31 Items To Survive Any Emergency | Bug Out Bag / Survival Kit Preparation
So the end of the world is coming… Are you prepared?
Well don’t worry if not. Because you’re in the right place to learn how to put together a survival kit/bug out bag fit for any emergency.
Earthquakes, Tsunamis, pandemics, war, Nuclear attacks, even a zombie apocalypse (you never know, it might happen).
Whatever emergency you think may come your way. With these 31 items, you will be prepared for all of them. Throughout this article, I’ll list all 31 survival items, were to buy them, the specific ones I recommend, and what they’re good for.
And don’t feel like you need to get everything. 1 good item is better then nothing at all.
Jump to the list
What is a survival kit, emergency bag, Bug out bag
Survival kits, emergency bags, and bug out bags are all pretty much the same thing. It’s your kit of all your survival gear which will all fit into a single bag. Meaning if there’s an emergency, even if you have to travel, you can take your kit with you.
Strictly speaking, a bug out bag is usually defined as having enough equipment to last at least 72 hours. Which all this will do and then some.
In most cases, the emergency will mean you need to stay home. So you don’t necessarily need to put all this in a bag. A box would do fine.
That way you can get extra of the things that have a ‘run out’ date on them. Such as water, food, and medical supplies. I recommend bulk buying those items.
With all this and extra food and water. You could happily stay at home with no running water or electricity for weeks on end depending on the amount of extra food and water you prep.
But the beauty of the bag, is that you can take your gear with you. Yet another technical definition of ‘bug-out bag’, something you can just pick up and leave with.
A lot of preppers will prepare 2 bags. One for home, and one that they keep in the boot of their car. Imagine if you went through all this to prepare the perfect survival bag and when the emergency hit, you were 10 miles away from your house. Somewhere like, an office.
Having a second bag in your car means you’re prepared at any given time, ready to ‘bug out’.
What are you prepping for
But what are you actually prepping for? Or what should you be prepping for?
That greatly depends on what threat you think you will need to prepare for. In the last few years we’ve heard so much about pandemics, threats of war, and natural disasters. Understandably, it’s difficult to know which threat will be the most imminent.
If you’re in a country that suffers from natural disasters, like current day Turkey with earthquakes, you may not have much need for say, a radioactive protective mask. As opposed to if you live in a country like Ukraine which is facing war difficulties.
But don’t stress. These items on this list are specifically chosen to offer the most versatility. So even in the most unlikely scenario, such as a zombie apocalypse were to happen, you’d still be prepared.
Why everyone should prep even if they don’t think anything will happen
Even if you don’t think you will ever use your survival kit. Or you strongly believe a bug out bag will do nothing but collect dust in the back of your wardrobe. You should still prep one.
Because let’s face it. For a small basic set up, it’ll cost you anywhere between $200-$300. That’s not a lot of money for something that just might save your life. Even if the probabilities are low, it’s still worth it.
If you were to prepare the expect bug out bag with everything in it and extra reserves, that may cost you over $1000. Yet still, even though it’s much more expensive, is still worth it considering what it’s there for.
People spend more then that on a holiday. So skip the holiday this year and prep for an emergency… just in case.
If the last 3 years have taught us anything. It’s that you never know what’s around the corner, so why the hell not be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Not much of a reader?
The full list of equipment, where to buy it, and why its useful is below. But if you’re not much of a reader, here’s the video version.
The Bag
For the bag, you want something lightweight, durable, that will fit a lot in. Sorry, but your supermarket plastic bag just will not cut it.
I’ve got 2 options for you here. The bigger bag if you want to fully prepare, and a smaller bag if you’re not that concerned but would still like to do something.
60L+ Backpack
Any bag above 60 litres is going to be your top pick for obvious reasons… You can fit more in it.
However. The bigger the bag, the harder it will be to carry. Not good if you have to travel long distances on foot. These 2 that I recommend are light weight and designed for heavy loads.
Meaning less strain on your back.
Trespass Backpack
If the larger backpack isn’t for you. A smaller bag that can still hold a decent amount, is waterproof, and perfect for travelling. Is this Trespass backpack.
Water
Water is the most important thing for survival.
Recommendations are to drink 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Tap water may be easy to get hold of. But you need something to hold that water, carry it, and in the worse case scenario that an emergency lasts multiple days or weeks, a way to purify any water you source.
1 Gallon Water Bottle
A 1 gallon water bottle is perfect to have in your survival kit. It’s the exact amount of water recommended to have per day.
So if the emergency you’re in lasts longer then a few days, you can keep track of your water intake by using these bottles.
Just fill it up every morning and that’s your water ration for the day.
Water Purification Tablets
No matter how much water you prep, at some point, you’re going to run out.
In which case you need to purify the water you source. The last thing you want in an emergency situation is to get sick from drinking bacteria ridden water.
For that, you’re going to need water purification tablets.
10L Camping Bags
The thing about water is it’s very heavy.
A big part of that weight is the containers you’re keeping it in. Not to mention, these big bulky containers are hard to move from one place to another.
These bags are the best option for that. They hold a lot of water and weigh of almost nothing.
The best part is when they’re empty, they fold up to a size that could fit in your pocket.
So if you’re in a situation where you’re running low on water whilst on the move, and you come across a good source, you can whip one of these bags out and fill it up.
As opposed to only being able to refill the water bottle you have.
Very handy. I highly recommend.
Food
When prepping food for an emergency, go with canned food with long expiry dates on them.
Stay clear from fresh food and perishable food.
Canned food with juice or water is a good idea for when cooking food. It means you don’t have to use any of your water supply.
You also want to make sure you get high carb foods. Food with plenty of calories which will give you the energy you need even on a tight rationing.
Emergency Food Supply
The perfect solution to the question of “How do I get food if I can’t leave my home/shelter”
And “how do I decide how much food to take with me if I’m on the move”
Is this here emergency food supply. These are freeze dried long lasting food supplies. They come in pouches and you add cold or hot water to rehydrate them.
They’re easy to store, will take up little room in your bag if you’re on the move, have the nutrients and energy you need to stay healthy and there’s 120 servings per bucket.
Did I mention they also have a shelf life of 25 years?
One of these in your survival kit and you don’t have to worry about food for a loooong time.
fire starting equipment
You never know what situation a fire might come in handy for. For that, you’re going to need plenty of options to start a fire.
Fire starting kit
A fire starting kit that can still be used without the need of gas, like lighters, or that will run out, like matches, is great to have in any survival kit or bug out bag.
I recommend something like this so you at least have something to get your fire going when its just not working out for you.
Windproof/Waterproof Matches
That being said, in certain situations, you might need fire quick. So in case that happens, its a good idea to keep hold of some windproof matches.
In order to be prepared for any situation. It’s also wise to make sure your matches are waterproof like these ones.
Medical Supplies
First aid box
When it comes to first aid kits. Just get a standard box. Don’t waste time or money trying to put it together from scratch.
Just make sure that if you do have any specific medicines, you get those as well.
Flashlight
In a situation where you have no electricity, a flashlight is going to be your best friend.
The best thing about this one (other then the cheap price tag) is that it’s quite small.
If possible you want to avoid big bulky objects that will take up a lot of room in your bug out bag.
This flash light can be attached to the side of your bag or pocket, freeing up space in your survival kit.
Emergency Radio
In most emergency situations that will call for your survival kit, the radio will be the most important thing.
In natural disasters where you might be trapped, it’s your contact with the outside world.
In wars, it will be your source of information on what to do and where to go.
So a good radio is important. This specific radio is built for emergencies. It takes batteries, it has a solar panel, and it has a hand crank so even if you don’t have batteries or the sun you can still use it.
You can also use the hand crank to charge other devices, such as phones.
If that wasn’t enough it comes equipped with a flashlight and SOS alarm.
If you’re to get one thing of this list and one thing only. Get this radio.
Emergency Blanket
An emergency blanket will come in handy more then you might think.
In a situation such as Nuclear war. Keeping safe from radiation will be a main priority.
So if you need to strip off contaminated clothing, a blanket to keep you warm could be the difference between life and death.
You could also use it to duct tape over a window to keep radiation from getting in your home or shelter.
As a side note, if you want to know what to do in case of a Nuclear war, check out this YouTube video here.
Whistle
Never underestimate the humble whistle. You can use it to call for help or sound an alarm for people to find you.
Not only that, but they weigh of nothing so it’s not like it would take up any space in your bag.
Swiss army knife
A Swiss army knife is going to be your go to tool in an emergency and non are better in my humble opinion then Victorinox.
Depending on your preference, it may also be wise to check out a multi tool such as this one for UK and this one here for USA.
Maps
Situations such as Nuclear attacks could wipe out anything electric. So if you need to travel, its a good idea to have a map. You won’t be able to use google maps if you’re lost, so it’s back to the humble paper map.
The best thing to do is to pick up a map of your area. No need having a massive map that covers the entire planet. Just your area and where you’d be planning on going will be perfect.
Paracord
Paracord is great to have in survival situations when you’re on the move.
You can climb with them, build shelters, secure items. All sorts.
I’d recommend grabbing at least 30m (100 feet) of Paracord for your bug out bag or survival kit.
Face mask
At this point, I’m sure we’re all aware of why and how to use a face mask.
Not to mention the importance of one. So I’ll keep this brief - get a good face mask.
Energy tablets
Energy tablets are a great thing to pack in your survival bag. In times of emergency or when your rationing of food is low. Just pop one of these and you’re good to go.
Cleaning wipes
Situation: You’re in an emergency (thank god you made a survival bag) you’ve rationed the water perfectly and next thing you know, you start feeling sick because you were touching dirty items then rubbing your face.
All your fluids are coming out the back and front of you and you have to smash through your reserve of water just to replenish your fluids.
Not good, right?
Just get some cleaning wipes, and give anything suspicious a quick wipe to stay on the safe side.
Documents
Keeping your passport with you is an important thing to do during a emergency, and often something even keen D-day and apocalypse/end of the world preppers forget.
In situations such as war, having proof of who you are could be the difference between being saved by the army or being left for dead. All the proof of who you are, and what you own will be massively effective in war based scenarios.
Especially when it comes to getting back to normal.
Waterproof/Fireproof Document Protector
It may be a good idea to also invest in a fireproof and waterproof document protector.
This isn’t just for survival either. It’s a great thing to have just in case your home catches on fire.
Extras
Okay, so that’s all the important stuff out the way. These next items are all the things I highly recommend, however, not 100% necessary. It’s very much down to how prepared you want to be, and what your personal situation is.
For a basic bug out bag, get everything from the above. For something more reliable, get the above and these next items.
Cargo pants
Cargo pants. Not the most fashionable, but with plenty of pockets, zips, and lightweight material. You will be thanking me that these are part of your survival plan.
And that goes for both women and men.
Hiking Boots
Another fashionable item I’d highly recommend you considering is a good pair of boots.
Something comfortable, which you can climb in, walk for miles in, and run in all whilst keeping your feet dry.
These work perfect for that.
Walkie Talkies
If you’re in a pair or group, you’re going to want to stay in contact in case you have to separate for one reason or another.
In that case, you’ll be wanting some good quality waterproof 2-way radio walkie talkies.
These are my recommendations.
Sleeping Bag
If you’ve got the space for it, a good sleeping bag will come in handy for you to get a decent nights sleep if you’re out travelling or the emergency lasts longer then a few days.
Tent
Similar to the sleeping bag, if you have the space, a tent will always come in handy.
Portable Stove
Cooking food with ease is an obvious for this one. But also, water…
Once you run out of water and purification tablets, you’re going to have to purify water you source by boiling away any bad bacteria.
For this, you need a good source of heat.
If you’re outside and you’re confident with your fire making ability. This won’t be necessary.
But if it’s been raining, you’re screwed. And if you’re inside, you can’t exactly go making fires in the middle of a building. Not safely anyway. So a portable stove will come in handy.
Pepper spray
We would all like to think that during an emergency we will hunker down in the comfort of our own home and wait for it all to blow over.
But unfortunately, you might find yourself needing to get onto the defensive. And this isn’t always just in war based situations.
People have a tendency to freak out during an emergency and you might find your neighbours breaking into your house trying to raid your survival gear. Best to get something to protect yourself, just in case.
Just make sure its something that gets people away but doesn’t cause permanent harm. No weapons.
Deck of cards
Another neglected aspect of a survival kit is something for your mental wellbeing.
Imagine being prepared for 6 weeks of an emergency and having nothing to do during that time other then think about what’s going on. You need a distraction. A deck of playing cards is perfect for this.
Maybe you have a family. The last thing you want is everyone spending the entire time stressed out. It’s not going to be a fun time, sure, but you can at least make the time pass somewhat by chucking a cheap deck of playing cards in your survival kit.
Books - foraging books x2
More so on the point of mental stability. A good book will help distract you from whatever is going on.
But it’s not just about mental stability. A book can be a life or death decider in a lot of emergency situations. Imagine if you will, you have no food, you’re travelling a long distance and have to turn to foraging.
You’re not going to be able to google whether that plant is safe to eat or not. If you had a foraging book, you could check.
I’d also recommend, not just for your survival kit, but for any keen forager, to get two books.
That way if you’re unsure whether you have matched the right plant to the one in the book, you can cross reference. The last thing you want is being certain that a mushroom is safe, eating it, then dying because it wasn’t.
Get 2 books, cross reference, and you’ll have nothing to worry about… well, other then whatever emergency has led you to be foraging in the first place.
Sewing kit
Always good to have in case you tear a whole in your clothes or need to DIY some form of shelter/face mask.
Duct Tape
Duct tape has so many uses, its an incredible item to have. Quick fixes and duct tape go hand in hand. A broken pipe? Duct tape it, ripped clothes? Duct tape.
Imagine if you will that the emergency is a nuclear attack. Keeping the radiation outside is massively important. Windows often have small gaps that let in air. With duct tape you can go round every window and every air vent in your home to build out a full radioactive shelter in less then what? 5 minutes?
Also, if you unfortunately find yourself with a nasty cut, you can wrap it in something clean then wrap duct tape around it to keep it in place.
Feminine Hygiene
For women, You want to stock up on your feminine hygiene. If this emergency falls on your time of the month you’re going to be incredibly uncomfortable if you don’t have anything to help.
For more recommendations
You can check out the official websites below to cross-reference and check if there’s anything else missing from your survival kit/bug out bag.
Hi, I’m Cameron, guv’nor of Smartblend. If you liked this then you’re in luck, I have a bunch more guides like it, vegetarian and pescatarian food recipes, cocktails, and drink guides with a sprinkling of wellness and mindful drinking. If that sounds like you, then stick around!
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