A bug out bag is what you grab when you have to leave — 72 hours of water, food, shelter, and meds in a pack you can actually carry. Most lists online ignore the 20–25% body weight rule; that's how you end up dead at mile two.
Written by Mike, a union power lineman with 22 years on the job and mutual aid plus storm restoration deployments after Sandy, California wildfires, Texas winter storms, and Gulf Coast hurricanes.
FEMA recommends a minimum 72-hour supply of food and water per person in any emergency kit. — Ready.gov — Build a Kit
A loaded bug out bag should weigh no more than 20–25% of your body weight for sustainable movement. — U.S. Army field packing guidance (widely cited BOB standard)
A bug out bag (BOB) is a portable emergency kit designed to sustain you for 72 hours while evacuating a disaster zone. Most preppers build around a 25–35 lb pack covering water, food, shelter, fire, first aid, and basic communication.
Your loaded bug out bag should weigh no more than 20–25% of your body weight. For a 180-pound person, that's 36–45 lbs maximum. If you can't maintain a walking pace for an hour with it on, it's too heavy — cut gear until you hit your weight budget.
A bug out bag is built for evacuating from home for 72 hours or more. A get-home bag stays in your car and is built to get you from wherever you are back to your house — typically a lighter 24-hour kit optimized for the distance between work and home.
Audit your bug out bag every 6 months. Check food and water expiration dates, rotate batteries, update medications, and confirm everything still fits and functions. Spring and fall are natural reminders — replace anything expired or damaged.
A standard bug out bag is built for 72 hours (3 days). FEMA recommends a minimum 72-hour supply for emergency kits. For most evacuation scenarios, 72 hours gets you to a shelter, a family member's home, or out of the affected area.