The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag

Whether it’s a wildfire, a hurricane, a flood, or any number of other emergencies, a fully stocked bag of emergency gear (commonly referred to as a “ready bag,” “go bag,” or “bug-out bag”) allows you and your family to quickly evacuate to a shelter or other secure location without forgetting any basic survival supplies and tools.

For this guide we focused on gear that could be more easily carried in a backpack, emphasizing lightness and portability wherever possible. For sheltering in place, we have a separate guide to the best emergency preparedness supplies to help you manage at home for a period of time following a disaster that knocks out utility services or cuts off outside resources to your area. We hope both of our guides will help you be prepared with reliable and versatile tools that can help you manage whatever emergency you may face.

If you are interested in learning more, continue to read the complete article on other tips and tricks for your bug out bag, written by Doug Mahoney.

LAST UPDATED

January 6, 2025

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Wirecutter Staff

Staff

Staff picks for Wirecutter.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

Consumer Reports has ranked [Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent] as the best protection against mosquitoes.

Tori Peglar
Writer