What’s In Your 72-Hour Bug Out Bag Right Now?

[StarlitNavigator]

Pulled my 72-hour bag out last night for a refresh and realized I hadn’t rotated out the food bars since last year. Right now, I’ve got water pouches, a Sawyer mini filter, wool socks, light layers, mylar blanket, compact first aid kit, headlamp with spare batteries, small radio, and a pocket notebook (old librarian habits die hard). Curious what you all keep

 

[BlueMarigold]

Curious what you all keep

Curiosity gets the best of me too, StarlitNavigator, especially when I read everyone’s gear lists—there’s always something clever I haven’t thought of. My bag has the expected basics: water filters, a stainless steel bottle, protein bars, and a little tin of herbal teas (old habits). I keep a compact solar charger for my headlamp and phone, plus a small jar of home-canned applesauce for comfort. Switched to a packable rain poncho this season, since it’s lighter than my old jacket.

I always rotate in some heirloom seeds—never know if you’ll need a tiny garden start! A few canning jar lids sneak their way in, too. Also, I’ve tossed in hand-sewn cloth wipes instead of paper (lighter and easier to wash). I used to carry more books, but Kindle plus a paperback gives me peace of mind without the weight. Do you rotate any items seasonally, or mostly keep things steady?

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Seeing all these unique touches in everyone’s bags is inspiring—love the applesauce and heirloom seeds, BlueMarigold! My bag’s always evolving, but a few things are constants: a tin of calendula salve for scrapes and bug bites, a few packets of instant oatmeal, some dried beans, and a little foldable stove with alcohol tabs. Got a habit of stashing a handful of strong rubber bands and safety pins in there too—never knew how much I’d use those until I needed to rig up makeshift repairs or bundles.

Switch things out with the seasons—lighter shirt and an extra bandana in summer, then in fall I swap in wool gloves and heavier socks. My first aid kit always has some good old dried plantain leaves, since they work wonders on stings and rashes. Keeps the kit light without sacrificing usefulness.

Also, always have a couple of tiny jars of honey. Long shelf life, good for wounds or just a morale boost in tough moments. Does anyone else