A photo of a backpack and a water bottle against a tree in the woods
A photo of a backpack and a water bottle against a tree in the woods

Bug Out Bag List – 111 Practical Do’s and Don’ts for 2025

This bug out bag list contains all the necessary items most people need for short-term survival. Creating a bug out bag is essential to maximizing your chances of surviving any disaster. After all, if you don’t have all the items you need to survive, you will run into problems.

I’ve built bug-out bags for both actual “bugging out” survival and more home-based preparedness. However, bug-out bags are extremely personal and based on your environment. Therefore, in this article, I’m not just going to tell you what I’ve done – I’m going to explain when you should do things differently.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Kristin Hitchcock.

Medya Mansyone

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Zooe Pòtay
Editor at Backpacker

Medya Mansyone

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
montè mòn

Medya Mansyone

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker