Get home bag backpacks are the right partner, especially during emergencies. Sometimes, you will be forced to walk 15-miles to get home, and you need supplies to survive. There are many human-made and natural disasters that could warrant the use of a get-home bag. These are power interruption, severe weather conditions, automobile breakdown, war, flood, storm, tsunami, and tornado. The intensity of the event differs from one to the other, and some people have realized that as simple as a get-home bag can save their lives when they are most unprepared. Preparing for the get-home bag is simple, and the items can be found even in local stores. The list may differ depending on budget and type of emergency looked forward, but the essential tools are the same. Thus, in this article, we will discuss the importance of getting a get-home bag today. We will also tackle some of the everyday items and what type of bags to use for survival.
Understanding What is a Get Home Bag
There are three types of bags that each person must prepare for emergencies. The first one is the everyday carry kit, which contains items that you use regularly. You usually bring this to school or work to help you solve minor issues you face daily. Meanwhile, a get-home bag can give you supplies if your life is in danger during your regular commute. It can be due to small-scale to massive scale disasters like storms, vehicle crashes, war, or civil unrest. The items inside can help you survive for about 24 to 48 hours until you get home safely. Also, get home bags are compact, and you can carry them with you at all times. Lastly, the
bug-out bag can equip you with the items you will need in a long-term survival situation. The bag is enough to carry even big things. However, you cannot keep it with you at all times. You can put it in your automobile or in a safe place where you can access it easily.
Recommended Get Home Bag Backpacks
The get-home bags must be lightweight so that you can carry them easily anywhere you go. It must also have ample space to bring all the items that will help you get home safely. Ideally, it should weigh about 20 pounds, has a capacity of 35 liters, and be sturdy. Here are some of the get home bag backpacks that you can buy in the market today:
If you are looking for a high-quality backpack, you should consider the 5.11 Tactical Rush 24 Backpack. This product is available in various colors: Black, Dark Earth, Double Tap, Multi-Cam, OD, and Sandstone made of nylon material with a water-repellent coating and has a reinforced grab-and-go handle. It also includes a hydration pocket, a zippered fleece-lined eyewear pocket, and a SlickStick web platform. The bag has spacious storage, dual zipping side pockets, and also a stuff-it pocket. Also, it has three main compartments with mesh, a hydration bladder, a water bottle pocket, a hook, and a loop area for your nametag or flag patches. Just like other products, it has an external compression strap and a shoulder strap system.
The Camelbak backpack has a sufficient storage capacity for your emergency supplies. This one also includes a 3-liter hydration bladder, while its total size is about 23 liters. It is made of a high-density nylon harness. Meanwhile, its shoulder is made of EVA foam pads. As with the specifications, this bag weighs 2.75 pounds or 1.2 kg.
This bag has four individual compartments, and it is available in various colors, which are black and olive green. The straps have pads to provide comfort for the users. Also, it has waist and sternum straps for stability while using on the road. It is specifically designed for organizing things inside the bag and for easy access. It is also compatible with a hydration bladder. Finally, its total dimensions are
18" x 10" x 10" 1362 cubic inches; 22 Liters.
Another tactical product at an affordable price is the Eyourlife Tactical Sling Bag. The product is available in various colors, which are tan, green, gray, and black. The measurement of this product is 17.7" x 9.4" x 4.7," and it has a capacity of 20 liters. Also, the bag is suitable for both men and women users. It has spacious storage with dual front pockets and MOLLE-style accessory loops. The back panel is made of breathable and padded mesh so the air can circulate better. Meanwhile, the shoulder straps have pads to offer extra comfort. It is made of 600D Oxford Cloth with water-repellent clothing. It also contains a heavy-duty oversized zipper to add durability to the product.
The High Sierra Classic 2 series is another must-have backpack for emergencies. It has multiple compartments and two external water bottle holders. Also, the product includes BPA-free bottles. You can add additional gear to the bag due to its webbing and mesh pouch. The bag is made of 100% polyester, and it has four exterior pockets. The specifications measure 10" high, 16.5" wide, and 30" shoulder drop. It has two colors, which are Mercury/ Ash/ Yell-O and True Navy/ Royal Navy.
The Maxpedition Falcon II Backpacks are built for hauling, and it is specially designed to never drag down the user. It has a curvy strap with foam pads that contours on your chest. It also includes a sternum suspension belt, which distributes the weight of the luggage evenly on your upper body, so you can carry a heavy load even without falling behind. The bag is made of nylon material that enables it to stand in any weather condition. Also, it has a compact size that keeps the shape even when complete. As to the specifications, the primary compartment measures about 18" x 9.5" x 4.75" while the secondary compartment measures 16' x 8" x 3". It has a capacity of 25 liters of weight. Finally, the product is available in various colors: Black, Foliage Green, Khaki, OD Green, and Wolf Gray.
The North Face Borealis Backpack
The North Face bags are one of the trusted brands in the market today, and you can use this bag for outdoor adventures. It is made in the United States; thus, you are assured of its quality. It is made of 210D Cordura nylon. Also, the bag has a capacity of 28-liter weight with secure access pockets and an overhauled suspension system. Its' back panel is padded mesh with a spine channel for smooth air circulation and maximum support. The bag also has a laptop sleeve and a compartment for gadgets. As with the specifications, the bag measures 8.5" x 19.8" x 13.5," and it weighs about 3.25 pounds only. Finally, the product is also available in various colors such as black, red, blue, asphalt, and others.
If you wish to use a messenger get home bag, you can opt for the Rapiddominance Classic Military Messenger Bags. This product is durable, and it is made of 100% cotton canvas with polyester lining. It has a large compartment with a 16-liter capacity and a 2-inch adjustable strap to carry heavy loads. It has seven pockets in total, which are on the front, side, main compartment, inside zippered pocket, and outside back pocket. Also, the product is available in various colors, which are Black, Khaki, Olive, and Woodland. The overall measurement of the bag is 19"W x 14.5"H x 7" D.
This product is available in various colors: Coyote, Woodland Digital, Olive Drab, and ACU. It has an ambidextrous shoulder strap and a quick-release buckle. Also, it has 9 liters capacity storage and two external pockets so users can easily access items on the bag.
Starter List For The Get Home Bag
This portion will discuss the essential items that you will need to gather and have our get-home bag backpacks. Check this out now:
Compass and Map
If your device does not work at all during emergencies, then a map and a compass will be beneficial in finding your way home. Print maps of the local area you are visiting and secure them in your bag. Also, buy a compass that is weather-proof so you can use it even in harsh conditions. Various items are helpful, and you can add them to your get-home bag list. These items are pens, markers, zip ties, plastic bags, toilet paper, whistles, and paracord bracelets. Just be creative in equipping your bag with the items that you think that you will need.
Extra Clothes
Grab some clean shirt, pants, undies, socks, jackets, and bandana or mask with you and put it in your backpack. A complete change of clothes can protect your body from sudden temperature rise or drop in the wild. Thus you must be prepared for it.
Fire Starters
Ensure that your bag has fire starters that you must keep within a moisture-proof container. Some of these are matches, lighters, and cotton balls with rubbing alcohol. Sometimes during emergencies, you need to build a fire to cook your food or make your body warm. These materials are necessary, but make sure that you handle them with care.
First Aid Kit
First aid is needed to address health issues you have temporarily while professional help is not yet available. You need to have the following items in the kit:
- Antibiotics
- Bandages
- Gloves
- Pain medications
- Tea tree oil-This can disinfect wounds, treat blisters, reduce muscle swelling, and soothe a painful body.
- Tourniquet
- Witch hazel-repels insect
If you are on medication, it is advisable to always bring your medicines with you anywhere you go. Put some of these medicines in the first aid kit of your get-home bag too.
Food and Drinks
You will need to pack food and drink supplies to have energy and survive the disaster. Food and water are essential to nourish the body and last a day of walking or running back to your home. The food must be lightweight plus easy to prepare. Some are the MREs or meals ready to eat, food pouches, granola bars, dehydrated fruits or any mixes, and biscuits. Meanwhile, bring with you at least two to three liters of water in your backpack. You can also have water filters or purifying tablets so you can produce clean drinking water when your supplies deplete.
Light Source
You need to have a good light source in your get-home bag because you might get lost in the dark. Some of the items are the following:
- Candles and matches
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Glow-in-the-dark sticks
- Headlamp
Meanwhile, most of the smartphones available today are equipped with a flashlight app. But make sure that you bring extra phone batteries, a portable energy bank, or a solar charger.
Self-Defense Items
You also need to have some items that will help you defend yourself, especially in remote areas. You don't need to go ahead and apply for the license to carry a handgun because there are also other items that you can try to defend yourself. Some of these are pepper spray, a taser, or a knife.
Shelter Supplies
It would help if you had shelter supplies in your get-home bag so you could sleep in a safe place whenever you get stuck in the wilderness, road, or automobile. Examples of shelter supplies are blankets, tarp, and emergency poncho. These materials will protect your body, especially in the harsh weather conditions outdoors.
Conclusion
In sum, a get-home bag backpack is not just an ordinary bag: it is your survival partner, especially when you are away from home, and help is impossible. When you buy backpacks, make sure that they are made of high-quality materials and have ample space, are durable, and affordable. Meanwhile, in purchasing items for the get-home bag, always buy first the basics and add other things which you think can help you in the future. As the cliche goes, preparation is better than cure. Thus, investing in a get-home bag backpack can save your life during emergencies, and the time to act is now.
