What do you grab when you only have minutes? A discussion on Prep Bags

There are many reasons we may have to leave our location, wherever we may be, in a matter of minutes.  There could be a hurricane bearing down and we don’t have hours to pack.  Or the damn breaks and we are about to get flooded.  On the darker side, there could be a terrorist attack or dirty bomb detonation a handful of miles away.  With the way the world is going, it is sad that we have to think about these things.  But if this does happen, how long will it take you to put together a bag with everything you need to survive until you get to a safe location?  Will you forget anything in the rush to get out?  Will you end up leaving with only what is in your pockets, assuming you even have pockets (sorry ladies)? 

I was just talking to somebody who is just starting to see what is coming out.  She mentioned the Shawn Ryan Show #184 – from March 20, 2025 if you wish to watch this video.  But it got her to thinking about what she should have on hand “just in case”.  I have wanted to write this article for a year, but always found an excuse to push it off in favor of other projects.  Not anymore, I need to get this done for her, if for no other reason.  If anybody else takes some value from this as well, then that is even better.

So what is a Prep Bag?  They come in all shapes and sizes.  They can have different purposes and different items included, and you may want one, or multiple different types of bags, packed differently based on your needs, your location, and your designated purpose.  You may have heard of “go bags” or maybe “bug-out bags”, which are bags packed for the explicit purpose of having the basic necessities required in case you need to leave home quickly and don’t have time to pack.  This could be because of a natural disaster, like a hurricane, or flooding, but could be a more serious situation, like a nearby terrorist attack.  Then there is a “get home bag”.  These are kits that you leave in the trunk of your car – or carry with you if you take public transportation – and should have everything you need to get from wherever you are back home, or to another safe location if home isn’t an option.  The contents of this are highly variable based on your personal factors.

The third bag is the “work bag” or “office bag”, which is something you can leave at your place of work in the event you are stranded and unable to leave.  This is something that, if an emergency occurs while you are at work, you have supplies to ensure that you are not starving, freezing, or getting sick, and can maintain normal functions for an extended period of time.  And lastly, we have an “IFAK”, or Individual First Aid Kit.  These can come in multiple formats and should be kept separate even from themselves.  For basic needs, we have what I like to call the “boo-boo kit”, which contains the basic stuff that everybody should already have, or at least know how to use, like Band-Aids and antibiotic ointments, cleansing wipes, etc.  The more advanced kit would be a “trauma bag”, which will contain items for more serious incidents and will most likely require advanced trainings on how to use them.  See our Calendar page where we list available trainings.

I have made lists of items that should be included in each of these bags, published below.  My lists are going to be very long because I am not you.  My goal with these lists is to include everything that could possibly be needed, but it is up to you to determine if each item applies to your specific case.  Variables like how far away you work, where you may be going, how long it will take, in an emergency, to get to where you are going – or where you are going in general, and how you are planning to get there all need to be considered.  To assist with this, I am breaking up each list into two categories.  The first will be Necessities, or items that you really need to have on you.  Most of these should be considered non-negotiable, but can vary based on how you plan to “go”.  For example, if your plan is to get in your car and drive, and you plan to reach your destination without running out of gas, within a day, then you may not need the longer-term survival items like water filtration.  The second category is “Good to Haves”, which will make your travel better, safer, or more enjoyable, but you can live without them if they don’t all fit in your bag.  Because I don’t wish to bias your decisions, each category will be provided in alphabetical order, so as to avoid any sense of priority.  These bags will need to be maintained regularly.  Anything with expiration dates will need to be rotated; any seasonal items should be swapped out quarterly as the weather changes, etc.  The goal is to have everything you will need, without having so much excess that the bag is too heavy to carry so it gets left behind.  If you are driving your bag will be in the back of the car, but if you are travelling on foot, you’ll have to carry the bag on your back the whole way, so excess weight can slow you down or cause you to drop items that you may need later.

I will also try to include links to each item on Amazon or other large-scale online retailer.  Please consider using these as information, but shopping locally.  I much prefer American-made products over the mostly Chinese stuff on those retail sites.  The American products are typically a higher price point, but also usually a much higher quality as well.  In some cases, I will list brand names that are critical, as there are patents that make the Chinese models far inferior to the alternatives.  One example of this is the CAT Tourniquets from North American Rescue. 

When packing, I tend to use a lot of sealable plastic bags.  The ones that say “Freezer” work best in my opinion, as they are thicker plastic so they don’t rip as easily, and are usually double-sealed to avoid air or water leakage.  These are a big help, as you can push out the air and seal items up tighter so they take up less space.  They also make pulling things out easier, as they reduce friction.  If you’ve ever gone camping and try to pull out your change of clothes the first day, and everything else comes out with it, you’ll know what I mean.  Clothes compress very well – just sit on the bag as you seal it and it will take up half the space in your bag, leaving room for more gear.  And in extreme circumstances, these can also be used to hold extra water if drinkable sources are rare to come by.

When picking the type of bag to use for each kit, keep in mind the purpose of these kits.  When you expect to be walking a lot, a bag that is carried in one hand, or even one with a sling that crosses over your chest may not be the best choice, as it will add weight to one side, which throws your balance off and in compensating, you will be wearing your body out faster.  A solid backpack with two straps is better, as the weight is more evenly distributed.  I try to avoid “tactical” bags, as they are not that common to see in day to day life, and may indicate to others that yours is “special” or may have items they will want to take from you.  Picking a bag that is large enough to carry your supplies, but does not overtly stand out in a public space is the best choice.  For an office or vehicle-based kit, your options expand a bit, but you must consider the possibility of having to leave that location and dealing with whatever container you picked.  This is why my office kit stays at the office, and I have a get home bag in my car – if I’m not stuck at work, the odds are, I can reach my car to grab that bag, even if I can’t take the car with me for some reason (I don’t park very far from my office’s external door).