Resources / Preparedness / Get-Home Bag Essentials

Do This

• Toss a few bottles of water (a pack runs about $5) in each vehicle.
• Add shelf-stable snacks: granola bars, nuts, or jerky (~$8).
• Check both every few months, water and food both degrade faster in a hot trunk.
• Do this for every vehicle today, before building anything more elaborate.

Do This

• Get a real backpack ($30-40), not a gym bag, something built to carry weight comfortably for miles.
• Add a water filter or purification tablets ($20-25) sized for a realistic walking distance home.
• Pack calorie-dense food that doesn't need cooking ($15-20).
• Include a compact first aid kit ($20-25) with basics for blisters, cuts, and minor injuries.

Do This

• Buy a simple baseplate compass ($10-15), you don't need a military-grade model.
• Get a printed or laminated local map ($10-15) that covers your work-to-home route and a backup.
• Mark your most likely routes home directly on the map before you need it.
• Learn basic map and compass navigation now, not for the first time under pressure.

Do This

• Pack a spare pair of broken-in socks and, if you can spare them, walking shoes ($40-60 combined if buying new).
• Add a weather layer for the worst conditions your area sees, even outside the current season.
• Include gloves and a hat, both pack small and matter more than people expect.
• Rotate the clothing change with the seasons, don't leave summer gear in for a winter walk.

Do This

• Add a basic handheld radio, a Baofeng UV-5R or similar runs about $25-35.
• Pack a ferro rod ($10) as a backup fire source that works wet.
• Include a lighter and a small amount of dry tinder or fire starter ($5-8).
• See our Communications guide for how the radio fits into a household-wide plan.

Do This

• Pack an emergency mylar blanket ($5-8) or a compact bivy sack ($20-25) for unplanned overnight exposure.
• Tuck cash in small bills ($40-60) into the bag, card systems and ATMs aren't guaranteed to work.
• Split the cash between two spots in the bag rather than one single stash.
• Check the shelter item periodically, mylar blankets tear easily and sometimes need replacing.

Do This

• Repeat stages two through six for each adult in the household.
• Personalize each bag to that person's size, fitness, and specific needs, don't just duplicate one build.
• Keep each bag with or near the person it belongs to, not all stored in one place.
• Walk through the contents of each bag together so everyone knows what they're carrying.

Do This

• Check each bag every season: swap clothing layers, replace expired food, and check batteries.
• Confirm water and first aid supplies haven't degraded or expired.
• Physically walk your most likely route home at least once, at a normal pace, in normal shoes.
• Update the map and notes in the bag with anything you learned on that walk.