Go-Bag Checklist: What Actually Goes In It

This checklist is built around one constraint: the bag has to be something a real person in a real family will actually carry. That means weight limits matter. It means Tier 1 items — the things you genuinely cannot go 72 hours without — come first, and nothing gets added until those are covered.

The full go-bag article covers the reasoning behind these choices. This page is the list itself — organized by category, tiered by priority, with notes on what each item actually does so nothing gets packed blindly.

Weight rule before you start

A loaded bag should not exceed 20% of the lightest adult carrier's body weight. For a 150-pound adult, that is 30 pounds maximum — ideally less. Weigh the finished bag before you call it done. If it's too heavy to carry a mile, it won't get carried when it matters.

Water and Food

The bag carries enough to get you to your destination. Your stored supply at home covers the rest.

Tier 1 Water — 1 liter per person minimum Enough for the first few hours. A Nalgene or collapsible bottle. Do not carry 3 gallons in the bag — store it at home, carry what you need to reach your destination.
Tier 1 Water filter — Sawyer Squeeze or equivalent Removes bacteria and protozoa from any natural water source. Weighs 3 oz. Pair with purification tablets for full-spectrum coverage including viruses.
Tier 1 Food — 72 hours per person, no-cook Dense caloric options: nut butter packets, bars, jerky, crackers, dried fruit. Nothing that requires boiling water as a first step. Calculate 1,500 to 2,000 calories per adult per day.
Tier 2 Water purification tablets Backup to the filter. Treats 1 liter per tablet. Kills viruses that filtration misses. Expires — check dates twice a year.
Tier 2 Collapsible water container — 2 to 4 liters Lets you carry more water once you refill from a filtered source. Stores flat in the bag until needed.
Tier 2 Electrolyte packets — 6 to 12 per person Dehydration affects decision-making before it registers as thirst. Especially important in hot weather or if evacuating on foot.

Documents and Cash

Keep originals at home in a known location. Copies travel in the bag in a waterproof sleeve.

Tier 1 Cash — $200 to $500 in small bills When ATMs are offline and cards don't work, cash is what functions. Nothing larger than $20. Half the total in $10s and $5s.
Tier 1 Photo ID copy — driver's license or passport Photocopy in a waterproof sleeve. Essential for shelter registration, FEMA assistance applications, and hotel check-in when systems are slow.
Tier 1 Insurance card copies — health and auto Medical treatment and roadside situations both require these. The originals stay in your wallet; these are backups.
Tier 1 Printed contact list and emergency plan The five most important phone numbers. Meeting points and evacuation destinations. Does not require a charged device. One page, laminated or in a waterproof sleeve.
Tier 2 Bank account page copy — one account Account number and routing number. Useful for wiring money or proving ownership when digital access is unavailable.
Tier 2 USB drive with scanned documents Encrypted. Copies of all critical documents in digital form. Works anywhere there's a computer, even if your phone is dead.

The guide includes a printable go-bag master checklist with weight tracking for each item. Also available as a fillable Excel tracker — check off items as you pack them, track expiration dates, and set maintenance reminders.

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Medical and Medications

Pack only what you know how to use. An unfamiliar tool under stress is a liability.

Tier 1 Prescription medications — 3 to 7-day supply Any medication that cannot be missed. Rotate the supply every 3 months so it stays within expiration. Ask your pharmacy about early refills for emergency preparedness.
Tier 1 Basic first aid kit Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, sterile gauze pads, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, elastic bandage, scissors, tweezers. Pre-assembled kits from Adventure Medical work well — check dates twice a year.
Tier 1 Pain reliever and anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Both — they work differently and have different contraindications. Small travel quantities.
Tier 2 Nitrile gloves — 4 pairs minimum For treating injuries in others. Barrier protection during any medical situation. Dispose after each use.
Tier 2 SAM splint and triangle bandage Immobilizes a limb until professional care is available. Lightweight and packs flat. Worth having if you've had basic first aid training.
Tier 2 Blister treatment — moleskin or blister bandages If evacuation involves extended walking, blisters become a real problem within a few miles. Cheap insurance against a disabling situation.

Power and Communication

Tier 1 Power bank — 20,000 mAh minimum Fully charged and kept that way. Charges a smartphone 4 to 6 times. Check the charge monthly — power banks self-discharge over time.
Tier 1 Charging cables for all household devices USB-C and Lightning if your household uses both. Include a multi-port adapter.
Tier 1 Headlamp with extra batteries Keeps hands free — critical for stairwells, field first aid, or any task in the dark. LED, 200+ lumens. AA or AAA batteries — keep extras.
Tier 2 Hand-crank NOAA weather radio Receives emergency broadcasts without cell service or charged batteries. Often the only reliable information source during extended outages.
Tier 2 Whistle — pealess design Audible up to a mile. Works wet and cold. For signaling location if trapped or separated. Attach to the bag's exterior.

Clothing and Shelter

Tier 1 Change of clothes — one set per person Wool or synthetic only — no cotton. Cotton holds moisture and causes hypothermia in cold and wet conditions. Includes socks and underwear.
Tier 1 Sturdy closed-toe shoes If you evacuate in flip-flops or dress shoes, walking on debris or rough terrain becomes dangerous fast. Keep a pair tied to the bag if space is limited.
Tier 1 Emergency mylar blankets — one per person Reflect body heat in cold conditions. Weigh less than 2 oz each. Pack flat. Replace if removed from packaging.
Tier 2 Rain poncho — one per person Lightweight, packs small, covers both you and the bag. Hypothermia risk is significantly higher when wet. Cheap insurance.
Tier 2 Work gloves — one pair per adult Moving debris after a structural event damages hands quickly. Also functions as cold-weather hand protection.

Tools and Miscellaneous

Tier 1 Multi-tool Leatherman Wave or equivalent. Pliers, knife, scissors, screwdrivers. Keep it in an accessible pocket, not buried at the bottom.
Tier 1 Duct tape — small roll or flat-pack Repairs, sealing, improvised splints, blister padding, gear fixes. Wrap a flat-pack around a water bottle to save space.
Tier 1 Lighter and waterproof matches Both. Lighters fail in cold and wet. Matches fail when wet. Carry both, store the matches in a waterproof case.
Tier 2 50 feet of paracord — 550 lb rated Shelter rigging, clothesline, lashing, improvised carry straps. Weighs under 4 oz for 50 feet.
Tier 2 Dust masks — N95 or equivalent, 2 per person Essential in structural collapse situations or wildfire smoke. A standard surgical mask does not provide adequate filtration for particulates.
Tier 2 Pen and waterproof notepad For writing information that needs to survive in any conditions. Rite in the Rain pads work wet. Useful for leaving notes, documenting damage, or recording information when a device is unavailable.

Maintenance schedule

Pack the bag once, then review it on January 1 and July 1 every year. At each review: rotate food and water, check medication expiration dates, test batteries, confirm the bag still fits whoever is carrying it. A bag packed three years ago and never opened is not a go-bag.