100 Items for Your Bug Out Bag

Twice a year, generally in the spring and fall, I like to dump out my bug out bag and revamp/reset all of the items so I know that they are in good working order in case I need to grab my bag and go in an emergency.  I may update items to newer versions, change out lower quality items to higher quality items, and more importantly, make sure the clothes still fit and are appropriate for the upcoming season.  My BOB runs a fine line between the possibility of bugging out to a city hotel room/spending multiple days in a hospital to true bugging out to the wilderness or living in my vehicle for days on end.  I also like the idea of having a small, minimalist kit versus including every possible thing in a 95l pack.  Here are 100 items you might consider putting in your bug out bag:

1. Backpack.  Much easier to carry than a duffel bag or messenger bag.
2. Tent/footprint.  Pick the smallest and lightest for your needs.
3. Sleeping bag.  A down bag can pack extremely small yet still be quite warm.
4. Sleeping pad.  I like a torso-sized, cheap, closed-cell foam pad.
5. Emergency blanket.  Of the mylar variety.
6. Matador blanket.  Thin, lite and has a variety of uses.
7. Rumple blanket.  Ditto.
8. Food.  Several day's worth, lightweight, easy to cook and eat, stuff you like to eat.
9. Matches.  For obvious reasons.
10. Lighter.  A back up for matches.
11. Utensils.  Spork, spoon, fork, etc.
12. Ferro rod and striker.  A back up for your matches and lighter.
13. Firestarter.  A small packet of tinder to make fire-starting easier.
14. Stove/fuel.  Could be anything from a cat food tin stove and fuel to a sterno set to a MSR stove.
15. Mess kit.  To cook ad eat your food with.
16. Can opener.  A p 38 type works fine.
17. Pot scrubber.  Just cut off a chunk from your general kitchen-type scrubber.
18. Titanium cup.  You can drink coffee as well as cook and eat from one of these.
19. Bandana.  Has a hundred uses.
20. Folding water bottle.  Good for extra water storage.
21. Nalgene water bottle.  A standard way to carry water or beverages.
22. Water purification tablets.  A cheap and easy way to purify water.
23. Water filter/purification system.  Sawyer offers several types of these.
24. Shoes: long-distance walking shoes, flip flops.
25. Underwear: briefs, socks, bras/sports bras
26. Clothes: pants, belt, tank tops, t shirts, long sleeve shirts.
27. Outerwear: windbreaker, rain shell, rain pants, down jacket, fleece jacket.
28. Accessories: umbrella, sunglasses, rain poncho, baseball hat, shemagh.
29. Related items: winter hat, winter gloves, down booties, work gloves, buff, swim suit, sleepwear.
30. $5000 cash/roll of quarters.  Bands of $1, $5, $10, $20, and some $100s.
31. Burner phone and sim card.  Maybe take the time to degoogle the phone and pick up a Mint sim.
32. First aid kit/vitamins/acidophilous/prescription meds/denture stuff/hearing aid stuff/etc.
33. Trauma kit.  This is more comprehensive than a basic first aid kit.
34. Insect repellent/bug head net.  For bugging out in a buggy area.
35. Toiletry kit/make up kit/kit for contacts/spare glasses.
    
36. Office kit.  Include a passport, copies of important documents, list of contact info, etc.
37. Tech kit.  Spare USB drives, spare memory cards, charger cord/brick. etc.
38. Hand sanitizer.  Small bottle; can also be used as a firestarter.
39. Wet Wipes.  Varying sizes; use for hand cleaning, a sponge bath, etc.
40. Toilet paper and/or bottle bidet.  For obvious reasons.
41. Shovel or trowel.  To bury waste among other things.
42. Ziplocs.  Assorted sizes for a variety of purposes.
43. Dr Bronner's soap.  A good all-purpose soap.
44. Towel.  An ultralight backpacker's towel.
45. Wash cloth.  Ditto.
46. Pocketknife.  Has multiple uses.
47. Multi tool.  Also has multiple uses.
48. Sillcok key.  For accessing water in various places.
49. Lockpick set.  Practice using it before you need it.
50. Axe.  Has multiple uses.
51. Fixed blade knife.  Get a quality knife with a good blade and sturdy hilt.
52. Headlamp. With white, red, and green colors.
    
53. Flashlight.  Small but with high lumens.
54. Spare batteries.  For any items that are not rechargeable.
55. Candle.  Tea light size is fine.
56. Solar charger.  There are several good backpacker-style panel set ups.
    
57. Battery bank.  Make sure it works with your solar set up.
58. Portable AM/FM/SW radio.  For receiving info in a disaster.
59. Hand-crank radio.  Good if you don't have battery or solar options.
60. HAM radio.  Get licensed and practice using this type of radio before you need it.
61. Maps.  A local map, state map, and US map.
62. Compass.  Learn how to use it before you need it.
63. Whistle.  To use for signaling in an emergency.
64. Notepad.  Write in the rain type is a good option.
65. Pencil/pen.  A mechanical pencil and/or Fisher Space pen are good options.
66. Pepper spray.  A good, basic self defense option.
67. Duct tape.  A good all-around "fix it" option.
68. Zipties/rubberbands.  Ditto.
69. Paracord.  Many uses.
70. Carabiners.  Ditto.
71. Handgun/ammo/cleaning kit.  Optional, of course.
72. Large garbage bags.  Multiple uses.
73. N95 face mask/nitrile gloves.  For use in an emergency.
74. Sewing kit.  You can put together your own kit.
75. Fishing kit.  Ditto.
76. Knife sharpener.  To keep a good blade on your knives.
77. Snare wire.  Multiple uses.
78. Latex tubing.  Ditto.
79. Condoms.  For various purposes.
80. Binoculars.  For seeing distant things.
81. Bungie cords.  Multiple uses.
82. Watch.  For timekeeping and distance marking.
83. Glow sticks.  Can be found at the Dollar Store for emergency lighting and signalling.
84. Trekking poles.  For long-distance walking.
85. Tablet or laptop.  For computing, information, and entertainment needs.
86. Small sharpie.  Useful for messaging and note-taking purposes.
    
87. Magnifying glass.  Can be used for fire starting and to see small things.
88. PLB.  A personal locator beacon can be used to summon help in an emergency.
89. Saw.  Many uses (shelter building, fire building, etc).
90. Aluminum foil.  Many uses.
91. Pack rain cover.  To keep your backpack and its contents dry (use an interior plastic bag as well).
    
92. Waterproof bag.  To keep stuff dry, also useful for doing laundry.
93. Bear container.  If you will be bugging out to the wilderness.
94. Bear spray.  Another good self-defense tool.
95. Gaiters.  Useful for long-distance walking.
96. Hand warmers.  A "nice to have" in cold climates.
97. Goggles.  Useful for swimming, dust storms, etc.
98. Signal mirror.  For signaling for help.
99. Pry bar.  Many uses.
100. Other stuff depending on your needs (drone, body armor, etc).