Your Guide to a Smart, Sustainable Bugout Bag

by Dev MG July 23, 2025

You’ve probably seen people toss around the term “bugout bag” or “go bag.” It might be during late-night doomscrolling or a casual conversation.

A bugout bag is a compact, grab-and-go kit packed with essentials. The items inside are what you might need during the first 72 hours of an unexpected event. Think along the lines of a power outage, wildfire evacuation or extreme weather.

Here’s the thing: Prepping for emergencies doesn’t mean panicking or building a 5-year stockpile. It means thinking ahead, then bringing the must-haves.

We’ll walk you through what to pack, how prepping differs from stockpiling and why going sustainable makes sense. You’ll find a downloadable bugout bag checklist at the end.

Let’s get ready the reasonable way.

Prepping vs. Stockpiling

This needs a little exploration — prepping is not hoarding or stockpiling. You don’t need to fill your garage floor to ceiling with freeze-dried lentils to be prepared. That’s an example of stockpiling, and it comes from fear instead of function.

Prepping is intentional. A well-packed bugout bag holds enough to help you (and if necessary, your family) get through a few days of uncertainty. It’s portable, practical and ideally filled with things you use routinely.

Lest we forget, the great toilet paper shortage of 2020 resulted from stockpiling. The country’s toilet paper supply wasn’t low — until people made it low. That’s the danger of fear-shopping without forethought.

Good go bag prep isn’t about quantity. It’s about quality and recyclability with supplies that don’t hog space or go to waste. That includes, of course, toilet paper. But for all that’s right and respectable in this world, let’s not lose our collective minds again.

Now, let’s get into what your bugout bag holds. Green-focused, planned prep is the goal.

What Should Go in a Bugout Bag?

Your bugout bag is a 72-hour safety net. It’s small enough to carry but large enough to hold your items. You’re covered until things settle or help arrives.

As for the bag itself, go with a durable, weather-resistant backpack or duffel made from recycled materials or organic canvas. Look for padded straps, multiple compartments and a size that fits your frame. You can upcycle a suitable bag you already own, too.

The keys are to stay compact, flexible and sustainable wherever possible. Green gear means a lower environmental impact and a lighter bag.

1. Water

Water’s your top priority. Pack at least 1 liter per person per day. Also pack a portable water filter, like a straw-style filter, and purification tablets so you can refill safely.

Choose sealed, food-grade stainless steel or shatter-resistant glass water bottles to reduce plastic use. And if you have to go with plastic, make sure your go bag bottles are BPA-free. Plastic-bottled water is full of micro- and nanoplastics.

2. Food

Shelf-stable, no-prep snacks are a clear choice. Skip anything that needs cooking or refrigeration to avoid spoilage. These are standard bugout bag foods:

Energy bars
Mixed nuts/trail mix
Nut butter packets
Granola bars
Beef, turkey or mushroom jerky
Dried fruit, like banana and apple chips
Baby food and formula (as needed)
Pet food (as needed)

Tip. If you have kids, try bringing some honey sticks/straws or lollipops. They’re not great for teeth, but they’re great for morale.

3. Hygiene Supplies

Basic hygiene items help you stay clean and safe: Toilet paper historically tops the bugout bag checklist in this arena. Make your choice count with bamboo toilet paper. It’s totable, bleach-free, plastic-free, chemical-free, PFAs-free and soft.

Besides TP, stick these hygiene items in your go bag:

Travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste and floss (ideally biodegradable)
Hand sanitizer
Bar of soap
Menstrual products (as needed)
Baby diapers and wipes (as needed)
Quick-dry towel

Place all items in a zippable cloth bag to stay organized.

4. First Aid

Just the first aid essentials usually go in your bugout bag. Take bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, over-the-counter pain relievers and any prescription meds.

A store-bought first aid kit works if you don’t want to assemble your own. (Your standard first aid kit packs a lot of plastic waste — but this is for emergencies.) Either way, even a tiny kit goes a long way when you have a minor injury on the move.

Note. If you have a medical condition that requires items like EpiPens or insulin syringes, place extras in your bugout bag.

5. Tools and Lights

Practical things can be lifesavers in a pinch. These certainly go in your bag:

Flashlight or headlamp
Extra batteries
Whistle
Multitool, aka Swiss Army knife
Waterproof matches or lighter
Paracords and/or duct tape
Mini sewing kit (for repairs and more)
Recycled fleece blanket (rolled tightly)
Manual can opener
Wrench or pliers
Rain gear (like a foldable poncho)

If space and budget allow, get a crank-powered or solar flashlight as a backup — no battery worries. An affordable hand-crank NOAA radio is a smart addition, especially if your cell loses power.

6. Documents and Cash

What you’d have to take to the doctor is a good standard here. Copy your IDs, insurance cards and emergency contacts. Write down your medical conditions and prescriptions.

Pack all documents in an eco-friendly waterproof pouch. A waxed cotton canvas or upcycled sailcloth bag does the trick.

Tuck in cash in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s). ATMs and card readers may be down, and businesses often can’t make change.

Tip. Upload your important documents to a USB stick, and keep it in the pouch. Copy and bring pet information, like vaccination records, if you’re with fur babies.

7. Comfort Stuff

This one’s personal but still essential. Keep something in your bugout bag that makes you smile: a paperback, a deck of cards, a fidget gadget. If you have kids, pack a familiar toy.

It may not be life-or-death prep, but it’s something that keeps you a bit less stressed under the conditions.

Others

For the sake of completion, here are more items that government sites list:

Local paper maps
Compass
Garbage bags and ties for sanitation
Plastic sheeting with duct tape for sheltering
Dust mask or N95 respirator
Extra clothing (layers, thermal gloves, warm socks)
Sturdy shoes

If you put plastic items (like sheeting and garbage bags) in your bugout bag, find Earth-conscious brands. It’s possible to prep with plastic reduction in mind.

We’ve seen what happens when logical concern becomes illogical action. Here’s a quick history lesson on how not to prep (aka stockpile). You’ll see why this kind of planning matters — and why less is more.

A Short Timeline of Stockpiling Freakouts

Prepping is wise. Panic buying? Not so much. We’ve seen how fast fear can clear a store in the past, often without cause. Here’s a quick look at some of the most memorable stockpile moments and what they can teach us.

1973: The TP joke heard across the nation. Johnny Carson quips about a potential TP shortage on The Tonight Show. People rush to buy rolls just in case. Stores sell out — a shortage manifests.
1999–2000: Y2K fuel and food run. The turn of the millennium approaches, and many people fear computers will crash as the clock rolls over. People stockpile like the world’s ending — canned goods, gasoline, bottled water. Nothing happens (happy new year).
2020: The TP crisis … for real. A terrifying new virus sweeps the globe, sparking huge runs on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfectants and more. Stores can’t restock fast enough to keep up, and the supply chain chokes.
2022: Baby formula and cooking oil. Major recalls and ongoing supply chain problems prompt a formula shortage. Rising costs and international restrictions lead to rushes on cooking oil. Mass-buying exacerbates the problem.

Takeaways

We get it. Fear may be our strongest motivator, and things get downright scary. Shortages still happen — we’re seeing it in the pharmaceutical sector as of 2025.

But fear-driven stockpiling only makes a cruddy situation worse. Shortages and stockpiling lead to increased production that results in serious waste. It’s a reminder that steady, intentional prepping is a sustainable way forward.

A well-packed go bag gives you peace of mind without harming your neighbors or the planet. So take a deep breath when the headlines get heavy. Start small now, and your bugout bag will be waiting.

Bamboo Toilet Paper Belongs in Your Ethical Bugout Bag

Toilet paper is one of the first things people rush to buy. It also happens to be one of the easiest items to prep without panic and pollution.

Bamboo paper is lightweight, biodegradable and compostable. It doesn’t come wrapped in plastic packaging. And it’s easy on your septic system and comfy on your body.

At Save Trees (formerly Cloud Paper), we offer only the finest bamboo paper products, from TP to tissues. You buy responsibly knowing your Save Trees toilet paper is safe and eco-friendly throughout manufacturing and disposal.

Visit our shop to pack your responsible bugout bag. We offer subscription, bulk and bundle orders — your bathroom and your bag are always stocked.

Download the Sustainable Bugout Bag Checklist

Bugout Bag FAQ

What’s the best bugout bag for families?

A sturdy backpack or duffel bag with compartments to divide gear is best for families. Modular packing (separate pouches) keeps supplies separate. Reusable items and extra meds, wipes and hygiene products are advisable.

How should I store my bugout bag?

Keep your bag somewhere easy to reach, cool and dry, like an entryway closet or under the bed. Opt for a breathable bag, not a plastic bin. Check your bag twice a year to rotate food, medicine and batteries.

What’s the difference between a bugout bag and a go bag?

The terms are interchangeable. “Bugout bag” is more common in prepping circles, and emergency services are more likely to use “go bag.” Both mean a grab-and-go kit with supplies to last you about 72 hours during an emergency.

What should a 3-day emergency kit include?

Essentials: water, nonperishable food, a flashlight, first aid, hygiene items, copies of important documents and a comfort item. Add a multitool, personal medications and weather protection like a poncho or blanket: Download our PDF list.

Can I use my bugout bag for hiking or traveling?

Yes, and it’s a good way to ensure nothing goes to waste. Many of its contents overlap with camping and travel gear. Just remember to restock anything you use and to avoid letting the bag drift into everyday use.

Where can I find eco-friendly bugout bag supplies?

Stores nationwide (online and brick-and-mortar) usually offer greener products alongside traditional ones. Online retailers selling items like bamboo toilet paper and reusable water bottles can offer greater savings and trustworthy sustainability claims. Build your own go bag to guarantee it holds eco-friendly choices.