The Best Bug Out Bags 2023
Introduction
In emergency situations, you need to make sure you have everything you need. Finding a good bug out bag will help make those emergency situations just a little less stressful.
Since there are so many bug out bags on the market, it can be stressful even just finding one that suits your needs.
Trust us to walk you through the best bug out bags, and help guide you to choose the best bug out bag that suits your needs.
Our picks
Mike’s Top Pick
CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack
The CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack provides 50 liters of storage space, and its numerous pockets allow you to easily organize and access your supplies.
It’s also one of the lightest bug out bags we’ve seen, coming in at only 2.5 lbs. Comfort is added by body contour shoulder straps, a rear foam pad, and a removable wrist strap.
The great organizational features, comfort features and space make this tactical backpack our top pick.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Holds two 3L hydration bladders
• Lightweight
• Large capacity
Cons:
• Not confirmed water resistant
Value pick
REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack
The REEBOW GEAR bug out bag offers many premium features at a good price.
The material this bug out backpack is made of is lightweight, water resistant, and durable. Your emergency supplies will stay dry, the weight on your back will be caused only by your supplies and not your bag, and yet the material is still durable.
Numerous interior and exterior pockets will keep your supplies organized, while the ventilated mesh padding for the back and shoulder straps will keep you comfortable.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Water resistant
• Lightweight
Cons
• Doesn’t hold as many supplies as other bug out bags
Premium pick
5.11 RUSH72
With a capacity of 55 liters, the 5.11 RUSH72 bug out backpack is the biggest on the list. You will have no problem fitting your 72 hours-worth of emergency supplies in it. It’s also really durable, a bit heavy, but extremely solid, with 1050D water resistant nylon fabric.
Adjustable foam shoulder straps and a waist strap add to the comfort of the 5.11 RUSH72 bag.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• 1050D water resistant fabric
• Large capacity
Cons:
• Heavy
Table of Contents
Our picks
Mike’s Top Pick
Value Pick
Premium Pick
Reviews of the Best Bug out Backpacks
5.11 RUSH72
REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack
CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack
Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack
SOG Ninja Tactical Day Pack
Eyourlife Military Tactical Backpack 20L
Value section/ Methodology
What is a bug out bag?
What makes a good bug out bag?
Capacity
Organizational system
Durability
Price
Comfort
Weight
Water resistance
Other features
Comparison Table
PLAN - PRICE
text
text
text
text
text
text
text
text
Capacity of 55 liters
72 hr suitable time period
Water Resistant
Adjustable shoulder straps, waist strap, compression straps
1050D nylon
Capacity of 40 liters
72 hr suitable time period
Water Resistant
Ventilated mesh padded back area and shoulder strap
High density, double-stitched fabric with heavy duty zippers and utility-style cord pulls
Capacity of 50 liters
72 hr suitable time period
Not listed
Rear foam padding and body contour shoulder straps, waist belt
N/A
PLAN - PRICE
text
text
text
text
text
text
text
text
Capacity of 34 liters
Suitable time period not listed
Water Resistant
Back padding, curved backpack straps, and chest and waist straps
1000-Denier water and abrasion resistant light-weight ballistic nylon fabric
Capacity of24.2 liters
Suitable time period not listed
Water Resistant
Yoke-style adjustable, padded shoulder straps, adjustable chest slider, breathable padded mesh back
Durable plastic buckles and zippers, water resistant fabric
Capacity of 20 liters
Suitable time period not listed
Water Resistant
Padded, breathable mesh back and shoulder straps
600D polyester, lined with water resistant lining and water repellant coating
Reviews of the Best BugOut Bags
5.11 RUSH72
With a capacity of 55 liters, the 5.11 RUSH72 bug out bag allows you to hold enough supplies for 72 hours, according to the manufacturers.
Its large capacity could leave you digging and searching to find your supplies, but that’s not an issue with this bug out backpack. It has a great organizational system with several pockets, including a fleeced pocket for sunglasses and a pocket made to store documents, maps, and pens.
The 1050D nylon fabric used in the 5.11 RUSH72 bug out backpack is durable and water resistant, which is a great feature in heavy rain. Another durability feature of this bug out bag is the “self-healing” zipper system.
Adjustable foam shoulder straps provide comfort, along with a waist strap and dual compression straps.
It also comes with space for a hydration bladder to carry up to 60 oz. of water while taking up the least amount of space as possible.
Though the manufacturer doesn’t list a weight for this bag, it does weigh around 5 lbs., making it quite heavy to carry around in addition to 72 hours worth of supplies
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• 1050D water resistant fabric
• Large capacity
Cons:
• Heavy
What buyers said
“This bag is a bit heavy, but it’s not really meant to be an everyday carry bag, so I think that’s okay. It hold a lot of gear, I’m not worried about running out of supplies!”
REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack
The REEBOW GEAR bug out bag has a smaller capacity than the 5.11 RUSH72, but manufacturers say that it will still hold supplies for 72 hours.
With several interior and exterior pockets suitable for documents and smaller items, your supplies can stay organized.
It’s lighter than the 5.11 RUSH72, weighing in around 3 lbs, but it has many of the same durability features, as it’s still made of durable, water resistant material and heavy-duty zippers.
A ventilated mesh padded back area and shoulder straps add to the comfortability of this bug out bag, as does the waist strap. It is also compatible with a hydration bladder, perfect for carrying water in the most space-efficient way possible.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Water resistant
• Lightweight
Cons
• Doesn’t hold as many supplies as other bug out bags
What buyers said
“This is the best bug out bag I’ve had, I’d even go so far as to say it’s the best backpack I’ve ever bought! There are tons of pockets for organizing all my supplies, and I love that it’s waterproof. The zippers seem like they’re really good quality, too. It’s a comfortable wear; even with over 20 lbs of supplies, I can wear this bag comfortably.”
CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack
At 50 liters, the CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack bug out bag is a similar size to the 5.11 RUSH72.
This pack is lighter, though, at only 2.5 lbs. It carries supplies for 72 hours, like the others on this list so far, however, manufacturers don’t specify whether or not it’s water resistant.
Unlike the others on this list, though, the CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack can hold two 3L hydration bladders, which is more than we’ve seen so far.
The removable waist strap is a great comfort feature of the CONDOR 3 Day Assault Pack bug out backpack, as are the body contour shoulder straps and the rear foam pad, which helps with air circulation.
The numerous pockets in this bug out bag make organization and access easy; it features 2 mesh pockets, 3 document pockets, 2 radio pockets, pen holsters, as well as 2 large rear pockets and one zipper closure mesh pocket in the bottom exterior pocket. Extra pockets have been added on the side for the hydration systems or extra items.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Holds two 3L hydration bladders
• Lightweight
• Large capacity
Cons:
• Not confirmed water resistant
What buyers said
“This is my first bug out bag, and I love it. It has lots of space for all my supplies. It’s almost too large, though, especially for an everyday carry bag… but for a bug out bag, it’s great. I think this bag offers great value for the price, too!”
Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack
Coming in at 34 liters, the Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack has the least capacity of all the bug out bags on this so far, including the 40 liter REEBOW GEAR Military Tactical Backpack.
There is space built-in for a hydration pack, suitable for up to 3L.
The Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack has mesh padding on the back area and on the backpack straps, which make the material more breathable to avoid sweating. The padding ensures the backpack is comfortable, and the straps are curved ergonomically for this purpose, too. Chest and waist straps can be adjusted for a perfect fit, and can also be hidden when not in use.
Manufacturers offer tons of information on their website describing how durable this bag is. The Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack is made of some of the most durable fabric we’ve seen yet: 1000D ballistic nylon. This fabric is water and wear resistant, and its water resistance is boosted by the triple polyurethane coating.
Other factors that guarantee the strength of the material of this bug out backpack include a high tensile strength nylon webbing and composite nylon threat. “Stress points” are double-stitched, all the zippers and zipper tracks are high strength zipper and zipper tracks have been included, and Teflon fabric protector makes the bag more “grime resistant” and easy to clean, according to manufacturers. We could go on, but this is the gist of just how durable the Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack is.
Comfort was another priority for the manufacturers of this bag. It has breathable, adjustable, padded backpack straps, a chest strap that can be removed, a waist belt that can be hidden away when not in use, and a padded hip support.
A zippered compartment can hold a 3L hydration pack, and nine pockets of varying sizes can hold all kinds of other supplies.
Capacity can be added to this bag with the addition of PALS or MOLLE compatible packs.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Extremely durable and water resistant
• Lightweight
Cons:
• Doesn’t hold as many supplies as other bug out bags
What buyers said
“I love this bag, it’s super durable but I think it’s too small to hold 72 hours worth of supplies. This is a great everyday bag, but I wouldn’t use it as a bug out bag.”
“This bag is a bit small as a 72 hour bug out bag, but I easily attached one additional pack on to the PALS attachment system and now I have plenty of space.”
SOG Ninja Tactical Day Pack, 24.2-Liter Storage
The SOG Ninja Tactical Day Pack has a storage capacity of 24.2 liters, less than the Maxpedition Vulture-II Backpack, which was previously the smallest on the list.
Buckles and zippers are made with durable plastic. The SOG Ninja Tactical Day Pack will also repel water in a few different ways: the fabric is water resistant and draining grommets are attached to the main compartment to prevent water from collecting inside the pack.
Pockets suitable for all kinds of supplies are included, such as the soft-lined top pocket perfect for glasses, a small accessory pocket, a large main compartment, front accessory pocket with organizer, and two side pockets.
You can carry a hydration pack of up to 2L, with access for a hydration tube.
Though this is a smaller pack, additional storage components, compatible with the PALS or MOLLE system can be attached.
Comfort is added to this pack with yoke-style, adjustable and padded shoulder straps, as well as an adjustable chest strap, and breathable padded mesh backing.
Pros:
• Numerous pockets offer a good organizational system
• Lightweight
Cons:
• Doesn’t hold as many supplies as other bug out bags – one of the smallest on the list
Eyourlife Military Tactical Backpack 20L
At 20L of capacity, this is the smallest bag on the list yet, but additional, MOLLE or PALS compatible compartments can be added on.
Back and shoulder strap padding add to the comfort of this backpack, and the mesh lining the padding promotes air circulation, preventing excessive sweating.
The 600D nylon oxford cloth the Eyourlife Military Tactical Backpack 20L is made of is durable and features a water resistant coating.
The zippers are durable, too: they’re heavy duty and oversized.
Along with being the smallest bag on our list, this is also the least expensive. Some reviewers have said that the price is sacrificed with quality, though, as there are many comments about the poor quality of the stitching and zippers on this bag.
Pros:
• Water resistant
Cons:
• Only 20L capacity – may not be suitable for 72 hours of supplies
• Poor quality
What buyers said
“I really liked this bag until, after about one month of very light use, the stitching came apart.”
“I’ve been using this bag for about a year, and the zippers are starting to become really sensitive. I have to zip really slowly in order for it to close properly. I was using this as an everyday carry bag, but I think I’ll switch it to a bug out bag, because I won’t have to use the zippers as much.”
Value section/ Methodology
What is a bug out bag?
A bug out bag is like an everyday carry backpack, but its purpose is much different: bug out bags are meant for evacuation purposes. They’re meant to provide you with a space to store and carry the items you need for at least 72 hours in an emergency situation.
The first 72 hours after an emergency is a critical time, as, according to Ready.gov, “you may need to survive on your own for a few days,” as it may take emergency services awhile to respond to any natural disasters or emergencies (Ready.gov).
What makes a good bug out bag?
The purpose of a bug out bag is to ensure you and your family can survive after a natural disaster, or some other emergency happens. This important function means that there are some essential features to a good bug out backpack, including:
Capacity
You may be surprised at how many items you need to sustain yourself and your family for 72 hours. That’s why it’s important for a good bug out bag to be able to carry enough supplies for that time period.
Capacity is reflected in the physical amount of space the bag has for storage, and some manufacturers will even assign a period of time to the bag, estimating how many supplies you’ll need for that period of time.
Organizational System
If you’re already in a situation where you need to use a bug out bag, you’re probably already stressed and flustered enough as it is. A good go bag will have a good organizational system to keep your sanity in check: it should be easy for you to access and find the items that are essential for your survival at the time of an emergency.
Durability
During an emergency, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether or not the bag carrying all of your emergency supplies is going to break when you need it the most. The durability of a bug out bag is essential.
Price
Hopefully, many of us will only use a bug out bag once or twice in our lifetimes, and at worst, once or twice a year. Since you won’t be using a bug out bag everyday, you may not want to spend as much money on it as you would on an everyday carry backpack.
Comfort
If you’re using a bug out bag, it’s likely that you may have to carry it for quite a long time. A good bug out bag should be comfortable to carry, especially since it is also likely to be carrying a lot of supplies. Straps and cushioning are good features to have in a bug out bag, in case you’re stuck carrying it for a long period of time.
Weight
A good bug out bag is lightweight: you’ve have 72 hours-worth of supplies packed in the bag, so it’s probably already quite heavy. If you’re going to be carrying around this pack for awhile, the weight of the bag itself is something to consider.
Water resistance
Although it’s not absolutely necessary that your bug out bag be water resistant, it may be a nice feature if you’re living somewhere that is prone to flooding and heavy rain.
Other Features
• Fabric weight
This is reflected in the deniers (D) used in creating the fabric; for example, 1050D fabric is heavier than 500D fabric, although it doesn’t always mean that the fabric is more durable. This is important to consider because it contributes to the weight of the backpack, and, generally, the heavier the fabric the more durable the bag is.
• Hydration bladder compatibility
A “hydration bladder” is a plastic pouch that carries water. This comes with a “hydration tube” for drinking out of the bladder. Since, during an emergency, clean water is vital, you may prefer to have a built in water bottle like a hydration bladder, or you may prefer to simply carry a water filter.
Are you getting ready to start a new adventure? Mike’sGearReviews will help you with your check list: Do you have an EDC Flashlight? Did you get your hiking pants? How about the fire starter?…and you can also read our Zombie Survival Guide, because… you never know!