This free, step-by-step guide is designed to walk you through the process of making a go bag. With just a little preparation, you can build a go bag that will keep you and your family safe in the event of a disaster.
Would you rather buy a premade go bag? If so, no problem! We’ve got you covered.
While we wrote this guide to help people make their own go bag, read this guide to learn more about buying an emergency kit.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.
TL;DR? Here are our recommended items:
 | Food | Buy on Amazon |
 | Food | Buy on Amazon |
 | Water | Buy on Amazon |
 | Water Purification Straw | Buy on Amazon |
 | Water Purification Tablets | Buy on Amazon |
 | Tent | Buy on Amazon |
 | Bivy Sack | Buy on Amazon |
 | Blankets | Buy on Amazon |
 | Ponchos | Buy on Amazon |
 | First Aid Kit | Buy on Amazon |
 | Emergency Radio | Buy on Amazon |
 | Pocket Knife Multitool | Buy on Amazon |
 | Glow Light Sticks | Buy on Amazon |
 | Masks | Buy on Amazon |
 | Whistle | Buy on Amazon |
 | Flashlight | Buy on Amazon |
 | Tape | Buy on Amazon |
 | Rope | Buy on Amazon |
 | Portable Lighting | Buy on Amazon |
 | Flash Drive | Buy on Amazon |
 | Backpack | Buy on Amazon |
 | Waterproof Folder | Buy on Amazon |
 | Battery Pack | Buy on Amazon |
Ready to read the guide and put together a go bag? Let’s do this!
Table of Contents
- Food and Water
- Shelter
- First Aid
- Communication
- Survival Tools & Accessories
- Essential Documents
- Bag
- Other Useful Items
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Step 1 – Food and Water
Food and water are the most important things to have in your go bag. According to the survival rule of 3, we cannot survive three days without water and three days with food. While not an exact science, it does provide a general guideline for how long a person can go without these essential elements in a survival situation.
When choosing food, the right balance of nutrition, portability, price, and shelf-life has to be considered. Non-perishable food items, such as energy bars, jerky, and nuts, are great options. If you are looking for something more survivalist, we recommend the Datrax 3600 Emergency Food Bar – 3 Day/72 Hour Bar. Each bar has 200 calories and there is enough in the pack for a family of four to ration over the course of three days.
Food
In Stock
Datrax 3600 Emergency Food Bar – 3 Day/72 Hour Bar
- Package of 18 survival bars with 200 Calories per bar, 3600 Calories per pack
- Tabletized and sub packaged for ease of rationing and storage in your survival and disaster kit
- NON GMO and NO NUTS – all natural ingredients with no preservatives and superior coconut flavor
- USCG approved; small and lightweight with a 5 year shelf life
- High energy value; ready to eat; non thirst provoking
With water, there are a variety of options. One option is to buy packaged water that can fit easily in your go bag. Others opt for a water filtration system, such as a water purification straw, or water purification tablets. We recommend getting all three.
Water
In Stock
Datrax Emergency Water Packet – 3 Day/72 Hour Supply
- Emergency purified water for immediate use; lightweight and extremely compact
- Loss potential minimized due to individual sachets and ideal for storage
- Easy to dispense from a pre-measured sachet; superior packaging materials for optimum durability in your survival kit
- Such, Canadian Coast guard, EC and NZ approval (nan 8960 0112 4454 3)
- 5 years shelf life
Water Filter
In Stock
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
- Removes bacteria & parasites: The microfiltration membrane removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), and 99.999% of waterborne parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium)
- Removes microplastics: Removes the smallest microplastics found in the environment (down to 1 micron), and reduces turbidity down to 0.2 microns
Step 2 – Shelter
While according to the survival rule of 3, we cannot survive three days without water and three days with food, we also cannot survive 3 hours without shelter in extreme conditions. Having shelter is definitely a needed item for your go bag.
Shelter can be in the form of a tent, tarp, or bivy sack, depending on the individual’s preferences. A warm blanket and a sleeping bag are also important items to have in case the weather turns cold. We’ve found that having a tent, thermal blankets, and ponchos to be the right level of coverage and portability.
Tent
In Stock
2 Person Mylar Emergency Shelter Tube Tent
- Durable tent that takes up a minimal amount of space in your go bag.
- Easy to setup
- Fits two people.
Blankets
In Stock
Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets
- Perfect for emergency situations where warmth or protection from all-weather conditions is required. Helps prevent hypothermia and shock by retaining/reflecting up to 90% of a user’s body heat. our blankets can help block rain, snow, and moisture to keep you dry in damp, wet, cold, rainy environments
Step 3 – First Aid
First aid supplies are also an essential part of a go bag. A basic first aid kit should include bandages, Aspirin, cold compress, gloves, hydrocortisone ointment, roller bandages, tweezers, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, and cloth tape. A small, compact first aid manual is also a good idea in case you need to reference it for treatment instructions.
First Aid Kit
In Stock
298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit
- Kit includes many of the essential items including antiseptic ointment and pills.
- Convenient packaging that is very compact and spacious.
Step 4 – Communication
Most of us have cell phones. In most situations, we will still be able to communicate and search the internet freely. However, as seen in other disasters, cellular service is not always ensured. So we need to consider what we will do if we aren’t able to use our smart devices.
One prime way to make sure we stay alert is to have an emergency radio. Emergency radios are just what the name implies – radios designed to be used in the event of an emergency. When the unexpected happens, staying informed with pertinent updates helps us stay prepared and ready if and when the need for decisive action is needed.
Radio
In Stock
Midland Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
- 4 sustainable power sources to recharge the radio: Solar Panel, Hand Crank, Rechargeable 2600 mAh Battery, and 6 “AA” batteries.
- Emergency Flashlight
- NOAA Weather Scan and Alerts
- Charger
- Bonus Dog Whistle!
Step 5 – Survival Tools & Accessories
Survival tools are anything that one needs in order to survive in the case of an emergency or disaster. Being that these are unpredictable, having the right set of tools to cover multiple situations is important.
In addition to tools, having accessories, such as tape or ropes are helpful.
Here is a list of survival tools and accessories we recommend packing:
- Pocket Knife Multitool
- Emergency Glow Light Sticks
- Masks
- Whistle
- Flashlight
- Tape
- Rope
- Portable Lighting
- Battery Pack
MultiTool
In Stock
RoverTac Pocket Knife Multitool Folding Knife
- Versatile, Durable & Practical: RoverTac pocket knife has a 9 in 1 screwdriver bits set for many tasks/jobs. It’s made of solid stainless steel, and has a durable black oxide coating. Perfect for Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Adventuring, Outdoor activities, and Home Improvements.
- Secure Locking Mechanism: RoverTac folding knife has a discretely integrated liner lock that securely locks the blade and screwdriver in place for use. Simply depress the internal lever to unlock and fold the blade or the screwdriver.
- Easy to Carry: RoverTac multitool knife comes with a durable nylon sheath, with a belt loop for fast and easy access.
Lighting
In Stock
Glow Mind Emergency Glow Sticks
- Illuminates for hours.
- Works in water!
- Easily illuminates entire rooms and can be spotted from a mile.
Step 6 – Essential Documents
Essential documents include copies of:
- Your driver’s license, or other photo ID
- Social security cards
- Passports
- Medical ID cards, insurance information, or medical duration power of attorney (DPA) cards
- List of important phone numbers
- Copies of credit cards
- Copies of bank statements
For a more exhaustive list of important documents to have, check out FEMA’s list of critical documents to have in the case of an emergency. This checklist will allow you to mark off the items that you have and help you gather the documents that you haven’t packed.
Storing these documents is something that also needs to be considered. Having your files in a waterproof folder will protect them from the elements and keep them safe in your bag. A flash drive is also a good choice for storing files. We highly recommend the Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth 64 GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive as its rugged design along with it being waterproof up to 200 meters, vibration-resistant, and shock resistant make it a solid addition to your go bag.
Thumb Drive
In Stock
Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth 64 GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive
- Encased in extremely strong CNC-milled, anodized aircraft-grade aluminum
- Water proof to 200M through the use of a EPDM waterproof seal
- Protected from vibration or impact damage through the use of a molded shock damping collar
- High Performance with USB 3.0 or USB 2.0
- Plug-n-Play compatible
- Protected by a limited 5-year warranty
Step 7 – Bag
Most go bags are backpacks and for good reason. When on the run, it is easy to throw a backpack on your back and go. Backpacks are designed to evenly distribute the weight. Plus, they are small enough to fit in a closet and be accessible for grab and go.
More and more people are opting for ones with wheels. These are good for older couples or those with back problems since putting on a backpack might be difficult. Plus, rolling bags offer more space than traditional backpacks. However, they are not as versatile or portable as a backpack. These should be limited to those where a backpack is inconvenient.
Backpack
In Stock
WolfWarriorX Men Backpacks Large Capacity Hiking Backpack
- Durable & water-resistant hiking backpack
- The day pack measures 19＂Lx 12＂Wx 8＂H inch with 40L capacity. Hiking daypack owns 3 spacious compartments-one separate laptop compartment, one main compartment roomy for daily necessities, such as clothes, hiking gear, travel accessories etc. The front compartment has many small pockets, as well as pen pockets and a keychain design to keep your things organized and easier to find.
- It weighs 1.2 pounds.
- Shell is tear-resistant and stitched with reinforced nylon thread and heavy-duty nylon reinforcement.
Others opt for a duffle bag. These are good as well and offer more space than a backpack. There are plenty of options to choose from. One word of caution is to choose one that is not too big as this will make transporting it difficult. A medium size one will suffice depending on the size of the family.
Step 8 – Other Useful Items
Now that we have covered the major items, let’s mention a few other items that would be worthwhile to have in your go bag. These include:
- List of emergency contacts and meeting places and a local map
- Credit cards and cash
- Extra set of house keys and car keys
- Paper, pens, and activities for children
Overview
In this guide, we covered a wide range of go bag essentials. If you haven’t already, prepare now. Spending a moment now is a moment saved in the event of an emergency or disaster.
