How to Prepare for Building a DIY Go-Bag

When disaster strikes, the difference between safety and danger often comes down to preparation. A go-bag (also called a bug-out bag or 72-hour kit) is your lifeline during those critical first hours and days after an emergency. Creating your own DIY go-bag isn’t just cost-effective—it ensures your emergency kit perfectly matches your unique needs, location, and potential threats. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about building a customized go-bag that could save your life when minutes matter.

Understanding the Purpose of a Go-Bag

A go-bag is a pre-packed collection of essential supplies that enables you to evacuate quickly during an emergency. Unlike a comprehensive home emergency kit, a go-bag is specifically designed for mobility—it contains only what you can reasonably carry while evacuating on foot if necessary. According to FEMA, all Americans should be prepared to sustain themselves for at least 72 hours following a disaster, which is the typical timeframe before organized relief efforts can reach affected areas. Your go-bag serves as your portable life-support system during this critical period.

Our emergency preparedness experts have noticed that many people confuse go-bags with long-term survival kits. In our experience, the most effective go-bags focus on immediate needs for rapid evacuation rather than trying to include everything for extended survival. The goal is mobility with essential supplies, not comprehensive preparedness that weighs you down.

Assessing Your Personal Emergency Risks

Before purchasing a single item for your go-bag, you need to conduct a thorough risk assessment. Different geographical locations face vastly different threats—from hurricanes along coastal regions to wildfires in the West or tornados in the Midwest. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), climate-related disasters have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years, making personalized preparedness more critical than ever.

Location-Specific Threats:

Coastal Areas: Hurricanes, flooding, storm surge, and evacuation challenges due to limited escape routes
Midwest: Tornados, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and extreme temperature fluctuations
Western States: Wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, and drought-related emergencies
Urban Centers: Infrastructure failures, civil unrest, terrorism, and evacuation congestion
Rural Areas: Limited access to emergency services, extreme weather isolation, and agricultural emergencies

Our team always recommends researching local emergency management websites for your specific area. These resources often provide detailed hazard maps and evacuation routes that should inform what you pack in your go-bag. For example, coastal residents might prioritize waterproof containers and flotation devices, while those in wildfire-prone areas might include respirator masks and fire-resistant clothing.

Selecting the Right Bag

The foundation of your emergency kit is the bag itself. This decision significantly impacts how much you can carry, how comfortably you can travel, and how well your supplies stay protected. Research from outdoor expedition experts suggests that most adults should aim to carry no more than 20-25% of their body weight for extended periods, though many emergency management professionals recommend keeping go-bags even lighter—around 15-20 pounds total—to account for stress and potentially difficult evacuation conditions.

Key Considerations for Choosing Your Bag:

Capacity: 30-50 liters is typically sufficient for a 72-hour personal supply
Construction: Durable, water-resistant materials like ripstop nylon or Cordura
Design: Multiple compartments for organization and quick access to essential items
Comfort: Padded shoulder straps, sternum strap, and waist belt to distribute weight
Color: Consider subdued colors that don’t attract unwanted attention during evacuations
Accessibility: External pockets for items you’ll need frequently or in a hurry

Based on our field testing, we’ve found that traditional hiking backpacks often make excellent go-bags due to their comfort during extended wear and organizational features. However, tactical backpacks with MOLLE systems offer superior customization for attaching additional pouches as needed. For urban environments, a less conspicuous design like a travel backpack might be preferable.

Essential Go-Bag Categories and Contents

A properly stocked go-bag addresses several critical survival categories. According to emergency management experts and the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov program, your preparation should focus on these core areas, prioritized according to the survival rule of threes: you can survive roughly three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in harsh conditions, three days without water, and three weeks without food.

Water and Hydration:

Water is your most critical resource during an emergency. The CDC and FEMA recommend one gallon of water per person per day, but carrying three gallons is impractical for most go-bags. Instead, focus on a combination of carried water and purification methods.

Carried Water: At least one liter in durable bottles (consider collapsible options to save space)
Water Purification: Portable filter (like LifeStraw or Sawyer Mini), purification tablets, or lightweight UV purifier
Water Location: Maps showing nearby water sources and a collapsible container for gathering/carrying additional water

Our emergency preparedness experts emphasize that water solutions should be redundant. In our testing, we’ve found that having at least two different purification methods (such as a filter and chemical tablets) provides crucial backup if one system fails or isn’t suitable for available water sources.

Food and Nutrition:

Emergency food supplies should be calorie-dense, require minimal preparation, and have a long shelf life. The focus should be on sustenance rather than culinary satisfaction.

Ready-to-Eat Options: Energy bars, meal replacement bars, jerky, trail mix, and nut butters
Compact Meals: Freeze-dried camping meals or military-style MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)
Cooking Essentials: Small stove with fuel (if weight permits), lightweight pot, and utensil
Specialized Needs: Consider dietary restrictions, allergies, and medical conditions

In our experience working with emergency preparedness, many people overpack food that’s heavy and bulky. Our specialists emphasize focusing on approximately 1,500-2,000 calories per day in the most compact form possible. For a true 72-hour bag, that means about 4,500-6,000 total calories.

Shelter and Warmth:

Exposure to elements can become life-threatening within hours. Your go-bag should include versatile options for creating shelter and maintaining body temperature in various conditions.

Emergency Shelter: Lightweight tent, bivy sack, or emergency tube tent
Insulation: Compact sleeping bag or emergency bivvy, emergency blanket with reflective surface
Rain Protection: Poncho or packable rain jacket and pants
Fire Starting: Waterproof matches, lighters, ferrocerium rod, and tinder
Adaptable Clothing: Hat, gloves, extra socks, and layer options appropriate for your climate

Based on our field testing, we’ve found that the Survival Frog TACT Bivvy offers an excellent balance of protection, packability, and price for most go-bags. Our team always recommends including at least three different fire-starting methods, as this capability can be critical for warmth, water purification, and signaling.

First Aid and Medication:

Medical emergencies don’t pause during disasters—in fact, they often increase. A well-stocked first aid kit is essential, but it must be tailored to your specific needs and skills.

Basic First Aid Kit: Bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, tweezers, scissors
Medications: Personal prescriptions (rotated regularly), pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medication, antihistamines
Advanced Items: Based on your training—tourniquets, chest seals, hemostatic gauze
Specialized Needs: Epinephrine auto-injectors, insulin, or other critical medical supplies
First Aid Guide: Pocket reference appropriate to your training level

Our specialists emphasize that your first aid kit should match your medical knowledge. Having advanced supplies without proper training can create false confidence. Consider taking a wilderness first aid course to maximize the effectiveness of your medical preparations. For a comprehensive approach, review our guide on building a travel first aid kit, which covers many of the same principles.

Tools and Equipment:

Multi-functional tools save weight and space while providing capabilities for various emergency scenarios. Focus on quality over quantity.

Multi-tool: With pliers, knife, screwdrivers, and can opener
Fixed-blade Knife: For more demanding tasks
Cordage: Paracord (50-100 feet) for repairs, shelter building, and countless other uses
Light Sources: Headlamp, flashlight, and chemical light sticks with extra batteries
Navigation: Compass, physical maps of your area, and evacuation routes
Communication: Hand-crank or solar radio, whistle, signal mirror

What our team has seen work well is focusing on tools with multiple functions. For example, a quality headlamp frees up your hands while providing light, and paracord can serve dozens of purposes from shelter construction to gear repairs. Our experts have found that the Gerber Ultimate Survival Knife provides exceptional versatility for emergency situations.

Documents and Financial Preparedness:

During emergencies, identification, important documents, and access to funds can be just as critical as physical supplies. Consider both physical and digital backup options.

Identification: Copies of driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, and social security card
Medical Information: Insurance cards, immunization records, and medical history
Financial: Cash in small denominations, copy of credit card information, and emergency contact for your bank
Property: Insurance policies, property deeds, and vehicle registration
Contact Information: Physical list of emergency contacts, meeting locations, and important phone numbers

Our emergency preparedness experts recommend storing documents in two ways: waterproof physical copies in your go-bag and encrypted digital copies on a password-protected USB drive or secure cloud storage accessible from mobile devices. Always include at least $100-200 in small bills, as electronic payment systems often fail during disasters.

Customizing Your Go-Bag for Special Considerations

Standard go-bag guidance must be adapted for individual circumstances. Families, pet owners, those with medical conditions, and people in specific environments all need specialized considerations. According to the American Red Cross, these customizations can be the difference between a successful evacuation and a dangerous situation.

Family Go-Bags:

Preparing for family evacuation requires careful planning and often multiple bags distributed among capable family members.

Children’s Needs: Age-appropriate supplies, comfort items, entertainment, and identification
Family Communication Plan: Meeting points, contact procedures, and role assignments
Distribution Strategy: Who carries what, with essential items duplicated across bags
Special Considerations: Formula, diapers, and specific medical or dietary needs

Our team always recommends that families practice evacuation drills regularly, updating procedures as children grow and can take more responsibility. For comprehensive family preparation, visit our detailed guide on family disaster planning.

Pet Considerations:

Pets are family members too, and their needs must be incorporated into your emergency planning.

Food and Water: 3-day supply of food, collapsible bowls, and additional water
Containment and Control: Leash, harness, carrier, and muzzle if appropriate
Documentation: Vaccination records, photos, and microchip information
Medication: Any required prescriptions with dosing instructions
Comfort and Sanitation: Small toy, waste bags, litter, or puppy pads

Based on our field testing, we’ve found that dedicated pet go-bags attached to your main pack work best, allowing quick access to pet supplies without unpacking your core emergency items. For smaller pets, consider how their supplies can be integrated into your main pack.

Climate-Specific Adaptations:

Your geographical location and its typical climate conditions should significantly influence your go-bag contents.

Hot Climates: More water capacity, electrolyte replacements, sun protection, and lightweight clothing
Cold Climates: Additional insulating layers, chemical hand warmers, and higher-calorie food
Wet Environments: Enhanced waterproofing, quick-dry clothing, and multiple fire-starting options
Arid Regions: Dust masks, eye protection, and increased water purification capacity

In our experience helping people prepare for regional threats, we’ve observed that climate-specific preparations are often overlooked. Our specialists emphasize that seasonal rotation of go-bag contents is essential, especially in areas with extreme temperature variations between summer and winter. For seasonal updates to your emergency preparations, check out our guide on seasonal emergency kit maintenance.

Building Your Go-Bag on a Budget

Emergency preparedness doesn’t have to break the bank. According to a survey by the Federal Reserve, nearly 40% of Americans would struggle to cover an unexpected $400 expense, making budget-friendly preparedness essential. With strategic planning and prioritization, you can build an effective go-bag without significant financial strain.

Strategic Purchasing Approaches:

Phased Building: Start with the most critical items and add others over time
Dual-Purpose Items: Focus on gear you can use for camping, hiking, or daily life
Sales and Clearance: Track seasonal sales on outdoor equipment and emergency supplies
Alternative Sources: Consider military surplus, thrift stores, and online marketplaces
DIY Options: Make your own first aid kits, fire starters, and emergency food packages

Our emergency preparedness experts have found that many household items can be repurposed for go-bags. For example, a clean shampoo bottle makes an excellent waterproof container for matches, a bandana has dozens of emergency uses, and dryer lint makes perfect fire-starting tinder. Focus first on the items that address immediate survival needs—water, shelter, and first aid—before adding convenience items.

Maintenance and Testing Your Go-Bag

Building a go-bag is only the first step—regular maintenance ensures it remains functional when needed. According to FEMA’s Ready.gov, emergency supplies should be checked at least twice yearly, with many items requiring more frequent rotation.

Maintenance Schedule:

Monthly Checks: Battery-powered devices, medication expiration dates
Quarterly Reviews: Food supplies, seasonal clothing needs
Bi-Annual Overhaul: Complete inventory check, replacement of expired items
Annual Testing: Practice using equipment, verify documents are current
After Life Changes: Update when family composition, health needs, or location changes

What our experts have seen work well is setting calendar reminders for regular maintenance checks. Many people find it helpful to schedule these reviews alongside other routine activities—like daylight saving time changes or the beginning of hurricane/fire seasons. Our team always recommends actually using your go-bag during a practice evacuation or camping trip to identify weaknesses before a real emergency.

Where to Store Your Go-Bag

The location of your go-bag can be as important as its contents. The ideal storage location balances accessibility during emergencies with protection from theft, damage, and everyday temptation to “borrow” items.

Strategic Storage Locations:

Home Placement: Near exit doors, in a coat closet, or under a bed
Vehicle Considerations: Trunk or under-seat storage, protected from temperature extremes
Work Preparedness: Compact version kept at workplace or in commuter bag
Multiple Locations: Primary and backup bags in different locations
Climate Control: Protected from heat, cold, moisture, and pests

Our specialists emphasize that the perfect go-bag is worthless if you can’t reach it during an emergency. Based on our field testing, we recommend storing your primary go-bag in a consistent, accessible location that all family members know. For those in evacuation-prone areas, consider keeping your go-bag in or near your vehicle during high-risk seasons.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Go-Bag Considerations

As you become more experienced with emergency preparedness, you may want to enhance your go-bag with advanced features and specialized equipment. These additions should be based on skills you’ve developed, specific scenarios you’re likely to face, and a realistic assessment of weight versus benefit.

Advanced Equipment Options:

Communication: Two-way radios, ham radio (with license), satellite messenger devices
Power: Solar chargers, hand-crank generators, or lightweight power banks
Navigation: GPS devices with downloadable maps, altimeter, signal devices
Protection: Personal security items appropriate to your training and local laws
Specialized Tools: Wire saw, compact shovel, advanced medical supplies

In our experience helping people prepare for emergencies, we’ve found that advanced equipment is most valuable when matched with appropriate training. Our team always recommends investing in skills before specialized gear—take wilderness survival courses, get first aid certified, or learn communications protocols before adding related equipment to your go-bag.

Conclusion: Your Go-Bag as a Living System

A go-bag is not a one-time project but an evolving system that grows with your needs, skills, and circumstances. The most effective emergency kits reflect personal experience, local conditions, and continuous learning. By thoughtfully building your DIY go-bag, you’re taking control of your safety during uncertain times.

Remember that the perfect go-bag balances comprehensiveness with mobility. As you refine your kit, regularly ask: “Can I carry this distance comfortably?” and “Does this address a likely scenario I might face?” These questions will help you maintain focus on practical preparedness rather than excessive accumulation.

At Batten Emergency, we believe that preparation creates peace of mind. Your go-bag represents not just physical readiness but the mental preparedness to face challenges with confidence. By investing time in building your personalized emergency kit, you’re taking a significant step toward protecting yourself and your loved ones when it matters most.

Sources used for this article:

Ready.gov Emergency Kit Guidelines, https://www.ready.gov/kit
American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness, https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response, https://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/
FEMA’s “Are You Ready?” Guide, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/are-you-ready_2012.pdf