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Commercial Photographer and Outdoorsman
Based in the Appalachian Mountains, Anthony is a commercial product photographer within the outdoor industry. Alongside Anthony’s commercial work, he is also an avid outdoorsman and would rather be in the woods than anywhere else.
Ultimate Get Home Bag Contents List
What should be in a Get Home Bag?
I know building your own Get Home Bag or “Bug Out Bag” seems daunting. But don’t fret. I will help you pick out some great gear down below. Before we get there though, here are the 5 Priorities of Survival that your Get Home Bag must help you meet…
1. Tools & Safety ↓ See More ↓
2. Fire ↓ See More ↓
3. Water ↓ See More ↓
4. Shelter ↓ See More ↓
5. Food (meal replacement bars and food that doesn’t require preparation is best)
I’ve provided more details about each of these categories down below, along with my gear recommendations for each.
Best Get Home Bag Backpack
Get Home Bag Essentials
Capacity: A Get Home Bag has to be able to contain a 4-Season Kit. IE: Standard survival gear for the 5 categories I mentioned above + some sort of blanket/compact sleeping bag to keep you warm enough to stay alive in cold weather. Some of the smaller bags I’ve mentioned can be extended to a 4-season kit by lashing your blanket/sleeping bag to the outside.
Comfort: Get Home Bags have to be comfortable enough to walk miles with. Choose one with comfortable and well-padded shoulder straps.
Survival: My Get Home Bag is built to help me endure a few days of independent survival (ie: no other gear besides what’s in the bag). This is not a camping bag, so there are not too many luxuries…However, it is designed to keep me alive and safe.
Convenient: Get Home Bags should be compact and not a burden to take in & out of the car each time you leave your home. If it’s too big or too heavy, you’ll end up leaving it behind. I try to opt for the smaller bags I’ve linked below when I can. But if I am going to be far from home, I will utilize one of the larger-capacity bags.
When to go bigger? I would recommend bumping up to a larger bag in the winter months when you need bulkier/heavier blankets and clothing. Or when you’re traveling more than a few hours away from your home.
Vanquest Trident 32
Best Quality – Premium Get Home Bag
The Vanquest Trident 32 is a premium, “buy once cry once” backpack. This backpack is made with top-notch materials that have been trusted around the world for many years. The organization of this pack is second-to-none, it handles heavy loads very well and is capable of carrying a lot of gear while remaining fairly compact. If you are looking for a premium backpack to house all of your Get Home Bag contents, this is the one I’d go with.
Vanquest ADDAX-25
Best Quality Everyday Backpack
One of the bags that I reach for the most these days is my ADDAX 25 from Vanquest. As with the Trident-32, this is a premium backpack. But, you immediately notice why this bag is more expensive than budget offerings when you feel the materials, see the organization it offers and put it on your back. This backpack is very comfortable and holds plenty of Get Home Bag Essentials. I cannot speak higher of Vanquest backpacks and my experience with them.
Helikon-Tex Raccoon MK2
Nice Budget-Friendly Backpack
The Raccoon MK2 is a great bag to use as a Get Home Bag. The price is very affordable considering the materials Helikon-Tex uses, it organizes very well and is comfortable as long as you don’t overload it. Some folks might find it a bit too small for a full winter loadout – So, I consider this a 3.5 Season Pack.
3V Gear Paratus 3-Day Operator Backpack
Best 4-Season Budget Option
The 3V Gear Paratus is a nice budget option that not only fits the “Get Home Bag” role well, but it’s a good 72-Hour Emergency Bag or “Bugout Bag” as well. This is the bag size that I often find myself bumping up to in cold winter months when I need larger blankets/sleeping bags and more clothes for staying warm. It also comes with 3 pouches in addition to the main backpack, which a very nice option for modularity. Overall, this is a good budget option to house your Get Home Bag Contents.
Get Home Bag Tools & Safety
This category of my Get Home Bags loadout gives me the ability to do a wide variety of tasks in either wilderness or urban scenarios. It also ensures that any medical emergencies will be covered. I recommend you buy the best tools that your budget allows and get training to use each of them to the best of your ability.
Note about knives: I could recommend a dozen more knives (and I debated it). But I have selected a few of my favorites that perform well in both wilderness + urban settings, in all 4 seasons, and are in stock on a regular basis.
Quality Tourniquets
This is a medical item that is often overlooked, or people get intimidated by it…Or worse yet, people simply say, “meh, I’ll just use my belt”. No thank you to that last one…For $30ish I would rather have something that is proven to keep blood in my body or the bodies of those around me. Get one of these recommended tourniquets, get trained to use it and I pray you (and I) never have to use it beyond training day.
Sof-T Tourniquet Cat Tourniquet
Compact First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is a bit more “commonplace” than tourniquets in a lot of people’s Get Home Bags or Survival Kits. I personally like to carry a compact one as you see here. I keep it stocked with compact items to control bleeding, treat minor boo-boos, help with blisters, perform CPR with a proper face shield, etc.
Bahco Laplander Folding Saw
As a woodsman, I always carry a small folding saw in my kits. I choose this over an ax for my Get Home Bag because it is lighter weight, easier to carry, safer to use in most cases, and it is quieter during its operation (axes are loud and not ideal if you’re trying to keep a low profile).
Morakniv Companion (Best Budget Option)
Knives are the first thing that everyone wants to add to their Get Home Bag. And rightfully so. Knives are important for cutting things, helping us process wood for fires, cutting open packages/cordage…the list goes on. With that said, you will not find a better Budget Fixed Blade Knife than the Morakniv Companion. This knife is what I call the perfect “camp knife”. It performs light to medium-duty tasks better than just about anything I’ve tried on the market.
Condor Terrasaur (Best Budget Survival Knife)
In my humble opinion + experience, there are camp knives and then there are “survival” knives. Sure, you can use these interchangeably to an extent. But a knife like the Condor Terrasaur has been proven to take a beating and come back for more. This knife comes in at a fantastic price and it will allow you to do some very rigorous survival tasks without the fear of breaking.
Esee 6HM (Higher End Survival Knife)
The Esee 6HM is a very capable knife! If you didn’t bring an ax along (which I typically don’t in my Get Home Bag), this knife will easily help you put away firewood that is up to 5″ in diameter, with the help of your folding saw. It is surprisingly nimble as well though…So you can do some finer work if needed.
Reiff Knives F6 Leuku (Premium Survival Knife)
Similar in stature and philosophy of use to the aforementioned Esee 6HM, the Reiff Knives F6 is an absolute tank of a survival knife. If you don’t have room or you’re limiting weight, the F6 is a good all-around tool to put away firewood, build shelters, and even do light-duty tasks such as food prep or game cleaning.
Best Leather Gloves for Get Home Bag
Earlier this year, I started testing the first run of Titan Survival Leather Work Gloves and I fell in love with them. Now, they are available to the public and I’m really happy to recommend them. These leather gloves are thin enough to give you a good amount of dexterity, while still providing excellent protection for your hands, and they’re only $27 (after my coupon below). These are a must-have for any Get Home Bag!
Buy Here
Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 10% off
Leatherman Wave+ Multitool
No matter if I have a folder or a fixed blade knife with me, I always have my Leatherman Wave +. This multitool is like an extension of me at this point. I use it every single day.
Worksharp Field Sharpener
I have kept one of these in my bag for so long I can’t remember when I didn’t have it. I have sharpened everything from knives to multitools, fishhooks to axes on this sharpener. I think everyone should have a Worksharp Field Sharpener in their bag.
Exotac xREEL
I added the Exotac xREEL to my kit in the Spring of 2021 and I instantly thought this was a fantastic option for long-term survival. So, while this might not fit a 24-48 hour scenario with your Get Home Bag it is certainly capable of catching fish for longer-term survival scenarios.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 20% off
Survivorcord XT
Everyone recommends 550 Paracord for a Get Home Bag. I recommend Titan Survivorcord XT. This cordage contains everything standard paracord does…But it ups the ante by featuring 1,026lb breaking strength, kevlar line, waxed tinder, braided fishing line. This is the best cordage on the market!
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 10% off
Titan Solar Powered Battery Bank
Titan Survival also makes this solar-powered battery bank. I really like having this in my bag (along with a couple of spare cords) for charging my phone or USB-enabled lights/radios/etc. The solar charging capability gives me a lot of peace of mind since I can clip it onto my bag while I’m walking, or lay it out during the day to replenish its charge.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 10% off
Oversized Cotton Shemagh
I lovingly call shemagh’s the multitool of the cloth world. This single item can serve a purpose in all 5 categories of my Get Home Bag (ie: improvised arm sling, charred material if worst comes to worst, prefilter to extend the life of my Sawyer filter, scarf for cold nights, improvised fishing net…I could go on). I never leave home without a shemagh in my kit because of how versatile it is.
Gorilla Tape
Here in the Appalachian Mountains, we all say “if duct tape can’t fix it, it’s broken for good”. Well…Gorilla Tape is even better than Duct Tape. Gorilla Tape is a very valuable resource for making things and it’s one of the best wet-weather fire tinders out there. I always keep a 1″ roll on this stuff on the outside of my bag.
Quality Work Gloves
Every kit that I build always has a pair of gloves in it to protect my hands. While I prefer my Titan Survival Leather Gloves, I sometimes like a pair of synthetic gloves as well. The Mechanix Gloves are the best I’ve found within this style and I particularly like the knuckle guards for urban use.
Kevlar Cord (550lb)
I always carry thick diameter cordage (Titan Survivorcord) and thinner secondary cordage. In the case of my Get Home Bag, I opted for Kevlar Cord in the 550lb breaking strength. This stuff is thin & very strong. You can use it as an improvised saw, perimeter tripwires, camp chores, and a whole lot more.
Get Home Bag Fire Kit
In a “get home” scenario, a fire may or may not be the best idea. If you’re trying to keep a low profile, you should rely 100% on your clothing & shelter options for warmth. But, if stealth is not a concern, you should have a well-stocked fire kit that you are comfortable using.
Exotac fireROD XL
Ferro Rod’s are my go-to for starting fires any time of the year and in any weather. A ferro rod showers very hot sparks, they aren’t affected by weather, they don’t run out of fuel and the ones I’m recommending will likely last you a lifetime. The fireROD XL is awesome because it’s a large diameter rod + it includes a waterproof tinder compartment and duct tape.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 20% off
Überleben Kräftig 8″ Ferro Rod
As I already mentioned, Ferro Rods are my favorite way of starting fires. And the Überleben Kräftig 8″ long x 1/2″ thick rod is an absolute wilderness workhorse! I have been using the same Kräftig rod for a few years now and I haven’t come close to wearing it down yet.
Exotac fireSLEEVE
Sometimes an open flame is better than sparks from a Ferro Rod (ie: melting paracord ends to keep them from fraying, lighting a candle, when you’re starting a fire in calm conditions, etc). I always carry a standard BIC Lighter inside the Exotac fireSLEEVE at the top of my backpack. This sleeve protects my lighter from moisture, even if it’s submerged in water.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 20% off
Bigfoot Bushcraft Fire Plugs
I have been using these types of fire plugs for a while now and I really like them. They are waterproof, mess-free in your pockets or pouches, and they burn for 5+ minutes/per plug. I typically carry (x30) of these in a small tin and I’m confident that it will handle any fire-starting needs that I run into.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 10% off
Small Beeswax Candle
I personally use my Beeswax Candles in a similar way as the Tindår Wick (to dry out wet tinder, etc). But I also really like having these in my kit as a simple “night light” (if visible light isn’t a concern). The tin can also be reused once the wax is gone for charring material or holding other items.
Buy Here
*Use coupon “anthonyawaken” for 20% off
Überleben Tindår Wick
This is another excellent product from Überleben, it’s called the Tindår Wick. It is waxed hemp rope and includes a fire bellow. The Tindår Wick takes a spark from a ferro rod very quickly. I personally use this as a way to light damp tinder and to extend my reach to difficult areas of my fire lay.
Get Home Bag Water Filter Kit
Water is a very important part of our day-to-day lives. We can live up to 3 days without it…But dehydration (among other things) can set in a lot sooner if we don’t stay hydrated. I personally keep my Get Home Bag’s water filter kit pretty simple with some sort of stainless container for boiling water and a Sawyer Squeeze for filtering water.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
I have chosen the Sawyer Squeeze as my personal water filter and the water filter for my family kits. You can set it up as a gravity filter, it can attach to various sized Sawyer bags (or screw-top water bottles) and it doesn’t take up a lot of room or add much weight. This particular filter can process up to 1 Million Gallons of water as well! I have used these for years with good experiences.
Titanium Canteen Kit (Premium Option)
My Titanium Canteen Kit is my favorite water bottle/cook kit for a Get Home Bag. It is surprisingly compact for its capacity, it is feather-light (which I appreciate after walking a mile or two) and it allows you to boil water + cook just about anything you can imagine. Titanium is pricier than stainless steel, but I really appreciate the weight savings.
Stainless Steel Cook Set (Best Budget Option)
As much as I wish all of my bags could have titanium cook sets, I can’t afford that…And that’s where this awesome budget cook set comes in. The Klean Kanteen Bottle can hold 40oz of water and the small nesting cup/cook pot can hold 25oz. This setup has been a great one for me over the years…From cooking to boiling water, this will get the job done as good as anything.
(x2) 64oz. Sawyer Squeeze Bags
Along with my Sawyer Squeeze, I also like to carry a few extra 64oz bags (the largest ones). This allows me to carry water in them to filter later. Or I can process large amounts of water for my family in 1 sitting. These weigh very little and fold up tight so they don’t take up a lot of space.
Get Home Bag Shelter Kit
Get Home Bag Shelter Checklist:
1. Something to sleep on top of so you’re separated from the ground (ie: ground cloth. This will create a barrier between you and the wet ground).
2. Something to sleep inside of (ie: blanket/sleeping bag. This will keep you warm).
3. Something to sleep underneath (ie: poncho, tarp. This will keep rain or snow off of you, block wind and hide you if you’re trying to be stealthy).
Within my Get Home Bag, I have a full-sized shelter, along with a compact camping-style blanket/sleeping bag. I chose camouflaged colors for this part of my kit so it would blend in with most of my surrounding environments, should I need to be lowkey with my shelter.
The setup pictured here will keep me comfortable for most of the year. However, in the cooler months, I will need to keep a fire going at night (which may not always be an option, as we discussed earlier) or wear plenty of layers. In the dead of winter, I would prefer to bump up to the 3V Gear 72 Hour Backpack that I mentioned earlier so I could carry a large 0º sleeping bag.
Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blanket
This is my favorite “something to sleep on top of” option, but it can also be tossed up into a tarp shelter. I regularly use these as ground clothes to keep me away from the wet ground. But I also really like them as a lean-to with the reflective material pointing towards me (this generates a lot of heat inside your shelter, especially with a fire in front).
Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll (Warmest/Most Expensive)
I am a huge fan of the Helikon-Tex Swagman Roll, especially when paired with a military poncho. This particular pairing is a shelter in and of itself. It allows you to stay warm + dry at the same time. The Swagman Roll is also able to pull double duty as a sleeping bag or blanket. (I would rate it around 40-50º)
Military Poncho
This is my go-to shelter component for my Get Home Bag. As I mentioned earlier, it can be worn over top of the Swagman Roll for a warm “on-the-go” shelter. But I also really like setting this up as a simple lean-to or “a-frame” shelter. There are also some really cool stealthy ways of setting this up so you can blend in with the trees or brush around you.
Snugpak Jungle Blanket (Most Compact/Cheapest)
I first discovered the Snugpak Jungle Blanket a couple of years ago and I fell in love with its compact size for a Get Home Bag. It’s perfect for most seasons of the year and it packs up very small. This is an excellent option if you need something simple to keep the chill away. But it does not zip, so you’re not able to trap heat inside of it like a sleeping bag. (I would rate it around 50-60º)
(x6) Tent Stakes
I carry six cheap aluminum tent stakes rolled up in my poncho at all times (along with my paracord ridgeline). This makes my job of setting up a shelter extremely quick and they don’t weigh much at all.
(x2) 55 Gallon Contractor Trash Bags
I never leave home without a couple of these in my bag. I have made improvised mattresses out of them by stuffing dry leaves & grass in them, I have set up shelters with them and so many other things.