Build your emergency go bag

The bag

• 30–40 liter backpack with padded straps 1.2 kg

Water and food

• Water: 3 liters (filter the rest) 3 kg
• Portable water filter 60 g
• Water purification tablets 20 g
• Food for 3 days: bars, nuts, dried fruit 1.5 kg
• Metal mug (you can boil water in it) 150 g
• Spoon or spork 20 g

Why only 3 liters of water? Three days’ worth is 12 liters, which weighs 12 kg (26 lb). Carry 3 liters plus a filter or tablets and refill on the way.

Light, power, communication

• Head torch and spare batteries 120 g
• Small crank or battery radio 300 g
• 10,000 mAh power bank, charged 220 g
• Phone cables 50 g
• Signal whistle 10 g
• Written list of key phone numbers 5 g

Health and hygiene

• Compact first aid kit 400 g
• Daily medication for 7 days 100 g
• FFP2/N95 masks (5) 30 g
• Hand sanitizer 80 g
• Wet wipes 150 g
• Toilet paper 100 g
• Toothbrush and toothpaste 60 g
• Sanitary pads or diapers, if needed 200 g

Shelter and clothing

• Emergency foil blankets (2) 110 g
• Rain poncho 250 g
• Change of clothes and thick socks 800 g
• Hat and gloves 150 g
• Lightweight sleeping bag 900 g
• Heavy-duty garbage bags (3) 60 g

Tools

• Multi-tool 180 g
• Duct tape (a small roll) 100 g
• Lighter and matches in a sealed bag 40 g
• Paracord, 10 m (33 ft) 100 g
• Printed local map and compass 60 g

Documents and money

• Copies of documents in a waterproof bag 50 g
• Cash in small notes 30 g
• Spare keys 40 g
• USB stick with digital copies 10 g

Children and pets

• A small toy or book 150 g
• Child’s favorite snacks 200 g
• Pet food for 3 days 900 g
• Leash and collapsible bowl 200 g