Lots of people听call听emergency survival kits 鈥渂ug-out bags,鈥 which is a military reference to getting out of somewhere fast. They鈥檙e popular with preppers, but even the 听that everybody听should pack one in case of natural or human-caused听disaster. It鈥檚 also handy听to have one in听the back of your car听if you get stuck or end up spending the night somewhere unexpected. The supplies in the bag听are intended听to help keep you safe and alive for 72 hours.
I鈥檝e written about bug-out听bags before, but I wanted to try听building one for less than $100. To find out if that鈥檚 possible,听I called Mark Puhaly and Joel Stevens*, the founders of the website听听who were featured on National Geographic鈥檚听听television show.听Here are their top suggestions.
Backpack ($10): Stevens听likes (an acronym for All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) backpacks, which you can usually find at a local surplus store. They鈥檙e easy to find, durable, and big. 鈥淭his was the backpack of choice pretty much throughout the 鈥80s and 鈥90s for the U.S.听military,鈥 he says. If you鈥檙e buying used,听check for听tears and broken zippers and buckles.
Flashlight ($7):听This waterproof flashlight from Dorcy isn鈥檛 super powerful (it's only听55 lumens, or fewer than your standard outdoor headlamp), but you can use it in the rain, and it comes with a carabiner clip so you鈥檒l never lose it.
Fire Starter ($3):听An inexpensive set of like these from UCO听will ensure that you can get a fire going. Just make sure to practice at home.
Water Purification Kit ($7):听I always hedge my bets听with a chemical purifier like these iodine tablets. They taste awful,听but ensure clean water no matter where you are. Be sure to include an old听small pot from home to boil water.听
MREs ($10):听Military surplus stores carry MREs, the self-heating meals that soldiers eat in the field. They鈥檙e cheap鈥攐ften just $3 each鈥攁nd packed with calories. Tip: Puhaly and Stevens听says it鈥檚 fine听to buy expired MREs, which are even cheaper. If you can鈥檛 stomach MREs, go to your local grocery store and buy $10 worth of trail mix that鈥檚听heavy on protein-rich听nuts.
Swiss Army Knife ($20):听Skip a giant blade and go with something like the 听that鈥檚 more versatile and includes听scissors, a screwdriver, and a file.
Shelter ($40):听There are various ways to build a shelter outside. You can buy 听and a 听and听string it up between trees. A 听will keep you听warm. Or you can buy a used tent and sleeping bag, which I鈥檝e found for $20 each after some digging in thrift stores.
Research (Free):听Once you have your kit ready, Puhaly and Stevens听suggest looking at survival websites like 听and , both of which will help you learn how to use your gear in an emergency.