaining and informative video testing the water filtration straw. This will show the power of the filter in action!

Unless you prefer eating with dirty hands, you'll want something small and light to move food to your mouth.

Get this awesome Swiss army style fold-able 4-in-1 stainless steel cutlery set.

This set includes a fork, knife, spoon, and bottle opener. Additionally, these are detachable if you desire to use them individually.

Plus the stainless steel design means it won't scratch, rust, or decay over time.

You'll want an easy way to keep your prepared food contained for serving and eating.

In our homes we use plates, but those are heavy and take up a lot of space.

So instead, get one of these stainless steel mugs, that can double as a bowl.

We recommend this one because it's stainless steel which means you can boil water in it when you need to.

Fish are an excellent source of protein, if you can snag them.

Fishing while bugging out is not always possible, however, you definitely won't catch any without some fishing line.

Get braided fishing line since it's highly durable and can take more abuse than the regular fishing line.

You won't need much so you can get the small spool, but you'll have to decide what lbs/size line will work best for your needs.

Fishing line can be used for a wide variety of different survival situations.

Recently, some ingenious ultra-small fishing poles have been invented.

Introducing, the pocket rod!

This option is great and can break down to fit right in your bug out bag.

Make certain to take this along with you on your next fishing trip so you can get experience using it.

Check out this video sharing how to use the pocket pen fishing rod.

With that said, you can use it to boil water faster than having to build a fire. It also makes food preparation both easier and faster for you.

Not to mention, this option allows for a larger variety of different foods you can cook in such a handy pot.

Additionally, you are able to boil much more water at once with a pot in comparison to just a small bowl, cup, mug, or bottle.

When it gets cold out, you'll need a set of warm gloves.

Not to mention, you'll also need something to protect your hands when moving through the outdoors and rough environments.

With these gloves on your hands, you'll have enough dexterity to continue all your standard outdoor activities in any weather condition.

They come with a Velcro wrist wrap allowing you to get the perfect snug fit.

The full finger gloves with knuckle shields are perfectly designed to protect your hands and knuckles.

Nothing drains heat from your body (and your soul) than hiking in drenched clothes. It's a miserable experience, and it's very dangerous in the cold.

This Princeton study shows that "Generally conductive heat loss accounts for only about 2% total loss. However, with wet clothes, the loss is increased 5x."

So pack a poncho. Ponchos are thin, light and take up limited space. Get one with a hood to keep the rain off your head.

It will:

1. Keep the rain off you, 2. Break the wind, and 3. Give you a "safe" space to sleep at night.

So why would you carry all the extra weight of tent poles?

Not to mention, the Rain Poncho with Hood as listed above in the bug out bag checklist, can also double as a tarp.

A hammock is another survival solution for a single or double sleeper.

Combine a good sleeping bag with a hammock and you'll be warm, off the ground, and dry.

All you need is a couple of trees and some paracord to tie off.

Get one with a mosquito net built in.

You'll definitely want to be protected from the most pesky bugs known to man.

Additionally, you can combine a tarp shelter with a hammock to make the ultimate rain proof sleeping environment.

We all know what sleeping bags are, but the term "bivvy" may be new to you.

This TACT Bivvy is an emergency survival blanket sleeping bag that fits in your hand.

It's about as small and lightweight as you can get but it will keep you warm and dry even in the worst weather conditions.

Honestly, these are perfect as well for a vehicle's glove box to be prepared whenever disaster strikes.

While a hammock, or tent may give you the external protection, they don't exactly give you the best comfort by themselves.

You need something that is comfortable and warm to bundle up inside.

You can utilize an ultra lightweight sleeping bag in combination with your other gear to make the ultimate sleeping experience.

Get this light, durable option for all your outdoor adventures, and bug out bag.

Paracord has so many uses I could add "paracord" to nearly every bug out bag checklist category.

In the case of shelters, it can be used to tie branches together or to attach your tarp to trees. It can also anchor your hammock to trees easily for extra stability.

That's why you should have some paracord with you at all times. One of the easiest ways to do that is to attach one of these Paracord Grenades to your bug out bag.

A lighter is a lighter? Not Really.

A standard BIC lighter won't work after dropping it in a river...

That's why you definitely want to make sure you're prepared when it comes to your most important survival tool.

Do not miss this one on your bug out bag checklist must-haves.

Load this bag boy up with some fuel and you're good to go when you need to start a fire on your next adventure.

You should stash some of your most important tools, and fire materials that can't afford to get wet inside a container.

This will keep your fire starting tools dry in case of a heavy downpour or if your bag falls into water.

Not to mention, this container is also shockproof so if it falls or hits the ground hard, it's not going to break.

This thing is tough as nails... perfect for anyone that needs to keep their stuff safe and protected from harsh environments or damage.

You should always have one of these on hand, no matter the occasion.

Having a dedicated kit can help you be prepared and ready.

In order to treat a medical mishap, or anything that comes your way...

With a proper kit, you should have some gauze, surgical tape, band-aids, q-tips, and any extra supplies you see fit.

If you remember towards the beginning of the bug out bag checklist, we went over the importance of MOLLE.

If you'd like a more utility based bag that's better for the outdoors, I'd suggest this Military Style First Aid Bag.

This bag features MOLLE, making it easier to attach and use with your bug out bag.

Now this bag does not include medical supplies, so feel free to add what you see fit into the pouch.

If you're into survival, you should own a high quality compass.

Navigation is too critical, and getting lost is not a viable option.

Know where you are, and how to get to your destination with a compass.

GPS devises and apps run on battery so those aren't exactly dependable in certain survival or bug out situations.

A small shovel can be useful for such a variety of reasons.

Notably, it can be used to improve your shelter by clearing and leveling the ground.

A tactical shovel such as this one, allows you to complete even more survival tasks such as digging, sawing, chopping, pickaxe, trenching, opening...

You can do all that, and much more...

Not to mention, this shovel is quite solid and even could be used as a weapon against any wildlife you may face.

You never know what tool you may need when designing your bug out bag checklist.

Better off having a multi tool, than to be without one.

However, some are quite bulky and annoying to carry around.

This one is compact, portable, and even includes a key chain for ease.

Carry these multi tool pliers around on your key chain everywhere you go.

If you pack any items that require electricity to function (cell phones, walkie-talkies, flashlights, GPS, etc.) you'll need a way to charge these devices.

This portable solar charger easily attaches to the outside of your bag so you can capture electricity while on the move.

Not to mention, this charger is also waterproof and shockproof. So there's absolutely no need to worry about damage to this tank.

It's my new favorite item since it allows you to keep your phone charged wherever you decide to go!

When fulfilling your bug out bag checklist, it also makes things easy to carry along a survival kit case with some essentials.

This kit includes:

• 10-in-1 Mult-Tool Pliers
• Dual Chamber Aluminum High-Frequency Pealess Whistle
• Compact Durable Waterproof & Shockproof Carrying Case
• 11-in-1 Multi-Function Pocket Survival Card
• Ultra-Bright 2-Mode Keychain LED Flashlight
• Lightweight Compass
• Corkscrew Drill
• Wire Saw
• Seat belt Cutter

To put it simply...

Hands free.

You'll want a light with high beam and low beam settings; as well as rechargeable batteries.

And with the rechargeable batteries, you'll need a way to recharge them.

That's where a portable solar charger (#27 in this bug out bag checklist) becomes quite handy to keep your LED headlamp batteries charged up.

While a headlamp is important, you should also be carrying around a standard issue LED tactical flashlight.

You have more control with a regular LED flashlight, and can shine it in multiple directions without having to turn your head.

I prefer a Tactical flashlight when not doing tasks that require both my hands.

Plus, this one is zoom-able and can even withstand a Humvee!

You'll want regular updates on any situation as they change or shift.

You want to lead yourself in the right direction on your travels.

A great advantage of a hand crank radio is that you don't need to worry about batteries and recharging.

Additionally, this hand crank radio has extra ports to charge other electronic devices while on the go.

You should never rely on a cellphone or smartphone for your survival, but if you have one with you, it can be a useful tool.

If you want to take your smartphone with you an all its apps and information you need to get a protective case.

Additionally, this case features MOLLE, making it easy to take with you and strap onto your backpack for transport.

Again, recharge your phone using a solar charger or your hand crank radio.