Ultimate List of the 11 Best Bug Out Bags [2024 Updated]

bug out bag reviews

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If you are building a bug out bag, one of the first questions you have to ask is: Which bag are you going to choose?

There are tons of articles out there that will tell you what to keep in your bug out bag, but there seems to be an absence of good articles on choosing the actual bag.

Today we are going to put that right by discussing what makes a good bug out bag, and why choosing the right one is critical.

What's a bug out bag?

best bug out bag backpack

Now, if you're already confused, let's slow it down and talk about what a bug out bag is. I think it's important we define the idea before we dive in and start talking about what makes a good one.

A bug out bag is a survival kit designed for emergency situations and holds at least three days-worth of essentials for survival. A bug out bag is something you prepare in case of a natural disaster, a survival situation, or any other extreme event. If you don't have a bug out bag packed right now, you're already behind the curve.

You may not have time to pack a bag when disaster is on the way. You need it on hand and ready for these situations. A bug out bag is one of those items that should be ready at all times.

A bug out bag isn’t just something in use by crazy survivalists. A bug out bag is a bag designed for everyone, and even the United States Government advises you to have at least three days-worth of food and water on hand at all times. Having a bug out bag is just smart preparation.

So a bug out bag is a bag big enough to hold three days-worth of water, food, and general survival supplies. It needs to be a tough bag and designed for being comfortably carried on foot over miles and miles of terrain.

So let’s dive into what makes a good bug out bag.

PRODUCT

DETAILS

Products

BEST FOR ALL WEATHERS

Military Surplus Alice Pack

Military Surplus Alice Pack

  • Material: Polyester 
  • Dimensions: 15x5x18 in
  • Weight: 3.5 pounds
BEST FOR DURABILITY

BackPack Frame

BackPack Frame

  • Height: 20 in
  • Dimensions: 12.5x3x20in
  • Weight: 2.4 pounds
BEST FULL FEATURED BAG

5.11 RUSH72

5.11 RUSH72

  • Material: Nylon lining
  • Dimensions: 18.9x16.6x3.6in
  • Weight: 4 pounds
BEST FOR COMFORT

Eberlestock Halftrack Pack

Eberlestock Halftrack Pack

  • Material: Denier Nylon
  • Dimensions: 6x14x22 in
  • Weight: 6.2 pounds
BEST FOR MANY POCKETS

USMC Gen II ILBE

USMC Gen II ILBE

  • Material: Denier Fabric
  • Dimensions: 18x12x6 in
  • Weight: 3 pounds
BEST FOR LIGHT WEIGHT

Tactical Tailor Assault Pack

Tactical Tailor Assault Pack

  • Material:Denier Cordura
  • Dimensions: 18x14x8 in
  • Weight: 3.6 pounds
BEST FOR INSANE STORAGE

Condor 3 Day Assault Pack

Condor 3 Day Assault Pack

  • Material: Fabric
  • Dimensions: 11x17x22 in
  • Weight: 2.5 pounds
BEST FOR STRENGTH

Maxpedition Vulture – II

Maxpedition Vulture – II

  • Material: Fabric & Nylon
  • Dimensions: 20.5x16x7 in
  • Weight: 2 pounds
BEST FOR EXTRA POUCHES

Red Rock Outdoor Assault Pack

Red Rock Outdoor Assault Pack

  • Material: Polyester lining
  • Dimensions: 11.5x18x12 in
  • Weight: 3.25 pounds
BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY

Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack

Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack

  • Material: Nylon
  • Dimensions: 11x17x22 in
  • Weight: 2.5 pounds
BEST LARGEST BAG

VooDoo Tactical Load-Out Bag

VooDoo Tactical Load-Out Bag

  • Material: Nylon Tan
  • Dimensions: 39x18x15 in
  • Weight: 7.33 pounds

Different sizes and types of bug out bag

There are two general sizes for a bug out bag. The backpack and the hiking pack. Depending on what you plan to pack and the terrain you are taking, you may want to choose one or another. Let's take a look at both.

Backpack

best bug out backpack

Backpack size doesn’t mean your kid's school bag. A serious outdoors backpack is a tough and rugged piece of gear.

A backpack typically lacks a wide variety of features you'd find on a hiking pack. When packed properly, backpacks can contain a ton of necessary gear. They are smaller and, therefore, lighter as well. They are more maneuverable for use inside vehicles and in urban terrain.

Since backpacks stick out less from the body, they are easier to move in and out of doors, hallways, windows and more. Backpacks are certainly better suited for urban environments, or if you know, you will be moving in and out of cars.

Hiking Packs

hiking backpacks

Hiking Packs are the best go-to for rural environments. They are built for this kind of work. In most cases, they also offer significantly more room than most backpacks.

They can range from somewhat small and convenient, to absolutely massive packs that can hold a week's-worth of goods. Hiking packs are often designed for long walks over rough terrain. They are outfitted with a wide variety of features that make it more comfortable to carry a heavy load for a long haul.

It’s substantially easier to carry three days-worth of food, water, clothing, medical gear, and even shelter tools. This kind of pack is harder to use in and out of a vehicle and does take up a significant amount of room.

In my experience, hiking packs are difficult to use inside buildings, especially if you are climbing through small hallways and doorways.

Sling Bags

Sling bags are a third option I am tossing up on this list, even though they often cannot carry three days-worth of food, water, and other necessities. Sling bags often fit the category of “Get Home” bag.

A Get Home bag is a subset of the bug out bag. Since you can’t haul a Bug Out bag with you everywhere, you go you have one of these. A Get Home Bag is a mini bug out bag designed to get you to your main bug out bag, which is likely at home.

A Get Home bag has the necessary supplies to get you from work to home, or from out and about to home, in the event of an emergency. A sling bag is a small, compact bag that fits anywhere and is easy to use in and out of vehicles.

One day of supplies is easy to carry in something as small as a sling bag. Technically, it's a bug out bag because you are "bugging out" to your main bag, family, and departure point.

Comfort

As someone who has hiked a lot, and I mean a lot, I will say that comfort is incredibly important. You could be carrying this bag on your back for days on end and if it's not comfortable you’ll be in pain very quickly. There are a number of features you should look for when it comes to comfort.

Wide Shoulder Straps

The wider the shoulder straps, the more comfortable they’ll be. Wider straps help distribute the weight more evenly. This creates less shoulder pain and generally makes carrying a pack way more comfortable.

best survival bag

Wide padded straps are a must-have for long-term hiking, and of course, long-term bugging out. Wide straps help make life good.

Hip Strap

bug out backpacks

Three days-worth of survival supplies can get heavy, especially if you are also packing a tent, cooking gear, and extra tools and equipment. Placing all that weight on your shoulders will become uncomfortable very quickly.

A hip strap, or hip belt, helps take the weight off your shoulders and back, and places the weight on your hips and thighs. This distribution will make life so much easier for you. My life changed the day I learned how to use hip straps properly.

Hip straps are often padded to prevent chafing, or made from wide webbing. This combination of features is almost always found in hiking packs, but is slightly rarer in backpacks. Some military-issue backpacks will have these hip straps and can be had cheaply on the surplus market.

Chest Clip

bug out backpacks for chest

A chest clip is a nice little feature to have. A chest clip and strap attaches to both shoulder straps and clips in the middle. This keeps the straps in their proper position and keeps the pack straps from sliding and moving. It really helps to counterbalance heavier loads.

The majority of people will love it, but for wide-shouldered guys like me, they rarely fit. If you are a big guy with broad shoulders, you may need to find a chest or sternum clip extension, which are easy to find and quite common.

Padded Backing and Frame

A padded backing is a great feature to have for carrying heavier loads for a number of reasons. First off, padding is just comfortable to feel on your back. Secondly, padding creates channels that allow air to flow between your back and pack, and that allows for a cooler, chafe-free carry.

Padded backing is also great for keeping hard and pointy items in your pack from being driven into your back. This decreases discomfort from coming from the pack.

bugout backpack

A frame is something you are more likely to find in a hiking packing. Frames can be external or internal. These frames help support the pack and make carrying heavy loads easier for longer periods of time.

External frames are often stronger and put airspace between your back and the pack. However, external frame packs are often heavier overall. Internal frames are lighter but don't provide the same degree of support that an external frame will.

Adjustment and Lots of It

The ability to adjust everything is a great feature to have. You want to be able to adjust the shoulder straps, the chest strap, the hip straps and more. This level of adjustment makes life much easier.

The more you can adjust your pack the better it will fit you and the better it will be for long-term use.

Additional Features

Modularity

good bug out bag

Modularity is a great way to enhance the ability of your pack. The most common modular platform will be through MOLLE webbing, which allows you to attach accessories, pouches, and more to your pack. A wide variety of packs now incorporate MOLLE, and it is incredibly common in the tactical pack world.

Hydration Bladder Pocket

Branded bug out bag backpack

Camelbak changed the world with the advent of the backpack-mounted hydration bladders.

These days, this is a common feature in many hiking and backpacks. On modern packs, you’ll find these special pockets with drinking tubes coming out for easy access to fluid while hiking.

Internal Organizational Ability

waterproof bug out bag

The inside of the bag is just as important as the outside. Several bags may come with internal hook and loops for the attachment of pouches for great organizational ability.

The ability to organize a bag is very important and makes it easy to get to those important goods faster and easier, such as a first aid kit.

Rear Stretch Pocket

A Rear stretch pocket is a simple pocket that is separate from the internal bag. This pocket is commonly used to store things like wet clothing, ponchos, rain catches, and other items you wouldn't want to expose the inside of the bag too.

The Best Bug Out Bags List

When reviewing products within the survival element of the outdoor industry, the bug out bag becomes the center of attention among those who want a workable pack that can go mobile quickly and carry everything necessary to survive, fight, or go dark. 

I have set up one of these bags myself with help from the folks at Black Hills Ammunition out here in western South Dakota.

Black Hills has seen fit to dress local and national writers with these combat-style packs and I have (with their help) filled mine with the required needs in the event I end up in a move-and-shoot situation, or just need to stay alive out in our local mountain environment.

The following are some examples of workable and advanced packs that can meet the needs of the survivalist, the combat-trained operator, or the sportsman.

1. U.S. G.I. Military Surplus Alice Pack

best go bag

Hello old friend. In my time in the Marines, we adopted a modern modular pack only to toss it to the wayside when it came time to deploy. We replaced our new packs with the well proven and roomy Alice pack.

The Alice pack is an OD (olive drab) green monstrosity that lacks some of the finer features of new packs. However, after years and years of use, the Alice pack is a proven design.

Its large internal pouch makes it easy to carry three days-worth of food, sleeping supplies, and plenty of water. Alice packs have three large external pockets for packing quick access gear, and the top pouch has a smaller pocket for the necessary maps and other gear.

Military Surplus Alice Pack

The price of Military Surplus Alice Pack varies, so check the latest price at

2. A.L.I.C.E. BackPack Frame

best go bag backpack

To get the most out of the Alice pack, you need to combine it with a metal frame. With a good metal frame, you’ll have rock-solid support and an excellent means to carry a heavier load a long way. The Alice pack is far from sexy, but it's built to last, and it will last forever.

It was a sad day when I turned mine in after five years and two deployments around the world.

A.L.I.C.E. BackPack Frame

The price of A.L.I.C.E. BackPack Frame varies, so check the latest price at

3. 5.11 Rush 72 Tactical Pack

best bugout bag

If we do a 180 from the Alice pack, we arrive at the 5.11 Ruch 72 Tactical pack. This ultra modern design incorporates some of the more specific features we talked a lot about above.

It is covered in MOLLE webbing, which allows you to attach whatever you want to the pack as well as expand the bag or add the accessories you want quick access to.

The Rush 72 sports wide and heavily padded shoulder straps as well as a chest strap and hip strap.

It is well-designed and features external back padding for comfort and to create airspace. The bag is massive, and the 72 stands for 72 hours. It's designed to give users a modern, but very large pack for bugging out for at least 72 hours.

good bugout bag

The Rush 72 sports a modern internal layout that's very easy to organize and makes getting gear in and out of the pack very easy. The pack is compatible with hydration packs and has hydration routing holes to make accessing a hydration source easy.

The Rush 72 even has a rear stretch pocket, well not exactly a stretch pocket but a shove it pocket. The entire layout of the pack is intuitive and brilliantly designed. You really can't beat it when it comes to a modern, tactical bug out bag.

5.11 Rush 72 Tactical Pack

The price of 5.11 Rush 72 Tactical Pack varies, so check the latest price at

4. Halftrack Backpack

good bug out backpack

Eberlestock isn't a name known to the world like 5.11, but they produce some modern and professional high quality tactical packs that are often used by special operators around the world. The Halftrack Backpack is their Modular 3 daypack that happens to be an outstanding choice for a bug out bag.

This professional grade bag is designed to last in some of the harshest environments in the world. It’s a large pack too and will accommodate the gear you need to get out of any disaster scenario. The pack is designed by what I'd describe as a genius.

The main pack is accessed by a large panel that zips fully down. This gives access to everything in the pack at the same time. The inside of this main pouch has dividers to keep your gear separated and internal MOLLE to accommodate internal pouch use.

Two smaller pouches exist on the side of the pack, and there is one additional pouch on the top of the pack.

The outside is covered in MOLLE so you can attach whatever you need on the outside. The straps are brilliantly designed, and very thick and wide for additional support. The hip straps are also very comfortable and provide some serious support.

This is a bag made by professionals for professionals, what could go wrong? It's roomy, well designed, and modern.

Halftrack Backpack

The price of Halftrack Backpack varies, so check the latest price at

5. USMC Gen 2 Assault Pack

good bug out bag backpack

So if we can go back to my Marine Corps days, we can talk about one of my favorite backpacks of all time. The USMC Gen 2 Assault Pack was an issued item to every Marine and served as the lightweight alternative to our larger, mission sustainment packs.

The Gen 2 Assault Pack sports a variety of features that can be hard to find in a standard backpack. This includes a waist strap, albeit unpadded and thin, a chest strap, and plenty of external straps. These external straps make it easy to lash on extra gear, like tarps, ponchos, and sleeping bags.

The Assault Pack is a big backpack with 1,500 cubic inches of space and a 40-pound capacity. It’s tough to fit three days worth of supplies into a backpack, but it's a little less tough with the USMC Assault pack.

The external MOLLE makes covering the bag with extra pouches easy, therefore expanding its space.

bug out bag backpack

In the rear of the assault pack is a plastic shell that helps provide support and keeps the things inside the pack from poking you. This pack is extremely strong and again an item I used extensively overseas. Mine served as a boom bag, meaning it carried all the extra items we needed to make things go boom.

Throughout my deployments and training, the Assault pack was always there and always ready for the long haul.

USMC Gen 2 Assault Pack

The price of USMC Gen 2 Assault Pack varies, so check the latest price at

6. Tactical Tailor 3 Day Plus Assault Pack

tactical bug out bag

Tactical Tailor is a massive tactical company that makes premier grade goods for professionals around the world. The Tactical Tailor 3 Day Plus Assault Pack is a big beast and one designed for a kinetic and often non-permissive environment. This is a big, tactical backpack with lots and lots of room.

Even with three days worth of supplies, you have enough room for just a bit more. It really walks the line between pack and backpack, but we’ll consider it a backpack for a number of reasons. It does have a nice hip strap but lacks a frame.

Best tactical bug out bag

It does have some wide and well-padded shoulder straps and a sternum strap for extra support. Surprisingly there isn't any MOLLE, so you aren't able to add any additional pouches. However, it's unlikely you’ll need to.

The main portion of the pack is very spacious, and there is plenty of room to add the necessary gear for surviving on the road. To help with storage space and accessibility, there are four somewhat large external pouches.

These pouches are perfect for separating your goods and helping to balance the pack. The items in these external pouches are also quicker to access and easier to get to. The Tactical Tailor pack is extremely well made and built to last.

Tactical Tailor 3

The price of Tactical Tailor 3 varies, so check the latest price at

7. Condor 3 Day Assault Pack

best bug out bag

Bugging out on a budget isn't hard, and there are lots of potential bags out there designed to be durable and strong for the budget-minded. The Condor 3 Day Assault Pack is one such bag. This big bag is great for a 3-day load and is just the right size for bugging out.

The outside is covered with MOLLE webbing so if it’s not large enough you know there is plenty of room to attach additional pouches. However, the bag has a huge main pouch with plenty of room. In fact, it offers a massive 3038 cubic inches of space.

Although it’s a more affordable bag, there are still tons of features you wouldn’t expect to find. This includes a padded hip strap, a sternum strap, wide and padded shoulder straps, and even padding where the bag meets the body.

This padding creates airspace and allows for a nice and comfortable pack for long-range movements. It includes a hydration pocket that's compatible with a 2- or 3-liter bladder. There are also two external side pouches, and internal straps to help pack a variety of gear.

Condor 3 Day Assault Pack

The price of Condor 3 Day Assault Pack varies, so check the latest price at

8. Maxpedition Vulture – II Backpack

best survival bag

This bug out backpack measures 20.5 x 16 x 7.5 inches, weighs 2 pounds dry, and has a storage capacity of 21 cu.in/34 liters. It has a large main compartment as well as a few small item compartments. The pack is well-constructed for many years of service.

The Maxpedition Vulture is designed to mount a water bladder directly ahead of the pain pack and carries a heavy waist belt and shoulder straps in order to support the additional weight of the bag's contents, including the water bladder.

The stitching is heavy duty and has heavy zippers. There are ample attachment points on the bag and the 10000 denser material makes the whole unit field-tough and long-lasting.

best bug out backpack

The bottom of the bag is rubber and therefore can be classified as a “dry park”, or waterproof. In addition, the pack has a bottle holder and a water bottle is included.

Maxpedition Vulture

The price of Maxpedition Vulture varies, so check the latest price at

9. Red Rock Outdoor Gear Large Assault Pack

best bug out bags

The Red Rock Outdoor Gear Large Assault Pack has four expanding pockets and is set up as a tactical, on-the-move fighting pack. It is 100% polyester, with fully adjustable padded shoulder straps, and an adjustable waist and sternum strap system is included.

The pack has a mesh vented back panel and sports touch-fastener-keepers for excess strap slack, Cld in MOLLE webbing for expansion and customization, and is set-up for an assortment of added outside carry items.

This pack retains a full 35 liters of storage with the dimensions 11.5”W x 18”H x 12”D. Total weight 3.25 pounds dry weight.

Red Rock Large Assault Pack

The price of Red Rock Large Assault Pack varies, so check the latest price at

10. Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack

bug out bag backpack

With this bug out backpack, we are looking at a system designed for tactical/military applications. Even rifle scabbards that carry a wide variety of weapons can be paired to this backpack system. Yes a system, because the J79M Skycrane II is flexible and weapons-grade tough.

The Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack can be combined with a 7600 cubic inch freighter, that is, in effect, a full-size duffel bag. Scabbards can be mounted to the pack, allowing the transportation of a weapon to be easy and close at hand at all times.

This is a gun-fighter's bag to the last detail. There are many small pockets for mags and assorted gear. My own bag, for example, carries up to seventeen different primary items with room to spare.

This pack retains a total of 2400 cubic inches of carry space, which does not include satellite add-ons.

Setting up a combat or defense kit takes a pack like this from the get-go to accomplish the task. It is water resistant, built from 500 density rip stop nylon corduroy, and is offered in a coyote brown color.

The pack has an original Intex suspension system designed to hold the pack's load close to the body. The open load bay design allows it to utilize many different load-bearing tasks in the field. This is high quality, professional military grade.

Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack

The price of Eberlestock Skycrane II Pack varies, so check the latest price at

11. VooDoo Tactical Men’s Mojo Load-Out Bag

bug out backpack

The VooDoo Tactical Men's Mojo Load-Out Bag is a dual purpose bug out bag, and I own several very much like it. You can use a set of hidden straps and turn the carry bag into a backpack in seconds, or just use it as an independent carry bag when traveling.

For a police officer or tactical professional operator, this bag is designed to carry a great deal of stuff in the main section, and also pack an additional amount of products in the eleven assorted side pouches built into the bag system.

Radios, lights, extra magazines, ammo, and assorted tools of the trade are easy to carry in this bag. It is large enough to carry body armor as well as the previously stated other related equipment. The shoulder strap system concealed at the bottom of the carry bag gives it a streamlined look and feel.

Measurements include a primary space of 39L x 18W x 15H, total bag weight dry is 7.33 pounds.

VooDoo Tactical Men’s Mojo Load

The price of VooDoo Tactical Men’s Mojo Load varies, so check the latest price at

All Bugged Out

Choosing a Bug Out bag is never a decision you should take lightly. You really need to evaluate your needs, your supplies, and your environment. Three days of supplies mean different things to different people and different environments.

bug out packs

Make sure you really take the time to evaluate what you need. Then take the advice and suggestions we’ve given above. When it comes time to bug out, you’ll need the best bug out bag possible.

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