What's In Your Get Home Bag (or Bug Out Bag (BOB))? (Vanity)

Self ^ | March 20, 2026 | Towed_Jumper

[Towed_Jumper]

I've recently gone back to keeping a Bug Out Bag (Get Home Bag), in my truck. I thought it a prudent step given that I live in a rural area, drive a very old pickup truck and note that the world in general appears to be getting even more crazy.

I've perused the internet and found multiple GHB/BOB lists covering the basics. However, I thought it would be informative to get input from my fellow FReepers who also have GHB/BOBs.

[SIDENET]

[Big Red Badger]

Was that “Vegas or Dallas?”

[Buttons12]

Depends on what you consider an emergency.
I usually keep a spare set of clothes in the car, sometimes two (dress up, and dress down). If I’m exploring a fixer upper, I need sneakers and sweats, a flashlight, a first aid kit. A mortgage calculator unless Mom comes along, she does that in her head.
On dressy occasions, spare shoes. Always have a spare mascara (I’m a blonde). Batteries. Bottle of water. Kleenex and Clorox wipes. Cash, lots of it. Maps in case I’m in God’s country and the dreaded signal drop is likely to happen. Weapon where and as lawful. Chocolate.

[mass55th]

Good idea. I always take the meds I will need for the time I'm gone. Since I only travel to visit family two hours away, even if I ever did forget them, which I never have, I could simply drive back home and get them.

I stopped buying cars in 2005. The last one I bought lasted 15 years. For several years while I still had the car, I was visiting my youngest son who was living in Indiana at the time about twice a year. The first time I visited him, I drove straight through, and ended up regretting it. After that, I always stopped overnight at the same place in Ohio on the way out and back. Because I didn't want to take the chance of my car breaking down out of State, I leased cars from Enterprise to make my trips out there. I finally decided that it would be easier for me to lease a new car from a dealer every three years. The leases come with maintenance plans, and I've kept my basic AAA membership just in case. My youngest son moved back here about 6 years ago, so my overnight trips to Indiana ended. I kind of miss it, because I enjoyed being able to eat at restaurants that aren't anywhere near me.

[xp38]

You forgot the best part.....”Shoot, a fella’ could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.”

[xp38]

GMTA

[SovereignJ]

I’m an over 50 female, and have a GHB with lots of basics. Fire starting more than one way, compact bivvy, tube tarp, canteen, extra socks, first aid, bandana and face masks, compass, zip ties, whistle, mirror, mountain house meal/energy bars, small kleenex packs, compact towels that look like tablets that expand when wet, mylar blanket, hand warmer packets,extra eyeglasses and contact lenses because I am super near-sighted. I recently went through it with “Rex” AI and it helped identify some holes, such as a sturdy knife and small $ bills, extra paracord, pen and paper, and duct tape (which I wrapped around a sharpie marker.)

[MrIndi]

bkmk

[FreedomPoster]

Definitely Vegas.

[Manuel OKelley]

I have many btu the are rotated depdning on where I am going to be and how fat from home

ALways prepared to walk home no matter the distance—I can cover 50+ miles a day for a few days in most circumstances

Hiking boots and usually a second pair of runners on top of what I am wearing at the time—being able to change a few times a day cuts down on blisters and funk

Light but supported backpack, water filter, bottled water, camelback bladder, fixed blade knife, leatherman, pocketknife ( I usually have at least one on me if not two) paracord, space blankets, firestarted +lighters, small tarp, change of hiking pants and shirt, 2+ pairs of wool socks (only kind I wear), extra shirt, heavy wool pendleton shirt jacket, windbreaker, hat, string, med kit with quick clot, moleskin, skin stapler or suture kit, basic pain and other OTC meds, couple boxes of ammo and spare mags, batteries, mirror extra flashlights,cold steel shovel that makes a handy axe, mirror, electrical and duct tape (metal folded) monocular, few other small things—can fit everything but the water into small packs under 15 lbs and usually have at least 1 pistol on me

I’ve hiked tens of thousands of miles with a pack and weight sucks—being mobile and able to walk fast and run for miles as needed is top priority for me

[Scrambler Bob]

one hundred dollars in gold
== == ==

That is getting smaller every day.

About 1/45 of an ounce today.

[griswold3]

Water filter.
^^This^^

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yep.

We keep ours in the van for that very reason.

I keep a get home bag in the truck but our bug out bags are in the van so we can just stuff the cubs and house pets in and go.

[packrat35]

I keep a lot of stuff in my car year round, but I have a bag, with clothes, medicine and medical, some cash and weapons that is handy to grab in a pinch.

[Hot Tabasco]

Lots of potato chips, hamburger and gin........and some olives.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You need to make at least some preps to bug out.

Flood, fire, tornado and other delights are always a possibility and you do not want to end up in a shelter with three socks, a bottle of OJ and a bag of oatmeal.

[Big Red Badger]

That ‘Cold Steel Shovel’ was a bargain in the Past.... I must have Five and
All Well Sharpened!

[T-Bird45]

After reading through the first 51 comments, I thought I would point out 2 things that are consistently appearing: firearms & rescue collection points. These 2 things are mutually exclusive as having a firearm will keep you from the usual disaster shelters such as Red Cross & Salvation Army. Thinking along the lines of fire, flood, storm damage, etc. However, if you have a specific bug-out location that keeps you independent of community support, then having a firearm makes sense.

[Dead Corpse]

Large ALICE pack
Trauma and First Aid kits
Life straw and water purification tablets
Canteen/cup
Leatherman Wave+
Firestarter
Poncho/liner... mil surp
Paracord
Lensatic compass
Lithium backup battery pack with fold out solar panel
Camping size fishing kit and fold up rod
Hunting knife
Camp towel
Baby wipes
SOG camp axe

Ammo and mags are on a tac-vest that I have used for 3-gun “fun shoots”... Includes spare rechargeable batteries for sights and flashlight

Truck bag has another Life Straw, first aid kit, Leatherman Micra, firestarter, pack of small road flares, “space” blanket, and another small compass.

[SaveFerris]

LOL 😂