Bag Primer
What are all these bags?
- Go Bag: Leave home fast!
- Get Home Bag (GHB): Get home essentials.
- Bug Out Bag (BOB): Run to the hills.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Go Bag | Get Home Bag | Bug Out Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Evacuate fast | Return home | Survive long-term |
| Time Frame | 1-3 days | < 2 days | 3+ days |
| Stored At | Home/Car | Car/Work | Home/Car |
| Size | Medium | Small/Compact | Large/Backpack |
| Focus | Personal safety | Travel survival | Long-term survival |
Go Bag
Purpose: Immediate grab-and-go essentials for emergencies.
Use case: Fire, flood, evacuation orders, or when you need to leave home fast.
Typical contents:
- ID, cash, copies of important documents
- Medications & first aid
- Flashlight, batteries
- Phone charger/power bank
- Snacks & water
- Change of clothes
- Basic hygiene items
Time frame: 24-72 hours
Location: Stored at home, near the door or in your vehicle
Get Home Bag (GHB)
Purpose: Help you travel back home safely if disaster strikes while you're away.
Use case: Power outage, civil unrest, EMP, etc., while you're at work or traveling.
Typical contents:
- Comfortable shoes or boots
- Flashlight & batteries
- Water & purification tablets
- Snacks (high-calorie bars)
- Map & compass
- First aid kit
- Emergency poncho, gloves
- Small knife or multitool
Time frame: 1-2 days
Location: Stored in your vehicle or at work
Bug Out Bag (BOB)
Purpose: Sustain you during long-term evacuation to a safer location.
Use case: Widespread disaster, government collapse, war, pandemic.
Typical contents:
- Tent or tarp & sleeping bag
- Water filter & multiple food sources (MREs, freeze-dried meals)
- Fire-starting tools
- Heavy-duty knife, hatchet
- Self-defense tools
- Clothing layers, socks
- Portable stove or cookware
- Radio, signaling mirror, whistle
- Maps, survival guide
Time frame: 72 hours or more
Location: Stored at home or in a vehicle, ready to go
"3 Reasons I Ditched My BUG OUT BAG", by Warrior Poet Society. Bugging out is a worst case scenario. It is typically reserved for societal collapse and massive natural disasters. In my opinion, it is better to start with Shelter In Place strategies and back into a Bug Out Bag solution. I think the idea of hiking out of a massive disaster site with your family is unrealistic.